Baptism

they took the shape of cross (the death of the Redeemer alluding to the
neophyte's death to sin ) with steps leading into it. The candidates will walk
down into the pool and came up out of it into the assembly. The number of
steps were also given mystical symbolisms (Isidore of Seville, De divin. off.,
II: 25 Gregory of Tours, Mirac., I: 24). In few cases they were shaped in the
form of a coffin giving allusion to Paul’s reference in Romans, 6: 4. Their
average depth of less than three feet indicate that baptism by total immersion
was practically unknown during the early church period. If some form of
immersion was practiced, it was just dipping the head or immersion and not
submersion.
¢¡¤£¦¥¨§©¢ £¦ ¡¦
See Catholic Encyclopedia: www.newadvent.org/cathen/02274a.htm for
additional details
Only from the fourthth century, after Constantine declared freedom for
Christian worship, can we document the birth and development throughout
the Roman Empire of buildings planned and constructed specifically for the
rite of Baptism. The following are of fourth century origin.
109