What do you need to prepare for baptism? Boy's christening - getting ready for the great sacrament

Baptism is one of the most important events in the spiritual life of the child: from now on and for the rest of his life, the baby will be under reliable protection your guardian angel. That is why baptism must be approached very seriously and responsibly, remembering that this is not a “simple formality” or a tribute to fashion, but the Great Sacrament, during which the baby descends God's grace.

When to baptize a child?

According to tradition, babies are most often baptized on the fortieth day: it was at this age during the old testament children were brought to the temple for the first time. In addition, it is precisely after forty days after childbirth (due to physiological moments) that the mother has the right to take part in the Sacrament after the priest reads a special prayer over her.

However, if the baby was born very weak or there is a threat to his life, you can christen him earlier by inviting a priest to medical institution(in such situations, the medical staff, as a rule, goes towards the parents).

In general, it is believed that children under three months behave much more calmly during the Sacrament: they are not yet afraid strangers who take them in their arms, more easily endure watering and even complete dipping.

How older child- the more he is exposed to the influence of surrounding events, people, sounds, and can react to them with anxiety, whims, crying. Yes, and it is much harder for godparents to hold a three-year-old toddler in their arms than a newborn baby.

Often, parents are afraid to baptize a baby in the cold season, postponing this event for a period of warm weather. I must say that this is not entirely justified: even in winter, the room where the Sacrament takes place is very warm, and the water for the font is also heated.

God-parents

The main task in preparing for the baptism of a child is the choice godparents. There may be two, but it is not necessary. The main thing is that the girl had godmother and the boy has a godfather.

Today, most often godparents take close friends, who, at times, are quite far from the church. This is not entirely correct, since it is the godparents who are responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the baby, it is they who will pray for him, even if (and this happens often) there is a discord between them and the child's parents.

According to general rules, godparents cannot be people who:

1. are non-believers, other faiths or atheists;
2. monks;
3. suffer from mental illness;
4. suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism;
5. lead a chaotic sex life;
6. are minors (boys - up to fifteen years old, girls - up to thirteen);
7. are the parents of the child;
8. are a married couple;
9. the child who is being baptized is a brother or sister.

Baptism supplies

Preparation for the baptism of a child also includes the preparation of the necessary baptismal supplies:

• Cross

Better if it is made of silver or ordinary metal, with rounded edges and almost flat, so that the baby does not get hurt. Instead of a chain, it is better to choose a short soft rope. After performing the Sacrament, the baby must wear a cross without taking it off.

Many parents are afraid that the baby’s neck will be crushed, whether he will swallow it, or lose it. As one priest said: "The cross has never harmed a single child." You just need to make sure that the rope is not long and cannot get tangled, and the knot on it is strong so that it does not come loose.

• Kryzhma

diaper white color, on which the initials of the baby can be embroidered, Orthodox cross, and on the edges - openwork patterns. In the kryzhma, the godparents hold the baby during baptism and take it from the font, after which it is kept at home next to the baby's bed. It is believed that if the baby is worried, sleeps badly or is naughty, it is worth wrapping it in a kryzhma or covering it with it - and it will become much calmer;

• baptismal shirt

It can be either an ordinary white cotton vest or a custom-made silk shirt with gold embroidery. The only requirement is that it must be new. In such clothes, the baby is in the temple during the Sacrament, after which it is kept in the family as a relic.

Already before the baptism itself in the temple, it will be necessary to purchase candles (the number will be indicated by the priest).

Sacrament baptism: important points

Before becoming godparents, people who perform such a responsible mission should come to a conversation with a priest. Some imagine such a meeting in the form of an exam, although this is far from being the case: the priest will tell about the foundations of Orthodoxy, about Christ and the Gospel. He will indicate which prayers need to be read, explain the duties of godparents.

It is important to remember that the christening of a child involves certain rules.

Rules for the godmother:

• a scarf or scarf on the head;
• skirt or dress below the knees (in no case trousers);
• blouse or top part dresses - with closed shoulders and elbows.

According to the unspoken rule, it is the godmother who buys kryzhma and pectoral cross if a girl is baptized.

Rules for the godfather:

• the presence of a pectoral cross on the neck;
• the absence of any headgear;
• neat clothes (categorically impossible - shorts and a T-shirt).

According to an unspoken, again, rule, the godfather pays for baptism and acquires a cross for the godson - a boy.

Having chosen a temple, you should agree on the day of the Sacrament and clarify what you need to bring with you. On the appointed day, parents with the baby, godparents and relatives should arrive a little in advance of the agreed time in order to avoid possible fuss. It is desirable to feed a nursing baby so that he behaves calmly.

If you want to shoot the Sacrament on video or take a photo, you must ask the priest for permission in advance.

The Sacrament itself in different temples lasts from thirty minutes to an hour.

During this time, the rite of baptism goes through several stages:

• reading by the priest of certain prayers;
• dipping in a font (or just sprinkling with water);
• putting on a cross;
• anointing the baby with peace;
• walking around the font;
• cutting hair.

The final stage of the baptism of the girl is to attach her to the icon Mother of God, and the boy - bringing him to the altar.

After the completion of the Sacrament, a baptismal certificate is issued, which indicates the date, data on the godparents and the priest who performed the Sacrament. The priest explains to parents when the child needs to be brought to the church for Communion.

Believing Orthodox people know about the seven Christian sacraments, one of which is baptism. The teaching says that every Orthodox 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 takes the rite becomes a warrior of God's army, the forces of evil fall upon him. To avoid adversity, you need to wear a pectoral cross.

The day of baptism is very important for the believer - it is, as it were, the day of his second birth. This event must be approached with all responsibility. Let's talk about what the baby needs to complete the sacrament, what to buy and take with you, what godparents should do, how to celebrate this holiday at home.If the godparents (godparents) take on some of the concerns for organizing the ceremony, this will be correct. Preparation for the holiday is carried out by all its participants, especially the relatives of the baby.

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. Appearance or the cost of the material of the cross does not matter at the same time - if only the cross was 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 term for the baptism of an infant: if the baby is sick, the disease poses a threat to life, you can christen him earlier. Orthodoxy says that after christening, a guardian angel appears in a person, who is always behind his right shoulder. He will protect the baby and can save him. It is believed that the more prayers are addressed to the angel, the stronger it will be.

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

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 to call a baby in the world not by the name that he is given at baptism in the church - this is a custom justified in Orthodoxy, since it is believed that church name only the mother and father, the priest and the recipients can know.

Then the little man will be more protected from life's adversities. In the church, you can arrange for the baby to be named after the saint on whose day the baby's date of birth falls.

Recommendations for preparing for the rite of baptism of a small child

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How to organize a child's christening? It is necessary to visit the temple in which the procedure will take place. In the church shop you can ask questions that interest you. The church clerk in the shop will offer you to read a brochure on baptism, which describes all the rules. The date of birth of your baby will be recorded, they will also ask for the desired church name of the baby, the names of his godparents. For the ceremony voluntary payment in the form of a donation that goes to the needs of the temple. How much should you pay? The size of the donation may vary from church to church.

Before the sacrament of baptism, the godparents must be sent for an interview with the priest. If mom and dad of the baby 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, what you need to take with you. He will definitely ask during the conversation whether the mother and father and the child's successors are baptized. If not, then the unbaptized should be baptized before the sacrament is performed on the baby. The priest during the conversation will give recommendations to the relatives of the baby, appoint the day and time when the child will be baptized. On this day, you should come in advance in order to have time to orient yourself in the situation, to prepare. Many parents invite a photographer to the christening of their child, take photos and videos. You need to know that in order to record video and take pictures, you need to ask permission and blessings from the priest.

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

Who to choose as godparents?

Usually people of the same sex with the baby become godparents: for girls - a woman, for boys - a man. You can invite two godparents of different sexes. Then the baby will have a spiritual father and mother.

The question of who is worthy to be the godfather of your baby is very important. Godparents become the second parents of the baby. 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 friends of the family become the recipients.

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

You can choose as a godfather a sister or brother of mom and dad, a close friend or family friend, grandma or grandpa of the baby.

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 cannot become a godfather?

The laws of baptism in Orthodox Church are such that they cannot become a godfather:

1. atheists or non-believers;
2. monks and nuns;
3. mentally ill people;
4. children under 15;
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. Godparents for twins may well be the same.

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

Reminder for godparents

• Appearance. The recipients of the baby should come to church with their crosses around their necks. If this is a woman, she puts on a knee-length skirt and a jacket with sleeves in the temple. A headdress is required for the godmother. The rules of being in a church also apply to a man’s clothes: you can’t bare your knees and shoulders, that is, even in hot weather, you will have to give up shorts with a T-shirt. The 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 the baptism of a newborn child and preparation for it.
  1. He 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 the golden cross at the ceremony. When choosing a cross, pay attention to the fact that it cannot injure the baby, let the cross have oval edges.
  2. In addition to the godmother's cross, you must buy a towel, a christening shirt and a sheet in advance. She also buys kryzhma - the material in which the baby is baptized. Caring mothers keep the matter for many years, as it helps to cure the child from the disease. A sick little man is wrapped in kryzhma, and he will begin to recover. It should be kept in a place hidden from prying eyes, since it is believed that through it you can damage the baby.
• Training. People appointed by spiritual parents are obliged to prepare for the rite of baptism of a small child themselves. The preparation includes a strict fast, starting a few days before the event, the rejection of entertainment and comfort. On the eve, it’s not bad to take communion in the temple, before which you go to confession. You must bring your child's birth certificate with you to church. You can watch a video from the baptism in advance in order to roughly understand the sequence of events.
• Prayer. Recipients are required to learn the "Symbol of Faith" prayer. This prayer is read three times by the priest during the sacrament of the baptism of the child, she may be asked to read by heart and the godfather.

The nuances of christening

• A little man can be baptized on any day of the week - on holidays and weekdays, on fasting and on a normal day, but most often christenings take place on Saturday.
• The recipients are supposed to pick up the child from their parents in advance and go with him to church on the appointed day and time. The parents follow them. There is a sign that the godfather should chew a clove of garlic and breathe in the face of the baby. 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 who receives the sacrament, maybe grandparents. The rest can come to the house of the baptized after the ceremony and celebrate this event at the festive table.
• Infant baptism 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 hospital. To do this, you need to agree with the priest and pay all his expenses for organizing the sacrament.
• The priest reads prayers and anoints the newborn. Then he cuts a strand of hair from his head, as if offering 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 father, the godfather (aya) says: “Amen.”
• The parents of the child also come to church, observing Orthodox customs. They dress as is customary in the temple. During the ceremony, a mother can pray for her child. Such prayers will surely be heard.
• 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 the icon of the saint - the patron saint of the baby.

Traditionally, baptism takes place in the temple premises, however, in some circumstances, parents may request an offsite ceremony - for example, at home or in the delivery room

Features of christening boys and girls

The christening of a girl and a boy differ little. During the ceremony, the godfather carries the male baby behind the altar, but the godmother does not carry the female child there. The christening of a newborn girl assumes the presence of a headdress, that is, they put a scarf on her. When a little boy is christened, he is in the temple without a headdress.

If both godparents participate in the ceremony, then at first the godmother holds the boy’s child, and after bathing in the font, the godfather takes him in his arms and carries him to the altar. The girl is held in her arms only by the godmother. This is the main difference in the rite over children of the opposite sex.

If the order of baptism of a small child is observed, the natural and spiritual parents of the child will prepare for christening, the child will grow up healthy and cheerful. When he grows up, he will become a highly spiritual person striving for a righteous life.

Everything that the godparents need to know for the baptism of a child is usually told by the priest, who conducts a special interview for the godparents and the parents of the baby. This interview is usually held no later than a week before the planned event. Godparents need to know some prayers. The first of these is the prayer "To the King of Heaven", it is also called the "Invocation of the Holy Spirit". In it, believing hearts turn to the third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit. From the first name of the prayer, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is called in it the King of Heaven. In this prayer there is also an appeal to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and the true Spirit, who is everywhere and fills everything. Christians ask that this Spirit come and dwell in us, cleanse us of all that is filthy and sinful, and save our souls. This prayer is very deep in its meaning, with its words they call on the Holy Spirit at the beginning of each business.

Another basic Christian prayer that godparents must know for a child's baptism is the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father." It is called the Lord's because it was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and it is contained in Holy Scripture New Testament. Our Father is an appeal to God the Father, who is the first Person of the Most Holy Trinity. When our ancestors said that you need to remember something very well, they used the following words: “You should know this as“ Our Father ””. For many modern people this expression doesn't make as much sense as it used to. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the prayer "Our Father" baptized people. It contains words and petitions so important in meaning that it is one of the main Christian prayers. It gives a person an understanding that the Creator and Creator, who gave us everything, is not somewhere far away, but constantly heeds our prayers and requests, and is our Loving Father. We must have the desire to glorify the name of God in all our words, thoughts and deeds, make every effort to reign here on earth. God's world and order. We must seek the will of God and do it to the best of our ability. In this prayer, we ask God to give us everything we need for our spiritual and bodily needs. This meaning lies in the words "give us our daily bread today." We ask God for forgiveness for all our sins and transgressions, so that He forgives us, just as we forgive those people who have done something contrary to our will. We ask God for help and blessings so that He does not let us enter into temptation and temptation, and delivers us from everything bad and harmful, i.e. evil one. This prayer should be well remembered not only by the godparents and the parents of the child before his baptism, but also by all Christians. Later it will be the duty of godparents to teach this prayer, as well as other prayers, to them. godchild and explain the meaning of prayers.

In the prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice,” the Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified. She is called blessed among all women, because from her womb the Savior himself and the Lord Jesus Christ came.

Godparents are required to at least be able to read such an important book. She is briefly expresses the main doctrinal moments of the Orthodox Church. It will have to be read during the sacrament of Baptism.

Baptism of a child. What do you need to buy?

Before the baptism of the child, it is necessary to buy a pectoral cross. This can be done by godparents or the parents of the baby themselves. The priest puts a pectoral cross on the child's neck after he is immersed in the holy font. We must try to keep this cross permanently on the body of a little Christian. He will remind the child that the Lord loves him so much as no one else in the world can love. God was even ready to endure even the most terrible suffering for the sake of saving the soul of man.

What you need to do before the Baptism of a child, in addition to passing an interview and buying a pectoral cross, is to prepare a baptismal kit. You can sew it yourself, or you can buy it ready-made. The online store "Baptism" has a good choice christening sets and kits. The baptismal set must be white, or at least light in color. To the pectoral cross you need to buy a chain or ribbon. You also need to buy a towel for baptism and prepare a special blanket, especially if the Baptism of the child will take place in the cold season and in a cool room.

It is also good to buy and prepare everything in advance for the celebration of christening. Godparents can prepare christening gifts; it can be holy icons, Orthodox children's books and much more. Everything that needs to be done before the baptism of a child is good to do without too much haste and fuss. All moments of preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism must be approached consciously and with reason.

What else is needed for the baptism of a child?

What is needed for the baptism of a child is a preliminary record in the church. You need to agree in advance on the time and place where your baby will be baptized. Going to the Sacrament of Baptism, do not forget to take wet wipes, clean diapers and diapers with you. If you need to make a donation to the temple for the Sacrament of Baptism, then try to do it as early as possible. If you want to have memorable photographs or video filming after the Sacrament of Baptism, then you also need to take care of this in advance. Try to find someone who can do it well. However, before you start taking a photo or video, you need to talk to the priest. Usually the priest does not mind, but the person who will be shooting should not be too close to the clergyman so as not to interfere with him. Just in case, check with the priest where the photographer or videographer can be during the Sacrament.

The birth of a child and his baptism are events that occur only once in a lifetime. During the birth of a child, a great miracle happens, because each person can change the course of history. The baptism of a child is also a great miracle—the miracle of being born into eternal, spiritual life. The Lord invisibly takes the baby into His arms, and leads him by the hand throughout his life. If only a person does not resist the providence of God, then the Lord arranges everything in his life in the best way for spiritual and bodily life.

This is a special holiday that happens only once in a lifetime. It is believed that a person is born again on this day. On this day, the child acquires a heavenly patron and his new, Christian name.

All sins committed by a person before Baptism are forgiven, and a Christian becomes pure, as at the moment of birth. That is why the sacrament of Baptism is compared with the second birth. An adult person comes to the decision about Baptism on his own, guided by faith, and his parents make the decision for the baby. Best time for the sacrament - eight and forty days from birth. A godfather is enough for a boy, a godmother is enough for a girl. However, according to centuries-old tradition, both are invited. All relatives (except natural parents) and acquaintances are suitable for godparents.

Boy's christening - preparation

Both the future godparents and the parents of the child are having a conversation “for the catechumens” (preparing to be baptized). And then they read the Law of God. These days are special. Forget about the fuss, empty talk, entertainment events. Everything that will happen in the Temple is holy and great, and therefore should be accepted and perceived with reverence, with awe. Try to fast for three days allotted for preparation (fasting is not required for children).

Refrain from cigarettes and alcohol on the day of baptism, and on the eve of intimacy with your spouse. Be sure to confess (this applies to both birth parents and godparents). God's Holiness requires special purity. The christening of a boy is a responsible matter. Only people who believe and have been baptized before can become godparents.

What to wear to a boy's christening?

Your clothes should be modest and clean. Short skirts, tight tight trousers, cosmetics are out of place here. The head of a woman entering the temple must be covered (not only a scarf will do, but also a thin scarf, a beautiful shawl). In no case do not perform the ceremony if one of the women is "unclean" (menstruation). It is believed that a woman who enters the Temple with a child in her arms on such days dooms her godson to an unhappy life.

Duties of godparents

The Orthodox have this statement: “Godparents are more responsible for the child than relatives.” And this is understandable: godparents are the spiritual mentors of their godchildren. They go to communion with their children, pray for them, teach them piety and faith. Their own fate and the fate of the baby taken from the font depend on the fulfillment of their duties by the godparents.

What to give a boy for christening?

First of all, the clothes in which the child will be brought to the temple. The duty of the godparents is to dress the godson in full. These things are then stored for a lifetime, so take the choice of a suit Special attention. A cross is required. Godparents should also buy it. Usually the choice of clothes falls on the mother, and the choice of the cross - on the father. But this is not essential. Here you negotiate yourself. In addition to these things, buy a Bible as a christening gift for a boy. Children's, in a simplified version, with colorful pictures. Especially original gift will be a custom-made measuring icon. It is made in the growth of a godson (the growth of a boy on the day of the Sacrament) with the image of the namesake saint.

Baptism is one of the important sacraments, which means the acceptance of a person in Christian church. Long before the advent of Christianity, there were ritual immersions in water, such a rite is typical for many religions, because water is the source of life, the cult of water was different peoples peace. There was a belief that after dipping a person into water, he becomes protected from all his sins and returns to a new, pure life.

Today, the rite of baptism is not much different from the rite of baptism conducted several centuries ago. As before, so now, the priest does everything.

There are many Christian denominations and in all the rite of baptism takes place in different ways. For example, in the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, baptism is classified as a sacrament. There are differences in the conduct of the rite of baptism itself during this ceremony in different churches. In the Catholic Church, the child is poured with water, in the Orthodox Church they are immersed in water three times, and in the Protestant Church, the child is sprinkled with water. And Adventist and Baptist baptisms are usually performed in natural bodies of water.

How is the rite of baptism performed?

The sacrament of baptism was instituted by Jesus himself. He was baptized in the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. It was not by chance that the rite of baptism took place in water, because in the Bible water symbolizes life (everyone is well aware that a person mainly consists of water), spiritual and bodily purity, God's grace. It was not necessary for Jesus himself to be baptized, but in this way own example he showed all people that each of them must begin his spiritual life. Jesus Christ himself consecrated the water in the Jordan River, and the priest, therefore, calls on the Holy Spirit with the help of prayers to consecrate the water in the font.

Most often, baptism is performed in the temple, but outside the temple it is also quite acceptable. The Sacrament of Baptism lasts an average of about 30 minutes - one hour. The priest at the very beginning begins to read prohibition prayers, thus, he casts out Satan from the baptized in the name of the Lord. After that, the person being baptized (or godparents on his behalf) renounces Satan three times, and proclaims three times reunion with Jesus Christ as God and King. The Symbol of Faith is read three times, in which the whole essence of the Orthodox confession of faith is set forth. Next, the Priest sanctifies the water and oil (oil). The person being baptized is anointed with this oil, and this indicates that from that moment he is in the tree of the Church of Christ. The person being baptized is given a name, which must necessarily be only Christian. After this, the person being baptized is immersed in water three times. During the first dive, the priest says these words: “The servant (slave) of God (God) (the name of the person being baptized) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen". Second dive: “And the Son. Amen". Third dive: “and the Holy Spirit. Amen". From the water, the child is placed in a christening diaper, which is called kryzhma (another name is krizhmo or krizhma).

Next is the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Gospel and the Apostle are reading, during the prayer, tonsure takes place - the Priest cuts off a small tuft of hair from the person being baptized. And a sign that the child has already become a Christian is put on a cross around his neck.

Basically, at baptism, the child is lowered into the water, but splashing and dousing with water is also acceptable. One person can be baptized only once in his entire life, since a person can be physically born only once. Despite different views in beliefs (even in understanding the process of baptism), the Sacrament of Baptism is recognized by the Orthodox Church only in the Armenian Church, the Calvinist Church, the Catholic Church (Greek and Roman), the Anglican Church, the Lutheran Church.

What is a feast after christening or a baptismal table?

Since ancient times, the ancient Slavs, after completing their pagan rites, held family holidays. In Christian Russia, they laid the christening table on the same day, fed everyone - both guests and the poor. All estates had a tradition of arranging a baptismal table, the process differed only in rituals and the variety of dishes served. Before entering the church, the godparents usually said the following words “Take the prayer one, and bring me the baptized one” Lee "Go and bring the child in Orthodox faith» . At christening, the godfather brought bread and bought a cross, and in some cases paid the priest for the ceremony. The godmother provided the priest with a towel so that he could wipe his hands after the ceremony, a shirt for the child and three to four arshins of cloth.

At the baptismal dinner, the main guests were the godparents of the child and the midwife. They were invited for festive table and served tea and snacks. The father of the child at this time invited friends and relatives to his house to celebrate such an important event.

On the day of the christening, the hosts festively set the table. At the beginning, cold dishes were served, for example, on a fast day - kvass with meat and eggs and jelly, and on a fast day - kvass with sauerkraut and herring. After the cold, they served noodles, potato soup with mushrooms, cabbage soup with smelt, which was seasoned with hemp oil - this is on a fast day, and on a fast day - offal soup (ushnik), milk noodles, noodles with pork or chicken, cabbage soup with meat. Regardless of what dishes were on the baptismal table, in without fail served the most important dish - buckwheat porridge(before it was served, millet porridge was served on the table).

After the end of the holiday, the guests expressed their gratitude to the hosts and wished the child many years and more health. The godmother and father were the last to leave. On the same day, in the evening or in the morning, they were offered snacks, followed by an exchange of gifts. Kuma gave her godfather a handkerchief as a keepsake, and the godfather, in turn, kissed his godfather on the lips and gave her money. Before leaving, the mother of the child gave the godparents a cake, for which she received a handkerchief or money (in some cases, soap, sugar, tea, and so on). This is where the holiday ends.

To date family holiday christening is reborn. Children will be born in maternity hospitals (mostly), so you should entrust the role of a midwife to some relative or a very respected guest. This decision is made by the parents of the baptized person.

Is it possible to give the baby a name before the rite of baptism?

Can. The parents give the baby a name and register it in the birth certificate. The church has no right to influence that the name be changed. Naturally, at baptism, a child can be given a church name, which will not always coincide with the name registered on the birth certificate. The registered name will be used in Everyday life, and church - at church ceremonies.

The role of godparents

The choice of godparents must be taken very seriously, because if something happens to the child's parents (illness or death), then it is the godparents who will be responsible for raising the baby. For this reason, they try to choose them among family friends, relatives or close people. Only Christians can be godparents.

In addition, the godparents of the child must be spiritual godparents for their godson. It is forbidden to take unbelievers, non-believers and unbaptized into godfathers. Also, godparents cannot take members of cult organizations, different sects, for example, fortunetellers, Roerichs. It is forbidden to take sinners (drug addicts, alcoholics, and so on) as godparents.

According to the norms of Church law, the following cannot become godparents: mentally ill people, minors, nuns and monks, parents for their children, the bride and groom, people who are married (since married life between persons who are spiritually related is unacceptable ).

In the process of baptizing a child, godparents hold him to the cross in the temple. It can also be one person, the godmother can hold the girl, and the godfather can hold the boy. If a person is baptized as an adult, then godparents are an optional rule for him, since he can respond to questions asked on one's own. The biological parents of the child may be in the temple during the baptism, but they must not hold the child to the cross.

Many people are interested in such a question, is it possible to take a pregnant woman for a godfather, can she be a godmother for a child? Of course you can, there are no barriers to this, since the church is very respectful and reverent towards pregnant women.

If you have any questions related to the baptism of a child, then it is best not to look for an answer from a neighbor or on the Internet, but it is best to ask a priest.

To carry out the process of baptism, the godfather should buy a pectoral cross; the child must wear this cross under clothing for the rest of his life. The godmother needs to buy a baptismal shirt and kryzhma (a white embroidered cloth in the shape of a diaper). In the roof, the child is held to the cross. Baptismal attire and kryzhma are symbols of the fact that the baby came out of the font without sins. Throughout the life of the child, the kryzhma is preserved. If in the future the child will get sick, then they cover him with a roof, as they believe that with its help a quick recovery will come. On the day of baptism, the child must appear clean, dressed in smart and clean clothes, and bathed.

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

The Church recommends that a child be baptized at an early age. Thus, original sin is removed from the child, after which he becomes a member of the church. Jesus Christ had a special attitude. He told his apostles "Let the children come to me and never forbid them to do so, for theirs is God's Kingdom". So parents do not need to delay with the baptism of their child, so that God's grace descends on the child at an early age. Immediately after the rite of baptism, the Holy Spirit descends on the child when the chrismation takes place.

Catholics and Orthodox try to baptize children in the first months of their lives, sometimes even in the first days from birth. Protestants baptize only in adulthood. They argue that at a young age a child is not able to understand the Sacraments of Baptism, but his soul is capable of receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit. It also happens that an early death of a child happens, so it’s not worth delaying baptism, as there is a risk of leaving the baby without God’s protection and the path to salvation will be cut off for him.

Basically, all parents take care of their child, want their child to be physically healthy and not get sick, give him all kinds of vaccinations, so what prevents them from thinking about the immortality of their child's soul?

It is possible to carry out baptism in adulthood, if for some reason it was not carried out in infancy. In this case, a person must undergo catechesis. After that, both the original sin of an adult and all other sins will be removed.

How to conduct baptism correctly: immerse a child in water or pour water over him?

The Holy Letter does not say how much water is needed for baptism. Water is a symbol of life and the sacrament of baptism.

Just pouring or completely immersing in water at baptism is the tradition of the church.

There are churches that have special baptismal places where children are baptized, and even an adult can fully enter the water there.

What you need to buy for a baptism

If not the first child is baptized, then in order for the brothers and sisters to love each other very much and be very friendly, subsequent children are baptized in the shirt in which the firstborn was baptized.

Despite the fact that there are so many different religions, they all have almost the same Baptism Ceremony. Basically, for a child, they acquire a baptismal cover or a baptismal set. In some cases, a special bag is also purchased, in which the child’s cut hair, a satin bracelet or boutonniere, and a bible in a satin cover will be stored in the future.

Christian Responsibilities of Godparents

Godparents must:

• Be a role model;
• Regularly prays for his goddaughter or godson;
• Teach your goddaughter or godson to fight evil and believe in Christ;
• Help her or him grow with faith in the heart of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

If the godparents live far from their cross and see it very rarely, then you need to keep in touch in some way - call up, write letters. The child must definitely feel the care of the godparents, he must also understand that in his life they are very important people. It is desirable that the godparents be present at the first communion of the child.

The godmother and father, both in the rite of baptism and in the life of the child, are very important people.

Even in pre-Christian Russia there was a rite of nepotism, a child was bathed in a lake, river or in a wooden trough. The child was bathed in a pond, swaddled and given a name. In parallel, there were religious rites. There were two Kumovievs, and three, and four. In the event of illness or death of the parents, they took responsibility for the upbringing of the child.

christening gown, christening gown, christening gown

Most important element in the process of baptism - this is a baptismal outfit, shirt or dress. He is basically chosen in advance by the godmother of the baby. When choosing, you need to focus on ensuring that the outfit is pleasant to the touch and soft, then the baby will behave well in church.

Kryzhma. Kryzhma is a relic that has been preserved for many years. Kryzhma - an openwork diaper of white color, which has never been washed, at baptism in kryzhma they take the baby from the font. At baptism, kryzhma must be present, it is the main attribute of christening. Very often, the date of the baptism of the baby and his name are embroidered on the corner of the kryzhma. Kryzhma should also be bought by the godmother of the child. Kryzhma is endowed miraculous powers healing the baby if he suddenly gets sick.

How to choose a baptismal outfit

This is the second outfit in the life of the mother, the choice of which she treats with such awe and love. The first such outfit was, most likely, the wedding dress of the mother. One way or another, we want to help you choose a quality christening gown that will be passed down from generation to generation.

Finding a baptismal outfit is not difficult, because today the market offers us a huge selection of this baptismal attribute. The problem is, it's a bit difficult to find the right baptismal outfit that fits your baby, that you like, that makes the christening chic and that fits within your budget.

Therefore, when choosing a baptismal attire, it is worth considering the following:

1. Modern or traditional? The style of the baptismal attire plays a significant role. It is important to decide whether you want to buy something modern for your child, or whether you want to baptize him in your own outfit, which your parents have kept for many years. It is worth asking yourself some questions. Do you want your little one to be christened in a traditional christening gown, or would it be a modern satin suit? Do you want something exclusive? Do you want an outfit in the national style?

   Whatever style you choose, you must make sure that your child is very comfortable in it, and it is convenient for you to dress up your child. It is necessary to pay due attention to the fabric from which the baptismal outfit is made. The fabric should only be natural so that the child is comfortable and his body can breathe. An excellent choice would be fabrics such as 100% silk, satin, linen, satin (cotton). It is these fabrics that are always used for newborns, so this should not be an exception for baptismal attire.

   The baptismal attire should be comfortable, soft, made of high quality fabric, and the outfit should also be gentle and pleasing to the eye.

1. The size. In order for the baby to be comfortable in baptismal clothes, you need to pay attention to the fact that the baptismal shirt of the bull is spacious enough. It is very important that the outfit does not press on the baby's skin and does not rub it when moving. When choosing an outfit, you should refer to the size chart, it usually gives measurements according to the baby's body without any allowances.
2. Details. Details such as buttons should not be left without attention. They should be sewn very tightly, match the color of the outfit. It is also worth paying attention to how long the ribbons are on the outfit, are the buttons on the outfit hard to unfasten, how is the lining sewn: seams to the baby’s body or seams inside?
3. Color. Among the baptismal dresses, white dresses are considered the most popular. But it is not necessary to stop your choice on this particular color. You can choose an outfit for your baby in a different color. It should depend on what you want it to symbolize for the baby. It should be noted that white is a symbol of youth and purity.
4. Season. When choosing a baptismal outfit, you need to take into account the time of year. If it is sunny and warm outside, summer or spring, then naturally, you need to choose an outfit with a short sleeve. If the child's christening is planned for the cold season, then you need to choose a warm hat, warm coat or sweater, cotton-lined kryzhma.
5. Accessories. In the world of children's accessories, you can get confused, such big choice everything there. In order not to buy anything extra, you should know what you need at a minimum: a bib, booties and a hat. If you plan to baptize a child in the cold season, then you will also need a lining, a fur coat or a warm sweater.

What is the best gift for a christening?

Practical or Traditional: Most traditional christening gifts are not practical. The usual traditional gift for the godmother is a christening shirt or kryzhma - a white openwork diaper. Traditionally, the godfather for christening should give a silver spoon. If you have to be the godparents of a child, then you should think about the fact that your gift for the baby should have a special meaning. You can think about such a gift that will be useful to a child when he becomes an adult. It can be a set of silverware, you can open a small savings bank account for it. Ordinary christening guests can donate clothes, books, toys.

Silver - if you are a guest and are thinking of giving your child some kind of jewelry for christening, then it is best to opt for silver items, since silver is the tradition of gifts for christening.

silver spoon. It will be very good if you give a set of 12 silver spoons, as they symbolize the 12 apostles. If your budget cannot allow you to make such a gift, then you can opt for 4 silver spoons or even one. On the spoon, you can engrave the name of the saint on whose day the baby was born or in whose honor it was named. The silver spoon is a symbol of prosperity.

Silver mug. Jesus Christ at the last supper drank from a silver cup. As a gift, the cup symbolizes that the baby's soul is empty and that she is waiting to be filled with purity and the holy spirit. For Catholics, a silver mug is an obligatory gift for the christening of the godfather, since it is from this mug that the baby is poured with water.

A popular christening gift is a Bible or a set of books with a religious theme. You can give something personal, for example, to embroider his name on the child's clothes, or engrave the baby's initials on silver or gold jewelry.

Gifts that are most often given for christening:

• Money;
• Silver;
• Ribbon or chain for a cross;
• Photo album with the name of the baby;
• Silver or gold bracelet with an engraved name;
• Earrings;
• Cross;
• Clothing;
• Bible;
• Books on religious subjects;
• A set of books for the future;
• Fairy tales;
• Stuffed Toys or simple toys.

Baptism certificate

Before the baptismal ceremony, check with the church if they have a baptismal certificate, because it can be kept for many years for pleasant memories. If the church does not have such certificates, then you should not be upset, as you can purchase them yourself.

Such certificates can be purchased for both the baptized and the godparents, with a description of their responsibilities. Many temples will have photographers at your service who will be able to capture this unforgettable event for a fee.

From christening to marriage

For boy boutonniere. Boutonniere - a small beautiful bouquet for a boy, made of snow-white flowers, which after a while becomes part of the wedding bouquet, which clings to the groom's wedding suit.

For girl bracelet. This tradition is widespread in Europe. For a girl, they choose a beautiful bracelet made of white pearls, put it on the girl’s hand and keep it until the girl gets married. On the day of the wedding, such a bracelet becomes part of the jewelry on the bride's wedding dress.