What parents need to know about the christening of a boy and a girl: signs, rules for baptism in the Orthodox Church and recommendations. About sacraments

How is the Sacrament of Baptism performed in the church? In this article you will find a detailed photo essay on how a baby is baptized, with a description of all parts of the ceremony.

How is the Sacrament of Baptism performed?

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

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

christening set your baby should be the one recommended to you in the temple where you will baptize him. They will easily tell you what you need. This is mainly baptismal cross and christening shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.

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

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins christening. most notable and important point- three times immersion of the baby in the font with the pronunciation of the words:

“The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen."

At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, is preparing to receive his godfather from the font.

After that, the one who has received Baptism is dressed in new white clothes, a cross is put on him.

Immediately after this, another Sacrament - Confirmation in which the baptized person, when the parts of the body are anointed by the Holy World in the name of the Holy Spirit, are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life.

After that, the priest and the godparents with the newly baptized go around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Then an excerpt from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the Lord Jesus Christ sending the apostles to the worldwide preaching of faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

After the myrrh is washed by the priest from the body of the baptized with a special sponge dipped in holy water, with the words:

“Thou hast justified. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been sanctified. Thou hast been washed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been anointed. Thou art sanctified, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen."

Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized cross-shaped (on four sides) with the words: “The servant (a) of God (name) is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen,” folds the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. The tonsure symbolizes obedience to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After the utterance of petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the sacrament of baptism ends.

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

Why are only boys brought to the altar?

- Girls are not carried through the Royal Doors for the reason that women in general, in the modern practice of the Orthodox Church, are not allowed into the altar, because they cannot be church and clergymen. And every boy, at least potentially, can become one, therefore, it rushes through the Royal Doors.

- They say that before you baptize your child, you should confess and take communion.

– Of course, even regardless of the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to begin the sacraments of confession and Holy Communion with a certain regularity. If you have not done this until now, then it will be good to take the first step towards a full-fledged church life by anticipating the Baptism of your own baby.

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

What happens during a baptism?

The word "baptism" means "immersion". The main action of baptism is the threefold immersion of the person being baptized in water, which symbolizes the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb, after which the Resurrection took place.
Everyone who is baptized follows the path of Christ. Just as Christ died on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins, in the sacrament of baptism we die to a sinful life and to do the will of Satan, so that we can then be resurrected to life with God. Our whole being is thus renewed to its very foundations.

We are left with all our sins, in which we sincerely repented. If a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose duties include the Christian upbringing of their godchildren. For them, they will give a strict answer at the Judgment of God.

Anyone who has agreed to become a godfather must realize that he is taking on a huge responsibility for the child.

In order to give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life, pray for their godson.

Chin of announcement

The performance of baptism is preceded by the rite of pronouncement, during which the priest reads prohibition prayers directed against Satan.

The priest blows crosswise on the person being baptized three times, saying the words: “cast out from him (or from her) every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart ...”.

They are a reminder that "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2.7).

The hand of the clergyman is the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, which is a gesture of protection and blessing, for in the future this person will face a mortal battle with the forces of darkness.

Three Prohibitions on Unclean Spirits

The Church tells us about the rebellion against God in the spiritual world created by Him of a part of the angels, possessed by pride. And the source of evil lies not in their ignorance and imperfection, but, on the contrary, in those knowledge and perfection that led them to the temptation of pride and falling away.

Satan belonged to the very first and best creations of God. He was perfect, wise, and strong enough to know the Lord and disobey Him, to rebel against Him, to desire "freedom" from Him. But since such “freedom” (i.e., arbitrariness) is impossible in the Kingdom of Divine Harmony, which exists only with voluntary consent to the Will of God, Satan and his angels are expelled by God from this Kingdom.

That is why, at baptism, the prohibition of “Satan and all his Aggels” is first performed. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says in the catechetical teaching: “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: first, it cuts off and drives the devil and all his actions with Divine names and sacraments that are terrible for him, driving out the devil, commands his demons to flee from a person and not create misfortunes for him.

Similarly, the second prohibition casts out demons with the Divine Name.

The third prohibition is together with a prayer offered to God, imploring to completely expel the evil spirit from the creation of God and confirm him in the faith.

Renunciation of Satan

The person being baptized (or godparents, if an infant is being baptized) renounces Satan, i.e., renounces sinful habits and lifestyle, renounces pride and self-affirmation, realizing that unbaptized person always a prisoner of passions, Satan.

Confession of fidelity to Christ

However, man himself can never wage war with the devil without an alliance with Christ. Therefore, after the declaration of war on Satan, in the rank of announcement, a combination with Christ follows.

The child becomes a member of Christ's host. His weapons will be fasting, prayer, participation in church sacraments. He has to fight with his sinful passions - the evil that lies in his heart.

The baptized confesses the faith, reads the Creed. If an infant is baptized, then the recipient must read the Symbol of Faith for him.

SYMBOL OF FAITH

1 I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

2 And into one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was.

3 For us, man, and for our salvation, who descended from heaven, and became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human.

4 He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

5 And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

6 And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

7 And the packs of the one to come with glory to be judged by the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

8 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

9 Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

10 I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

12 and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The creed contains all the basic Christian truths.

In ancient times, a person had to study them before baptism. And now it necessary condition at baptism.

Consecration of water

At the beginning of the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest performs incense around the font and reads prayers for the blessing of water, then blesses the water in which the person being baptized will have to wash their sins.

He makes the sign of the cross over her three times, blows on her, saying a prayer:

“Let all opposing forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your Cross.”

The consecration of water for Baptism is one of the most important parts of the service, which has the deepest connection with the sacrament itself.

In prayers and actions during the consecration of water for Baptism, all aspects of the sacrament are revealed, its connection with the world and matter, with life in all its manifestations is shown.

Water is the oldest religious symbol. From a Christian point of view, three main aspects of this symbolism seem important. First, water is the primary cosmic element. At the beginning of creation, "the Spirit of God hovered over the waters" (Genesis 1:2).

