What happens during the sacrament of Baptism? – Why are only boys brought into the altar? About public conversations, or why lectures are needed before baptism

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One of major events in the life of a believer, this is a sacrament during which he is accepted into the faith and the church. The baptism of a child, both a boy and a girl, is carried out according to certain rules of the church. The sacrament is carried out according to a ritual that has not changed for several centuries. Parents and godparents must prepare carefully and in advance for this significant event.

What is baby baptism

The rite of baptism of a child is an important step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and church. Christenings have long history, but before today the basic rules and canons have been preserved. The holy baptism of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition; the rite rids the baby of sins (hereditary or personal) and birth takes place for a holy, spiritual life.

Choosing a name

If the name with which the baby is registered on the birth certificate is not in the calendar, then you should decide on choosing another one. They select names for the child’s baptism that are consonant with the world, for example, Zhanna - Anna, Sergei - Sergius. When there is no such correspondence in the church calendar, the name of the saint is used, who is honored immediately after the birth of the baby. When choosing a name, it is better to seek help from a clergyman rather than doing it yourself. In church rituals, the name given during the sacrament is used. It is necessary to know him in order to honor the heavenly intercessor.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

The Church recommends scheduling a baby's christening as early as possible. Catholics and Orthodox Christians schedule the baptism of a child in the first months from the date of birth, although a person of any age is allowed to perform the ceremony. Some people postpone baptism until a person can independently decide on his choice of religion. Often the date for the sacrament is set on the 40th day of the baby’s life. The choice of the date of baptism, which establishes when to baptize a child, has several reasonable explanations:

• newborns up to 3 months can easily tolerate head-first dives;
• babies behave calmer and are not afraid when strangers pick them up;
• The mother of the baby is allowed to enter the church after 40 days from the date of birth.

Child christening - rules and signs

If the baptism of an infant is carried out according to all the rules, preparation for the sacrament should begin in advance. For future godparents church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of the christening, repenting and receiving communion. It is also recommended to fast for 3-4 days, although this condition is not mandatory. On the morning of the ceremony, godparents should not eat or have sex the day before.

On what days are children baptized in church?

You can carry out the sacrament of baptism of a child on any day, be it a holiday, an ordinary day, or a fast day. IN church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates of the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are crowded and it will be difficult to conduct the sacrament. Some temples have their own schedule related to internal regulations. When choosing the day on which the baptism of children will be scheduled, it is better to consult with a priest.

Rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church

When you decide to baptize a child, it is important not only to choose a temple and purchase baptismal supplies, but also to familiarize yourself with the conditions defined by the church that parents and guests must follow. Church rules state that everyone must be with body crosses. Women should wear closed dresses and cover their heads with a scarf. The baptism process lasts at least half an hour, the baby will be held in your arms, so it is better to avoid uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Men will need a dark suit, but not black. Although the church does not establish strict rules relatively appearance men do not need to come to the place where the sacraments are performed wearing shorts and a T-shirt. On the eve of the solemn event, the parents, as well as godmothers and fathers, must confess. A few days before the sacrament takes place, you should fast.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy child

When a boy is christened, the ceremony must include Godfather. Traditionally, he takes on all financial obligations, buys a cross for the ceremony and a gift. The custom of paying for the ritual is not always entrusted to the godfather; depending on the financial situation, the child’s natural parents can make a donation to the church. Buy baptism set, which includes a shirt, a blanket, and sometimes a cap, belongs to the godmother. She is also responsible for buying kryzhma and a silk scarf for the clergy.

Girl christening

At the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Its main task is to read the “Creed” prayer during the ceremony. If it is difficult to memorize a text, you can take a hint with words. Traditionally, a woman gives a baptismal set and buys a kryzhma (white towel) for her godchildren. As a gift, you can present an icon of the saint whose name the goddaughter bears. The godfather must buy a cross, and also helps the girl’s parents financially by paying for the ceremony.

Choosing godparents

One of the main tasks of parents is to choose the right godparents (fathers) from Orthodox Christians for their newborn. These are not just those people who give gifts to a child on holidays, but also engage in spiritual education, teach the rules of Christian life and the basics of Orthodox doctrine. According to the church charter, one godparent is required: for a girl - a woman, for a boy - a man, but often both the godmother and the godfather are invited for the baptism procedure. Both recipients must be Orthodox Christians.

Receivers cannot be changed, so parents must carefully select mentors for their child. Often the child’s relatives are invited to this responsible “position”. Grandmothers, uncles, older sisters and any other people close to the family can become godparents. If you choose adoptees from the family, the godson will communicate with them more often, for example, at family events. In addition to the conditions set by the church, it is worth paying attention to the following qualities of potential godparents:

• reliability;
• responsibility;
• high moral and ethical values.

Who has no right to be a godfather

According to the norms of church law, sometimes a person cannot become a godfather or godmother. The high responsibility that is imposed on the recipients determines the circle of people who cannot claim such an honorable role. The following cannot become godparents:

• spouses or bride and groom for one child;
• parents for their baby;
• monks and nuns;
• non-Orthodox, unbaptized;
• immoral or insane;
• children (boys under 15, girls under 13).

The sacrament of baptism - rules for godparents

Responsibility for raising their godchildren in the Orthodox spirit is assigned to their godchildren. Preparing for it the most important stage plays a huge role in a child’s life, although it does not require much effort. Previously, recipients need to undergo a special interview by visiting the church. The godmother helps the parents prepare some items for the child's baptism. It is important that she knows how to handle the child, that she can take off his clothes and put on the baptismal set.

The godmother plays the most important role when the sacrament is performed on a girl. In cases where male infants are baptized, the godfather bears great responsibility. He takes the baby after immersing himself in the holy font, when the baby is wrapped in kryzhma. The godfather can also participate in the purchase of a baptismal set or cross. All material expenses are secondary; the main condition for a child’s baptism is the sincere faith of the relatives and godparents.

