What is needed for a boy's baptism. Preparing the child and godparents for baptism

“The visible sign of the invisible grace given by Christ.” This definition was given to the concept of “sacrament” by the philosopher Augustine in the 4th century. The Catholic preacher brought out general concept, but did not highlight a specific number of sacred rites. The 7 main sacraments of the church are a classification that appeared only in the 12th century. The list was announced by Otto of Bamberg. The Bishop of Pomerania included the sacrament of baptism in the list.

Without it, it is impossible to join the church, the flock, or enter the Kingdom of Heaven. During the ritual, a person renounces the Devil three times and swears allegiance to Christ. Afterwards, the believer receives a new name and a Guardian angel. The main thing for undergoing the sacrament is faith in God, humility before him. However, there are also physical paraphernalia required for baptism.

Baptism set

So, what is needed for baptism from things? Firstly, myself. The crucifix is a symbol of belonging to the Christian faith. The wearing of crosses by clergy and parishioners came into use in the 9th-11th centuries. Before this, the symbol of Jesus, wrote John Chrysostom in the 3rd century, was worn in the form of medallions.

They resembled boxes, were made of wood, and had 4 sides. Particles of scripture, relics, and slivers from the tree of Golgotha were placed inside. Wearing such a cross is not prohibited even now. However, there are not enough shrine particles for everyone. In addition, voluminous medallions are inconvenient and heavy if made of metal. From wooden pendants to Lately refused due to their fragility.

The cross will require a chain or cord. The entire set is purchased by godparents. Adults buy or make the kit themselves. You can also sew the robes for the ceremony yourself. Answers on questions " what is needed for an adult's baptism" And " what is needed for a child's baptism", match up.

White clothes required. Women wear long shirts, men wear shirts. Same rules for children. For photography, parents also choose special sets with dresses and suits. Only white fabrics are used as a sign of purity and purity.

Women and teenage girls need scarves for the sacrament. Many people also put caps on babies. An uncovered head is a sign of disrespect for men and God. The tradition is associated with Eve's original sin. She ate the forbidden fruit, disobeying the Lord and not asking Adam for advice. Now, the church pays special attention to ensuring that ladies are obedient to the commandments of Christ.

Slippers are another attribute that is taken to baptism. What you need to know about shoes? The main thing is to understand that during anointing it will need to be removed. Therefore, believers take slates that are easy to throw off their feet. Rubber, open models are also convenient when you decide to enter the plunge pool without taking off your shoes.

After dipping into water three times, you will need to dry off. It is impossible without ablution baby baptism. What you need to know about the towels? It should be a convenient size so as not to spend a lot of time drying. Both adults and youth take samples light colors, as well as robes.

It is advisable to have... hair with you. The priest cuts off a small bunch as a symbol of sacrifice to God. At the same time, the person being baptized bows his head before the priest and, naturally, before the Lord. Difficulties often arise when child's baptism. What you need to know what if the baby is bald? Some children have no hair at all until they are 2 years old.

It is customary to take place on the 8th or 40th day of birth. The priest will try to find at least one hair, at least one gun. Otherwise, the child will have his hair cut off when he grows up. By the way, a number of superstitions are associated with the symbolic sacrifice to Christ. Let's look at it and other signs related to baptism.

Baptismal signs

Every priest knows what is needed for a boy's baptism And what is needed for a girl's baptism. This is wax. They use it to fasten cut hair and throw it into a bowl of water. Wax is lighter than liquid and cannot drown in it. However, some argue that this happens.

In such cases, it is believed that the child will die before adulthood. In churches they refute superstition, they say that these are pagan experiences that have no real basis. But there is a historical background to the action. In the old days, locks of hair were cut off by those released from prison. Baptism is liberation from the “shackles” of carnal pleasures and filth.

To the question “ is baptism necessary“Some answer “yes” more than once. The belief says that in case of life's troubles you need to cross yourself and take a new church name. In this case, the sorcerers will not be able to cause damage associated with the person’s name. The conviction, the priests note, is also pagan. The sacrament can be completed only once and with faith in Christ, and not in sorcerers.

Many superstitions are associated with what godparents need for baptism. Thus, pregnant women often refuse to be godfathers. They think that by taking spiritual responsibility for another child, they can harm their own. Superstition is not associated with Christian canons.

The bishops, on the contrary, argue that it can only bring benefits. Pregnant women not only become godparents, but also get baptized themselves. Churches say that children are born strong and healthy. Knowledge of Holy Scripture and Orthodox traditions- Here what you need before baptism, and not waste time studying dubious signs.

