You have decided to baptize your child, but don't know where to start. How to do it? What is needed for this? Priest Sergiy Zvonarev, an employee of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, a cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khoroshevo, will help to figure it out.

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Now almost all parents, regardless of whether they live according to church canons or not, are trying to baptize their children. Father Sergius, what do you think about this?

Of course, the desire to baptize a baby in any case is only welcome. However, parents would like to wish a more responsible attitude to the sacrament. Baptism is not a tribute to fashion or tradition, but the spiritual birth of a person for a mysterious life with God, which occurs only once. In the sacrament of Baptism, a person is given the grace of the Holy Spirit, which helps him grow spiritually, strengthen himself in love for God and neighbor. By accepting holy Baptism, a person becomes a full member of the Church and can participate in other sacraments.

Faith is an essential condition for receiving the sacrament of Baptism. Of course, it is pointless to demand faith from an infant. Baptism of children occurs according to the faith of their parents, as well as godparents.

At what age is it best to baptize a child?

There are no strict requirements: baptize the child when you see fit. However, given the spiritual importance of this sacrament, one should not particularly delay either - usually children are baptized in the first year of life.

Is it possible to baptize a child if his parents are unbaptized, of a different faith or baptized in non-Orthodox (for example, Catholics, Armenians or Baptists)?

It is possible and necessary. The religion of the parents in this case is not a determining factor.

Are there rules about baptizing more than one person at the same time? Can children and parents, brothers and sisters be baptized together?

Nothing prevents the simultaneous baptism of several people: in our time, 20-30 people are often baptized at the same time. It is possible to be baptized together with relatives. I think that it is a great spiritual joy when close people receive Holy Baptism together.

Most couples who want to baptize their baby are not married in a church. Can they baptize their child?

Calling on Orthodox people to enter into a church marriage, the Church, at the same time, recognizes the marriage registered in the registry office as legal. If the child's parents are not married, this does not prevent him from being baptized.

Father Sergiy, you know that, unfortunately, there are many single-parent families and children born out of wedlock. What to do in such cases?

The presence in the family of only one of the parents is not an obstacle to the baptism of the child, as well as other conditions of his birth.

The question of choosing a name is perhaps one of the most exciting. Despite the fact that, in principle, a child can be baptized with any name, it is customary in the Russian Orthodox Church to baptize children with the name of one of the saints, who is mentioned in the Saints (a list of saints' names). If the name given at birth is not in the Saints, then, as a rule, the consonant name of one of God's saints is given (for example, Karina - Catherine, Inga - Inna, Robert - Rodion), or the name of a saint whose memory falls on the date the birth of a child (for example, January 14 - Basil the Great, October 8 - St. Sergius of Radonezh, July 24 - Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga). With this name, a person is baptized, can participate in the sacraments. This name is written in commemoration notes.

How to choose a church where a child will be baptized and is it possible to baptize a child at home?

The choice of the temple where the baptism will take place is more important for the parents than for the baby himself. If you are parishioners of a particular church, then it is better to baptize there.

Baptisms at home, as a rule, are performed only under some special circumstances that prevent people from coming to the temple, for example, in the event of a serious illness of a child.

What days do baptisms take place? Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting?

Baptism can be performed absolutely on any day - Lenten, ordinary or festive. But each church has its own schedule, so when choosing a day for christening, you need to consult with the priest.

Who can be invited to be godparents? What responsibilities does this place on them?

Orthodox Christians who are not married to each other, and also do not plan a further marriage, can become godparents, since godfathers are spiritually related to each other.

The role of godparents is great. It is they who promise to raise the child in the faith. The participation of godparents in the spiritual upbringing of children should be real, not nominal. Today there are all possibilities for this. Priests are always ready to discuss issues of spiritual education of children, in church shops there is religious children's literature that tells about God, faith, the Church.

In order to teach godchildren the basics of faith, godparents themselves must understand and be able to explain what and in whom they believe.

A godfather can be either a distant or close relative of the person being baptized - an uncle or aunt, brother or sister, grandmother or grandfather, or just a good friend of the child's parents. When choosing a godfather, of course, you need to be guided by how good a spiritual educator and adviser he can become for your child.

What is needed for baptism? How should one prepare for it?

