Did Early Christian Comverts Get Baptized in The Nude ?

 

Yes, in many cases, early Christian converts (particularly adult catechumens) were baptized in the nude.

This practice is well-attested in sources from the 3rd to 5th centuries, though it was not universal in every region or time period, and modesty measures were often in place.

Key evidence comes from early Church Fathers and liturgical texts:

• St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 350 AD), in his Mystagogical Catecheses, explicitly describes catechumens stripping off their clothes before entering the baptismal font, interpreting it symbolically as "putting off the old man" (referencing Colossians 3:9) and imitating Christ's nakedness on the cross.
• St. Ambrose of Milan and St. John Chrysostom also reference or imply full nudity during the immersion.
• The Apostolic Tradition (attributed to Hippolytus of Rome, early 3rd century) directs candidates to remove all clothing and enter the water naked, with separate baptisms for men, women, and children to preserve modesty.
• Other sources, like medieval dictionaries of Christian antiquities and summaries of patristic evidence, conclude that catechumens entered the font in a state of "absolute nakedness," though some depictions suggest a minimal cincture (belt) might have been allowed in certain contexts for propriety.

The theological symbolism was central: nudity represented:

• Shedding the old sinful self and being reborn (like a newborn baby).
• Equality before God (no distinctions in clothing or status).
• Vulnerability and return to a pre-Fall state of innocence, as well as participation in Christ's naked crucifixion and victory over evil.

Baptisms were typically by full immersion (triple, in the name of the Trinity) during Easter vigils after lengthy preparation. While some baptisms may have involved only removing outer garments (leaving undergarments), the dominant patristic descriptions point to complete nudity for adults, especially in the 4th century when detailed rites are documented.

This custom faded over time as infant baptism became more common (where nudity persisted in some traditions, like Eastern Orthodox), cultural attitudes toward nudity shifted, and separate facilities or screens ensured privacy. By the medieval period, it was no longer standard for adults.

In short, while not every early baptism was nude, it was a widespread and symbolically rich practice for adult converts in the early centuries of the Church.