At the same time, it is a symbol of destruction and death. The basis of life, the life-giving force and, on the other hand, the basis of death, destructive force- such is the dual image of water in Christian theology. And finally, water is a symbol of purification, rebirth and renewal. This symbolism permeates the entire scripture, is included in the story of creation, the fall and salvation. Saint John the Forerunner called the people to repentance and cleansing from sins in the waters of the Jordan, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, having received Baptism from him, sanctified the water element.

Oil consecration

After the consecration of the water, the priest reads a prayer for the consecration of the oil (oil) and the water will be anointed with it. Then the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: face, chest, arms and legs. In the ancient world, oil was used primarily as a remedy.

Oil, symbolizing healing, light and joy, was a sign of reconciliation between God and man. The dove, released by Noah from the ark, returned and brought him an olive branch, “and Noah knew that the water had gone down from the earth” (Genesis 8:11).

So, in anointing the water and the body of the baptized with oil, the oil signifies the fullness of life and the joy of reconciliation with God, since “in Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5).

Baptism renews and restores the whole person in its original integrity, reconciles soul and body. The oil of joy is anointed on the water and the human body for reconciliation with God and in God with the world.

Immersion in the font

Immediately after the anointing comes the most important moment of baptism - immersion in the font.

The priest immerses the person being baptized three times in water with the words:

The servant of God is baptized (name is called) in the name of the Father, amen (first immersion). And the Son, amen (second immersion). And the Holy Spirit, amen (third dive).

Immediately after immersion, a cross is laid on the newly baptized - a sign of his acceptance of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, faith that Christ truly died and truly rose from the dead, so that in Him we can die to sin in relation to our mortal life and become partakers - here and now to eternal life.

Vestments of the newly baptized

Putting on a “light robe” after Baptism marks, first of all, the return of a person to the integrity and innocence that he possessed in paradise, the restoration of his true nature, distorted by sin.

Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, compares these clothes with the shining robes of Christ, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor. The transfigured Christ revealed Himself to the disciples not in a naked form, but in clothes “white as light”, in the uncreated radiance of Divine glory.

In the sacrament of Baptism, a person regains his original garment of glory, the believing soul is clearly and really revealed to the basic truth of Christianity: having received Baptism, “you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3-4).

The deepest mystery is being accomplished: the unity of the human and the Divine in "renewed life." The grace given to a person in Baptism, as in the other sacraments, is the fruit of the sacrificial death of Christ and His Resurrection. She informs a person of the will to salvation and the strength to go through life, carrying his cross.

And therefore Baptism can and must be defined not figuratively, not symbolically, but in essence as death and resurrection. In the Christian understanding, death is, first of all, a spiritual phenomenon. One can be dead while still living on earth, and be innocent of death while lying in the grave.

Death is the remoteness of a person from life, that is, from God. The Lord is the only Giver of Life and Life Itself. Death is opposed not to immortality, but to true Life, which was “the light of men” (John 1:4). Life without God is spiritual death, which transforms human life into loneliness and suffering, fills it with fear and self-deception, turns a person into slavery to sin and malice, emptiness.

We are not saved because we believe in the supernatural power and power of the Lord, because this is not the kind of faith He wants from us. To believe in Christ means not only to acknowledge Him, not only to receive from Him, but, above all, to work for His glory.

One cannot expect help from Him without fulfilling His commandments and, above all, the commandments of love; one cannot call Him Lord and bow before Him without doing the will of His Father. Immersion in water means that the person being baptized dies for a life of sin and is buried with Christ in order to live with Him and in Him (Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:12-13). This is the most important thing in the sacrament of Baptism. Only by the grace of God do we know that “this water is truly for us both a tomb and a mother…” (St. Gregory of Nyssa).

Sacrament of Chrismation

After immersion in the font and dressing in white clothes, the priest will anoint the newly enlightened with the holy Myrrh: imprinting "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Through chrismation, the Holy Spirit descends on each of us, filling us with the power of God, just as once on the day of Pentecost he descended on the disciples of Christ. Holy chrism is oil prepared in a special way, which is consecrated once a year by the patriarch and then sent to all dioceses, where the bishops distribute it to the abbots. A priest anoints an already baptized person with holy chrism.

His forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs are anointed. Different parts of the body are anointed with Holy Myrrh in order to sanctify the whole person through anointing: both his body and his soul.

The forehead is anointed to remove the shame that covered it due to the crime of Adam, and to sanctify our thoughts.

Eyes are anointed so that we do not grope in the dark along the path of vice, but that we walk along the path of salvation under the guidance of the grace-filled light; ears - so that our ear becomes sensitive to hearing the word of God; mouth - so that they become capable of broadcasting Divine truth.

Hands are anointed for sanctification for pious work, for deeds pleasing to God; feet - for our walking in the footsteps of the commandments of the Lord; and breasts, so that, having been clothed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may overcome every enemy force and be able to accomplish everything in Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

In a word, our thoughts, desires, our heart and our whole body are sanctified to make them capable of a new Christian life.

The anointing with Myrrh is a visible sign, a seal that the newly baptized is granted the Holy Spirit by God. From the moment this sacred seal is placed on us, the Holy Spirit enters into betrothal, into a close living relationship with our soul. From that very moment we become Christians.

Each time the priest repeats the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and the receiver, at the end of the anointing, answers: “Amen,” which means “Truly, truly.”

Confirmation is a new independent sacrament, although it is associated with Baptism and is performed, according to the rules of the Orthodox Church, immediately after immersion in the font three times. Acquiring a new son through Baptism, our caring mother - the Holy Church - without any delay begins to apply her care to him. Just as in bodily life, to strengthen the strength of an infant, air and food are needed, so for a person born spiritually through Baptism, special, spiritual food is needed.

Such food is taught by the holy Church in the sacrament of Chrismation, through which the Holy Spirit descends upon our soul. It is like the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, which was at the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Scripture reading and procession around the font

After the Sacrament of Confirmation there is a threefold procession around the font. The solemn circumambulation of the font with the singing of “Be baptized into Christ…” is, first of all, an expression of the Church’s joy at the birth of its new member by the Spirit of God.

On the other hand, since the circle is a sign of eternity, this procession shows that the newly enlightened one expresses a desire to serve God forever, to be a lamp that is placed not under a bushel, but on a candlestick (Luke 8:16), let it shine on all his people good deeds and asks the Lord to grant him eternal bliss. Immediately after the procession around the font there is a reading of the Apostle and the Gospel. During the reading, the godparents stand with lighted candles.