In those churches where it is customary to hold catechumens (that is, teaching) conversations, godparents need to visit them in advance. For the baptism of an infant, you need to have a baptismal shirt, a pectoral cross, a towel, and a few candles. All this can be prepared in advance by yourself, or purchased at a church shop. According to tradition, godparents give the baby a cross and an icon of his heavenly patron. Before the baptism of a child, it is advisable for Orthodox Christians to confess and take communion, because on the day of baptism, for the first time, their baby will also take communion with them.

Who can be present in the church at the time of baptism?

Everyone who is not indifferent to this spiritual event in the life of the family, and who prayerfully wants to share the joy of the Holy Sacrament, can be present.

How should baptisms be celebrated?

You can set the table, prepare refreshments, invite godparents, relatives to celebrate this event. But remember that the day of christening should not be marred by abuse. It must be sanctified by love and spiritual joy.

I talked with Father Sergius: Alexandra Borisova.

The sacrament of baptism is an Orthodox rite of the second birth or the first rebirth of the soul. After all, until a person is baptized, he is not written in the Book of Life, and the Lord does not see him among mortals. Only after passing through baptism on earth, we have the right to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Parents are often tormented by the question when to baptize a child? After all, this is a responsible step that they take for their child. Many believe that one should wait, so to speak, give the right of choice to the person himself to decide whether he needs to accept the Orthodox faith or not. So, when is the best time to baptize a child? Let's try to figure it out.

What is the sacrament of Orthodox baptism?

The rite of Orthodox baptism consists in washing the body with water. This action symbolizes the washing away of sins from a person. After all, water is the source of life. By dipping children or already adults who have come to God, the priest washes away sins from the body, and with the help of prayer cleanses the soul, begging for forgiveness for sins. Thus, a person acquires spiritual and bodily purity.

The rite of baptism, as well as the way it is carried out, is all described in the Holy Scripture (Bible). But each religion has made its own adjustments. Today, when conducting a ceremony, the ministers of the Catholic church douse the babies, the ministers of the Protestant go to the reservoirs, and the Orthodox Church dictates to dip the baby three times, for this they use a tub of blessed water, called a font.

The ceremony itself has a duration of 40-60 minutes. During this time, the holy father reads a prayer in order to expel Satan in the name of God. Godparents or the baptized person himself (if he is already over 14 years old) renounces the devil three times, asks for reunification with Christ. One of the godparents reads the "Symbol of Faith" prayer.

The Holy Father sanctifies water, bread, oil for Chrismation. Further, God's child is called a Christian name, dipping three times in a font with consecrated water. Orthodox names by months for girls can be found in the article, and the meaning of male names in the article.

From the font they take him to the roof. The priest conducting the sacrament performs chrismation, which testifies that the soul of the baby is pure, the "Seal of God" is on it. They also cut their hair crosswise from the head. It is believed that in this way the baby makes a sacrifice to God for the fact that the Lord accepted him into the Kingdom of the Lord.
The last action, as a symbol of the acceptance of a new pure soul, the initiation of a person into Christianity, a cross is put on the neck of the baptized.

They complete the sacramental churching, in other words, they introduce the newborn into the church. This is when a female child is attached to the icon of the Mother of God, and a male baby is brought to the altar.

When to baptize a child? Modern views, traditions!

When to baptize a child - parents decide until he is 7 years old. After the church, in addition to the opinion of the parents, takes into account the position of the child. For the rite of baptism, they ask his consent. When a child turns 14, the decision - to accept the Orthodox faith, as well as to be baptized - depends entirely on the child, since he is already considered a full-fledged person, capable of making independent, deliberate decisions. Now, knowing these rules, you yourself decide when to baptize a child: in infancy, at an older age, asking his opinion, or completely giving him the right to choose after 14 years.

Baptismal traditions: when was the ceremony performed in the old days?

In the old days, a newborn was carried to church for baptism on the eighth day after birth. This rite of naming on the 8th day of life is considered Old Testament, but after the formation of the Orthodox Church, parents, still observing the old traditions, carried the children to the consecration ceremony, but the mother was no longer allowed inside the church.

A woman after childbirth is cleansed physically, therefore it is not customary for her to go to services. But when can a woman visit the temple? According to medical standards, a woman's body is physically cleansed of the consequences of childbirth for about 6 weeks. This period is forty days. After this time, a woman can enter the temple, but not just like that. The Holy Father should read a cleansing prayer over it. Only after that the woman is again considered clean.

In ancient times, it was difficult to find an Orthodox church, because it was located alone for hundreds of miles. Getting to it, especially in winter, was quite difficult. Mother was always taken with them to feed and go around the baby. In order not to "go twice": the first time - to perform a ceremony over the child, the second - to read a prayer over the mother, they did everything on the same day - the fortieth.

