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Baptism is a sacrament Orthodox Church at the completion of which the baptized is cleansed from sins past life and prepares for the communion of the church.
This is a necessary condition for being born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
During the performance of the sacrament, the priest says the established prayers and either the person is immersed in water three times or the person being baptized is poured with water.
Below is information that will allow the parents of the baptized, godparents and the baptized (if he is already an adult) to learn about some of the features of the Sacrament of Baptism directly in our Temple.
Please do not forget to discuss with the priest in advance all questions that you have about the Sacrament of Baptism and the answers to which are not presented here.
At what age can a child be baptized?
According to the established tradition, babies are baptized from the first day of life.
When can the Sacrament of Baptism be performed?
- Baptism is performed in any period (day) of the year;
- the periods of Lent are not an obstacle to Baptism;
- Orthodox holidays are not an obstacle to Baptism;
- For the performance of Baptism, you must pre-register.
To register for the Sacrament of Baptism, you need:
- come to our Church and contact the church shop to select the date and time of Baptism.
- In our Church, Baptism is performed on Sundays at 13.00 (by appointment).
The procedure for preparing for Baptism:
- Before Baptism, the priest conducts public conversations with the person being baptized (if he is an adult) or with parents and prospective godparents (for an infant).
- Talk time: Friday 18-00, Saturday 19-00.
- Conversation topics:
Acquaintance. The true meaning and purpose of baptism.
What is Holy Scripture.
Analysis of the Orthodox Creed.
Commandments of God.
- Desirable:
future godfathers to learn/know the "Symbol of Faith" (during
the time of Baptism, this prayer is read aloud by the godparents
three times);
read the Holy Gospel as much as possible, and
confess and take communion before the sacrament of Baptism.
ο On the fortieth day, the mother of the baptized child comes to the Church, where over
the prayer of the 40th day is read to her: “To the wife of the parent, forty
days."
Some features of the Sacrament of Baptism for adults:
- if possible, fast for 2-3 days before the Sacrament of Baptism;
- preferably - on the very day of Epiphany in the morning do not eat, drink or smoke;
- living in marriage on the eve of the night to refrain from marital communication;
- you need to appear at the Sacrament of Baptism clean and tidy, without cosmetics and jewelry;
- for women - the Sacrament of Baptism is performed at the end of the monthly cleansing.
What you need to prepare with you for Baptism:
- orthodox cross(if in doubt, it is better to show it to the priest in advance);
- baptismal shirt (new);
- a large towel (to wrap the child after the font);
- change of shoes(adults, to exit the font);
- candles;
- all baptized people those present at baptism must have pectoral cross ik.
The cost of baptism in our Temple?
- The Sacrament of Baptism is performed on donations;
- the size of the donation is not set, not negotiated - this is completely your personal decision.
What name is given to a child at baptism?
- An Orthodox Christian is given the name of an Orthodox Saint who will become his heavenly patron;
- in the calendar, the day of memory of the Saint with whom the baptized bears the same name (given by parents) is selected;
- if there are several days of remembrance of Saints with a similar name in a year, then the day of remembrance is chosen, which follows the first after the birthday of the baptized;
- if the name by which the person being baptized is named is not in the calendar, then at baptism the name that is closest in sound is chosen;
- to give a name in Baptism different from the passport name, if a person is baptized in honor of some saint especially revered in the family;
- the names "Mary" and "Jesus" - in the Orthodox Church it is not customary to give names in honor of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. The reason is the intense reverence for Their holiness. The name Jesus is given in honor of St. righteous Joshua. Orthodox Christians bear the name Mary, common in Russia, in memory of the saints of God: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Egypt and others.
When are birthdays celebrated?
Name days are celebrated on the Day of Church veneration (commemoration day) of that Saint, whose name a person is named at Baptism.
The day of memory of the Saint is chosen after the birthday of the person being baptized, and not before. Those. A person celebrates a name day after his birthday, and not before.
When is Angel Day celebrated?
Angel Day is the date of the Sacrament of Baptism.
It is during Baptism that a person receives his Guardian Angel, who will be by his side all the days of his life.