The final rites of Baptism

The final rites of the rites of Baptism and Confirmation—the washing away of the Holy Myrrh and the cutting of the hair—are performed immediately after the reading of the Gospel. The first rite is the washing away from the body of the newly baptized holy Myrrh. Now external, visible marks and symbols, because from now on only the internal assimilation of the gift of grace, faith and fidelity by a person will support him and give him strength.

The Christian must bear the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit in his heart. Hair cutting, which is performed immediately after washing off the body of the newly baptized Holy Myrrh, has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the rite of initiation of readers. In a fallen world, the path to the restoration of Divine beauty, darkened, humiliated, distorted, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with bringing to Him with joy and gratitude that which in this world has become a symbol of beauty - hair.

The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly at the Baptism of infants. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore several hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) [name] is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Conclusion

Holy Baptism is the spiritual birth of a person, i.e. the beginning of his spiritual life, and in early years it depends on the parents and godparents what will be the continuation. Try to ensure that your child's communion with God continues, first of all, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, in which a person is truly united with God.

A child can be given communion at any Orthodox church. An infant (up to 7 years old) does not need confession before Communion, and it is not necessary to be in the church for the entire service. He can be brought / brought after the start of the service, depending on his spiritual age. Very young children can be communed after feeding (but not immediately after; children in the church should not be allowed to gnaw bagels, crackers, etc. before communion). When feeding, avoid meat food. As soon as possible, try to start taking communion on an empty stomach, accustoming them to the habits of fasting, i.e. after midnight on the day of the sacrament, the child should not be given food or drink. After 4 years, communion can only be done on an empty stomach.

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How to baptize a child? What are the rules for the rite of baptism? How much does it cost? These and other questions will be answered by the editors of the Orthodoxy and the World portal.

Baptism of a child

When to baptize different families solve this issue in different ways.

Most often they are baptized on +/- 40 days after birth. The 40th day is also significant from a religious point of view (in the Old Testament church on the 40th day a child was brought to the temple, on the 40th day a prayer is read over the woman who has given birth). 40 days after childbirth, a woman does not participate in the sacraments of the Church: this is also connected with the physiology of the postpartum period, and in general it is very reasonable - at this time, all the attention and strength of a woman should be focused on the child and her health.

After the expiration of this period, it is necessary to read a special prayer over it, which the priest will do before or after baptism. Very young children behave much more calmly at baptism and are not afraid when someone else takes them in their arms (godparents or priest). Well, do not forget that up to three months, children are easier to tolerate dipping with their heads, because they retain intrauterine reflexes that help hold their breath.

In any case, the choice of the moment remains with the parents and depends on the circumstances and the state of health of the child. If the baby is in intensive care and there are health problems, the baby can be baptized in intensive care. To do this, you can invite a priest or MOTHER CAN BAPTIZE THE CHILD ITSELF.

You can baptize after 40 days.

If the child's life is in danger

If the baby is in intensive care, then you can invite the priest to christen the child. From hospital temple or from any temple - no one will refuse. But first you need to find out what are the baptismal procedures in this hospital.

If there is no admission of outsiders to intensive care, or if the situation is different - an accident, for example - a mother or father (and an intensive care sister at the request of the parents, and generally anyone) the child can be christened SAMI. You need a few drops of water. With these drops, the child must be crossed three times with the words:

The servant (a) of God (s) is baptized (NAME)
In the name of the Father. Amen. (for the first time we baptize and sprinkle with water)
And the Son. Amen. (second time)
And the Holy Spirit. Amen. (third time).

The child is baptized. When he is discharged, in the temple it will be necessary to perform the second part of baptism - Chrismation - joining the Church. Explain to the priest in advance that they baptized themselves in intensive care. You can baptize the baby at home, having agreed on this with the priest in the temple.

Whether to baptize in winter

Of course, they heat in the temples, the water is warm in the font.

The only thing is that if the temple has one door and the temple itself is small, one of the relatives can be on duty at the entrance so that suddenly the door does not open completely wide open.

How much to pay? And why pay?

Officially, there is no fee for the Sacraments and rites in churches.

Christ also said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). But only now the believers fed and watered the apostles, allowed them to sleep, and in modern realities, donations for baptism are one of the main sources of income for churches, from which they pay for light, electricity, repairs, firefighting and the priest, who most often has many children. Price tag in the temple - this is the approximate amount of the donation. If there really is no money, MUST baptize for free. If they refuse - a reason to turn to the Reverend.

Is it necessary to call according to the saints

Whoever wants. Someone calls according to the holy calendar, someone in honor of a beloved saint or someone else. Of course, if the girl was born on January 25, then the name Tatyana really asks for her, but the parents choose the name for the child themselves - there are no “needs” here.

Where to baptize?

It is unlikely that this question will arise before you if you are already parishioners of some temple. If not, choose a temple to your liking. There is nothing wrong with visiting several temples. If the employees are unfriendly and rude (it happens, yes), you can look for a temple where you will be treated kindly from the very beginning. Yes. we come to the temple to God, but there is no sin in choosing a church according to our liking. It is good if the temple has a separate baptismal one. In it, as a rule, it is warm, there are no drafts and there are no strangers.
If there are few churches in your city and they all have large parishes, then be sure to find out in advance how many children usually attend baptism. It may turn out that a dozen babies will be baptized at the same time, each of which will be accompanied by a whole brigade of relatives. If you do not like such a mass character, you can agree on an individual baptism.

Photographing for a christening

If you decide to hire a photographer for the christening, be sure to find out in advance whether he will be allowed to shoot, use a flash. Some priests have a very negative attitude towards the filming of the Sacraments, and an unpleasant surprise may await you.
As a rule, photography and video shooting are not prohibited anywhere. Christening photos are a great joy for the whole family for many years, so if you can’t take pictures in the temple, then you need to look for a temple where you can take pictures (but even in Old Believer churches they are allowed to shoot at christenings)
In some cases, the child can be baptized at home. The main thing is to agree on this with the priest.

Godparents

Who can and cannot be a godfather is the most common question. Is it possible for a pregnant / unmarried / unbelieving / childless girl to be baptized, etc. - the number of variations is infinite.