When to baptize a child:what do they say today?

Today, the church does not tie the sacrament to a specific day. To the question "when" - he advises not to take the numbers literally, allowing the baby to be baptized a little later or a little earlier. Today, the doors of churches are always open, the servants of the Lord perform the rites of baptism with great pleasure, adding new souls to the ranks of Orthodox peasants. At the request of mom and dad, you can be baptized both before the 40th day and after.

Very often, the sacrament is simply necessary, especially when there is a danger to the health of the child or his life. Then the child can be christened in the first days after birth.

The answer to the question - when, should be given by the parents themselves, who will be ready to bring their child to God.

About the problems of the world. When and how to celebrate baby christening?

As in the old days, so now, parents, giving the child to the godparents, say: "Take the unbaptized, bring the baptized." After the process, they meet guests, relatives, new godfathers at the laid table. What has changed over the years of christening celebrations?

What traditions existed before?

Initially, before being baptized, future godfathers were met at home. Kum, coming, brought bread and a baptismal cross. Kuma - clothes for baptism and up to 4 arshins of fabric.

After the sacrament, a table was laid, on which cabbage soup, soup with offal, mushrooms, noodles, and pies were served. The main obligatory dish of the christening was buckwheat porridge. After the feast, the hostess, before the godfathers left, gave them pies, in return for which the godmother gave her a scarf, and the godfather gave her money or gifts.

How is a new Christian welcomed now?

Parents still set the table, meet guests. There are no traditional dishes on the table, but everything is cooked with love and delicious.

The icon brought from the church is best hung over the baby's bed, so it will protect him and protect him. Candles left after the ceremony are hidden. They get it only when the baby is sick. Lighting them, they read a prayer for health.

The most important thing every mom should know!

Kryzhma is an integral part of every sacrament. After the baby is christened, it becomes a relic that must be preserved for many years. It is not recommended to wash it, because it is soaked with water from the font (the child is wrapped in kryzhma, taking it from the font with consecrated water). When a newborn is sick, it is recommended to cover him with a blanket, it helps the child to heal.

Baptismal cross (which is baptized) - protects the newborn from the evil eye, bad words, bad thoughts. It should be worn with the body, showing less to others. So, he has more power to protect the baby.
It can be made from any material, but remember that silver is considered a metal associated with baptism.

Let's sum up and talk about signs!

When to baptize a child? A rhetorical question that every parent must answer for themselves. The decision made by them will accompany the child throughout his life, therefore, it is necessary to carefully approach the performance of the sacrament.
Summing up, I would like to recall the signs that our ancestors always paid attention to before baptizing a child and during the sacrament:

1. It is believed that when the baby cries on time, when he is baptized, then this is good.
2. It is good when a child sleeps in christening clothes.
3. If several children are being baptized, then the girl should not be baptized before the boy.
4. A beneficial sign when the sacrament over the baby takes place after the wedding of the young. It is bad when they baptize after the funeral of the deceased.
5. When the bells ring before the sacrament, the Lord himself will send his grace to the baby.
6. You can not bring an unbaptized child into someone else's house.
7. You can not transfer the selected day when to baptize a child to another.

Author of the publication: Ivanna Loginova

There are no days when it is strictly forbidden to baptize a child. But those parents who want to conduct the sacrament according to Orthodox canons adhere to certain rules. Since ancient times, the tradition has been widespread to carry out baptism on the eighth or fortieth day from the birth of the baby. On the eighth day of a child's life, the priest conducts an important rite of naming. By the name received on this day, the Lord knows the person and accepts his prayers.

But many still do not choose this date for baptism because of the strict rule - the mother of the child cannot be present at the ceremony until the fortieth day from the birth of the child. Until this period passes, his mother is excommunicated from the church for purification, and then a special cleansing ceremony is performed on her, allowing her to visit the temple again. Therefore, the most common date for baptism is the fortieth day of a baby's life.

Attention! Do not forget to find out in advance if another event is planned in the church for that day, because then there will be a lot of people in the church, which will interfere with the sacrament, and the priest may be busy.

Baptism on holidays

Previously, baptism was timed to coincide with church holidays - Easter, Epiphany, Trinity, Christmas, Palm Sunday and others. The sacrament is allowed to be performed on any holiday, but you need to understand that a lot of parishioners visit the temple these days. The child may not be comfortable among a large and noisy crowd. And as noted earlier, the priest may not have enough time to conduct the rite of baptism. Therefore, if you still decide to conduct the sacrament during the holidays, you must visit the church in advance and agree with the priest.

