What is baptism and why is it performed on a person. How should you spend your birthday? How to prepare for your baby's christening

The sacrament of baptism causes reverent awe in most people. Even not deeply believing parents necessarily baptize the baby so that the child is under God's protection.

The rite of baptism is a ritual that requires little preparation. It is important to know when to baptize a newborn, what to prepare for going to church, who to take as godparents (named parents). Learn more about the traditional Christian rite.

Most parents try to protect the tiny little man early, they conduct the sacrament of baptism until the baby is 1 year old. Most often, the ceremony is performed on the 40th day after the birth of the child. Sometimes the sacrament takes place later, if the baby is sick, the weather is so windy and cold that the baby can easily catch a cold.

Take note:

• it is not worth postponing the ceremony for a long time: newborn children up to a year old behave calmly during the sacrament, most of them sleep;
• after a year and a half, the child often spins, is naughty, is afraid of incomprehensible smells, sounds, many strangers, the actions of the priest;
• with such behavior, the special atmosphere inherent in the traditional rite disappears: all efforts are aimed at calming the crying baby;
• whims, screams, exhortations of parents often wake up other children if the ceremony takes place for several couples;
• consider important point, ensure maximum peace of mind during the ritual.

In some cases, the priest does not recommend postponing baptism. Perform a traditional ceremony as soon as possible if the baby is restless, weak, born ahead of time. In case of a serious illness, priests also advise to baptize the baby early.

Baptism of a child: what you need to know? Helpful Hints:

• any day is suitable for the ceremony. Often young parents choose Saturday and Sunday, when many close people and friends can come to share the joy;
• on major church holidays, it is not very convenient to hold christenings: a lot of people gather in the temple, the child may burst into tears due to stuffiness, a large crowd of strangers. On such days, the priest will not be able to devote enough time to parents and the baby;
• if you plan a date in advance, pay attention to a delicate nuance: mommy can be present in the temple when she is not at that moment critical days. Choose the date of the christening taking into account an important factor.

Where to baptize a newborn

The bulk of the rites of baptism of the child takes place in the church. Sometimes circumstances interfere with visiting the temple: the child quickly catches a cold in crowded places, the baby gets sick, gets very worried, cries at the sight of strangers. What to do?

Talk to the priest, whom you respect, explain the situation. The priest will take the accessories for the ceremony with him, will baptize the baby at home. Parents will need to prepare attributes for the ceremony.

Advice! In small settlements there is often one or two churches, the choice of where to baptize a child is practically absent. If you live in big city, do not be lazy, talk to your friends, ask for advice on choosing a priest. It is important to know that the holy father will approach the sacrament of baptism with soul. Come to the temple in advance, talk with the priest, ask for advice on preparing for the ceremony. Find a person who is completely conducive to you.

Necessary purchases: traditions and rules

What is required for a child to be baptized? Take note:

• most often the cost of the ceremony, the purchase of special accessories in the church is paid by the godfather. Sometimes the parents and the godfather pay the rite equally. It is impossible to force the named pope to pay in full for the christening if the person is still in a difficult financial situation;
• the godmother should bring a kryzhma - a special towel for the christening of a child, in which the priest will wrap the crumbs during the ceremony. Kryzhma needs to be consecrated before christening. Often named mother buys a teaspoon of silver ( cutlery also holy in the church);
• young parents acquire little things for baptism: crosses for guests, candles, a pectoral cross for crumbs. Many parents choose a gold product, but a church cross on a satin ribbon is quite suitable;
• at baptism, the child receives the second, church name based on the date of the ceremony. Parents should buy an icon with the face of a saint (holy) - the patron saint for the baby. Choose an icon in the temple: it will be consecrated there, after the christening, the parents will take the amulet home to protect the newly baptized baby from evil forces.

How much does a child's baptism cost? Specify in advance the cost of accessories for the ceremony: often the amount is impressive.

Which outfit is suitable for adults and kids

• women are required to wear a light scarf / scarf / thin scarf on their heads. The skirt or dress should cover the knees. Under the ban deep neckline, open shoulders, too bright, defiant colors;
• men will suit trousers and a shirt of soothing tones. Breeches, shorts in the temple are out of place;
• a special baptismal set of a beautiful undershirt and a hat, on which a cross is embroidered, will suit the baby. A special set is put on the baby only for the sacrament of baptism, then kept at home, reminding of the purity of the child's soul. If you don't have a christening set, wear nice clothes that are easy to put on and take off.

How to choose named parents

Unfortunately, often parents do not attach much importance to this moment. They are looking for someone who will agree or who is allowed by the rules. Not always godparents are people who are ready to come to the rescue at the first call of their parents, to rejoice for the named son or daughter.

Many choose second parents, based on the wealth of the named mother and father, in the hope of expensive gifts or an invitation to visit abroad. Kind, decent people with below average incomes are unfortunately rarely considered as suitable candidates.

This is why many godparents see their named children only for birthdays, and even then, not for all. Sometimes godparents are remembered only before preparing for the godson's wedding in order to get an expensive gift.

Important! Ideally, the named parents should be congenial people or good friends. If you have such acquaintances or relatives in mind, invite them to christening, entrust them to become a named father or mother. Good godparents are joy in the house. Remember about spiritual communication with the godson, and not just about the material side of the issue. Remember: the financial side tends to change for better or worse, and good relationships often last a lifetime.

Who can be godfather

Entrust the honorable duty:

• good friends;
• relatives whom you are glad to see in your house;
• family aunts and uncles.

Who can't be a godfather

Young parents should be aware that there are limits. Traditions do not allow certain categories of relatives and friends to be invited to this responsible role.

Cannot be godparents:

• baby's parents;
• children: the minimum age of the godmother is 13 years old, the godfather is 15 years old;
• a married couple cannot be invited to become godparents for one baby;
• mental illness is a reason to refuse the help of a person who, due to pathology, is not able to fully realize the measure of responsibility;
• people of a different faith. Sometimes the prohibition is violated if the future godfather is a very good, kind person.

How is the ceremony

How is the baptism of a child? The script of the ritual is practically the same, regardless of the location of the church ( Big City or small village). Parents, friends, relatives, future godparents in in general terms they must understand how the sacrament is performed so that there is no confusion or awkwardness in some situations.

Basic moments:

• baptism is scheduled for a certain time, but you need to drive up to the temple in advance: this way you will have time to arrange financial questions, stipulate documents for the baby;
• an important point is to properly prepare the baby for the ritual. Undress the child, wrap it naked in kryzhma - a special diaper or a beautiful towel larger than the baby;
• the clergyman first invites the godmother to the church with the boy in his arms, the future goddaughter is carried by a man;
• further inside the temple are the invited guests, the mother comes last. Sometimes, before reading certain prayers, mommy waits outside;
• the priest takes the newborn in his arms. At this time, the guests repeat the prayer of renunciation of the devil;
• the next stage is immersing the crumbs in the font. The action is performed three times. If baptism is carried out in the cold season, the priest can pour some water from the font on the arms and legs of the baby;
• Chrismation takes place after the water ritual. The newly baptized baby receives a blessing, protection from dark forces. To do this, on the nose, forehead, eyes, lips, ears, arms, legs and chest, the clergyman puts smears in the form of a cross with church liquid;
• the priest gives the crumbs to the named parents: the woman takes the boy, the man takes the girl. Now you need to wipe, dress the baby.

Find out why your child stutters and how to deal with it.

The sacrament of baptism continues:

• the baby receives a pectoral cross. One of the named parents holds the baby, the second puts on a consecrated cross;
• the priest cuts a few locks from the baby's head (in the center). This detail means obedience to God, the new spiritual life of the newly baptized baby;
• at the end of the rite, the priest with the baby in his arms goes around the font three times. The priest puts the girl to the icon of the Virgin, the boy is brought into the altar;
• now you can transfer the newly baptized baby to the mother. The parent brings out a crumb of their temple;
• all guests, godparents go home with their parents to celebrate the baptism of the baby.

The traditional ceremony takes from 30-40 minutes to two hours. The more couples in the church baptize children, the longer the sacrament lasts: the priest pays attention to each child.