The answer is simple: the godfather must be a man

- Orthodox and church (HE is responsible for raising a child in the faith);

- not the parent of the child (godparents should, in which case, replace the parents);

- it is impossible for a husband and wife to be godparents of one baby (or those who are going to get married);

- A monastic cannot be a godfather.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to have two godparents. One thing is enough: women for girls and men for boys. .

Conversation before baptism

Now it's a must. For what? In order to baptize those who believe in Christ, and not those who come, so that “a child_sick_should_be_baptized_otherwise_they_jinx_and_we_are_Russian_and_Orthodox.”

It is necessary to come to the conversation, this is not an exam. usually the priest talks about Christ, the Gospel, recalls that the Gospel must be read independently. It looks like this.

Often, the need for a conversation causes resentment among relatives and many try to “get around” them. Someone, complaining about the lack of time, or even just desire, is looking for priests who can neglect this rule. But first of all, this information is needed by the godparents themselves, because by offering them to become the godparents of your child, you impose a great responsibility on them, and it would be nice for them to know about it. If the godparents do not want to spend time on this, then this is an occasion for you to think about whether the child needs godparents who cannot sacrifice just a couple of their evenings for him.

If the godparents live in another city and can only come on the day of the sacrament, then they can have conversations in any church that is convenient. Upon completion, they will be given a certificate with which they can participate in the sacrament anywhere.

It is very good for the godparents, if they do not know yet, to learn - this prayer is read three times during baptism and it is likely that the godparents will be asked to read it.

What to buy?

For baptism, the child needs a new baptismal shirt, a cross and a towel. All this can be bought at any church shop and, as a rule, this is the task of godparents. The christening gown is then stored along with the baby's other memorabilia. In foreign stores there is a whole line of stunningly beautiful clothes for baptism, you can also use some beautiful set for discharge.

Name at baptism

Find out in advance what name the child will be baptized. If the name of the child is not in the calendar, select in advance a close one in sound (Alina - Elena, Zhanna - Anna, Alice - Alexandra) and tell the priest about it. And sometimes the names are given strangely. One of my acquaintances Zhanna was christened Eugenia. By the way, sometimes there are unexpected names in the calendar, for example. Edward - there is such an Orthodox British saint (though then all the employees of the temple will not believe that there is such an Orthodox name). AT church notes and when performing other Sacraments, it will be necessary to use the name given at baptism. Based on it, it will be determined when the child has the day of the Angel and who his heavenly patron is.

We arrived at the temple, what's next?

The church shop will ask you to pay for a baptismal donation. Before the sacrament, it is better to feed the baby so that it is more comfortable and calmer.

Eat at the temple It is POSSIBLE, it is good for this to be in feeding clothes or to have an apron with you. If you need privacy, you can ask one of the temple employees to find a secluded place.
The only thing is that if the baby is feeding for a long time, it is better to have a bottle-sippy-syringe with food with you so that it does not happen that the baby gets hungry in the middle of the service and you either have to wait half an hour until he eats or he will cry from hunger.

During the sacrament, the godparents hold the child in their arms, parents can only watch. The duration of Epiphany is usually about an hour.

It is useful to familiarize yourself in advance with what will happen in the service in order to understand the meaning of what is happening. Here .

But mothers are not allowed to be baptized everywhere - it is better then to clarify this issue in advance.

Cold water?

The water in the tub is WARM. First, hot water is usually poured there, before the Sacrament it is diluted with cold water. But the water in the font is warm :)

The employees of the temple who collect it will take care that the water is warm - they don’t want the baby to freeze as much as you do. After dipping, the child will not immediately be able to dress, and here again it is worth mentioning that it is good to baptize very small children in separate rooms and not in the temple itself, where it is cool even in summer. In any case, do not worry, everything happens quickly and the child will not have time to freeze.

Should a child wear a cross all the time?

Often parents are concerned about the safety of a child wearing a cross. Someone is afraid that the child may suffer from a rope or ribbon on which the cross hangs. Many are worried that a child may lose a cross or it may be stolen, for example, in the garden. As a rule, a cross is worn on a short ribbon, which cannot get tangled anywhere. And for kindergarten you can prepare a special inexpensive cross.

And they say that...

Baptism, like many other things in our lives, is surrounded by many stupid superstitions and prejudices. Older relatives can add worries and worries with stories about bad omens and prohibitions. It is better to clarify any doubtful questions with the priest, not trusting, even very experienced, grandmothers.

Is it possible to celebrate baptism?

It is quite logical that relatives who gather for Epiphany will want to continue the holiday at home or in a restaurant. The main thing is that during the holiday they do not forget the reason because of which everyone gathered.

After baptism

When the Sacrament ends, you will be given a certificate of baptism in your hands, which will indicate when the baptism was performed, by whom, and the day when the child has a name day will also be written. After baptism, you will definitely need to go to the temple again to give communion to the baby. In general, babies should be given communion regularly.

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

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

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

The baptismal set for your baby should be the one recommended to you in the church where you will baptize him. They will easily tell you what you need. This is mainly a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.

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

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins christening. The most noticeable and important moment is the threefold immersion of the baby in the font with the utterance of the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen." At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, is preparing to receive his godfather from the font. After that, the one who has received Baptism is dressed in new white clothes, a cross is put on him.

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

Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized cross-shaped (on four sides) with the words: “The servant (a) of God (name) is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen,” folds the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. tonsure symbolizes obedience to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After the utterance of petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the sacrament of baptism ends.

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

Why are only boys brought to the altar?

In principle, boys should not be brought there either, this is just a tradition.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council determined: No one belonging to the class of the laity shall be allowed to enter the interior of the sacred altar.… (rule 69). Renowned canonist ep. gives this decree the following commentary: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from ancient times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. "The altar is for sacred persons only."

They say that before you baptize your child, you should confess and take communion.

Even regardless of the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly partake of the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have not done this until now, then it will be good to take the first step towards a full-fledged church life by anticipating the Baptism of your own baby.

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

What is the Orthodox name for the baby?

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

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

When choosing a name, you can get acquainted not only with what this or that name means, but also with the life of the saint in whose honor you want to name your baby: what kind of saint is it, where and when did he live, what was his lifestyle, on which days his memory is celebrated.
Cm. .

Why do some churches close the church for the time of the sacrament of Baptism (not doing this during other Sacraments) or ask people who call themselves Orthodox not to enter it?

Because during the Baptism of an adult, it is not very pleasant for the person being baptized or being baptized if they look at him, sufficiently bodily exposed. strangers, to observe the greatest sacrament, the curious look of those who have nothing to do with prayer. It seems that a prudent Orthodox person will not go simply as a spectator to someone else's Baptism, if he was not invited there. And if he lacks tact, then church ministers act prudently, removing the curious from the temple at the time of the sacrament of Baptism.

What must come first, faith or baptism? Is it possible to be baptized to believe?

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

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

Strengthening in faith will be easier if you live the church life, and not look at it from the outside.

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

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

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

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

At what age is it best to baptize a child?

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

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

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

Can parents attend Baptism?

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

When is Baptism performed?

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

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

For an adult, the basis for Baptism is the presence of a sincere Orthodox faith.
The purpose of Baptism is union with God. Therefore, those who come to the baptismal font need to decide for themselves very important questions: does he need this and is he ready for this? Baptism is inappropriate if a person with his help is looking for some earthly blessings, success, or hopes to solve his family problems. Therefore, another important condition for Baptism is a strong desire to live as a Christian.
After the celebration of the Sacrament, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: go to church regularly, learn divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will not make any sense.
It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at least carefully read these catechetical conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the prayer "Our Father".
It would be just wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do it very correctly when they confess catechumens before Baptism.

Is it possible to baptize during Lent?

Yes, you can. Moreover, in the old days, fasts served as preparation not only for a certain holiday, but also for entry into new members, i.e. to the baptism of the catechumens. Thus, in the ancient Church people were baptized mainly on the eve of major Church feasts, including during Lent. Traces of this are still preserved in the peculiarities of the services of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Pentecost.

In what case can a priest refuse a person to be baptized?

A priest not only can, but also must refuse a person to be baptized if he does not believe in God in the way the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.
Among the grounds for refusing baptism may be a person's unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards baptism. The magical attitude to Baptism is the desire to use it to protect oneself from the forces of evil, to get rid of "damage" or "evil eye", to receive all kinds of spiritual or material "bonuses".
Persons in a state of intoxication and leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until their repentance and correction.

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

This situation occurs quite often. It is not necessary to baptize a person a second time - you can baptize only once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and communion him with a new name.

How many times can you be baptized?

Definitely one time. Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person can be born only once. AT Orthodox Symbol Faith says: "I confess one baptism for the remission of sins." Secondary baptism is not allowed.

What to do if you do not know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to find out from?

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

About godparents (successors)

What duties do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?

Godparents have three main duties towards godchildren:
1. Prayer. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godchild, and also, as he grows, teach him to pray, so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrine. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Preacher. By your own example, show the godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a real good Christian.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

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

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

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

Can representatives of other religions become godparents?

Definitely not.
In Baptism, the recipients testify to the Orthodox faith, and according to their faith, the infant receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become godparents at Baptism.
In addition, the godparents take on the obligation to educate the godson in Orthodoxy. Representatives of other religions cannot fulfill these duties because for us Christianity is not a theory, but life itself in Christ. This life can only be taught by those who themselves live this way.
The question arises: can then representatives of other Christian denominations, for example, Catholics or Lutherans, become godparents? The answer is no - they can't for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients at Baptism.

Which of the things you need to bring with you to Baptism and which of the godparents should do this?

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

How many godfathers and mothers should a person have?

One. As a rule, the same sex as the child, that is, for a boy - a godfather, and for a girl - a godmother.
It is a pious custom to have both a godfather and a godmother for a child.
It is not customary to have more than two recipients.

How to choose godparents for a child?

The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help in the Christian upbringing of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and just the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing.
In the old days, concern about expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite the next of kin as godparents. It was believed that, by virtue of natural kinship, they would help the child anyway. For this reason, family grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became foster parents. Nevertheless, it is not forbidden, and now it is becoming more and more frequent.

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?

Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to acceptance. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she may well do it.

Who can't be a godmother?

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

What should godparents give to a godson?

This question lies in the realm of human customs and does not concern the spiritual life regulated by Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter of the godparents. You may not give anything at all.
However, it seems that the gift, if there is one, should be useful and remind of Baptism. It can be the Bible or the New Testament, a pectoral cross or an icon of the saint in whose honor the child is named. There are many options.

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

In the truest sense of the word, it is impossible. The godfather will be only the one who perceived the child from the font. However, in a sense, this can be done.
Let's draw a parallel with a normal birth: for example, a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, refuse him, do not fulfill their parental duties and do not take care of him. In this case, the child can be adopted by someone and raised as a native. This person will become, although adopted, but a parent in the true sense of the word.
It is the same with spiritual birth. If real godparents do not fulfill their duties, and there is a person who can and wants to take on their function, then he should receive a blessing for this from the priest and after that begin to take care of the child in every possible way. And "godfather" at the same time it can also be called.
At the same time, a child cannot be baptized again.

Can a young man become godfather to his bride?

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

How many times can a person become a godfather?

As many as you think possible.
Being a godparent is a big responsibility. Someone may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, someone five or six, and someone perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for himself.

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

Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to be responsible for the child, then it will be more honest to both the parents and the child and to himself to say this directly, rather than formally becoming a godfather and not fulfilling his duties.

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

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

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

The Sacrament of Baptism: Answers to Readers' Questions

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

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

What is Baptism? Why is it called a Sacrament?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is immersed three times in water with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life. Of course, this action has a basis in Holy Scripture: "He who 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; but 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 reach 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 established by God. The Lord Jesus Christ himself, sending the apostles to preach the gospel, taught them to baptize people: “Go, make disciples of 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 from now on can proceed to the rest of the sacraments of the Church.

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

Baptism of infants: is it possible to baptize infants, because they do not have an independent faith?

