How a child is baptized. The role of godparents in a child's life

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When a child is born, parents are involved in shaping his destiny. Everything matters here: the name that he will be given, his upbringing and other points. The character of the growing man and his fate will ultimately depend on these factors and circumstances.

How to organize a christening

Godparents should be involved in organizing the holiday. When preparing, the rules are simple. First of all, you need to agree with the priest on the time of the ceremony. Confess and receive communion yourself. can only be Orthodox. A person who has not decided on his religion cannot participate in the Sacrament.

Believers choose a name for a newborn, consulting with the “Saints”. But if they do not do this, Father will definitely recommend a name. The rules suggest giving the newborn the name Saint, on the day on which she was born. However, today very often at christenings they leave the girl with the name that her parents have already given her.

Clothes for a girl's christening

Since this is a holiday, it is recommended to choose smart clothes. In the concepts of the Orthodox Church, elegant clothing is not associated with a large amount of jewelry. It is better to choose a white dress, which can be decorated with embroidery or lace. In some families, the outfit for a girl's christening is passed down from generation to generation. Rules and traditions that have been established for centuries suggest that the outfit should be embroidered by the godmother.

Now this is not followed. You can just buy the right outfit. It is only recommended to ensure that the dress is not too flashy: bright colors or rhinestones are not welcome. In addition to elegant decoration, you will also need a new towel. They use it to wipe the child after immersing himself in the font. The dress and towel are no longer used, but are kept as memories. There is a belief that says it saves you from illness. It is placed at the head of the head when the child is sick.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The whole family, along with their godparents, goes to church for the ceremony. You need to take care of purchasing a cross in advance. If you buy something for your child outside of the Church, he will need to be sanctified. When the Priest is ready, you will be invited to the temple for the girl’s christening. The rules suggest that her godmother will hold her in her arms. They deviate from this only when a woman has her period.

There are times when you have to contact the Priest about who is holding the girl at the christening. According to tradition, the only requirement for a newborn is the presence of a godmother. If a woman can't go to church and there's no godfather

found, then the child will be held by one of the parents.

Congratulations on your baptism

Usually parents organize a holiday for relatives. It is customary to congratulate the girl with kind words and gifts. This is the day of finding a second family, it should be marked with a certain memory. The choice of a godmother for a girl is very important. It is desirable that this be a married woman who follows the traditions of Christianity. Since her duties will include introducing the child further to all the Sacraments of the Church.

For all Orthodox people, baptism is a very important event in life, because it is the second birth of a person (spiritual, and the first was physical, when the child was born), the purification of his soul for later life, a kind of pass into the Kingdom of God. A newly enlightened person is absolved of all previous sins. For this reason, the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for every person who is looking for the meaning of life and salvation.

God-parents

Who are the godparents?

Baptism is a very important sacrament. This is the spiritual birth of a person and the cleansing of his soul from all existing sins. The Church recommends baptizing a child on the eighth or fortieth day after birth. On the eighth day of his life, Jesus himself was dedicated to his Heavenly Father. On the fortieth day, since it is during this period that a woman’s body after childbirth becomes physiologically clean and she is allowed to go to church, because for a small child the mother’s presence is necessary.

Naturally, children at this age cannot understand the whole essence of faith; repentance and faith should not be expected from them, and these two conditions are the main ones for union with the Lord God. To do this, the child is assigned godparents, who are subsequently responsible for raising their godson (goddaughter) in the Orthodox spirit. You need to choose godparents very responsibly, because these are the people who will be the second mother and second father for the baby.

How to choose godparents?

You need to choose godparents for your child among people close to you or good friends with whom you regularly maintain contact. These should be people you absolutely trust. Church tradition states that if something happens to the child's biological parents, the godparents take on this role.

Only Orthodox believers who can give an account of their faith can be godparents. For a child, one godparent is usually enough; for a girl, only a godmother is needed, and for a boy, a godfather is needed. But traditionally both are invited to be godfathers. You can choose two, three, four, seven godparents, as you please.

Church norms state that the following cannot become godparents:

Leah's spouses are the bride and groom, since marital relations between people who are in spiritual kinship are prohibited.
Parents of their baby;
Minors, because they do not have a clear core of faith.
Nuns and monks;
Unbaptized people;
People of other faiths (also non-believers);
People who participate in various cult sects and organizations;
Immoral people because their lifestyle does not deserve to be godparents.
Crazy people, because they are not able to vouch for the child’s faith, and in the future they will not be able to teach him faith.

What happens during baptism?

Most often, baptism takes place in the church, although it is also possible to take place outside it. Usually the duration of the sacrament lasts from thirty minutes to one hour.

The main participants in the sacrament of Baptism are the child, the godparents and the priest. In ancient times, parents could not participate in the sacrament, but in recent years the church has begun to be much more loyal to this. And at the sacrament of baptism, both the mother and father of the child are allowed to be present (after reading a special prayer).