Now you know when a newborn baby is baptized, who to make named parents, what to purchase for the ceremony. Consider the recommendations, choose worthy godparents, take a responsible attitude to the preparation of the solemn ceremony. May God and the saints bless the newly baptized baby, protect him from adversity, protect him from troubles and the influence of dark forces!

And so, the article:

According to the rules, the baby must be baptized on the fortieth day after birth. But in extraordinary circumstances it can be done earlier. Moreover, in this case, any baptized person can act as a priest.

The optimal age when the baby is able to endure the ceremony without whims is 3-6 months. A month or two later, a child who is already beginning to distinguish between “us” and “them” may be frightened by an unfamiliar environment and cry, which will complicate the process of baptism for himself, his parents, and the priest.

Where to baptize?

Parents of a child choose an Orthodox church based on their own preferences. Baptism can be performed almost any day after the morning prayer service without an appointment. They baptize both in fasting and on holidays. However, if you have scheduled a certain time and day for this ritual, it is better to communicate with the priest in advance. The possibility (or impossibility) of photographing the sacrament is also preliminarily discussed. Now this is allowed in many temples, but most often for a fee. Those who are embarrassed to personally negotiate with the priest can ask for help from novices - women who work in the temple or trade in the church shop. When choosing a central temple for baptism, keep in mind that the date of the ceremony will be set regardless of your plans and the temple may be crowded at this moment. For these reasons, it makes sense to baptize the child in a small church near the house.

How to choose godparents?

The choice of godparents - godparents - should be approached with special responsibility. According to church canons, godparents are the spiritual educators of the child and guarantors for him before God. Therefore, this issue should not be decided for reasons of kinship, benefit, or “not to offend”. Rules for choosing godparents:

* Godparents must themselves be baptized in Orthodoxy;
* It is desirable that there are two godparents - a man (over 15 years old) and a woman (over 13 years old); if there is only one godfather, he must be of the same gender as the child;
* The recipients should not be married to each other or are going to get married;
* Relatives of the child (grandmother or grandfather, aunt or uncle, or other family members) can act as godparents;
* A pregnant woman can become a godmother, but since the girl will mainly have to be held in her arms, your chosen one needs to calculate her strength;
* A woman who gave birth less than 40 days ago cannot become a godmother.

What are the duties of godparents?

The people you have chosen as recipients should prepare for the ceremony as seriously as you, if not more seriously. To do this, they need:

* Visit a church to confess (repent of your sins) and take communion;
* Learn the prayer "Symbol of Faith";
* Fast 3-4 days before the ceremony;
* On the day of baptism, as well as before communion, godparents should not eat or have sex;
* On the recipients during the ceremony, pectoral crosses must be worn;
* According to custom, it is the godparents who bear the costs of the baptism of the baby;
* Also according to Orthodox tradition the godmother gives the child an outfit for the ceremony, and the godfather - a cross.

Prayer SYMBOL OF FAITH

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was. For us for the sake of man and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the packs of the future with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. tea resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.

Rules of conduct in the church.

* Dress in church modestly and decently. Calm are preferred dark tones, screaming are unacceptable.
* A dress or skirt for women should be long enough - up to the knees and even lower. Men, entering the church, bare their heads. Women, on the contrary, cover it with a scarf or other headdress. Jewelry on this day is best left at home.
* You can light a candle with either hand.
* You need to be baptized only with your right hand.
* Men stand on the right half of the church, and women on the left.
* A mother cannot enter the temple if her discharge continues.

What is required for the ceremony?

* Pectoral cross (on a ribbon), which can be purchased at a church shop or directly in the church. If the cross is bought in a store, then it must be consecrated in advance. Note that some crosses depicting a crucifix according to the Catholic model are not subject to consecration. The Catholic cross is easy to recognize by the fact that on it the Savior's feet are nailed to the cross not with two nails, but with one.
* Icon of an Orthodox saint, whose name the baby will receive.
* Baptismal shirt. In principle, any new white clothes can act as this, but it is better to purchase a special shirt in the church (and a bonnet for a girl).
* A clean towel or diaper to wipe the child after the font (this item does not need to be consecrated).

How is the baptism?

Many parents are worried that, according to church rules, they are not allowed to be present in church during the ceremony. However, now not all priests strictly adhere to this prohibition. Therefore, it is better for dads, moms, and godparents to know in advance the order of the baptismal ceremony.

Parents with a baby, a godfather and guests arrive at the church a little in advance so as not to start the ceremony in a hurry and, moreover, not to keep the priest waiting. After the sign to the beginning is given, the godparents bring the child to the temple (the godfather holds the girl, and the godmother holds the boy). In this case, the baby should be without clothes, but wrapped in a white diaper.
The first sacrament is the laying on of the priest's hand on the baby, symbolizing the protection that the Lord provides to the baby.

When performing the sacrament God-parents with a baby in their arms and with candles stand at the font. They read the Creed aloud, renounce the devil and promise to keep the commandments of God. Then the priest blesses the water, takes the baby from the godparents and plunges him into the font three times with the words: “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen, and the Son, amen, and the Holy Spirit, amen.” (There is no need to worry about the fact that the child will catch a cold, since it is usually warm in the temple, and the water temperature in the font is + 36-37 degrees).

Along with baptism, the sacrament of chrismation takes place. To a baptized infant, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, nostrils, chest, arms and legs with holy myrrh, each time saying: “The seal of the Holy Spirit, amen.” Next, the baby is handed over to the recipient of the same sex, who must wipe the baby and put on him a cross and a baptismal shirt prepared in advance. The white robe worn on the baptized means what he received through holy sacrament cleansing from sins.

The priest cuts the hair of the baby in a cross-like manner (cutting off a tiny strand on each side of the head), which symbolizes obedience to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the baptized person brings to the Lord in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. At the same time, the priest says: “The servant of God (or the servant of God) (name) is being sheared in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”

After baptism and chrismation, the baby is carried 3 times around the font. This means that the new member of the Church is forever united with her.

And, finally, if a boy was baptized, the priest brings him to the altar, if a girl, he helps her to venerate the icon Mother of God. Churching symbolizes the dedication of the baby to God according to the Old Testament image.
Be prepared for the fact that the rite of baptism will take from 30 minutes to 2 hours (the time of the rite depends on the priest).

How to celebrate baptism?

After the christening, the family and those invited go to the house where the child lives to celebrate the christening with a traditional plentiful feast. In addition to other pickles, guests are served a hot drink (punch, mulled wine or warmed wine) and a special holiday treat. It is usually a sweet cake decorated with the child's initials and the date of the christening.

And do not forget to take the baby to Communion after baptism (be it a baby or an older baby)

When a child is baptized, the rules and conditions indicated by the priest during the interview when preparing parents and godparents for this sacrament must be strictly observed. The sacrament of baptism can be figuratively compared with a small grain; In order for it to grow and give good results, certain conditions must be met. For its successful growth, fertile soil requires heat, light and sufficient air. The rules and conditions for planting this seed in our case is an image of the rules that must be observed when performing the baptism of a child. If a seed falls into dry soil that does not have enough moisture, it will not germinate and will not be able to bear fruit. The same thing happens if, when preparing for the baptism of a child, the godparents and the baby’s natural parents do not follow the rules required by the Church.

In the first centuries of Christianity, when faith was addressed a large number of people, there was a separate institution of catechumens. Adult people consciously and for a long time prepared to receive holy baptism. They attended special talks, communicated and prayed with believers, and participated in a certain part of the service. An echo of the existence of this institution is the division divine liturgy into two parts: the liturgy of the catechumens and the liturgy of the faithful. Those people who had already received the sacrament of holy baptism were called faithful. When the liturgy of the faithful began, the catechumens who had been present at the service up to that moment were to be beaten to leave the church. In our time, when most people receive the sacrament of holy baptism in childhood, there are new rules for baptizing a child. Small child still cannot consciously accept the dogmatic foundations of the Orthodox dogma. For this reason, the responsibility for his Christian upbringing rests with the child's parents, as well as his godparents. They must necessarily be baptized Orthodox Christians themselves, who strive to fulfill Christ's commandments in their lives.

Rules for baptizing a child for parents

Happy parents have a long-awaited miracle in the family - their beloved and beloved baby was born. Loving parental hearts want to create all the conditions
for its successful growth and development. As members of the Church of Christ, parents know that in order to save the soul of their child, it is necessary to receive the sacrament of holy baptism. The sooner this sacrament is performed on the baby, the better for his spiritual life. At the birth of a child, parents must choose an Orthodox name for him. This may be the name of a holy saint of God, whom they revere in a special way. There may also be a name that bears a saint whose memory is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the day of birth or on the day of the baptism of the child. Parents should prayerfully prepare for this sacrament, they should also approach the choice of godmother and godfather for their baby with all responsibility. It is the godparents who should help the relatives of the mother and father of the baby to lead him correctly along the thorny road leading him to eternal life. Before the sacrament of baptism, it is necessary to undergo a special interview with an Orthodox priest in the church. Parents are required to know basic Christian prayers, which the clergyman will talk about during the interview.

The rules for infant baptism imply the preliminary preparation of some items necessary during the sacrament. These include a pectoral cross, christening clothes, a christening towel.

Baptism of a child. Rules for the godmother

The rules for the godmother in preparation for the sacrament of holy baptism, on the one hand, may seem simple, on the other hand, they require special efforts. The godmother, along with the godfather and the baby's parents, must attend a special interview at the church. She can help parents prepare some of the necessary items that will be needed during the ordinance. The godmother plays a particularly important role when a girl is born in the family. Usually a goddaughter is more influenced by her godmother than her godfather. When a child is baptized, the rule for the godmother must be strictly observed. At certain moments of the sacrament, the priest may ask the godmother to read from memory or from the prayer book those prayers that he asked to know during the interview. The godmother must be able to handle a small child. Perhaps she herself will have to take off the clothes in which the child was brought for baptism, and after the sacrament is performed, put on the baptismal set.

Baptism of a child. Rules for the godfather

The rules for a godfather at the baptism of a child are somewhat similar to the rules for a godmother. The godfather must also attend a special interview for the godparents and parents of the baby. He must know the required prayers; usually these include the prayers “King of heaven”, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, “Our Father”. It is required to be able to read the "Symbol of Faith" well. The godfather, by agreement with the parents and the godmother, can take part in the preparation of the baptismal set, pectoral cross or towel for baptism. However, the most important condition for the baptism of a child is the sincere faith of his parents and godparents. If this basic condition or requirement is not met, then the chances of saving the soul of the baptized child are significantly reduced. Our seed will be planted in the soil. Perhaps this soil - a pure child's soul - will prove fertile. However, with a lack of light and moisture, which are good examples of the parents and godparents of the baby, this plant will not be able to grow and give good fruits. Likewise, a child who is not fed from the pure source of Christian doctrine by his parents and godparents will not be able to bear good fruit. These fruits are works of love and mercy, created at the call of a believing heart.

Video. RULES FOR THE BAPTISM OF A CHILD.

The day on which the ceremony takes place is called the Day of the Sacrament of Baptism. It is believed that on this day spirituality comes first and a person is born a second time. The event in the life of every person is significant and important, understanding this, one should pay special attention to the organization of the ceremony, both in church and at home. You will certainly have many questions about this, as soon as you start preparing for the celebration. It is wonderful if the godparents take care of organizing the holiday, at least partially, for example, they will talk with the priest, agree on the day when the ceremony will take place. And in general, it is desirable that all close relatives participate in the preparation of the celebration. To make it clearer to you how important this day is, why everything happens according to certain rules, we will delve a little into the history of the rite of christening.

The history of the rite of christening.

Despite the non-acceptance of religion and faith by the Bolsheviks, the rite of christening existed in the years Soviet power, it has survived to this day. People, like many centuries ago, carry their children to churches to perform the rite of baptism. This tradition has been going on since the time of the apostles, as the Orthodox believers say. In the days of the early Church, baptism and worship were closely linked. A person was baptized when he joined the Church, left paganism. A person had to make a decision that meant that he was breaking with the past, which could be equated with the beginning of a new life.

The tradition of baptizing people in infancy appeared in the Church for political reasons, and not for spiritual ones, by the beginning of the third century. But due to a discrepancy with sound biblical teaching, the practice of compulsory baptism of newborns did not become widespread until the sixth century. The rite of baptism was performed by immersion in water, which gave baptism a different meaning from sprinkling. Immersion in water with the head as a symbol of burial, and exit from the water - rising from the coffin, resurrection from the dead. Thus, baptism meant death and resurrection. For the old sinful life man died, but for the new grace he was reborn.

When a child is baptized necessary conditions were the faith of the parents and the presence of godparents. A child may have one godfather, while it is desirable that the girl has a woman, and the boy has a man. Godparents are guarantors before God for the godson and are responsible for him. They participate in the upbringing of the child, and it is believed that spiritual kinship is stronger than blood. In the old days, godparents had to raise a baby in the Orthodox faith and take him to church. Now godparents are usually chosen by friends of the family and they know little about their original duties. Water has always had a special meaning, it was revered for its healing and cleansing properties. When a child is washed with water in a font, it is believed that she washes his soul from dirt. After all, all of us, the descendants of Adam and Eve, are sinners from birth. Therefore, even very young children plunge into the font.

Basic rules for the baptism of a child in the Orthodox Church.

Even before the birth of a person, his spiritual life begins. And the beginning of it, according to the Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, is considered the wedding of the parents. It is very important for a person if he was born in a married marriage. Many believe that a pregnant woman should not attend church, and even more so, be a godmother. This opinion is wrong. On the contrary, the expectant mother should go to the temple, pray and confess. For the love of God has no limits. And if a pregnant woman expressed a desire to become a godmother, then there are no obstacles for this.

If we talk about the timing of baptism, then according to the church charter, the child must be baptized on the fortieth day after birth. But this is not a prerequisite. You can perform the ceremony earlier, but, as a rule, this is done later. The period of forty days can be explained logically: the child is still small and sleeps peacefully, will cry a little after washing in the font and quickly falls asleep again.

Performing the rite of baptism, a lock of hair is cut off from the baby, which symbolizes a sacrifice to God, that is, a person gives him not only his thoughts and deeds, but also himself.

Can spouses be godparents for a child?

When a mother first takes a child in her arms, she should overshadow him with her pectoral cross and read a prayer for a happy resolution from the burden. Then you need to think about the day of baptism. To do this, you need to go to the temple and talk with the priest. If the baby is sick, then the rite of baptism can be performed at home. It is very important to choose worthy godparents. Nowadays, many seek to choose them for reasons of material well-being, so that godparents can give rich gifts to their godson. And few understand that the duty of the godmother and father, first of all, is the spiritual upbringing of the child.

When an adult is baptized, the presence of godparents in his life is not necessary, but for a child the best option there will be a baptism with two godparents, but it is possible with one. A boy's godfather must be a man, and a girl's godfather must be a woman. However, godparents should not be a married couple, or people who are intimately connected. Today the great Sacrament is performed according to a simplified version. They invite a videographer who captures every moment of the ceremony, although the clergy do not particularly object to this.

A mother can enter the church forty days after giving birth.

A woman has the right to enter the temple only on the fortieth day after giving birth, and after a special cleansing prayer has been read over her. In the old days, the child was baptized earlier, on the eighth day, so there was a tradition to go to church without a mother. church rules quite strict on appearance women. To attend church, a woman must be dressed so that her elbows and knees are covered and her head is covered. A woman cannot go to the temple in trousers and during “critical days”. There are no such strict requirements for men, it is enough for them to remove their headdress before entering the church.

Gifts from godparents.

The traditions of baptism that have developed over the centuries and modern additions to them should make the day of the Sacrament of Baptism bright and unforgettable not only for parents, but also for the child, if he is of a conscious age. It is customary that godparents give gifts to their godson on this day. In the old days, it could be the icon of his patron saint, which corresponded in size to the height of the baby, and it was called a life-size one. Now there is no need to buy such an icon, you can buy a small image of the saint. The godfather must take all the expenses of the ceremony on himself, as well as make a gift to the godson - a chain and a cross. The godmother gives a towel and a baptismal shirt. Gifts such as earrings, silver spoons, rings, etc. will also be appropriate.

Folk omens associated with christening.

After the ceremony in the church, as a rule, this event is celebrated in the circle of relatives and friends. Among the people there are signs that you should pay attention to. To protect the child from life's troubles and misfortunes, he is given two names: one at birth, and the second at baptism.

Interest is a way to rid the child of the disease. During the time when he is unwell, the girl is called by the name of the boy, and the boy - temporarily by the name of the girl.

Giving a child the name of a holy queen or prince at baptism is for good, success and health. And if they give the name of a holy martyr, then this is a bad omen, since parents thus doom their child to suffering, and the share of his saint.

Grandma should be the main manager at the christening. Previously, it was a woman who helped bathe the mother or was the first to bathe the baby. Today, as a rule, this role is assigned to native grandmothers. They run the festival.

It is customary to cook a special porridge in a pot for christening, and guests must bargain for it, but the godfather must definitely get it. The proceeds are transferred to the baby's mother, and the godfather's pot is carefully broken on the corner of the table and each guest must take a handful of porridge from there. The women present at the table take the remnants of porridge for their children.

Pancakes should not be placed on the festive table laid in honor of the christening, this can bring misfortune to the child. The main dishes on such a table should be cereals, borscht and pies with various fillings.

A special etiquette is christening etiquette.

Each person is assigned a guardian angel at baptism. Now we no longer remember this, but, nevertheless, our names are given in honor of a saint and have their own meaning. The day of a person's angel is considered the day of remembrance of his saint, celebrated by the church. If there is no name in the lists, then the name that is close in meaning is selected.

The day of baptism is determined by the parents in advance, so it is best to send postcards to those invited in advance or replace them with a telegram, a phone call. Such an invitation should reflect the importance of this ceremony to you, and its significance. Only those who take part in the ceremony are invited to the temple, the rest can be invited home. Guests sit down at the table, where they drink a hot drink: mulled wine or punch, and eat a festive cake. The cake is usually made sweet and the date of the christening and the initials of the child are written on it.

Also, read on the website:

Son in law older than parents

The situation is as follows: my husband is several years older than my parents. My parents are 30 years older than me, I'm not an early child, but certainly not a late one either. The only one, I'm 22 years old. When my family found out ...

Baptism is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. This rite is the adoption of the Christian faith. It is designed to protect a person from the influence of dark forces and direct his life in a bright spiritual direction. There is an opinion regarding the correctness of the adoption of Christianity already in adult, meaningful age. However, Orthodox priests argue the opposite. Being baptized in infancy, a person early acquires a guardian angel, is cleansed of original sin and is forever accepted into the holy church monastery.

The Orthodox Church recommends that babies be baptized on the 8th or 40th day after their birth. Newborn children who are in a dangerous illness should be baptized as soon as possible. Before christening, you need to decide on the choice of an Orthodox name for the baby. A saint bearing the same name becomes his intercessor before higher powers. Orthodox name a limited number of people should know, this will make a person invulnerable to evil and ill-wishers.

Baptism of a child in a church

Many are interested in what days and how the child is baptized in the church. The rules are almost the same in every Orthodox church. For christening, you can choose any day of the week. The exceptions are big church holidays, when, due to the heavy workload, the priest will not be able to conduct the ceremony.

Preparation for the sacrament

Preparation for the sacrament involves the purchase of a baptismal kit, preliminary conversations with a clergyman, and the choice of godfather and mother. The baptismal set includes a shirt (diaper), a pectoral cross and an icon depicting the patron saint. For female babies, a cap or handkerchief is added. A baptismal shirt (kryzhma) is considered a miraculous amulet and should be kept throughout the life of its owner.
With her help traditional healers remove curses and help in the treatment of serious diseases.

Kryzhma for baptism

Kryzhma can be bought or sewn independently. This can be done by both the mother and the future godmother. Preference is given white color fabric as a symbol of purity and purity.

The pectoral cross is traditionally bought by the godfather. It should be of inexpensive metal. It is allowed to have a cross made of silver, as this metal is able to purify and drive away evil spirits. But gold is not considered pure, so gold crosses are undesirable. You can purchase such a cross in the future, not forgetting to consecrate it. After the sacrament, the pectoral cross is supposed to be worn constantly as a symbol of faith.

Godparents often think about what is better to buy for the cross - a chain or a cord? In church shops, ropes are sold - gaytans, specially designed for wearing it. They are safe and easy to use and are especially suitable for young children.

Relatives and godparents should first visit the priest and ask him all the necessary questions about the upcoming ceremony. He will tell you in detail what is needed for proper participation in it. To take a photo or video, you need to get his obligatory approval and blessing. On the day of the christening, you must have the birth certificate of the baby with you. On its basis, a certificate of baptism will be issued.

Choice of Godparents

The choice of godparents should not be made for materialistic reasons. Priests advise inviting believers for this, who in the future are able to become spiritual parents and mentors for the godson, and, if necessary, replace his father and mother. They must necessarily belong to the Orthodox faith.

Future godparents are invited to the temple to talk with the priest. The clergyman will tell them how the child is baptized, explain their role in the ceremony and in the spiritual life of the future godson. Church rules strictly define the category of persons who cannot be godparents:

• the child's parents;
• atheists and representatives of other religions;
• temple staff;
• minors;
• persons who are married to each other.

Women are forbidden to be present in the holy monastery during critical days. Before the sacrament, the godparents are required to observe a three-day fast, confess and receive communion.

Baptism of children in the church

The rules of the church forbade the parents of children to be with them during the ceremony. Today, the order of the ceremony has changed somewhat and an Orthodox priest can baptize a baby in their presence.

All participants in the ceremony need to pay attention to their appearance. It must comply with church requirements. Restrained tones are preferred in clothes. All those present must have pectoral crosses, and in the hands of baptismal candles.

Women are not supposed to wear short open dresses or skirts. The head is covered with a scarf or scarf. Flashy jewelry and bright makeup are excluded. Female children must also be covered. Men are allowed into the temple without a headdress.

Christenings of children of both sexes follow the same rules. The first sacred act is the laying on of the priest's hand on the child. Such a gesture symbolizes the acquisition of the protection of God. The godparents answer on behalf of the godson some of the questions of the priest, then the priest anoints the child with church oil (oil).

After the anointing, the godparents with the baby in their arms must go to the font. The priest blesses the water and immerses the baby in it three times. If a boy is being baptized, then the godmother brings him to the font, and if the girl is being baptized, the godfather. After bathing, you need to put on a baptismal shirt and cover your head. The priest performs the rite of chrismation, which happens only once in a lifetime.

Rules for baptism in the church

Then a small strand of hair is cut from the child's head. The baby is carried 3 times around the font. This means that he took Orthodox faith and united with her forever. The whole ceremony is accompanied by constant recitation of prayers.

Upon returning from the holy monastery, all those invited gather for festive table. During the celebration, children are given gifts and warm sincere wishes.

Duration and cost of the ceremony

The duration and cost of the rite vary. Many parents are interested in how long the baptism of a child in the church takes. Much depends on the father. Most often, the ritual takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The main material costs fall on the shoulders of the blood father and mother, although there was once a custom to fully pay for everything to the godfather. The cost of baptism in the church is indicated in the price list with the prices of church services. It can be found in the icon shop. You can find out how much it costs to baptize a child in a church from its employees. Traditionally, the amount ranges from 600 to 2000 rubles.

Everyone decides for himself whether to believe him in signs or not. There are beliefs associated with christening. Our wise ancestors advised to do the following:

• do not inform strangers about the date of the upcoming christening;
• only an even number of guests are allowed into the temple;
• before the christening, count all the money in the house - this will ensure the child a comfortable life;
• on the day of baptism, as well as on the days of church holidays, do not perform any work;
• do not open the doors of the house to anyone until all participants in the ceremony return from the temple;
• do not take a pregnant woman as godparents;
• on a holiday in the house do not make noise and do not quarrel;
• after the feast, the godmother and father should be the last of the guests to leave.

Orthodox priests teach that the mere fact of baptism is not enough to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What is important is the further life in Christ and participation in all church sacraments. The Church calls on the parents of baptized children to live in her bosom and set a worthy example for the growing generation.

Rules for baptizing a child in a church: video