[George W. Bush]

Knowing that God is merciful and just, many Orthodox believe (privately) that the unbaptized babies are saved. However, to the bets of my knowledge, the official position of the Church is that we just don't know.

Much like Baptists on this then. We also would like to believe it but can't support it from scripture. So we hope but don't promise. God is still sovereign and He has chosen to withhold certain information.

[kosta50]

Much like Baptists on this then. We also would like to believe it but can't support it from scripture. So we hope but don't promise. God is still sovereign and He has chosen to withhold certain information

And this is one instance where we are all on the same sheet of music. :)

Early 2nd century AD Roman tombstones indicate that Christians baptized their infat children by calling them believers. Bishop Eusebius (the first Church historian) specifically instructed Christians to baptize as soon as possible and not wait 8 days or 40 days as some Orthodox parishes do.

All this indicates that early Christians preferred to err on the side of the uncertainty and that there was a strongly entrenched belief that unbaptized children may not be saved since it is Baptism that brings one into the Church and unto Christ.

I am not sure what the current Orthodox teaching is on how soon one should baptize. Certainly, one cannot go wrong by baptizing into the Holy Trinity.