At what age can you become godparents (grandparents)?
By existing rules A person can become a godparent at the age of 18.
Mandatory requirements to godparents:
- godparents must themselves be baptized into Orthodoxy;
- if the person who was chosen to be the godparent has himself recently received Baptism, then he can become a Receiver only after 1 year has passed, after his own Baptism.
Inadmissible options for family ties between spiritual relatives:
ο According to the 63rd canon of the VI Ecumenical Council, neither in the present nor in the future - marriages between:
godparents and their godchildren(godchildren);
godparents and physical parents of godchildren;
godmother and godfather of the same godson.
- According to Canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, it is unacceptable for a foster father/foster mother to become godparents in relation to their adopted child.
Some acceptable options for family ties between spiritual relatives:
- husband and wife can be godparents of different children in the same family;
- brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son can be godparents of the same godson;
- several children from the same family can have the same godparents;
- a brother/sister can be a godfather/godmother to a brother/sister;
- grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts - who are not married to each other - can become godparents to the same grandson, nephew;
- relations between godfathers (godfather / godfather are the godparents of one baptized in relation to each other, as well as in relation to the parents of the baptized):
married parents of the person being baptized can be / become godparents in relation to the children of their godfathers (but not for the same child);
- One person can become a godparent to several people from the same family.
How many times can you become godparents?
You can become godparents any number of times, if at the same time you can (feel the strength in yourself) to properly fulfill the duties of a godparent: participate in the religious education of your godchildren, educate them in the spirit of Orthodoxy and piety.
How many godparents can one baptized person have?
- church rules it is prescribed to have for the child a godfather of the same sex as the person being baptized, i.e. for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman;
- the tradition of choosing both godparents for a child at once: father and mother, does not contradict the canons in any way;
- the situation when the person being baptized has only one godparent of the opposite sex with the person being baptized is permissible, but in exceptional cases.
Can one person during Baptism be the recipient of several people (for example, twins)?
There are no canonical restrictions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are being baptized. The recipient will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It would be better if each godson had his own godparents. After all, each of those who are baptized individually is different people entitled to their godfather.
Can I be baptized without godparents?
In extreme circumstances, if it is impossible to find godparents, or Baptism is performed at a critical moment for a person's life, it can be performed without godparents.
Is it possible to baptize a child in the Orthodox Church if one or both parents are unbaptized or non-Christians?
It is possible if the parents do not object to raising their child in the Orthodox Faith and there are believing Orthodox godparents.
Is it possible to be baptized again?
The sacrament of baptism is a spiritual birth. It happens only once in a lifetime. Rebaptism for Orthodox Christian impossible under any circumstances.
Is it possible to refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?
If a person feels internally unprepared or seriously fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well refuse the parents of the child (or the adult being baptized) to become their child's godfather. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest with respect to the child, his parents and himself than, having taken responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child, not fulfilling these duties.
What to do after baptism with a baptismal shirt and towel?
Because of the particles of the holy world that remain on the baptismal clothes and diaper, they are kept as a shrine. The baby is dressed in a baptismal shirt and brought to Communion.
You can put a shirt on the baby if he is very sick and pray for his recovery. A towel, if the child was not wrapped in it after chrismation, but simply wiped with it by the person being baptized after the font, can continue to be used for its intended purpose.
These are superstitious statements that are not related to the Orthodox faith:
- a girl should not be a godmother for a girl for the first time;
- an unmarried godmother gives up her happiness if she baptizes a girl first, and not a boy;
- a pregnant woman cannot become a godmother;
- if at baptism the wax with the hair of the baptized sinks, the life of the baptized will be short.
The Sacrament of Baptism is the second birth of a person for life, a birth from water and the Spirit, which the Savior speaks of as necessary condition to
inherit eternal life. If the carnal birth is the coming of a person into the world, then Baptism is his entry and joining to the Church of Christ. And the newly baptized in his spiritual birth is received by the godparents, who vouch for the faith of the new Orthodox Christian they have accepted.
It is more useful for the godfather and godmother to start preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism long before the sacrament itself. First of all this training is to study Holy Scripture, the foundations of the Orthodox faith and the main rules of Christian piety.
