Many parents decide to have their child baptized as early as infancy. There is an opinion that the sooner the baby gets to know the Church and God, the sooner the guardian angel will begin to protect him.

What is the sacrament of baptism?

The child must be baptized. First of all, it is the rebirth of man. Three times the body is immersed in water, while turning to the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. On sinful earth, a person dies, but appears and is reborn for eternal life. There is an opinion that if a person has not passed this mysterious rite, he cannot calmly attend church.

As a result, it turns out that a person at baptism is saved from everything evil and unclean. From that moment on, the guardian angel does not leave people, but follows them everywhere. Even if a person has trouble, it means some kind of warning. Then you need to stop and think about what you are doing wrong.

Many are interested in whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents. After all, not every person has such friends who can be trusted with the fate of their baby. For some reason, every church has different answers. Let's talk about everything in order.

At what age should a child be baptized?

Almost all parents think about it immediately after the birth of the baby. We figured out what the baptism of a child is. What else do you need to know? Parents often wonder at what age their child should be baptized. There are absolutely no restrictions for this.

There is an opinion that it is best to baptize the baby as early as possible. The church accepts children from the first days of life. Sometimes there are times when a baby was born weak, and he needs help. Then the priest is asked to come directly to the hospital to the mother and baby. Often after baptism, the baby quickly recovers.

As for the mother, after giving birth, she should not visit the temple for 40 days. A little peanut needs a loved one at the time of the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, parents baptize the child when the mother can attend church, that is, on the 41st day from the birth of the baby.

If parents trust their godparents to their baby, then it is better to baptize him without a mother on the eighth day. It was at this age that Jesus was given into the service of God. As it became known, in any case, the baptism of the child must take place. What you need to know about age is described in the article. Now you need to figure out what is needed for this sacrament.

Preparing supplies for baptism

First of all, a cross is needed, which indicates that the child has passed the necessary ceremony. According to tradition, it is given by the godfather. Today there is big choice pectoral crosses. They can be purchased at the temple. Crosses can be either the simplest, or silver or gold. If they are bought in a simple store, then before the ceremony, they must first be consecrated.

The godmother purchases a kryzhma (a special towel for christening) in advance. It is not sold in the temple. As a rule, the clothes for christening are chosen by the parents. It should be made of soft pleasant fabric. Remember that the godparents will undress and dress the baby before and after the ceremony. Therefore, clothing should be such that it can be easily removed and put on.

Kryzhma is a relic of a child that will last a lifetime. Therefore, it must be made of high quality material. There is an opinion that in the roof there is an invisible force that helps to heal in case of illness. If your baby is not feeling well, then take out the baptismal towel, and after bathing in the evenings, wipe the crumbs.

If you are wondering if it is possible to baptize a child without godparents, the answer is yes. That is, this does not mean that the baby will not have anyone. Godparents can be chosen by the father.

The rite of christening a child

The rules are the same everywhere. Previously, parents were not allowed into the church for the rite of baptism. Today, one cannot cross the threshold of the temple only to the mother. The father, on the other hand, can film the entire ceremony that takes place with his child. If you don't have a suitable mate, ask your priest if you can baptize a child without godparents. Where to find suitable parents for this ceremony, the priest will tell you.

Parents with babies need to appear for baptism earlier than the appointed time. The child must get used to the atmosphere. Then he will be calm and will easily endure the sacrament.

At the time when it is time to enter the temple, the godmother should bring the boy, and the father - the girl. The child must be put in a specially designated place for babies and undress him completely. Sometimes it is allowed to keep the diaper on. Then the godparents wrap the little man in kryzhma.

When the dressing procedure is over, the godparents bring the baby to the font to perform the ceremony. The priest reads prayers, and the godparents must repeat some words after him. Father tells you everything, so do not worry. At the moment of prayer, the godparents must repeat the renunciation of the devil three times. Before God, they swear to fulfill all the commandments and take care of the godson.

After reading the prayers, they bless the water, into which the priest dips the baby three times. Sometimes it just gets wet.

Surprisingly, children do not get sick after such a ceremony. After all, water is holy, it can even heal the sick.