What you need to know

Godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of spiritual education of the godson, teaching him the basics of the Christian faith. If the recipients are not sufficiently informed, then they should fill in the gaps, study the relevant literature, and talk with priests. Before the sacrament, it is better to learn about the rules of the ceremony. It is important to clarify at what stage the godmother takes the baby, and when the baby is held by the godfather, at what point the child is wrapped in kryzhma, and when the baptismal shirt is put on him.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

To receive the sacrament of baptism, a person (or recipients, if the ceremony is performed on a child) needs to know two fundamental prayers for all Christians: “Our Father”, “Creed”. It is better to know their text by heart and understand the meaning. IN modern church They are tolerant of the fact that recipients do not remember prayers. It is allowed to read them according to the prayer book.

Responsibilities of godparents

The role of godparents does not end after the sacrament of baptism; they need to pay a lot of attention to the spiritual education of the godson. Through personal example, the recipients must demonstrate human virtues to the child and teach him the basics of the Christian faith. With Christian upbringing, children need to learn to resort to the sacraments of confession, communion, and become familiar with the dates of church holidays. Godparents give knowledge about the gracious power of the icon Mother of God, other shrines.

The godparents teach the godchildren to attend services, pray, observe fasting and other provisions of the church charter. Of the many tasks assigned to godparents, the most important is daily prayer about his godson. Throughout your life, you should maintain a warm and trusting relationship with your godson, be with him in sorrow and joy.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The sacred sacrament is carried out according to a specific plan and in in the prescribed manner, which has not changed for many years. The baptism of a child is called a spiritual birth, the main participants in the process are the priest, godparents and the newborn. According to ancient customs, the baby’s natural parents should not be present during the ceremony, but today they treat this with loyalty and allow mom and dad to attend the sacrament. The procedure can be divided into the following stages:

1. The rite of announcement. At that stage, over those preparing for baptism, the priest three times reads prohibitory prayers against evil and the baby’s renunciation of it. The baby is wrapped only in diapers, his chest and face should be free.
2. Prohibition on unclean spirits. Turning to the west, the priest reads prayers against Satan three times.
3. The renunciation of the recipients. The priest asks questions, and the recipients are responsible for the baby.
4. Confession of fidelity to the son of God. The godparents and the baby turn to the east and again answer the priest’s questions. At the end of the rite of confession of allegiance, the recipients read the prayer “Creed.”
5. Blessing of water. The priest dresses in white robes and performs the ceremony. The receivers each take a candle in their hands, and 3 more are lit on the eastern side of the font. After reading the prayer and asking for illumination of the water, the priest baptizes the water three times and blows on it.
6. Blessing of the oil. This stage of baptism is carried out similarly to the illumination of water. The priest blows into the vessel with oil three times, makes the sign of the cross over it, and reads a prayer. The water of the font is anointed with sacred oil when the person is baptized.
7. Immersion of the baby in the font three times. The priest baptizes the child by immersing him in water three times. The procedure is accompanied by special prayers. After the baby is dipped into the font three times, the priest hands the baby over to his receivers. The godfather takes the boy's child, and the godmother takes the girl's child. The baby is wrapped in a baptismal towel or kryzhma.
8. Dressing the baby in baptismal clothes. The baptism ceremony continues with the putting on of baptismal shirts on the newly baptized, and the baby is also given a cross.
9. Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest anoints the baby’s forehead, eyes, cheeks, chest, arms and legs while saying a prayer. The boy is carried around the altar three times, the priest helps the girls to venerate the icon of the Mother of God. The process is accompanied by a prayer of churching.
10. Hair cutting ceremony. The priest cuts some hair from the newborn's head. At the end of the sacrament, this hair remains in the church as a symbol of the first sacrifice to God.

Celebration of christening

The holy sacrament of baby baptism ends with a family celebration. The ceremonial table should include dishes made from dough and cereals. Guests are often treated to pancakes, pies and other pastries. It is traditional to serve poultry; clay dishes are used for baking it. An indispensable treat should be vegetables and herbs, symbolizing spring and the beginning of a new life. Godparents and guests present the baby with a gift. There are no special requirements for choosing a gift. You can give anything: from an icon of a saint to a set of silver spoons.

What to do with baptismal items

How to be baptized is described in detail in the Bible, but there are no recommendations for the use of baptismal paraphernalia. Because of this, there are many opinions and advice. Priests can recommend several options for storing kryzhma to parents:

• put it in a corner of the chest of drawers and take it out in extreme cases (if the baby is sick or is acting restless);
• place the kryzhma near the crib, hiding it from public view, so that it protects the baby.

When the baby does not wear the cross all the time, it can be stored along with the kryzhma in the chest of drawers. While opinions may differ regarding the use of kryzhma, there are actions that absolutely cannot be carried out with it. The baptism towel cannot be washed, thrown away, or baptized another person in it. The baptismal shirt is put into a box or a special bag and kept for life. There is an opinion that it has healing powers; the shirt can be applied to the sore spot of the person who has been baptized in it.

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Baptism for the Orthodox is the second (but in a certain sense the main) spiritual birth of a person, his purification for subsequent existence, a kind of “pass” to heaven - the Kingdom of God. The newly enlightened person receives remission of previous sins. That is why Baptism, among all the Sacraments, is the first sacrament and is necessary for every person seeking salvation and the meaning of life.

Godparents: Who are godparents?

The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. This is the purification of the soul and the spiritual birth of a person. According to the tradition of the Church, an infant should be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life. It is clear that at this age it is impossible to demand from him faith and repentance - the two main conditions for union with God. Therefore, godparents are assigned to them, who undertake to raise their godchildren in the spirit of Orthodoxy. So the choice of godparents should be approached with all responsibility. After all, in theory, they should become a second mother and a second father for your baby.

How to choose godparents?

When choosing a godfather for your baby, find someone you trust completely. These could be your close friends or relatives with whom you constantly support a good relationship. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, godparents are obliged to replace them with a godson.
Only an Orthodox believer who is able to give an account of his faith can be a godfather. Actually, a boy only needs a godfather, and a girl only needs
godmother. But according to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. At your request there can be two, four, six...

