Is it possible for an unmarried girl to baptize her first girl? Why can't an unmarried girl be baptized?

What is Baptism? Why is it called a Sacrament? You will find comprehensive answers to all these questions in this article prepared by the editors of Pravmir.

The Sacrament of Baptism: answers to readers' questions

Today I would like to tell the reader about the sacrament of Baptism and about godparents.

For ease of understanding, I will present the article to the reader in the form of questions most often asked by people about Baptism and the answers to them. So first question:

What is Baptism? Why is it called a Sacrament?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, while immersing the body three times in water and invoking the name Holy Trinity– Father and Son and Holy Spirit, dies to a life of sin, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit to Eternal Life. Of course, this action has a basis in Holy Scripture: “Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Christ says in the Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for spiritual life in which a person can achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible saving power of God - grace - acts on the person being baptized. Like other sacraments, baptism is divinely ordained. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, sending the apostles to preach the Gospel, taught them to baptize people: “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and can now begin the rest of the church sacraments.

Now that the reader has become familiar with the Orthodox concept of baptism, it is appropriate to consider one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the baptism of children. So:

Infant baptism: is it possible to baptize infants, because they do not have independent faith?

It’s absolutely true that young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But don’t the parents who brought their child for baptism in the temple of God have it? Won't they instill in their child faith in God from childhood? It is obvious that parents have such a belief, and, most likely, will instill it in their child. In addition, the child will also have godparents - recipients from the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to raise their godchild in Orthodox faith. Thus, infants are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child to baptism.

The prototype of New Testament baptism was Old Testament circumcision. IN Old Testament On the eighth day, babies were brought to the temple for circumcision. By this, the child’s parents showed their and his faith and belonging to God’s chosen people. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: “Baptism constitutes the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unfaithful.” Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “Circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; being buried with Him in baptism” (Col. 2:11-12). That is, baptism is dying and burial to sin and resurrection to perfect life with Christ.

These justifications are quite sufficient for the reader to realize the importance of infant baptism. After this, a completely logical question would be:

When should children be baptized?

There are no specific rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done earlier or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism until for a long time without emergency. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of prevailing circumstances.

An inquisitive reader may have questions regarding the days of baptism. For example, on the eve of multi-day fasts, the question most often heard is:

Is it possible to baptize children during fasting days?

Of course you can! But technically it doesn’t always work out. In some churches during Lent they baptize only on Saturdays and Sundays. This practice is most likely based on the fact that weekday Lenten services are very long, and the intervals between morning and evening services can be short. On Saturdays and Sundays, services are somewhat shorter in time, and the priests can devote more time to the needs. Therefore, when planning the day of baptism, it is better to find out in advance about the rules observed in the church where the child will be baptized. Well, if we talk at all about the days on which you can be baptized, then there are no restrictions in this matter. Children can be baptized on any day when there are no technical obstacles to this.

I have already mentioned that, if possible, every person should have godparents - recipients from the baptismal font. Moreover, children who are baptized according to the faith of their parents and successors should have them. The question arises:

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules require that the child have a recipient of the same gender as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy it is a man, and for a girl it is a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child has a recipient of a different gender than the person being baptized. The main thing is that this is a truly religious person who would subsequently conscientiously fulfill his duties in raising the child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the person being baptized can have one or, at most, two recipients.

Having dealt with the number of godparents, the reader will most likely want to know:

What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and main requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godparents must be churchgoers, living a church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith and give spiritual instructions. If they themselves are ignorant in these matters, then what can they teach the child? Godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of spiritual education of their godchildren, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with renouncing “Satan and all his works, and all his angels, and all his service, and all his pride.” Thus, the godparents, being responsible for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.

If the godson is already an adult and himself utters the words of renunciation, then the godparents present at the same time become guarantors before the Church of the fidelity of his words. Godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly confession and communion, they must give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the peculiarities church calendar, about the power of grace miraculous icons and other shrines. Godparents should teach those they received from the font to visit church services, fast, pray and observe other provisions of the church charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson. Obviously, strangers cannot be godparents, for example, some compassionate grandmother from the church, whom the parents persuaded to “hold” the baby at baptism.

But you should also not take simply close people or relatives as godparents who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were set out above.

Godparents should not become an object of personal gain for the parents of the person being baptized. The desire to become related to an advantageous person, for example, a boss, often guides parents when choosing godparents for a child. At the same time, forgetting about the true purpose of baptism, parents can deprive the child of a real godfather, and impose on him one who will subsequently not care about him at all. spiritual education children, for which he himself will also answer before God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

Some details of baptism include the following question:

Is it possible for a woman to become a godmother during her monthly cleansing? What to do if this does happen?

On such days, women should refrain from participating in church sacraments, which include baptism. But if this did happen, then it is necessary to repent of this in confession.

Perhaps someone reading this article will become a godfather in the near future. Realizing the importance of the decision being made, they will be interested in:

How can future godparents prepare for baptism?

There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special conversations are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and succession. If it is possible to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do so, because... this is very useful for future godparents. If future godparents are sufficiently churched, constantly confess and receive communion, then attending such conversations will be quite suitable for them. sufficient measure preparation.

If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churched, then good preparation for them will be not only the acquisition necessary knowledge about church life, but also the study of the Holy Scriptures, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as three days of fasting, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions regarding recipients. Usually the godfather takes upon himself the cost (if any) of the baptism itself and the purchase pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl and also brings things necessary for baptism. Typically, a baptismal set includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet and a towel.

But these traditions are not mandatory. Often in different regions and even individual churches have their own traditions, the implementation of which is strictly monitored by parishioners and even priests, although they do not have any dogmatic or canonical basis. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which the baptism will take place.

Sometimes you hear a purely technical question related to baptism:

What should godparents give for baptism (to the godson, to the godson's parents, to the priest)?

This question does not lie in the spiritual realm, regulated by canonical rules and traditions. But I think that the gift should be useful and remind of the day of baptism. Useful gifts on the day of baptism there could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops you can now find a lot of interesting and spiritually useful things, so purchasing a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.

Enough a common question When asked by unchurched parents, there is a question:

Can non-Orthodox Christians or non-Orthodox Christians become godparents?

It is quite obvious that no, because they will not be able to teach their godson the truths of the Orthodox faith. Not being members of the Orthodox Church, they cannot take part in church sacraments at all.

Unfortunately, many parents do not ask about this in advance and, without any remorse, invite non-Orthodox and non-Orthodox people to be godparents to their children. At baptism, of course, no one talks about this. But then, having learned about the inadmissibility of what they had done, the parents came running to the temple, asking:

What to do if this happens by mistake? Is baptism considered valid in this case? Is it necessary to baptize a child?

First of all, such situations show the extreme irresponsibility of parents when choosing godparents for their child. Nevertheless, such cases are not uncommon, and they occur among unchurched people who do not live a church life. A clear answer to the question “what to do in this case?” It is impossible to give, because There is nothing like this in the church canons. This is not surprising, because canons and rules were written for members of the Orthodox Church, which cannot be said about heterodox and non-Orthodox people. Nevertheless, as an accomplished fact, baptism took place, and it cannot be called invalid. It is legal and valid, and the baptized person has become a full-fledged Orthodox Christian, because was baptized Orthodox priest in the name of the Holy Trinity. No rebaptism is required; there is no such concept at all in the Orthodox Church. A person is born physically once, he cannot repeat this again. Also - only once a person can be born for spiritual life, therefore there can be only one baptism.

Let me make a small digression and tell the reader how I once had to witness a not very pleasant scene. A young married couple brought their newborn son to be baptized in the temple. The couple worked in foreign company and invited one of their colleagues, a foreigner by religion, to become godfather. True, the godmother was supposed to be a girl of the Orthodox faith. Neither the parents nor the future godparents were distinguished by special knowledge in the field of Orthodox doctrine. The parents of the child received the news of the impossibility of having a Lutheran as their son’s godparents with hostility. They were asked to find another godfather or baptize the child with one godmother. But this proposal angered father and mother even more. The persistent desire to see this particular person as the recipient prevailed over the common sense of the parents and the priest had to refuse to baptize the child. Thus, the illiteracy of the parents became an obstacle to the baptism of their child.

Thank God that such situations have never occurred in my priestly practice. An inquisitive reader may well assume that there may be some obstacles to accepting the sacrament of baptism. And he will be absolutely right. So:

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

Orthodox believe in the Trinity of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Founder Christian faith there was a Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who does not accept the Divinity of Christ and does not believe in the Holy Trinity cannot be an Orthodox Christian. Also, a person who denies the truths of the Orthodox faith cannot become an Orthodox Christian. The priest has the right to refuse baptism to a person if he is going to accept the sacrament as some kind of magical rite or has some kind of pagan belief regarding baptism itself. But this is a separate issue and I will touch on it later.

A very common question about receivers is:

Can spouses or those about to get married become godparents?

Yes they can. Contrary to popular belief, there is no canonical prohibition for spouses or those about to get married to be godparents to one child. There is only a canonical rule that prohibits the godfather from marrying the child’s natural mother. The spiritual relationship established between them through the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. But this rule does not in any way affect the possibility of godparents marrying or the possibility of spouses becoming godparents.

Sometimes unchurched parents of children, wanting to choose godparents for their children, ask the following question:

Can people living in a civil marriage become recipients?

At first glance, this is enough complex issue, but from the church point of view it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called complete. And in general, prodigal cohabitation cannot be called a family. After all, in fact, people living in a so-called civil marriage live in fornication. This is a big problem modern society. People who have been baptized in the Orthodox Church, at a minimum, who recognize themselves as Christians, for some unknown reason, refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are countless excuses to hear. But, unfortunately, these people simply do not want to understand that they are looking for any excuses for themselves.

For God, the desire to “get to know each other better” or “not wanting to stain your passport with unnecessary stamps” cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a “civil” marriage trample all Christian concepts about marriage and family. Christian marriage presupposes the responsibility of the spouses for each other. During the wedding, they become one whole, and not two different people who made a promise to henceforth live under the same roof. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other one bear the entire weight of the body? And in a “civil” marriage, people don’t even want to take on the responsibility of putting a stamp in their passport.

What then can we say about such irresponsible people who still want to be godparents? What good things can they teach a child? Is it possible that, having very shaky moral foundations, they will be able to set a good example for their godson? No way. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded as such) cannot be recipients of the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legitimize their relationship before God and the state, then they, especially, will not be able to be godparents to one child. Despite the apparent complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unequivocally: no.

The topic of gender relations is always very pressing in all areas of human life. It goes without saying that this results in various issues that are directly related to baptism. Here is one of them:

Can a young man (or girl) become a godfather for his bride (groom)?

In this case, they will have to terminate their relationship and limit themselves to only a spiritual connection, because... in the sacrament of baptism, one of them will become the godparent of the other. Can a son marry his own mother? Or should the daughter marry her own father? Quite obviously not. Of course, church canons cannot allow this to happen.

Much more often than others there are questions about the possible adoption of close relatives. So:

Can relatives become godparents?

Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts may well become godparents to their little relatives. There is no contradiction to this in church canons.

Can an adoptive father (mother) become a godfather to an adopted child?

According to Rule 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.

Based on the fact that a spiritual relationship is established between godparents and parents, the inquisitive reader may ask the following question:

Can a child’s parents become godparents to the children of their godfathers (their children’s godparents)?

Yes, this is completely acceptable. Such an action does not in any way violate the spiritual relationship established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of a child, can become godmother to the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. Other options are possible, but, in any case, spouses cannot become adopters of one child.

Sometimes people ask this question:

Can a priest be a godfather (including the one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?

Yes maybe. In general, this question is very pressing. From time to time I hear requests to become a godfather from complete strangers. Parents bring their child to baptism. For some reason it was not found godfather for a child. They start asking to become godfather to the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of a godfather, the priest should fulfill this role. We have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. A priest is a person like everyone else, and he may well refuse strangers to be godfather to their child. After all, he will have to bear responsibility for raising his godchild. But how can he do this if he sees this child for the first time and is completely unfamiliar with his parents? And, most likely, he will never see it again. Obviously this is impossible. But a priest (even if he himself will perform the sacrament of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will serve with the priest at the sacrament of baptism) may well become recipients of the children of their friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Continuing the theme of adoption, one cannot help but recall such a phenomenon as the desire of parents, for some, sometimes completely incomprehensible, reasons, to “adopt a godfather in absentia.”

Is it possible to take a godfather “in absentia”?

The very meaning of succession involves the godfather accepting his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized person and undertakes to raise him in the Orthodox faith. There is no way to do this in absentia. In the end, the person who is being tried to be “registered in absentia” as a godparent may not at all agree to this action and, as a result, the person being baptized may be left without a godparent at all.

Sometimes you hear questions from parishioners about the following:

How many times can a person become a godfather?

In the Orthodox Church there is no clear canonical definition regarding how many times a person can become a godfather during his life. The main thing that a person agreeing to become a successor must remember is that this is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person can take on succession. This measure is different for each person and, sooner or later, a person may have to abandon the new adoption.

Is it possible to refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?

If a person feels internally unprepared or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill his duties godparent, then he may well refuse to allow the child’s parents (or the person being baptized, if he is an adult) to become their child’s godfather. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest towards the child, his parents and himself than, having taken responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child, not fulfilling his immediate responsibilities.

Continuing this topic, I will give a few more questions that people usually ask regarding the number of possible godchildren.

Is it possible to become godfather to the second child in the family if the first one has already been one?

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

Is it possible for one person to be the recipient of several people (for example, twins) during baptism?

There are no canonical prohibitions against this. But technically this can be quite difficult if infants are baptized. The receiver will have to hold and receive both babies from the bath at the same time. It would be better if each godson had his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized individually is different people who have the right to their godfather.

Many people will probably be interested in this question:

At what age can you become a foster child?

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached adulthood, then his age should be such that he can realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as a godfather. It seems that this may be an age close to adulthood.

The relationship between the child's parents and godparents also has a lot of important role in raising children. It is good when parents and godparents have spiritual unity and direct all their efforts to the proper spiritual education of their child. But human relationships are not always cloudless, and sometimes you hear the following question:

What should you do if you quarreled with your godson’s parents and for this reason you can’t see him?

The answer suggests itself: make peace with the godson’s parents. For what can people who have a spiritual relationship and at the same time be at enmity with each other teach a child? It is worth thinking not about personal ambitions, but about raising a child and, having patience and humility, try to improve relations with the godson’s parents. The same can be advised to the child’s parents.

But a quarrel is not always the reason why a godfather cannot see his godson for a long time.

What to do if, due to objective reasons, you have not seen your godson for years?

I guess, that objective reasons- This is the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents and the child moved to another city or country. In this case, all that remains is to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him with the help of everyone available funds communications.

Unfortunately, some godparents, having baptized the baby, completely forget about their immediate responsibilities. Sometimes the reason for this is not only the recipient’s elementary ignorance of his duties, but his falling into grave sins, which make their own spiritual life very difficult. Then the child’s parents involuntarily have a completely legitimate question:

Is it possible to abandon godparents who do not fulfill their duties, who have fallen into serious sins or who lead an immoral lifestyle?

The Orthodox Church does not know the rite of renunciation of godparents. But parents can find an adult who, without being the actual recipient of the font, would help in the spiritual education of the child. At the same time, he cannot be considered a godfather.

But having such an assistant is better than depriving a child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend. After all, a moment may come when a child begins to look for spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very useful. And as the child grows up, you can teach him to pray for his godfather. After all, the spiritual connection of a child with the person who received him from the font will not be severed if he takes responsibility for a person who himself could not cope with this responsibility. It happens that children surpass their parents and mentors in prayer and piety.

Praying for someone who is sinning or lost will be a manifestation of love for that person. It is not without reason that the Apostle James says in his letter to Christians: “Pray for one another so that you may be healed; the fervent prayer of the righteous can accomplish much” (James 5:16). But all these actions must be coordinated with your confessor and receive a blessing for them.

Here’s another interesting question that people periodically ask:

When is there no need for godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because he has conscious faith in God and is quite capable of independently pronouncing the words of renunciation of Satan, uniting with Christ and reading the Creed. He is fully aware of his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and small children. Their godparents do all this for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without godparents. Such a need, undoubtedly, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

Godless times have left their mark on the destinies of many people. The result of this was that some people, after for long years those of unbelief finally gained faith in God, but when they came to church, they did not know whether they had been baptized in childhood by believing relatives. A logical question arises:

Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child?

According to Rule 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or refute the fact of their baptism. In this case, a person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: “If he is not baptized, the servant of God is baptized...”.

I'm all about children and children. Among the readers, perhaps, there are people who have not yet received the saving sacrament of baptism, but who strive for it with all their souls. So:

What does a person who is preparing to become an Orthodox Christian need to know? How should he prepare for the sacrament of baptism?

A person’s knowledge of faith begins with reading the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, a person who wants to be baptized, first of all, needs to read the Gospel. After reading the Gospel, a person may have a number of questions that require a competent answer. Such answers can be obtained at so-called public conversations, which are held in many churches. At such conversations, the basics of the Orthodox faith are explained to those wishing to be baptized. If the church in which a person is going to be baptized does not have such conversations, then you can ask all your questions to the priest in the church. It will also be useful to read some books that explain Christian dogmas, for example, The Law of God. It will be good if, before receiving the sacrament of baptism, a person memorizes the Creed, in which briefly outlines the Orthodox doctrine of God and the Church. This prayer will be read at baptism, and it would be wonderful if the person being baptized himself confessed his faith. Direct preparation begins a few days before baptism. These days are special, so you should not divert attention to other, even very important, problems. It is worth devoting this time to spiritual and moral reflection, avoiding fuss, empty talk, and participation in various amusements. We must remember that baptism, like other sacraments, is great and holy. It must be approached with the greatest awe and reverence. It is advisable to fast for 2-3 days; married people should abstain from marital relations the night before. You need to show up for baptism extremely clean and tidy. You can wear new smart clothes. Women should not wear cosmetics, as always, when visiting a temple.

There are many superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism, which I would also like to touch upon in this article. One of the most common superstitions is:

Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if you baptize a girl first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give her her happiness...

This statement is also a superstition that has no basis either in Holy Scripture or in church canons and traditions. And happiness, if it is deserved before God, will not escape a person.

Another strange thought that I have heard more than once:

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would this somehow affect her own child or godson?

Of course you can. Such a misconception has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also superstition. Participation in church sacraments can only be for the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. The babies were born strong and healthy.

A lot of superstitions are associated with the so-called crossing. Moreover, the reasons for such an insane action are sometimes very bizarre and even funny. But most of of these justifications are of pagan and occult origin. Here, for example, is one of the most common superstitions of occult origin:

Is it true that in order to remove the damage caused to a person, it is necessary to cross himself again, and keep the new name secret, so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, because... do they cast spells specifically on the name?

To be honest, hearing such statements makes me want to laugh heartily. But, unfortunately, this is no laughing matter. What kind of pagan stupidity must one reach? Orthodox person to decide that baptism is a kind of magical ritual, a kind of antidote to damage. An antidote to some vague substance, the definition of which no one even knows. What is this ghostly corruption? It is unlikely that any of those who are so afraid of her will be able to clearly answer this question. This is not surprising. Instead of looking for God in life and fulfilling His commandments, the “church” people with enviable zeal look for the mother of all evils in everything - corruption. And where does it come from?

Let me make a small lyrical digression. A man is walking down the street and stumbles. Everything is jinxed! We urgently need to run to the temple to light a candle so that everything is fine and the evil eye passes. While walking to the temple, he stumbled again. Apparently, they not only jinxed it, but also caused damage! Wow, infidels! Well, it’s okay, now I’ll come to the temple, pray, buy candles, stick all the candlesticks, and fight the damage with all my might. The man ran to the temple, stumbled again on the porch and fell. That's it - lie down and die! Damage to death, a family curse, and there’s also some nasty stuff there, I forgot the name, but it’s also something very scary. Three-in-one cocktail! Candles and prayer will not help against this, this is a serious matter, an ancient voodoo spell! There is only one way out - to be baptized again, and only with a new name, so that when these same voodoo whispers in the old name and stick needles into the dolls, all their spells fly by. They won't know the new name. And all witchcraft is done in the name, didn’t you know? What fun it will be when they whisper and conjure intensely, and everything flies by! Bam, bam and - by! Oh, it’s good when there is baptism - a cure for all diseases!

This is approximately how superstitions associated with rebaptism appear. But much more often the sources of these superstitions are figures in the occult sciences, i.e. fortune tellers, psychics, healers and other “God-gifted” individuals. These tireless “generators” of newfangled occult terminology go to all sorts of tricks to seduce people. They also come into play generational curses, and crowns of celibacy, and karmic knots of destinies, transfers, love spells with lapels and other occult nonsense. And all you need to do to get rid of all this is to cross yourself. And the damage was gone. And laughter and sin! But many fall for these parachurch tricks of “Mothers Glafir” and “Fathers Tikhon”, and run to the temple for re-baptism. It would be good if they told them where they had such an ardent desire to cross themselves, and they would be denied this blasphemy, having previously explained what the consequences of going to the occultists would be. And some do not even say that they have already been baptized and are being baptized again. There are also those who are baptized several times, because... previous baptisms “didn’t help.” And they won't help! It is difficult to imagine a greater blasphemy against the sacrament. After all, the Lord knows the heart of a person, knows about all his thoughts.

It’s worth saying a few words about the name, which is so advised to change “ good people" A person is given a name on the eighth day from birth, but since many do not know about this, basically the prayer for naming a name is read by the priest immediately before baptism. Surely everyone knows that a person is given a name in honor of one of the saints. And it is this saint who is our patron and intercessor for us before God. And, of course, I think that every Christian should call on his saint as often as possible and ask for his prayers before the throne of the Almighty. But what actually happens? Not only does a person neglect his name, but he also neglects his saint, after whom he is named. And instead of calling on your friend for help in times of trouble or danger heavenly patron- his saint, visits fortune tellers and psychics. An appropriate “reward” will follow for this.

There is another superstition related directly to the sacrament of baptism itself. Almost immediately after baptism, the ceremony of cutting hair follows. In this case, the receiver is given a piece of wax in which to roll the cut hair. The receiver must throw this wax into the water. This is where the fun begins. I don't know where the question comes from:

Is it true that if at baptism the wax with cut hair sinks, then the life of the person being baptized will be short?

No, it's superstition. According to the laws of physics, wax cannot sink in water at all. But if you throw it from a height with sufficient force, then at the first moment it will actually go under water. It is good if the superstitious receiver does not see this moment and “fortune telling with baptismal wax” will give a positive result. But, as soon as the godfather notices the moment the wax is immersed in water, lamentations immediately begin, and the newly-made Christian is almost buried alive. After this, it is sometimes difficult to bring the child’s parents out of their state of terrible depression, who are told about the “sign of God” seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.

To summarize, I would like to note that baptism is a great sacrament, and the approach to it should be reverent and thoughtful. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live their former sinful life. Having been baptized, a person must remember that now he is Orthodox Christian, soldier of Christ, member of the Church. This requires a lot. First of all, to love. Love for God and neighbors. So let each of us, regardless of when he was baptized, fulfill these commandments. Then we can hope that the Lord will lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven. That Kingdom, the path to which the sacrament of Baptism opens for us.

Is it possible for unmarried girls to have girls baptized? Yes. To become a godmother, you need to have a firm faith in God, profess Orthodoxy, love your future goddaughter as your daughter, and trust her parents as you trust yourself. Age, marital status future godmother mothers don't matter. There can be only one restriction for a believing girl: you cannot baptize a child together with your future husband. That is, a couple who is dating and planning to start a family cannot become godparents for the same child.

Superstitions

Often, when choosing future godparents, mom and dad wonder: is it possible unmarried girl baptize the first girl? This is due to folk signs and superstitions, which have nothing to do with Orthodox teaching. For some reason, it is generally accepted that an unmarried godmother gives her happiness to her goddaughter. These are, in Russian, "old wives' tales." “According to your faith, be it done to you,” is the correct attitude towards all signs and superstitions. “Don’t believe it and it won’t come true,” said the saint Venerable Seraphim Sarovsky about bad omens. If a girl believes with all her soul that she and her goddaughter find common happiness during the Sacrament, then that’s exactly what will happen. You can say to yourself out of spite: “In this way I call on God’s blessing for my own happy marriage and motherhood.” And, believe me, this is exactly what will come true if you truly believe. So, is it possible for unmarried girls to baptize girls? It is possible and necessary if you approach your future title responsibly.

If you baptized a child together, you cannot marry

An unmarried girl? The girl is baptized by the godmother, the boy by the godfather. But at the same time, for a girl, both the father and the mother are often invited. Here arises important condition, which can become an obstacle to choosing a particular person for the role of godmother or godfather. It seems very sweet when a future couple seals their feelings by baptizing their baby together. People who are ignorant of church canons often do this. The fact is that the recipients, when performing the Sacrament, enter into a spiritual relationship. This is the obstacle. If the couple subsequently wishes to get married, they will be refused. It is forbidden to perform the Sacrament of Wedding on people who are in such a relationship, that is, who are the spiritual parents of the same baby.

Nowadays, such stories also happen: mom and dad get divorced, then dad wants to marry his godfather. Such marriages are also not blessed. Answer to the question: “Can unmarried girls have girls baptized?” next: it is possible if the girl is going to become a nun, has simply taken a vow of celibacy, and also if the godfather does not take part in the baptism or is not her likely groom.

What does it mean to be a godmother?

“You can’t baptize the first girl for an unmarried girl!” - the folk sign categorically declares. Answer: it doesn’t matter what gender the child is, whether he is the first or the tenth. It is important to take the upcoming Sacrament responsibly. The baby does not yet and cannot have his own faith; the baby is baptized according to the faith of his or her successor. The girl gives God her word that she will bring this baby to Him. The spiritual mother becomes the guardian of faith and piety for the goddaughter. At the Last Judgment, godparents will answer for the sins of their godchildren, for the fact that they spent their lives outside the Church, outside the faith of Christ. That is, if the girl herself does not really believe or knows that the parents of the future goddaughter will not raise her in the Orthodox faith, it is better to refuse the offered role. You can baptize the daughter of unbelieving parents, provided that the godmother will have the opportunity to accept the most Active participation in education, for example, a governess or a very close relative. A good example: a believing girl baptizes a baby from the orphanage where she works, firmly knowing that raising her goddaughter will fall on her shoulders at least for the next few years. But in no case should children be baptized by people who are atheists, people of other faiths (Muslims, Buddhists, etc.) or unchurched (those who do not attend church services more often than once every few months and do not receive communion at least once a year ).

How to prepare

About how to properly prepare for a future godmother, it is best to ask the priest who will perform this Sacrament. In most churches, special conversations are held on how to prepare yourself and prepare a child for parents and future adoptees. If there is no such opportunity in the church where the Baptism will take place, and the priest for some reason could not devote time to the future godparents, then you can purchase the appropriate literature. In any case, it is advisable for the godmother to receive communion on the day of the Sacrament or the day before, having made the necessary preparations beforehand. It’s good if you manage to find time to read the Gospel during the week before baptism. Be sure to throughout the week before and during the Sacrament itself, you must pray with all your heart to God and the Mother of God for blessings for yourself and your goddaughter, and ask for help in fulfilling your obligations. Is it possible for unmarried girls to have girls baptized? Any girl or woman who seriously, responsibly, and reverently approaches her role in the Sacrament and all can baptize a girl. future life child.

When an unmarried girl is invited to become a godmother, she faces a dilemma: “Should I baptize the child or refuse?” The future godmother often asks loved ones: “Is it possible for an unmarried girl to baptize a girl?” These throwings are associated with fears and superstitions that are not supported.

People believe that an unmarried girl who becomes a godmother will find it difficult to get married in the future. Priests believe that everything is the will of the Lord, and personal life has nothing to do with the sacrament of baptism.

There is also a superstition that a godmother who is not married can give her destiny to her goddaughter. The church says that every person is unique and cannot exchange their destiny with others.

There is also a myth that the young godmother will take many of her goddaughter’s sins upon herself when she enters adulthood. But this cannot happen either, since God perceives each person separately and sees only his sins and good deeds.

Another superstitious fear relates to the child's parents. Some parents believe that a young and unmarried godmother may unwittingly or intentionally steal their daughter's luck, youth, or beauty at baptism. In Christianity, witchcraft is denied, so this fear remains at the level of “old wives' tales.”

For what true reasons can unmarried people not be godparents?

It would seem that fears have been calmed, myths have been debunked and you can safely become the little girl’s godmother. But besides superstitions, there are real prohibitions when an unmarried woman cannot baptize a child. Let's look at them in more detail:

All of the above are good reasons for refusing the role of godmother. And parents themselves should not invite a person to this important role who is not suitable for the above reasons. Now you have found out whether an unmarried girl can have a girl baptized. What does it really mean to be a godmother?

Godmother is an honorary title and a great responsibility. Real godmother will be able to replace the girl’s real mother if something happens to her.

The godmother should be actively involved in the spiritual development of her goddaughter. She is obliged to participate in all events that are important for the girl, and to attend her wedding.

The godmother is a spiritual example for the goddaughter. Their close communication should enrich the child's Christian views. But worldly participation in the life of the goddaughter is not prohibited.

A woman who has become a godmother must pray diligently for her goddaughter and support her in difficult periods of life. After all, she witnessed the child’s introduction to the world of Christianity.

Whether to agree to the role of godmother is a personal matter for each woman. If fears due to omens and superstitions are too strong, you can tell a priest about them in confession. But you shouldn’t refuse loved ones because of myths and beliefs. It is better to understand your internal readiness for such a significant step. After all, the status of godmother is for life. And you cannot refuse such a role, even if the desire arises.

It is also worth remembering that it is not welcomed when the godmother or godfather prepares. It is better to participate in the sacrament of baptism after your own wedding. But if the desire to become a godmother is sincere and strong, then the church can approve such candidates.

So is it possible for an unmarried girl to baptize a girl? According to folk signs- No. But the church looks at this positively. The main thing is that the future godmother is not too young and fully understands the importance of this step. And then everything will go wonderfully, and the girl will have her first named child - her goddaughter. And the parents will find in her an assistant who will care about the fate of their daughter. After all, the more close and loving people a child has, the better.

The baptism of a child is an event that happens to every religious family. However, few people know that such an Orthodox ritual can affect the future fate of both parents and their children. To understand how to avoid negative consequences and not to invite trouble, it is necessary to turn to folk wisdom.

Baptizing the first daughter of an unmarried girl means failure in personal life

In the superstitions that have come down to us, there are instructions on how to properly prepare and conduct baptism. So, for example, signs are relevant that explain whether an unmarried or separated girl can be baptized.

Reasons why an unmarried girl should not be baptized

According to signs, the baptism of a girl by an unmarried woman is a bad sign; it indicates negative events in the near future.

• Baptizing an unmarried girl's first daughter means failure in her personal life. The child will not be able to have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Young people will have no interest in the girl, which is why she will be disappointed in her appearance. This will entail low self-esteem and a desire to radically change the data. Attempts to make the body ideal will stop only after a young man appears in life.
• The baptism of a second child is a harbinger of an unexpected change in behavior. The child will stop listening to his parents and will envy his peers and older brother or sister. This will result in a long-term confrontation between children, which will end only in adulthood.
• If a child who was baptized by an unmarried girl was born 3rd or 4th in a family, then you should expect disappointment in close friends. The girl will have to repeatedly convince herself that her friends will not always respond to requests and help in difficult situations.
• For an unmarried girl to baptize the only child in the family is a bad omen. Parents will regularly quarrel among themselves. Showdowns and ongoing conflicts will lead to a breakup.

Why can't a woman who is divorced have a girl baptized?

Also, signs have reached us that explain why the first or only girl of a woman who has divorced her husband cannot be baptized. This can affect the child's relationship with his parents.

1. According to superstitions, if a woman divorces a man in the first 3 years after the wedding, then her goddaughter will experience communication with peers, which will negatively affect her behavior. Soon there will be quarrels with parents and distance from them, while the role of friends in life will increase. The girl will maintain a disdainful attitude towards elders into adulthood, which will cause career failures.
2. The baptism of a girl by a single woman who has separated from her husband after 4 or more years of marriage is a harbinger of melancholy in the child. A sad mood and reluctance to start any tasks will lead to a lag compared to peers. In the future, this will also affect professional self-determination and choice of life path.
3. A girl whose godmother divorced and remarried faces minor troubles every christening. She will have to deal with rude attitudes, unpleasant gifts and quarrels with friends on this day. A series of minor misfortunes will regularly spoil the holiday, which will cause a negative attitude towards the date of baptism.
4. If the reason for the divorce was infidelity, then a woman should under no circumstances become the girl’s godmother. This can lead to long-term misunderstandings between the child and the young people around him. At a more conscious age, the goddaughter will try to find her happiness with one of the men she knows, but this will only lead to a broken heart and lowered self-esteem. In the future, the girl will also not be able to build family relationships with representatives of the opposite sex.

To baptize a boy on Monday means that soon one of the parents will have the opportunity to move forward career ladder

The opinion of the Orthodox Church on the baptism of children by unmarried girls

There are several opinions about whether an unmarried woman can baptize a child. According to representatives Orthodox Church, it is necessary to answer this question based on the daughter’s age. Depending on how old the girl is, it becomes clear whether she can be baptized by an unmarried woman.

• Up to 1 year of age, a child at this time can still be baptized by an unmarried woman. The event will not affect the future life of either the girl or her godmother.
• From 2 to 3 years is the period when such an event can affect the health of relatives. They will often get sick until minor ailments develop into serious ailments. You will have to spend a lot of effort and money to get rid of the disease.
• From 4 to 7 years old, it is no longer possible for an unmarried girl to baptize a child. This can affect the girl's hobbies. She will be interested in the unimportant or meaningless, which is why she will not have time for more significant things. This will negatively affect her horizons.
• From 8 to 10 years old - it is also not recommended to choose a godmother among unmarried people. The girl will soon understand that she does not share the opinions of others, including her parents. In the future, this will lead to distance from friends and family.
• From 11 to 15 – an unmarried girl cannot be baptized. The position of a lonely and self-sufficient person can scare away a teenager, which is why she will try to quickly enter into a relationship.
• Over 16, you can already choose an unmarried lady as your godparent. The girl’s personality has already been formed, so such an event will not affect her life.

Is it possible for an unmarried girl to baptize a boy?

An unmarried girl can baptize a boy.

This will be a good sign of fate, which will indicate further positive events. Based on what day it was carried out Orthodox rite, you can look into the future.

1. Baptizing a boy on Monday means that one of the parents will soon have the opportunity to move up the career ladder. The promotion will be the result of the boss's unexpected generosity and will lead to a deterioration in relations between colleagues. Despite the decrease in the number of friends, the overall standard of living will improve.
2. The boy's baptism by an unmarried woman, which took place on Tuesday, indicates an emerging interest in studies. The child will come under the influence of an adult who will attract him to a more detailed study of one of the sciences. This will affect further professional self-determination and choice of business.
3. If a boy was baptized by an unmarried woman on Wednesday, then he should expect to meet a good person. One of the new friends will turn out to be an interesting conversationalist, and then become a true friend.
4. Baptism on Thursday means quick deliverance from enemies. The boy will understand what needs to be done so as not to attract the attention of ill-wishers. This will have a positive impact on his academic performance, self-esteem and mood.
5. An unmarried godmother in a Friday Orthodox ceremony is a harbinger of changes in relationships with representatives of the opposite sex. The boy will become more interested in one of his friends, which will lead to the beginning of a romantic relationship.
6. An Orthodox ritual performed on Saturday will improve relations with parents. The boy will understand that conversations with mom and dad help to understand life problems, thanks to which he will be able to trust adults more.
7. If a boy was baptized by an unmarried woman on Sunday, then he will have a conversation with one of his friends. After the conversation, comrades will understand each other better. Thanks to this, their friendship will become a source of support, it will last for many years of life.

The baptism of a daughter by an unmarried woman is an act that you can only dare to do after becoming familiar with the signs and superstitions. Only by comparing all the information can you make correct solution, which will not affect the future life of the child and parents.

Nowadays, people try to approach the choice of godparents responsibly. Therefore, they are scrupulously trying to find the most suitable candidate. One of the interesting questions in this sense is in what cases an unmarried girl can become a godmother.

Is it possible to baptize an unmarried girl?

Despite the fact that the church denies the existence of magic and various superstitions, this does not prevent people from trusting legends that many centuries ago were traditional for our ancestors or arose out of nowhere in Lately.

So, today many parents do not want single women to become godparents of their daughters. But why does this happen?

There are 2 beliefs that explain this opinion. The first warns that, first of all, such a role can be dangerous for the girl herself. This is explained by the fact that the future goddaughter will take beauty and female happiness from her patroness.

The second belief is about the danger for the girl. If an adult woman who has not yet been married and has no children becomes the patroness, then, although unlikely, this is the crown of celibacy and it can pass on to the goddaughter.

Of course, the church has a negative attitude towards such superstitions and says that if a girl has already reached the age of majority, is an Orthodox Christian, goes to church, believes in God and really wants to become the godmother of a child, then she can do this.

Signs about the prohibition of baptizing a boy

Of course, superstitions are also associated with the baptism of a boy. Some of them are worth dispelling. Here are the most common of them:

• if you do not have a godfather, then, alas, you cannot baptize a boy, since the patron must be of the same sex as the baby;
• preferably a girl baptized the first boy, then her life will turn out well;
• An unmarried woman is not recommended to baptize a male child because she will not marry for a long time.

Attention! Decrypted terrible horoscope Wangi for 2019:
Trouble awaits 3 signs of the Zodiac, only one sign can become a winner and gain wealth... Fortunately, Vanga left instructions for activating and deactivating what was destined.

To receive a prophecy, you need to indicate the name given at birth and the date of birth. Vanga also added the 13th sign of the Zodiac! We advise you to keep your horoscope secret, there is a high probability of the evil eye of your actions!

Readers of our site can receive Vanga's horoscope for free>>. Access may be closed at any time.

As you can see, we have three signs that contradict each other. It's safe to say that these are all superstitions. The Church rejects such speculation and emphasizes that a believer should not bother himself with such things.

Eat certain rules choice of godparents and it does not indicate that an unmarried woman cannot be the patron of your child. It does not matter at all what gender the child is. It is worth noting that some churches actually ask that they find patron of the same sex with the baby(if there is only one person as godparent).

As you can see, any woman can baptize a child, regardless of her marital status. If someone tells you that this is prohibited, you can be sure that the person simply does not understand the intricacies of the baptismal ritual. And such superstitions are just a figment of human imagination.