Quite right, young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But don't the parents who brought their child to be baptized in the temple of God have it? Will they not instill faith in God in their child from childhood? It is obvious that parents have such a faith, and most likely will instill it in their child. In addition, the child will also have godparents - godparents 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 New Testament baptism was typified by the Old Testament circumcision. AT Old Testament On the eighth day, babies were brought to the temple for circumcision. By this, the child's parents showed their and his faith and belonging to God's chosen people. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: "Baptism is the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unbelievers." Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “They were circumcised with a 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 a dying and burial for sin and a resurrection for a perfect life with Christ.

These reasons are enough to make the reader realize the importance of infant baptism. After that, the next question would be:

When should children be baptized?

There are no specific rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done earlier or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the circumstances.

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

Is it possible to baptize children on fasting days?

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

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

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules prescribe to have a godparent for the child of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - 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 godfather of a different sex than the baptized person himself. The main thing is that it should be a truly believing person who would subsequently conscientiously fulfill his duties of raising a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, a baptized person can have one or, at most, two godparents.

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

What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and main requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godparents must be church-going people, living the church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith, to give spiritual instructions. If they themselves are ignorant of these matters, what will they be able to teach the child? The godparents have a huge responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of their godchildren, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with the renunciation of "Satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his ministry, and all his pride." Thus, the godparents, answering for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.

If the godson is already an adult and pronounces the words of renunciation himself, then the godparents present at the same time become guarantors before the Church in 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 features of the church calendar, and the grace-filled power miraculous icons and other shrines. The godparents must accustom those perceived by them from the font to attend 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 kind-hearted grandmother from the church, whom her parents persuaded to “hold” the baby at baptism.

But also, you should not take as godparents just close people or relatives who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were outlined above.

Godparents should not become an object of personal gain for the parents of the baptized. The desire to intermarry with a profitable person, for example, with 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 at all care about the spiritual upbringing of the child, for which he himself will also answer to God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

Some of the details of baptism include the following question:

Is it possible for a woman to become a godmother on the days of the monthly cleansing? What to do if it did 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 at confession.

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

How do future godparents prepare for baptism?

There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special talks are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. If there is an opportunity to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do this, because. this is very helpful for future godparents. If the future godparents are sufficiently churched, they constantly confess and take communion, then attending such conversations will be a completely sufficient measure of preparation for them.

If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churched, then a 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 day post, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions regarding recipients. Usually the godfather takes care of the payment (if any) for 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 the things necessary for baptism. Typically, a christening kit includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet and a towel.

But these traditions are not binding. Often, 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 and canonical foundations. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which baptism will take place.

Sometimes one hears a purely technical question related to baptism:

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

This question does not lie in the spiritual realm, regulated by canonical rules and traditions. But, it seems 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 you can now find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so acquiring a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.

A fairly common question asked by unchurched parents is the question:

Can non-Orthodox Christians or Gentiles become godparents?

It is quite obvious that they are not, 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 Gentile godparents to their children. At baptism, of course, no one talks about this. But then, having learned about the inadmissibility of the deed, the parents run to the temple, asking:

What should I do if this happened by mistake? Is baptism valid in this case? Should a child be baptized?

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. An unequivocal answer to the question "what to do in this case?" it is impossible to give, because there is nothing of the kind in the church canons. This is not surprising, since canons and rules are written for members of the Orthodox Church, which cannot be said about heterodox and non-believers. Nevertheless, as a fact, baptism took place, and it cannot be called invalid. It is legal and valid, and the baptized one 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 once physically, he cannot repeat it again. Likewise, only once a person can be born for spiritual life, so there can be only one baptism.

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

Thank God that such situations no longer occurred in my priestly practice. The curious reader may well assume that there may be some obstacles to receiving the sacrament of baptism. And he will be absolutely right. So:

In what case can a priest refuse a person to be baptized?

Orthodox believe in God the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. founder Christian faith The Son was 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 to baptize a person if he is going to accept the sacrament as some kind of magical rite or has some pagan belief regarding baptism itself. But this is a separate issue and I will touch on it later.

A very common question about receivers is the question:

Can spouses or those who are about to get married become godparents?

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

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

Can people living in a civil marriage become godparents?

At first glance, this is a rather complicated issue, but from the ecclesiastical point of view, it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called complete. And in general it is impossible to call prodigal cohabitation a family. After all, in fact, people living in the so-called civil marriage live in fornication. It's a big trouble modern society. People baptized in the Orthodox Church, at least conscious of themselves as Christians, for some incomprehensible reasons, refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are countless answers to be heard. 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 “unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary stamps” cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a “civil” marriage trample on all Christian concepts about marriage and family. Christian marriage implies the responsibility of spouses for each other. During the marriage, they become one, and not two different people who made a promise to live under the same roof from now on. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other leg bear the full weight of the body? And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for putting a stamp in their passport.

What then can be said about such irresponsible people, who at the same time want to be godparents? What good can they teach a child? Can they, having very shaky moral foundations, be able to set a good example for their godson? Not at all. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded in this way) cannot be recipients from the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legitimize their relationship before God and the state, then they, moreover, will not be able to be godparents to one child. Despite the apparent complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unambiguously: no.

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

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

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

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

Can relatives become godparents?

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

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

According to Rule VI 53 Ecumenical Council, it is unacceptable.

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

Can the parents of a child become godparents of their godfathers (their godchildren)?

Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. Such an action in no way violates the spiritual kinship established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of the child can become the godmother of the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. There are other options, but, in any case, the spouses cannot become the recipients of one child.

Sometimes people ask this question:

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

Yes maybe. In general, this question is very urgent. From time to time I have to hear a request to become a godfather from people completely unfamiliar to me. Parents bring their child to be baptized. For some reason, there was no godfather for the child. They begin to ask to become a godfather to the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of a godfather, the priest must fulfill this role. You have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. The priest is the same person as everyone else, and he may well refuse to strangers to be the godfather of their child. After all, he will have to bear the 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 will most likely never see it again. Obviously this is not possible. But a priest (even if he himself will perform the sacrament of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will concelebrate with the priest for the sacrament of baptism) may well become godparents for the children of their friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical barriers to this.

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

Is it possible to take a godfather "in absentia"?

The very meaning of reception presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. This cannot be done in absentia. In the end, the person whom they are trying to “record in absentia” as godparents may not agree to this action at all, and, as a result, the person being baptized may be left without a godfather at all.