What else do you need to know when choosing a date?

We have compiled a list of what else you should pay attention to when choosing a date for baptism:

1. You need to know that according to church rules, the mother of the child and the godmother cannot come to church during critical days. Therefore, it is necessary to check in advance with your cycle and, if necessary, move the date of baptism.
2. If you are worried about the health of your baby, you can find out the weather for the coming week and choose the warmest day. Some postpone baptism until summer to make sure their child does not get sick after bathing.
3. There are also parents who refuse to baptize a baby in infancy at all. There is nothing catastrophic about this! Remember, a child can be baptized at any age. Some specifically time the sacrament to coincide with the child's birthday, for example, the completion of one year.
4. Often a day off is chosen for the baptism so that as many relatives as possible can come. By the way, an unlimited number of people can attend the ceremony, it is only important that they are relatives and friends.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of godparents, who are entrusted with the most important mission - to educate the godchild in the faith.

How to carry out a baptism at home?

In some cases, such as illness of a child or parent, or living in a remote rural area, a priest can be invited home and baptized there. Also, this method is sometimes used by those who do not want to take a child to the temple in cold weather. But in this case, keep in mind that the priest may not agree to your proposal. In addition, only in the church does the most important part of baptism take place - the presentation of girls to the altar and the introduction of boys into it. So a child can be baptized at home, but only in the temple does this sacrament take on its full meaning.

Advice! After baptism at home, the priest can be invited to stay at the ceremonial table in order to celebrate the christening.

11 folk signs about the baptism of a child

Signs of baptism by Orthodox Christians were passed down from generation to generation. We have selected the most famous of them:

• Christening clothes should be new, light in color. After all, it is believed that it is in it that the child for the first time appears before God;
• you need to baptize the child early, because after the ceremony he has his own guardian angel, who from now on will protect the baby;
• for the same reason, you should not show the baby to a large number of people before the sacrament. After all, the child is absolutely defenseless in front of everything;
• Saturday is considered the most successful day for baptism among the people;
• pork should not be served on the festive table after christening, it is best if it is rooster or chicken meat.
• godfather and godfather should not be in a romantic relationship, much less be husband and wife. It is best if they are relatives;
• the godparent should give the child a cross for the sacrament, and it is better if the cross is not made of gold;
• it’s good if a wedding takes place in the church before or after baptism. And vice versa, it is bad if it is the funeral of the deceased;
• you should not invite a woman who has had an abortion to become a godmother;
• kryzhma (a special towel for the ceremony) should be given by the godmother. It must be kept for life without erasing;
• if you are buying a cross or other things needed for a ceremony in a church, do not take the change under any circumstances, or leave it in the donation box.

Relying on church rules when choosing a day of baptism or choosing a date convenient for the family and the child is your decision! The main thing to remember is that baptism is a sacred sacrament that will largely determine the future fate of your baby. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for it and take it seriously!

The rite of baptism of a child - video

Immediately before Baptism, it is customary in church practice to make an announcement - a deep and comprehensive explanation of the meaning and foundations of the Orthodox faith. In many churches, public conversations with future godparents are held in advance, if possible.
should be visited. Before the sacrament, all the candles are lit, the priest goes around the temple or baptismal and reads three prayers: a prayer on the baby’s birthday, a prayer for naming in
the eighth day and the prayer of the 40th day (mother's prayer). To perform Baptism, the baby is completely undressed; while reading prayers, the godparents hold him in his arms, wrapped in swaddling clothes. If it is cold, it is allowed to leave the baby in clothes, but slightly open his chest, arms and legs.

The presence of the mother of the child at the Baptism is allowed only after the priest has read the permissive prayer of the fortieth day. But some priests read it at the beginning and, thereby, allow the mother to participate in the Sacrament, while others - at the end, and then the mother should not even enter the temple (it is allowed to stand in the porch). Both are allowed by the Church: when reading a mother’s prayer is the priest’s decision. After these prayers, the priest asks the godparents and the godson to turn their faces to the west (symbolically, this is the abode of Satan). And, turning to the godparents, he asks questions three times, which also need to be answered consciously three times. Because baby
cannot understand the essence of the issues, his godparents make vows for him.

First the priest asks:

Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his service, and all his pride?