Throughout the entire process, the recipients stand next to the priest, one of them holds the person being baptized in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, the priest walks around the baptismal room in white robes and reads prayers three times. Next, he turns to the godparents and godson with a request to turn their faces to the west, this symbolizes the abode of Satan. The person being baptized is asked some questions. But since he is still very small and cannot speak, Io’s godparents are responsible for him (if the child is an adult and can speak, he answers independently). Questions and answers to them are repeated three times. Then the godparents need to read the Creed. The Creed summarizes the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

The priest sanctifies the oil (oil) and water and the child is anointed with oil as a sign that he has become a full member of the Christian church. The person being baptized is given a name and dipped into sacred water three times. The godparents take the baby from the font into the baptismal swaddling cloth (kryzhma). If a baby is being baptized in the cold season and for some reason it is impossible to completely undress him (for example, the air temperature in the baptism room is very cold), then the baby’s arms and legs should be prepared in advance; they should be bare. If the room is warm, then the child is dipped naked. After immersion in water, the priest performs anointing. He dips the brush into a bowl of myrrh, and the child’s eyes, forehead, ears, nostrils, chest, legs and arms are anointed. With each anointing, the following words are spoken: “Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". Together with the priest, the godparents repeat “Amen.”

When the process of anointing ends, the Gospel and the Apostle are read and, together with these prayers, a small tuft of hair is cut off from the child. As a sign that the child has become a Christian, a cross is placed around his neck. A lock of cut hair is left in the church as a sign of dedication, and symbolizes sacrifice to God. When the baptism ceremony ends, the godparents accept the baby from the hands of the priest. For this reason, godparents are often called godparents. After they accept the child in their arms after completion of the ceremony, they undertake to raise the child in the Orthodox spirit for the rest of their lives. Godparents are also responsible for the spiritual education of their godson at the Last Judgment. If it is not possible to see your godson every day, then you should mention them in your prayers.

Responsibilities of godparents

Alas, not all godparents understand the full meaning of their new “position.” It’s very good, of course, to taste your godson and give him gifts on his birthday, Angel’s Day and other holidays. But this is not the main responsibility of godparents. They must care very much for their godson, and this care includes many things.

You need to pray every day for your godson. You need to accustom yourself to turn to God once a day, namely before going to bed. It's not difficult at all. You can ask God for help in raising your children, salvation, health, well-being of relatives and godchildren. It is very important that the child at least from time to time visit the temple with his godparents; they should take him to communion on a church holiday. All godparents give gifts to children, but it will be better if they have a Christian meaning. A children's Bible would be an excellent gift; all the main events of Sacred History are clearly described in it.

Godparents can also help young mothers who do not always find time to care for their child.

What kind of appearance should godparents have?

At the baptismal ceremony, recipients must have consecrated crosses. Traditionally, in church, a woman should have a scarf or scarf covering her head, and a skirt or dress should be below the knee and cover her shoulders. The only exceptions are little girls.

Since baptism lasts a long time, it is not recommended to wear high-heeled shoes, because most of the time you will need to stand with the baby in your arms. A godmother should not have lipstick on her lips. As for men, there are no specific requirements for their appearance (naturally, it is better to refrain from wearing shorts, because such clothes will not look appropriate in a church). When going to church, you need to dress modestly so as not to attract attention to yourself; you need to focus on the ceremony itself.

Preparation for the ceremony

Today, almost everyone baptizes children in churches. Naturally, there are exceptions, for example, if the baby is very sick, then in this case the sacrament can be performed in the hospital or at home. Then you need to provide a separate clean room for the ceremony.

To baptize a child, the first thing you need to do is choose a temple. Visit different churches and ask what the peculiarities of the ceremony are in each of them. It is also worth considering that baptism is not always carried out directly in the temple. Many churches have a baptistery (baptistery). The baptismal room is a separate room located on the territory of the temple, specially adapted for the rite of baptism. If the temple is large, then the ceremony is usually held solemnly and magnificently. And some may like the calm, secluded atmosphere of a small church. Talk to the novices or the priest, they will be able to tell you about all the details of the baptismal ceremony.

How to choose the day of baptism?

There is no church establishment of baptism on the fortieth day after the birth of a child. This is due to the fact that until the fortieth day, a woman who has given birth to a child cannot enter the temple, since at this time she experiences postpartum discharge and infirmities. Before entering the temple, special prayers are read over the woman. But, if you want to baptize a child earlier than forty days or later, then no one can forbid you to do this. Children, at the request of their parents, are often baptized before the fortieth day, especially if the child’s health is in danger. In this case, baptism is performed as a protective rite against all evil spirits.

In ancient times, the holiday of baptism was equated in its significance to the greatest Christian holidays, for example, Easter. But today baptism is a family holiday. And now the ritual can be performed on almost any day, except for such great church holidays as Trinity, Christmas, and Easter. Often on such days churches are crowded, so it is recommended to move the day of baptism to another date. You can come to most churches without an appointment. The sacrament of baptism usually begins at 10 am, since the service ends at this time. But in this case, there is a high chance that your child will be baptized with someone else, or you will have to wait a little. It is much more convenient to make a preliminary agreement with the priest who will conduct the ceremony on a specific day and time. In this case, your baby will be baptized in splendid isolation and first. It is very important that the day of baptism did not coincide with the critical day of the godmother, since otherwise she would not be able to be present in the temple.

Preparing godparents for the sacrament

In order for all the rules to be followed, it is necessary to prepare for the ceremony in advance. Godparents must go to church on the eve of baptism, confess, repent of all sins, and receive communion. It is very good if the godparents fast before the day of the ceremony, but this is not a mandatory requirement. On the day of the ceremony, godparents are forbidden to have sex and eat food. At least one of the godparents should know the “Symbol of Faith” by heart. According to the rules, the godmother reads the “Creed” at the baptism of a girl, and the godfather at the baptism of a boy.