Sometimes from parishioners you have to hear questions about the following:

How many times can a person become a godfather?

In the Orthodox Church there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during a lifetime. The main thing that a person who agrees to become a recipient should remember is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person will be able to take on the reception. For each person, this measure is different and, sooner or later, a person may have to give up a new perception.

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

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

Continuing this topic, here are a few more questions that people usually ask about the number of possible godchildren.

Can I become a godfather to the second child in the family, if I already had one with the first?

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

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

There are no canonical restrictions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are being baptized. The recipient will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It would be better if each godson had his own godparents. After all, each of those who are baptized individually is different people entitled to their godfather.

Probably, many will be interested in the following question:

At what age can you become a foster child?

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

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

What to do if you quarreled with the parents of your godson and for this reason you cannot see him?

The answer suggests itself: to make peace with the parents of the godson. For what can a child be taught by people who have a spiritual relationship and at the same time are at enmity with each other? It is worth thinking not about personal ambitions, but about raising a child and, having gained patience and humility, try to establish relations with the godson's parents. The same can be said for the parents of the child.

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

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

I think that the objective reasons are the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents moved with the child to another city, country. In this case, it remains only to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him using all available means of communication.

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

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

The Orthodox Church does not know the order of refusal of godparents. But parents can find an adult who, not being the actual recipient from the font, would help in the spiritual upbringing of the child. At the same time, one cannot consider him a godfather.

But having such an assistant is better than depriving the child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend altogether. After all, a moment may come when the child begins to seek spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very helpful. And a child, as they grow older, can be taught to pray for the godfather. After all, the spiritual connection of a child with a person who took him from the font will not be broken if he takes responsibility for a person who himself has not coped with this responsibility. It happens that children surpass their parents and mentors in prayer and piety.

Prayer for a sinner or a stray will be a manifestation of love for this person. After all, it is not for nothing that the Apostle James says in his epistle to Christians: “Pray for one another that you may be healed; the fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). But all these actions must be coordinated with your confessor and receive a blessing on them.

And here's another one interest Ask, periodically asked by people:

When is there no need for godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized can boast good knowledge Holy Scripture and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because. he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently pronounce the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully accountable for his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without godparents. Such a need, of course, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

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

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

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

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

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

A person's knowledge of faith begins with the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, a person who wants to be baptized, first of all, needs to read the Gospel. After reading the Gospel, a person may have a number of questions that require a competent answer. Such answers can be obtained at the so-called catechumens, which are held in many temples. At such conversations, the fundamentals of the Orthodox faith are explained to those who wish to be baptized. If there are no such conversations at the temple in which the person is going to be baptized, then you can ask all the questions of interest to the priest in the temple. It will also be useful to read some books that explain Christian dogmas, such as the Law of God. It will be good if, before accepting the sacrament of baptism, a person memorizes the Creed, which briefly outlines the Orthodox dogma about God and the Church. This prayer will be read at baptism, and it would be great 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 scatter your attention on other, even very important, problems. It is worth devoting this time to spiritual and moral reflections, avoiding fuss, empty talk, participation in various entertainments. It must be remembered that baptism, like the other sacraments, is great and holy. It must be approached with the greatest awe and reverence. It is advisable to observe a fast for 2-3 days, living in marriage on the eve of the night to refrain from marital relations. You need to be extremely clean and tidy for baptism. You can wear new fancy clothes. Women should not wear make-up, as they always do when visiting a temple.

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

Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if a girl is baptized first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give 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 go anywhere from a person.

Another odd thought I've heard over and over again:

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would this affect her own child or godson in some way?

Yes, you certainly may. Such a delusion has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also superstition. Participation in church sacraments can only be to the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. Babies were born strong and healthy.

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

Is it true that in order to remove the damage induced on a person, it is necessary to re-baptize, and keep the new name a secret so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, because. conjure precisely in the name?

To be honest, hearing such statements, I want to laugh heartily. But, unfortunately, it's not funny. To what pagan denseness does an Orthodox person need to reach in order to decide that baptism is a kind of magical ritual, a kind of antidote for spoilage. An antidote for some vague substance that no one even knows the definition of. What is this ghostly corruption? It is unlikely that anyone who is 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 are looking for the mother of all evils in everything - damage. And where does it come from?

I will allow myself a small lyrical digression. A man is walking down the street, stumbled. All jinxed! We urgently need to run to the temple to put a candle so that everything is fine and the evil eye passes. While walking to the temple, he stumbled again. Looks like they not only jinxed it, but also caused damage! Ooh, wicked! Well, nothing, now I will come to the temple, I will pray, I will buy candles, I will stick all the candlesticks, I will fight the corruption with all my might. The man ran to the temple, on the porch he again stumbled and fell. Everyone - lie down and die! Damage to death, a family curse, well, and there is some kind of disgusting thing there, I forgot the name, but also something very terrible. Cocktail "three in one"! Against this, candles and prayer will not help, 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 slanders on the old name are whispered and needles are stuck into dolls, all their spells fly by. They will not 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 there, and everything will fly by! Bang, bang and - by! Oh, it's good when there is baptism - a cure for all diseases!

This is how superstitions associated with re-baptism appear. But much more often, the sources of these superstitions are the figures of the occult sciences, i.e. fortunetellers, psychics, healers and other "gifted by God" personalities. These tireless "generators" of newfangled occult terminology use all sorts of tricks to seduce a person. Birth curses, and crowns of celibacy, and karmic knots of fate, translations, love spells with lapels and other occult nonsense are used. And all that needs to be done to get rid of all this is to cross yourself. And there was no damage. And laughter and sin! But many peck at these near-church tricks of "mothers Glafir" and "fathers Tikhonov", and run to the temple for re-baptism. It’s good if they tell them where they have such an ardent desire to cross themselves, and they will be denied this blasphemy, having previously explained what trips to the occultists are fraught with. And some do not even say that they have already been baptized and are baptized again. There are also those who are baptized several times, because. previous baptisms "didn't help". And they won't help! Greater blasphemy over the sacrament is difficult to imagine. After all, the Lord knows the heart of a person, knows about all his thoughts.