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, godparents cannot be:

parents cannot be godparents of their child;
husband and wife godparents of one infant;
children (according to the decrees of the Holy Synod of 1836-1837, the godfather must be at least 15 years old, and godmother not younger than 13 years old), because they are not yet able to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized, and they themselves do not know enough about the laws of Orthodoxy;
people are immoral and insane: the former because their very way of life does not deserve to be godparents, and the latter because, due to illness, they are unable to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized or teach him the faith;
the non-Orthodox are the successors of the Orthodox.

What are the responsibilities of godparents?

Unfortunately, not every godparent understands why his new “position” is called that way. Visiting your godson and giving gifts on an angel’s or birthday day is, of course, good. However, this is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson involves a lot.
First of all, this is a prayer for him. Learn to turn to God once a day - before going to bed. It's actually not difficult at all. Ask the Lord for health, salvation, help in raising your own children, the well-being of godchildren and relatives. It will be useful to master the path to the temple together with your child and take him to communion on a church holiday. It would be great to play educational games with your baby and read books to him. For example, many adults enjoy reading the children's Bible. It clearly describes all the main events of Sacred History.
In addition, godparents can make life much easier for young mothers who find it difficult to find time to spend with their baby. If everyone, according to their capabilities, spends free hours in communicating with a child, he himself will enjoy it.

Appearance of godparents

At the ceremony, the recipients (this is another name for the godfather) must come with pectoral crosses consecrated in the church. In the traditions of the Slavic peoples, women in the temple always had a covered head and a dress below the knees with covered shoulders (little girls may be an exception). Don't wear shoes on high heels, since the baptism ceremony lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours and most time you will have to stand with the child in your arms. As for men, there are no requirements for their clothing, but it is better to refrain from shorts and T-shirts. Such an outfit would look out of place in church.
Don't let the good old ways become a burden for you, because your nice trousers and new fashionable haircut can be shown off in other places. In church, it is better not to attract attention to yourself, focusing on the purpose of your parish.

Preparation for the ceremony

Currently, the ritual is performed mainly in churches. Only in exceptional cases, if, say, a child is very ill, can the sacrament be performed at home or in a hospital. Then a separate clean room must be allocated for the ceremony.
To baptize a child, you must first choose a church. Walk through the temples, listen to your feelings. But keep in mind that baptism does not always take place directly in the church. Most cathedrals have a baptismal chamber (or baptistery) - this is a separate room on the church grounds, specially adapted for this rite. In large churches, baptism usually takes place quite pompously and solemnly. But perhaps someone will like the secluded and calm atmosphere of small churches. Talk to the priest or the novices, they will tell you in detail about how the baptismal ceremony takes place in this church.

How to choose the day of baptism?

There is no church establishment of Baptism on the fortieth day; this is primarily due to the fact that until the fortieth day the Church keeps a woman-parent from entering the temple due to her postpartum infirmities and discharges that she experiences at this time. And the mother’s first entry into the temple after the break is accompanied by the reading of special cleansing prayers, before reading which she should not be present at the services.
But you don’t need to take the day of baptism literally; you can baptize the baby a little later, a little earlier. And now sometimes, at the request of the parents, a child is baptized before the fortieth day, especially when there is at least some danger to the child’s health (baptism in this case is considered as a protective rite).
In ancient times, the celebration of the sacrament was most often timed to coincide with the greatest Christian holidays, for example Easter. But gradually baptism turned into a family holiday. And now, on the contrary, the ritual is carried out almost every day, with the exception of such major church holidays as Christmas, Easter, Trinity. These days, churches are usually overcrowded and priests advise postponing the ceremony. You can come to most temples without an appointment. Usually the sacrament of baptism begins at 10 o'clock, immediately after the service. True, in this case there is a high probability that several other people will be baptized besides you and you will either have to wait, or you will be baptized along with others. It is much more convenient to agree in one or two weeks with the priest who will perform the sacrament on a specific date and time. Then your baby will be baptized first and in splendid isolation. In addition, when choosing the day of baptism, try to ensure that it does not fall on critical days godmother. The fact is that during this period a woman should not venerate shrines: kiss the cross, icons, or better not enter the temple at all.

Preparing godparents for the baptismal ceremony

If you want to follow all the rules, start preparing for the ceremony in advance. Godparents need to go to church to confess, repent of their sins and receive communion. It is advisable (but not necessary) to fast for three to four days before the ceremony. But on the day of baptism, as well as before communion, godparents are not allowed to eat or have sex. At least one of the parents must know the “Creed” prayer by heart. As a rule, when a girl is baptized, the Creed is read by the godmother, and when a boy is baptized, by the father.
And one more thing: according to the unspoken rule, godparents bear all the costs of baptism. In some churches there are no official prices; it is believed that after the ceremony, godparents and guests make donations as much as they can. These costs are optional and their amount is not specified anywhere. But the custom is, as a rule, respected.
According to church custom, the godmother buys the kryzhma or “rizka”. This is a special fabric, or just a towel, in which the child is wrapped when taken out of the font. In addition, the godmother gives a baptismal shirt and a cap with lace and ribbons (for boys - with blue ones, for girls - with pink ones, respectively). The baptismal shirt is kept for life. According to custom, the towel is not washed after the child’s baptism, but is used if the child is sick.
The godfather, again according to custom, buys a baptismal cross and chain. Some believe that the cross and chain should be gold, some – silver, and some are of the opinion that small children should wear a cross on a ribbon or string.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian needs to know the basic prayers: “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God”, “Creed”. During baptism, the godparents say the “Creed” prayer for the baby. All these prayers are in a short prayer book, which can be purchased at the church store if desired.

What to bring to the temple?

As already mentioned, baptism is birth into a new sinless life. Receiving the newly baptized person from the holy font, the godparents accept an absolutely pure being, without sin. A symbol of such purity is white clothing - kryzhma, which is brought to the temple along with a cross on a chain or thread. Who should buy a cross and who should buy a chain, let the godparents decide for themselves. At the end of the ceremony, the priest will bless them and put them on the baby.
Kryzhma for small child An openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt or a new towel that has not yet been washed will serve.

What happens during the sacrament of baptism?