There is one superstition of hers that is associated with baptism. To the list " what godmother needs to know“There is a belief that you first need to become a godfather for a boy. If the first godson is a girl, she will take away the godmother's happiness. This is what people think. In churches they say that it makes no difference who becomes a spiritual mentor.

Having become a godfather or godfather once, parishioners think that they can no longer be godparents for the sisters or brothers of their ward. It's a delusion. There can be one spiritual mentor for all children in the family. The main thing that godfather and godfather need is an understanding of responsibility for the children. It is easier to guide one child on the right path than several.

Not everyone finds suitable godfathers on child baptism. What godparents need? They need to raise their charges according to the Christian faith, be close to the family, and love children. Not everyone meets these requirements. Father can come to the rescue. He has the right to be a godfather.

However, the priest has the right to refuse. A true believer takes a responsible approach to the spiritual education of his wards. Managing hundreds of children at once is not easy. Therefore, even priests usually have only a few godchildren.

During the Sacrament of Baptism, the baby is accompanied by his godmother or father. But they are not only needed to hold the baby and candles. The sacrament of baptism has more deep meaning, and therefore it is advisable to carefully prepare for the ceremony.

How godparents prepare for the ceremony

We understand that the little fool cannot yet speak on his own behalf. The godfather says the “Creed” prayer on his behalf. He repeats “Amen” after the priest and crosses himself, because the child himself cannot do this either. The godfather will also have to make a vow of renunciation of Satan and a vow of union with Christ.

Before such an important day for the baby, adults should also prepare. On the eve of baptism, godparents need to go to church to confess and receive communion.

If they can fast for some time before this solemn day, this is very good, but not necessary. But what is important is that on the day of the ceremony the godparents do not have sex or eat food.

It is clear that since the godfather will need to say a prayer for his godson, he must know the words of the “Creed” by heart. True, in some churches they are allowed to be read. The godfather also holds the child in his arms during the ceremony.

How to choose a godfather

According to church rules, after christening the godparent cannot be “changed” for another. Therefore, you need to choose only a person who is close to the child’s mother and father, both spiritually and in his views. So that he would willingly visit his godson, pray for him, take him to church.

It becomes clear that the godfather, as the recipient of the baby, must himself be sanctified, that is, be an Orthodox Christian. He cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, a Jew or an atheist, even if such a person is your very close friend.

After all, the main thing that a godfather should do is to help his godson become a worthy Christian and grow up in traditions Orthodox faith. And it is not permissible for a representative of another faith to cross the Orthodox threshold.

Can a godfather be a close relative?

Why is it said “godfather of the child” in the singular? Because the baby needs one godfather. Moreover, if you baptize a girl, then you need to choose a godmother for her, and if it’s a boy, then a godfather.

In other words, the godparent must be the same gender as the baby.

There may be at least one other participant in the Sacrament (it so happens that parents usually take another godfather of a different gender), at least several. And all of them can be present at the consecration of the baby; the Church does not prohibit this. At the same time, there has long been a tradition of inviting both father and mother to be godparents.

They cannot become the successors of the same godson. It is considered a sin for a godparent to become the spouse of a godson.

As for the baby’s mother, she does not enter the Temple at all on the day of her child’s baptism. Recently, the Church has allowed the child’s father to be present at the ceremony.

What to wear on a baby who will be baptized

According to church rules, the godfather must be brought into the church undressed for the baptismal ceremony. Therefore, they simply wrap it in a white sheet.

Since the Sacrament itself lasts quite long time, it is allowed to put a diaper on the baby: so as not to be distracted if something happens.

There is a long-standing tradition of giving a godson a “bright robe,” or kryzhma. This can be an ordinary beautiful towel (it must be new, you should not wash it, you can iron it), or a white sheet with lace (after all, the rite of Baptism is very solemn). It is into it that the already consecrated baby will be received from the hands of the priest after being dipped into the font three times.

An elegant baptismal shirt is also prepared for the baby. The godmother usually embroiders it, not to mention the fact that she sews it herself. Often this honorable task is taken on by the baby’s grandmother. They put it on after the ceremony, that is, it will be his first Christian clothing. It is also customary to wear a cap, but this is not at all necessary.

What can you give to your godson?

The main attributes of a christening - a cross and a chain - are usually given by the godparent, traditionally the father. It is generally accepted that preference should be given. But everyone decides for themselves. However, for convenience during the ceremony (so as not to fiddle with fasteners), it is better to put it on a rope or ribbon.

Also, on the day of christening, the godfather can give a silver spoon (often a memorable engraving is made on it - the name of the baby and the date of the Sacrament).

Of course, godparents can bring anything as a gift. Just a cross and a spoon - traditional things, as they say, for all time.

The ceremony itself in the temple must be paid for, and these expenses are usually borne by the godparents. If the temple does not provide prices for such services, then it is assumed that the godparents will leave donations - as much as they deem necessary.

What signs are associated with baptism?

It is believed that during the process of the sacrament, the robe acquires certain miraculous abilities. And all because droplets of myrrh also fall on it, with which the parts of the child’s body are anointed in a cross shape after the font. That’s why many people don’t wash the cloth and cover their baby with it when he’s sick or doesn’t sleep well.

But most often kryzhma is used to sew a pillowcase for the baby’s first pillow.

The Church says that the sign that a girl must baptize the boy first, otherwise she may not get married, - clean water superstition.

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Baptism takes place in our church every day at 13:00, so you need to arrive half an hour earlier, go to the icon shop, sign up and, if you wish, make a donation to the church.

The Sacrament of Baptism: answers to questions.

What is baptism?
Why is it called a sacrament?
Child baptism rules

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.

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 the 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 the Old Testament, babies were brought to the temple on the eighth day to be circumcised. 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 enough to realize the importance of infant baptism.

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.

Is it possible to baptize children during fasting days?

Of course you can! But technically this does not always work out. In some churches, during the days of Great Lent, baptisms are performed 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 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. Every person, if possible, 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.

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 a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the baptized person can have one or, at most, two recipients.

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, because 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 grace-filled power of 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 a “profitable” 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 subsequently will not care at all about the spiritual education of the child, for which he himself will also answer before God.

Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

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.

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 of the 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 Godfather takes upon himself the cost (if any) of the baptism itself and the purchase of a 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.

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 could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops Nowadays you can find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so purchasing a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty. Enough a common question, asked by unchurched parents, there is a question: Can heterodox 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.

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, so there can be only one baptism.

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.

Can spouses or those about to get married become godparents?

The spiritual relationship established between recipients in the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. Therefore, spouses cannot become godparents of one child. This will cast doubt on the possibility of the continued existence of their marriage. But individually they may well be godparents to different children from the same family.

Those planning to get married cannot become godparents, because Having become recipients, they will have a spiritual degree of kinship, which is higher than the physical one. They will have to end their relationship and limit themselves to only spiritual kinship. Unfortunately, many people do not know this. And from this ignorance sometimes completely undesirable consequences follow, such as the marriage of the recipients.

What to do if a man and woman became godparents to one child and then got married?

If this happened due to their ignorance of church canons, then it’s not so bad. It is worse if, knowing about the impossibility of their marriage, they nevertheless decided to get married, and at the wedding they did not tell the priest anything about their spiritual relationship. In any case, this issue can only be resolved by the highest church authority in the person of the ruling bishop. To do this, you must contact the diocesan administration with a corresponding petition addressed to the ruling bishop. The marriage will either be declared invalid or the spouses will be called to repentance for a sin committed in ignorance. There is also a slightly different situation when, out of ignorance, spouses become recipients. The question arises: What to do if, out of ignorance, spouses become recipients? The resolution of this issue is also under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop. In such a case, it is worth doing the same as in the case of married adoptees, i.e. contact the diocesan administration with a corresponding petition addressed to the bishop.

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 only be one answer to it - definitely no. The topic of gender relations is always very pressing in all areas of human life.

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. 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. But they should not be married to each other.

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

According to Canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable based on the fact that a spiritual relationship is established between godparents and parents.

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.

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, there was no godfather for the child. Those who come begin to ask to become the child’s godfather, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of a godfather, the priest must 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 to 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 them 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.

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 trying to be “registered in absentia” as a godparent may not agree to this action and, as a result, the person being baptized may be left without a godparent at all. 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.

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

If a person feels internally unprepared or has serious fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well refuse the child’s parents (or the person being baptized, if this is an adult) to become their child’s godparent.

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 are different people who have the right to their godfather.

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 plays an 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. 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 his own spiritual life very difficult.

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.

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, which cannot be said about 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 many years of unbelief, finally found faith in God, but when they came to church, they did not know whether they had been baptized in childhood by believing relatives.

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.

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 must first 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 the so-called, which are held in many temples. 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 use cosmetics, or if they use it, then in moderation, as indeed always when visiting a temple.

There are many superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism, which I would like to touch upon in this article.

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 the Holy Scriptures 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: Is it possible for a pregnant woman to 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 obscurity must an Orthodox person reach in order to decide that baptism is a kind of magical ritual, a kind of antidote to corruption. 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?

For example, 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. Both laughter and sin! But many fall for these parachurch tricks of “Mothers Glafir” and “Fathers Tikhon” and run to church 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 “good people” advise changing. 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.

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. Baptism is a great sacrament and should be approached reverently and thoughtfully. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live their former sinful life.

After being baptized, a person must remember
that now he - 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.

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

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

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

Why are children baptized?

By undergoing the rite of baptism, the child rises to a higher spiritual level, he joins the church and acquires a name before the Lord.

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

Church calendar: when to baptize a newborn?

The most optimal time For baptism, the days are considered when a woman’s postpartum blood flow ends, that is, after forty days.
After this period has expired, you need to carefully prepare for the ceremony and calculate the date.
Many people choose certain days, on which the Holy Apostles are honored and the baby is given their names.

when to baptize a newborn?

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

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

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

According to the rules, the sacrament is performed on the fortieth day after the birth of the baby, and this is not accidental.
This is the time that should bring order to the mother of the child and the newborn itself.
It is believed that it is not worth postponing the date of baptism for a long time, and if one of your relatives is sick or could not come, the church does not accept this.
If fasting occurs on the date of baptism, that is, on the fortieth day, this does not become an obstacle and there are no prohibitions on church holidays.
The only exceptions may be major church holidays; in such cases, the church may not hold baptism due to the clergy being very busy.

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

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

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

preparing for a child's baptism

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

God-parents

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

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

kryzhma - a special diaper
shirt
hat (for girls)

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

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

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

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

Women must adhere to a more serious dress code:

A woman's head must be covered with a scarf and, in no case, with any headdress.
A woman should not wear trousers; she should definitely wear a skirt or dress that will cover her legs at least to the knees.
Women's shoulders should also be covered, and the neckline should not expose everyone's chest.
Every detail of a godmother’s clothing should not cause outrage or condemnation. A woman should make sure that her wardrobe is not provocative: no heels, bright patterns, skulls, chains and spikes. Church is a noble place.

Every godfather must have pectoral cross on the chest.

What are the rules for baptism?

The Orthodox Church says that during the baptismal ceremony, in no case should anyone be present. Orthodox people and people of other religions. Therefore, before the christening, carefully check with all your loved ones for details.
The church is a pure, noble place. You should go to church with a pure soul and heart. Therefore, if you have conflicts in your family, you should definitely correct them and establish communication.
After the baptism ceremony, parents must set the table for their godparents to celebrate the event. It is customary to give gifts to a child in order to leave as many memories as possible of this bright day.
Baptism can be carried out individually, or you can combine several together. The ritual does not lose its power and acquires meaning of equal strength for everyone.
Hair cut during baptism should be kept by the godfather.

rules for baptism in church

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

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

In such situations, the child has two names, but only what the church has given him gains power. In prayers and petitions to God, the child’s church name should be mentioned.

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

The Church says that unbaptized people have no right to be within its walls. That is why it is prohibited baptized parents be present at the time of baptism. This whole situation is fundamentally wrong and before baptizing her child, the mother must undergo baptism herself. Only then do her prayers gain strength and meaning.

Some churches also do not consider it correct for a mother to be near her child during baptism, even if she is baptized. After all, all responsibilities fall on the godmother - and here she is the main one. All this can be understood from the point of view that a child cannot have two mothers at the same time. In such cases, the mother is located outside the temple. Some churches allow mothers without bleeding be present in the temple and observe the ceremony from afar.

baptism ceremony

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

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

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

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?

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

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

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

Are children baptized during Lent and Easter?

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

baptism on Easter

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

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

On what day of the week are children baptized?

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

Baptisms are most often held on Saturday, since Sundays are overloaded with church services.

baptism in church

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

How is the baptism of a child performed?

After the ceremony, carried out in a separate room, the child is allowed to enter the temple and is solemnly brought into the church. The priest brings the baby to important icons and reads prayers. The priest carries the boy children through the altar; girls are not allowed to be there. Mothers are present in the temple and read maternal prayers. This takes another forty minutes of time.

Baptism of a child: rules for godparents in the church

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

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

rules for godparents

Who cannot be a child's godfather?

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

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

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

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

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

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

God-parents

Rules for baptizing a girl in the Orthodox Church

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

A girl's clothing must have a cap - a headdress that will cover her head, as for any woman.
It is best to give preference to a long shirt and not dress the girl in a suit.
When removing the cap, the girl's head should be covered with kryzhma.
The girl is not carried through the altar in the temple.

Rules for the baptism of a boy in the Orthodox Church

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

What do you give for a child's baptism?

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

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

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

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

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

Video: “The Sacrament of Baptism. Rules"

Christening is a fateful event for every child and parents. This is the acquisition of spiritual peace, integrity of spirit, God's reliable protection of a person. In addition, the baby has second parents who are always ready to provide help and assistance. The responsibilities of a godmother are especially valuable in later life.

Godmother

Before agreeing to baptize a child, a woman must accept the great responsibility placed on her shoulders. It is important to understand what it means to be a godfather, and not to superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in your heart and full responsibility. This could be a relative or friend, not necessarily married, but a believer and an exemplary one. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby and be sure to receive communion.

Responsibilities of a Godmother

You should not conduct an interview or casting for the role of second parents. You just need to draw a conclusion about the attitude of the applicants towards God, the people around them and all living things. If the baby’s mother thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the church sacrament, and that’s where participation in the fate of the new person ends, then she is very mistaken. Spiritual education and the development of the child - this is what a godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case we are talking about the following responsibilities of godparents:

Be with the child all the time, help in difficult situations.
Teach prayers and simply talk about God, his role in the life of every person, and attend church together.
Every year, congratulate you on your birthday and give gifts on Angel’s Day.
Take communion regularly, involve your godson/goddaughter in the ritual.

How many times can you be a godfather?

Every Orthodox man can take part in this church ceremony, and an unlimited number of times, if the baby’s parents ask for it. A truthful and informed decision is welcome. Another important question that worries us before the sacrament is who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can take on responsibilities, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be godparents:

non-believers;
church ministers;
people of other faiths;
unbaptized;
mentally unstable people;
biological parents.

Baptism of a child - rules for the godmother

The baptismal towel and clothes are made or purchased by the future godmother, and this is an obligatory stage of preparation for the upcoming sacrament. In addition, a woman must first receive communion and confession; on the day of christening, she must have a cross on her chest. There are other rules for baptizing a child in Orthodox Church, which are important to include in the ritual.

Girl's christening - rules for godmother

It is important for a girl to have a spiritual mother, since she is the first one, after the child’s mother and father, to be responsible for him. It is one thing to baptize a baby, and quite another to become a support, support, and spiritual mentor in life for a growing person. The responsibilities of the godmother at the baptism of a girl are as follows:

Before the sacrament begins, read the prayers for the child by heart, among them the “Creed.”
Wear a modest long dress for the christening and tie a scarf around your head.
Take your goddaughter in your arms after immersion in the font, dress her in white clothes.
Hold your goddaughter in your arms while passing around the font behind the priests, while reading prayers, and the procession of anointing.

Boy's christening - rules for godmother

During the christening of a boy, not only the godmother, but also a father who in the future will provide him with spiritual support in everything. The main responsibilities of the godmother during the baptism of a boy are identical, as during the church ceremony of a girl. The only difference is the following: after immersion in the font, the baby is picked up by the godfather; The priest also carries baptized boys behind the altar.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

During the procession, the priest leaves a reminder that the godparents should do: say out loud three times the prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”, “Hail to the Virgin Mary”, “Heavenly King”, answer honestly a few traditional issues about faith. Each prayer for godparents at baptism gives a powerful energy charge and helps the child receive grace.

What do you give a girl at christening?

What should the godmother do after the completion of the sacrament? Buy and present your godson or goddaughter with a memorable gift. This is where the problem arises with choosing a suitable present. So what does the godmother give to a girl’s christening?

silver or gold cross;
icon of God;
personalized icon Guardian Angel;
silver spoon.

What does the godmother buy for a boy's christening?

For future men, there are also certain requirements for gifts. This one needs to know what is needed for a boy’s christening, so as not to be taken by surprise during the sacrament. Here's what a second mom should do:

buy a white vest, blanket, towel;
present a Bible, a personal icon as a gift;
make another memorable present.

What should a godmother do?

If a woman has her own children, nephews, younger brothers and sisters, she must not forget about her own godchildren. There are a number of beliefs and signs about why godparents are needed. This is what a godmother must do last day life:

Pray for your godson every day, ask God for a bright path for him.
Attend church with him, take communion, confess.
Participate in spiritual formation, growth and development.
Become a role model in his mind.
Take full responsibility for the baby if the blood parents die.