Q: What does the order of baptism say about the priest’s or deacon’s hands for blessing the water at baptism? Is it a gesture of epiclesis over the water, or are hands touching (fingertips in) the water? Or is either gesture acceptable? Thank you for all you do!
==
A: Look at the longer version of the prayer, OBC 54. Near the end, the celebrant touches the water with his right hand. In one alternative at OBC 223, he also touches the water with his right hand near the end. In the third option, OBC 224, he makes the sign of the cross over the water.
The first two options include words referring to the Holy Spirit, so touching the water has some epicletic significance, but the OBC never explicitly calls these words epicleses.