The priest, godparents and child are the main participants in the sacrament. According to ancient customs, the child’s mother and father should not be present when the sacrament is performed. Although in Lately the church is more loyal to this prohibition and allows the father, and sometimes the mother of the baby, after saying a special prayer, to observe the ceremony together with those invited.
Throughout the entire ceremony, the recipients stand next to the priest and one of them holds the person being baptized in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the baptismal room or temple and reads three prayers. After which he asks the godparents and godson to turn their faces to the west - symbolically this is the abode of Satan. And, turning to the person being baptized, he asks several questions.
Questions and answers are repeated three times. After this, the godparents must read the “Creed” - this is a brief summary of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, which all Orthodox Christians must know by heart. Then the anointing takes place. Having dipped the brush into a vessel with myrrh, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs of the person being baptized with a cross. And with each anointing he says: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents and the priest repeat: “Amen.”

After anointing, a lock of hair is cut from the head, which remains in the temple as a pledge of dedication and a symbol of sacrifice to God. If a child is baptized in the cold season or conditions do not allow him to undress ( low temperature in the baptismal room), free the baby’s arms and legs in advance.
Then the priest takes the child from them and directly performs the rite of baptism - immersing the person being baptized three times in the font. If the baptismal room is warm, then most likely your baby will be dipped naked. But when it is cold in the temple, only the neck, arms and feet are exposed for anointing. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. That is why godparents are also called godparents. It is believed that, having accepted the baby in their arms after the ceremony, parents undertake the obligation to raise their godson in the Orthodox spirit throughout their lives and to be held accountable for this upbringing at the Last Judgment. If they cannot see their godson often, they should at least mention him in their daily prayers.

Prayer Creed

I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.
For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, He came down from heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sat on right side Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His Kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped with the Father and the Son, and glorified, who spoke through vices.
In one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church.
I recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come.
Amen.

Rules for the baptism of children.

Even the Soviet government could not break the tradition of baptizing a child. Everyone baptized the children, even the party leaders. But this was done in secret, so even among older people today it is difficult to find a person who knows all the nuances. Parents of a newborn are faced with questions on the topic “what is the right way and what is needed for this?” In our article we will answer the most important questions.
Choosing the time of baptism.
Church recommendations say that it is better to baptize a child on the eighth day of his life. In most cases, the effect of the baptism ceremony on the baby is very beneficial. Baptism can be performed on any day of the week, holiday or fast.

God-parents.

Baptism is a responsible step for both the child’s parents and godparents. The Church says that from the day of baptism until the day of death, the responsibility for his spiritual development falls on the shoulders of his godparents, to a greater extent than on his parents. Therefore, the choice of godparents must be responsible and in compliance with simple, but mandatory rules. It should be taken into account that you can refuse an offer to become a godfather only if there are very serious reasons, such as illness. If parents have doubts that a person can refuse, then it is better not to even consider these people’s candidacies, otherwise both you and they will find themselves in an awkward position. On the day of baptism, the godmother cannot be pregnant; she should not have her period. If suddenly this happens, then the godmother must notify the priest about this at confession. The Church strongly recommends that future godparents undergo confession before the baby's baptism. Wife and husband, minors, nuns or monks cannot be godparents at the same time. A brother cannot baptize his sister, and a sister cannot baptize her brother. As a rule, twins are not baptized on the same day, but it is acceptable for them to have common godparents.

Responsibilities of a godmother.

The godmother must purchase and give the child a special fabric called “rizki”; the child removed from the font is wrapped in this fabric; the godmother also gives a baptismal set: a baptismal shirt, a cap and a blanket. These things should have a festive and beautiful view. Eat folk sign, that if the shirt in which the older child was baptized is passed on to the younger one, then these children will be strong friends. Also, according to ancient tradition, the godmother gives the priest a silk scarf. And although tradition is very serious, do not forget to observe a sense of tact: if you know that the future godmother has financial limitations, you can take on these expenses yourself.

Responsibilities of a godfather.

The godfather buys a cross for the baby, a gift, and also pays for the costs of the ceremony. Many years ago, the godfather gave gifts to the child's mother and godmother, but nowadays this tradition is rarely observed.

Baby baptism ceremony. Stages:

The baby is turned to the west (place of darkness). Thus relinquishing little man from Satan.
Before immersion in the font, the baby is anointed with oil. This equips him with invincible power to fight Satan.
The child is immersed in the font. At this moment, the holy spirit invisibly descends on the baby.
The child is dressed in white outfits from the baptism set and a cross is placed on his chest. This is a symbol of the purity of the soul and the protection of the soul from sin by the crucifix.
Walking around the font is the personification of the symbol of eternity.
Hair cutting. Symbolizes the giving of a newly baptized person to God's will.
The sacrament of baptism ends with the fact that, just as Saint Simeon held little Christ, the priest takes your baby in his arms.
There is an opinion that the mother of the child should not be present at the ceremony; moreover, this is strictly prohibited. But this is not at all the case, “permission” for the mother’s presence at the ceremony is given by the prayer of the fortieth day (it is also called the “mother’s prayer”), the prayer is read by the priest, before the start of the ceremony or after its end. This is permitted by the church; the time of reading the prayer is determined by the priest’s decision. Therefore, if the baby’s mother wants to be present at the baptismal ceremony, she needs to approach the priest before the ceremony and ask him about it. Please note that the question will definitely be asked: “When was the last time you went to confession?” You can't lie. Therefore, if you are not an actively religious person, then a week before the baptism of your child, still live according to the Orthodox canons: read prayers, fast for three days, attend a service, go to confession.
Do you believe that baptism is necessary for your child? Then do everything possible, think through all the little things so that this holiday takes place and is remembered for a lifetime.

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 the child plans to be born, parents begin to think about the fact that he will need to be baptized. Since ancient times, it was believed that only by baptizing a baby does he acquire his name and join the people of God, becoming closer to the Lord himself. The baptism 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?