Then the priest cuts the hair of the child with a cross, and the parents carry the child around the font 3 times. Only after that, the godmother and father dress the baby and take it to the parents. Thus ends the rite of baptism of the child. The rules in every temple are the same.

Is it possible to be baptized without a godmother?

Every priest can answer this question. If you baptize a boy, then he must definitely have a mentor who will replace his father. Therefore, he needs a godfather.

As for the girl, she needs a mentor when her mother is not around. That's why she needs a godmother. Choose a second mother for your daughter consciously. The girl must trust her and be able to ask her godmother for help at any time.

Now you know the answer to the question of whether a child can be baptized without a godmother. However, there is an opinion that the church should take care of every person. Even if there are no godparents, they should not refuse a child to be baptized.

Is it possible to baptize a child in absentia?

As mentioned earlier, children with their parents go through the sacrament of baptism. They read prayers, take oaths. That is why there should not be an absentee baptism. After all, if a person is not next to the child during the ceremony, does not hold him in his arms, he cannot rightfully be considered a godfather or mother.

If you do not have relatives to whom you can entrust your child, go to the priest and ask for help. He won't refuse you. The priest can offer strangers for baptism, so that the ceremony takes place according to tradition. If you do not agree, then the priest himself may well become a father before God to your baby. In this case, baptism will take place, then godparents are not needed. The father will christen the baby, only the rite will be a little different.

What godparents need to know

If you have decided to take this step consciously, then you must understand all the responsibility that falls on your shoulders. This does not mean that you should only celebrate your baby's birthday once a year. Godparents are required to spiritually educate their son or daughter.

After the baptism of the baby, you become the closest person to him after the biological parents. Even grandparents fade into the background. You must understand that if trouble happened to the biological parents, the godparents are obliged to take care and continue the upbringing. In no case should you renounce your godson. This is a big sin.

Parents who have assumed obligations to God should guide the child on the true path, help him in difficult times both morally and financially. Try to teach your child to pray. He must know the commandments of God and keep them.

Conclusion

In the article, we tried to figure out whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents. Now you know that the church accepts any person.

However, remember that your child's godparents must be baptized. Not everyone understands why children are baptized, why this is necessary. Remember, God can help when the sacrament of baptism of a child has passed. From that moment on, the guardian angel is near and helps to overcome difficulties.

Often, parents cannot find suitable applicants for the role of godparents, and not everyone can agree to it, because they understand that they will not be able to cope with their duties. Then the idea appears: “is it possible without godparents?”.

Christening without godparents - superstitions and traditions

sacrament of baptism- This is one of the most important rites of Orthodox Christians. Therefore, it must be carried out according to all the rules.

If you follow the ritual, then both biological parents and godparents must be present at the ceremony. It is impossible to say exactly how the church relates to the absence of the latter in a particular case.

Some priests refuse to perform the ritual if these people are not present, while others are ready to write down their names from the words of their parents. In the people it is called "correspondence christening".

"In absentia christening" was practiced until 1917. Everyone could ask the Tsar of Russia to become a godfather and present an approving written response to the priest.

Therefore, if you want to perform this ritual, but for some reason could not find godparents, most likely the priest will refuse, but it’s worth trying to talk.

Baptism without a godfather or mother - the opinion of the church

In fact, according to church canons, it is desirable for a boy to have a godfather (man), and for a girl - a godmother (woman). Therefore, if your son does not have a “second” mother, and your daughter does not have a “second” father, then you will not break any rules.

Despite the fact that this option is more acceptable and common, the church also does not forbid a boy to have only a godmother, and a girl only a godfather. It is also not forbidden by the canons to have two godparents (father and mother).

The main thing that the church focuses on, a person who takes on such responsibility should be limited to only two receivers and he should conscientiously fulfill his duties, educate the child as a worthy person, in the Orthodox faith.

Can relatives or a priest baptize?

If you have not found a girlfriend or friend who could become godparents to your child, then you can turn to your close relatives for help. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can play this important role. This is in no way contrary to the laws of the church.

