The godparents of a newly converted Christian actually become his second parents. Now the responsibility for the spiritual and moral life of their child before God lies with both biological and spiritual fathers-mothers. Therefore, the choice of godparents should be taken seriously. They are better not to "appoint" frivolous people, even if they are childhood friends and just sociable guys. Also, you should not agree to a flattering offer to become a godfather or a godmother, if Sunday morning sleep is more expensive for you than the communion of a little ward and in general you are still far from the church. When becoming a godfather or godmother of a charming baby, one should not forget that very soon he will become a rebellious teenager, and it is you, in alliance with your parents, who will have to protect him from worldly temptations.

During the baptism itself, it is the godparents who aloud renounce Satan for the baby and unite with Christ and receive their child from the hands of the priest from the font. During the sacrament, the godparents often hold the child in their arms - unless, of course, he himself does not mind. If it was not possible to find both godparents at once, then the boy needs a godfather mentor, and the girl needs a godmother mentor. By the way, godfather and godmother cannot be husband and wife.

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How to prepare for the baptism of the child

for the child’s baptism should be prepared not only morally, although this is, of course, the most important condition. Baptismal "accessories" will be required, and in some churches you will have to attend special talks on the topic of baptism.

What do you need? First, the cross. It doesn't matter what it will be kept on around the neck: on a simple braid or a gold chain. Secondly, a baptismal shirt - you can buy it or sew it yourself. In fact, as Fr. Philip, this is not a mandatory attribute of baptism, it's just accepted in church tradition. A clean light undershirt or dress will be enough. Thirdly, candles. They can be purchased before the Sacrament is performed in the temple where it will take place. They will be needed to participate in the procession during the sacrament. Fourthly, the towel is not a small waffle, but a large bath towel.

It is also worth thinking about what to dress your baby in. It is better to refuse sliders. A sandbag or panties "without legs" are ideal: there are moments in the sacrament when the baby's legs should be bare.


How a child is baptized

Baptism can be chamber and collective. Especially many people who are being baptized gather in the church on the feast of the Epiphany on January 19th. But for the relatives of the baby, this is one of the most important events in life, therefore, as a rule, the day of the baptism of the child is agreed in advance, and it takes place in a chamber - only for this little Christian.

Before the start of the Sacrament, the priest will explain to everyone their role and place in the church: godparents or parents with the culprit of the event in their arms, grandmothers, sister-brothers and other relatives.

Baptism begins with naming prayers, by which the baptized are given their Christian names. From this moment on, the baby acquires a heavenly patron and protector in the form of a Guardian Angel. If there is no name in the calendar that the baby was named at birth, he receives a new one - a church one. So, Elvira can become Emilia, Yana - Joanna, Adele - Aglaya.

Next comes the time of the exorcism of the devil. The method of exile is the reading of the four prohibition prayers. In them, the evil one is forbidden to deal with a newly converted Christian. As a sign of this, the priest turns to those being baptized and blows crosswise three times in the face of each, pronouncing the corresponding words of the spell.


Now the sacrament participants turn their faces to the west - as a rule, this is the exit from the temple, and the priest begins to ask questions that should be answered loudly, clearly and preferably in unison. Batiushka asks three times twice about whether those who have come renounce Satan, to which, of course, they answer in the affirmative: “I renounce.”

In addition to the verbal renunciation of the evil one, the participants in the sacrament confirm this by action. After the priest's words: "Blow and spit on him," they do it literally. In insulting the demon, the Orthodox, as it were, categorically declares: I have nothing in common with you, Satan, I spit on you and will do this all my life.

Having renounced Satan, the Orthodox unites with Christ. To do this, everyone returns to their original position facing east: with their backs to the entrance, and facing the altar, and again answer the questions of the priest. Several times, with the help of questions, he clarifies the consciousness of the intentions of the parents and godparents of the child, who again respond with prepared formulations. If someone, after the categorical conversation, forgot them, the priest will tell you. Here comes the turn of the godparents. Some of them will have to read the main covenant of a Christian - the Symbol of the Orthodox Faith. And preferably by heart.

- A creed is a set of basic doctrinal truths or dogmas, which briefly states what we Christians believe. If none of those who came by heart knows the Creed, the priest himself can read it, and the rest will try to understand at least something. Ideally, every Christian should not only know it by heart, but also be able to comment on each line. This is usually the first assignment in Christian self-education. It is easy to find the Symbol of Faith, it is in any Prayer Book or in a book that is simply necessary for everyone and which is called very familiarly: “The Law of God,” explains Archimandrite Philip.


After reading the Creed, the priest reminds the participants of the baptism how to properly make the sign of the cross and bow.

- During the sign of the cross, the fingers must be folded in a certain way, with a “pinch”: the thumb, index and middle fingers together, which means our faith in the Trinity, the ring and little fingers are pressed to the palm - as a sign that Christ was both God and Man . We overshadow ourselves with them like this: on the forehead, on the stomach, on the right shoulder and on the left, then a small bow. We, as it were, invoke the sanctification of God on all our thoughts, feelings and actions. And we are baptized from right to left in honor of the prudent thief, who was crucified on the right hand of Christ and did not swear at Him together with everyone, but simply quietly asked the Lord to remember him in the Kingdom of Heaven, - explains the priest.

Now comes the most important thing. Baptism is impossible without water, since Christ himself was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River. That is why on the Epiphany, despite any frosts, the Russians tend to the font and the hole. The priest blesses the water for the baptism of the child, either right during the sacrament, or, usually, in advance. Don't worry about the baby getting cold: the water for baby baptism is always warm. Before immersion, the priest will anoint the baby with oil, which symbolizes the Grace of God - the forehead, chest, ears, arms and legs. After this, the child is immersed in water three times. Some kids are scared, but someone, on the contrary, likes it. The reaction of the baby during baptism will be the subject of conversation and memories for years to come.


Ideally, a child should be baptized in the first days of life. Photo: Andrey KARA

Now the baby is rightfully considered Orthodox, and a cross is put on him. It is no coincidence that the cross is called wearable, it is not worn over clothes, as an ornament, it should be literally on the body.

The sacrament of the baptism of a child can be called a double sacrament, because in its process one more is performed. Like baptism, it happens only once in a person's life. This is the sacrament of Confirmation.

- In this Sacrament, a person is given the grace-filled Gifts of the Holy Spirit to lead the Christian life, - comments Fr. Philip. - For the second time in their lives, they are anointed only when they are ordained as bishops, and earlier - when they enter the royal throne, hence the expression "anointed to the kingdom." As with oil, the priest will anoint the child's forehead, chest, lips, eyes, nose, ears, arms and legs.

After all this, it's time for a religious procession - a very small one - around the font where the baptism took place. This is where the candles prepared in advance are lit. Usually at this time, everyone is in high spirits, many willingly respond to the father's call to sing along with the choristers. After that, the Holy Scriptures are read, and the priest prays for the godparents and their godson or goddaughter.

Immediately after Baptism and Chrismation, the priest carefully cuts off a small strand of hair with small scissors. This is the first grateful sacrifice of a newly converted Christian to the Creator.

The baby's baptism is almost over. It remains only to read the prayers of churching, and for boys this is done in the most holy place of the temple - the altar. Girls, like women, are not allowed there, so prayers are read to them in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

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How much does a child's baptism "cost"?


To name the “cost” of the sacrament, like any other attribute purchased in a church shop, is not entirely correct. This concept is replaced in the temple by the word "donation". Its size is determined in each church in its own way. The baptism of a child is a priceless gift from above, and it cannot be valued in principle. But in order to accomplish it, it is necessary to spend electricity, water, attract people to prepare the temple, invite singers. The donation made by a Christian is a sign of respect for the work of all these people and the needs of the temple.


Is there a difference in the baptism of a girl and a boy?


There is no difference between the Baptism of a boy and a girl, except for the final "chord" when the boy is brought to the altar and the girl is left outside.


How to choose a place for baptism?


Sometimes parents want to baptize their child in a specific church: in an old church in a distant village or a church near their home. Actually, there is no difference. The grace of God through the performance of the sacrament of baptism is so strong that in some cases it can be performed even at home. It is no coincidence that if a child is sick or weak at birth, a priest can perform the sacrament even in a hospital.


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000 whether to take pictures during the sacrament?


Capturing one of the main events in a person's life is not prohibited in the temple. On the contrary, for the rest of your life you will have memories of the most important day in earthly life. But it’s better to take the priest’s blessing for this - just ask permission. By the way, the best position for shooting, as Fr. Philip, - in front of the priest and a little to the side, then you can choose the most successful angle for the main points.

Problems with filming may arise during a general baptism - inadvertently, you can violate the law "On the Protection of Personal Data".


Why lectures before baptism?


Parents who have gathered to baptize a baby are often perplexed: why attend special classes or catechumens before the sacrament, which have now become mandatory in many churches. Somewhere they limit themselves to a short conversation, somewhere they offer a series of lectures. All this is being done with the only good goal - to enlighten the Orthodox, their parents and godparents, to explain to them the meaning of the sacrament and the foundation of the faith they have chosen, to tell them about what awaits them in a new spiritual life. The goal is awareness.


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How to properly baptize Orthodox Christians


The sign of the cross of the Orthodox is different from the Catholic and Old Believers. Why it happened and how to be baptized correctly for an Orthodox Christian - read in this material

More details Share in the comments: Comments for the site Cackl e Baptism of a child: what godfathers need to know - Mercy.ru Who can be godparents for a child at baptism Christian. “Only one requirement: they (godparents) must be true Orthodox Christians. And, of course, love your godchildren. Nothing else,” says the rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Khokhly 9 in an interview with the Foma magazine.0006 Archpriest Alexey Uminsky . Both a family friend and a relative - the child's aunt or uncle, grandparents and other family members, except for the actual parents of the person being baptized - can become a godfather. In some cases, it is allowed for the elder sisters and brothers of the baby to become godparents. To the question “Can a sister be a godmother,” priests answer differently. The decision depends on how old the potential godmother is: if she is over 14 and she can instruct her godson in the faith, take care of him and be responsible for his spiritual life, the decision can be positive. An important aspect that usually causes a lot of controversy: can a husband and wife be godparents of one child? Priest Feodor Lukyanov , head of the Patriarchal Commission on Family Affairs, Protection of Motherhood and Childhood, says that there is no canonical ban on this, but there is a pious tradition according to which situations in which spouses also become godfathers to each other are usually not allowed. This tradition is connected with the ban on marriages between godparents of one child, which has existed in the Church since ancient times. “Some priests are more or less loyal to this issue, so each specific case is considered separately,” Father Fyodor advises. He also clarifies that the ban on marriages between godparents of one child was lifted in 2017, when the Council of Bishops adopted a decision to that effect. At the same time, spouses are not prohibited from being godparents of different children from the same family, provided that they were not baptized at the same time. There are a number of other questions about who to choose as godparents that have more to do with tradition than rigid restrictions. So, contrary to popular notions, an unmarried girl or a pregnant woman can be a godmother, and she can baptize both girls and boys - contrary to the strange “sign”, according to which the first goddaughter can “take away” her future happiness from the godmother. The godfather can be a priest and a deacon, although they are usually reluctant to accept this role, since they have many different concerns and cannot fulfill all the prescribed duties, but can only pray for their spiritual child. Who should not be godparents to your child Before the start of a mass baptism in the waters of Lake Novopyatigorsk in the Stavropol Territory. 06/19/2013. Photo: Vladimir Makarov / RIA Novosti The choice of a godfather is difficult, there are candidates who may not be desirable for this role, no matter how wonderful human relations the potential godfather and the parents of the child may be. So, monks and nuns are strictly not allowed to receive receptions - they have other tasks, far from worldly fuss. A person who has fallen away from the Church (who does not take communion regularly), a representative of another religion (including other Christian denominations) or an atheist cannot be a godfather. There cannot be a person who lives in fornication and regularly breaks other commandments of God. People with mental illness cannot be taken as godparents, because they will not be able to fulfill the main task - to educate their godchild in the faith and instruct in the rules of spiritual life. There is also an age limit. At what age can one become a godmother or godmother? It is believed that for girls this age starts from 14 years old, for boys - from 15. By this moment they are already gradually becoming mature individuals, they can realize the responsibility entrusted to them, consciously pray for the child they have become a godparent and take an active part in his upbringing . You should not invite a godfather to a couple who is preparing for marriage with a subsequent wedding. Although we noted above that the ban on such unions has been eliminated, it is still not worth further tempting fate. It is better to allow a young man and a girl to find the fullness of kinship in a family union - it is incommensurably higher than the spiritual kinship that binds godfathers together. Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents? May 14, 2016. Photo: Vitaly Belousov/RIA Novosti Finding worthy godparents for a child, taking into account all the requirements that are placed on them, is sometimes not easy. It happens that only one successor can be found. If this is a person of the same sex as the godson - a godfather for a boy or a godmother for a girl, this may be enough, since the second godfather is considered "additional", and his choice is rather a pious tradition. It will be difficult for the baby to do without godparents at all - after all, it is they who vouch for the new member of the Church before God. The main task of godparents is to help the child understand his faith correctly, teach him the basics, help and support him in spiritual life. What to do if there were no such people surrounded by the family? “If the parents think that they themselves can cope with the church upbringing of the child, in principle, they can be baptized even without sponsors. You need to go to the church where you are going to baptize and find out exactly what is needed for this,” Archpriest Andrey Efanov advises . Rector of the Church of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir in Novogireev (Moscow) Archpriest Alexei Batanogov believes that in some cases it is worth delaying and if the family gradually becomes churched and finds new acquaintances in the parish, the issue with godparents can be resolved positively. “Families often come up and say that they want to be baptized, but there is no godfather, but if only they don’t want someone. The question is that there are no such people in the environment of their parents, because they themselves do not live a Christian life. If they were at least a little parishioner, there would immediately be an opportunity to meet believers who could be godparents,” says the priest. He also believes that in this case the practice is possible, according to which a priest can appoint a godfather from among the parishioners, also has the right to exist. Rector of St. George's Church in Nakhabino near Moscow, Priest Pavel Ostrovsky reminds that adults, unlike children, do not always need godparents. “If we are talking about adults, the recipient should be the person who led you to faith. If a person is an adult and came to faith on his own, without any friends and acquaintances, he can be baptized himself, without having godparents. The obligation of godparents applies only to children. What godparents need to know before the sacrament of baptism About christening - priest Pavel Ostrovsky Before the sacrament, the godparents must pass an interview with the priest. The presence may also be required from the parents of the child - if they are not parishioners of the temple in which they plan to baptize their son or daughter, and the priest personally does not know them, not candidates for godparents. Sometimes not one, but two categorical conversations are held. The first meeting is devoted to a brief introduction to the foundations of Orthodoxy, the second is a conversation about the role of godparents. What should a godmother know before a child is baptized? Each temple has its own rules, but a number of standard questions can be distinguished. The priest can clarify the full names of the parents, godparents and the baby, the address of residence and the date of birth of the child. The godparents will definitely be asked the date of the last communion and specify how often he / she attends services, whether he is married and whether he is officially married. What else do you need to know before the conversation before baptism for godparents? Of course, the main prayers. Most often, the priest asks by heart "Our Father", "King of Heaven" and "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice", may ask to read the "Symbol of Faith". All these prayers can be found, for example, on the Pravoslavie.ru portal. After the date of the baptism is set, the godparents start preparing for the sacrament. A week before the event, they must confess and take communion, and three days before the christening, they must fast. During the conversation before baptism for godparents, you can ask the priest questions that concern you, including the most delicate ones. Often women are worried about whether it is possible to baptize a child with menstruation at the godmother. Alas, there is no consensus on this matter in the Church today. Traditionally, it is forbidden to participate in the sacraments if a woman is passing critical days at that moment, but in some temples it is considered acceptable to descend to bodily weakness. In any case, it is better to clarify this point in an individual conversation with a priest - he will definitely suggest a way out of a difficult situation. What godparents should do Baptism of an infant in the church in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Yekaterinburg, Russia. 05/02/2015. Photo: Donat Sorokin / TASS “Godparents are those people who, in the early years of their godchildren, give them vows of Holy Baptism, a promise of fidelity to God,” explains Archpriest Pavel Gumerov , author of the book “Baptism and Churching. Preparation for the sacrament of Baptism and the first steps in the Church. Batiushka says that during the sacrament of baptism, the godparents not only hold the foolish baby in their arms, calm him down, and then take him after three immersions in the font. The recipients also renounce Satan for their spiritual children, unite with Christ and confess their faith, reading the Creed for them. “We baptize children according to the faith of the recipients and according to the faith of the parents as the closest people. Therefore, both have a huge responsibility,” says the priest. He explains that the most important work of godparents begins after the sacrament - they are obliged to contribute to the spiritual education of the godchild, instruct him in matters of faith, go to church together, pray, do everything so that the baby they receive from the font can become good a Christian. What should a godmother do and what can a godfather do for his ward? “Godparents are very responsible persons, they become guarantors before God for the souls of their godchildren,” says Father Pavel Gumerov. At the moment of baptism, together with their parents, in front of the Cross and the Gospel, lying on the lectern, they make a promise to God Himself. What promise? That they will make every effort so that the newly baptized baby grows up as a believer, an Orthodox person. Their duty now is to pray for their spiritual children, teach them prayers, instruct them in the Orthodox faith and take them to the church to take communion, and then, after seven years, to confess. So that when their godson enters perfect years, he already knows how to pray to God, he knows what we believe in and why we go to church. Of course, the greatest responsibility for the Christian upbringing of children lies with the parents, but godparents can also greatly influence their godchildren, become their spiritual teachers and mentors.” Since women are often more responsible, they are traditionally entrusted with the responsibility of organizing christenings and indispensable purchases in such cases. There are no strict requirements in this regard; the godfather can also purchase the items necessary for the sacrament. What a godmother buys for a girl's christening and what a godmother buys for a boy's christening depends only on their agreements with the child's parents. Regardless of the gender of the godson, you need to purchase a cross, a baptismal shirt in a specialized store or in a church shop, bring one, or better, two towels or a large sheet to the christening, in which you can wrap the baby after the font. Usually these attributes are chosen in accordance with the gender of the godson, with pink or blue trim, but this, again, is a requirement of taste and fashion, and by no means the strict requirements of the Church. The question of what godparents give for christening is also not strictly regulated. It is believed that the gift should correspond to the spirit of the event, so the traditional gifts for christening are the icon of the patron saint of the child or the guardian angel, the children's Bible or the Gospel, which, however, will be useful to the godson a little later. 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