Little baby baptism rules. The most important rules for baptizing a child. When you can't baptize a child

The baptism of a child is a real sacrament. It can be called the second birthday, but not for social life, but for spiritual life. At the moment of baptism, the baby acquires a Guardian Angel, who throughout the life of his “ward” will protect him from illnesses and troubles. Traditionally, children are usually baptized on the 8th or 40th day after birth. The ceremony itself for girls and boys is almost the same, with the only difference that boys are brought to the altar, but girls are not. But nevertheless, many young parents are interested in the details of the baptism ceremony of girls, therefore, we will tell you about this important event in more detail.

There is no clear answer to this question. You can baptize children whenever you want. Even if they did not have time to baptize the child on the 40th day, this can be done later, until he reaches the age of seven. It is also possible to baptize from seven to fourteen years of age, but you only have to take into account the desire of the child himself. And after fourteen, the child himself has the right to decide whether he wants to be baptized or not.

But why, according to tradition, is it customary to baptize on the 8th or 40th day? It's just that on the 8th day, the name of the baby is usually carried out. As for 40 days, everything is easy here: it is believed that it is during this time that a woman is completely cleansed after giving birth. Only when this happens is she allowed to enter the temple with the newborn. However, if a girl was born, then the period of cleansing is 80 days. But today there is no need to observe such canons.

You can even baptize in fasting, the main thing is that the festive meal during this period meets the church requirements.

Choosing a name for a girl

Despite the fact that christening children today is very fashionable, it is no less fashionable to call them strange names, sometimes even invented by especially creative mothers. It should be remembered that only a Christian name is suitable for the christening of a girl, that is, the one that is in the calendar. Therefore, it is best to get acquainted with the lives of the saints of God and with their deeds. The name of the one whose deeds will make the most impression can be called a baby. The heavenly patroness, whose name the baby will bear, and will protect and guard her from the evil slander of the evil one. Memorial Day of this saint will be a holiday for your daughter - Angel's Day or name day.

The choice of godparents should be taken responsibly. Friends of the parents themselves are often godparents. This is not bad, but it is still desirable that the one who claims the honorary title of godfather should be a spiritual person. After all, it is he who will have to introduce the child to the church, bring up spiritual values \u200b\u200bin him, pray for him. It is desirable that there are two godparents, but if there is no such possibility, then one is enough, the main thing is that he and the child are of the same sex. That is, if you baptize your daughter, then she must have a godmother.

It is believed that a girl can only be baptized married woman... It is believed that if an unmarried woman does this, the goddaughter will never marry. However, all this is just superstition. Any woman can become a godmother, regardless of her social, material and other status. The main thing is that she is a truly religious person and feels full responsibility for her goddaughter.

It is also believed that a pregnant woman cannot be a godmother. This is not true. The only reason why pregnant women are not taken as godparents is that it is quite difficult for a woman in a position to hold a baby in her arms for a long time. So here, rather, there is a concern for the health of the expectant mother, and not at all a church prohibition. But if the future godmother has "critical days", then it is better to postpone baptism for a few days.

Godparents cannot be:

• minors, because they do not have a sufficient spiritual core;
• people of another faith or not baptized;
• a spouse or a couple about to get married;
• people whose lifestyle is immoral and immoral;
• absolutely strangers and strangers;
• disabled and mentally ill persons;
• the parents of the child themselves.

If the choice of godparents is made, then shortly before baptism they need to visit the church, talk with the priest, confess, take communion and try to think more about the spiritual and pray more often before the ceremony.

What is needed for the ceremony:

The traditional christening gift - a baby cross for a baby - is purchased by the godfather. It can be bought in a church shop, then it is not required to consecrate it. Purchased in the store will need to be consecrated, but this is done directly on the day of the baptism. You just need to give it to the priest and he will conduct the rite of consecration over him, after which, at the right time, the christening will put it on the child. The godfather can also donate to the church for the ceremony.

What else do they give a girl for christening? Special clothing, of course.

As for the clothes for the baptism of the girl, then it, according to tradition, prepares godmother.

Previously, she had to sew it, but today shirts, dresses and kryzhmas can be purchased in the church itself or in any children's store. Choosing baptismal things for a girl is a sheer pleasure, because they are so beautiful.

But what exactly is needed to baptize a girl? Usually they buy special baptismal kits, which already include a white dress, a hat / scarf and a kryzhma (a diaper in which the baby is wrapped when taken out of the font).