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The only thing, according to the 53rd rule of the VI Ecumenical Council, is not allowed to baptize a child by adoptive parents. The question concerning the stepfather and stepmother is rather ambiguous. Very often, priests refuse to conduct a ritual if these relatives claim the role of godfather or godmother.

In extreme cases, the priest himself can become a godfather. There are a number of factors that can motivate parents to make such a decision:

• someone thinks that worthy among ordinary people not found;
• someone is sure that the holy father will be able to invest more in the child than the biological parents.

Church laws do not prohibit a clergyman from participating in such a ceremony (and not just conducting it). However, you should not count on this option and put the priest before the fact. After all, he has every right to refuse.

Perhaps this will happen due to the fact that most likely you will never see this person again, you didn’t know him at all before and are not going to communicate further. In this case, the clergyman will not fulfill his role, will not be able to instruct the child, teach him, and because of this he will take sin into his soul. However, both a priest and a deacon can become godchildren their friends, acquaintances and parishioners.

When is there no need for godparents?

It is very difficult to answer such a question, since there is always a need for such a spiritual mentor. It is especially necessary for children. Since such a person will always be able to provide moral support to the baby, protect and help.

The absence of such mentors is justified only if a person has decided to accept Orthodoxy as an adult and having a conscious faith in God.

Priests often say that even for adults who have finally decided to be baptized, it is very important to have a teacher nearby who is familiar with the Holy Scriptures, church canons, will help a person who has accepted the faith to protect themselves from Satan, draw closer to God, and teach them to respect religion.

But of course there are exceptions, although very rarely. A person who does not need godparents must be fully accountable for his actions. He must understand why he is doing this and really sincerely believe.

As you can see, a similar ritual can be performed both in infancy and in adulthood without the participation of godmothers and fathers. However, it is better for parents to still try to find that worthy, intelligent, serious believing adult who can help them raise their child.

Church canons and rules require compliance. The sacrament of baptism has been performed for centuries. Parents should preserve church traditions and prepare in advance for the baptism of the baby. The most important is the choice of godparents, people who will take on the responsibility of spiritual education of the godson.

You can baptize a child with one godfather.

According to spiritual rules, a baby can be baptized without one of the godparents. But it is desirable that there were two mentors. There are no special requirements for them:

• Orthodox Christians,
• not necessarily married
• not necessarily planning for the future marriage,
• close relatives or just acquaintances

It is much more important that the desire to engage in the spiritual upbringing of the child is not nominal, but real.

What are the responsibilities of godparents

In order to raise children in the faith, godparents themselves must be spiritual people. Church stalls sell a lot of useful literature, including for little Christians.

Adults can always turn to the clergy for help in educating their godchildren. The church never refuses its parishioners.

When choosing godparents, parents should pay attention to their human qualities and desire for God. The choice may not fall on a relative, most importantly, he must understand that the sacrament of baptism will lead an invisible thread between him and the child, making him a mentor of a little Christian.

If a girl is baptized with one godfather, it is better for a woman to become her spiritual mentor, if the boy is a man.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents

In rare cases, the baptism of a baby is allowed completely without godparents. This is allowed if:

• the life of a boy or girl is in danger;
• the priest is ready to take on the responsibility of reading prayers instead of godparents.

If the baby survives, the sacrament is subsequently brought to completion, godparents are invited. The question of the presence or absence of godmothers and fathers is best discussed with representatives of the church where the child will be baptized.

It is desirable that the little Orthodox have both godparents, but the spiritual qualities of these people are much more important.

Is it possible for an adult to be baptized without godparents?

To answer the question, is it possible to baptize a child without godparents, it is enough to read the following of the sacrament of Baptism, then much will become clear to us. The following is composed for adults, that is, it contains places where the person being baptized says prayers, answers the priest's questions. In the case when we baptize a child, godparents are responsible for him and read prayers. Therefore, it is obvious that the sacrament of the Baptism of a child cannot take place without adults. But an adult is able to profess his faith himself.

Can a child be baptized without one of the godparents?

The question whether a child can be baptized without a godmother can be answered in the same way as the question whether a child can be baptized without a godfather. If it was not possible to find a person capable of taking on the duties of a godmother or father, it is possible to perform the sacrament of baptism without one of the parents. For a girl in this case, it will be more important if she has a godmother, for a boy - a godfather.