By undergoing the rite of baptism, the child rises to a higher 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 occurs. The Church insists that at this moment the real gate to Heaven opens. Baptism washes away a person's sins, 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 insists that religion is not chosen “like clothing,” so parents must take care of the baptismal ceremony in advance, choose godparents, and engage in the 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 a 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 bleeding ends, that is, after forty days.
• After this period has expired, you need to carefully prepare for the ceremony and calculate the date.
• Many choose certain days on which the Holy Apostles are honored and give the baby their names.

when to baptize a newborn?

Since ancient times, it was believed that baptism can be performed as early as the eighth day of birth, provided that the umbilical wound has completely healed.

There are also situations when parents do not wait for forty days to baptize. The reason for this is not good health baby, his possibility of dying from illness, difficult and traumatic childbirth. In situations where it is impossible to visit church, a clergyman is invited to the hospital and conducts the ceremony. As a last resort, the mother herself reads the prayer and sprinkles the child with holy water.

After hospital baptism, you should definitely be re-baptized in church.

• According to the rules, the sacrament is performed on the fortieth day after the birth of the baby, and this is not accidental.
• This is the time that should bring order to the mother of the child and the newborn itself.
• It is believed that it is not worth postponing the date of baptism for a long time, and if one of your relatives is sick or could not come, the church does not accept this.
• If fasting occurs on the date of baptism, that is, on the fortieth day, this does not become an obstacle and prohibitions on church holidays does not exist.
• The only exceptions may be major church holidays; in such cases, the church may not hold baptism due to the clergy being very busy.

Preparing for a child's baptism - choosing godparents, rules and responsibilities of godparents

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

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

preparing for a child's baptism

• According to the rules, the baptism of a baby should 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 compliance with the duties of godparents. In their prayer, both parents completely renounce Satan and promise to take full part in the spiritual Christian education of their child.
• We must remember that Christianity is a voluntary and conscious choice. So it is with the choice of godparents, they should not give up their fate and fully devote their strength to this entire process.
• According to tradition, it is believed that if a girl is baptized, she must have godmother, and the boy is his godfather. You can ask the priest himself to play the role of godfather.
• Godparents should read a prayer for their godchild every holiday and before bed. It is customary to ask God for forgiveness and blessings every time, to wish health to the child and to give thanks for every day of life.
• It is also the duty of the godparents to introduce the child to the Bible and give him communion.
• Godparents should take on the burden of “motherhood” and make the mother’s work easier by giving her rest.

God-parents

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

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

• kryzhma - a special diaper
• shirt
• hat (for girls)

The godfather traditionally receives a cross. The cross should be silver, as this metal is considered pure and is capable of attracting positive energy. Gold is not welcomed by the church, because it is not a metal from God.

The clothes in which the baby is baptized and the kryzhma should not be washed after baptism. In those moments when the child is sick, he should be covered with kryzhma. It is believed that she is able to heal the baby and give him relief. The mother must keep all the clothes and give them to her child for safekeeping as an adult.

How to dress for a christening in church: dress code rules

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

Women must adhere to a more serious dress code:

• A woman's head must be covered with a scarf and, in no case, with any headdress.
• A woman should not wear 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 expose everyone's chest.
• Every detail of a godmother’s clothing should not cause outrage or condemnation. A woman should make sure that her wardrobe is not provocative: no heels, bright patterns, skulls, chains and spikes. Church is a noble place.

Every godfather must have a cross on his chest.

What are the rules for baptism?

• The Orthodox Church states that during the baptismal ceremony, under no circumstances should non-Orthodox people and people of other religions be present. Therefore, before the christening, carefully check with all your loved ones for 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, you should definitely correct them and establish communication.
• After the baptism ceremony, 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 as possible of this bright day.
• Baptism can be carried out individually, or you can combine several together. The ritual does not lose its power and acquires meaning of equal strength for everyone.
• Hair cut during baptism should be kept by the godfather.

rules for baptism in church

Is it possible to baptize a child under a different name?

Modern fashion dictates its conditions, and more and more often parents give their children unusual names: Viola, Alyana, Milana, and so on. What to do in cases where the church does not recognize the name? In such a situation, the priest offers the child something else Orthodox name: either similar to that of the child, or a name dedicated to the Holy Apostle.

In such situations, the child has two names, but only what the church has given him gains power. In prayers and petitions to God, one should mention precisely church name child.

Is it possible to baptize a child if the mother is unbaptized?

The Church says that it is not baptized people have no right to be within its walls. That is why it is forbidden for unbaptized parents to be present during baptism. This whole situation is fundamentally wrong and before baptizing her child, the mother must undergo baptism herself. Only then do her prayers gain strength and meaning.

Some churches also do not consider it correct for a mother to be near her child during baptism, even if she is baptized. After all, all responsibilities 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 afar.

baptism ceremony

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to be a godmother and baptize her child?

The Church categorically prohibits the presence within its walls of “unpure” women, that is, those who have this moment postpartum discharge or menstruation. But treat pregnant women who decide to come to the temple loyally and even favorably. Therefore, a pregnant woman may well be a godmother.

However, you should think about the fact that the ritual is quite complex and requires endurance. Sometimes you have to stand for a long time in a stuffy room and hold a child in your arms. Whether a pregnant woman can withstand this process, and whether she is capable of it, is another question.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?

Some life situations force parents to accept complex solutions regarding 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 child’s godparent.

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

Still, it is advisable to prepare in advance 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 during Lent and Easter?

As mentioned earlier, fasting and church holidays do not become an obstacle to the ritual. 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 check with the priest in advance about his capabilities and plans and only then prepare for the event.
It is best to choose the day before Easter.

baptism on Easter

Is it possible to baptize a child during a leap year?

Church rules have nothing against leap years for baptisms. Christening is a rite that brings the child’s soul closer to God, and therefore, some everyday 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.

On what day of the week are children baptized?

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

Baptisms are most often held on Saturday, since Sundays are 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 anointed with myrrh and dipped in holy water. Typically, 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 him.

How is the baptism of a child performed?

After the ceremony, carried out 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 boy children through the altar; girls are not allowed to be there. Mothers are present in the temple and read maternal prayers. This takes another forty minutes of time.

Baptism of a child: rules for godparents in the church

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

During prayer, it is customary, at the request of the priest, to spit at 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, she is held by her godfather, and if a boy is baptized, by her godmother.

rules for godparents

Who cannot be a child's godfather?

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

• godparents should not be in an intimate relationship with each other
• godmother should not have her period during baptism
• godparents cannot be people of other faiths
• The parents themselves cannot be godparents

That's all the requirements. You can be baptized several times in your life and rebaptizing 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 must buy a cross for a newborn - this is his direct responsibility. The cross must be consecrated, so prefer to purchase this attribute directly in the church. If you have already purchased this item in a jewelry store, try to dedicate it to the church in advance.

The cross should be the most ordinary one, without unnecessary symbols and meanings. It must have a crucifix and the inscription “Save and Preserve.”

God-parents

Rules for baptizing a girl in the Orthodox Church

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

• A girl's clothing must 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.
• When removing the cap, the girl's head should be covered with kryzhma.
• The girl is not carried through the altar in the temple.

Rules for the baptism of a boy in the Orthodox Church

• The headdress for boys does not have this strong meaning, as for girls and therefore you don’t have to hold it on your head.
• The priest brings the boy not only to the icons, but also carries him through the altar, reserving this sacrament only for the male sex.
• The priest reads the prayers, starting with men's names.

What do you give for a child's baptism?

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

It is not uncommon for one of the godparents to give the child a silver spoon. Most often this is the godmother.

How much does it cost to be baptized in a church?

The cost of baptism depends only on the church and your generosity. Churches rarely assign a 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 vary from $10 to $80. This amount includes the ceremony, sometimes paraphernalia, a certificate and an ordered service in honor of the baby.

The godfather must pay for the baptismal ceremony - this is his main responsibility and a baptismal gift for his child.

Video: “The Sacrament of Baptism. Rules"

ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

A CONVERSATION ABOUT why a person comes to Baptism must begin with a story about the time when God created the whole world and people, placing them to dominate the new world.

He endowed people with consciousness and freedom so that they would have the happiness of loving, for love is impossible neither without consciousness nor without freedom. Love is the highest good, and the Lord God endowed people with this highest good, because He Himself loved them immeasurably. From that time on, the life of Adam and Eve acquired its Meaning: to love all of God’s creation, to love each other and most of all to love God as the Source of this love.

Love brings those who love together. And therefore the meaning human life it has also become about being close to God.

THE FALL was a betrayal of love. which was accomplished by the first people. They exchanged love for God for the desire to be independent, autonomous. Having lost love, they moved away from God. A certain wall was erected between them and God, which prevented them from communicating with Him and being in unity with Him.

Having moved away from the Source of life - God - people received death. The death was twofold. Firstly, spiritual, from which the heart hardens, the ability to love, compassion, and have sincere and pure relationships with other people is lost. A person in his spiritual death decomposes into pride, hatred, envy, wickedness, etc., which are a small hell for him.

Secondly, this is physical death, that is, the death of the body. It is preceded by its predecessors: bodily infirmities, illnesses, old age.

The distance of people from God affected everything human society, introducing decomposition to its very foundations. This was expressed in the emergence of social injustice, hostility, wars, genocides, fascism, etc.

HOWEVER, although people lost and betrayed their love for God, God continued to love people immeasurably. From the very moment of the Fall, He began to prepare the salvation of people from sin and from lack of love. This preparation is most evident in the history of the Old Testament people of Israel, as described in the books of the Old Testament, which form the first part of the Holy Scriptures or Bible.

THE CENTER of the history of the salvation of mankind was the event of the Incarnation, when God Himself took on human nature and was born from the Virgin Mary as a man.

It was the God-man (that is, God and man) Jesus Christ.

He took upon Himself fallen human nature, torn to shreds by sin, in order to heal Him with Himself, heal its wounds and unite it with the Holy Trinity.

Through the Incarnation, the great Sacrament of the Reunion of man with God, the Sacrament of Salvation, was accomplished.

Our Lord and God Jesus Christ preached His teaching, which was later recorded by His disciples in the Gospels, was captured by the envy of the Jews, suffered the most humiliating and cruel torments: ridicule, slaps, scourging, was condemned to death and crucified on the cross. He painfully gave himself up to this suffering. In him, in this surrender of Himself to death, His great love to the fallen human race.

Being Life and the Source of Life, He could not be embraced by death and hell, but destroyed them. He conquered death: spiritual and physical, by resurrecting on the third day after His crucifixion.

Since then, the dominion of death over the world and man has been destroyed, hell has been defeated. The Church especially celebrates this celebration of Life and Love on Easter Day.

Forty days after His Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, and ten days later - on the Feast of Pentecost - He sent down the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Since then, all those who believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior formed the Church of Christ.

The CHURCH of Christ is a theanthropic organism in which people are united with God and are sanctified by the grace of God. Here they are delivered from death by the power of Christ and receive Eternal Life. In the Church they escape from the hands of hell and enter the Kingdom of God, becoming children of God. The Church itself is the Kingdom of God on earth. It unites everyone who has the same – Orthodox – faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives the same church life, participating in the Sacraments of the Church, and who has received Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Thus, joining the Church and sharing all its benefits, which are Life Eternal, reunion with God, resurrection of the ability to love, rejoice in pure joy, have spiritual health, etc., is carried out through Baptism.

They do not accept baptism in order not to get sick, in order to have success in life, to get rid of troubles, but in order to have Eternal Life and live in unity with God.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING BAPTISM?

THE WORD "baptism" (in Greek "vaptisis") means "immersion."

The main action of Baptism is the three-time immersion of the baptized person in water, which symbolizes the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb, after which the Resurrection took place.

Everyone who is baptized repeats the path of Christ: he dies and then is resurrected. Dies to the sinful life and Satan and is resurrected to start a new life, life with God. At the same time, his entire nature is renewed to its very foundations. He is forgiven all his sins that he committed before Baptism.

A person renounces Satan and unites with Christ, becoming a member of the Church.

IF a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose responsibilities include the Christian upbringing of their godchildren. For them they will give a strict answer at the judgment of God. Anyone who has agreed to become a godfather must realize that he is taking on enormous responsibility for the child he is baptizing, and if he neglects to fulfill his duties, he will be severely punished.

To give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life and pray for their godson.

LET'S CONSIDER in more detail what happens to a person during Baptism and what he commits to after receiving it. To do this, we use the text of the order of this Sacrament.

THE PERFORMANCE OF Baptism is preceded by rite of announcement, during which the priest reads prohibitory prayers directed against Satan. In them, the priest, in the name of God, forbids the devil to dominate the heart of the person being baptized, drives him away from the person. The person is called a “newly chosen soldier of Christ our God.”

After these prayers, the priest blows on the lips of the person being baptized, his forehead and chest, saying the words: “Cast out from him (or from her) every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart...”.

The person being baptized (or godparents, if an infant is being baptized) turns to face west, and the priest asks:

– Do you renounce Satan, all his works and all his angels, all his ministry and all his pride?

The person being baptized answers:

- I renounce.

This is repeated three times. Then the priest asks three times:

– Have you renounced Satan?

And the person being baptized answers:

- I renounced.

The priest says:

“And blow and spit on him.”

The baptized person must blow and spit in front of him as a sign of his contempt for Satan. Thus, the baptized person declares war on the devil. His weapons will be fasting, prayer, participation in church sacraments, and above all the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He will have to fight with his passions, the evil hidden in his soul.

The reward for victory will be eternal life. Defeat will also be eternal - it will consist of endless torment in the underworld along with Satan and his angels.

HOWEVER, man himself will never be able to wage war with the devil - without alliance with Christ. Therefore, after declaring war on Satan, the rite of announcement is followed by union with Christ. The priest asks:

– Are you united with Christ?

The person being baptized answers:

- I match.

After this the priest asks:

– Have you been united with Christ?

The person being baptized answers:

- It was combined.

The priest asks:

- And do you believe Him?

The person being baptized answers:

“I believe in Him as King and God,” and then reads the Creed.

AFTER THIS the rite of Baptism itself begins. The priest blesses the water in which the person being baptized will wash away his sins. He makes the sign of the cross over her three times, blows on her, saying the prayer:

“May all opposing forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your cross.”

Then, after some more prayers and sacred rites, the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: the forehead, chest and shoulders. Oil is a symbol of mercy, and in this case, God's mercy towards a repentant sinner. Anointing with oil also refers to the parable of the Good Samaritan told by the Savior. In this parable, the Good Samaritan, who was a type of Christ, anointed a man who had “fallen among the robbers” with oil so that he would be healed.

THEN finally comes the most main point- Baptism itself.

The priest immerses the person being baptized into water three times with the words:

- The servant of God (name is called) is baptized in the name of the Father, Amen (first immersion). And the Son, Amen (second immersion). And the Holy Spirit, Amen (third immersion).

AFTER Baptism, Confirmation is performed, which has the following meaning.

On the day of Pentecost, as mentioned above, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples of Christ. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit descends on each of us, filling us with the power of God.

Holy Myrrh is oil prepared in a special way, which is blessed by the Patriarch once a year and then sent to all dioceses, where the bishops distribute it to the priests. This is a great shrine.

The priest anoints an already baptized person with the Holy Myrrh, namely: his forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs. Each time he repeats the words:

Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Through this sacred act, the Holy Spirit descends on a person.

Then it reads Holy Bible, a few more prayers, and the rite of Baptism can be considered completed.

However, a person, leaving the temple, must remember that his Christian life is just beginning, that he has renounced Satan and united with Christ. Now he must begin another life...

BAPTISM is the beginning of a new life. A person must bear the fruits of Baptism, and this requires work.

BAPTISM obliges a person to do many things. First of all, it obliges him to fight with himself: with his passions, bad inclinations, in general, with his “old man” who hates other people, is angry, envies, is proud, despises, deceives, commits fornication, etc.

Baptism also obliges a person to lead a church life, which primarily consists of participating in the Sacrament of the Eucharist - communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Sacrament is performed in Orthodox churches during the Divine Liturgy. After receiving Baptism, a person must come to church for churching, after which he can already participate in the Eucharist.

THE EUCHARIST is the core of church life. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives Himself to people in communion during every Orthodox liturgy. People partake of His Flesh and Blood in order to be in constant unity with Him. Without participation in the Eucharist, a person cannot hope for his salvation.

EVERY true believer in Christ should regularly participate in the Eucharist. First, he must clear his conscience through the Sacrament of Repentance and fast for several days, reinforcing the fast with intense prayer. And then, having asked permission from the priest, to partake of the Most Pure Mysteries of Christ.

Parents or godparents should bring small children to communion as often as possible. They do not require special preparation, since they are clean without it. The only thing that is needed is for the children to receive communion on an empty stomach, without eating anything in the morning.

ANOTHER ONE the most important condition spiritual life is prayer. A person who has received Baptism commits himself to prayer.

PRAYER is a person’s appeal to God. In it, he asks the Lord for mercy, asks for forgiveness of sins, help in difficulties, thanks God for His blessings to himself.

Prayer is food for the soul, without which it dies of spiritual hunger.

You need to pray constantly. Usually all Orthodox Christians read the so-called “Morning” and “Morning” in the morning and evening. Evening rule”, which are contained in the “Prayer Books”. During the day you can pray the “Jesus Prayer”:

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Or, more extensively: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

This prayer is convenient because you can pray it everywhere: on the street, at work, on the road.

In any case, about my prayer rule you need to consult a priest.

A PERSON who has been baptized must always remember that he has renounced Satan and promised not to participate in his affairs. Therefore, he breaks this oath, given to God, the one who, after Baptism, begins to go to all kinds of “psychics,” “spellcasters,” “traditional healers,” etc. Thus, he again enters into an alliance with Satan and refuses his union with Christ, denying his Baptism.

A person must remain faithful to the Orthodox Church and not participate in meetings of Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses and other sectarians. A mortal sin is committed by those who are re-baptized by Baptists.

A Christian cannot be a follower of the Roerichs, occultism, or various Eastern cults.