There is an unspoken rule - all expenses associated with baptism are borne by the godparents. Some churches do not have specific prices; in this case, upon completion of the baptism, invitees and godparents make voluntary donations. The amount of these costs is not discussed anywhere and they are not obligatory. But, as a rule, the custom is respected.

According to church traditions, the child’s godmother buys a “rizka” or kryzhma for baptism. This can be an ordinary towel or a special cloth in which the baby is wrapped when taken from the font. The godmother also gives the baby a baptismal shirt and a cap with ribbons and lace, for girls - with pink, and for boys - with blue. The baptismal shirt lasts throughout a person’s life. After the baby’s baptism, the kryzhma is not washed, as droplets of the Oil of Peace may remain on it. During the sacrament, the kryzhma is endowed with certain miraculous abilities. If a child is sick, they cover him with kryzhma or use it as a pillowcase for a baby’s pillow.

The godfather gives the child a baptismal cross and a chain. Many people believe that it is best to choose a silver cross, some believe that a gold cross is best, and others are of the opinion that it is best for small children to buy a cross on a string or ribbon, rather than on a chain. It's individual.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian should know the basic prayers: “Creed”, “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God”. During the baptism process, the godparents say the “Creed” prayer for the child. Each of these prayers is in a short prayer book, which can, if desired, be purchased at the church store.

What should you take with you to church for your baby's baptism?

Baptism symbolizes the birth of a person into a sinless new life. Godparents, accepting a child from the holy font, accept a completely pure being who does not have a single sin. Such purity is symbolized by clothing - kryzhma, which, together with the cross, is an integral attribute. The kryzhma is usually bought by the child’s godmother, and the cross by the godfather.

For a small child, a white openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt, or a new towel that has not yet been washed can serve as a cover.

The sacrament of baptism evokes awe in most people. Even parents who are not deeply religious must baptize their child so that the child is under God’s protection.

The rite of baptism is a ritual that requires little preparation. It is important to know when to baptize a newborn, what to prepare for going to church, and who to take as godparents (called parents). Find out more details about the traditional Christian ritual.

Most parents try to provide protection for the tiny little man early and carry out the sacrament of baptism until the baby is 1 year old. Most often, the ceremony is carried out on the 40th day after the birth of the child. Sometimes the sacrament takes place later, if the baby is sick, the weather is so windy and cold that the baby can easily catch a cold.

Take note:

There is no need to postpone the ceremony for a long time: newborn babies up to one year old behave calmly during the sacrament, sleeping most of the time;
after one and a half years, the child often spins, is capricious, is afraid of strange smells, sounds, many strangers, and the actions of the priest;
with this behavior, the special atmosphere inherent in the traditional ritual disappears: all efforts are aimed at calming the crying baby;
whims, screams, admonitions of parents often wake up other children if the ceremony takes place for several couples;
take into account the important point, ensure maximum calm during the ritual.

In some cases, the priest does not recommend postponing baptism. Perform the traditional ceremony as soon as possible if the baby is restless, weak, or born prematurely. In case of serious illness, priests also advise baptizing the baby early.

Baptism of a child: what you need to know? Helpful Tips:

Any day is suitable for performing the ritual. Often young parents choose Saturday and Sunday, when many close people and friends can come and share the joy;
It is not very convenient to hold christenings on major church holidays: a lot of people gather in the church, a child may burst into tears due to the stuffiness and large crowd of strangers. On such days, the priest will not be able to devote enough time to the parents and the baby;
if you set a date in advance, pay attention to a delicate nuance: mommy can be present in the temple when she does not have her period at that moment. Select the christening date taking into account an important factor.

Where to baptize a newborn

The bulk of child baptism ceremonies take place in the church. Sometimes circumstances interfere with visiting a temple: a child quickly catches a cold in crowded places, the baby is sick, gets very worried, cries at the sight of strangers. What to do?

Talk to the priest whom you respect, explain the situation. The priest will take the ritual supplies with him and baptize the baby at home. Parents will need to prepare attributes for the ceremony.

Advice! In small settlements there are often one or two churches; there is practically no choice of where to baptize a child. If you live in a big city, don’t be lazy, talk to your friends, ask for advice on choosing a priest. It is important to know that the holy father will approach the sacrament of baptism with all his heart. Come to the temple in advance, talk to the priest, ask for advice on preparing for the ceremony. Find someone who is completely likeable to you.

Necessary purchases: traditions and rules

What is needed to baptize a child? Take note:

Most often, the cost of the ceremony and the purchase of special accessories in the church are paid by the godfather. Sometimes parents and godfather pay equally for the ceremony. You cannot force the named dad to pay in full for the christening if the person still has a difficult financial situation;
The godmother must bring a kryzhma - a special towel for the child’s baptism, in which the priest will wrap the baby during the ceremony. Kryzhma must be consecrated before christening. Often the named mother buys a silver teaspoon (cutlery is also consecrated in the church);
young parents buy little things for baptism: crosses for guests, candles, a pectoral cross for the baby. Many parents choose a gold item, but a church cross on a satin ribbon is quite suitable;
At baptism, the child receives a second, church name, based on the date of the ceremony. Parents must buy an icon with the face of a saint (saint) - the patron saint for the baby. Choose an icon in the temple: it will be consecrated there, after the christening the parents will take the amulet home to protect the newly baptized baby from evil forces.