Formally, the godfather does not have to fast, confess and take communion before the sacrament, however, if you are a believer and are connected with the Church not only by your own baptism, then most likely you adhere to these rules all the time, and it will not be difficult for you to confess and take communion in advance.
After you have agreed to become a godfather, do not postpone the immediate preparation for the sacrament on the back burner. First of all, visit the temple in which it was decided to baptize the baby. The priest who will baptize the baby will conduct an interview with you before Baptism and tell you what you need to buy for the Sacrament. This is a baptismal set consisting of a baptismal cross and a christening shirt. In addition, you will need a sheet or towel in order to wrap and dry the baby after diving into the font. Traditionally pectoral cross for the boy the godfather buys, and for the girl - the godmother, who also brings a towel. But if only one godfather buys everything you need, it's okay. In fact, it does not have any special meaning.
The priest, godparents and the child are the main participants in the sacrament. The child's parents only observe the sacrament and pray together with those invited.
The duties of the godfather at Baptism include holding the baby in his arms if the boy is baptized. The godmother at this time stands nearby. If a girl is baptized, then everything happens the other way around. Before the celebration of the sacrament, the priest in white robes goes around the baptismal or temple, reading three prayers. After that, he asks the godfather and the godson to turn their faces to the west and asks the person being baptized a few questions. If the baby being baptized, then the godfather answers these questions for him. In addition, during baptism, the godparents read aloud the "Symbol of Faith" instead of the baby and pronounce vows of renunciation of Satan on his behalf. Try to learn the Creed by heart. It is in any prayer book that you can purchase at any church shop. The godfather perceives the boy from the font, and the godmother perceives the girl. The second godparent helps dry the baby and dress him in a christening gown.
The duties of the godmother and godfather, among other things, include the question of what to give to the godson for christening.
Duties of a godfather after baptism
The duties of the godfather, which he assumes in the Sacrament of Baptism, are very serious, so you must clearly understand what is required of you in the future.
Godfather is obliged to give spiritual education to his godchild, to bring to the attention of the child the main canons of the Orthodox faith, to teach the child to resort to the saving sacraments of Confession and Communion, to help parents in the upbringing and care of the godson, and to bear responsibility for the upbringing and life of the child if with his parents something will happen. But, of course, the main duty of the godfather is to pray for the godson.
The duties of godparents also include guardianship of the godson from various temptations and sinful temptations, which are especially dangerous in childhood and adolescence. The godfather, knowing the nature, talents and desires of the godson, can help him with the choice of education, future profession, and even a spouse.
Remember that the fate of your godson will largely depend on how well you fulfill your godfather duties, so a frivolous attitude towards them is simply unacceptable.
Now you understand why you should not mindlessly agree to an invitation to become a godfather, especially if you already have a godson. Think about whether you have the strength, patience, wisdom and love to cope with such a serious duty as the spiritual upbringing of a child.
The godfather must be aware of the responsibility for his duties
Unfortunately, the main duties of the godfather now come down to buying a pectoral cross for the future godson, paying for the sacrament, drinking for the godson's happiness and saying goodbye to him before the unknown date, regularly celebrating his godfatherhood with toys or a bill in an envelope. However, for the Orthodox Church, the duties of a godfather are not at all like that.
In the Sacrament, instead of the baby, you renounce the devil, his pride and his ministry, and express your complete readiness to be united to Christ for the baby. Try to raise the baby in such a way that you yourself would not be ashamed of your guarantee in the future.
Remember that there is no duty higher, more sacred and more terrible than those that you impose on yourself by becoming a godfather. Of course, it is difficult to lead others through difficult life path, if you yourself are constantly stumbling, but it is necessary to do this, because you yourself agreed, took up this and now have an endless answer for the one you vouched for.
You may think that such duties are beyond the power of a father to fulfill. But that is precisely why the Church gave you to help him. You must help each other in the difficult task of raising a child. In addition, you, as a godfather, are obliged to watch even the baby's own parents. Remember, there are so many families in which parents do not care about the spiritual and moral upbringing of the child. How many dads who do not consider it their duty to raise a baby. How many mothers who give their children to nannies, so as not to simply burden their lives and not give up their usual pleasures. It is here that your field for the spiritual activity of the godfather is located. It is here that you should take the floor and remind the father of his family duty to educate and teach his baby, remind the mother, who is weighed down by maternal duties, of her duty.
If it seems to you that these tasks are very difficult and impossible, then consider the consecrated dignity of the title of godfather and the activity that entitles you to be the earthly guardian angel of a small person; think about what blessings the Heavenly Father is preparing for those who teach and educate a person in the Love of God.
In addition, for you personally, the activities of the godfather will not be useless. If you understand the need for the spiritual education of your godson, and you yourself are not very strong in this science, then, by all means, study it yourself with your child.
If you yourself do not often attend church, now no, no, and go with your child. If you like to chat or discuss someone's actions, then you will have to think a hundred times before you say something, because the little godson or goddaughter revolves around you. And it is pleasant for you, and it is useful for the child.
Now, if God has led or will lead you to become a godfather for someone, then you will agree to this not headlong, but having thought it over and prepared for everything well, and you will become a true godfather for your godson.
Being chosen godparents of a child is a very honorable mission. Few of today's married couples have thought about what qualities godfathers should have. After all, as you know, the godparents will subsequently be the spiritual parents of the baby, who are responsible before God for the behavior and actions of their godson. Very often, close friends or relatives are invited for this, who do not fully understand what will be the duties of the godfather and mother.
What is a godfather for?
To be a godfather is to teach your godson to love the world around him, to give spiritual education according to the principles of the Orthodox Church, to teach prayers and attend church with him. It is very important to remember that it is the beneficiary, and not the grandparents, who takes care of the child if his parents are sick and incapacitated: good nutrition, buying clothes and toys, assistance in obtaining an education and a profession - this is all that should do a godfather for raising your son or daughter. Also, according to the canons of the church, with the loss of physical parents, it is he who becomes the first applicant for the adoption of a minor godson or goddaughter.
How to Prepare for Baptism?
So, the decision is made - the recipient is chosen, and he agreed. The godfather must know that this is a sacrament, and it is necessary to fast before it for several days, and you need to carefully prepare for the rite itself:
- The day before, visit the church where the service will be held and talk with the priest. He will tell you what is needed in order for the child to be baptized, how the sacrament will take place, etc.
- Confess and take communion. Now these requirements are not mandatory, but the church is very welcome.
- Learn by heart the "Symbol of Faith" prayer.
- Discuss with the godson's parents if they need any help: arranging transport, preparing a banquet, etc.
Of what the godfather should give at baptism, the most obligatory is a pectoral cross and a thread (chain). Some are limited only to this, while others give icons, toys, etc. If a godmother If not, then you should not forget that the recipient will need to buy more, as well as a diaper (sheet) in which the baby will be wrapped.
What does the receiver do during the ceremony?
The duties of the godfather at baptism include:
It happens that for some reason parents want to change the godfather, but they do not know if this can be done. The clergy explain that Orthodox faith this cannot be done.
Becoming a godfather is a big responsibility, because you are responsible to the church for your godson. Try to instill in him love for God and neighbor, tell about sins and protect him from them, and also do not forget the godson in your prayers.
By Orthodox tradition child already on the 8th day after birth. But if the baby was born weakened, ended up in intensive care after childbirth, then you can christen him earlier. After the parents have decided on the time and, you need to choose godparents for your baby. These must be pious Orthodox people, because they must take responsibility for the spiritual education of their godson.
A godson has a spiritual connection only with a godfather of the same sex as him (for a girl - with a godmother, for a boy - with a godfather), the custom of taking two godparents for a child came to us somewhat later from Catholicism. Godmother must be over 13 years old, godfather over 15 years old, you cannot invite a husband and wife as godparents, but they can baptize different children in the same family. Parents cannot become foster parents for their children, but other relatives: aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers, grandparents can.
After the baby is immersed in the font, the godmother (godmother) accepts him from the hands of the priest, thereby guaranteeing him before God and renouncing Satan. In the future, the duties of the godson include the spiritual education of the godson: studying the Bible and reading the Gospel, driving to church for Communion.
receivers must be prepared: take communion and confess, fast for 3 days and go to the rite in the church on an empty stomach. The godmother should be piously dressed: a skirt below the knees, covered shoulders, no neckline and a headscarf. The godfather must take off his hat at the entrance to the church, in summer you can not come in shorts and T-shirts. It is forbidden to enter the church for a woman who is walking critical days, so coordinate the day in advance with the future godmother. The recipients must lead a pious life, take communion, confess, wear a cross, pray for their godchildren, therefore parents must choose people who are firm in their faith and spiritually higher than themselves. From the godparents, the Lord will ask for the spiritual education of the godchildren, if the parents provide them with such an opportunity. In the event of the death of natural parents, spiritual parents must take responsibility for raising children and take care of them as if they were their own. Before christening, you must definitely go to church and talk with the priest about the rite, the duties of godparents and the sacrament of baptism.
If you are invited to be godparents, then think about the responsibility that lies with you., because a spiritual child will appear in your life, the connection with which is very strong. Be sure to pray for the salvation of his soul, for the health of the godson, take him to church, talk about God. At Christmas, it is customary for godchildren to wear a "supper" to the godparents' house, usually this is a Christmas kutya. Godparents, in turn, give the child gifts: sweets or toys. In the old days, godparents were always consulted before the wedding, they received their blessing for marriage, they invited them to become a planted father and mother.
Are you getting ready to become a godmother or a godmother? Do you know the duties of godparents? Ready to take responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of an infant? In this article, we will tell you whether it is necessary to baptize in childhood, by what criteria to select godparents, and why it is so important to raise a child in the faith.
Future godparents, together with the baby in their arms, approach the temple. One of the recipients asks:
- Does anyone know "I believe"?
“I know,” replies the second.
— Phew, well, if the priest asks, then tell.
Unfortunately, this is far from being an anecdote, but is often repeated in real life situation. Many godparents do not understand their function at all and do not know what duties fall on godparents. We will talk about the meaning of baptism, the role of godparents for babies and the responsibility of fathers and mothers later.
Baptism is a spiritual birth
The sacrament opens for the baptized the door into the life of the Church. From that moment on, a person becomes a Christian, can fully participate in the Sacraments.
Moreover, it is no coincidence that baptism is also called the second, or spiritual birth of a person. According to Christian teaching, human life does not end with earthly limits. We are all called to eternity. A true Christian is a believer who has accepted holy baptism who participates in the Sacraments, fulfills the commandments - is called to eternal stay in the Kingdom of Heaven together with the Most Holy Trinity, the Mother of God and the saints.
This hope for eternal joy in paradise was given to humanity by the resurrected Christ. He is the Son of God who abides with the Father. But we, if we follow Christ, will also become sons and daughters of God and without remorse we will be able to do the “Lord’s Prayer” (addressing God with the words “Our Father”).
What is needed for this? Baptism and Living the Commandments.
In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul writes:
You who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ / all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).
To baptize in infancy or at a conscious age?
For many years, disputes have continued even among believers: is it possible to baptize a baby? Or is it worth waiting until the child grows up and comes to this consciously?
If you are believing parents, full-fledged members of the Church, who want to raise their own children in a Christian spirit, then there are no questions for you. You are quite able to vouch for your children before God.
It is a different matter if parents baptize their children only because “everyone does it” or “the child will not get sick.”
This is more like some kind of magical-ritual attitude towards the Church: a child is sick - it is necessary to baptize, if he falls ill again - take communion. Who thinks about what a baptized boy or girl was born for eternal life? What's on the Last Judgment will he be judged already as a Christian, and not according to his conscience?
Therefore, parents, when answering the question “Is it possible to baptize a baby?”, Should not forget about responsibility. Yes, it is possible to baptize in infancy, but then the responsibility for spiritual development the child falls on relatives and godparents. But on the other hand, they open up to this kid new world and the door to new life. In the Gospel of John, Christ says directly:
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).