See also: REMINDER FOR THOSE COMING TO BAPTISM

One of the fundamental components of the sacrament of Baptism is the godparents. Without them, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible. As you know, the first godfather was John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. For the first Russian people who were baptized in Rus', the godfather became the person who performed the rite of Baptism. The Sacrament itself took place in a somewhat unusual way. Since a huge number of people were baptized at once, they gathered on the banks of a river and, under the guidance of a priest, went into the water, some up to their waists, some up to their necks, the priest divided them into 2 parts: female and male, after which he performed the Sacrament Baptism. At the same time, all women were given one Orthodox female name, and for men - masculine.

Nowadays, everyone can choose godparents for their child themselves. It is only important to remember that godparents should not be married to each other, and you cannot be godfather to your wife or husband. It is interesting that in Rus', a girl from the age of 13 could become a godmother, and a boy who was 15 years old could become a godfather.

Also in Rus' there was a tradition according to which a boy had only a godfather, and if a girl was baptized, then she only had a godmother. Nowadays, as a rule, a baby has both godparents.

Godparents play a huge role in a child's life. They are working on his spiritual education, on introducing him to the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore, they must be, first of all, Orthodox people. With their lives they must set an example for their growing spiritual children. It is wonderful when a godson can attend church with his godparents and partake of other sacraments of the church.

It is important to establish friendly, trusting relationships with your godson so that the godson can turn to his godparents for advice and support at any time.

1. 2. Guardian Angel

During the Sacrament of Baptism, the child receives a Guardian Angel, who protects him from troubles and misfortunes throughout the child’s life. It is very important, from an early age, to teach a baby to read prayers not only to Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, but also to the Guardian Angel, who constantly, day and night, stands guard and protects us from evil. The child should be taught the simplest prayer: “Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.”

1. 3. Christening robe

During the Sacrament of Baptism, the child’s soul is transformed, it is born into Eternal Life. And the symbol of this transformation is snow-white christening set for a boy or a girl, it usually includes a baptismal shirt or dress, a cap, booties, and also a special diaper - kryzhma.

The child’s snow-white outfit testifies to his purity of soul, to the fact that all his sins have been cleansed. According to ancient Russian Orthodox tradition, a baptismal shirt, can be inherited, from one child to another. But kryzhma should be stored until the end of your days. In the old days, when a person was attacked by illnesses and diseases, he covered himself with kryzhma, and all diseases receded.

1. 4. The role of parents during Baptism

In ancient times, the child’s parents could not be in the church during the Sacrament of Baptism. After giving birth, the mother was considered “unclean” for forty days and could not be present in the Church, and this “uncleanness”, in a sense, was transferred to the father. And the parents gave their child to the godparents, while they themselves stayed at home and prepared the festive table. In many families, this tradition has been preserved to this day. After the godparents returned, they again handed the child over to the parents and told them his new name given at baptism.

1. 5. Guests

Our ancestors believed that what less people knows about the Sacrament of Baptism, so much the better. As a rule, the guests, in addition to parents and godparents, included a midwife, who took birth from the mother and 4-5 other closest relatives. No lavish feasts were held; the event was celebrated in the closest family circle. In many places in the Russian land, there was even such a custom: after the Sacrament of Baptism was performed, the child was handed over to the parent through the window in order to deceive evil spirits. At the same time, the parents were told the new name of the baby, and the evil spirits were not supposed to recognize it. The main decoration of the festive table was baptismal porridge. Moreover, there were two porridges. They were prepared from buckwheat or wheat groats. One porridge was prepared “for fun” for my father; it contained a lot of seasonings, such porridge literally made my eyes pop out of my head. This was done so that the father, at least to some extent, could feel all the pain of the mother while she was giving birth. The same porridge that all the guests ate was cooked with honey, boiled, and served in a fur hat, which symbolized the wealth that awaits the baby in the future.

After the festive table, guests traditionally received gifts from their parents; the daughter-in-law also gave gifts to the mother-in-law, who in turn gave gifts to the mother and child.

1. 6. Gifts from godparents

According to tradition, at Epiphany the godmother cooked, often sewed on her own, christening set for boy or for a girl. These outfits had no fundamental difference, only a baptismal dress was sewn for a girl, and a baptismal shirt for a boy.

The godfather paid for the Sacrament of Baptism itself, and also bought a cross.

Wealthy godparents from around the 12th century. gave their godchildren sets of 12 “apostolic” gold or silver spoons. Such spoons were engraved with images of the apostles. Poorer people also tried to give at least one silver spoon, which also promised wealth to the child in the future.

Currently, the choice of gifts is huge. But still, first of all, the gift should have spiritual meaning for the child. This could be a children's prayer book, or a Children's Bible, an icon with an image of a saint - the baby's patron saint. A good gift There will also be a measured icon, which is made to the height of the child. Such a gift in early childhood will accustom the child to the idea that he has a spiritual patron, his protector, to whom he can turn with his troubles and sorrows.

1. 7. Behavior in church

It is very important before the Sacrament of Baptism to attend the conversations that the priest conducts in the church. In conversations, he talks about the meaning of Baptism in the life of a baby, why it is performed, and the role of parents and godparents in the Sacrament being performed.

Many people are required to confess before participating in the Sacrament of Baptism. It is important to remember that you need to come to church in appropriate clothing - for a woman a skirt and a scarf, there should not be any provocative colors in clothes. Bright paint on the face, bright fashionable nail polish and an abundance of jewelry are also not welcome.

Godparents and all other male guests should also be dressed festively, but in calm colors; they enter the church without a headdress.

It is imperative to have consecrated crosses for Baptism, which must be worn by a person.

During the celebration of the Sacrament, the godparents hold the baby in their arms, and on his behalf they read all the proper prayers and renounce Satan.

According to tradition, if a girl is baptized, she is held by her godmother; if a boy is baptized, she is held by her godfather.

We should also not forget about the baptismal candles, which godparents keep lit during the Sacrament of Baptism.

Well, it’s all over - and the godparents, led by a new member of the Orthodox Church, rush home, where the baby’s parents and a festive table are waiting for them.