Baptism of a child: to baptize or not to baptize a child is today the choice of parents. Recently, more and more often, young spouses leave the right of choice to the child “for growth”, not wanting to impose their opinion or religion on him. However, most believing parents still prefer to endow their child with a guardian angel almost from the first days of life, which, according to legend, appears in the child only after his baptism.

There are many questions related to the sacrament of baptism: where to baptize, when, how... Detailed answers, of course, are better to look for from the priest who will conduct the ceremony. But we will try to at least lift the veil of the sacrament called baptism.

Why is a child baptized?

In theory, for truly believing parents, such a question should not arise at all, since the Bible says that “whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned.” And a baptized child, therefore, is under the protection of God, and in addition, he has his own guardian angel and intercessor (the saint whose name the child is named at baptism).

What should parents do who belong to different religions? In such cases, first of all, they will have to agree among themselves about what religion they would like for their child. And if Orthodoxy is chosen, then the child will be baptized according to Orthodox customs, only a parent of another faith will not be able to be present during the ceremony. It is only important to remember that this choice is not an easy matter, and if you baptize your child, try to continue to adhere to Orthodox traditions regarding his upbringing.

When to baptize a child

At what age can a child be baptized? Traditionally, a baby is baptized on the 40th day after birth or later. This is due to the fact that a woman is not allowed to enter the temple in the first weeks after giving birth, as she is considered “unclean.” An earlier baptism is possible, for example, on the eighth day, but when the ceremony is performed in the temple, the mother will not be able to attend it.

How to choose a child's name at baptism

In fact, the name is chosen even before baptism, in accordance with the names of those saints whose name appears in the church calendar on your baby’s birthday. True, it happens that such names do not quite correspond to the modern situation; for example, few parents would agree to name their son Afinogenes or Theopent.

Then choose the name that you like, but when baptizing, still be guided by the church calendar, if the named one does not apply to the Orthodox (for example, Timur - Timothy).

There is a belief that it is necessary to specifically baptize and call a child by different names according to the passport, they say, this will help protect the child from the evil eye.

But this belief has nothing to do with the Orthodox world and came to us from Jewish traditions or Islam. It is impossible to rebaptize a child into a different name if, for example, he gets sick.

Choosing godparents for a child

As a rule, godparents choose close people: relatives, friends. Often they are those who have already been witnesses at the wedding. And this is not forbidden. In fact, anyone can be a godfather: the godson's grandparents, older brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, friends. There are only seven prohibitions:

1. non-believers;
2. representatives of another religion (even Christian, but non-Orthodox);
3. married to each other (including the parents of the child);
4. monks and nuns;
5. mentally ill;
6. minors;
7. those who came to the temple drunk.

If your child’s future godfather or godmother is non-Orthodox, but wants to be baptized themselves, they must do this in advance, but not on the same day as the baby.

Interesting fact: if the child’s parents are unbaptized, this is not an obstacle to performing the ceremony.

A separate issue is godparents who are married to each other. Popular rumor says: If spouses become godparents, they cannot stand together at the font, otherwise they will separate after three months. In fact, spouses cannot be godparents at all. Or, after they become godparents, they must stop living married life (this means not so much living together as fulfilling marital duty). Moreover, if a guy and a girl became godparents and then, after some time, they themselves wanted to get married, according to church canons they cannot do this, since they are already spiritual brother and sister.

Whoever you choose, it should be not just a loved one, but a person who is ready to take care of his godson and become his spiritual mentor.

In Catholic countries, by the way, godparents become the first-priority candidates for guardianship in the event of the death of the parents of their godson; and other relatives, even the closest ones, are considered only secondarily.

A child can only have one godfather. But he must be of the same gender as the child.

Responsibilities of godparents

Many people believe that the duties of godparents are to participate in the baptismal ceremony, and then simply give gifts on holidays and spend some time together. At the same time, they forget that this is not all.
It should be important that one of the desires should be care and guardianship of the baby. Let's consider what responsibilities are assigned to godparents according to the Orthodox faith:

• teach the child all the basics of the Christian faith, and also learn prayers with him. The responsibilities of the godfather and mother during the baptism of a boy in this case are no different;
• teach by example mercy, kindness and love;
• The imprisoned parents must know all the necessary prayers, as well as wear a pectoral cross and be able to apply the sign of the cross correctly.

The responsibilities of the godmother and father during baptism should be all possible assistance in preparing for the sacrament and its further celebration. Godparents must give a gift; it could be a cross, an icon of the baby’s patron saint, or a baptismal set. This can be agreed upon with the child’s parents.

When baptizing a girl, a woman should be ready to receive the child after immersion in the font, as well as change the baby’s clothes and, if necessary, calm her down. When a boy is baptized, the man does all this.

After the celebration, it is also necessary to devote a lot of time to the child, focusing on his spiritual development. Now you know all the differences between the baptism of a boy and a girl, which means there should be no problems. It is known that compliance with all the rules is the key to the health and strength of a child, regardless of his gender.

The correct choice of godparents is a guarantee of the child’s good spiritual development, which means there will be fewer bad deeds in his life.

Features of the rite of baptism of a child in the church

Christianity requires the baptism of children and adults, which is considered one of the main sacraments of the Orthodox Church. There is a belief that Baptism protects a person from the influence of evil forces on him, revives his spirituality, and opens the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Preparing for a child's baptism

Preparation for the sacrament involves the purchase of a baptismal kit, preliminary conversations with a clergyman and the choice of godfather and mother. The baptismal set includes a shirt (diaper), a pectoral cross and an icon depicting the patron saint. For female infants, a hat or scarf is added.

A 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.

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 photos or videos, you must obtain his approval and blessing. On the day of christening, you must have the baby's birth certificate with you. Based on this, a baptismal certificate will be issued.

What to buy for baptism

Before baptism, the godmother must buy a cloth in which the baby will then be wrapped after immersion in the font. She should also purchase a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, cap and blanket.

In addition, the godmother must have a silk handkerchief during the christening, which she must then present to the priest after the completion of the mysterious ceremony.

The godfather must buy a small pectoral cross before baptism. If the cross was purchased outside the church, then it must be consecrated before baptism. If it was purchased at a church store, there is no need to consecrate it.
In addition, the responsibility for the financial part of the ceremony falls on the shoulders of the godfather. That is, he must pay at the church for all services.

However, if one of the godparents has financial difficulties, then the baby’s parents or one of the godparents can take on the payment for church services or the purchase of a baptismal set. This point is not fundamental.

The child’s parents, in turn, must purchase new clothes for their child and candles before baptism (the church itself will tell you how many candles you need to have at the time of baptism). In addition, they are obliged to set the table at home; this custom was observed many years ago. The church will tell you everything else, and will also help you decide on a church name for the baby and help you prepare baptismal documents.

How to choose a cross for a child's baptism

In fact, there are no regulations on this matter. But in general, a small cross with rounded edges (so as not to get hurt) is more practical for a child. It does not have to be a cross made of gold or silver; For christening, you can buy an ordinary metal one, and later, for your first birthday, for example, buy a more expensive one.

Where to perform the baptism ceremony

It is preferable, of course, to baptize a child in a church. You can choose your parish at your discretion. But lately, young parents have been leaning towards small churches, often even in rural areas. The motives are simple: large churches are becoming more and more like a store (you have to pay for everything: the consecration of the cross, the baptism itself, the certificate, and besides, they will persuade you to buy a bunch of additional and not very necessary things).

In large churches, the rite of baptism is “on stream”, so it is often carried out without a soul. In a small village church, priests are more likely to show sincerity in performing the sacrament. The church has no right to refuse you the ceremony because you are “not local.” But you still shouldn’t insist: if you and your child are not welcome here, then why come here?

You can baptize your child at home or even in the hospital where you gave birth. But such cases are usually reserved for urgent needs, for example, if the child is sick. In addition, the priest’s visit to your home will, of course, have to be paid for separately.

Child baptism ritual (process)

Throughout the ceremony, the godparents stand next to the priest and one of them holds the child in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the room where the ceremony is taking place and reads three prayers. After this, he asks the godfathers to turn with their godson to the west - symbolically there is the abode of Satan.

After this, the priest asks several questions, which the godparents answer. These questions may differ in different churches, but mostly they sound like this: “Do you renounce Satan?” “Or do you renounce all his works?” “Or do you renounce all service to him?” All questions should be answered “I renounce. »Questions and answers are repeated three times.

After this, the godparents must read the “Creed” - a brief summary of the foundations of the Christian religion, which all believers must know by heart. Then anointing occurs: the priest, with a cross-shaped movement, smears the child’s forehead, eyes, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs with chrism. After this, the rite of baptism is carried out directly - immersing the child in the font three times.

What to wear for a baptism for a child and parents

Parents must be dressed according to Christian Orthodox laws: women with their shoulders and legs covered and their heads covered, men with their heads uncovered. The rest: trousers or a long skirt, a dress or a suit is a matter of your desire.

The main thing is that the outfit is not provocative.

They sell an assortment of baptismal sets for a child: a diaper, an envelope, a cap, and a baptismal shirt with embroidery. All this is very beautiful and, perhaps, helps parents create a festive atmosphere. But it’s not at all necessary. All you need for baptism is a baptismal shirt (you can also use a regular white clean vest), a clean diaper and a towel (or another diaper to dry the baby after immersion in the font).

When the child is baptized, he should be in only a diaper, without clothes or a diaper. The child is given a baptismal shirt after the ceremony has been completed.

Video: how the baptism ceremony of a child takes place in church

What to give a child for baptism

Traditionally, symbols of faith are given - a cross, an icon with the image of the patron saint - they are presented by godparents. They can also buy (or better yet, sew with their own hands) a baptismal swaddling cloth and a shirt. By the way, it can then be passed on “by inheritance.”

But if you absolutely want to give something yourself, choose gifts related to the Orthodox faith (Bible, rosary, amulet, icon) or traditional ones: a silver spoon, a rattle... For christening gifts should be purely symbolic, because the main gift for your child is the sacrament itself, which opens a window to the righteous world for him and makes it possible to find a protector and patron.

Girl's baptism and boy's baptism - are there any differences?

Usually, any christening for girls and boys is not much different. Everything happens according to the usual scenario, the only difference is that the girl will not be brought into the altar. At christening, a girl's head is covered with a headdress.

If the parents have chosen two godparents for their child, both a mother and a father, then in this case, the godmother first holds the child in her arms, and after dipping into the font, the godfather takes him in her arms.

In addition, the godfather must accept the child from the hands of the priest, and then bring him to the altar. Such actions are the main differences between the baptism ceremony of a girl and a boy.

It is worth remembering that every boy is a potential church minister in the future, and only men can serve at the altar. That’s why women are not allowed to the altar, because her main role is to be her husband’s assistant.

If you correctly follow all the requirements and Orthodox traditions regarding the rite of baptism of a child, then the child will grow up strong and happy. The correct choice of godparents, father and mother, will also have a beneficial effect on the fate of the child.

The spiritual life of a child with good godparents will develop, which means he will commit fewer bad deeds that are considered sinful in Christian life. A correct and balanced approach to the ordering of this issue will make the child protected and happy.

Signs associated with the baptism of a child

• Do not wipe up water that gets on the baby during baptism
• To make your child lucky in life, try to treat the first person you meet with a piece of bread or a roll on the way to church.
• If a boy and a girl are being baptized at the same time, make sure the boy is baptized first.
• If a child screams during the ceremony, this is very good! In some areas it is believed that if a child behaves too calmly during baptism, then he is too good to live on this earth.
• It is considered very bad luck if your child is the first to be baptized in a new church.
• Water that gets on the child’s face during the baptism ceremony cannot be wiped off; it should be allowed to dry. Small children, as a rule, do not like it very much when water gets on their face and begin to react violently, but those present should be patient and not wipe the water off the baby’s face.
• It was widely believed that newborn children were most vulnerable to the actions of evil spirits. Therefore, to protect against them, the child was periodically covered with an item of her father’s clothing before the baptismal ceremony. To protect against evil spirits, garlic, bread, salt or a piece of iron were also placed in the baby’s crib.
• It is not advisable for baptism to take place immediately after the funeral. If it takes place immediately after the wedding, then the child will grow up cheerful and rich.
• In order for the baby to grow up happy, healthy and rich, the child’s mother must bring a silver coin, an egg and a pinch of salt to the baptism ceremony.

Perhaps someone will think that observing all these rituals is unnecessary, they say, and it will work out that way. But, perhaps, you still shouldn’t neglect these essentially very simple rules and conduct experiments in such an important matter as the rite of baptism. After all, the future of a child largely depends on the awareness and moderation of their parents.

Video: Is it possible for a pregnant woman to baptize her child?

In many families, at some point the question arises about the need to baptize a child. These are not always deeply religious families; often people follow established traditions, sometimes preferring to give in to the persistent requests of older relatives. Whatever the reason for the desire to perform the sacrament of baptism on a child, making this decision carries with it a certain responsibility. This ceremony can be performed only once, so parents want to prepare for it properly, take into account all the nuances and features so that a good memory remains of it.

When to baptize?

A person can be baptized at any time; there are no restrictions on performing the ceremony on him. However, long-standing traditions have developed when it is customary to baptize children.

Christianity means by baptism the spiritual birth of a person, his introduction to the highest grace, the naming of a spiritual name and the provision of the baby with another pair of people responsible for his life and upbringing - godparents.

The concept of Christian doctrine is such that the path to God is never closed to anyone, but the person who serves as a mediator, helps to join grace and conducts the ritual is an ordinary person, albeit an ordained one.

In terms of availability, a priest is not much different from any other employee; he has his own responsibilities, he can get sick, and the like.

So, it is reasonable to baptize a child starting from the eighth day of his life, but it is better to do this no earlier than the fortieth day, when his mother has passed the phase of physiological cleansing and can be returned to the bosom of the church by reading a special prayer over her.

This will allow the mother to be present at the baptismal ritual, which may be appropriate for the child.
The baby, in turn, having lived in this world for more than a month, will adapt to it, the functioning of his systems will improve, and he himself will become somewhat stronger for visiting such a crowded place as a temple.

Such a small child still sleeps almost all the time, and the stress of what is happening will not affect him much, but at the same time the swimming reflex does not fade away, and it will not cost anything for the person being baptized to hold his breath when immersed in the font and not choke on the water.

Important! Sometimes circumstances force the baby to be baptized as soon as possible, for example, in the maternity ward or even in intensive care. Doctors usually treat this with respect and allow the ceremony to be performed by inviting a priest.

After six months of age, the baby’s activity increases, and periods of wakefulness lengthen; he recognizes his own people and is afraid of strangers, which can somewhat complicate the performance of the sacrament and make it less comfortable and solemn.

Holidays, memorial days and fasting are not at all an obstacle to the baptism of a child; another thing is that the schedule of a particular temple and its rules provide for the ceremony to be carried out on certain days, while other types of activities may be planned on others.
But if there is such a need or a strong desire of the parents, then you can always invite a priest to the house on an individual basis.

The time of year and unfavorable weather conditions should not confuse parents: churches have a centuries-old practice of baptizing children - these days they are heated, and the water in the font is heated.

What will you need?

In order to baptize a child, the consent of at least one of his parents is required. Next, it’s a matter of choosing the church where the sacrament will be held, selecting godparents for the baby and purchasing the things necessary for the ceremony.

Choosing a Church

The only thing that should definitely be observed when choosing the place where you will baptize your child is to choose a church of your denomination. All other factors are subjective:

• for some it is important that the temple is located not far from home;
• someone wants their offspring to be baptized by a specific priest, for example, who is the spiritual father of the parents;
• for some it is important that the priest makes a pleasant impression in a conversation;
• For some, it matters how he feels in the temple.

There can be many considerations, and parents, based on them, choose the church where they intend to introduce their child to grace.

Choosing godparents

Being chosen as a godparent is a huge responsibility. The people parents choose for this role should be truly close and responsible.

In fact, they have the right and even the obligation to participate in the upbringing of their godson, to instruct him in life, and they are also charged with the duty of introducing him into the bosom of the church. Often parents choose close friends and relatives for this honorable role.

Not every person can become a godparent; there are restrictions:

• age - a boy under 15 years old and a girl under 13 years old cannot take on this honorable role, since they themselves are still children who need mentors;
• nuns and monks are prohibited from being godparents;
• mentally ill people cannot perform the most important duties of godparents;
• under no circumstances can biological parents baptize their own child;
• godfather and mother should not be in a marital and/or sexual relationship, neither in the past, nor in the present, nor in the future - they are related only by a spiritual connection in relation to the godson.

Important! Signs that limit the right of an unmarried girl to become a godmother for a girl, or for a woman to baptize a baby, have no basis and are considered superstitions - the church does not confirm them.

Future godparents, in turn, must themselves be baptized.
It is advisable for them to confess before the ceremony, and on the day on which it is scheduled, to tune into a spiritual mood with the help of prayer, if possible, rejecting everything earthly from themselves.

This is manifested in fasting and abstinence for maximum participation in God's grace.

Traditionally, a couple is chosen as godparents: a man and a woman, but according to the canons, a child needs a godparent of the same gender as himself.

Did you know? When an older baby begins to learn to walk, frequent falls are inevitable. There is a custom according to which one of the godparents must personally select and buy (or personally make) something that the child could wear on his legs: tights, rompers, socks, and put the new thing on the godson with his own hands. It is believed that after this it will become less frequentfallor stop altogether.

The tradition has gone further and allows you to choose several pairs of godparents for one child, this is also not bad - the more close people he has, the better.

List of necessary things

The person being baptized needs several things for the ceremony:

1. A baptismal shirt, it symbolizes a soul initiated into grace, so it is desirable that the shirt be white; it can be inherited, but is used only in the rite of baptism.
2. A kryzhma, a piece of fabric, a new diaper or a towel - the child is taken into it after the bath. Kryzhma symbolizes purity, a sinless beginning of life; during the subsequent life it serves a person and, unlike the baptismal shirt, belongs only to him.
3. A pectoral cross, which the priest will put on the baby during the ceremony and which can serve him for many years. If the cross was not purchased in a church shop, the priest consecrates it before the ceremony begins, and at the same time checks whether it corresponds to the confession.
4. The image of the saint in whose honor the baby is named.
5. Candles for the ceremony.
6. In some churches it is customary to make a sacrifice: wine and bread.
7. At your own request, you can purchase a bag designed to store strands cut during the ritual.

The christening shirt can be inherited, purchased specifically for this child, but it will be best if the godmother sews it with her own hands. It is customary to wear a cap with the shirt.

Did you know? Popular rumor says that “godfather with rags, godfather with grandmothers” comes to baptism, that is, the godmother is supposed to ensure the availability of baptismal clothes and kryzhma, and the godfather is required to buy a cross, candles, make voluntary donations, and the like. Currently, this popular "rule" is not very carefully followed, and all costs are negotiated and allocated in advance.

The set of things needed for a child's baptism is the same for boys and girls, with the only difference being that the latter are required to wear a cap.

How much and who should I pay?

Canonically, you are not supposed to take money for baptism, but in fact, donations for the temple are accepted, which must be made before the ceremony.

Since the earliest pagan times, religious buildings and the clergy working in them existed on donations, unable to receive other material income, since they provided spiritual services.

In the modern world, little has changed, the only difference being that a modern church is the same communal facility as a house, where it is necessary to pay utility bills, current and major repairs, the maintenance of the facility itself and the priest’s family, which, according to custom, has many children.

Did you know? There is a belief that the hair cut off during baptism should be put on flowing water for a happy, rich and interesting life for its owner. Flowing water, that is, a river or spring, is a necessary condition for the founding of a settlement, a source of life in the most literal sense, since it provides both water and food, if it is a river. It is not surprising that he was deified, worshiped and appreciated in every possible way.

But the priest has no right to refuse a poor family the sacrament of baptism, because God’s grace is not traded. If a refusal occurs due to the inability to make donations, you should contact the clergyman who oversees order in the entire parish - the dean.

How does the ceremony take place?

Many parents are concerned about the fact that they are not allowed to be present at the baptism of their own child, but not all churches enforce this strict rule, and if they want to witness the sacrament, they can easily find a church where this is possible.

Therefore, both lay and godparents should study the general rules by which the rite of baptism of a child takes place in Orthodoxy, as well as the rules that should be observed in this particular church.

All those present at the ceremony must be baptized, their pectoral crosses must be with them.

It is advisable to arrive at the temple in advance to get in the right frame of mind, familiarize yourself with the situation, pray and feel the peace appropriate for the planned event. In addition, it is simply indecent to be late - a priest has a busy schedule and many responsibilities.

When the time comes to begin the ceremony, the godparents bring the child into the temple, with the parent of the opposite sex holding him in his arms.
The baby is wrapped in light cloth, the baptismal shirt is put on him only after the font, just as the soul puts on clean clothes.

The priest asks the godparents to turn their faces to the west, where the abode of Satan is symbolically located, after which he invites them to renounce the devil and serving him three times. You must answer: “I renounce.”

Important! Regarding the presence or absence of a diaper, this issue should be clarified directly with the priest. On the one hand, a person should be naked, but on the other hand, without a diaper, everyone will be somehow restless.

After the renunciation, the godparents are supposed to read the “Creed,” a prayer that they, among others, must know by heart. It is a summary of the principles and principles held by the Christian religion.

After the act of renunciation, the priest sanctifies the water in the font and immerses the child in it three times, pronouncing the sacred formula of baptism, after which confirmation is performed.

The godparent of the same sex receives the baby from the font, wrapping him in kryzhma, and the priest places a pectoral cross on him.
The godfather, who does not have a baby in his arms, puts on a pre-prepared baptismal shirt, symbolizing cleansing from all sin.

Now you need to make a sacrifice to the Lord for the acquired spiritual life, cutting off a strand of hair from your head in a cross shape.

At the end of baptism and confirmation, the new member of the church community is carried around the font three times, after which a commemorative certificate of baptism is issued.

Did you know? Walking around something three times since ancient times means that a person now belongs here. For example, among the Slavs, a marriage was considered concluded, and the new daughter-in-law was accepted into the family, when the mother-in-law led the newlyweds around the hearth three times. For the spirits of the ancestors living under his stones, this was enough to consider the new woman from now on to be a member of their clan.

The baptism of a boy ends with his being brought into the altar, and that of a girl by bowing to the image of the Mother of God.

In addition to the “Creed,” for the successful baptism of a child, godparents need to remember “Our Father” and “Virgin Mother of God” - prayers that are basic for every believer.

How christenings are celebrated

After the baptism has taken place, this event should be celebrated. The child's parents invite guests to a festive feast. Modern conditions do not always allow this to be done at home, but it does not matter where the holiday is held.

Rules of the celebration

Regardless of whether the christening will be celebrated at home, in nature or in a cafe, it is necessary to take care of a quiet place where the baby, loaded with an exorbitant amount of emotions, can retire with his mother, who will put him to the breast, sing a song, rock him to sleep, and he can sleep peacefully and gain strength.

Did you know? It is interesting that in European languages ​​the name of the baptismal rite is not associated with the cross, a symbol of the Christian faith. The name of the ritual of communion with God's grace on them sounds like “baptizo”, in Greek it is “immersion in water”, and not only ritual, but everything in general. The Slavic language, which arose in Christian times, gave the name of the ritual precisely a Christian meaning, and this is its philological feature.

This celebration is special; it should not be filled with noisy fun, loud music, or copious libations. This is a quiet, blissful holiday. It’s good if there are people present at it, with whom you can hold competitions, various games and at the end give them memorable gifts.
The celebration is filled with joy and even glee, but not unbridled and inadequate, but bright and good. Advising everyone present at the baptism, the priest gives advice to pray for the baby.

The interior design should use white and gold colors, which symbolize purity and renewal, warmth and light. The table is covered with a white tablecloth and served with gold-plated cutlery. If you want to use flowers in the design, they are also selected in accordance with the event, for example, white lilies or tulips.

Important! Among the treats there must be dough products, as well as cereals. Pies and pies, all kinds of buns and pretzels, pancakes and the like are indispensable attributes of the baptismal feast. Since ordinary porridge is now not included in the list of holiday dishes, it can be prepared in a special way, using nuts and dried fruits, or you can make a cereal casserole or pudding.

In addition to sweets, it is customary to serve poultry baked in ceramic dishes. There should be a lot of vegetables and greens on the table, evoking thoughts of spring, the beginning of a new life and joy. But alcohol should be kept to a minimum. It is better if it is church or light wine.
And of course, one should not forget to record the ceremony itself and the subsequent celebration in photos and videos in order to preserve the memory of such an important event.

Did you know? During the christening celebration, our ancestors prepared a special porridge for the young father, very salty and spicy, with pepper, horseradish, mustard and similar seasonings. He had to eat at least a spoonful of this terrible treat, because it symbolized the pangs of childbirth, some of which the father was invited to experience in this way on that very day.

What to give to a newborn

According to established traditions, godparents give the child a silver cross with a chain, a silver spoon, a kryzhma, and a baptismal shirt. New times dictate new conditions, and now you can open a bank account for your godson or give him gold jewelry, in a word, a valuable, useful and preferably practical gift.

The rest of the guests also try to please with good gifts: clothes, high-quality toys, jewelry, books, special children's furniture and accessories, and bed linen.

Silver jewelry is traditional for christenings, but no one forbids choosing gold if there is such a desire and opportunity. It would be appropriate to engrave it.

FAQ

From time to time, people have questions that are not directly related to the ritual, but are related to it.

How to dress?

Just as the thoughts of people who are to attend the most important church ceremony in a person’s life should be pure, their attire should be just as modest and beautiful. It is not welcome, and in many temples it is prohibited for women to wear trousers, transparent or revealing clothes, or to wear makeup.

A headscarf or shawl is required to visit the temple: a woman is required to cover her head, while a man, on the contrary, bares it.

The attire of men should also look modest and dignified: a shirt should be preferred to a T-shirt or a T-shirt; if the choice nevertheless stops at a T-shirt, it should be without patterns or inscriptions that distract attention.

If a man decides to wear jeans as trousers, they should not look provocative, have holes or bright inscriptions on them, or hang low on the hips.

Should we be called saints?

Before baptism, the child is named. This may be the name already given to the child at birth and documented, or another name that the baby is given in honor of an Orthodox saint.

It happens that the parents named the child with a non-Orthodox name, and then at baptism the priest names him close in sound or a completely different name, chosen by the parents independently or on his advice.

Did you know? Angel Day or Name Day is a day on which the memory of the saint in whose honor the baby is named is celebrated.

The name can be found in church calendars, specialized literature, and the Internet. It was once customary to name a child after a saint whose memory is celebrated on the day of baptism or birthday, but it is not at all necessary to follow this custom.

The priest will never name a child according to his own understanding, without taking into account the will of the parents.

Who should you invite?

Traditionally, relatives and closest friends with their families and children are invited to such an event. The presence of godparents is mandatory.

Did you know? The words “godfather” and “godfather” are not terms that relate exclusively to Christianity, although this is what godparents are called in relation to actual parents, as well as to each other. At the moment it is no longer possible to determine what the origin of these words is, they are so ancient. There is a version that they have the same root as the word “idol”, deity, that is, people who call each other godfathers are spiritual relatives.

What to do if mom is “unclean”?

Before the forty-day mark, the mother is considered “unclean” and is forbidden to attend church. After this time, she is allowed to take part in baptism after a special cleansing prayer is read over her.

If it is necessary to baptize the child earlier, the mother is not present at the ceremony. If the baby is already several months old, the monthly cycle has been restored after childbirth, and the baby’s christening occurs at one of these moments, you should consult with the priest.

On the one hand, shedding blood within the temple is prohibited, on the other hand, modern hygiene products make it possible to completely neutralize this effect. Therefore, each temple looks at this issue individually.

Everything that has been said about critical days also applies to the godmother.

Is it possible to baptize without a priest?

In exceptional cases, a child can be baptized at any time, even immediately after birth, and any baptized layman can do this. The ceremony requires one parent, some water and knowledge of a short special prayer.

However, it should be understood that this ritual is incomplete; in the future it requires mandatory completion in the temple. The priest should be warned of the actions taken so that he can properly complete what he started.

Is it possible to wash the baby right away?

The Church does not place any prohibitions on bathing after the ceremony, but many prefer not to wash the baptized child for several days so that the sacred oil applied during the sacrament remains on his body longer.

Baptizing a child in infancy or waiting until he makes his own decisions in life has long become a personal matter for an individual family. For religious families, this question does not arise, and the rest make their choice in accordance with personal considerations.
And when it has already been made in favor of baptism, you should study the issue, pay attention to the choice of the temple and priest, godparents, carefully plan and conduct the holiday so that a good memory remains of it.

Orthodox believers know about the seven Christian sacraments, one of which is baptism. The teaching says that every Orthodox Christian needs to be baptized in order to save his soul and gain the Kingdom of Heaven after physical death. God's grace descends on those who are baptized, but there are also difficulties - everyone who accepts the ritual becomes a warrior of God's army, and the forces of evil fall upon him. To avoid misfortunes, you need to wear a cross.

The day of baptism is very important for a believer - it is like the day of his second birth. This event must be approached with full responsibility. Let's talk about what the baby needs to perform the sacrament, what to buy and take with him, what godparents should do, how to celebrate this holiday at home.If the godparents (godparents) take on part of the responsibility for organizing the ceremony, this will be correct. Preparations for the holiday are carried out by all its participants, especially the baby’s relatives.

It is believed that wearing a pectoral cross protects a person from the forces of evil, and also strengthens his spirit and directs him to the true path. The appearance or cost of the material of the cross does not matter at all - as long as the cross is Orthodox and not pagan

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

According to custom, the baby is baptized on the 8th or 40th day after birth. There are circumstances that can affect the timing of the baptism of an infant: if the baby is sick, the illness poses a threat to life, you can baptize him earlier. Orthodoxy says that after christening a person has a guardian angel who is always behind his right shoulder. He will protect the baby and can save him. It is believed that the more prayers addressed to an angel, the stronger he will be.

Some people prefer to wait until the little man grows up and becomes stronger. The other side of the coin is that while the child is an infant, he sleeps in the arms of his godmother and calmly endures the sacrament. The older he gets, the more difficult it is for him to serve quietly. At 2 years old, the baby is spinning, wants to run, go outside. This creates difficulties for the priest and godparents, because the action can last more than an hour. Bathing a baby in the font is also easier.

The first thing mom and dad do before the sacrament is choose a spiritual name for the baby. In our country, a tradition has developed of calling a baby in the world by a name other than the one given to him at baptism in the church - this is a custom justified in Orthodoxy, since it is believed that only the mother and father, the priest and the recipients can know the church name.

Then the little man will be more protected from life’s adversities. In the church, you can agree that the baby is named after the saint on whose day the baby’s birth date falls.

Recommendations for preparing for the baptism ceremony of a small child

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This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!

How to organize a child's christening? You need to visit the temple where the procedure will take place. In the church shop you can ask questions that interest you. The church minister in the shop will offer you to read a brochure about baptism, which describes all the rules. The date of birth of your baby will be written down, and the desired church name of the baby and the names of his godparents will be asked. For the ceremony, a voluntary payment is made in the form of a donation, which goes to the needs of the temple. How much should I pay? The amount of donation may vary from church to church.

Before the sacrament of baptism, godparents are required to go for an interview with the priest. If the baby’s mother and father come along with them and take part in the conversation, this will only be a plus. The priest will tell you how the baptism of a young child is performed, and what you need to take with you. He will definitely ask during the conversation whether the mother and father and the baby’s adoptive parents are baptized. If not, then the unbaptized should be baptized before the sacrament is performed on the baby. During the conversation, the priest will give recommendations to the baby’s family and set a day and time for the child’s baptism. On this day, you should arrive early in order to have time to get your bearings and prepare. Many parents invite a photographer to their child’s christening and take photos and videos. You need to know that to record videos and take photographs, you must ask permission and blessings from the priest.

The priest will be able to tell you more about the sacrament and instruct the godparents, with whom a preliminary conversation must be held. Parents of the child can also attend.

Who to choose as godparents?

Usually godparents are people of the same sex as the baby: for girls it is a woman, for boys it is a man. You can invite two godparents of different genders. Then the baby will have a spiritual father and mother.

The question of who is worthy to become your baby's godfather is very important. Godparents become the baby's second parents. Think about who treats the little man better, who is ready to bear responsibility for him, give him a spiritual example, and pray for him? Most often, relatives and family friends become recipients.

It is best if the godfather is a deeply religious person who knows and observes church traditions and laws. This person should often visit your home, since he is responsible for the upbringing of the little man, primarily spiritual. He will be next to your baby all his life.

You can choose your mother’s or father’s sister or brother, a close friend or family friend, or the baby’s grandmother or grandfather as your godfather.

The recipients must be baptized themselves - this must be done in advance. Parents need to understand that the issue of choosing godparents must be approached very seriously.

Who can't become a godfather?

The laws of baptism in the Orthodox Church are such that the following cannot become a godparent:

1. atheists or non-believers;
2. monks and nuns;
3. mentally ill people;
4. children under 15 years of age;
5. drug addicts and alcoholics;
6. promiscuous women and men;
7. spouses or sexually close people;
8. baby's parents.

Brother and sister cannot be godparents to each other. If you are baptizing twins, you must not do it on the same day. Twins may well have the same godparents.

If twins are growing up in a family, then they need to be baptized on different days, but another pair of godparents is not needed for this - it is enough to find two reliable and pious people

Memo for godparents

• Appearance. The baby's adoptive parents must come to church with their crosses around their necks. If it is a woman, she wears a skirt that is below the knee and a jacket with sleeves to the temple. A headdress is required for the godmother. The rules for being in church also apply to a man’s clothing: you cannot expose your knees and shoulders, that is, even in hot weather you will have to give up shorts and a T-shirt. A man is in the temple with his head uncovered.
• Purchases and payment. People often ask who should buy a cross for a child’s baptism? Who pays for the procedure? There is a certain procedure for baptizing a newborn child and preparing for it.
  1. It assumes that the godfather buys a cross for the godson and also pays for the baptism. The godmother buys a cross for her goddaughter. It is best to choose a cross made of ordinary metal or silver. It is not customary to use a golden cross at a ceremony. When choosing a cross, make sure that it cannot injure the baby; let the cross have oval edges.
  2. In addition to the godmother's cross, you need to buy a towel, baptismal shirt and sheet in advance. She buys kryzhma - the material in which the baby is baptized. Caring mothers keep the material for many years, as it helps to cure the child from illness. The sick little man is wrapped in kryzhma, and he begins to recover. It should be stored in a place hidden from prying eyes, since it is believed that through it it can be used to damage the baby.
• Preparation. People appointed as spiritual parents are obliged to prepare themselves for the baptism ceremony of a small child. Preparation includes strict fasting, starting a few days before the event, and refusal of entertainment and pleasure. The day before, it’s a good idea to take communion in church, before going to confession. You must take your child's birth certificate with you to church. You can watch the video of the baptism in advance to roughly understand the sequence of events.
• Prayer. Recipients are required to learn the “Creed” prayer. This prayer is read by the priest three times during the sacrament of baptism of the child; the godfather may also be asked to read it by heart.

Nuances of christening

• A little man can be baptized on any day of the week - on holidays and weekdays, on Lent and on an ordinary day, but most often christenings take place on Saturday.
• The foster children are supposed to pick up the child from the parents in advance and go with him to church on the appointed day and time. Their parents follow them. There is a sign that the godfather should chew a clove of garlic and breathe in the baby’s face. In this way, evil forces are driven away from the baby.
• Only the closest people are present at the ceremony in the temple - the parents of the boy or girl receiving the sacrament, maybe grandparents. The rest can come to the house of the baptized person after the ceremony and celebrate this event at the festive table.
• Baptism of an infant does not always take place in the church itself. Sometimes the priest conducts the ceremony in a specially designated room.
• If necessary, parents can arrange a ceremony at home or in the maternity hospital. To do this, you need to come to an agreement with the priest and pay all his expenses for organizing the sacrament.
• The priest reads prayers and anoints the newborn. Then he cuts a lock of hair from his head, as if making a sacrifice to God. Then the baby is lowered into the font three times, the priest says: “Here is the cross, my daughter (my son), carry it.” Together with the priest, the godfather says: “Amen.”
• The child's parents also come to church, observing Orthodox customs. They dress as is customary in the temple. During the ceremony, the mother can pray for her child. Such prayers will surely be answered.
• In the evening, relatives and friends come to the holiday with gifts. Their choice depends on wealth and imagination: toys or clothes, baby care items or an icon of the baby’s patron saint.

Traditionally, baptism takes place on the premises of a church, but in some circumstances parents may request an outdoor ceremony - for example, at home or in the maternity ward

Features of christenings for boys and girls

The christening of a girl and a boy differs little. During the ritual, the godfather carries the male child behind the altar, but the godmother does not carry the female child there. The christening of a newborn girl requires the presence of a headdress, that is, a headscarf is put on her. When a little boy is christened, he is in the temple without a headdress.

If both godparents participate in the ritual, then first the godmother holds the boy, and after bathing in the font, the godfather picks him up and carries him to the altar. The girl is held in her arms only by her godmother. This is the main difference in the ritual for children of the opposite sex.

If the procedure for baptizing a small child is followed, the child’s blood and spiritual parents will prepare for christening, and the child will grow up healthy and cheerful. When he grows up, he will become a highly spiritual person striving for a righteous life.

Clinical and perinatal psychologist, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Perinatal Psychology and Reproductive Psychology and Volgograd State Medical University with a degree in clinical psychology

After the birth of a child, parents think about holding a christening. It is clear that it is necessary to prepare for this ritual in advance, since there are many nuances. You can learn about everything from friends who have already baptized their child or from a priest in church. And we will try to be useful to you and provide the necessary information on how to properly baptize a child, when is the best time to do this and what needs to be prepared for this ritual.

Why do you need to baptize a child?

Baptism is one of the important events in the life of an Orthodox person. The fact is that thanks to this sacrament, joining the faith of Christ occurs, a connection is established between man and God. In addition, baptism means cleansing from original sin. During the ritual, the child is given the Christian name of one of the saints. Thus, the baptized person has a guardian angel who will protect him from invisible dark forces and guide him on the true path.

What time is a child baptized?

“Is it possible to baptize a child immediately after birth?” - This question very often worries young parents. According to church canons, baptism can be performed on the 8th day of birth, if the child is weak and very sick. But the mother will not be able to attend because she is considered “unclean.” After 40 days from the mother’s birthday, a special cleansing prayer is read – the Fortieth Day Prayer. Only after this can the mother attend the important ceremony. But if the newborn is weak or sick, baptism is carried out in the first days after birth.

On what days are they baptized? Is it possible to baptize a child during Lent?

The baptism ceremony can be carried out on any day - ordinary, Lenten or holiday.

Sometimes it is necessary to decide where to baptize a child. Your choice may fall on any church, but if you are a parishioner of a certain church, baptize your baby in it. Occasionally, christenings take place at home - if the child is seriously ill.

How to choose godparents?

These should not be random and unfamiliar people, because godparents will become your child’s spiritual mentors and will take an active part in his life, since they will promise to lead a Christian lifestyle for their godson. Please note that future godparents must be baptized themselves, not engaged to each other or not married.

Sometimes parents do not find worthy “candidates” for godparents and wonder whether it is possible to baptize without godparents. Unfortunately, this is impossible, since the baby does not have his own faith, and it is the godparents who are his successor. One godfather will be enough: a godmother for a girl and a godfather for a boy.

What to prepare for christening?

You can purchase candles and a towel in advance or at the church shop. It is important to consider what clothes the godparents will wear to baptize the child. This should be a new cap and a white shirt. It can be decorated with lace or embroidery. The pectoral cross, chain and icon are traditionally given by godparents.

Ritual

At the beginning of the ritual, the godparents three times renounce Satan and all his deeds for the child, then three times confirm their desire to unite with Christ. Then the godparents recite the “Symbol of Faith” prayer. After lighting the water in the font, the priest anoints the baby with oil (ears, forehead, chest, hands, feet). The child is undressed and brought to the font. The priest will dip the child in the font three times or sprinkle him with holy water. After this, the child is given to the recipient, who receives him with a towel in his hands (the girl is the godmother, the boy is the godfather). A baptismal robe and a cross are put on the baby, and confirmation is performed. Then the baptized child and his godparents walk around the font three times. Next, the priest washes the myrrh and cuts the hair of the baptized child and gives him communion. The boy is brought into the altar. Children of both sexes are applied to the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. The clothes in which the child was baptized are preserved because they can serve as protection during illness.

The desire to baptize your child with the Orthodox Church is welcomed in any case. But today we all often lack knowledge about church rituals in general and about the rite of baptism in particular.

Rather, having decided to baptize a newborn, we adhere to family traditions, not fully realizing the importance of this rite, that it is the second birth of the baby, spiritual: bringing him closer to God Himself, who will henceforth guide the fate of our son or daughter . Hence the many questions for clergy that arise in almost all parents. And one of them is not at all unimportant - is it possible to baptize a child not in a church, but at home?

Is it possible to baptize a child at home?

In the Orthodox Church there are no special canons prohibiting baptism at home. And in past centuries, especially in rural areas, much more often than now, the ceremony took place at home. And there were reasons for this. We know that peasant families almost everywhere had many children, and babies were often born one after another. The mother’s body did not have time to recover after childbirth and the younger children were born much weaker than their older brothers and sisters. Some of them were simply not viable or were born prematurely. It was in such cases, when the road to the temple could result in deterioration of the baby’s condition or death, that the priest was called to the house.

Baptism in a hospital or maternity hospital

It is since then that our church has retained the condition for baptism outside the church, in which priests baptize premature babies, those born with pathologies, or sick and significantly weakened infants at home or in the hospital. The ritual is performed without immersion in water, which is replaced by sprinkling the baby with holy water.

The second point when baptism at home is permissible is the absence of conditions for baptism in a temple or a temple located very far from the place where the family lives. Of course, the organization of both the arrival and departure of the priest in such a situation is taken upon by the parents or godparents. Of course, in this case too, due to the absence of a baptismal font, immersion is replaced by sprinkling.

Baptism of boys outside the temple

It should be noted that although baptism at home is permissible, the clergy strongly recommend that everything be done to ensure that it is carried out in the temple. Especially if we are talking about a boy: boys, unlike girls, are also carried around the altar three times during the ceremony, and only in this case can we talk about full compliance with all the conditions for the baptism of an infant.

Baptism where there are no Orthodox churches

Very closely related to the issue of baptizing a baby at home is the question of what to do if the family of a newborn lives in a place where there are no Orthodox churches at all? For example, abroad? And in this case, is it possible to christen the baby yourself?

It’s good if there is a grandmother in the family who knows the basic prayers and is able to read them over some water, with which she will then sprinkle the baby’s head, reciting at least the main Orthodox prayers: “Creed”, “Our Father” and “Hail to the Virgin Mary” . If this is not possible, this function should be taken on by an older family member or an Orthodox believer from the outside. The necessary prayers can always be found on the Internet and be sure to learn them by heart. But in any case, if the family ends up in a place where there are no Orthodox churches (such cities exist, for example, in the USA, Mexico, North Africa, etc.), later, even years later, the baptismal rite must be supplemented by a clergyman in accordance with church canons.

We are talking specifically about its addition, and not about a second baptism, which cannot be carried out. And for this, parents, future godparents, or, if the person is already an adult, the person being baptized must first meet with the priest and describe the situation to him in detail. If the family still lives in foreign countries, it is necessary to find out where exactly in this country there are Orthodox churches. In particular, in America they exist and are most often located in the suburbs of large cities - for example, in the suburbs of Chicago, where you can go as soon as the baby is old enough to be able to endure a long journey.

Baptism for the second time is prohibited

And let us emphasize once again: the second baptism of a person by the church is prohibited. You can be born spiritually - just like physically - only once! Our Creed clearly and clearly states: “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins...”. If you were baptized in infancy and, having become an adult, you want to become a Christian consciously, you just need to remember that you are a baptized person and try to live as the Orthodox Church expects of us.

Svetlana Kostitsyna.