Are parents ready to bear such responsibility? Or maybe you need to prepare yourself? For this, it is worth at least attending the catechumens, which in our time are held in many temples. At such meetings, priests or competent lay people will talk about faith, the Church, the meaning of the Sacraments and eternal life.
Responsibilities and duties of godparents
If the father and mother nevertheless decided to baptize the child, then they must decide on the place of the Sacrament and the recipients. Recipients are not just some Good friends or promising people who can then be called to all holidays and called "godfathers".
First of all, these are believers who are ready to vouch for the Lord for your baby. The newborn does not yet have his own faith, so baptism is performed according to the faith of parents and godparents.
Who can be godparents?
Only Orthodox Christians, and ideally not nominally believers, because otherwise they will not be able to fulfill the duties of godparents. How to tell a child about God if you have no personal relationship with Him? How can you bring your godson to Communion if you yourself do not confess and do not receive communion?
Atheists, non-Orthodox, criminals cannot become godparents. In our time, monks and nuns are also not allowed to receive. Previously, there was no such regulation. But today, such a ban is explained by the fact that participation in baptism distracts the monks, brings them closer to the worldly environment.
How many godparents to take?
Another popular question: How many godparents should there be? In fact, only one, and of the same gender as the one being baptized. It is he who gives vows on behalf of the baby, about which we will talk below.
But today the practice has spread to take a pair of godparents: a woman and a man. Some parents even invite two or even three couples. But such an act is hardly dictated by piety. Most often, parents cannot decide or even do so for mercantile purposes. But we are not talking about that now.
What vows does the godmother/godmother make?
For some reason, many believe that the duties of godparents include only the unmistakable recitation of the "Symbol of Faith." Yes, indeed, during the Sacrament of Baptism, the recipients usually read the "Symbol of Faith", thereby testifying to their involvement in the Church. But that's not all. In addition to agreeing with the main church dogmas, they boldly point to participation in Christ and renunciation of Satan. The priest asks the godfather or godmother three times:
Do you deny Satan, and all his deeds, and all his aggels (demons), and all his ministry, and all his pride?
And the recipient also answers three times: "I deny."
Then the priest again asks the question: "Have you renounced Satan?" And the godfather or mother must consciously answer: "I have renounced / I have renounced." All this ends with the words of the clergyman: "Blow and spit on him."
Please note: on behalf of the person being baptized, the recipient testifies that the devil no longer has any power over him. If you don't have faith, you don't want to live like a Christian, then can you dare to spit on the devil, completely renounce him? Can you unite with Christ?
It is about the latter that the priest further asks: are you united to Christ? Do you believe Him? If a person answers: I am united, I believe Him, like Christ and God, then he makes a serious vow. A vow to participate in the spiritual upbringing of the child, to teach him the basics of the faith, so that the baptized infant will grow up as a Christian and be grateful that in childhood they made an excellent choice instead of him.
As you understand, not every person is suitable for such a responsible mission. To select worthy candidates, study in detail the duties of godparents.
Responsibilities of recipients
- As a believing person, the beneficiary must teach the basics of faith to his godchild: to speak in an accessible way about God, the Church.
- Prayer responsibility also falls on the godparents: from that day on, they also pray for the baby. And when the child grows up, they explain to him the meaning of prayers, help him learn the first prayer texts.
- Communicates the child together with the parents.
- On the own example shows the meaning of Christian virtues and life according to the commandments. It is much easier for a child to see what love, mercy, benevolence are by the example of godparents than to hear it in a moralizing conversation.
In order to fulfill these duties of godparents, the beneficiary needs to work on himself all the time. Much still depends on the parents: if they are believers not only in words, then the child will absorb faith along with the atmosphere in the family.
If parents are only formally Orthodox or, even worse, behave like Christians only on Sundays in the church, and on the street and at home “as it happens,” then it will be much more difficult for children to come to God. But worst of all, if the parents at one time answered positively to the question “Is it possible to baptize a baby?”, But they were absolutely not ready for this. They do not live like a Christian, they do not raise a child in the faith. In this case, it will be very difficult for the godparents to fulfill their duties.
To learn how to prepare your godparents for baptism, you will learn from this video:
