Baptism is one of the most ancient church rites, which has a long history. In accordance with the established traditions, the church charter provides for certain rules for the baptism of boys, spelled out the duties of a priest, godmother and other participants in the ceremony during this ceremony.

We will tell you about how this sacrament of baptism of boys takes place, what you need to know about the peculiarities of its performance as the child's godmother and much more.

Most often, young children are baptized on the 40th day after birth. This tradition developed back in the Old Testament church, when on the 40th day the child was brought to the temple.

This rite is held in Orthodox churches on all days of the week (more often on Saturday), at any time of the year, including in winter, because the water in the font is warm, and children do not catch cold after baptism. Anyone who is not indifferent to the fate of the baby can be present at the performance of the sacrament.

According to the church rules established for the baptism of boys, it is not at all necessary that he had two godparents. One thing is enough: the godmother - for girls and the godfather - for boys. If you have been invited to become the godmother of the son of your friend or relative, you will have to fulfill a number of duties along with the godfather.

The godfather pays for the ceremony in the temple and the purchase of food for the festive table, which is set after the christening. Also, the child will need a pectoral cross, which one of the godparents can give him.

The duties of the godmother regarding the boy's baptism are that she buys the baby's baptismal outfit - a shirt and a beautiful cap with ribbons and lace. The shirt should be comfortable, easy to put on and take off. It is preferable to use clothes made from natural materials that absorb moisture well and do not irritate the baby's skin.

Also, in order to receive the child from the hands of the priest after the font, you will need a white towel - a kryzhma.

All of these things can be bought at the church shop. In the old days, they were embroidered with your own hands, and if you own this art, you can embroider these products. According to tradition, after christening, they are no longer used for their intended purpose, but are kept throughout a person's life as a talisman that protects him from troubles and diseases.

What should the godmother do during the boy's baptism ceremony?

On the eve of this ceremony, she should fast for several days, and then confess and receive communion in the temple.

Also, the godmother will need to know by heart certain prayers ("Symbol of Faith", etc.). They are read before baptism, during the rite of publicity, when the priest utters forbidding prayers directed against Satan.

The words are heard: "Cast out from him every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart ...". The godparents read answer prayers on behalf of the child, renouncing the unclean spirit and promising to be faithful to the Lord.

Then the priest blesses the water, takes the baby in his arms and plunges him into the baptismal font three times, reciting prayers. After that, a cross is put on the baby and his face, chest, arms and legs are smeared with the sacred world, reading the appropriate prayers.

Finally, the godparents carry the child around the font three times, which symbolizes the eternal life in Christ that awaits him. The priest washes away the ointment and wipes the child with a towel, and then cuts off the strands of the child's hair as a sign of dedication.

As for the rules for baptizing boys, they are practically the same as for girls, with the difference that girls are not brought into the altar during the performance of this sacrament. At the end of the ceremony, the child is applied to one of the icons of the Savior, as well as to the icon of the Mother of God.

The duties of the godmother when performing the rite of baptism of a boy is to hold the child in her arms during this ordinance before immersion in the font. Then all the ritual actions are performed by the godfather, the godmother should only help him if necessary.

During this ceremony, she must maintain emotional contact with the child, and be able to calm the baby if he cries.

The whole rite lasts from half an hour to an hour and a half (depending on how many children are baptized that day in the church). In order not to get tired, the godmother should not wear high-heeled shoes. In addition, her clothes should be modest: trousers, dresses with a deep neckline and cutouts, short skirts are not suitable for this.

According to tradition, the head of a woman in an Orthodox church should be covered with a headscarf. Also, the godmother, as well as the rest of those present at this ceremony, must wear a pectoral cross.

What else does a godmother need to know when a boy is baptized? During this sacrament, he is given a Christian name. Previously, children were baptized, choosing their names according to the Holy Calendar. This can be done today, but only at the request of the parents.

Also, according to the Orthodox rules adopted for the baptism of boys, you can choose a consonant name for the child (for example, Robert - Rodion). Sometimes they give the name of the saint, whose day of remembrance falls on the day of baptism (for example, January 14 - Basil the Great).

The duties of the godmother performed during the boy's christening may include the coordination of this and other organizational issues. So that a good memory of this event remains, you can arrange a photo or video shooting at the christening.

If you decide to hire a photographer, find out in advance if you can take pictures in the temple, using a flash. As a rule, there is no ban on filming in churches, but in some parishes there are still restrictions.

After the ceremony in the church, the child's parents set the festive table, and the godmother can help them with this.

You should not arrange a lavish feast with alcoholic beverages on this day, because baptism is a church holiday. Better to organize a small party only for loved ones. Ritual dishes - porridge, pancakes, pies, as well as sweets - can be served at the table so that the boy's life is sweet.

What else should the godmother remember about the boy's baptism? Now she takes on spiritual responsibility for the baby, and will have to take part in his life along with blood relatives.

The godparents, who are responsible for the new church member before God, will have to instruct the godson in the faith: talk with him on religious topics, lead him to the sacrament, and also set an example of behavior and give him advice in various life situations.

The sacrament of Baptism takes about 30-40 minutes. It is necessary in advance to decide on the name for the child, which will be given to him at Baptism, with the choice of the temple and the purchase of baptismal accessories. It is also necessary to first visit the temple where the Sacrament will take place and talk with the priest. With all the preliminary points, preparation for Epiphany will take no more than a week.

At what age is a child baptized?

You can baptize a child at any age.

There is a legend that a child should be baptized on the 40th day from the date of his birth. This is due to the fact that 40 days are mentioned in the Old Testament, and it is also believed that until the 40th day the mother cannot attend the Sacrament due to natural reasons. But you can baptize sooner or later, the main thing is not to delay for a long time, not to leave the soul of a child without the grace of God.

In which temple to baptize a child?

Everyone decides for himself in which church it is better to baptize his child. For a small child, it is preferable if the church is located near the house. First of all, you can find out from relatives, close friends, where they baptized their children. What they liked and what they didn't. You should know that the larger the church, the more children it will be baptized. It can be difficult for babies to wait an hour and a half for their turn.

You should first visit the chosen temple and get acquainted with when you can perform the Sacrament of Baptism. Perhaps you have chosen a specific date and would like to christen it on this particular day. You can find out all the detailed information in the church. A child can be baptized on any day, but each parish has its own rules and should be found out in advance.

Usually baptized in the morning after the service.

Can a child be baptized in winter?

There are no obstacles to the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism in the winter season. The church is warm, the water for baptism is heated. I baptized my second daughter at the end of October in the Gerasimo-Boldinsky monastery of the Smolensk region. There were two families of us who baptize babies. The kids behaved great, no one cried. In the monastery itself it was warm, even hot, cozy and festive. The eldest daughter was baptized there, but in the summer. There were much more people, about 10 people. However, everything went surprisingly well, the Sacrament of Baptism itself took no more than an hour in time.

How Much Does Baptism Cost?

There is no official payment in the Orthodox Church. It is important to understand that our Church is separated from the State, and, therefore, exists only on donations from parishioners. Therefore, the amount that you will be told in the temple is only indicative. You can pay more if funds allow. If you have a difficult life situation and you cannot pay for the Baptism now, any priest is obliged to baptize the child free of charge. If you are denied access to a particular church, you can turn to the dean or other superior priests.

In Moscow and the Moscow region, the donation for Epiphany is about 2000-5000 rubles. For an individual performance of the Sacrament, the amount may be slightly higher. In the regions, donations from 1000 rubles are made, for example, in the churches of the Smolensk region, 1500-2500 rubles are paid for the baptism of a child.

Why do we need a conversation with a priest before Epiphany?

A preliminary conversation with the priest is needed so that the parents understand the importance and responsibility of the Sacrament being performed. It is necessary to baptize by faith, and not because the child is often sick, eats poorly, and is somehow disobedient.

During the conversation, the priest will tell about the Holy Scriptures, about the life of Jesus. About why a person is baptized. On the role of godparents in the life of a child.

Announcement conversations have recently become obligatory in many temples. They usually take place where you will baptize the child. In the churches there are premises for Sunday school classes, usually a priest there and invites parents and godparents. In most temples, these conversations take place on weekends, usually on Saturdays. But the priest can appoint another time convenient for you and him.

How to choose the right godparents?

The husband and wife, parents themselves, as well as monastics cannot be godparents for one child. All other believers can be godparents.

As for the age from which you can become a godfather, there are discrepancies. Some priests say that from adulthood, others - that from the age of 14 you can become a godfather or mother. It is better to address this question to the priest at an open talk before the Sacrament.

In the Russian Orthodox tradition, it is customary to have two godparents for a child: a man and a woman. However, there are no prescriptions for this in the Church. So, you can baptize a child with one godfather: for a boy, a man is traditionally chosen as godfather, for a girl - a woman.

With the permission of the priest, unbaptized people, representatives of other religions can become recipients, and you can also become a godfather in absentia, if there are significant reasons for this.

Assuming such responsibility, it should be understood that the godfather is the person who is obliged to support the child at the turning points of life. It is the godfather who should be close to his godson when he moves away from his parents at a transitional age.

Advice to parents: Choose a godfather you like. It's good if this person is near your child and can visit him from time to time. If you offered to become a godfather, but the person refused, you should not beg him. Perhaps the person feels that they are not ready to take on this responsibility. Look for another person.

Literature for parents and godparents:

Hieromonk Macarius (Markish) - ""

Archpriest Valentin Mordasov - ""

Do parents and godparents need to confess, receive communion before the sacrament of Baptism?

No, this is optional.

What should be purchased for baptism by godparents?

Usually, the godfather buys a pectoral cross for the godson, and also pays the costs of performing the Sacrament of Baptism. The godmother can also buy a cross for her goddaughter, as well as other necessary things.

A baptismal set for a boy includes:

New baptismal shirt and kryzhma (towel).

If the baby is a baby, you can purchase additional socks and a cap. During Baptism, it is better to remove the diaper, if any, on the baby. You will be able to put it on after the baby has been dipped three times in the baptismal font.


Kryzhma, cap, shirt and booties for a boy

A baptismal set for a girl includes:

Christening gown, headscarf and canopy (towel).

For a girl, instead of a baptismal shirt, you can purchase a baptismal dress.

Traditionally, in the decoration of the christening attire for boys, blue tones are used, for girls - pink. But the outfit can be snow-white as a symbol of purity. For girls, finishing the baptismal set with ruffles and lace is allowed.

The baptismal dress should be made only of natural materials: cotton or linen, silk is most often used in decoration.

To choose the right outfit for Baptism, you need to know the age of the child, at least approximately his height or weight. Buy a christening gown in the size your child usually wears. For a boy, you can buy a baptismal shirt one size larger than usual, because it is made of cotton and does not stretch. This will make it easier to put it on.

In winter, a hooded towel should be purchased.

A baptismal set can also be bought at church, but not always. Small churches won't sell it to you. Parents themselves can purchase such a set, and then the godparents give something else.

It is customary to keep the baptismal attire throughout life. It can be washed if necessary.

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, you will need baptismal candles, which are covered with elegant lace napkins so that wax does not drip onto your hands. You can buy such candles in any church shop.

What should be given to godparents for Baptism?

Any gift can be. A good book, household items, something a child needs. Often, godparents present icons of Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Saint in whose honor the baby is named, prayer books, Bibles for children, and other spiritual literature.


Measured icons are usually made to order in icon painting workshops.

Some people order beautiful measured icons, which will become a family heirloom and, possibly, will be passed down from generation to generation. The dimensional icon is called because it is made in the size of the child at the time of his birth. Such a shrine is made to order, depicting a saint on it - the patron saint of a child. If the godparents know the name of the saint, after whom their godson will be named, they can order a measured icon for a gift in advance. It is done in icon-painting workshops at churches, or you can search for private manufacturers of such icons on the Internet. The average cost of a measured icon in Moscow is 17,000 rubles.

Who is attending the Epiphany?

Priest Alexander Ilyushenko answers as follows: “All relatives and just close people can be present at baptism. Baptism is called a sacrament not because it is performed in secret from everyone, but because in baptism, as in the performance of other church sacraments, the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit is communicated to the soul of the believer under the visible image of the performance of the established sacraments ”.

The mother can also attend the Baptism of her child. There are no prohibitions for her today. In the pre-Christian era, there was a ban on visiting the temple for a woman who had just given birth. Only after 40 days she could cross the threshold of the temple and touch the shrines. But today this rule of ritual purity is no longer as important as it used to be.

Under what name should the child be baptized?

If you named your child according to the Holy Calendar, then the name at Baptism will be the same. For example, your baby girl was born on January 25, and you named her Tatyana. At Baptism, she will remain the name Tatiana in honor of the holy Great Martyr Tatiana, whose day of remembrance is celebrated by the Orthodox on January 25.

In the Russian Orthodox Church they baptize only under those names that are contained in the Holy Calendar, i.e. there must be an Orthodox saint with the same name. You cannot baptize a child with a name that is not there.

Participating in the performance of Church Sacraments, submitting notes, the name given at Baptism is always indicated.

And what if your name is not in the Holy Calendar? Here is what the priest Dionysius Svechnikov says: “If a person's name is not Orthodox (not contained in the calendar), then they name him in honor of the saint whose memory falls on the day of baptism (if there is no male or female name on this day, then they look at the following days), or on his birthday ... And sometimes a person asks to baptize him in honor of a certain saint, and this is quite acceptable. Sometimes they choose a name for a person, just consonant with his name. "

What to do at Epiphany?

All present should dress appropriately. There should be nothing bright, provocative, distracting the mind and attention of other people. Women should wear modest skirts and cover their heads with a scarf. It is also necessary to wear a pectoral cross on the chest for those who come to the temple of God to perform the Church Sacrament.

Before Baptism, you should buy candles, prepare a towel, a cross for the child - you will give these things to the priest. Also, you should keep a towel for the baby and a baptismal outfit at the ready.

During the performance of the Sacrament, the priest will put a cross around your child's neck. After that, it is never recommended to remove the cross.

Many parents are afraid that the rope on which the cross weighs can harm the baby. If you have such concerns, you can buy a thin chain or. Even if they get tangled, they will easily break without harming the child.

All children behave differently in the church. But, if you are calm and peaceful, set your soul in a solemn mood, then your child, as a rule, will behave well and calmly. If the baby is breastfeeding, you should first feed him so that he does not cry from hunger. If the child is asleep, do not wake him up before time. The mother can take him in her arms if he bursts into tears.

In many churches it is allowed to photograph the Sacrament of Baptism. But again, this question should be discussed in advance with the priest. The photographer should be as attentive as possible, not annoying, not interfere with the performance of the Sacrament. It is unacceptable to use mobile phones during the Communion.

What happens during the Sacrament of Baptism?

During Epiphany, the godparents usually stand behind the priest, one of them holding the child in his arms. The priest reads the main prayers, then asks the godparents and the child to turn their faces to the west and renounce Satan three times.

During Baptism, the godparents read two prayers: "Our Father" and "The Symbol of Faith." The father will also read these prayers and you can repeat the words after him quietly. Some write in advance the words of prayers on a piece of paper.

Then the infant is chrismated. At each anointing, the priest says the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents repeat after him: "Amen." After that, a lock of hair is cut from the child's head as a sign of his dedication to the Warriors of Christ and his readiness to serve God. Then comes the main moment of the Sacrament - a triple immersion in the Holy font. In the cold season, the child is not dipped, but only the head, neck and feet are moistened with water. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. Thus, he takes on the responsibility of raising a child in faith and will be responsible for him at the Last Judgment.

What to do after Epiphany?

After the Baptism, all those present can gather at home in a close family circle and celebrate this solemn event. Relatives can give gifts, say kind words, read poetry. It's good if someone himself writes a couple of lines in honor of such an important event in the life of a little person.

Sweetheart, beloved, dear,
My desired goddaughter,
You are the only one in the world
And the whole world is for you today.
Congratulations on your Epiphany
And I wish you happiness
Let your angel protect you
From misfortune in life and misfortune.

Your child has become a Christian, has entered the bosom of the Orthodox Church, and now his further path depends only on you and the godparents. If you want to raise a believer, live a righteous life yourself, keep the commandments of Christ. A child can only be raised by personal example and good conversations. At every opportunity, godparents should talk with their godchildren, explain Christian truths to them, visit churches, confess and receive communion. If possible, travel to holy places. Now there is a very large selection of excellent Christian literature for children. There are books for even the smallest ones.

The baptism of a child is an important event for parents. Therefore, you need to prepare for it in advance, both spiritually and materially. You have to choose a temple, godparents, attend explanatory talks before christening and purchase baptismal accessories.

What parents need to know

Baptism is carried out starting from the 40th day from the moment of the birth of the child.

The girl must have a godmother, the boy must have a godfather

Godmothers cannot be married

The godmother must be over 15 years old, and the godmother must be over 13

A pregnant woman can become a godmother if her child is over 40 days old.

The duration of the fast before baptism is three days. On the day of baptism, food must not be taken before the ceremony.

Before filming a christening, you need to get a blessing from the priest

Ideally, godparents and parents should know by heart the "Symbol of Faith" and "Our Father" prayers. The "Symbol of Faith" is read during baptism

If you wish, you can make a donation for the sacrament of baptism. In some temples the donation amount is fixed.

Baptism of a child takes place both individually and in a group

Baptism of a child lasts from 40 minutes

First of all, before the christening, parents need to answer the question: "Why do we want to baptize the child?" Today the baptism ceremony for many married couples has lost an important spiritual component. Some baptize children at the insistence of older relatives, others pay tribute to traditions.

If you are in doubt about whether to baptize your baby, wait a little. Some spouses believe that the child should make the decision to be baptized independently and consciously, and therefore refuse to baptize the newborn.

Those who decide to baptize a baby at an early age fast before the sacrament, read prayers, confess and receive communion. Another responsibility of the parents is the choice of godparents for the baby.

Tips for godmothers and dads

Godfathers are the child's spiritual mentors. They are responsible for the religious and moral education of the child.

If godparents have doubts about whether they will be able to cope with the responsibilities assigned to them, advise them to attend explanatory talks before the christening. Conversations take place in a temple or church in the form of lectures on the topic of religion. Those present can ask questions of the ministers of the church. In some temples and churches, at the end of the talks, they issue certificates of their passage.

It is not scary if the godparents have not learned the Symbol of Faith prayer. During baptism, it can be repeated after the priest.

What you need to buy before christening:

Pectoral cross. Usually the godfather gets it for the boy, and the godmother for the girl.

Christening gown, hat and towel. Both godparents and parents themselves can buy these things.

The godparents can give the baby an icon depicting a saint patronizing a newborn. This is a saint with the same name as a child or a saint whose commemoration day falls on a baby's birthday or christening day.

The sacrament of baptism

During baptism, godparents and parents renounce sins and the devil, repeating the words indicated by the priest, and promise to keep the Christian commandments. Then the godparents give the baby to the priest, who dips the baby into the baptismal font three times, and then performs the rite of chrismation. Then, with the child in their arms, the godparents walk around the font three times.

After the ordinance of baptism, a home celebration is usually held with the participation of the closest family members.

DatsoPic 2.0 2009 by Andrey Datso

Many of us were baptized in infancy. And of course, we cannot remember how it all happened. It may also happen that we are asked to become the godmother or father of the baby. And then, we need to know the entire Sacrament of Baptism and whether we can become someone's recipient. And when a joyful event occurs in our family - the birth of a child, then we need to think about whom we can entrust the spiritual upbringing of our child to.

What should a godfather do during Baptism?

Being a godfather is very responsible and honorable. The Orthodox Church conducts little children through the rite of Baptism by faith of godparents and parents. Since, by participating in the Sacrament, the godparents take on a great responsibility for the little parishioner of the Church, of course, they should be Orthodox believers.

Only by the faith of parents and godparents, the Orthodox Church baptizes babies. When the sacrament of the baby's baptism is performed, his godfather (of exactly the same gender as the child himself) will hold his godson. We understand that a small person, when Baptism occurs, is not able to comprehend what is happening, therefore, for him to pronounce the vow of faith before Christ and, accordingly, his godfather will make the renunciation of Satan. And from that moment, the Angels begin to keep the baby by faith and the prayers of godparents and parents.

Duties of godparents after Baptism.

It is very important that the godparents participate in Church life, so that they are not so-called believers, but truly live by Orthodox customs. Why is this so important? After all, the duties of the godparents begin to enter into force after Baptism, and not be limited only to the rite of the Sacrament.

Let's take a look at the three main responsibilities of godparents:

Prayer - the godfather is obliged to constantly be in prayer for his godson. He asks God to keep the baby and give wisdom in growth. The godparent by his example should teach the godson to remain in prayer with reverence, reverence and thanksgiving to God. The kid needs to know that we put all our worries into the hands of a loving God. And that prayer is a conversation with God - the Father, which He always expects from us.

Creed - when the baby grows up and begins to understand the fundamentals of being, we need (like godparents), bring him to a conscious prayer of repentance. And then, again, showing an example of personal spiritual life, teach to walk after Christ. With love in our hearts, and only in this way, we can make a child fall in love with God.

Morality - a baby from a very young age will learn to be in love, virtue, in mercy, when the godparents spend a lot of time teaching this child. The kid should understand that being a Christian and just being called are two different things.

The Church teaches us that on the day of judgment we will give an account to God for how we brought our godson, as well as our children, to Christ. Our godchildren will be a clear indicator of how obedient and faithful we ourselves have been to God. Therefore, accepting an agreement in order to be a godparent is very, very responsible, and we must not forget about this.

What can you give to your godson?



Of course, a pectoral cross can be a good gift for our godson. What it will be made of is according to the capabilities and efforts of the godparents. But the main thing is that the cross should be of the form that is accepted in the Orthodox Church.

And even earlier, in those distant times, it was customary to give the same silver spoon. This spoon was called "a gift for a tooth". It was used when the baby first begins to take food from a spoon.

Today few can afford such a gift. But if you do not have enough funds for a silver spoon, your baby's daily use items will come in handy. You will please not only your godson, but also his parents.

How to choose the right godfather for your child?

It is very important that baptized Orthodox believers are godparents. Pay attention to whether your godparents can instill a child's love for God and the Church. Do they themselves have the church life to be a good example for your little one? We should not base our choice solely on material assistance from godparents or friendly feelings.

You need to think about whether your recipients will be spiritual educators for your child?

It is possible for the child to have one godfather. It is important in this case that he was of the same sex as the baby. And of course, so that he has the above criteria.

Who is not allowed to be god?

In no case should you be godfather to non-Christians - Muslims, Jews, atheists, Buddhists and so on. Even if these people are your close friends and good friends, in no case should you transfer the spiritual education of your child to non-Christians.

There are exceptional options - when there is no Orthodox friend nearby, then you can admit to the Sacrament of Baptism one of your acquaintances belonging to another Christian confession: Protestant or Catholic. This can only happen if you are confident that this person is sincerely following Christ.

There is also an old tradition of the Orthodox Church that a husband and wife cannot become the recipients of the same baby. Therefore, young people who want to get married should think about this before giving an answer to the proposal to become godparents to one child.

Is it true that the girl of the first can only baptize a boy?

There is such a superstition, but this opinion has nothing to do with Christian roots. This erroneous transmission of an initially deceitful view gave rise to such superstition that if the first godson is a girl, it will prevent the young woman from getting married. An Orthodox Christian woman should not base her opinion on fictitious restrictions that the Orthodox Church does not teach.

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Obviously, it would be reasonable if people who have life experience in the Christian life, who have a good conscience and reverence from people and God are chosen as godparents. If, in addition, we can see the good fruits of their upbringing of their own children, then our hearts will be calm and grateful to God for the help provided in leading the lives of our children.

Prayers of the godparents for their godchildren

☝ When should a child be baptized?

According to church rites, the child is baptized on the 8th or 40th day from birth. On the 8th day, according to the customs of the Old Testament, the child was given a name. And on the 40th day, because by this time the postpartum discharge usually stops in women and she is allowed to enter the church. In real life, parents choose when to baptize their baby.

The advice of experienced mothers is that it is better to baptize a child in the first months of life, when he still cannot appreciate what is happening, he cannot be afraid of an unfamiliar environment and church ministers. At 2-3 years old, it will be difficult for you to keep the attention of the child and himself in one place.

☝ How to choose godparents?

The godparents are entrusted with the responsible mission of the spiritual education of the godson. Therefore, the godparents must be of the same faith into which the child is baptized, and it is important to choose as godparents believers, close to the parents and people whom the child wanted to be like and whom he would like to imitate. In fact, one person can be the godfather. For girls, it's the godmother, and for boys, it's the godfather. This has been the case for a long time. But over time, drawing an analogy with an incomplete family (when there is only a mother or only a father), there were two godparents.

☝ Whom does the Church not bless to be godparents?

Godparents cannot be non-Orthodox, minors, monks and nuns, husband and wife with one child, as well as persons of low morality. On whose side the godparents - it does not matter, there may not be relatives. The main thing is that the baby knows these people, because during the ceremony it will be the godparents who will hold him in their arms.

Godmothers cannot be husband and wife, and also cannot become them in the future, since the spiritual bonds with which the church binds them at the moment of baptism is higher, i.e. godparents are prohibited from having intimate relationships with each other.

☝ Duties of godparents

Intending to become godparents, we often do not know what responsibility we take upon ourselves and what responsibilities the Church entrusts to us. Often, having baptized a child, we see him once a year, on his birthday. And we do not even understand that for a baptized person it is not his birthday that is much more important, but the name day.

But visiting the godson and giving gifts for the day of an angel or birthday is, of course, good. However, it is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson includes a lot.

First of all, this is a prayer for him. Learn to turn to God once a day - before bed. It's actually not difficult at all. Ask the Lord for health, salvation, help in raising your own children, the welfare of godchildren and relatives. It will be useful to master the path to the temple together with the baby, to bring him to communion on a church holiday.

The godfather promises God that he will bring the godson to Him. What the godfather did for this, he will answer at the Last Judgment.

If the parents are responsible for the upbringing of the child as a whole, then the godparents take care of his spiritual component. Helping parents carry or take a child to church and give him communion, instructing in matters of faith are the duties of godparents.

☝ Now about the "earthly"

So, when you are behind the comprehension of the moral aspect of this event and the process of realizing whether you are ready to play the role of a spiritual parent, a number of "earthly" questions arise before you and some of the most important - what to wear for christening and what clothes to buy for the godson (goddaughter)?

And the point is not at all that you, as a woman, want to be at your best and look your best everywhere, but that you understand where you are going and what event you are going to and want to look appropriate and not defiant in church. I was present at four christenings, I saw everything ... And believe me, it was even a shame for those women who were irresponsible about this event.

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☝ Here are some important points for going to church, dear future godparents!

✔ First, be sure to put on a cross (in order to baptize someone, you yourself must be baptized). Cover your head with a scarf or scarf (not essential), choose a scarf from such a fabric so that it does not slip through your hair, or tie it up very well - during baptism most of the time it is the godmother who holds the child in her arms and it is very inconvenient to constantly correct the headdress.

✔ Secondly, no one is against makeup, but it is better not to paint your lips - you still have to wipe them off. The point is that in the process of baptizing a child, you need to kiss the cross and it is absolutely unacceptable for a woman to have her lips painted.

✔ Third, wear a skirt or dress at least to the knees. The top should cover the chest well and preferably the shoulders.

For the child you are going to baptize, you should get new, light-colored clothing. It is best if the color is white. A simple dress is suitable for a girl. It is convenient when the arms and legs are bare in the outfit, since the Father will smear them.

Although if the baby is very small, most likely you will be asked to undress him "to a diaper" and wrap him up to the canopy (a spacious white towel or diaper). Kryzhma is also bought by the godmother. There was a time when the role of kryzhma was played by a shirt in which the child's father was crowned (in the days of our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers).

Observing these subtleties in clothes is not so difficult, is it?

We wish you and your godchildren that the day of baptism will become one of your most important holidays and will be remembered for a lifetime!

🙏 Prayer to the Lord for children and godchildren

God, our gracious and heavenly Father!

Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray

You and whom we deliver to Your care and protection.

Put in them strong faith, teach them to revere you and vouch for them

to love You, our Creator and Savior.

Guide them, God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything

for the glory of your name.

Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians

and helpful people.

Give them mental and physical health and success in their labors.

Deliver them from the cunning wiles of the devil, from numerous temptations, from bad

passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.

For the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His Most Pure

Mothers and all saints, lead them to the quiet haven of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they

with all the righteous have always thanked You with Your only-begotten Son and

by your life-giving Spirit. Amen.

🙏 Prayer for children and godchildren, father John (Krestyankin)

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart!

You have given me children according to the flesh, they are yours for your soul.

You redeemed both mine and their souls with Your invaluable Blood.

For the sake of Your Divine Blood, I implore You, my sweetest Savior,

with your grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names),

protect them with Thy Divine fear, keep them from evil inclinations and

habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and goodness.

Decorate their lives with all the kind and saving ones, arrange their fate like

You yourself want and save their souls with their own destinies!

Lord, God of our fathers! To my children (names) and godchildren (names)

give me a righteous heart to keep thy commandments,

Thy testimonies and Thy statutes. And do it all! Amen.

CLUB of parents

🙏 Prayer to the Lord God, compiled by the Monk Ambrose of Optina:

Lord, You are One with all things, all you can and all want to be saved

and come into the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with knowledge

Thy truth and Thy will, Holy One, strengthen them and walk in

Thy commandments and have mercy on me a sinner. Amen.

🙏 Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust you with my children,

which Thou hast given me, fulfill my prayer.

I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways that You yourself know.

Keep them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing touch their souls,

contrary to you. But give them faith, love and hope for salvation,

and may their life's path be holy and blameless before God.

Bless them, Lord, may they strive every minute

your life to fulfill your holy will, so that you,

Lord, I could always be with them by Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, teach them to pray to You, so that prayer may be for them

a support, a delight in sorrows, and the comfort of their lives, and that

by their prayer, we, their parents, were also saved.

Let Thy angels keep them always.

May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors,

and may they fulfill Your commandment of love.

And if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You,

and You, in Your unspeakable mercy, forgive them.

When their earthly life ends, then take them to

Their Heavenly Abodes, where let them lead with them and

your chosen other servants.

Prayers of the Most Pure Mother of Thy Theotokos

and the ever-virgin Mary and thy saints (all holy families are listed),

Lord, have mercy on us, as you are glorified

with Your Originless Son and with the Most Holy and Good and Life-giving

By your Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.