Why do they charge a lot of money for the baptism of children? Why is baptism paid in a traditional church? Baptism for money.
Do I need to pay for Baptism or buy in the church for Baptism what they offer you, or should it be a gift? And I also wanted to write notes for the repose and for health, but it turned out that this is also a paid service. And most importantly, I was surprised that women and men should stand on opposite sides during the service - is this right? I am ready to donate money as much as I can, this is not the point, I am confused by the prices for each service.
Kanev Alexander
laborer, carpenter
Dear Alexander, I do not quite understand the essence of your bewilderment. If for you the Church Sacraments and rites are services, then what surprises you that they are paid? Where and when did someone provide you with free services? I dare to think that you yourself receive material rewards for your work. Perhaps the so-called social services provided by the state to certain groups of the population may be free, but these services are financed from budget funds, through direct and indirect taxes that we pay as citizens of the country. But the Church is not a state institution, and at the same time not a commercial organization for the provision of religious services, which is, for example, funeral service. The church is separated from the state, it does not receive any funds from budget funds for its maintenance and carries out its activities (including charitable ones) on donations from its members. The relationship between the Church and its members is not within the scope of consumer protection laws; Sacraments and rites performed in the Church are not services, just as candles are not a commodity, and the amounts of money that are proposed to be paid for them are not prices, but the amount of the recommended voluntary donation. If this amount is large for you, ask to accept your notes as a small sacrifice, and I am sure that you will not be refused.
It is not clear from your question whether you are talking about your own baptism or another person's baptism. In any case, if you went to the temple regularly and regularly, in one form or another, made donations to the temple, then I can’t imagine how such embarrassment could suddenly arise in you. And even if it did arise, it is natural for a member of the Church to open it not on the Internet, but to the priest with whom you regularly confess, or to the rector of the temple and then to the diocesan hierarchy.
I dare to note that it makes sense to baptize an infant, as well as an adult, only if there is reason to believe that this person will become a true member of the Church, regularly resorting to her saving Sacraments, maintaining a constant living connection with her. Now in many parishes, priests conduct interviews with parents and godparents before the baptism of babies in order to make sure that they fully understand the meaning of this Sacrament and are ready to fulfill their duties, whether they look at the Sacrament of Baptism as some kind of solemn ceremony or magical act protecting against disease and hardships of life, in a word, as a "service" of a cult nature.
So, if the size of the recommended donation for performing Baptism is unbearably large for you, then you should, without any embarrassment, turn to the rector of the temple and ask that you or your baby be christened free of charge or for the donation that is feasible for you, but if on your the request will be followed by a refusal, then turn to the diocesan hierarchy.
As for the second part of your question, the custom for men and women to sit in different halves of the church during the service is practiced in a few parishes of our Church, mainly in monasteries.
Reader question:
Good evening, tell me how not to lose faith, if everything around is corrupt? There is a fee for baptism, a fee for a wedding, a fee to consecrate, even a fee for holy water. How so?
Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers:
Dear Evgenia, hello!
Judging by what you write, you are an infrequent visitor to the temple.
If you went to the temple regularly, you would know that never in the history of the Orthodox Church were paid, for example, the sacraments of Communion and Confession.
As for the other sacraments, this is a donation, which, yes, is sometimes obligatory for those who are able to pay it. it necessary measure in the current conditions of the existence of modern parishes. At the same time, of course, no one will refuse you baptism and other sacraments if you have no money at all (if this happens, then this is a serious misconduct on the part of the clergyman).
Have you ever wondered where the money comes from in the temple? And who pays for heating, electricity, other utilities, mandatory now fire safety systems, repairs, cleaning, oil for lamps and much more? You come to the temple - it's warm, light, clean, there are people you can ask about what interests you. The common notion that churches are something from public services and the like. paid by the state - a myth. At the same time, not all churches have sponsors who help to cope with the monthly payment of needs and bills. Therefore, the sacrifice that people left in the temple helps to support the parish.
I repeat: what you leave in the temple is not a payment, but a sacrifice for the upkeep of the temple. Simply, unfortunately, often it has to be designated by a specific number, otherwise people tend to leave nothing or very little money in the temple. But things can be different if we stop coming to church as if we were shopping for services. The temple is our home. Initially in Christian history it turned out so that each community built and maintained its own house - its own temple.