How much does it cost to baptize a child? Check in advance the cost of accessories for the ceremony: Often the amount is impressive.

Which outfit is suitable for adults and children?

Women are required to wear a light headscarf/head scarf/thin scarf. The skirt or dress should cover the knees. A deep neckline, open shoulders, too bright, provocative colors are prohibited;
For men, trousers and a shirt in calm colors are suitable. Breeches and shorts are inappropriate in the temple;
A special christening set consisting of a beautiful baby vest and a hat with a cross embroidered on it will suit your baby. A special set is put on the baby only for the sacrament of baptism, then it is kept at home, reminding of the purity of the child’s soul. If you don't have a christening set, wear nice clothes that are easy to put on and take off.

How to choose named parents

Unfortunately, parents often do not attach much importance to this point. They are looking for someone who will agree or who the rules allow. Godparents are not always people who are ready to come to the rescue at the first call of their parents and be happy for their named son or daughter.

Many choose second parents based on the wealth of the named mother and father, in the hope of expensive gifts or an invitation to visit abroad. Kind, decent people with below-average incomes are, unfortunately, rarely considered as suitable candidates.

This is why many godparents see their named children only on birthdays, and even then, not on all of them. Sometimes godparents are remembered only before preparing for the godson’s wedding in order to receive an expensive gift.

Important! Ideally, the named parents should be like-minded people or good friends. If you have such friends or relatives in mind, invite them to the christening, trust them to become the named father or mother. Good godparents are joy in the home. Remember about spiritual communication with your godson, and not just about the material side of the issue. Remember: finances tend to change for better or worse, but good relationships often last a lifetime.

Who can be godfather

Entrust the honorable duty:

good friends;
relatives whom you are glad to see in your home;
dear aunts and uncles.

Who can't be a godfather

New parents should know that there are restrictions. Traditions do not allow certain categories of relatives and friends to be invited to this responsible role.

Cannot be godparents:

parents of the baby;
children: minimum age of godmother – 13 years, godfather – 15 years;
a married couple cannot be invited to become godparents for one child;
mental illness is a reason to refuse help from a person who, due to pathology, is unable to fully understand the extent of responsibility;
people of other faiths. Sometimes the ban is violated if the future godfather is a very good, kind person.

How does the ceremony take place?

How is a child baptized? The ritual scenario is practically the same, regardless of the location of the church (a large city or a small village). Parents, friends, relatives, and future godparents should understand in general terms how the sacrament is performed so that there is no confusion or awkwardness in some situations.

Basic moments:

baptism is scheduled for a certain time, but you need to arrive at the temple in advance: this way you will have time to arrange financial issues and negotiate documents for the baby;
An important point is to properly prepare the baby for the ritual. Undress the child, wrap him naked in a kryzhma - a special diaper or a beautiful towel larger in size than the baby;
the clergyman first invites the godmother to church with a boy in her arms, the future goddaughter is carried by a man;
Then the invited guests go inside the temple, mother enters last. Sometimes before certain prayers are read, mommy waits outside;
the priest takes the newborn in his arms. At this time, guests repeat the prayer of renunciation of the devil;
the next stage is immersing the baby in the font. The action is performed three times. If baptism is carried out during the cold season, the priest can pour water from the font onto the baby’s arms and legs;
Confirmation takes place after the water ritual. The newly baptized baby receives a blessing and protection from dark forces. To do this, the priest puts cross-shaped strokes with church liquid on the nose, forehead, eyes, lips, ears, arms, legs and chest;
The priest hands the baby over to the named parents: the woman takes the boy, the man takes the girl. Now you need to dry and dress the baby.

Find out why your child stutters and how to deal with it.

The sacrament of baptism continues:

The baby receives a cross. One of the named parents holds the baby, the second puts on a blessed cross;
The priest cuts several locks of hair from the baby’s head (in the center). This detail means submission to God, the new spiritual life of the newly baptized child;
At the end of the ritual, the priest walks around the font three times with the child in his arms. The priest places the girl next to the icon of the Mother of God, the boy is brought into the altar;
Now you can hand over the newly baptized baby to the mother. The mother carries out the crumbs of their temple;
all guests and godparents go home with their parents to celebrate the baby’s baptism.

The traditional ritual takes from 30–40 minutes to two hours. The more couples in the church baptize children, the longer the sacrament lasts: the priest pays attention to each child.

Now you know when a newborn baby is baptized, who should be named parents, and what to purchase for the ceremony. Take the recommendations into account, choose worthy godparents, and take the preparation of the ceremony responsibly. May God and the saints bless the newly baptized baby, protect him from adversity, protect him from troubles and the influence of dark forces!

Almost immediately after the birth of a child, many parents think about his Baptism in the church.

But if in ancient times every Orthodox family knew about the rules and traditions of this ritual, now mom and dad are faced with numerous questions: what is needed for the Baptism of a child, why is this sacrament performed, when can a child be baptized, who should be taken as godparents?

The excitement of adults is not surprising, because this is the first big holiday in the life of a tiny person.

According to the Orthodox tradition, Baptism is a great sacrament that comes from God. It is the Almighty who transmits His gift to people not for their moral qualities, but simply because He loves His children.

This ritual is intended to bestow upon the little man the grace of the Holy Spirit, which no one sees or touches, but it is real.

The baptism of a child always involves water. Immersion in the font is a kind of symbol of renunciation of the previous life, cleansing from sins (including the original), and emerging from the water symbolizes a new life, pure from everything.

In all Christian directions, this ritual takes place in a special way. For example, in the Catholic Church, a baby must be doused with water, while in Orthodoxy, children (and adults) are usually immersed in the font three times.

What about other traditions? Protestants simply spray the baby, while supporters of Adventism and Baptists baptize in natural reservoirs.

Church rules do not stipulate a specific time and age when it is necessary to baptize a child, but recommendations still exist - early childhood. Orthodox parents usually strive to perform this ritual if the newborn’s age is from 8 to 40 days.

The fortieth day after the birth of a baby is a significant date from the point of view of the church. It was on this day that, even in the pre-Christian period, a child was brought to the temple.

with physiological characteristics of the postpartum period;
workload, because the mother devotes all her attention and energy to the baby and her health.

Some parents postpone the child's christening until he is one year old, and even until he is of conscious age, when he himself decides at what age to be baptized and whether he needs this rite at all.

Of course, the last word about Baptism belongs only to the parents, but the priests warn that all this time the child’s soul is in danger, exposed to the harmful influence of the sinful world.

Despite the absence of any specific restrictions affecting the time and place of holding, the sacrament in individual churches takes place on specific days and hours. This is usually due to the heavy workload and busyness of the holy father.

Before setting the date for Baptism, you should contact the parish to find out if there is any schedule and agree with the priest on the time. This must be done if you want to carry out the ceremony calmly and without nerves and not unnecessarily disturb the baby.

After solving organizational issues, all you have to do is arrive at the approved time. Many parents are interested in what is needed for baptism. Of course, you cannot show up empty-handed; you must take with you:

a pectoral cross for a child (for a girl it must be purchased by the godmother, and for a newborn male - accordingly, the father);
baptismal shirt;
a napkin so that after the sacrament is over, you can wipe the baby’s face;
the image of that saint, which can become a protective amulet for a child (usually the choice depends on the baby’s name);
two towels (one larger one for the baby, one smaller one as a donation to the church).

Many parents are interested in knowing whether it is worth taking their child’s birth certificate with them. We hasten to reassure you: no documents are needed to perform the Baptism ceremony.

But you must consecrate a pectoral cross that was not purchased in a church shop before the ritual.

Your godmother and father (the so-called godparents) must be with you. They need to undergo preparation for the sacrament instead of the child if he is under 12-14 years old. Recipients undergo a course of special conversations at the church and confession with a priest.

However, not only special conversations await godparents; for several days before Baptism, they must abstain from carnal pleasures, learn a special prayer and fast. In addition, in the same parish where the baby will be baptized, they should receive communion.

Future spiritual parents are usually chosen among relatives (aunt, sisters/brothers, grandparents) or close friends. The most important condition is that both chosen ones must be baptized and believers. If your relatives want to become godparents for the baby, but did not undergo the sacrament, they should be baptized before the ritual.

In some situations, real parents can become spiritual, however, as a rule, these cases still become exceptional. Before making a final decision, it is better to consult with the priest.

Future spiritual parents must know and be aware of what they are doing, why they are doing it and what needs to be done. Speaking in church language, the godmother and father vouch for the baby before the Almighty. After the ceremony and for life, they become the spiritual child's mentors.

Agree that such duties can be fulfilled only if a person himself is not indifferent to faith, constantly improves himself, studies the basics of Orthodoxy, understands the essence of the ceremony and the meaning of prayer words and vows.

Godmothers and fathers must raise their godsons as true Christians. In the Orthodox tradition, it is generally accepted that spiritual parents will have to answer very strictly at God’s Court for poor performance of their own duties!

Features of the rite of baptism of a child

The process of Baptism is immersion in water. That is why dipping the baby into the font three times is the main action of this sacred ceremony. The number “three” tells us about the three days that Jesus spent in the tomb, and after them the miraculous resurrection occurred.

What is Child Baptism? Parents need to know what priests do, how long the process itself lasts, what they can and cannot do. This sacrament includes several important steps that are performed by the priest in a certain sequence developed over centuries:

The rite of announcement. Before the ceremony begins, the priest reads special prohibition prayers against the devil to those present. After this, the priest blows on the newborn 3 times and pronounces the words of expelling Satan. Then the priest must bless the child three times and read a prayer, placing his hand on the child’s head.

Three prayers of “prohibition” (spells against unclean spirits). Now the priest is doing the following - he is driving Satan away with the help of God’s name. That is, he prays to the Almighty to drive away demons and strengthen those present in faith.

Renunciation. Future spiritual parents must renounce sins, indecent habits, sinful lifestyles and excessive pride. Thus, godparents recognize: unbaptized people are vulnerable to various vicious thoughts and desires, as well as sinful passions.

Reading the Creed. Since it is worth considering the very young age of the baby, the confession of fidelity to the Son of God is read by the godmother or father. Thus, the child enters the army of Christ.