It is very important that all things are white, since it is a symbol of sinlessness and purity. However, it is allowed to decorate clothes with a small amount of embroidery or ribbons, because a girl should be beautiful from birth. When the sacrament is completed, then the dress with a cannon will simply need to be dried without washing. These things are kept until the end of life and accompany the person baptized in them on the last journey.

How the sacrament takes place

So the day of baptism has come. How is the girl's christening going?

1. The beginning of baptism is accompanied by the pronouncement of vows. The father asks the godparents several questions, to which they give answers on behalf of the baby. After that, the priest anoints different parts of the baby's body with oil, so that the baby grows physically and mentally healthy. The child should be completely naked, but you can wrap him in a towel.
2. Next comes the baptism itself. The godmother brings the girl to the font and hands it over to the priest. He lowers the child three times into holy water.
3. The godfather, with the prepared kryzhma, accepts the baby from the hands of the priest. They wipe her with this diaper and put on a christening dress and a cap or kerchief.
4. The anointing with oil occurs again, but not with oil, but with another oil, which is called holy myrrh. With this anointing, the so-called seals of the gift of the Holy Spirit are applied to the parts of the baby's body. Anointing with this oil occurs only once in a lifetime and contributes to the manifestation of spiritual gifts in a person.
5. At the end of the anointing, a small lock of hair is cut off from the baby's head. It is left in the temple as a symbol of sacrifice to God and a pledge of dedication. The script for the girl's christening includes the recitation of prayers throughout the entire ritual.

If you baptize a child separately from other babies, then this ceremony lasts no more than half an hour. When the girl's christening is over, a record is made in the church book about this event, and the baby's parents receive a baptismal certificate. After that, you can dress the child and return home with him, where the festive table has probably already been laid.

Gifts and Treats

Best of all, baptismal gifts are spiritual in nature. It can be personalized icons, the Bible, a silver spoon "for a tooth", a silver mug, a Prayer Book, etc. However, other gifts are not prohibited at all. When choosing what to give a girl for a christening, it is advisable to purchase what the child will need: clothes, toys, a crib, a stroller, dishes, care products and much more.

If your baby is at least one year old at the time of baptism, then you can order or bake and present a beautiful cake for baptism in her honor, timed to coincide with such an important event. Since christenings are traditionally considered a children's holiday, children should be among your guests, if possible, and on the table, in addition to the cake, there should be many different goodies and sweets. It is also customary to cook porridge with butter, milk and sugar for christening. Previously, when a girl was baptized, chicken was baked in porridge. Today you can do the opposite - bake a chicken stuffed with porridge. For a festive table, any dishes from cereals and chicken meat are suitable.

Baptism cake

In order not to bother with preparing a cake for a christening for a girl for a long time, you can take note of such a simple recipe. It will be needed for its preparation:

• 2 kg of regular ready-made cookies;
• 2 cans of condensed milk;
• 200 g butter;
• 200 g of confectionery paste or fruit.

Condensed milk needs to be boiled, then beat well with a mixer with softened butter. Next, combine the cookies with the resulting cream and form a cross from this mass on a tray. Put the cake in the refrigerator for three hours to set. After that, it can be covered with mastic or decorated with fruits.

In conclusion, there are a few more recommendations. First of all, find a church for christening and a priest in advance. If you want to take a photo or video of the sacrament, for this you need to receive the blessing of the priest. If the child screams during the ceremony, the priest can interrupt the ceremony so that you have the opportunity to calm the child. And, of course, after baptism, it is very important to give the baby communion more often, especially in the first three years of life.

Baptism is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. This rite consists in the acceptance of the Christian faith. It is designed to protect a person from the influence of dark forces and direct his life to the bright spiritual side. There is an opinion regarding the correctness of the adoption of Christianity already in an adult, meaningful age. However, Orthodox priests say the opposite. Being baptized in infancy, a person early acquires a guardian angel, is cleansed of original sin and is forever accepted into the holy church monastery.

The Orthodox Church recommends that babies be baptized on the 8th or 40th day after their birth. Newborn babies in a dangerous illness should be christened as soon as possible. Before christening, you need to decide on the choice of an Orthodox name for the baby. The saint bearing the same name becomes his intercessor before the higher powers. A limited number of people should know the Orthodox name, this will make a person invulnerable to evil and ill-wishers.

Baptism of a child in a church

Many are interested in what days and how a child is baptized in a church. The rules are practically the same in every Orthodox church. For christening, you can choose any day of the week. The exception is big church holidays, when, due to the heavy workload, the priest will not be able to conduct the ceremony.

Preparation for the sacrament

Preparation for the sacrament involves the purchase of a baptismal kit, preliminary conversations with a clergyman, and the choice of a godfather with a mother. The baptismal set includes a shirt (diaper), a pectoral cross and an icon depicting the patron saint. For female babies, a hat or handkerchief is added. The baptismal shirt (kryzhma) is considered a miraculous amulet and must be kept throughout the life of its owner.
With its help, traditional healers remove curses and help in the treatment of serious diseases.

Kryzhma for baptism

You can buy a kryzhma or sew it yourself. This can be done by both a mother and a future godmother. Preference is given to the white color of the fabric as a symbol of purity and purity.

The godfather traditionally buys the pendant cross. It should be made of inexpensive metal. It is allowed to have a cross made of silver, since this metal is able to cleanse and drive away evil spirits. But gold is not considered pure, so gold crosses are undesirable. You can purchase such a cross in the future, without forgetting to consecrate it. After performing the sacrament, the pectoral cross is supposed to be worn constantly as a symbol of faith.

Godparents often wonder what is better to buy for the cross - a chain or cords? In church shops there are sold strings - gaitanchiks, specially designed for wearing it. They are safe and easy to use and are especially suitable for young children.

Relatives and godparents should first visit the priest and ask him all the necessary questions about the upcoming ceremony. He will tell you in detail what is needed to properly participate in it. To take a photo or video, you need to get his approval and blessing. On the day of christening, you must have a baby's birth certificate with you. On its basis, a baptismal certificate will be issued.

Choosing godparents

The choice of godparents should not be made for mercantile reasons. The priests advise to invite believers for this, who in the future are able to become spiritual parents and mentors for the godson, and, if necessary, replace his own father and mother. They must necessarily belong to the Orthodox faith.

Future godparents are invited to the church for a conversation with the priest. The priest will tell them how the child is baptized, explain their role in the ritual and in the spiritual life of the future godson. Church rules strictly define the category of persons who cannot be godparents:

• parents of the child;
• atheists and representatives of other religions;
• temple staff;
• minors;
• persons who are married to each other.

Women are forbidden to be present in the holy monastery during critical days. Before the sacrament, the godparents are required to observe a three-day fast, confess and receive communion.

Baptism of children in the church

Church rules previously forbade the parents of children to be with them during the ceremony. Today, the order of the ceremony has changed somewhat and the Orthodox priest can baptize the baby in their presence.

All participants in the ceremony need to pay attention to their appearance. He must meet church requirements. Restrained colors are preferred in clothing. All those present should be wearing crosses, and baptismal candles in their hands.

Women are not allowed to wear short open dresses or skirts. The head is covered with a scarf or kerchief. Flashy jewelry and bright makeup are excluded. Female children should also have their heads covered. Men are allowed into the temple without a headdress.

Christenings of children of both sexes follow the same rules. The first sacred act is the laying on of the hands of the priest on the baby. This gesture symbolizes the acquisition of God's protection. The godparents answer on behalf of the godson some of the father's questions, then the priest anoints the child with church oil (oil).

After the anointing, the godparents with the baby in their arms should go to the font. The priest blesses the water and immerses the baby in it three times. If a boy is baptized, then the godmother brings him to the font, and if the girl - the godfather. After ablution, you need to put on a baptismal gown and cover your head. The priest performs the rite of anointing, which happens only once in a lifetime.

Church baptism rules

Then a small strand of hair is cut from the child's head. The baby is carried 3 times around the font. This means that he accepted the Orthodox faith and united with it forever. The whole ceremony is accompanied by constant recitation of prayers.

Upon their return from the holy monastery, all those invited gather for festive table... During the celebration, children are given gifts and warm sincere wishes.

Duration and cost of the ceremony

The duration and cost of the ceremony vary. Many parents ask how long it takes for a child to be baptized in church. This largely depends on the priest. Most often, the ritual takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The main material expenses fall on the shoulders of the blood father and mother, although there was once a custom to pay the godfather everything in full. The cost of baptism in the church is indicated in the price list with prices for church services. It can be found in the Icon Shop. You can find out how much it costs to baptize a child in a church from its workers. Traditionally, the amount ranges from 600 to 2000 rubles.

Everyone decides for himself whether to believe him in omens or not. There are beliefs associated with christening. Our wise ancestors advised us to do the following:

• do not inform strangers about the date of the upcoming christening;
• admit only an even number of guests to the temple;
• before the christening, count all the money in the house - this will ensure a comfortable life for the child;
• on the day of christening, as on the days of church holidays, do not perform any work;
• not open the doors of the house to anyone until all participants in the ceremony return from the temple;
• do not take a pregnant woman as godparent;
• on a holiday in the house not to make noise or quarrel;
• after the feast, the godmother and father should be the last of the guests to leave.

Orthodox priests teach that the mere fact of baptism is not enough to enter the Heavenly Kingdom. Further life in Christ and participation in all are important church sacraments... The Church calls on the parents of baptized children to live in her bosom and set a worthy example for the growing generation.

The rules for baptizing a child in a church: video

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church. It saves a person from death, reviving for spiritual life, thanks to which he can get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptism is also called the second or spiritual birth.

Baptism is called the sacrament because only after this rite the grace of God descends upon the baptized person in an incomprehensible way.

In order not to cause unintended evil during this sacrament, you need to observe the customs that have developed over the centuries.

This event must be approached responsibly, clearly realizing why it is being done. You cannot baptize a child just because grandparents insist on it, that it is simply “so accepted” or, even more so, fashionable.

When is it customary to baptize a child

According to the established traditional rules for baptism, babies are usually baptized on the 8th or 40th day. True, there is an earlier baptism, if it is necessary for some reason: for example, a child is very sick or very weak, which poses a threat to his life. Moreover, the church recommends that this rite be carried out immediately, since after baptism, each person has his own guardian angel behind his back, more precisely, behind his right shoulder, who will protect the baby from all physical and spiritual illnesses throughout his life. Moreover, it is believed that the guardian angel becomes stronger as more often they turn to him for help.

The baptized infant also has another patron - the saint, after whom the child is named.

Before baptizing your child, you need to choose an Orthodox name for him, on which a lot depends in the fate of a person. Even in ancient times, it was customary to give a child a different name at baptism than in the world. This good custom has survived to this day. Church name should be known as much as possible less people, then a person's life will be more protected.

Usually, a child is given the name of the saint on whose day the birth or baptism fell.

Choosing Godparents

A very important issue when baptizing a baby is the question of choosing godparents for him.

It should be borne in mind that the godfather must be a person of the same sex with the godson: for a girl, this is a woman, for a boy, a man. True, a baby can have two godparents at once - a mother and a father.

When choosing godparents, you need to think about what they can give in spiritual development to your child. Therefore, this issue must be taken very seriously. It is not necessary to choose relatives and friends for your baby, although, more often than not, it is they who become the second parents for the godson.

First of all, these people must be responsible, churchly, know Orthodox traditions and prayers, and observe church canons. They should be frequent guests of your home in order to be directly involved in raising their godson. After all, they are entrusted with a very responsible mission: they will have to lead their godson through life, being responsible, first of all, for his spiritual development.

According to the rules for baptizing a child, if your chosen future godparents are not Christians, but also want to be baptized, this must be done in advance.

If the blood parents of the baby are unbaptized, this is not an obstacle to the baptism of their offspring.

In any case, the parents of the baby should bear in mind that the question of choosing godparents cannot be approached formally, “for show”.

According to the rules for the baptism of a child, godparents or godmothers cannot be:

1. unbelievers, gentiles or atheists;
2. monks;
3. mentally ill people;
4. alcoholics and drug addicts;
5. people with promiscuous sex life;
6. young children (boy - under 15 years old, girl - under 13);
7. the blood parents of the child;
8. spouses or persons who are intimate.

It should be borne in mind that it is forbidden to be godparents to each other, brother and sister. Twins cannot be baptized at the same time, although they may have the same godparents.

Memo for participants in the ceremony

According to the baptismal rules for girls and boys, the recipients must have crosses. The godmother must have a headdress. She should be wearing a dress below the knee with covered elbows and shoulders. You cannot wear trousers. It is undesirable for men to wear shorts and a T-shirt.

In addition, christening a child has other unwritten rules.

The godfather pays for the baptism itself. In addition, he buys a cross for his godson. The godmother buys a cross for her goddaughter. The cross should be chosen with rounded edges so that the baby does not get hurt. It is believed that you cannot buy a gold cross, since gold is a sinful and "dirty" metal. It is best to choose a silver cross, although a regular metal cross will do.

According to the christening rules, the godmother must purchase a sheet, a baptismal shirt and a towel in advance. The godmother buys the icon of the saint under whose name the baby is baptized, and the canopy in which the baptismal ceremony will be performed. The kryzhma will have to be saved later, wrapping the child in it every time he gets sick. Moreover, in no case should you give this fabric to anyone, since it is very easy to spoil it on a small child.

The child's birth certificate will also need to be taken to the temple.

Features of christening

• You can baptize a child absolutely on any day, a holiday or on fasting, however, by folk tradition, children are most often baptized on Saturday.
• It is believed that godparents should pick up the child from the parents' house in advance and take him to the church, where his parents will already approach, and, having entered the house for the baby, the godfathers are not entitled to sit down. Before going out into the street, the godmother, having chewed a chive of garlic, should blow this smell into the child's face. According to legend, evil is driven away in this way.
• It is customary to attend the baptism ceremony in the church only to close relatives and friends. All the invitees are already going home for the celebration.
• Usually, baptism takes place in the church itself, but sometimes a special room is allocated for this.
• If necessary, the baptism ceremony can be carried out at home or directly in the hospital, paying, of course, all expenses to the priest.
• After anointing, a small lock of hair is cut from the baby's head. This is a pledge of dedication and a symbol of sacrifice to God. After that, the priest dips the child in a font of holy water three times and puts a cross on him, while saying the following words: "Here is your cross, my son (my daughter), carry it." The godparents repeat "Amen" after the priest.
• It is very good if the baby is calm at the christening, does not cry, and even better if he falls asleep.
• When baptizing a child, mother and father must observe accepted rules and dress according to Christian customs. A christening shirt with embroidery can be purchased for a baby, although you can also baptize him in a regular clean white shirt.
• It is customary to bring gifts for baptism. Their choice is not limited in any way: it can be any church gizmos, toys, clothes, walkers, etc.

Similarities and differences for boys and girls

It should be noted that, in general, the christenings of boys and girls follow the same scenario, with the only difference that the girl is not brought into the altar. Unlike boys, girls need a headdress for christening.

If both godparents are present at the boy's christening, then the godmother first holds him, and after dipping him into the font, the godfather receives the boy from the priest and brings him to the altar. This is perhaps the main difference in the rules for christening girls and boys.

Since only men can serve on the altar, each boy is considered a potential church minister. The role of a woman is to help her husband, and therefore she is not brought into the altar.

Observing the established Orthodox traditions and the accepted rules for christening a child for the godfather, godmother and blood parents, the baby will grow up healthy and strong, become a spiritual person and will not commit sinful acts.

Baptism is one of the main events in the life of Orthodox people. This is the acceptance of a person into the Kingdom of God, his spiritual birth. Each baby is already born in sin, and therefore this rite is simply necessary for him. At baptism, the baby is given an Orthodox name, perhaps even in honor of some saint (according to the church calendar). Also, a guardian angel is allocated to the child, who protects and protects him all his life. The name should be worn with pride and respect for what is associated with it.

When should a baby be baptized?

There are no specific dates for baptism. It is more correct to do this before the age of seven, somewhere at 3-6 months, when the baby will endure the ceremony without whims and this will not complicate the sacrament, both for him and for his parents and the priest. According to church traditions, it is necessary to baptize a newborn on the eighth day after childbirth or after 40 days, since the mother cannot come to church before that time. After forty days, a prayer is said over the young mother to the woman in labor, and after that she can attend church services.

The day of baptism does not matter, it depends on yourself and on the capabilities of the temple where the sacrament will take place. In the old days, they baptized only on Sundays, but fewer people in the church on weekdays, which has now become convenient for the procedure.

It is necessary to register in advance at the Icon Shop. Mother will give you a brochure with information about baptism, as well as write down all the information about the child and his future godparents - this will be necessary for issuing a certificate. The time and day of baptism will be indicated by the priest himself. On the specified day, you will need to arrive 15 minutes before the start in order to prepare everything slowly. If you want to shoot a child with a photo and video camera, then it is better to ask the priest's blessing.

Organization of christenings

It is very important to organize everything correctly, and this is the primary task of parents and godparents. Baptism takes place in any church. Most people baptize in the church, where one of the thrones of the holy guardian of the baby is consecrated.

The clothes worn by the baby should be new, comfortable and always white. The girl must have headdress - a handkerchief or cap. During the ceremony, the child can be fed, watered and given a dummy.

Relatives or close people are usually appointed godparents. When choosing godparents, you should find such a person whom you trust very much, and you do not need to look for material benefits in this. If you were told to be godfather, you cannot refuse.

Recipients must be baptized, believers, over 12 years old. Now they have a great responsibility to educate the child spiritually. Minor children who do not yet have a spiritual core cannot be godparents; married couple; people leading an immoral lifestyle; women on their monthly days, as well as strangers.

To perform the ceremony, the godfather must buy a cross for the child and pay for the ceremony. The godmother buys a vest and a “kryzhma” towel. After baptism, these things are put at home and stored, you can cover the child with them in case of illness. It is better to purchase a silver cross, as it protects from damage and the evil eye. By contrast, gold is considered a metal associated with sin. It is better to hang the cross on a string, and when the child grows up, replace it with a chain.

Godfathers need to see their godson as often as possible, give him gifts for the holidays. But the most important thing is to pray for him. You can do this before going to bed, ask God for health, help in raising your children, well-being and good for the godchildren.

The most important rules for baptizing a child:

• you should not baptize a baby without faith, this is considered a huge sin;
• when setting the date for baptism, look church calendar it's better that this day is not great holidays or strict posts;
• parents need to know the prayers, at least "Our Father";
• when choosing second parents (godparents) for a child, you need to take into account that they are believers and the right people, since in the future they will be the mentors for your child;
• friends and family who will attend the ceremony should be appropriately dressed. Women must wear a headdress and covered knees. Clothing should be calm, dark colors. The men are dressed in strict suits, with their heads bare;
• after the ceremony, do not wash the baby's clothes. Pieces of the world will remain on it and will remain holy.

How is baptism going?

The whole sacrament lasts an hour or an hour and a half, it depends on the number of children who are baptized. At the beginning of the procedure, the recipients enter the temple with a child in their arms. The girl in this case is held by the godfather, and the boy, on the contrary, is the godmother. The baby is wrapped in a canopy without clothes.

Baptism begins when the recipients say baptismal vows... Since the child is small and cannot answer the priest's questions, the receivers answer them. The father anoints the baby's body parts with oil. Then he puts his hands on him, which symbolizes the protection of the Lord to the baby. Further, the godparents stand at the font and begin to say the Symbol of Faith prayer, promising to fulfill God's commandments and renounce the devil. Then the priest blesses the water, and lowers the baby three times, while reciting a prayer.

Anointing takes place with baptism. The priest makes a cruciform anointing with myrrh for the baby. Then the baby is given to the godfathers, who must wipe it off and put on a cross, a shirt, and a handkerchief or a cap on the girl's head.

The priest cuts off locks of hair crosswise - this is a symbol of obedience to God, and a kind of sacrifice for the basis of a new spiritual life. After all the rituals, the baby is carried around the font three times. This confirms the fact that a new member of the Church has appeared, and he is forever united with it.

Churching - This is a ceremony performed during Baptism, which may be accompanied by the first communion. At the same time, the boys are carried through the altar, and the girls are brought to the gates and applied to the icon of the Mother of God. And it is here that the mother heartily says the first prayer for her child and makes three bows to the earth.

And this is where the rite of baptism comes to an end. An entry is made in church books about the event that it took place and a certificate of baptism for a child is issued.

After going through the rite of baptism, one cannot fail to notice that the children who have been baptized become calmer and less whimsical... Parents calm down and give all their love and care to their baby, bring him up according to the rules. Thus, after the christening, parents gain faith in themselves and in the baby, as well as inner peace of mind.

After the ceremony, congratulations begin, everyone is invited home, where the baby lives, to celebrate the christening at the traditional festive table. All relatives and friends are invited to the feast. The baptized child is seated on a fur coat spread over the top, which lies on the mother's lap, which means wishes of prosperity and wealth to the child. Hot drinks such as punch and mulled wine are a must. And at the end there must be a cake or pie decorated with the name of the child and the date of the christening.

The guests begin to disperse, but by tradition the godfather and godfather must be the last to leave. And now this memorable, unforgettable day in the life of the baby and his parents has come to an end. The celebration ends there.

September 3, 2010, 23:15

Baptism for the Orthodox is the second (but in a certain sense, the main) spiritual birth of a person, his cleansing for subsequent existence, a kind of "pass" to paradise - the Kingdom of God. The newly enlightened person receives remission of past sins. That is why Baptism among all the Sacraments is the first sacrament and is necessary for every person seeking salvation and the meaning of life.

Godparents: who are godparents?

The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. This is the cleansing of the soul and the spiritual birth of a person. According to the tradition of the Church, a baby should be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life. It is clear that at such an age it is impossible to demand from him faith and repentance - the two main conditions for union with God. Therefore, godparents are appointed to them, who undertake the obligation to educate their godchildren in the spirit of Orthodoxy. So the choice of godparents should be approached with all responsibility. After all, in theory, they should become a second mom and a second dad for your baby.

How to choose godparents?

When choosing a godfather for your little one, find someone you trust completely. These can be close friends or relatives with whom you maintain a good relationship. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, the godparents are obliged to replace their godson.

Godfather can only be an Orthodox believer who is able to give an account of his faith. Actually, the boy only needs a godfather, and the girl only needs a godmother. But according to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. At your request, there can be two, four, six ...

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, receivers (godparents) cannot be:
parents cannot be godparents of their child;
husband and wife are godparents of one infant;
children (according to the decrees of the Holy Synod of 1836-1837, the godfather must be at least 15 years old, and the godmother must be at least 13 years old), because they are not yet able to vouch for the faith of the baptized person, and they themselves do not know the laws of Orthodoxy;
people are immoral and insane: the former because they do not deserve to be godparents by their very way of life, and the latter because, due to illness, they are unable to either vouch for the faith of the baptized person, or teach him the faith;
non-Orthodox - the recipients of the Orthodox.

What are the duties of godparents

Unfortunately, not every godparent can imagine why his new “position” is called this way. It is good to visit the godson and give gifts for the day of an angel or birthday. However, it is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson includes a lot.

First of all, this is a prayer for him. Learn to turn to God once a day - before bed. It's actually not difficult at all. Ask the Lord for health, salvation, help in raising your own children, the welfare of godchildren, relatives. It will be useful to master the path to the temple together with the baby, to bring him to communion on a church holiday. It would be great to conduct educational games with the baby, read books to him. For example, many adults love to read the children's Bible. All the main events of the Sacred History are described in it.

In addition, godparents can make life much easier for young mothers who find it difficult to find time to work with their baby. If everyone, to the best of their ability, spends free hours in communication with the child, then he himself will enjoy this.

The appearance of the godparents

At the ceremony, recipients (this is another name for the godfather) must come with the consecrated in the church pectoral crosses... In the traditions of the Slavic peoples in the temple, women always had a covered head and a dress below the knee with closed shoulders (with the exception of little girls). You should not wear high-heeled shoes, since the baptismal ceremony lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours and most of the time you will have to stand with the child in your arms. As for men, there are no requirements for their clothes, but it is better to refrain from shorts and T-shirts. In church, such an outfit would look out of place.

Do not let the good old order become burdensome for you, because your beautiful trousers and new fashionable haircut can be demonstrated in other places. In church, it's best not to draw attention to yourself, focusing on the purpose of your ward.

Preparing for the ceremony

Currently, the ceremony is performed mainly in temples. Only in exceptional cases, if, for example, the child is very sick, the sacrament can be performed at home or in the hospital. Then a separate clean room is necessarily allocated for the ceremony.

To baptize a baby, you must first choose a church. Walk through the temples, listen to your feelings. But keep in mind that baptism is not always done in the church itself. Most cathedrals have a baptismal (or baptistery) - this is a separate room on the territory of the church, specially adapted for this rite. In large churches, baptism usually takes place quite magnificently and solemnly. But, perhaps, someone will like the secluded and calm atmosphere of small churches. Talk to the priest or novices, they will tell you in detail how the baptismal ceremony takes place in this church.

How to choose the day of your baptism?

There is no church institution of Baptism on the fortieth day, this is primarily due to the fact that until the fortieth day the Church keeps a parent woman from entering the temple because of her postpartum infirmities and expirations that she has at this time. And the first entry of the mother into the temple after the break is accompanied by the reading of special cleansing prayers, before reading which she should not be present at the services.

But you don't need to take the day of baptism directly, you can baptize the baby a little later, a little earlier. And now sometimes, at the request of the parents, they baptize the child before the fortieth day, especially when there is at least some danger to the health of the child (baptism in this case is considered a protective rite).

In ancient times, the performance of the sacrament was most often timed to coincide with the greatest christian holidays, for example for Easter. But gradually baptism turned into family holiday... And now, on the contrary, the ceremony is carried out almost every day, with the exception of such large church holidays as Christmas, Easter, Trinity. On these days, churches are usually overcrowded and priests advise to reschedule the ceremony. Most temples can be visited without an appointment. Usually the sacrament of baptism begins at 10 o'clock, immediately after the service. True, in this case, it is highly likely that besides you, several more people will be baptized and you will either have to wait, or you will be baptized along with others. It is much more convenient to agree with the priest who will perform the sacrament for a specific date and time in one or two weeks. Then your baby will be baptized first and in splendid isolation. In addition, when choosing the day of baptism, try not to fall on critical days. godmother... The fact is that during this period a woman should not kiss the shrines: kiss the cross, icons, and it is better not to enter the temple at all.

Preparing godparents for baptism

If you want to comply with all the rules, start preparing for the ceremony in advance. Godfathers need to go to church to confess, repent of their sins and receive communion. It is advisable (but not necessary) to fast for three to four days before the ceremony. But on the day of baptism, as well as before communion, godparents should not eat and have sex. At least one of the parents must know the Symbol of Faith prayer by heart. As a rule, when a girl is baptized, the Godmother reads the Symbol of Faith, and when a boy is baptized, the father reads.

And one more thing: according to an unspoken rule, the godparents bear all the costs of baptism. In some churches there are no official prices, it is believed that after the ceremony, the godparents and invitees make donations as much as they can. These costs are optional and their amount is not specified anywhere. But the custom is usually followed.

According to the church custom, the godmother buys a kryzhma or "garment". This is a special fabric, or just a towel, in which the child is wrapped when taken out of the font. In addition, the godmother gives a christening gown and a cap with lace and ribbons (for a boy - with blue ones, for girls - with pink ones, respectively). The baptismal gown is kept for life. The towel, according to custom, is not washed after the baby is baptized, but used if the baby is sick.

The godfather, again as usual, buys a baptismal cross and a chain. Some believe that the cross and the chain should be gold, some - silver, while others are of the opinion that small children should wear a cross on a ribbon or string.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian needs to know the basic prayers: "Our Father", "Virgin Mary", "Symbol of Faith". During baptism, the godparents say the Symbol of Faith prayer for the baby. All these prayers are in a short prayer book, which, if desired, can be bought at the church shop.

What to bring to the temple?

As already mentioned, baptism is a birth into a new sinless life. Perceiving the newly baptized from the holy font, the godparents accept an absolutely pure, sinless being. The symbol of such purity is white clothing - a kryzhma, which is brought to the temple along with a cross on a chain or thread. Who should buy a cross and who should buy a chain, let the godparents decide for themselves. At the end of the ceremony, the priest will consecrate them and put them on to the baby.

An openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt or a new towel that has not yet been washed will serve as a canopy for a small child.

What happens during the ordinance of baptism?

The priest, godparents, and the child are the main participants in the ordinance. According to ancient customs, the child's mom and dad should not be present when the sacrament is performed. Although in recent times the church is more loyal to this prohibition and allows the father, and sometimes the mother of the baby, after saying a special prayer, to observe the ceremony with those invited.

Throughout the ceremony, the recipients stand next to the priest and one of them holds the baptized one in his arms. Before the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the baptismal room or temple and reads three prayers. Then he asks the godparents and godson to turn their faces to the west - symbolically, this is the abode of Satan. And, addressing the baptized person, he asks several questions.

Questions and answers are repeated three times. After that, the godparents should read the "Symbol of Faith" - this is a summary of the basics of the Christian faith, which all Orthodox Christians should know by heart. Then there is anointing. Having dipped a brush into a vessel with myrrh, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs of the baptized person crosswise. And with each anointing he says: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents, together with the priest, repeat: "Amen."

After chrismation, a lock of hair is cut off from the head, which remains in the temple as a pledge of dedication and a symbol of sacrifice to God. If the child is baptized in the cold season or conditions do not allow him to undress (low temperature in the baptismal room), free the baby's arms and legs in advance.

Then the priest takes the child away from them and performs the baptismal ceremony directly - the three-time immersion of the baptized person in the font. If the baptismal room is warm, then, most likely, your baby will be dipped naked. But when it is cold in the temple, only the neck, hands and feet are exposed for anointing. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. That is why godparents are also called recipients. It is believed that by taking the baby in their arms after the ceremony, the parents undertake the obligation to educate their godson in the Orthodox spirit throughout their life and to answer for this upbringing at the Last Judgment. If they cannot often see their godson, then they should at least mention him in their daily prayers.