The answer
St. Cyprian says, “Water alone is not able to cleanse sins and sanctify man unless accompanied by the Holy Spirit … there can be no baptism without the Holy Spirit, for baptism is never gifted without the Spirit.”
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty · Catechism · 716
Faith Q&A › Catechism › 18. The Sacrament of Chrismation
Can Baptism be accomplished without the work of the Holy Spirit?
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volume 1, Books 1–3. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.