Child baptism. After all the important rituals listed, the time comes for the ceremony itself, for which the baby’s relatives and friends gathered. The priest must do the following:

bless the water . The priest walks around the font and reads prayers on the water;
consecrate the oil. The priest pronounces special words with which the church oil is blessed and the font water is anointed with it. Then you need to anoint the newborn's face, chest, arms and legs.
immerse in the font. Since the child is immersed 3 times, the ceremony itself looks quite unusual. The father says certain words, after which he plunges the baby into the water (and so on three times). After this, the prepared cross is put on the already baptized baby, dried with a towel and dressed in a baptismal shirt.

Confirmation. This sacrament involves anointing special parts of the child’s body with myrrh. The priest touches the eyes, forehead, lips and nostrils, limbs and chest of the newly made follower of Orthodoxy. Don’t think that this is just a beautiful ritual. Each of the clergyman’s movements hides a certain meaning and sign.

Procession around the font. After the anointing, the reading of the Holy Scripture begins, during which the priest walks around the font of water and talks about the importance of adding another follower to the Church. At this solemn moment, the godparents stand still, holding lit candles in their hands.

Completion. After reading the Gospel, the clergyman conducts the final rite, during which:

the world is washed away, since the seal of the Spirit has already entered the child’s heart;
hair is cut as a kind of sacrifice, since the child does not yet have other gifts that he could donate to God.

That's it, the great sacrament has ended, now the baby must be raised by both parents and godfathers in the love of the Lord and in accordance with Orthodox traditions.

Is a boy's christening different? There are still certain differences in the baptism of a boy and a girl.

Thus, girls cannot be brought into the altar, unlike male children. Well, for a boy, only a godfather will be enough, and for a girl, a godmother will be enough.

How much should I pay for the ceremony?

Many parents are interested in how much it costs to baptize a child, do I need to pay for the sacrament? Official sources claim that the church should not charge any fee for the sacrament and requirement.

However, we all understand that we will still have to pay, since the temple itself pays for utilities, the priest, and the workers in the church. How much to pay? In general, price tags in churches are approximate amounts for donation.

If you cannot give money for the sacrament, the child must be baptized for free!

Parents who decide to baptize their baby face many questions: what is needed for baptism, how much to pay for the service, who can and cannot be invited as godparents, how long the ceremony takes, and many, many others.

Yes, you will have to do a lot of things, so if you are tormented by such questions, seek help from a church located nearby. The priest will certainly dispel all your fears.

Hello, I am Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully completed her studies at SUSU as a specialized psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and consulting parents on issues of raising children. I use the experience gained, among other things, in creating articles of a psychological nature. Of course, I in no way claim to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

Child baptism is one of the seven Christian sacraments, without which it is impossible to save a sinful soul for the kingdom of God. After a ceremony conducted by the ministers of the Holy Orthodox Church, the baptized person is born into spiritual life, acquiring an inextricable connection with the Heavenly Father. Believing parents know well why it is necessary to baptize a child, but they sometimes have questions related to organizational issues. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with some recommendations from the church related to the ceremony. The following basic rules for parents will help you prepare well for your child’s baptism.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

The Church believes that a newborn child cannot be baptized earlier than forty days after birth. Otherwise there are no restrictions. Parents have the right to independently decide at what age the child will undergo the ceremony. Some mothers and fathers doubt whether to baptize their child while he is very young. Their fears are understandable, because the baby requires increased attention, needs regular feeding, and his immunity is not strong enough.

However, postponing the ceremony for a long time is also undesirable. This is due to psychological reasons. When your baby gets a little older and begins to recognize people, he may become nervous in unfamiliar surroundings. Experts and mothers with experience indicate the optimal interval when it is better to baptize a child after birth. This is an age from three months to six months. Older kids are more restless and more often capricious. However, if for some reason you did not have time to baptize your child, there is no need to be embarrassed. Temple workers calmly react to the behavior of children, well understanding that crying is a normal reaction to external stimuli for them.

When is the best time to baptize a child?

As for the question of what days a child can be baptized, there are no restrictions here either. However, on church holidays the ceremony is not carried out, since all the clergy are busy conducting prayers. Each church has its own schedule, which indicates on what day of the week small children are baptized. Most often, Saturday is chosen for the sacrament. Since the ceremony is carried out during the day, the day off is convenient because its adult participants will not have to take time off from work.

Although church rules do not establish any prohibitions on baptism on certain days, there are a lot of folk signs that tell when a child can and should be baptized.

Of course, the church does not encourage superstition, but many parents try not to perform the sacrament on Mondays. Dislike for the first day of the week is quite understandable; many people try not to schedule important things for this time.
Tuesday is a favorable day for hitting the road, so it is also suitable for baptism, which is the beginning of a person’s spiritual path.
Wednesday is considered not the most successful day. In the middle of the week it is necessary to fast, devote more time to prayers, and baptism involves at least a small feast.
Thursday is the ideal day to perform the sacrament. According to popular belief, a child baptized on the fourth day of the week will have good luck in life.
Friday is the only day of the week that plunges superstitious people into mystical horror. There are many negative signs associated with it. That is why it is considered undesirable to baptize on this day.
On Sunday, the ceremony is performed in most churches. Popular rumor also gives this day positive energy. It is believed that a person baptized on Sunday will be happy and rich.

The church does not prohibit baptism during church fasting, however, parents themselves often refuse this idea, because then they will have to take care of a special Lenten menu. Folk signs recommend parents of girls to baptize on the Feast of the Intercession. The patronage of the Most Holy Theotokos will help the young lady to get married successfully in the future.

Some folk signs recommend baptizing a child on his birthday. This belief obviously has pagan roots. It was on the day of birth that it was customary to carry out all kinds of conspiracies for health, love, and financial well-being.

Preparation for the baptism of a child begins with choosing the date and temple in which the sacrament will be performed. Shortly before the child's baptism, future godparents must visit church to confess and receive communion. Unfortunately, not all parents who want to baptize a baby are knowledgeable in the intricacies of Orthodox rites. You should not seek advice on this matter from friends or relatives; everything that parents need to know about the sacrament will be told by the priest or volunteer helpers from among the parishioners. If the baby has already been named, you can further clarify the name; it is often necessary to change it when the child is baptized.

Who to choose as godparents

According to tradition, it is customary to invite a man and a woman to be godparents. If this is not possible, you can get by with one named parent. It is better if he is of the same sex as the person being baptized.

When asked whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents, the church also gives a positive answer. Most often, close friends or relatives are called to baptize children. Parents need to approach the choice with all responsibility, because raising the godson in the spirit of religious traditions will fall on the shoulders of the successors.

The number of wards is not limited, the church does not give clear instructions on how many children can be baptized. A person decides for himself whether he is ready to pay due attention to the upbringing and formation of another Christian. If the candidate understands that he is not able to give the same amount of attention and love to all his wards, he will refuse the offered honor.

Often, issues related to the choice of a successor involve degree of closeness between parents and candidate, for example, is it possible to baptize a child at the godfather’s place? Grandparents, uncles or aunts can baptize a child. To the questions of whether it is possible to baptize a child to his sister or whether it is possible to baptize small children from each other, the answer will also be positive. Moreover, future godfathers may well perform the ceremony on the same day and celebrate the event together.

When asked whether a father can baptize someone else’s child during the baptism of his own, the church gives an affirmative answer. Therefore, if friends wish to hold a joint ceremony, there will be no problems. By the way, it is not forbidden for a husband and wife to take part in the sacrament at the same time if they have different godchildren.

Who cannot become a godfather

Monastics cannot baptize children.
Citizens who lead unrighteous lives (alcoholics, drug addicts) will also be rejected by the church.
Spouses or a couple who subsequently wish to enter into a marriage union should not baptize one child, since sexual intimacy between successors is unacceptable.
The godfather must reach the age of majority, but in some cases younger persons can take part in the sacrament with the blessing of the priest.
Parents never baptize their children, since this deprives the sacrament of any meaning.

If a suitable candidate is not found, you will have to do without godparents.

Some young women are interested in whether it is possible to baptize a child in church while pregnant? The question is related to the fact that the child’s mother is not present at baptism for forty days after birth. However, these are somewhat different things. Pregnancy, like any physiological process, such as menstruation, does not prevent a woman from baptizing someone else’s child. You need to be guided by your health and the recommendations of the supervising doctor.

Is it possible for two children to have one person as godparent?

Church rules do not prohibit one person from baptizing a second or even third child in the same family. If this happens at different times, no difficulties arise. But if it is necessary to perform the ritual on two babies at the same time, it is technically difficult to accomplish. The godfather will need to hold both babies in his arms and take them from the font. Therefore, it is better not to create additional difficulties and invite two successors, or postpone the christening of one child to another day.

Where to baptize a child

Regular parishioners who regularly attend church have a question about where to baptize their child. The rest can be advised to choose a temple not far from home, so that the road does not tire the child too much. It is important that the parents themselves and those invited to the christening feel psychologically comfortable. Residents of large cities should not expect that they will be able to find a church where few people will be present at the ceremony. It is impossible to predict the influx of applicants, so it is better to navigate by the days of the week. It is worth paying attention to the presence of a special room at the temple for the ceremony, especially if baptism occurs in the cold season.

Conversation before baptism

Recently, the church has established new rules for successors, inviting them to have a conversation with the priest before the ceremony. This procedure was required in order to convey the seriousness of the sacrament, to explain to the future godparents the essence of the rite, the procedure for preparing and conducting the ceremony and their responsibilities towards the godson. Without a preliminary interview you may not be allowed to attend the sacrament..

A person who is truly a believer will not look for excuses, since for him, responsibilities towards his soul and God are much higher than worldly ones. For parents, an interview with the priest before the baptism of a child can become an indicator of the seriousness of the intentions of the successor. If the candidate does not have a couple of hours for his godson now, it is doubtful that in the future he will become a good mentor to the child in the faith.

What do you need to buy for baptism?

In continuation of the conversation on how to prepare for the sacrament of baptism, here is a list of what you need to buy before the ceremony:

pectoral cross,
clothes for the baptism ceremony,
large towel,
kryzhma (baptismal diaper),
church candles.

The godparents must purchase the baptismal shirt or dress. They buy a cross, gold or silver.

What name to baptize a child with?

Often, parents decide what to name their baby before birth, and the choice does not always coincide with the Saints. In this case, it is customary to baptize the child with a different church name. For example, a girl named Alena or Alina will be baptized Elena, and boys Yuri or Yegor will be named Georgiy. Most often the choice falls on something close in sound. Sometimes the name with which a child or adult will be baptized is chosen according to the Saints, according to the date of birth of the new Orthodox Christian.

Features of christenings for boys and girls

To understand what is happening, it would not hurt parents to know how the rite of baptism of a child takes place in the church. The procedure will differ depending on the gender of the child. Different baptismal sets are purchased for boys and girls. The future man's clothes will be a little more modest than those of the young princess. Dresses for girls are made not only from cotton, but also from guipure. There is a difference in the very sequence of the sacrament. Boys are brought or escorted through the Church gates, and girls are only brought to them.

What is needed for a boy's baptism

A little earlier we already provided a list of things that need to be purchased before baptism. For a male baby, purchase a set with a baptismal shirt. Since a man is supposed to be bareheaded in church, he will not need a cap. If an older child is being baptized, he can be dressed in a T-shirt and shorts. It is important to keep your legs and arms open.

What is needed for a girl's baptism

Since women and girls need to cover their heads while in church, in addition to the baptismal dress, a cap, a knitted cap or a white scarf is purchased for the baby. An older child needs to buy a white shirt, knee-length or shorter, exposing his arms.

Baptism ceremony

During the sacrament, the godparents hold the baby. Moreover, the boy is given to the woman, and the girl to the man. The successors, on behalf of the child, renounce the evil one and swear an oath to the Lord. The priest reads a prayer, which is repeated after him by all participants in the ceremony. For the successors, we will clarify what prayers are said at the baptism of a child. The main one is the “Symbol of Faith”, it must be learned by heart, in addition to this you need to know the texts “Our Father” and “Virgin Virgin Mary”. Read more about the responsibilities of godparents.

The priest sanctifies the water in the font, performs anointing and immerses the child in the font three times. If a chalice is used in baptism, only infants are immersed in the holy water. Older children are sprinkled with holy water. After this, the priest puts a cross on the child and passes it into the hands of the godfather of the same sex. Then, under the prayer of the priest, all participants walk around the font three times. The action is completed by an application to the icons of the Lord and the Mother of God.

Sacrament of Baptism

The mother of the child is not allowed to visit the temple for forty days after giving birth.. A woman is allowed into the church after the priest reads her mother’s prayer over her. Some priests recite the text before baptizing the child, others do it at the end. If you want to be present at the baptism of a child, find out in advance when exactly in the temple it is customary to read the mother’s prayer.

How cold is the water in the font?

Despite the tradition of plunging into an ice hole at Epiphany, the water in the church font is never made cold. Let us remember that Christ himself was baptized in the Jordan River, and in Israel the weather is warm in January. That's why It is customary to fill the baptismal cup with hot water, which cools while the priest reads prayers. So there is no need to worry about your child catching a cold.

"Symbol of faith"

The Creed is a summary of Christian dogma. The text is included in the list of obligatory morning prayers and is also read during the liturgy.

This prayer is also said before the baptism of a child. The godparents will have to read it themselves or repeat it after the priest. The priest also reads other prayers when baptizing a child. As a rule, their texts are pronounced in Old Church Slavonic, so it is not necessary to learn them.

Duration and cost of the ceremony

Christenings last from 45 minutes to one and a half hours. The church does not establish a definite cost for the ceremony. Parents pay whatever bribe they can, and the amount indicated in the price tag of the temple is only an approximate amount. You need to understand that donations from parishioners are a source of income for the church, and any church incurs certain costs for maintaining the premises. Therefore, if financial possibilities allow, you can offer a larger amount. If the parents do not have money, the priest does not have the right to refuse to perform the sacrament for them.

Is it possible to take photographs

In most temples, photography or video shooting is not prohibited. Restrictions may only apply to the use of flash, as it will distract the clergyman and irritate children. It is better to clarify this question in advance; this can be done by phone or in a personal conversation with the temple servants.

After baptism

Communion is the second Christian sacrament performed after the baptism of a child. Communion is an opportunity to receive the blessing of the Lord, to open the soul to divine powers. The sacrament of communion is performed on every Christian who has undergone the rite of baptism, and the sooner this happens, the better. Parents should not postpone the event. Even if the child is too young, the church does not approve of such behavior. The baby’s godparents can also take part in the ceremony.

Should a child wear a cross without taking it off?

According to the customs of Orthodoxy, after baptism the child wears a pectoral cross constantly. It should be noted that it is not customary for Orthodox Christians to remove the attribute of faith even during hygiene procedures. The cross cannot harm a baby, but it is better to wear it on a chain; it breaks easily under strong tension. It is not customary to display the symbol of belonging to Christianity, so a child should be taught from childhood that a cross is worn under clothes.

Celebration of christening

The baptism of an infant is his second birth to spiritual life. Undoubtedly, such an event can and should be celebrated with family and friends. According to tradition, the ceremony itself and the subsequent feast are paid for by the named father of the child, that is, the godfather. If the date of the ceremony falls on fast days, the menu should be appropriate. It is not customary to drink alcohol at such a holiday, otherwise there are no restrictions. You can organize a feast both at home and in a restaurant, but it would be wiser to spend the money on good deeds, for example, donating to the construction of a temple.

We tried to tell everything parents need to know about the baptism of a child. To top it off, I would like to remind you that such a ritual is not just a tribute to fashion, but an important event that determines future life. From the moment the sacrament is performed, godparents, along with parents, are responsible for the soul of the new Christian and are obliged to become for him an example of piety and faith in the Lord.