Can a child be baptized without godparents?

AT this case Baptism can only be performed under the following circumstances:
The child's life is in danger, he is in serious condition. At such a moment, a priest or any layman can perform baptism by pouring holy water three times on the baby’s head and saying the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". If, after being baptized by a layman, the baby survives and recovers, then you need to turn to the Church and complete the Sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
In the event that not a single godparent was found for the child, the priest can take on the duties of godparents and say prayers for the child on his own. If the priest is familiar with the baby, then he will be able to take care of him and instruct him in the faith, but if not, then he will commemorate the godson in prayer at every divine service. Not all priests take on such responsibility, therefore, in different churches, the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents is answered differently.
Still, it's best to make sure that your child has two godparents, just like two relatives (see How to choose godparents). After all, in later life he will need to see not only the example of the life of his parents, but also other people who attend the temple and try to live according to God's commandments.

Is it possible to baptize a godfather's child?

You can become a godmother or godfather for any child, unless, of course, it is your own. There is even a pious tradition in Orthodox families to baptize each other's children: it is easier to keep in touch and communicate with godchildren.

Is it possible to baptize a child godfather?

Of course, people who have become godparents for one child can become godparents for another, there are no obstacles to this.

Can a child be baptized at home?

It is desirable that the baby be baptized in the temple, because after baptism there is still a prayer for churching: the boy is brought to the altar, the girl is placed on the salt, from where her mother receives her.
There are cases when a child is sick or there is no temple nearby, and it is not possible to take the child far. You can invite a priest to your house, then the priest will read the prayers for churching when the baby is already brought to the temple. Bringing a child after baptism to the temple and taking communion is the duty of godparents and native parents.

Can two children be baptized?

Yes, if a family is baptizing two or more children at the same time, the same people can be asked to be their godparents. It will be even better, because two children have the same natural parents, there will be one godparents.

Is it possible for spouses to baptize a child?

This question cannot be answered in the affirmative. There is such a thing as the spiritual relationship of godparents to each other, it is impossible in the presence of marital relations. Therefore, it is impossible for a husband and wife to baptize a child.

Is it possible for a couple to baptize a child?

Godparents must have a spiritual relationship with each other, so even if the couple lives in a civil marriage and they are not registered as husband and wife, they cannot be godparents of the child.
If young people are not married but intend to get married in the future, they will also not be able to become godparents of one child.

Is it possible for relatives to baptize a child?

A child can be baptized by any relative, except for the relatives of the mother, father and relatives who are spouses, since spouses cannot be godparents.

Is it possible to refuse to baptize a child?

If you have many godchildren and you know that you will not be able to properly take care of the new godson, you are in another city or another country, you do not know much about the child’s family, it is better to refuse to baptize the baby. But if there is a possibility that the child will not be baptized at all because of your refusal, it is better to agree and ask God for help.

Can multiple children be baptized?

If parents baptize several of their children, it is highly desirable that the godparents be the same people. Then the children will have one godparents, just like relatives. It will be easier for the godparents to take care of raising all the children together. It is possible to baptize several children at the same time - not brothers or sisters.

Can a child be baptized twice? Is it possible to baptize a child a second time?

Such questions are rare, but still asked in the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism itself is performed on a person only once. After all, the meaning of this sacrament is the acceptance by a person of the Orthodox faith and recognition of him as a member of the Church. But there are several cases where such a question may arise:
If the children do not know whether they have been baptized or not. This happens if the child has lost his birth parents, or it is likely that the child was secretly baptized by one of the relatives. In this case, it is imperative to inform the priest about this, then the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a different order. The priest pronounces the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized (if not baptized (a)) in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen".
If the child was urgently baptized by a lay person. Such baptism is performed if there was a danger to the life of the child, but later he recovered. Then you need to come to the Church and complete the sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
If the child was baptized in another faith. The Orthodox Church recognizes the sacrament of Baptism in other confessions as valid in cases where the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a similar order and if the institution of the priesthood and apostolic succession in the ordination of priests have been preserved in this confession. Only Catholicism and the Old Believers can be attributed to such confessions (but only the direction where the priesthood has been preserved). After baptism in the Catholic faith, it is necessary to complete the sacrament of Baptism with chrismation, since in the Catholic Church chrismation is performed separately from baptism at a later age (about 15 years).

Can a sick child be baptized?

If a child is seriously ill, then baptism is necessary, it can be performed even in a hospital or at home. If the life of the baby is in danger, then, in extreme cases, he can even be christened by a layman.

Is it possible to baptize a child in absentia?

Baptism, like any sacrament, is a sacred ceremony in which the invisible grace of God is communicated to the believer under a visible image. The celebration of the sacrament of Baptism presupposes the physical presence of the person being baptized, the priest, and the godparents. The Sacrament is not just a prayer, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible in absentia.

Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting?

AT Orthodox Church There are no days when a child cannot be baptized. Baptism of a child can be performed on any day, agreed with the priest and godparents. Usually the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child in fasting arises due to the fact that the sacrament of wedding in the Church is not performed in fasting. Fasting is a time for repentance and abstaining from fast food and marital intimacy, so there are restrictions on weddings, but not baptisms. Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting? Of course, yes, and on any day of fasting, and on holidays, and on the eve fast days and holidays.

Is it possible to baptize a child on Saturday?

In all churches, urban and rural, Sunday worship is performed. Therefore, most often baptism is performed on Saturday: after baptism, you can participate in worship and take communion of the child the next day on Sunday.

Is it possible to baptize a child for Baptism?

In the Ancient Church, due to the spread a large number heresy preceded baptism a long period instruction in faith, it lasted up to 3 years. And catechumens (learners) were baptized at the Baptism of the Lord (then this holiday was called the Enlightenment) and on Holy Saturday before Easter. The celebration of Baptism these days was a great feast in the Church. If you decide to baptize a child on Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord), then not only will you not violate the canons of the Church, but you will also follow the ancient Christian tradition.

Is it possible to baptize a child with menstruation?

The days of purification of a woman in the Church are called uncleanness, many restrictions are associated with these days for women in Old Testament. Today it is not fitting for a woman in uncleanness to touch shrines (icons, the cross), to receive the sacraments. Therefore, when choosing a day for the baptism of a child, it is advisable to take this circumstance into account. Nevertheless, baptism is performed on a child, and not on his godmother or mother, a woman in uncleanliness, if necessary, can attend the sacrament, but should not touch the shrines.

Can a child be baptized under a different name?

There is a belief that the baby should be baptized under a different name, and no one should know his name in baptism, otherwise the child's energy will be spoiled. These are all rumors that have nothing to do with Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. A child can be baptized with a different name, but most often this is done if the real name of the child is not in the list of names of Orthodox saints (see Choosing a name according to the calendar).

Why does a child need godparents and who can become godparents?

A child, especially a newborn baby, cannot say anything about his faith, cannot answer the priest's question whether he renounces Satan and unites with Christ, cannot understand the meaning of the ongoing Sacrament. However, it is impossible to leave him outside the Church before he becomes an adult, since only in the Church is there the grace necessary for his proper growth, for the preservation of his bodily and spiritual health. Therefore, the Church performs the Sacrament of Baptism over the infant and itself assumes the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith. The church is made up of people. She fulfills her obligation to properly educate a baptized child through those whom she calls godparents or godparents.
The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help in a good, Christian upbringing received from the font, and not only in practical circumstances, as well as the degree of acquaintance and simply friendliness of the relationship.
Concern about expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite the closest physical relatives as godfather and godfather. It was believed that, by virtue of natural kinship, they would help the child anyway. For the same reason, they tried not to allow brothers and sisters to have the same godfather. Therefore, relatives of grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts became godparents only as a last resort.
Now, having gathered to baptize a child, young parents often do not think about who to choose as godparents. They do not expect their child's godparents to take a serious part in his upbringing and invite people who, due to their lack of roots in church life, cannot fulfill the duties of godparents to be godparents. It also happens that people who become godparents are completely unaware that they really have a great honor. Most often, the honorary right to be godparents is granted to close friends or relatives who, having performed simple actions during the performance of the Sacrament and having eaten all kinds of dishes for festive table, rarely remember their duties, sometimes completely forgetting about the godchildren themselves.
However, when inviting godparents, you need to know that Baptism, according to the teachings of the Church, is a second birth, that is, “birth from water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), about which necessary condition salvation spoke Jesus Christ. If physical birth is the entry of a person into the world, then Baptism becomes the entry into the Church. And the child is accepted in his spiritual birth by the godparents - new parents, guarantors before God for the faith of the new member of the Church they have accepted. Thus, only Orthodox, sincerely believing adults who are able to teach the godchild the basics of faith can be godparents (minor and mentally ill people cannot be godparents). But do not be afraid if, agreeing to become a godfather, you do not fully meet these high requirements. This event can be a wonderful occasion for self-education.
The Church considers spiritual kinship as real as natural kinship. Therefore, in the relationship of spiritual relatives, there are the same features as in relation to natural relatives. At present, the Russian Orthodox Church, on the issue of marriages of spiritual relatives, adheres only to the 63rd canon of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriages between godchildren and their godchildren, godchildren and physical parents of the godson and godchildren are impossible between themselves. At the same time, the husband and wife are allowed to be godparents of different children in the same family. Brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son may be godparents of the same child.
The godmother's pregnancy is a perfectly acceptable condition for participation in the Sacrament of Baptism.

What are the duties of godparents?

The obligations that recipients take on before God are very serious. Therefore, godparents must understand the responsibility they take on. Godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly Confession and Communion, to give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the features of the church calendar, and the grace-filled power miraculous icons and other shrines. The godparents must accustom those taken from the font to attend church services, fast and observe other provisions of the Church Charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson.
Their duties also include taking care of protecting their godchildren from all sorts of temptations and temptations, which are especially dangerous in childhood and adolescence. Godparents, knowing the abilities and character traits they received from the font, can help them determine their life path, give advice in choosing an education and suitable profession. Advice in choosing a spouse is also important; according to the custom of the Russian Church, it is the godparents who prepare the wedding for their godson. And in general, in cases where physical parents are unable to financially provide for their children, this responsibility is assumed primarily not by grandparents or other relatives, but by godparents.
A frivolous attitude to the duties of a godfather is a grave sin, since the fate of the godson depends on it. Therefore, you should not thoughtlessly agree to an invitation to become a successor, especially if you already have one godson. Refusal to go to the godfather should also not be taken as an insult or neglect.

Is it worth it to agree to be a godfather if the child's parents are not churched?

In this case, the need for a godfather increases, and his responsibility only increases. Otherwise, how can a child come to Church?
However, while fulfilling the duty of a beneficiary, parents should not be reproached for their frivolity and lack of faith. Patience, condescension, love and continuous labor of spiritual upbringing of a child can prove to be irrefutable proof of the truth of Orthodoxy for his parents as well.

How many godfathers and mothers can a person have?

Church rules provide for the presence of one godfather (godfather) when performing the Sacrament of Baptism. For a baptized boy, this is a godfather (godfather), for a girl - a godfather ( godmother).
But since the duties of godparents are numerous (thus, in special cases, godparents replace the physical parents of their godson), and the responsibility before God for the fate of the godson is very great, the Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition of inviting two godparents - the godfather and the godmother. There can be no other godparents besides these two.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism involves the study of the Gospel, the foundations of the Orthodox faith, the basic rules of Christian piety. Fasting, confession and Communion before Baptism are not formally obligatory for godparents. A believer must adhere to these rules constantly. It would be good if at least one of the godparents could read the Creed during baptism.

Which of the things you need to bring with you to Baptism and which of the godparents should do this?

For baptism, you will need a baptismal kit (it will be recommended to you in a candle shop). This is mainly a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt (you do not need to bring a bonnet). Then you will need a towel or a sheet - to wrap the child after the font. According to the established tradition, a godfather buys a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl. It is customary to bring a sheet and a towel to the godmother. But it will not be a mistake if someone alone buys everything you need.

Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant ?

Church tradition does not know "appointed in absentia" godparents. The very meaning of the reception shows that the godparents must be present at the Baptism of the child and, of course, give their consent to this honorary title. Baptism without any recipients at all is performed only in special circumstances, for example, when the life of a child is in serious danger.

Can representatives of other Christian denominations, in particular Catholics, become godparents?

The Sacrament of Baptism makes a person a particle of the Mysterious Body of Christ, a member of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Such a Church, founded by the Apostles and preserving intact the dogmatic teaching of the Ecumenical Councils, is only the Orthodox Church. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the recipients act as guarantors of the faith of their godchild and accept before God the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith.
Of course, a person who does not belong to the Orthodox Church cannot fulfill such duties.

Can parents, including those who have adopted a child, be godparents for him?

At Baptism, the person being baptized enters into a spiritual kinship with his godfather, who becomes his godfather or godmother. This spiritual kinship (of the 1st degree) is recognized by the canons as more important than kinship according to the flesh (canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council), and is fundamentally incompatible with it.
Parents, including those who have adopted a child, in no case can be godparents of their own children: neither both together, nor each separately, otherwise such a close degree of kinship would form between the parents, which would make it inadmissible to continue their marital cohabitation.

Name day. How to determine the name day

How to determine the name day- this question is asked by every person who has ever thought about the meaning of his name.

name day- this is not a holiday of the name - this is the day of memory of the saint, in whose honor the person was named. As you know, in Russia the name of the child was given according to the holy calendar - the church calendar - and the parents prayerfully hoped that the child would live life worthy of the name of the saint who became the patron saint of the baby. During the years of atheism in Russia, the meaning of tradition has been forgotten - now a person is first given a name, and then he, already growing up, is looking for church calendar to find out when is his memorial day, when to celebrate name day. The word name day comes from the word “namesake”, “namesake saint” - the modern “namesake” came from the same word. That is, the name day is the holiday of a saint bearing the same name.

Often, parents choose a name for the child in advance, having a special love for one or another saint, then the day of the Angel is no longer associated with the birthday.

How to determine your name day if there are several saints with this name?

The name of the saint whose memory follows your birthday is determined by the calendar, for example, by Orthodox calendar. As a rule, the name day is the day following the birthday of the saint, whose name the Christian bears. For example, Anna, who was born on November 20, will have Angel's Day on December 3 - the day following her birthday, when St. Anna, and her saint will be St. mts. Anna Persian.

The following nuance should be remembered: in 2000, at the Bishops' Council, the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia were glorified: if you were baptized before the year 2000, then your saint is selected from the saints glorified before the year 2000. For example, if your name is Catherine, and you were baptized before the glorification of the New Martyrs, then your saint is St. Great Martyr Catherine, if you were baptized after the Council, then you can choose Saint Catherine, whose date of memory is closer to your birthday.

If the name that you were called is not in the calendar, then at baptism the name that is closest in sound is chosen. For example, Dina - Evdokia, Lilia - Leah, Angelica - Angelina, Jeanne - John, Milan - Militsa. According to tradition, Alice receives the name Alexandra in baptism, in honor of St. Passion-bearer Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, before the adoption of Orthodoxy, bore the name Alice. Some names in the church tradition have a different sound, for example, Svetlana is Photinia (from the Greek photos - light), and Victoria is Nika, both names in Latin and Greek mean “victory”.

How to celebrate birthday?

On the day of the Angel, the Orthodox try to confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. If the day of the angel falls on a fast day or fast, then the celebration and feasts are usually transferred to non-fast days. On non-fast days, many invite guests to share the bright joy of the holiday with relatives and friends.

Many children are baptized as infants. By the age of majority, they do not remember anything about their rite of the sacrament. He again turns to the rite of the sacrament of a person when he is asked to become a godparent, or to have to baptize a child, and this is more difficult to do. Parents have the mission of choosing godparents. But there are cases when it is difficult to pick up godparents and the ceremony must be carried out without them or with one godfather. Therefore, the question: “Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?” is very relevant and the priest's response is of great importance.

The rite of the sacrament without two godparents

According to the church charter, traditions, the baby must have a godfather of the same sex as the godson, and the second godfather is chosen by the parents at will. Traditions have fixed for the Orthodox faith to have two godparents for a child.

The rite of the sacrament is performed for children at a young or adult age. At a young age, a baby cannot fully realize his faith and make a promise before the Lord God. Therefore, godparents assume this role. They represent the interests of the baby and say prayers and promises for him before the Lord.

Important! An exception will be when the rite of the sacrament can occur without a single recipient. This includes situations where baptism is needed without delay.

So, if the child is in serious condition and cannot reach the church, in this case there will be no time for godparents and the priest will conduct the baptism in the hospital ward. After the recovery of the child, he can be held a standard rite of the sacrament, with the presence of godparents and observance of all customs and rules. There were cases when lay people became the recipient. It can be medical workers or just patients in the hospital.

Attention! There are no strict rules regarding the fact that it is not allowed to baptize children due to the lack of godparents. The child is not guilty that there were no suitable recipients. He has the right to take Orthodox faith no godparents!

As for adults, it is easier for them to do without godparents. It is easy to be convinced of this by reading the process of conducting the rite of the Sacrament, where a person who converts to the Orthodox faith must answer the questions of the clergyman and pronounce prayers and oaths. adult person, outside help godparents in the performance of the ceremony are not required.

There is no need to despair of the absence of godparents. Tradition and statutes have fixed the presence of two godparents, but it is forbidden to forbid joining the church. The clergyman himself will act as the godfather.

The rite of the sacrament without a recipient

If we turn to church canons, then there are no strict rules regarding the baptism of a child with one godparent. It is realistic to do without a godmother for a boy, and it is worth thinking about the godfather, since he is of the same gender as the child, then he should have an advantage in the ceremony. The same applies to girls, but then the preference is given to the godmother. It would not be right for a girl to do without a godmother.

If there are problems with the choice of one godparent, then it is possible to try to register a child without godparents in absentia. Godparents will not be present at the rite of the sacrament, but the godparents for the child will be recorded. It will be a kind of formality.

Attention! Before deciding to baptize a child without a godfather, you must first go to church and consult with the clergyman, some may not allow the sacrament to be performed.

Though it would be a violation church rules since every child and adult can accept the Orthodox faith, despite the current situation.

It is worth paying attention to the baptism of two or more children. In this case, it is not necessary for each baby to select a godparent separately. It will be enough to choose an advantage, a girl cannot be without a godmother, and both girls must have one. And vice versa, if they are boys, then there must be a godfather, and the mother is one for two.

Before baptism, you must first agree on the day of the sacrament, because a child can be baptized during fasting, not always on weekdays. There are only weekends left. You need to carefully consider the choice of godparents for two children, because there are a number of prohibitions, and not everyone can become a godparent. So you can not be receivers:

• the mother or father of the child;
• spouses;
• a person who has a non-Orthodox religion, with the exception of Catholics;
• a person who is far from church life and does not believe in God.

To baptize children without godparents, and with one godfather, church charters are allowed. It is worth coordinating these nuances with the clergyman in advance, because not everyone treats this with understanding.

my daughter is finally pregnant, waited 5 years. That's what I think, is it possible to baptize children without a godmother and a godmother. Why I ask: My daughter's godmother for christening. when she was 12, she abandoned it. I remember that she herself wanted to be a godmother, in a new house, no one knows each other, that's how they sat on a bench with children .... met. She turned out to be Old Believers, I don’t even know how to write correctly ... We are even afraid to meet her on the street so as not to jinx it .. Who can answer me, I don’t want any of the strangers, but there are no relatives

Reply

1. Hello! Godfathers and the mother must know, love, and fully participate in the life of the child, so the option of taking strangers is definitely not suitable. If there is no one from relatives, acquaintances, for example, another daughter, son, you can offer to your nephew or niece, native aunts or uncles. In some cases, the baptism of the child to the grandmother, grandfather is allowed. Do not forget that the purpose of baptism in infancy is to represent the interests of the baby and say prayers for him before the Lord, praying for his health, future well-being. Therefore, a person must be decent, God-fearing “not in words”, regularly attend the Holy Church.
   In special cases, the child has the right to accept the Orthodox faith without godparents - in the arms of his own parents!

   Reply