Now, there are often people in churches who come there a couple of times a year, while they have quite a lot of expectations from the church - to read a note, get married, baptized or buried, and so on. However, to perform many sacraments and divine services, some material things are needed that are not taken from the air: for unction - oil, for the sacrament of wedding - wine, crowns, choristers, for baptism - warm water, and so on.
It was a tradition in Christian society to donate a tithe, that is, a tenth of your income, to your parish! Are you ready to take part in the financial life of your parish? Then in return you will receive all the requirements absolutely free. Moreover, if a person had an illness or hard times, then the parish helped him and his family. This is often not the case these days, unfortunately.
A familiar priest put candles in the temple completely free of charge, for a donation. The experiment lasted a month. During this time, even the amount that would pay for the cost of these candles has not been accumulated.
But more and more parish priests decide to give up the "price tags". Whether it succeeds or not depends, first of all, on the awareness of the parishioners. The more permanent parishioners in the temple who help to support their parish on a regular basis, the more real it is. The more "zahozhan", the less real.
Evgenia, if you have financial problems, then find your own parish, go to church regularly, go to confession and receive communion, and when you become a permanent parishioner, seeing your plight, the priest of your parish will not take donations from you for the needs.
At the same time, of course, there are situations in some parishes that can by no means be called normal. Situations where they charge literally for everything - even for a glass of holy water. Situations when a priest abuses his status, uses church money for personal purposes. This state of affairs is completely unacceptable and you can complain about it - to the dean, the bishop who leads your diocese.
Help you Lord!
Money as such has never been considered a sin, sin is greed, that is, an irresistible desire to have a lot of money. Orthodox clergy do not "take money for baptism," but "make a demand for a sacrifice." Orthodox Christians who permanently live in the bosom of the Church know and understand that the earthly Church of Christ (clerics, priests) is not yet in the Kingdom of Heaven and requires food, clothing, and other certain material goods that can only be obtained for money. That is why Scripture says:
"to eat from the sanctuary" or "to take a share from the altar" is to accept a sacrifice from the laity.
Also, you can remember the part of the Gospel:
in which Christ did not condemn the rich because they give a sacrifice to the Temple, and did not condemn the priests who established the “treasury”, but exalted the reward itself in the form of the fact that giving “out of excess” is easy, but giving “out of scarcity” ” is the highest thing in the eyes of God.
Similarly, the Apostles of Christ accepted ...
On the air of the permanent program “Blogpost of Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov”, the question is discussed - why in the Church people are baptized for money.
This is not a baptismal fee.
This is a donation to the temple.
On the part of the priest is not always voluntary. You have to force yourself. So do not hunt to baptize, just horror! You are in the position of a man building a house that will be burned down in your presence. It makes no sense.
– Were there moments when it was joyful for the baptized?
But about the majority it is not clear why they came to be baptized. What's the point of them? And they treat baptism as…
On the air of the permanent program "Blogpost of Archpriest Dimitry Smirnov" the question is discussed - why in the Church people are baptized for money.
Why are temples often required to pay for baptism? Rejected by the apostle Peter, Simon wanted to pay for the baptism, for which he was rejected.
This is not a baptismal fee.
This is a donation to the temple.
But it turns out that this donation is not always voluntary. A man approaches, a price list behind a drawer ...
On the part of the priest is not always voluntary. You have to force yourself. So do not hunt to baptize, just horror!
You are in the position of a man building a house that will be burned down in your presence.
It makes no sense.
- Were there moments when it was joyful for the baptized?
There are moments when you are joyful for the person you are baptizing. He then becomes churched, begins to go to church, helps the Church, lives by this.
But about the majority it is not clear why they came to be baptized. What's the point of them?
…
View Full Version: Baptism - why is it paid?
26.07.2009, 19:09
Why did baptism become paid, and indeed where did all these extortions of “donations” come from???
Ekaterina Stepa
26.07.2009, 19:41
Valery, I understand your indignation about this. But let's look at the situation from the other side and try to figure it out together.
There is no doubt that Baptism is a GIFT of God, and there can be no question of any price.
We all know that the only source of funding for the Church is donations from parishioners. It is becoming more and more difficult to support the Church, as everything is getting more expensive - electricity, communications, and so on, so on, so on, and you need to not only pay bills, in addition to this, there are a lot of needs - restoration, cash payments to priests (after all, they have large families, 4-5 children each, and they only work in churches), one heating in winter how much does it cost to maintain the required temperature, because there are icons, iconography, which ...
Do I need to pay for Baptism or buy in the church for Baptism what they offer you, or should it be a gift? And I also wanted to write notes for the repose and for health, but it turned out that this is also a paid service. And most importantly, I was surprised that women and men should stand on opposite sides during the service - is this right? I am ready to donate money as much as I can, this is not the point, I am confused by the prices for each service.
Kanev Alexander
laborer, carpenter
Dear Alexander, I do not quite understand the essence of your bewilderment. If for you the Church Sacraments and rites are services, then what surprises you that they are paid? Where and when did someone provide you with free services? I dare to think that you yourself receive material rewards for your work. Unless the so-called social services provided by the state to certain groups of the population may be free, but these services are financed from budget funds, ...
The accusers are not only sure that everything in the temple should be done for free, they even refer to such episodes. Holy Scripture like the expulsion by the Savior of merchants from the Jerusalem temple, or the case when the apostle Peter refused to baptize a man who offered money for baptism. Of particular indignation is the amount: it seems that they charge too much for baptism.
Why don't they baptize for free
People who demand that everything be done in churches for free do not understand or do not want to understand that the temple is a material object that needs to be maintained and repaired, that from time to time you need to purchase new vestments for priests, church utensils and books, you need to buy oil and incense. All this costs money.
The clergy understand that visiting the temple should not turn into a paid service, because then it will not be available to everyone. Not a single temple takes money for confession, communion, and even more so for the mere presence at the service (for comparison: for a conversation with ...
Baptism of a child: rules
Date: 03-05-2015
Russian nowadays Orthodox Church again gaining considerable popularity among the ordinary population. The return to the sphere of the Church and Faith can be attributed to fashion trends, but in most cases people come to this consciously. Not surprisingly, more and more families decide to baptize a baby, even if they themselves are not exemplary parishioners.
But the sacrament of baptism is an old rite of unity between man and God, and not just a solemn ceremony. What do you need to know before deciding to baptize a baby, and what obligations does this procedure impose on the baby's parents? The answers to these and many other questions will be given by our article.
Baptism of a child: at what age is it better to do it?
In each family, the issue of baptism of a child is decided individually. In most cases, the baby is baptized on the fortieth day after birth (give or take a few days). From the point of view of religion, it is the fortieth day that is significant - on ...
- Hello! My name is Valery. Tell me, can a priest violate the secrecy of confession? And are there any exceptions?
- It is a sin. The priest has no right to break the secret. Although, of course, there are exceptional cases. For example, if a priest learns from a conversation that an anti-government conspiracy or a terrorist attack is being prepared. If a murder or an abortion is being prepared, he can take some action to prevent a crime and save a person from sin, stop evil. But the secret must not be broken anyway.
— Father Artemy? Good afternoon! My question is: is it possible to go to the cemetery during the Easter holidays?
- No, it's not worth it. The Church prescribes to rejoice at Easter and endure one's grief. It is better to do this on the ninth day after Easter. There is a special day for this - called Radonitsa. It is then that you can go to the cemetery and honor the memory of the dead.
YOU CAN NOT PAY FOR CANDLES IN CHURCHES
Tamara is calling you. Father,…
First, the expression "payment" of the Sacraments. There is no such concept in the Church itself. But there is another thing - a donation for the needs of the temple, which means by no means abstract things, but the most concrete ones: the temple must first be built, then maintained, repaired, restored, equipped, heated, illuminated, etc. It is necessary to take care of the adjacent territory, the construction and maintenance of parish buildings. The parish should be engaged in the religious education of children, organizing schools, circles, conducting charitable activities and much more, which cannot be counted. All this activity is carried out not only by priests, but also by laity, who are full-time employees of the parish and are on a salary. Each parishioner knows all this and understands the main thing, and therefore tries to take an active part in the life of the Church, making his own contribution (including material) to the common cause, thus serving God and neighbors. An example for us can be like the Old Testament…
They say everyone has their own truth and it's true. There is only one truth, but there are many interpreters of this truth. The problem with these interpreters is that they interpret the Bible based on what their teachers have taught them.
It is written: "And you remain in what you have been taught and what you have been entrusted with, knowing by whom you have been taught." (2 Timothy 3:14) It is very important to know who your teacher is.
The Internet has made it possible, at least for me, to help people. Truth can interpret itself.
They ask me questions that I try to answer. One of them is about water baptism.
Is water baptism important or not in the Christian life?
It's very important and here's why. Water baptism, apart from exceptions, is necessary in order for a person's sins to be forgiven. A promise to serve God with a clear conscience is a commitment. Initiation cannot be without the fruit of repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
We read carefully: “And he went through all the surrounding country of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3)
To understand this, read the article protod. Andrey Kuraev
WHERE DOES THE CHURCH GET MONEY?
He says there, among other things, that “no one forces you to buy candles. The most important sacraments of our church life - confession and communion - are always performed without any "payments". If a person does not have the opportunity to make an appropriate sacrifice for a christening, wedding or burial - according to church rules the priest is obliged to agree to a completely unpaid work.
But he also shows the other side of the problem. After all, churches need to be built, restored, cleaned, decorated, protected, illuminated, the people who serve there need to eat and live on something, and their families too. Where will this big money come from? See what the apostle Paul writes about this:
7 What warrior ever serves on his payroll? Who, having planted vineyards, does not eat its fruit? Who, while shepherding the flock, does not eat milk from the flock?
8 Do I say this from human reason alone? Doesn't it say the same...
Miroslava, Kushva
Why do they charge a lot of money for the baptism of children?
Tell me, father, why do you take such money for the baptism of children? Isn't it a sin? Can young children earn money for themselves?
Good health. I'll start answering your question with an explanation. I am not the priest you are addressing, and I don’t even know what the price for baptism is. Although, judging by the question, it is large. It is also difficult to find reasonable arguments. Everyone understands that small children generally cannot earn themselves neither more nor less. I think your question is right next to the other two.
First is the baptism of children in infancy. Is born small man into the world, and parents, and often grandparents, immediately seek to baptize him. If suddenly there are some obstacles, then they strive to overcome them at any cost, by hook or by crook. Future godparents are coming. It is good if they are married, do not smoke, observe fasts, pray at home and in church, go to confession, have spiritual father who is consulted (at least sometimes). What I have listed is only a consequence of faith. Often these godparents do not have this faith and understanding of who we are and where we are going, what Christ did, what is required of us, what Salvation is, how and by what means it is achieved, and whether it is needed at all. And so the baby was baptized. At first, everything is fine: they wear communion, they themselves come with it. Gradually, the baby grows and "going" to the temple is reduced. Somewhere by adolescence, he no longer wants to walk. Parents, along with godparents, without leading a spiritual life, do not walk themselves and do not observe anything from church ordinances, and the baby gradually learns the same. Outcome: the gift of God, baptism, is thrown at Satan's feet. Well, if this scenario does not come true for everyone. I, as a priest, very often have to see just such an outcome of events. The question is asked: why was such a baptism in infancy necessary? Don't think I'm against infant baptism. I am for him, but with the faith of godparents and parents who themselves live in faith (and faith cannot be without deeds) and teach their child the same. And if the question is, how much does baptism cost, then with a high degree of probability we can say about the situation described above.
I often have to answer this question. Yes, it doesn’t cost at all, we’ll baptize it for free, just start working, start at home with the smallest in the spiritual direction. As a rule, this turns out to be difficult, and it is easier for people to pay than to work on themselves.
Second is the content of the church. I'll tell you the point right away. Since old testament it is known that people gave a 10th part of their profits for the maintenance of the church. Basically, I agree with those people who oppose the sale of candles. There is an experience when candles are just lying, next to them is the price for them and a box into which people themselves put money, without any control. Later they check, and as a rule it turns out that the amount of money in the box is much more than required. This means that people give more money than they take candles. Everyone has a conscience. By this analogy, I can assume that the church could refuse all kinds of trade if all parishioners conscientiously fulfilled their duty - they gave church tithes. And she would fulfill all the requirements for them absolutely free of charge, including baptism. But after all, in terms of the scale of the year, the amount of the tithe would be much more. It should also be taken into account that children are not born every year, that is, there is no need to baptize someone every year. And now questions for you. Do you pay tithing yourself? If you had a child baptized for free, would you be able to fulfill your tithing (at least 2-3%)?
Here is an extract from Holy Scripture:
« For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob were not destroyed. Since the days of your fathers, you have departed from my statutes and do not keep them; turn to me and I will turn to you says the Lord of Hosts. You say, "How can we apply?" Can a person rob God? And you are robbing me. You will say, “How do we rob you?” Tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, because you - all the people - are robbing Me. Bring all the tithes to the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and though in this test Me says the Lord of Hosts: Shall I not open the windows of heaven for you, and pour out blessings upon you to excess?” (The Book of Malachi, chapter 3, verses 6-10).
At the beginning of my answer, I wrote that it is difficult to find arguments about the earnings of young children. But there is one. In some cases, the state allocates a birth allowance for children, and I know people who paid tithing from this income.
Father, why are notes about health and about the dead accepted and read for money? Is faith for sale? Why do churches baptize for money. Did John the Baptist baptize for the money of our Lord and all the rest?
Hieromonk Job (Gumerov) answers:
Our prayer petition to God must be backed up by readiness and, on our part, to bring something as a gift. This has been known since the earliest biblical times. This is the spiritual meaning of sacrifice and different kind donations. Therefore, already in the ancient Church, people made monetary contributions. holy John Chrysostom explained to those who in his time did not understand the meaning of fees: “Do not be embarrassed - the blessings of heaven are not sold for money, they are not bought with money, but with the free decision of the giver of money, philanthropy and alms. If these goods were bought with silver, then the woman who put in two mites would not get much. But since not silver, but a good intention had power, she, having shown all her readiness, received everything. So, we should not say that the Kingdom of Heaven is bought for money - not for money, but for free decision, which is manifested through money. However, you say, do you need money? We don't need money, we need a solution. Having it, you can buy heaven for two mites, but without it, you cannot buy for a thousand talents what you can buy for two mites.
The donations that believers make have two sides. One is spiritual and moral, and the other is vital and practical.
The Lord says about the spiritual side: Sell your property and give alms. Prepare for yourselves vaginas that do not decay, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, and where moths do not eat; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(Luke 12:33-34). And St. the apostle Paul writes: You also sent me to Thessalonica once or twice for need. [I say this] not because I am looking for gifts; but I'm looking for fruit that multiplies in your favor(Phil. 4:16-17).
Practical side. The Church and its people live in the real world. The life of the parish requires considerable expenses. I will give an example of one church community - the Temple of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity in Khokhlovsky lane, where the rector is Fr. Alexy Uminsky. The staff includes: rector, priest, deacon, headman, regent, altar boy, accountant, worker for candle box and three watchmen. Regular cleaning is done by the parishioners themselves. The singers work for free. For the maintenance of the most necessary staff, the monthly salary fund is about 70 thousand rubles. Priests, the headman and the regent receive 8 thousand, the deacon - 7 thousand, and the rest less. In addition, expenses are required for heating, water, electricity, flour for prosphora, etc. Even without taking into account the cost of acquiring church utensils, vestments, deductions for repairs, the cost per month is approximately 120 thousand rubles. There are 120 parishioners (excluding babies and students). This means that in order for the parish to really exist, everyone would have to contribute at least 1 thousand rubles. per month. For many, this is unbearable. Therefore, the father rector does not even call for this. A year ago, the fee for notes and candles was canceled in the temple. What changed? It became more difficult for the accountant to raise funds to cover the necessary expenses. There are difficult months. Father Alexy says: “At the end of December 2005, there were 50 thousand rubles in the parish cash desk, that is, not even enough for the minimum wage. It was a big surprise, and we had to shrug our shoulders” (Parish List, February 30/12, 2006). I would like people who are dissatisfied with the prices for services to take the time to calculate how much they donate to their church every month. Because most don't, prices remain. Of course, everything should be arranged wisely and humanely. Parish workers should always be ready to meet a needy person and fulfill his request free of charge.
The current generation of believers is cut off from centuries of tradition. Many have neither the feeling nor the consciousness of catholicity. Most people come to the temple only to meet their spiritual needs. They do not empathize with the life of the parish and the Church as part of their life. They do not even think about the needs of their native parish. It was different in the ancient Church. St. Apostle Luke says: The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul(Acts 4:32). Since the Lord has replaced the ceremonial law with a spiritual law, a spirit of sacrifice is required of the Christian. He should make offerings of a charitable nature out of diligence. St. app. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: Each give according to the disposition of the heart, not with grief and not with compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. But God is able to enrich you with all grace, so that you, always and in everything having all sufficiency, may be rich for every good deed.(2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
