Baptism of a newborn child. Baptism of a child: rules for parents and recommendations from the church. What you need for the baptism of a boy and a girl. Purchases for the rite of baptism of the baby

In most Orthodox families, according to tradition, after the birth of a child, after the fortieth day, parents plan to christen the baby. First of all, it is important to understand what is needed for baptism so that the ceremony goes right. At the same time, the christening of a boy, exactly like the christening of a girl, have common rules for parents and godparents.

What is baptism? Most Orthodox Christians are familiar with the version that rituals allow you to be cleansed of original sin, become closer to God, gain protection from unclean forces, a guardian angel. In ancient times, a woman in labor was considered as a kind of intermediary between the worlds. And at birth, a newborn was hung on the handle with a charm that could protect the child from the influence of negativity for a period of 40 days, after which it was allowed to perform the ceremony. Receiving a guardian angel, the child became invulnerable to dark forces.

When to perform the ceremony

During the sacrament, the godson acquired second parents. According to the canons, they were obliged before God to take care of the child if an accident happened to the biological parents. Therefore, before proceeding with the choice of godparents, you need to think about who you trust more and are able to trust your baby. These should be truly relatives and close people with whom good relations are maintained.

In fact, baptism is recommended after the fortieth day due to the fact that until this moment a woman is considered unclean and she is forbidden access to the temple. But if for any reason it is important to baptize the child earlier, the ceremony is performed without the mother.

After the expiration of the term, the mother goes to church and over her the priest reads the prayer of the woman in labor, which allows her to be cleansed and be present in church ceremonies. Regarding the days of baptism, there are no prohibitions; you can perform the sacrament both on holidays and on fasting. More often it is performed on the day of the child's angel.

Custom

There is a proven sign that when a baby who starts stomping his feet often falls, the godparents should give him some thing for his feet. It does not matter what it will be: slippers, socks, booties. The godfather must independently choose a thing and hand it over to the baby in person. Surprisingly, as soon as she is on the child, the baby will be more firmly on the legs and not fall.

Time before baptism

For a newborn, this period is very important, because he is adapting to the environment, the body is trying to cope with new conditions for him. After the expiration of the specified period, the time comes for the child when he can already be baptized. This period is optimal, as he still has a breath-holding reflex, which is useful when immersed in water during baptism.

Time to baptize

There is no specific age when you can perform the ceremony. It is held at any age by a priest in the church. And only in critical situations, church rules allow the ceremony to be performed with the mother.

Where to spend the sacrament

Having decided on the godparents, you need to decide where the sacrament will be held. It does not matter which temple or church will be chosen. The main thing is to be Orthodox. The next step will be a conversation with the priest, who will repeat the algorithm of actions, the needs of christening. When choosing a temple, you can give preference to options that have a separate baptismal. Usually they do not have drafts and outsiders. It is important that there are not many babies in one day. Alternatively, arrange for an individual baptism.

Rules for godparents

Today they take godparents of both sexes. Previously, a godfather was taken for a boy, and a godmother for a girl.
The selected people must be baptized people of the Orthodox faith who will become spiritual mentors for the baby.
Persons over 13 years of age may perform the assigned function.
A man and a woman should not be married.
Now those who express their desire become godparents.
There are no godparents of people of other faiths.
Before the sacrament itself, according to Christian rules, before the ritual, it is desirable that future godparents go to church for the rite of purification and confess.

godmother

During the ritual, the godmother should not be in a position, confess in advance, not be a nun. Pregnant women are not allowed to become a godmother for one reason. Soon the woman becomes a mother. It will be necessary to think about whether he can share his love between his own baby and his godson. If a woman really wants and is more than confident in her abilities, then this is allowed.

The godmother is obliged to purchase a kryzhma, which is a fabric in which the baby is wrapped after the ceremony. Kryzhma has a great energy power, which is stored for many years. It is the main attribute of the ritual. Today it is possible to purchase a variety of options. The kryzhma looks very beautiful, in the corner of which the date of the baptism of the newborn and the name are embroidered. When a child is sick, he is wiped with this piece of cloth in order to heal.

You should also buy a christening kit. More often it consists of a light blanket, shirt and cap.

Sometimes you need a silk scarf for the priest.

Godfather

A man should not have problems with the law and not be a monk.

Buys a cross for a baby, a gift. All financial obligations associated with the ritual are assigned to him. One of the main rules of the godfather is the knowledge of the required prayers:

"Our Father";
"Symbol of faith";
"Virgin Mother of God, rejoice."

Since he will hold the boy during the baptism, you should learn them by heart. It is very important that the godfather understand the seriousness of the situation and be a believer, which will save the soul of the child baptized by him.

General points

Godparents should lead the right way of life and become an example for the child.
All their lives they pray for the godson and instruct him, help with advice, guided by God's laws.
According to church rules, they are interested in his life, even living far from him.
During the first communion, they are also required to be present.
The boy should feel support and confidence that these people are his relatives and will always help and support him. They are spiritual guides and educators.

Sacrament

The essence of baptism is that the person being baptized, during the threefold immersion of the body under water, is reborn into spiritual life, having been cleansed. The ceremony is performed once in a lifetime. The ceremony takes about an hour after the child is immersed in water, the godfather or godmother, depending on the gender of the baby, picks up the kryzhma and takes the crumbs from the font.

Now he is dressed in a shirt and put on a cross. There comes a period of chrismation, when, with the help of the sacred chrism, the priest performs the anointing. Strengthen it in spiritual life. As a sign of joy, the approach of the child to God, the priest with the godparents and the baby go around the font three times. After reading the biblical passages and washing by the priest of the world, the hair of the baby is cut by the priest, symbolizing submission to Christ. At the same time, only boys are brought into the altar at the end of the ceremony and given to their parents. Girls are brought in through the royal gates, since they cannot be clergymen.

During baptism for sinful life, a person dies and is resurrected for spiritual life.

omen

One of the popular gifts that the godfather gives after the ritual to the named son is a silver spoon. It is noted that this metal is the most optimal for gifts that other guests can prepare on occasion. The spoon is considered a symbol of prosperity and health.

Also, as a gift, the godfather buys a beautiful Bible. Alternatively, certain words can be engraved on a silver object. This thing will become nominal and personal for the baby, which will help him from all sorts of adversities. Other souvenirs include a personalized album, clothes or a silver pin.

How much to pay

In fact, there is no official fee for this. Price tags in temples are the approximate amount of the donation, from which there is a deduction for electricity, heating, repairs, and more. But if there is a certain problem with money, and it is important to baptize the child on time, the sacrament must be performed free of charge.

imprinting

When planning to invite a photographer to the christening, it is important to ask in advance the rules of conduct in the temple, whether it is possible to use a flash. Some priests react negatively to the filming of the celebration, and as a result, a negative incident will occur. Photos from this joyful event are a great joy and will become a memory for many years to come. And the church sees nothing wrong with that.

Name

One of the important moments before the christening is the naming of the baby. This is a very important step. Parents often ask the priest for help. Most people, in order to protect a child from bad things in life, call him one name, and give him another name in life. Sometimes it is selected in accordance with the holy calendar.

Preparation for the sacrament

The godparents confess and receive communion, acquire everything they need. For a cross, remove the unwanted chain, as it will rub the baby's skin.

During the entire ceremony, women with a menstrual cycle or uncovered head are not allowed to visit the temple.

Conversation before baptism

The interview with the godparents is conducted by the priest, during which he explains what prayers future godparents should know, what to buy and what rules exist. The priest tells how to behave after the sacrament, how to properly raise a child in the faith. The priest asks for specific information about the godparents themselves, the godson's parents and the newborn.

At the same time, people need to prepare questions recorded in advance. Take a pen, which will come in handy in case you need to write down important information. A conversation before the ceremony is one of the mandatory requirements for performing the sacrament. This is the first step to the spiritual world. The spiritual mentor will tell you what films and literature to watch to help the child grow up to be a good person.

There are times when the godparents before the sacrament are in different cities. In this case, a conversation takes place at the place of stay, then the priest gives a certificate of the interview. She is given to the temple where the ritual will take place. To get it, you will have to visit the temple again and show your knowledge in the spiritual field. Perhaps the priest will require you to learn some kind of prayer or know certain rules. Having made sure that the task was completed, he writes out a certificate. The main thing is not to forget to take it with you.

Rules of conduct in the temple

Upon arrival, in order to perform the sacrament, first of all, it will be necessary to pay a donation. It is also worth feeding the baby in order to endure the ceremony calmly. At the same time, feeding in the temple is allowed. You should find a secluded place so that mom and baby are comfortable. Throughout the ceremony, the godfather holds the baby in his arms, the parents stand behind and only watch.

It is not worth worrying about the fact that the child will be dipped into a vat where the water is cold. Temple servants always control the process and make the water temperature suitable for the baby. After diving, he is uncomfortable, and he may burst into tears. Therefore, it is better to carry out this in a separate crystal. Everything happens quickly enough, and during this period the child will not have time to freeze or get hungry.

How long to wear a cross

Most parents are worried about the safe wearing of a cross by their baby. In their opinion, the child will harm himself with a ribbon or a thin cord. The cross may be lost. In fact, wearing a cross is necessary, it does not pose a threat, as it is located on a short cord that is difficult to tangle. An Orthodox person is obliged to wear a cross all the time, if it is lost in a church shop, it can be purchased. In addition, all things sold in the temple are illuminated. The main thing is that the object should be without sharp edges, small in size.

What is baptism, why is it really needed, what is the essence of a child's baptism? What are the rules for baptizing a child in the church, how is the baptismal ceremony? What should be done before baptism, after baptism? Do I need godparents and how to choose a godparent? These and many other questions arise before parents who are about to baptize their child. In this material you will find answers to the most common questions about the baptism of a child.

The rite of christening a child

The essence of the baptism of a child

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the new convert is immersed three times in a font of blessed water with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The essence of the baptism of a child is that the little person "dies" to a sinful life and is reborn to life with God through a mysterious rite.

The Bible says:

Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God
In. 3:5

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned
Mk. 16:16

This rite was established by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, when He was baptized by John the Baptist (known as the Baptist) in the waters of the Jordan River.

Baptism is necessary for a person to save his soul. This is a new birth for spiritual life, in which a person can reach the Kingdom of Heaven. Through baptism, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible power of God, grace, acts on a person. Jesus Christ, sending the apostles to gospel preaching, taught them to baptize people:

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Matt. 28, 19

Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and can proceed to other church sacraments. If parents wish their child a worthy, moral life - with God, the Creator of the world and the Source of all that is good and bright - it is worth starting this path with baptism.

Some believe that a child should be baptized of his own choice at a conscious age. But it's not. If parents want to raise a moral, strong-willed personality based on Christian values from a child, then baptism is necessary at a very early age, as it washes away the seal of original sin and allows the child to participate in the sacraments, without which there will simply be no spiritual development.

Another folk myth - the need for baptism is to give him health through the sacrament. A similar approach generally applies to all church sacraments, when people are convinced that unction or communion - it doesn’t matter - has as its goal the solution of vital, earthly issues of a person, such as healing from illnesses or receiving material benefits. Baptism is the entry of a child into the Church, the community of people of the Orthodox faith. His health will depend not least on the way of life of his parents and their prayers for him, as well as on the observance of the simplest principles of proper care for the baby.

Baptism of a child in a church

Church rules say that after his birth, the ceremony is performed according to the existing custom on the 40th day. But depending on the circumstances, this can be done sooner or later. For example, after birth, a child is weak and sickly, God forbid - near death. Baptism gives a chance to pray for the child to God, immediately after the completion of the sacrament, to commune him.

For baptism, you need to choose the temple in which the ceremony will be held, first select the godparents, go through an announcement (in which the church minister will tell you about all the rules), the child needs to choose a name in baptism, although it may coincide with that given at birth.

Parents and godparents need to prayerfully prepare for this event, as well as know the basic Orthodox prayers, which the priest will inform you about in advance. The following attributes should be prepared for the sacrament of baptism: a pectoral cross, baptismal clothing, a towel, candles, an icon of the heavenly patron of the person being baptized. This entire "kit" can be purchased at the temple.

How to choose a temple for the baptism of a child

Any Orthodox church of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate or another canonical Local Orthodox Church, either located directly next to the place of residence of the family, or chosen at will, can become a temple for the sacrament of baptism.

Archpriest

VSEVOLOD CHAPLIN

Rector of the Church of St. Theodora Studita at the Nikitsky Gates, Moscow

Priest

ANTON RUSAKEVICH

Rector of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, Gorodomlya Island

Hieromonk

IONATHAN (BOGOMAZ)

Inhabitant of the Dormition Monastery in Ivanovo

Hieromonk The godfather must be a church person, ready to regularly take the godson to the temple and monitor his Christian upbringing. After baptism is performed, the godfather cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed a lot for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him. Pregnant and unmarried women CAN be godparents to both boys and girls - do not listen to superstitious fears! The father and mother of the child cannot be godparents, and the husband and wife cannot be godparents for the same child. Other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents. // priest Anton Rusakevich

My husband and I have a son, he is 10 months old. I can't choose a godfather for him. The reason is that I have never communicated in an Orthodox environment. I want to find a godfather to teach, go to church with him, instruct, but I don’t communicate with such people. How to be advise.

You can baptize without a godfather. And so you can ask the priest to become a godfather. // hieromonk Matthew (Kozlov)

Is it obligatory for the godfather to confess and take communion before the baptism of the baby, or will they not be baptized without it?

Preferably! Because the godfather must help his godson in churching, i.e. in the spiritual life, and confession is the first step towards it. And if the godfather does not understand anything about this, then what is the use of the godfather? So, in order for the godparents themselves to join the church life, they need to start with confession. // hieromonk Jonathan (Bogomaz)

We are going to baptize the baby. Is it possible to choose a heavenly patron yourself? Or strictly according to the saints? For example: the baby was named Dmitry. The first date after birth is the date of the transfer of the relics of Demetrius of Basarbovsky (Bassarabovsky), Bulgarian, St. Will he be the heavenly patron? Or can parents themselves determine at the request of Demetrius of Thessalonica?

Yes, you can choose your own heavenly patron. // priest Anton Rusakevich

This is the situation: my son's godfather bought a cross in a jewelry store, so it is not consecrated. It so happened that the christening took place a little earlier than planned, and until that moment it was not possible to consecrate the cross. In this regard, they were baptized like this. I am concerned about the question: did the baptism take place in full and is it possible to consecrate the cross later, will this not affect the son? Thank you!

In order to properly prepare for the baptism of a child, you need to clearly know the answers to the following questions: how to sign up for the baptism of a child, how to dress a child for baptism, how to dress for a child's baptism by an adult, how the rite of baptism of a child goes, how the baptism of a child is celebrated. In this article, we will try to give answers to these questions that so worry parents and godparents of a baby before baptism.

How to register for baptism?

In some churches, the priest records the child for baptism at the time when he conducts a special interview with the baby's parents and godparents. There are Orthodox churches where a church person who has been given such obedience registers for baptism. The child's baptism ceremony involves the active participation of the child's godparents, so before signing up for a specific day and specific time in the church, you should think carefully so that it is convenient for both the baby's parents and his godparents. During the preparation for this great sacrament of the Church, one should try to pray more often to the Savior and His Blessed Mother. This should be done by both the baby's parents, and his godparents and, if possible, all close people. You need to sign up for baptism in advance, at least a week before the planned celebration of the sacrament.

How to dress a child for baptism?

In order to clearly know the answer to this question, you need to ask during the interview what the temperature is in the room where the holy sacrament will take place. If this is a well-heated room, then you can dress the child lighter. And if it’s pretty cool there, then it’s better to put on warmer clothes for the baby, and be sure to take a blanket with you. Usually, a child is brought to baptism in one dress, and after immersion in the font, he is dressed in a beautiful white baptismal outfit. However, this is not a strict rule.

How to dress for a child's baptism?

The clothing requirements for adults who prayerfully participate in the baptism of a baby are the same as for attending church. Women should be covered in a skirt or dress, clothing should be fairly closed. Even if the sacrament is performed in the summer, men should wear trousers, not shorts.

How is the baptism?

The process of christening a child takes place in several stages. The child is held in the arms of his godparents. Usually, the boy is held in his arms by his godmother before immersion in the holy font, and after immersion - by his godfather.
When a girl is baptized, everything happens exactly the opposite, although this is not a strict rule. The priest reads special prayers in which he calls on the grace of the Holy Spirit to descend on the baptized baby. Godparents read the Creed. This prayer presents the main doctrinal provisions of the Orthodox Church. Godparents on behalf of the baby make a promise to be faithful to God throughout their lives. There is such a moment during the performance of the sacrament when the godparents turn their faces to the west. They make a symbolic breath and spit in this direction, and also utter certain words in which they renounce all evil deeds and thoughts on behalf of the child. During immersion in the holy font, the priest pronounces the baptismal formula. This is the most important moment in the performance of the sacrament of baptism. After the baptism of the child, the sacrament of chrismation immediately takes place. The priest smears with myrrh - consecrated oil - parts of the baby's body, and says certain prayers. These prayers concern not only the spiritual well-being of the child, but also his bodily health. For this reason, there are a large number of cases when, at first glance, hopelessly ill children, after being baptized, recovered to the joy of their parents and loved ones.

When the parents of the child and his godparents ask in advance how the baptism of the child takes place and how to properly prepare for it, then they feel much calmer and more confident during the performance of the sacrament itself, and this is of great importance. It is in a peaceful state of mind that it is easier to pray and be attentive to everything that happens.

How is a child's christening celebrated?

The celebration of the baptism of a child is also called christening. It is customary that immediately after the christening, the baby's parents invite guests. Godparents bring their gifts to the baptism of a child, but not only godparents, but also all close people come with gifts. Someone gives clothes, someone - toys, and someone can bring books or dishes. During the festive feast, parents are congratulated on the joyful event of the baptism of their baby, and happy parents, in turn, thank for the congratulations and treat everyone with various dishes.

One of the most important events in the life of a believer is the 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 performed according to a rite that has not changed over several centuries. Relatives and godparents should carefully and in advance prepare for this significant event.

What is child baptism

The rite of baptism of a child is a responsible step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and the church. Baptisms have a long history, but the basic rules and canons have survived to this day. The holy baptism of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition, the rite saves the baby from sins (hereditary or personal) and a birth takes place for a holy, spiritual life.

Name choice

If the name by which the baby is registered on the birth certificate is not in the calendar, then you should decide on the choice of another. They select names consonant with worldly names for the baptism of a child, for example, Zhanna - Anna, Sergey - 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, and not do it yourself. In church rites, the name given during the sacrament is used. It must be known in order to honor the heavenly intercessor.

What is the best age to baptize a child?

The Church recommends that the baby be christened as early as possible.. Catholics and Orthodox appoint the baptism of a child in the first months from the date of birth, although it is allowed to do the ceremony to a person of any age. Some postpone baptism until the time when a person can independently decide on the choice of religion. Often the date of the sacrament is set for the 40th day of the baby's life. The choice of a baptismal date, which establishes when to baptize a child, has several reasonable explanations:

newborns up to 3 months easily tolerate diving with their heads;
babies behave more calmly and are not afraid when they are picked up by strangers;
the mother of the baby is allowed to enter the church after 40 days from the date of birth.

Baptism of a child - 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, the church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of the christening, repenting and taking communion. It is also recommended to fast for 3-4 days, although this condition is not mandatory. On the morning before the ceremony, godparents should not eat or have sex the day before.

What days are children baptized in the church

You can conduct the sacrament of baptism of a child on any day, whether it is festive, ordinary or Lenten. In church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates for the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are overcrowded and it will be difficult to hold the sacrament. Some temples have their own schedule related to the internal routine. When choosing the day on which the baptism of children will be scheduled, it is better to consult with the priest.

Rules for the baptism of a child in the Orthodox Church

When you decide to baptize a child, it is important not only to choose a temple, to purchase baptismal supplies, but also to get acquainted with the conditions determined by the church, which parents and guests must follow. The church rules indicate that everyone should be with pectoral crosses. Women should wear closed dresses, cover their heads with a scarf. The baptism process lasts at least half an hour, the baby will be in her arms, so it is better to give up uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Men will need a suit that is dark, but not black. Although the church does not set strict rules regarding the appearance of men, it is not necessary to come to the place where the ordinances are performed wearing shorts and a T-shirt. On the eve of the solemn event, relatives, as well as godmothers and fathers, must confess. A few more days before the sacrament takes place, fasting should be observed.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy's child

When a boy is baptized, the godfather is necessarily involved in the ceremony. 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 assigned to the godfather; depending on the financial situation, the baby's parents can make a donation to the church. Buy a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, a blanket, sometimes a bonnet, belongs to the godmother. She is also responsible for buying a kryzhma and a silk scarf for a clergyman.

Christening girls

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

Choice of godparents

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

The recipients cannot be changed, so parents should carefully choose mentors for their crumbs. Often relatives of the baby are invited to this responsible “position”. Grandmothers, uncles, older sisters and any other people close to the family can become godparents. If you choose godchildren from the family, then 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 mother. The high responsibility that is imposed on the recipients determines the circle of persons who cannot claim such an honorary role. 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 the upbringing of their godchildren in the Orthodox spirit is assigned to the recipients. Preparing for this most important stage in a child's life plays a huge role, although it does not require much effort. Previously, the recipients need to pass a special interview by visiting the church. The godmother helps the natural parents to prepare some items for the baptism of the child. It is important that she knows how to handle the child, she can take off his clothes, put on a baptismal set.

The godmother plays the most important role when the sacrament is performed on the girl. In the case of male babies being baptized, the godfather has a great responsibility. He takes the baby after dipping in the holy font, when the baby is wrapped in kryzhma. Another godfather can participate in the purchase of a baptismal set, a cross. All material expenses are secondary, the main condition for the baptism of a child is the sincere faith of relatives and godparents.

What you need to know

The godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of the spiritual upbringing of the godson, teaching him the basics of the Christian faith. If the recipients are not sufficiently informed, then one should fill in the gaps, study the relevant literature, and talk with the 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 godfather holds the baby, at what moment the child is wrapped in a kryzhma, and when they put on a baptismal shirt.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

To accept the sacrament of baptism, a person (or godparents, if the ceremony is performed on a child) needs to know two prayers fundamental for all Christians: “Our Father”, “Symbol of Faith”. It is better to know their text by heart and understand the meaning. In the modern church, they are loyal to the fact that the 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 much attention to the spiritual education of the godson. By personal example, the recipients should demonstrate human virtues to the baby, teach him the basics of the Christian religion. With a Christian upbringing, children need to learn to resort to the sacraments of confession, communion, and familiarize themselves with the dates of church holidays. Godparents give knowledge about the grace-filled power of the icon of the Mother of God, and other shrines.

Godparents teach 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 the daily prayer for your godson. Throughout life, one should maintain a warm and trusting relationship with the godson, be with him in sorrow and joy.

How is the rite of baptism

The sacred sacrament is carried out according to a certain plan and in an established order, 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 parents should not be present during the ceremony, but today they are loyal to this, they allow mom and dad to the sacrament. The procedure can be divided into the following steps:

The rank of announcement. At that stage, over those preparing for baptism, the priest reads prohibition prayers three times against evil and the renunciation of the baby from him. The baby is wrapped only in diapers, his chest and face should be free.
Prohibition on unclean spirits. Turning to the west, the priest reads prayers against Satan three times.
Renunciation of receivers. The clergyman asks questions, and the recipients are responsible for the baby.
Confession of fidelity to the son of God. The godparents with the baby turn to the east and again answer the questions of the priest. At the end of the rite of confession of fidelity, the recipients read the prayer "Symbol of Faith".
Consecration of water. The priest dresses in white clothes and conducts the ceremony. The recipients pick up a candle, 3 more are lit from the eastern side of the font. After reading the prayer and asking for illumination of the water, the clergyman baptizes the water three times and blows on it.
The consecration 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, overshadows it with the sign of the cross, reads a prayer. Holy oil is anointed with font water, the baptized.
Three times immersion of the baby in the font. The clergyman 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 passes the baby to the recipients. The godfather takes the child of the boy, the godmother takes the girl. The baby is wrapped in a baptismal towel or kryzhma.
Dressing the baby in christening clothes. The christening ceremony continues with the putting on of baptismal shirts on the newly baptized, and even the baby is put on a cross.
Mystery of chrismation. The priest anoints the forehead, eyes, cheeks, chest, arms and legs of the baby, saying a prayer. The boy is carried three times around the altar, the priest helps the girls to venerate the icon of the Mother of God. The process is accompanied by the prayer of churching.
Ritual of hair cutting. The clergyman cuts off some hair from the newborn's head. This hair, at the end of the sacrament, remains in the church as a symbol of the first sacrifice to God.

Christening celebration

The holy sacrament of the baptism of the baby ends with a family celebration. On the solemn table there should be dishes from dough and cereals. Often guests are treated to pancakes, pies and other pastries. Traditionally, poultry meat is served on the table; earthenware is used to bake it. An indispensable treat should be vegetables and greens, symbolizing spring and the beginning of a new life. Godparents and guests present the baby with a gift. There are no special requirements for the choice of presentation. You can give everything: from the icon of a saint to a set of silver spoons.

What to do with baptismal things

How to be baptized is described in detail in the Bible, and recommendations for the use of baptismal paraphernalia are completely absent. Because of this, there are many opinions and advice. Priests can recommend parents several options for storing kryzhma:

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

When the baby will not wear a cross all the time, it can be stored together with the kryzhma in a chest of drawers. If opinions may differ regarding the use of kryzhma, there are actions that are absolutely impossible to carry out with it. The christening towel must not be washed, thrown away, or another person baptized in it. The baptismal shirt is put in a box or a special bag, and kept for a lifetime. There is an opinion that it has healing power, the shirt can be applied to the sore spot of the person who was baptized in it.

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All Orthodox know the ceremony of baptism of a child, when a small person is born in the faith. This is one of the seven sacraments, which says that every Orthodox must be baptized. The ceremony is needed to save the soul and gain the Kingdom of Heaven after death. This is not only grace, but also a real test, because from the day the sacrament is held, the forces of evil attack a person. That is why wearing a pectoral cross is very important.

The rite of baptism takes place almost the same in all Orthodox countries: Belarus, Georgia, Russia, etc. For a believer baptism symbolizes his rebirth. This is a very important event for both parents and godparents. It is very important to properly prepare for the sacrament. Responsibility for the ceremony should be shared among all the relatives and friends of the baby.

First you need to determine the exact time of baptism. Usually a child is baptized on the eighth or fortieth day after birth. Of course, there are special circumstances due to which the date can be moved, for example, in case of illness. It is allowed for the baby to be baptized earlier, because from the moment he accepts the faith, he has a guardian angel, located behind his right shoulder. He constantly guards a person and makes him stronger.

Some parents believe that the ceremony can be held later, when the child is stronger and older. But if the baby sleeps in the arms of the godparents, it is much easier to carry out the baptism process than when a three-year-old baby is constantly spinning and wants to run. Also, problems may arise with bathing in the font.

“Before the sacrament, parents must choose a spiritual name for the child, which only they, the godparents and the priest will know about. Thanks to this, a person will be stronger and more resilient. The name can be chosen in accordance with the day of baptism.

Preparation for the ceremony

There are certain rules for the rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy. To start a must visit temple. You can ask questions of interest in the church shop or immediately go to the priest.

Very often, the shops already have ready-made brochures for baptism, which indicate all the necessary procedures. Then you need to write down the date of birth of the newborn, the desired name for initiation into the faith and the names of the godparents. As for payment, it is voluntary. These are donations that go to the needs of the temple. The size of the donation for each church is individual.

Immediately before the ceremony, the godparents go for an interview with the priest, it is desirable that the baby's mom and dad are also present. All the nuances will be discussed in the conversation. The priest will tell you about what exactly you need to take to the baptism of a baby, what is the order and what to do after the ceremony. It is important to remember that the recipients must be baptized themselves before becoming godparents.

“For every family, the initiation into the faith of a child is a very important event, so many people want to invite a photographer to the ceremony and capture this bright moment. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this, but you cannot act arbitrarily here. Before the ceremony, you should ask the permission and blessing of the priest.

Before baptizing a child, you need to know that people of the same sex as the baby become godparents. For the baptism of a girl child, a woman is needed, and for a boy, a man. Both recipients are also allowed, who will be the spiritual parents of the child.

The question of choosing a spiritual mother and father must be approached very seriously. The chosen people have the same responsibility for the child as the biological parents. Often godparents are close friends of the parents. An ideal godfather must be a deeply religious person and observe church laws. This person should often communicate with the baby and spiritually develop him. If the chosen godparents do not cope with their duties, the church allows the baby to be baptized.

Usually, siblings of parents, grandparents, who are ready to constantly communicate with the child, are chosen as godparents. The Orthodox Church has laws according to which certain people cannot be godparents:

“Brothers and sisters also cannot be godparents to each other. For the baptism of the twins, different days must be chosen, while the godparents can be common. ”

Rules for receivers

There are basic rules that godparents must adhere to on the day of christening. They must come to the temple with their pectoral crosses around their necks. A woman must follow a certain dress code: a skirt below the knees and a jacket with long sleeves. Also, the godmother must cover her head with a scarf. Men should also not bare their shoulders and knees.

Often people are worried about what the cost of the ceremony should be. There are rules for the christening of a boy, according to which the recipient must buy him a cross and pay for the ceremony. The same applies to the godmother. Besides, There are a few more recommendations:

For the ceremony, it is best to buy a cross made of silver or base metal. Gold is not customary to use on the sacrament.
In addition to the cross, recipients must purchase a towel, a christening shirt and a sheet. After the ritual, the used towel and sheets are kept by mothers, as these things have the ability to cure children from diseases.
The recipients must observe strict fasting and abstinence. Immediately before the celebration, they need to take the sacrament in the church.
It is necessary to take the child's birth certificate to the temple.

Also, godparents must memorize the “Symbol of Faith” prayer, which the priest reads three times during the ceremony.

Other nuances

A small child can be baptized any day of the week, but The ceremony is usually held on Saturdays.. There is a tradition according to which the godparents take the baby from the parents and go to the temple. To ward off evil spirits, one of the recipients must chew a clove of garlic and breathe it into the baby's face.

Only the closest people should be present at the ceremony - parents, godparents and grandparents. Other relatives and friends may attend the christening banquet.

The ceremony takes place under the reading of prayers. In parallel, the priest performs chrismation. He then cuts off a strand of hair from the newborn's head as an offering to God. After this, the child is lowered into the font three times and the priest says a prayer: “Here is the cross, my daughter (my son), carry it.” Together with the priest, the godparents say "Amen."

The parents of the baby can also be in the church and pray for him during the sacrament. After the baptism, everyone goes to celebrate this event. At christening, it is customary to give toys, clothes, personal hygiene items for babies, as well as icons of the patron saint of the child.

There are slight differences between the rite of passage for a boy and a girl. To baptize a boy child, you need to know that the godfather has the right to take him to the altar, but this is unacceptable for girls. At christening, girls cover her head with a handkerchief. There is no such rule for boys.

If the boy is baptized by two godparents, then at the beginning of the ceremony he is held by the godmother, and after bathing in the font, the godfather takes him. As for the girls, the whole rite is in the hands of the godmother.

Knowing the basic rules and spiritual traditions of the sacrament of baptism, the child will grow up as a believer and a highly spiritual person striving for a righteous life.

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