The godfather should answer:

I deny.

Then the priest says:

Dun and spit on him (as a sign of extreme contempt).

After that, the priest orders to turn his face to the east, to the Lord, and asks:

Are you aligned with Christ?

The godfather should answer:

I match.

With this answer, the godparents confess their loyalty to the Lord for the godson. Next, they read the Creed prayer, which should be learned by heart. Then the priest reads the great litany, during which he blesses the oil and water in the font. For invincibility in the fight against Satan, before immersing in the font, the priest anoints the baby with Holy oil with the words: A servant of God (slave
of God) The name of the oil of joy in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Anointing the chest, he says:

For the healing of soul and body.

Anointing the ears:

To the hearing of faith.

On hands:

Your hands created me and created me.

On foot:

To walk him (her) in Your footsteps (Your commandments).

Then the priest takes the child from the godparents and baptizes, immersing him three times with his head in the font, holding him facing the east, with the words: The servant of God (servant of God) (Name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then one of the recipients (for the boy - this is the godfather, and for the girl - the godmother) takes the baby from the hands of the priest into his own hands. The child is thoroughly dried, dressed in a baptismal shirt and put on a cross. White dress is a sign of purity of soul
and reminds the baptized that he must maintain this purity in the future, and the cross serves as a sign of his faith in the Lord. Kryzhma, which has absorbed holy water, like a baptismal shirt, must be preserved.

Immediately after Baptism, the Sacrament of Confirmation is performed in a single rite, which, like Baptism, is no longer repeated. The priest anoints the baptized saint
Peace, outlining the image of the cross on the forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs of the child, with the words: Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen. After anointing with Peace, the priest with the recipients and the person being baptized three times bypasses the font with candles, then washes and wipes the myrrh from the body of the child with the words: You were baptized, enlightened, anointed, sanctified, washed, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Further, the priest reads a prayer for cutting the hair and cross-cutting the tonsure with the estates: The servant of God (servant of God) (Name) is sheared, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The cut hair is rolled into a ball of wax and lowered into the font.

The hair cutting is followed by a prayer for the recipient and the newly baptized. And then there is a release - a blessing on leaving the temple with the kiss of the cross; in prayer, the saint is commemorated, in whose honor the name of the baptized is given, and with this the Sacrament ends.

If the child is already 40 days old, then immediately after Baptism and Confirmation, Churching is performed. If the permissive prayer of the 40th day was not read over the mother of the child before Baptism, then it must be read before Churching. For
there are few male and female babies of the rite of churching
differs. The priest takes the child in his arms in the porch of the temple and marks them with a cross at the entrance to the temple, in the middle of the church and on the pulpit at the Royal Gates, saying the words: "The servant of God is being churched." If a male baby was baptized, then the priest brings him to the altar, carrying him around the throne through a high place, then he puts him to the icons on the iconostasis and gives him into the hands of his mother or godfather.
Girls are not brought into the altar, their churching ends at the Royal Doors. The priest concludes the churching with a prayer. After the Sacrament of Baptism, the child must be given communion. Sometimes the first Communion is celebrated on the same day, but more often the priest asks to come the next day or a week later. Usually Communion is performed after the morning liturgy, in different churches the days and times of the services vary. It is not necessary to attend a service with a child, babies are communed without a queue and only with wine (the Blood of Christ). A child should be communed regularly, preferably at least once a week.

2. Preparation of godparents for the rite of baptism

Dear godparents, before you become godparents, you must realize the full responsibility and importance of the upcoming event - the Sacrament of Baptism. You have a huge responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of your godchild, together with your parents you are responsible for him before God. In order to teach your godchildren the basics of the Christian faith, godparents themselves must understand and be able to explain to the child what and in whom they believe. If you feel that you are not well informed on these matters, it is time to fill in the gaps in your knowledge of Orthodox Christianity. Today there is every opportunity for this: in church shops there is a lot of religious literature, including children's literature, which tells about God, Faith and the Church. Priests are always ready to discuss with you the issues of spiritual education of children, in many churches training (disclosure) conversations are held with future godparents. Before the Sacrament of Baptism, it is advisable to observe a three-day fast, confess and take communion. A woman must cover her head and wear a skirt below the knee. Mom and godmother cannot use lipstick - kissing a cross and kissing icons with painted lips is unacceptable. Dear godparents and young mothers, remember that a woman should refrain from participating in church sacraments during the days of female infirmity. In addition, there are also prohibitions regarding the age, status and faith of future godparents: only adult believers baptized in Orthodoxy can become godparents. A husband and wife or a couple about to get married cannot become godparents. the spiritual kinship established between the recipients in the Sacrament of Baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage.

The baptism of a baby is a special sacrament that requires careful preparation. Some rules should be followed when planning a date and determining godparents for a newborn.

Long before a child plans to be born, parents begin to think that he will need to be baptized. Since ancient times, it was believed that only by christening the baby, he acquires his name and joins the people of God, becoming closer to the Lord himself. The baptismal ceremony frees the little person from sins, because all children are born in sin.

In any case, this is a matter that requires compliance with many rules.

Why are children baptized?

Passing the rite of baptism, the child becomes higher on a spiritual level, he joins the church and acquires a name before the Lord.

• Baptism is a special solemn sacrament. During the christening of a small child, a real miracle happens. The Church insistently asserts that at this moment the real gates to Heaven open. Baptism washes away sins from a person, making him clean before the Lord.
• If you think about it, this is a way to warn your baby in the future from evil, problems and misfortunes.
• The church strongly believes that religion is not chosen “like clothes”, so parents should take care of the rite of baptism in advance, choose godparents and engage in spiritual education of the child “from the cradle”.
• Baptized people are recognized by the church and you can light candles and read prayers for them. This is another reason for the timely baptism of the child in the church.

Church calendar: when to baptize a newborn?

• The most optimal time for baptism is considered to be the days when a woman's postpartum blood discharge ends, that is, after forty days.
• After the expiration of this period, you need to carefully prepare for the ceremony and calculate the date.
• Many choose certain days on which they honor the Holy Apostles and give the baby their names.

when to baptize a newborn?

Since ancient times, it was believed that baptism can be performed already on the eighth day from birth, provided that the umbilical wound is completely healed.

There are also situations when parents do not wait for forty days to be baptized. The reason for this is not the good health of the baby, his ability to die from illness, difficult and traumatic childbirth. In situations where it is impossible to visit the church, a clergyman is invited to the hospital and performs the ceremony. In extreme cases, the mother herself reads a prayer and sprinkles the child with holy water.

After a hospital baptism, it is imperative to re-baptize in the temple.

• According to the rules, the sacrament is held on the fortieth day after the birth of the baby, and this is no coincidence.
• This is the time that should put the mother of the child and the newborn in order.
• It is believed that it is not worth postponing the date of baptism for a long time, and if one of the relatives fell ill or could not come, the church does not accept this.
• If fasting falls on the date of baptism, that is, on the fortieth day, this does not become an obstacle and there are no prohibitions on church holidays.
• Exceptions can only be large church holidays, in such cases the church may not hold a baptism due to the busyness of the clergy.

Preparing for the baptism of a child - the choice of godparents, the rules and duties of godparents

The christening of a child has always been considered a special holiday in the life of every family. This is the purification of the soul and body at the same time. Due to the lack of a child’s opportunity to bow before God, this duty is performed for him by his godparents. It is for this reason that godparents should be chosen carefully, because they will become the spiritual parents of the baby until the end of his days.

Godparents for a child must be Orthodox people and should not have any intimate relationship with each other.

preparation for the baptism of a child

• The baptism of the baby should, according to the rules, be carried out only within the walls of the church. During baptism, both parents read the “creed” prayer, which serves as their proof of the Orthodox faith and observance of the duties of godparents. In their prayer, both parents completely renounce Satan and promise to take full part in the spiritual Christian upbringing of their child.
• It must be remembered that Christianity is a voluntary and conscious choice. So with the choice of godparents, they should not give up their fate and fully devote their strength to this whole process.
• According to tradition, if a girl is baptized, she must have a godmother, and a boy must have a godfather. The role of the godfather can be asked to play the priest himself.
• Godparents should recite a prayer for their godchild every holiday and at bedtime. It is customary to ask God for forgiveness and blessings every time, wish the child good health and give thanks for every day of life.
• It is also the duty of the godparents to acquaint the child with the Bible and give him communion.
• Godparents should take on the burden of "motherhood" and facilitate the work of the mother, giving her rest.

God-parents

Ideally, before baptism, both parents should come to church for confession in order to ask God for forgiveness for all sins committed and take communion. Before baptism, godparents need to spend the day in peace, prayer and refrain from any intimate relationship with their spouses. You should also limit yourself in food.

Before baptism, the godmother must prepare all the necessary clothes for baptism:

• kryzhmu - a special diaper
• shirt
• cap (for girls)

The godfather traditionally acquires a cross. The cross must be silver, as this metal is considered pure and is able to attract positive energy. Gold does not welcome the church, because this metal is not from God.

The clothes in which the baby is baptized and the coat should not be washed after baptism. In those moments when the child gets sick, he should be covered with a blanket. It is believed that she is able to heal the baby and give him relief. The mother must keep all the clothes and hand them over to her child for storage already in adulthood.

How to dress for christening in church: dress code rules

The church requires compliance with a special "dress code". Men are advised not to wear too bright and provocative clothes. It is best to wear a long sleeve shirt and trousers. It will be solemn and proper. It is better not to wear a short sleeve, some clergy react negatively to modern T-shirts. Another important point for men is to completely hide all tattoos on the body. They may have a negative meaning and therefore be unacceptable in the church.

Women must follow a more serious dress code:

• The head of a woman must be covered with a scarf and, in no case, with any headdress.
• A woman should not be wearing trousers, she should definitely wear a skirt or dress that will cover her legs at least to the knees.
• Women's shoulders should also be covered, and the neckline should not reveal the chest to everyone.
• Every detail of the godmother's clothes should not cause indignation and condemnation. A woman should make sure that her wardrobe is not defiant: without heels, bright patterns, skulls, chains and spikes. The church is a noble place.

Every godfather must have a pectoral cross on his chest.

What are the rules for baptism?

• The Orthodox Church says that during the rite of baptism, in no case should non-Orthodox people and people of other religions be present. Therefore, before christening, carefully check with all your loved ones about their details.
• The church is a pure noble place. You should go to church with a pure soul and heart. Therefore, if you have conflicts in your family, they should be corrected and communication should be established.
• After the rite of baptism, parents must set the table for their godparents to celebrate the event. It is customary to give gifts to a child in order to leave as many memories of this bright day as possible.
• Baptism can be carried out in person, or you can combine several together. The rite does not lose strength and acquires significance in equal strength for everyone.
• Hair cut at the time of baptism should be kept by the godfather.

church baptism rules

Can a child be baptized under a different name?

Modern fashion dictates its own conditions, and more and more often parents give their children unusual names: Viola, Aliana, Milan and so on. What to do in those cases when the church does not recognize the name? In such a situation, the priest offers the child another Orthodox name: either similar to what the child has, or a name dedicated to the Holy Apostle.

In such situations, the child has two names, but only what the church has given gains strength. In prayers and petitions to God, it is the church name of the child that should be mentioned.

Is it possible to baptize a child if the mother is not baptized?

The church says that unbaptized people do not have the right to be within its walls. That is why it is forbidden for unbaptized parents to be during baptism. This whole situation is fundamentally wrong, and before baptizing her child, the mother must herself be baptized. Only then will her prayers gain strength and meaning.

Some churches also do not consider it right for the mother to be near the child during baptism, even baptized. After all, all duties fall on the godmother - and here she is the main one. All this can be understood from the point of view that a child cannot have two mothers at the same time. In such cases, the mother is outside the temple. Some churches allow mothers who do not have bleeding to be present in the temple and observe the ceremony from a distance.

rite of baptism

Can a pregnant woman be a godmother and baptize a child?

The Church categorically forbids “not clean” women, that is, those who currently have postpartum discharge or menstruation, to be within its walls. But it is loyal and even favorable to pregnant women who decide to come to the temple. Therefore, a pregnant woman may well be a godmother.

However, you should think about the fact that the rite is quite complicated and requires endurance. Sometimes you should stand in a stuffy room for a long time and hold the child in your arms. Whether a pregnant woman will be able to withstand this process, and whether she can afford it, is another question.

Can a child be baptized without godparents?

Some life situations force parents to make difficult decisions about the choice of godparents. It often happens that there are simply no suitable people. In such cases, the church itself should come to the rescue and offer its services. The fact is that any priest can become a godparent to a child.

The rules of baptism state that a child must have at least one godparent who will pray for him.

Still, it is advisable to prepare in advance in order to find suitable people for baptism. Age and social status should never matter, only the desire to share the fate of a parent and the Orthodox faith should move people.

Are children baptized on fasting and Easter?

As mentioned earlier, fasting and church holidays do not become an obstacle to the ceremony. The only exception is the situation when the clergyman performing the ceremony is too busy on the occasion of Easter or any other date. You should always clarify with the priest in advance his capabilities and plans, and only then prepare for the event.
It is best to choose the day before Easter.

christening at easter

Can a child be baptized on a leap year?

Church rules have nothing against a leap year for baptism. Baptism is a ceremony that brings the soul of a child closer to God, and therefore, some worldly conventions should not matter. In no case should you postpone baptism on the occasion of a leap year; the child should be introduced to the Lord as early as possible.

What day of the week are children baptized?

As a rule, baptism can be carried out on any day of the week - you just have to agree with the priest. Most often, churches gather children during the first half of the week to be baptized in the second half, but they are always ready to make exceptions and hold a private ceremony.

Baptism is most often held on Saturday, as Sunday is overloaded with church services.

baptism in church

The rite of baptism, as a rule, is a long process that requires careful preparation and full dedication. First, the ceremony takes place in a separate room, where the godparents read prayers, and the child is smeared with myrrh and dipped in holy water. As a rule, this action lasts from forty minutes to an hour. The most important thing happens in this room - the child is given a name and a cross is put on it.

How is the baptism of a child?

After the ceremony, held in a separate room, the child is allowed to enter the temple and is solemnly brought into the church. The priest brings the baby to important icons and reads prayers. The priest carries the children-boys through the altar; girls are not allowed to be there. Native mothers are present in the temple and read maternal prayers. It takes another forty minutes.

Baptism of a child: rules for godparents in the church

During baptism, godparents should carefully listen to the priest. He will read those prayers that should be obligatory when a child acquires the Orthodox faith. They are read in the old language, so the exact repetition of some words is not excluded. You shouldn't get lost here. You need not to panic and try to complete the task as best as possible.

During prayer, at the request of the priest, it is customary to spit on the wall three times and blow. Here you should not overdo it and do everything symbolically. Each godparent should help each other if the child does not behave calmly. Baptism is a holiday that should not be overshadowed by a bad state of mind. According to the rules, if a girl is baptized, her godfather holds her, and if a boy, the godmother.

rules for godparents

Who cannot be a godfather to a child?

There are several rules that should be observed when choosing godparents:

• godparents should not be intimate with each other
• godmother should not have periods during baptism
• godparents cannot be people of other faiths
• godparents cannot be the parents themselves

That's all the requirements. You can baptize several times in your life and rebaptize the children of your loved ones (that is, I will be the godfather of the child of the parents who are the godparents of my child) is also not prohibited.

Who should buy a cross for a child's baptism and which one?

As mentioned earlier, the godfather is obliged to buy a cross for a newborn - this is his direct responsibility. The cross must be consecrated, so prefer to purchase this attribute right in the church. If you have already purchased this item in a jewelry store, try to dedicate it in the church in advance.

The cross should be the most common, without unnecessary symbols and meanings. It must have a crucifix and the inscription "Save and Save."

God-parents

Rules for the baptism of a girl in the Orthodox Church

The baptism of a newborn does not differ much depending on his gender and still requires some nuances:

• The girl's clothes must necessarily have a cap - a headdress that will cover her head, as for any woman.
• It is best to give preference to a long shirt and not dress the girl in a suit.
• During the removal of the cap, you should cover the girl's head with kryzhma.
• The girl is not carried through the altar in the temple.

Rules for the baptism of a boy in the Orthodox Church

• A headdress for boys does not have such a strong meaning as for girls and therefore you can not keep it on your head.
• The father brings the boy not only to the icons, but also carries him through the altar, leaving this sacrament only for the male sex.
• The priest reads prayers, starting with male names.

What is given for the baptism of a child?

Christening is an important date, and therefore it is customary to give many pleasant and useful gifts on this day. Most often, these are clothes for the child, toys or sums of money for which parents themselves decide what to buy.
It is important not to come to the festival empty-handed. It will be most pleasant to receive important things, for example, walkers or educational games.

Not infrequently, one of the godparents gives the child a silver spoon. Most often this is the godmother.

How much does a baptism in a church cost?

The cost of baptism depends only on the church and your generosity. Rarely do churches assign any specific amount and most often simply ask for a voluntary contribution to the development of the church. However, depending on the size and importance of the temple, the amount can range from $10 to $80. This amount includes a ceremony, sometimes paraphernalia, a certificate and an ordered service in honor of the baby.

The godfather must pay for the baptism ceremony - this is his main duty and a gift for baptism to his child.

Video: “The Sacrament of Baptism. Rules"