It is worth saying a few words about the name, which is so advised to change "good people." A person is given a name on the eighth day from birth, but since many do not know about this, basically a prayer for naming is read by a priest immediately before baptism. Surely everyone knows that the name is given to a person 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, it seems 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, in whose honor he is named. And instead of calling for help at the moment of trouble or danger, heavenly patron- his saint, is engaged in visiting fortune-tellers and psychics. The “reward” for this will be appropriate.

There is another superstition related directly to the sacrament of baptism itself. Almost immediately after baptism, the rite of hair cutting follows. At the same time, the recipient is given a piece of wax, in which it is supposed to roll the cut hair. This wax receiver must throw into the water. This is where the fun begins. Not sure where the question comes from:

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

No, this is a 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 really go under water. Fortunately, if the superstitious godfather does not see this moment and "fortune telling on 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 that, it is sometimes difficult to get out of a state of terrible depression the parents of a child who are told about the “sign of God” seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.

Summing up, I would like to note that baptism is a great sacrament, and the approach to it should be reverent and deliberate. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live their former sinful lives. Having been baptized, a person must remember that now he is an Orthodox Christian, a warrior of Christ, a member of the Church. It owes a lot. First of all, to love. Love for God and neighbor. 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.

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Today it is fashionable to be baptized and to have all the appropriate baptismal items with you. But before this important event, like christening, it is worth considering whether to pay tribute to fashion or consciously choose this path. This article will discuss the importance of baptism in a person's life, how the rite of baptism of a child and an adult takes place, and what rules must be followed in order for everything to be successful.

The rite of the sacrament of baptism is one of the most ancient in history. Orthodox Church. The most important attribute during baptism is water. Water is able to wash away all sins from a person, but after baptism it brings death to a person for sin, and resurrection for Christ.

The sacrament of baptism signifies the spiritual birth of a person, after which he enters the church. Now the baptized person has the right to participate in all other rites of the Orthodox Church, for example, confession or communion. The church does not bury unbaptized people after death.

Initially, only adults indulged in the rite of baptism, since their choice was conscious. But with the time of the complete entry of faith into the families of ordinary people, they began to baptize babies, based on the faith of their parents. Whether a child should be baptized in early childhood is an open question that worries many parents today.

The rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy, rules

A person can be baptized at any age. But the charter of the church recommends doing this in infancy, since this rite removes original sin from the child. Jesus Christ had a very special relationship with children. He said:

"Let them come to me, do not forbid the children to come to me, for there is the Kingdom of God."

Therefore, the sooner a child is baptized, the sooner he will receive God's grace.

It is best to baptize a child on the fortieth day after birth. It is believed that 40 days after giving birth, a woman is still in an unclean position and she is forbidden to enter the church. After the expiration of these days, the priest reads the prayer of entering the church over the mother, and she can calmly attend the rite of baptism of her baby.

There are certain age limits that determine how the rite of baptism will take place:

• if the child is under 7 years old, the responsibility for the ceremony lies with his parents, it is they who decide the need for such an action;
• if the baby is 7 years old, in addition to the consent of the parents, the child is also asked. If he does not agree, the rite is canceled;
• if the child is already 14 years old, he himself has the right to decide whether to be baptized or not, so the consent of the parents is not necessary.

The best age for baptism is the age of 3-6 months. The baby still does not quite distinguish between "us" and "strangers", the mother can be present at the ceremony and the baptism can be transferred calmly and easily. Sometimes the sacrament of baptism occurs in the first days of a baby's life due to a serious illness of the child. Often the priest comes to the maternity hospital itself.

For the rite of baptism of an infant, certain things are necessary:

• christening shirt. It is customary to have new clothes for baptism; the godmother buys them. For a girl, a hat is required;
• kryzhma. In the role of kryzhma, a white towel or bedspread can be taken. It is needed in order to wrap the baby after bathing. Kryzhma is acquired by the future godfather;
• pectoral cross. This attribute of baptism can be purchased directly in the church, or you can bring it with you, having previously consecrated it;
• saint icon. We need an icon of the saint, in whose honor the child is named. If this is not, you can buy.

You need to be especially responsible when choosing godparents. You should remember these things:

• godparents will be responsible for the spiritual education of the child;
• the godmother and father must take an active part in the life of the godson or goddaughter;
• godparents are obliged to take care of the child if his biological parents die;
• godfathers must be baptized themselves.

For a person over 18 years of age, godparents are not needed.

The rite of christening a child

Let us describe how the rite of baptism of an infant takes place in the Orthodox Church. Before baptism, it is advisable to arrive at the church in advance so that the child gets used to the situation a little, and the priest does not wait. When everyone is invited to the church, the godfather takes the girl in his arms, and the mother takes the boy.

After the bathing procedure, they will change places. The task of godparents is to clearly repeat everything that the holy father tells them. They renounce the devil three times, promise to adhere to all God's commandments, and repeat after the priest the Creed.

After that, the priest takes the baby and brings it to the altar (girl) or to the altar (boy). Next, the child is exposed and dipped into the font three times. After that, the baby is handed over to the godparent.

In the process of baptism, there is another rite - chrismation. The priest anoints the body of the baptized child with a special oil - myrrh. After chrismation, the child is dressed with a consecrated cross. Also, the priest cuts the baby's hair in a cross shape. Then the baby is dressed and taken home.

Thus, the rite of the sacrament of baptism takes place. How long the rite of baptism lasts in time depends on how the child behaves, how quickly the priest reads the prayers, and how actively the godparents take part in the process. Often this rite does not last more than half an hour.

The rite of baptism of an adult in Orthodoxy

The rite is somewhat different from the rite of the sacrament of the baptism of an infant. Before baptism, you should carefully prepare:

• observe a strict fast for three days;
• confess;
• take communion.

The presence of godparents is not necessary, since an adult is responsible for himself. Otherwise, the rituals are similar. The attributes for adult baptism are the same as for a baby.

An adult consciously takes this step, so the preparation for the ceremony should also be serious.

The essence of the rite of baptism is the spiritual cleansing of a person and bringing him to the church. It is necessary to make a decision about baptism deliberately, realizing all the responsibility.

The Lord is always with you!

Watch also the video from which you will learn more about the sacrament of baptism: