The baptism of children in the church rules. When is the best time to be baptized? Signs familiar and unusual

The sacrament of baptism symbolizes the acceptance of a person into the ranks of the Christian church. Today we will talk about what is needed for the christening ceremony, about choosing a baby’s name and about his guardian angel.

Baptism is one of the most important sacraments, in the process of which, through certain sacred actions, the invisible grace of God is transmitted to the person who participates in them. As the Orthodox Church teaches, baptism represents the spiritual birth of a person, one of the most important events in his life on earth. The process of baptism gives the child a Guardian Angel, who will protect him from all troubles and adversity throughout a person’s life. For many parents, some questions become unclear: what needs to be prepared for the child’s godparents, how exactly the baptism ceremony takes place, what are the features in the baptism of a girl and a boy? All this needs to be figured out before going to church. You need to understand perfectly well that baptism is not entertainment, that it is very serious. People who participate in this ritual must have pure, sincere, transparent thoughts.

When is the best time to baptize a child?

When should a newborn be baptized? It is best to baptize a person in infancy, and the sooner the better. The Church recommends baptizing children either on the eighth day after their birth, since it was on the eighth day that the baby Jesus was dedicated to his Heavenly Father, or after forty days from the moment of birth (today, this is how children are mostly baptized). After giving birth, a young mother is physiologically unclean for forty days, so she does not go to church, but the baby needs her presence. Forty days after giving birth, a special prayer is read over the young mother, after which the woman is given the opportunity to attend various church sacraments, and she can also be present at the baptism of her baby.

But most parents who baptized their children long after forty days are aware of the fact that it is best for the baby to undergo baptism in the newborn period. After all, at this time the child spends most of his time sleeping, so he will not receive very strong stress from an unfamiliar environment, from a large number of people.

Regarding the choice of the day of baptism, you can choose absolutely any day, there are no restrictions. The choice of the day of baptism depends only on the wishes of yourself, the godparents and the capabilities of a particular temple.

Choosing a name

Before baptism, the child is given a name. If the family is Orthodox, then the child’s name should only be Orthodox. The child is named in honor of one or another saint. A list of the names of all saints (saints) can be found annually on church calendars. Previously in Rus' there was a custom to give a child the name of the saint whose memory falls on the day when the child is baptized. But this is just a custom, it is not a requirement.

No one will force you to choose this or that name; the church respects your choice of name and takes into account the wishes of your relatives about what saint they would like to name their baby after. If parents find it difficult to choose, then in this case the priest will come to the rescue; he will independently be able to determine the heavenly patron for the child. The priest is guided, as a rule, by the fame of the saint. He does this so that in the future the child can easily recognize his saint and find his icon. In this case, parents should check with the priest in honor of which saint they named the child. The day of remembrance of the saint in whose honor the child was named at baptism will be the Day of his angel or his name day.

God-parents

The baptism of children is a great responsibility that lies both with the biological parents of the child and with those who receive the child from the baptismal font into their arms - the godfather and godmother. A very important condition for the sacrament of baptism is that a person consciously believes in God. During baptism, the baby is still very small and cannot demonstrate his faith, so the godmother and father pronounce the vows of the cross instead. The choice of recipients must be approached very responsibly, since it is in the faith of these people that your child will be baptized.

Godparents must be Orthodox believers who take their spiritual life seriously. Godparents must further be responsible for ensuring that the child receives communion, attends church regularly, and they must also pray for the child to be healthy and happy. If the people you want to choose as godparents are not sufficiently familiar with church life, then familiarizing themselves with the Holy Scriptures and studying the main rules of Christian piety will be a very good preparation for them. Before the sacrament of baptism, godparents must observe a three-day fast, must confess and receive communion.

The rules of the church state that a child must have a foster child of the same gender as himself; for a boy, the foster child must be a man, and for a girl, a female child. But usually, traditionally, two godparents are chosen for a child - a godmother and a father. This does not contradict the canons, just as it does not contradict the fact that a child has a receiver of a different gender than himself. The most important thing is that this person is truly a believer, and in the future fulfills all the duties of raising his cross (goddaughter) in the Orthodox faith.

The following cannot be godparents: minors, since they do not yet have their own serious spiritual core; people who lead an immoral lifestyle; people who are going to get married and spouses; Gentiles and heterodox Christians; completely strangers, for example, some granny whom the parents asked to baptize their child. The priest in all such cases refuses to perform the baptismal ceremony. Of course, parents can hide this information, but this should not be done.

How many times can a person be a godfather in his life?

Regarding this, the Orthodox Church does not have a clear canonical definition. The most important thing is that the person who agrees to become a recipient remembers that he bears a great responsibility, that he will be answerable to God for it. The measure of such responsibility can determine how many times a person can become a godfather in his life. This measure is individual for each person.

Preparing for baptism

What is needed to prepare for the baptism of a child? First you need to go to the church in which you plan to baptize your child. In the icon shop you can get answers to all your questions. It is best to prepare questions at home and write them down in some kind of notebook so that you can find your way easier later. The shop worker will provide you with a special brochure containing all the basic information about baptism. The employee will also record all the data of the baby and future godparents, which will become necessary when issuing a baptismal certificate. You will be asked to voluntarily make a donation to the church.

You should be aware that baptism will not be carried out without a preliminary conversation between the future godparents and the priest who will perform the sacrament of baptism. It will be even better if the child’s parents come to such a conversation along with their godparents. The day on which the conversation will be held and the time will be assigned to you in the icon shop; they will also tell you what exactly you need to take with you and how the ceremony will be carried out. The date and time of baptism are set by the priest.

On the day of baptism, you need to get to the church about fifteen minutes before the appointed time in order to get your bearings and slowly prepare. If you want a photographer or videographer to be present at the baptism, you must first ask the priest for his blessing.

• During the sacrament of baptism, the child can be given a pacifier if required.
• If your relatives and you are not baptized for some reason, then this can be done together, as a family.
• If a child cries and screams very much during baptism in the arms of his godmother, then you can calm the baby down. The priest may stop the action for a while so that the child calms down.
• You need to know that the clothes that the baby is dressed in upon arriving at church should be comfortable for the child so as not to cause him discomfort, and the clothes should also be comfortable for changing.
• After the child has been baptized, he should be given communion regularly. Communion is especially important in the first three years of a child’s life. Children under seven years of age receive communion without confession, but at an older age, a child must confess before receiving communion.

Christening shirt and pectoral cross

According to tradition, a baptismal shirt is a mandatory purchase for the godmother at baptism, and a pectoral cross for the godfather. A cross can be purchased at a store or church. You need to know that a cross that was purchased in an icon shop does not need to be consecrated, but a store-bought cross is subject to mandatory consecration. For small children, a small silver cross is best. Silver is relatively inexpensive and very beneficial for the skin. When choosing a cross, you should pay attention to the fact that the cross is smooth so that it cannot scratch the child’s delicate skin. After some time, when the baby grows up, the cross can be replaced.

The cross can be removed from the child only when bathing; the rest of the time it must be on the child at all times. It often happens that children lose their crosses. If this happens, then as soon as possible you need to purchase a new cross and wear it. But before this, the cross must be consecrated.

Many people are interested in the question of what is better to buy a cross: on a string or on a chain?

For small children you can buy a “gaitanchik”, this is a special rope for wearing a cross. Such a rope can be bought in any icon shop. It is better for small children, as the chain can rub the neck. You can also buy a ribbon or lace instead of a chain. They should not be too long so as not to distract the child.

Christening shirt. In ancient times, the godmother herself had to make the baptismal shirt. The baptismal shirt looked like this: it was a simple white dress with long sleeves, and a cross was embroidered between the shoulder blades. Today, baptismal shirts are sold in any children's stores and in churches.

You can also purchase the entire baptismal set with a cap or scarf (for girls). You can choose an outfit of any color, but it is still better to opt for white, since it is the white color that symbolizes the sinlessness of a person and his spiritual purity.

An integral attribute of baptism is the kryzhma. It is an openwork diaper, a special fabric or a towel in which the baby is wrapped after bathing at the font. After christening, the kryzhma does not need to be washed, just dry it. It is kept by parents as a memory of the sacrament of baptism. Kryzhma must be with a person until the end of his life; she also goes on her final journey with the person.

Sacrament

The day of baptism arrives. You go to the temple with your child so that the priest will perform the sacrament of baptism. What awaits you and your child?

• At the very beginning of baptism, baptismal vows are pronounced. The priest asks the godparents some questions. Godparents must answer on behalf of the child (if the child is baptized as an adult and he can speak, then the child himself gives the answers). The priest anoints the child with a special church oil called oil. This is done so that in the future the child grows physically and mentally healthy.
• Next, the baptism itself takes place, the child is immersed in the water of the baptismal font. If a boy is baptized, then the godmother brings him to the font, and if a girl is baptized, then the godfather brings her to the font. The priest dips the child in holy water three times.
• While the child is being dipped, the second recipient stands behind, holding a towel, and receives the baby from the hands of the priest after the font. Next, the child is put on a baptismal shirt and covers his head with a cap or scarf (for girls).
• The priest again anoints the child with oil, but now it is the Holy Chrism. In a person’s life, anointing with holy chrism occurs once.
• After anointing the baby’s head, the priest cuts off a small portion of the hair. During the cutting process, prayers are read.

Baptism is over

After the baptism is carried out, an entry is made in the church register that the baptism took place and the priest issues the baby’s parents a baptismal certificate. Next, christenings are celebrated and a festive table is set, which marks an important family celebration. There is a long-standing tradition of feeding guests baptismal porridge. It is very good if you stick to this custom. During lunch, everyone presents gifts to the child, wishing him good health, happiness and success. Among the guests, godfather and godfather should be the last to leave - this is the tradition. This is where the celebration ends.

What is Baptism as a Sacrament? How does it happen?

Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual life. In Baptism, a person is cleansed from original sin - the sin of his forefathers, communicated to him through birth. The sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once (just as a person is born only once).

The baptism of an infant is performed according to the faith of the recipients, who have the sacred duty to teach children the true faith and help them become worthy members of the Church of Christ.

The baptismal kit for your baby should be the one that is recommended to you in the church where you will be baptizing him. They can easily tell you what you need. Mainly it is a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.

This sacrament consists of Announcements(reading special prayers over those preparing for baptism - “prohibitions”), renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, that is, union with Him, and confession of the Orthodox faith. Here the godparents must pronounce the appropriate words for the baby.

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins Baptism. The most noticeable and important moment is the three-time immersion of the baby in the font with the words pronounced: “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." At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, prepares to receive his godfather from the font. The one who has received Baptism then dresses in new white clothes and puts a cross on him.

Immediately after this another Sacrament is performed - Confirmation, in which the person being baptized, when the parts of the body are anointed with the consecrated Myrrh, in the name of the Holy Spirit, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life. After this, the priest and godparents with the newly baptized person walk around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Then an excerpt from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the sending of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ to the worldwide preaching of the faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, the priest washes the myrrh from the body of the baptized person with a special sponge dipped in holy water, saying the words: “Thou art justified. You have become enlightened. You are sanctified. You have washed yourself in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. You have become enlightened. You have been anointed with chrism. You have been sanctified in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized in a cross shape (on four sides) with the words: “The servant of God (name) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” puts the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. tonsure symbolizes submission to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized person brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After making petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism ends.

This is usually immediately followed by churching, denoting the first offering to the temple. The baby, taken by the priest in his arms, is carried through the temple, brought to the Royal Doors and brought into the altar (boys only), after which he is given to his parents. Churching symbolizes the dedication of the baby to God according to the Old Testament model. After baptism, the baby should be given communion.

Why are only boys brought into the altar?

In principle, boys should not be included there either, this is just a tradition.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council determined: Let no one belonging to the ranks of the laity be allowed to enter the sacred altar... (rule 69). The famous canonist Bishop. gives the following comment to this resolution: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from the earliest times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. “The altar is reserved for sacred persons only.”

They say that before baptizing your child, you should confess and receive communion.

Even without regard to the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly begin the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have not done this before, then it would be good to take the first step towards a full church life before the Baptism of your own baby.

This is not a formal requirement, but a natural internal norm - because, introducing a child to church life through the sacrament of Baptism, introducing him into the fence of the Church - why should we ourselves remain outside it? For an adult who has not repented for many years, or has never in his life, and has not begun to accept the Holy Mysteries of Christ, is at this moment a very conditional Christian. Only by motivating himself to life in the sacraments of the Church does he actualize his Christianity.

What is the Orthodox name for a baby?

The right to choose a child's name belongs to his parents. Lists of names of saints - calendars - can help you in choosing a name. In the calendar, names are arranged in calendar order.

There is no unambiguous church tradition for choosing names - often parents choose a name for the baby from the list of those saints who are glorified on the very day of the child’s birth, or on the eighth day, when the rite of naming is performed, or during the period of forty days (when the Sacrament of Baptism is usually performed). It is wise to choose a name from the church calendar list of names that are fairly close to the child's birthday. But, however, this is not some kind of obligatory church institution, and if there is some deep desire to name a child in honor of this or that saint, or some kind of vow on the part of the parents, or something else, then this is not an obstacle at all .

When choosing a name, you can familiarize yourself not only with what this or that name means, but also with the life of the saint in whose honor you want to name your baby: what kind of saint he is, where and when he lived, what was his way of life, on what days is his memory celebrated?
Cm. .

Why do some churches close the church during the sacrament of Baptism (without doing this during other sacraments) or ask people who call themselves Orthodox not to enter it?

Because during the Baptism of an adult, it is not very pleasant for the person being baptized or the one being baptized if strangers look at him, who is sufficiently exposed physically, and observe the greatest sacrament, with the curious gaze of those who have no prayerful relationship with it. It seems that a prudent Orthodox person will not simply go as a spectator to someone else’s Baptism if he was not invited there. And if he lacks tact, then the church ministers act prudently by removing the curious from the church while the sacrament of Baptism is being performed.

What should come first - faith or Baptism? Can you be baptized to believe?

Baptism is a Sacrament, that is, a special action of God, in which, with the response of the desire of the person himself (certainly the person himself), he dies to a sinful and passionate life and is born into a new one - life in Christ Jesus.

On the other hand, deep faith is what a baptized and churched person should strive for throughout his life. All people are sinners, and one must strive to acquire faith in such a way that it is combined with deeds. Faith, among other things, is an effort of will. In the Gospel, one person who met the Savior exclaimed: “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief." () This man already believed in the Lord, but he wanted to believe even more, stronger, more decisively.

It will be easier to strengthen your faith if you live the church life and not look at it from the outside.

Why do we baptize babies? They still can’t choose their own religion and consciously follow Christ?

A person is saved not on his own, not as an individual who unilaterally decides how to be and act in this life, but as a member of the Church, a community in which everyone is responsible for each other. Therefore, an adult can vouch for the baby and say: I will try to make sure that he grows up to be a good Orthodox Christian. And while he cannot answer for himself, his godfather and godmother pledge their faith for him.

Does a person have the right to be baptized at any age?

Baptism is possible for a person of any age on any day of the year.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

A person can be baptized at any time from his first breath to his very last breath. In ancient times, there was a custom to baptize a child on the eighth day of birth, but this was not a mandatory rule.
It is most convenient to baptize a child during the first months of birth. At this time, the baby still does not distinguish his mother from the “strange aunt” who will hold him in her arms during Baptism, and the “bearded uncle” who will always come up to him and “do something with him” is not scary for him.
Older children already perceive reality quite consciously, they see that they are surrounded by people unfamiliar to them, and that their mother is either not there at all or for some reason she does not come to them, and may experience anxiety about this.

Is it necessary to be baptized again if a person was “baptized by his grandmother at home”?

Baptism is the only Sacrament of the Church that, in case of emergency, can be performed by a layman. During the years of persecution, cases of such baptism were not uncommon - there were few churches and priests.
In addition, in earlier times, midwives sometimes baptized newborn babies if their lives were in danger: for example, if the child received a birth injury. This baptism is usually called "immersion." If a child died after such baptism, he was buried as a Christian; if he survived, he was brought to the temple and the priest supplemented the baptism performed by the layman with the necessary prayers and sacred rites.
Thus, in any case, a person baptized by a layman must “complete” his baptism in the temple. However, in earlier times, midwives were specially trained in how to perform baptism correctly; in the Soviet years, it is often completely unknown who baptized and how, whether this person was trained, whether he knew what and how to do. Therefore, for the sake of confidence in the actual performance of the Sacrament, priests most often baptize such “immersed” as if there was a doubt about whether they were baptized or not.

Can parents attend Baptism?

They may well not just be present, but pray together with the priest and godparents for their baby. There are no obstacles to this.

When is Baptism performed?

Baptism can take place at any time. However, in churches the procedure for performing Baptism is established differently depending on the internal routine, opportunities and circumstances. Therefore, you should worry in advance about finding out about the procedure for performing Baptism in the church in which you want to baptize your child.

What does an adult who wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism need?

For an adult, the basis for Baptism is the presence of a sincere Orthodox faith.
The purpose of Baptism is union with God. Therefore, the one who comes to the baptismal font needs to decide for himself very important questions: does he need it and is he ready for it? Baptism is inappropriate if a person uses it to seek some earthly blessings, success, or hopes to solve his family problems. Therefore, another important condition for Baptism is a strong desire to live as a Christian.
After the Sacrament has been performed, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: regularly go to church, learn about divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will have no meaning.
It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at a minimum, carefully read these public conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.
It would be simply wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do very correctly by confessing the catechumens before Baptism.

Is it possible to baptize during Lent?

Yes, you can. Moreover, in earlier times, fasts served as preparation not only for a specific holiday, but also for joining new members, i.e. to the Baptism of the Catechumens. Thus, in the ancient Church people were baptized mainly on the eve of major Church holidays, including during Lent. Traces of this are still preserved in the peculiarities of the services of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Pentecost.

In what case can a priest refuse Baptism to a person?

A priest not only can, but must refuse Baptism to a person if he does not believe in God as the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.
Among the reasons for refusal of Baptism may be a person’s unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards Baptism. The magical attitude towards Baptism is the desire to use it to protect yourself from the forces of evil, to get rid of “damage” or the “evil eye”, and to receive all kinds of spiritual or material “bonuses”.
People who are drunk or leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until they repent and reform.

What to do if it is known for sure that a person has been baptized, but no one remembers the name with which he was baptized? Baptize a second time?

This situation occurs quite often. There is no need to baptize a person a second time - you can only baptize once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and giving him communion with a new name.

How many times can you be baptized?

Definitely - once. Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person can only be born once. The Orthodox Creed says: “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.” Secondary baptism is unacceptable.

What to do if you don’t know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to ask?

You need to be baptized, but at the same time warn the priest that you may be baptized, but you don’t know for sure. The priest will perform Baptism according to a special rite for such cases.

About godparents (successors)

What responsibilities do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?

Godparents have three main responsibilities towards their godchildren:
1. Prayer room. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godson, and also, as he grows up, to teach prayer so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrinal. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Moral. Using your own example, show your godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a truly good Christian.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Godparents are guarantors for their godson. They are entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the spiritual and moral education of their godson. His godparents teach him the basics of the Orthodox faith, prayer and the way of life of a true Christian. Consequently, the godparents themselves must know both the Gospel and church life well, have good prayer practice, and regularly participate in divine services and Church Sacraments.
Have you decided to become a godfather, but do not meet the requirements? Make it a reason to start moving in that direction.
First, listen to public conversations in the temple or on.
Then read either the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Choose for yourself - the first is shorter, the second is clearer. You can also find them in; more precisely, in the New Testament.
Read the text carefully - during Baptism, one of the godparents reads it by heart or from sight. It would also be good if by the time of Baptism you knew it by heart.
After Baptism, deepen and expand your knowledge of Biblical history, pray at home and participate in church services - this way you will gradually acquire the practical skills of a Christian.

Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant?

The original name for godparents is godparents. They received this name because they “received” the person being baptized from the font; at the same time, the Church, as it were, delegates to them part of its care for the new Christian and teaching him Christian life and morality, therefore, not only is the presence of godparents required during Baptism and their active participation, but also their conscious desire to take on such responsibility.

Can representatives of other religions become godparents?

Definitely not.
In Baptism, the recipients testify to the Orthodox faith, and according to their faith, the baby receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become recipients of Baptism.
In addition, godparents take on the responsibility of raising their godson in Orthodoxy. Representatives of other religions cannot fulfill these duties because for us Christianity is not a theory, but life itself in Christ. This life can only be taught by those who live this way themselves.
The question arises: can representatives of other Christian denominations, for example Catholics or Lutherans, then become godparents? The answer is negative - they cannot for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients of Baptism.

What things should you bring with you to Baptism and which godparent should do it?

For Baptism you will need a baptismal set. As a rule, this is a pectoral cross with a chain or ribbon, several candles, and a baptismal shirt. The cross can also be purchased in regular stores, but then you should ask a priest to consecrate it.
You will need a towel or diaper to wrap and dry your baby after the bath.
According to an unwritten tradition, the godfather acquires a cross for a boy, and the godmother for a girl. Although this rule does not have to be followed.

How many godfathers and mothers should a person have?

One. As a rule, they are the same gender as the child, that is, for a boy - godfather, and for a girl - godmother.
The possibility of having both a godfather and a godmother for a child is a pious custom.
It is not customary to have more than two receivers.

How to choose godparents for a child?

The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person will subsequently be able to help in the Christian education of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and simply the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing.
In former times, concern for expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite close relatives as godparents. It was believed that they, due to natural kinship, would help the child. For this reason, natural grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became recipients. However, this is not prohibited, and is now becoming more and more common.

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?

Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to adoption. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she can do so.

Who can't be a godfather?

Minors; Gentiles; mentally ill; completely ignorant of the faith; persons in a state of intoxication; A married couple cannot be godparents for the same child.

What should godparents give to their godson?

This question lies in the area of ​​human customs and does not concern spiritual life, regulated by Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter for the godparents. You don't have to give anything at all.
However, it seems that the gift, if it does take place, should be useful and remind of Baptism. This could be the Bible or the New Testament, a cross or an icon of the saint after whom the child is named. There are many options.

If godparents do not fulfill their duties, is it possible to take other godparents and what needs to be done for this?

In the literal sense of the word - it is impossible. Only the one who received the child from the font will be the godfather. However, in a sense, this can be done.
Let's draw a parallel with an ordinary birth: let's say a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, abandon him, do not fulfill their parental responsibilities and do not care for him. In this case, someone can adopt the child and raise him as his own. This person will become, although adopted, a parent in the true sense of the word.
The same is true in spiritual birth. If the real godparents do not fulfill their duties, and there is a person who can and wants to take on their function, then he should receive a blessing for this from the priest and after that begin to take full care of the child. And you can also call him “godfather”.
In this case, the child cannot be baptized a second time.

Can a young man become godfather to his bride?

Definitely not. A spiritual relationship arises between the godparent and godson, which excludes the possibility of marriage.

How many times can a person become a godfather?

As many as he deems possible.
Being a godparent is a lot of responsibility. Some may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, some five or six, and some perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for themselves.

Can a person refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?

Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to bear responsibility for the child, then it will be more honest to the parents and to the child and to himself to say so directly than to formally become a godfather and not fulfill his duties.

Is it possible to become a godfather to two or three children from the same family?

Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

The day on which the ritual takes place is called the Day of the Sacrament of Baptism. It is believed that on this day spirituality comes first and a person is born for the second time. An event in the life of every person is significant and important, understanding this, one should approach the organization of the ritual with special attention, both in church and at home. You will certainly have many questions about this as soon as you start preparing for the celebration. It would be great if the godparents, at least partially, took care of organizing the holiday, for example, talked with the priest and agreed on the day when the ceremony will take place. And in general, it is desirable that all close relatives participate in the preparation of the celebration. To make it clearer to you how important this day is, why everything happens according to certain rules, we will delve a little deeper into the history of the origin of the christening ceremony.

The history of the rite of christening.

Despite the Bolsheviks’ rejection of religion and faith, the rite of christening existed during the years of Soviet power, and it has survived to this day. People, like many centuries ago, take their children to churches to perform the baptismal ceremony. This tradition dates back to the time of the apostles, as Orthodox believers say. In the days of the early Church, baptism and confession were closely related. A person was baptized when he joined the Church and left paganism. A person had to make a decision that meant that he was breaking with the past, which could be equated to the beginning of a new life.

The tradition of baptizing people in infancy appeared in the Church for political reasons, and not for spiritual ones, by the beginning of the third century. But because of discrepancies with sound biblical teaching, the practice of compulsory baptism of newborn children did not become widespread until the sixth century. The rite of baptism was performed by immersion in water, which gave baptism a meaning different from sprinkling. Immersion in water with one's head is a symbol of burial, and emerging from the water is rising from the grave, resurrection from the dead. Thus, baptism meant death and resurrection. For the old sinful life a person died, but for the new grace he was reborn.

When baptizing a child, the necessary conditions were the faith of the parents and the presence of godparents. A child can have one godfather, but it is desirable that for a girl it is a woman, and for a boy it is a man. Godparents are guarantors before God for the godson and are responsible for him. They participate in raising the child, and it is believed that spiritual kinship is stronger than blood kinship. In former times, godparents had to raise the baby in the Orthodox faith and take him to church. Nowadays, godparents are usually chosen by family friends and they know little about their original responsibilities. Water has always had a special meaning; it was revered for its life-giving and cleansing properties. When a child is washed with water in a font, it is believed that it washes away dirt from his soul. After all, all of us, the descendants of Adam and Eve, are sinners from birth. Therefore, even very young children plunge into the font.

Basic rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church.

Even before a person is born, his spiritual life begins. And the beginning of it, according to the Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, is considered to be the wedding of parents. It is very important for a person if he was born in a married marriage. Many people believe that a pregnant woman should not attend church, much less be a godmother. This opinion is wrong. Quite the contrary, the expectant mother should go to church, pray and confess. After all, love for God has no limits. And if a pregnant woman has expressed a desire to become a godmother, then there are no obstacles to this.

If we talk about the timing of baptism, then according to church regulations, a child must be baptized on the fortieth day after birth. But this is not a prerequisite. The ceremony can be performed earlier, but, as a rule, this is done later. The period of forty days can be explained logically: the child is still small and sleeps peacefully, he will cry a little after washing in the font and quickly falls asleep again.

When performing the rite of baptism, a lock of the baby’s hair is cut off, which symbolizes sacrifice to God, that is, the person gives him not only his thoughts and deeds, but also himself.

Can spouses be godparents for a child?

When a mother takes her child in her arms for the first time, she should make the sign of her pectoral cross on him and read a prayer for a happy release from the burden. Then you need to think about the day of baptism. To do this, you need to go to the temple and talk with the priest. If the baby is sick, then the baptism ceremony can be performed at home. It is very important to choose worthy godparents. Nowadays, many strive to choose them for reasons of material well-being, so that godparents can give their godson rich gifts. And few understand that the responsibility of the godmother and father, first of all, is the spiritual education of the child.

When baptizing an adult, the presence of godparents in his life is not necessary, but for a child the best option would be baptism with two godparents, but it is also possible with one. A boy's godfather must be a man, and a girl's godfather must be a woman. However, godparents should not be a married couple or people who have an intimate relationship. Today the great Sacrament is performed according to a simplified version. They invite a videographer to record every moment of the ceremony, although the clergy do not particularly object to this.

A mother can enter the church forty days after giving birth.

A woman has the right to enter the temple only on the fortieth day after giving birth, and after a special cleansing prayer has been read over her. In the old days, a child was baptized earlier, on the eighth day, so there was a tradition of going to church without a mother. Church rules are quite strict regarding a woman’s appearance. To attend church, a woman must be dressed so that her elbows and knees are covered and her head is covered. A woman cannot go to church in trousers and during “critical days.” There are no such strict requirements for men; they only need to remove their headdress before entering the church.

Gifts from godparents.

The traditions of christenings that have developed over centuries and modern additions to them should make the day of the Sacrament of Baptism bright and unforgettable not only for parents, but also for the child, if he is of a conscious age. It is customary that godparents give gifts to their godson on this day. In the old days, this could be an icon of his patron saint, which in height corresponded to the height of the baby, and it was called a life-size one. Now there is no need to buy such an icon; you can purchase a small image of the saint. The godfather must bear all the costs of the ceremony, as well as give the godson a gift - a chain and a cross. The godmother gives a towel and a baptismal robe. Gifts such as earrings, silver spoons, rings, etc. would also be appropriate.

Folk signs associated with christenings.

After the ceremony is performed in the church, as a rule, this event is celebrated in the circle of relatives and friends. There are signs among the people that you should pay attention to. To protect a child from life’s troubles and misfortunes, he is given two names: one at birth, and the second at baptism.

Of interest is a way to save a child from illness. When he is unwell, a girl is called by the name of a boy, and a boy is temporarily called by the name of a girl.

Giving a child the name of a holy queen or prince at baptism means goodness, success and health. And if they give the name of a holy martyr, then this is a bad omen, since parents thus doom their child to suffering, and the share of his saint.

The main manager at the christening should be the grandmother. Previously, it was a woman who helped bathe the mother or was the first to bathe the baby. Today, as a rule, this role is assigned to grandmothers. They lead the holiday.

For christenings, it is customary to prepare a special porridge in a pot, and guests must bargain for it, but the godfather must get it. The proceeds are given to the baby's mother, and the godfather carefully breaks the pot on the corner of the table and each guest must take a handful of porridge from there. The women present at the table take the leftover porridge for their children.

Pancakes should not be placed on the festive table set in honor of a christening; this can bring misfortune to the child. The main dishes on such a table should be porridge, borscht and pies with various fillings.

Special etiquette is christening etiquette.

Each person is assigned a Guardian Angel at baptism. Now we no longer remember this, but, nevertheless, our names are given in honor of some saint and have their own meaning. A person's Angel Day is considered to be the day of remembrance of his saint, celebrated by the church. If there is no name in the lists, then a name that is close in meaning is selected.

The day of baptism is determined by the parents in advance, so it is best to send postcards to those invited in advance or replace them with a telegram or phone call. Such an invitation should reflect the importance of this ceremony to you and its significance. Only those who take part in the ritual are invited to the temple; the rest can be invited home. Guests sit at the table, where they drink a hot drink: mulled wine or punch and eat a festive pie. The cake is usually made sweet and the date of christening and the initials of the child are written on it.

Also, read on the website:

Son-in-law is older than parents

The situation is as follows: my husband is several years older than my parents. My parents are 30 years older than me, I’m not an early child, but certainly not a late one either. The only one, I’m 22 years old. When my family found out...

The baptism of a person is one of the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, symbolizing its acceptance by the Christian Church. From this moment a person’s path to faith and God begins. Therefore, the Sacrament implies enormous responsibility for godparents, who must adhere to the rules of baptism, so as not to cause unintentional harm to the newborn.

Rules for preparing a child for baptism for the godfather

According to the rules for baptizing a child, having agreed to become the godfather (father), a man takes on a number of responsibilities, including preparation for the ceremony. Before baptizing a child, the godfather must study the Holy Scriptures, the rules of Christian piety and the fundamentals of Orthodoxy. It is important for the recipient to begin preparing for the upcoming event by visiting the church where the baby is planned to be baptized. There the priest will hold a conversation and tell the rules of preparation for the Sacrament of baptism of a child for the godfather.

According to tradition, the recipient purchases a pectoral cross for the baby and takes upon himself the entire financial part associated with the ceremony. According to the rules of baptism, godparents prepare for their godson. Typically, this is a silver spoon or an icon.

Priests often note that the rules for baptizing a child do not provide for the godfather’s obligation to fast, confess and receive communion before the Sacrament; however, as a believer, the recipient should not neglect these canons.

Rules for a godfather during a child's baptism

The rules of Baptism oblige the godfather to hold the boy in his arms, while the godmother simply stands nearby. And vice versa, if a girl is baptized. Before performing the ceremony, the priest walks around the temple, reading prayers, then invites the godfather and godson to turn their faces to the west and answer some questions. Due to his age, a newborn cannot do this, so his godfather is responsible for him. Also, instead of the crumbs, the godparents read and on behalf of the godson renounce Satan and pronounce vows. If a boy is being baptized, then the godfather receives him from the font, and if a girl is being baptized, the godfather helps the godmother dry the baby and put on her baptismal attire.

Being a godfather to a child is not only an honor, but also very responsible. The future fate of the godson depends on how the godfather follows the rules of Baptism and fulfills his duties, so it is simply unacceptable to neglect them.

Have you been chosen as godmother? This is a great honor and a great responsibility. The responsibilities of the godmother are not limited only to the sacrament of baptism and congratulating the godson on the holidays - they will continue throughout life. What are these responsibilities? What do you need to know about the sacrament of baptism? What to buy? How to prepare?

Baptism - the essence and meaning of the rite of baptism

The rite of baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer dies to a sinful carnal life in order to be reborn by the Holy Spirit into spiritual life. Baptism is cleansing man from original sin , which is communicated to him through his birth. Just as a person is born only once, and the Sacrament is performed only once in a person’s life.

How godparents prepare for the baptism ceremony

You should prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism in advance.

• Two or three days before the ceremony, future godparents should repent of your earthly sins and take communion.
• Directly on the day of baptism It is forbidden to have sex and eat food .
• At the baptism of a girl godmother will have to read the prayer “Creed” , at the baptism of a boy he reads it Godfather .

Responsibilities of a godmother. What should a godmother do?

A child cannot choose his godmother himself; his parents make this choice for him. The exception is the older age of the child. The choice is usually determined the closeness of the future godmother to the family , a warm attitude towards the child, the principles of morality that the godmother adheres to.

What are the responsibilities godmother?

• Godmother vouches for the newly baptized child before the Lord.
• Responsible for spiritual education baby.
• Takes part in life and education the baby on a par with biological parents.
• Takes care of the child in a situation where something happens to the biological parents (the godmother can become the guardian in the event of the death of the parents).

Godmother is spiritual guide for her godson and an example of a Christian lifestyle.

The godmother must:

• Pray for the godson and to be a loving and caring godmother.
• Attend church with a child , if his parents do not have such an opportunity due to illness or absence.
• Remember your responsibilities on religious holidays, ordinary holidays and weekdays.
• Take problems in your godson's life seriously and support him during difficult stages of life .
• Be interested and promote a child's spiritual growth .
• Serve example of godly living for the godson.

Features of the baptism ritual

How is the sacrament of child baptism performed?

Requirements for a godmother at a christening

The most important requirement for godparents is be baptized Orthodox who live according to Christian laws. After the ceremony, godparents must promote the spiritual growth of the child and pray for him. If the future godmother has not yet been baptized, then she must be baptized first , and only then – the baby. Biological parents may be completely unbaptized or profess a different faith.

• Godmother must be aware of your responsibility for raising a child. Therefore, it is welcomed when relatives are chosen as godparents - family ties are broken less often than friendly ones.
• The godfather can attend the girl’s baptism in absentia, godmother - only in person . Her duties include receiving the girl from the font.

Godparents We must not forget about the day of baptism . On the day of the Godson's Guardian Angel, you should go to church every year, light a candle and thank God for everything.

What should a godmother wear? Appearance of the godmother at the christening.

The modern church is more loyal to many things, but taking into account its traditions is certainly recommended. Basic requirements for a godmother at baptism:

• Presence of godparents pectoral crosses (consecrated in the church) necessarily.
• It is unacceptable to come to baptism in trousers. Should wear a dress , which will hide the shoulders and legs below the knee.
• On the godmother's head must have a scarf .
• High heels are unnecessary. The baby will have to be held in your arms for a long time.
• Flashy makeup and provocative clothing are prohibited.

What do godparents buy for baptism?

• White christening shirt (dress). It can be simple or with embroidery - it all depends on the choice of the godparents. The shirt (and everything else) can be purchased directly from the church. At baptism, the baby’s old clothes are removed as a sign that he appears clean before the Lord, and the baptismal shirt is put on after the ceremony. Traditionally, this shirt should be worn for eight days, after which it is removed and stored for life. Of course, you cannot baptize another baby in it.
• Pectoral cross with an image of the crucifixion. They buy it directly from the church, already consecrated. It doesn’t matter - gold, silver or simple, on a string. After baptism, many people remove the crosses from their children so that they do not accidentally harm themselves. According to church canons, the cross should not be removed. Therefore, it is better to choose a light cross and a rope (ribbon) so that the baby is comfortable.
• , in which the baby is wrapped after the Sacrament of baptism. It is not washed after the ceremony and is stored as carefully as a shirt.
• Cap(kerchief).
• The best gift from godparents would be cross, icon or silver spoon.

Also for the baptism ceremony you will need:

• Baby blanket. For a comfortable baby in the baptismal room and warming the baby after the baptismal bath.
• Small bag, where you can put a lock of the baby’s hair, cut by a priest. You can keep it with your shirt and towel.

It is advisable to make sure in advance that the items are suitable for the baby.

After the baptism ceremony

So, the baby was baptized. You have become a godmother. Of course, according to tradition, this day is a holiday. It can be celebrated in a warm family circle or crowded. But it is worth remembering that christening is, first of all, a celebration of the spiritual birth of a baby. You should prepare for it in advance and thoroughly, thinking through every detail. After all spiritual birthday, which you will now celebrate every year, is much more important than the day of your physical birth.