In many families, at some point, the question arises of the need to baptize a child. These are not always deeply religious families, often people follow the established tradition, sometimes they prefer to give in to the insistent requests of older relatives. Whatever caused the desire to perform the sacrament of baptism on the child, the adoption of this decision carries a certain responsibility. This ceremony can be performed only once, so parents want to prepare for it properly, take into account all the nuances and features, so that a good memory remains of it.

When to baptize?

A person can be baptized at any time, there are no restrictions for performing a ceremony on him. However, long-term traditions have developed when it is customary to baptize children.

Christianity understands by baptism the spiritual birth of a person, his communion with the highest grace, the naming of a spiritual name and providing the baby with another pair of people responsible for his life and upbringing - godparents.

The concept of Christian doctrine is such that the path to God is never closed to anyone, but the person who serves as an intermediary, helps to partake of grace and conducts the ritual is an ordinary person, albeit an ordained one.

A priest in terms of accessibility is not much different from any other employee, he has his own duties, he can get sick and the like.

So, it is reasonable to baptize a child starting from the eighth day of his life, but it is better to do this not earlier than the fortieth, when his mother has passed the phase of physiological cleansing and can be returned to the bosom of the church by reading a special prayer over her.

This will allow the mother to be present at the christening ritual, which may be appropriate for the child.
The kid, in turn, having lived in this world for more than a month, adapts to it, the work of his systems will improve, and he himself will get a little stronger to visit such a crowded place as a temple.

Such a small child is still sleeping almost all the time, and the stress of what is happening will not affect him much, but at the same time the swimming reflex does not fade away, and it will not cost anything for the baptized to hold his breath when immersed in the font and not choke on water.

Important! Sometimes circumstances force the baby to be baptized as soon as possible, for example, in the ward of the maternity hospital or even in intensive care. Doctors usually treat this with respect and allow the ceremony to be performed by inviting a priest.

After six months of age, the activity of the baby increases, and the periods of wakefulness lengthen, he recognizes his own and is afraid of strangers, which can somewhat complicate the sacrament and make it less comfortable and solemn.

Holidays, memorial days and fasting are not at all an obstacle to the baptism of a child, another thing is that the schedule of a particular temple and its rules provide for the ceremony on certain days, while other activities may be planned on others.
But if there is such a need or a strong desire of the parents, then you can always invite a priest to the house on an individual basis.

The season and adverse weather conditions should not confuse parents: churches have a centuries-old practice of baptizing children - today they are heated, and the water in the font is heated.

What will be needed?

In order to baptize a child, the consent of at least one of his parents is required. Further, it is up to the choice of the church where the sacrament will be held, the selection of godparents for the baby and the acquisition of the things necessary for the ceremony.

Choice of Church

The only thing that must be observed when choosing a place where you will baptize your child is to choose the church of your denomination. All other factors are subjective:

  • it is important for someone that the temple is located near the house;
  • someone wants his offspring to be baptized by a specific priest, for example, who is the spiritual father of his parents;
  • it is important for someone that the priest makes a good impression in a conversation;
  • for someone it matters how he feels in the temple.
There can be many considerations, and parents, proceeding from them, opt for the church where they intend to join their child to grace.

Choice of Godparents

Being a godparent is a huge responsibility. The people that parents choose for this role should be really close and responsible.

In fact, they have the right and even the obligation to participate in the upbringing of their godson, instruct him in life, they are also charged with the duty to introduce him into the bosom of the church. Often parents choose close friends and relatives for this honorary role.

Not everyone can become a godparent, there are restrictions:
  • age - a boy under 15 years old and a girl under 13 years old cannot take on this honorary role, since they themselves are still children who need mentors;
  • it is forbidden to be godparents to nuns and monks;
  • mentally ill people cannot perform the most important duties of godparents;
  • biological parents under no circumstances can baptize their own child;
  • godfather and mother should not be in a marriage and / or sexual relationship either in the past, present or future - they are related only by a spiritual connection in relation to the godson.

Important! Signs that limit the right of an unmarried girl to become a godmother for a girl, women to baptize a baby have no basis and are superstitions - the church does not confirm them.

Future godparents, in turn, must themselves be baptized.
It is advisable for them to confess before the ceremony, and on the day for which it is appointed, tune in to a spiritual mood with the help of prayer, if possible, rejecting everything earthly from themselves.

This is manifested in fasting and abstinence for maximum communion with God's grace.

Traditionally, a couple is chosen as godparents: a man and a woman, but according to the canons, a child needs a godparent of the same gender as himself.

Did you know? When a grown baby begins to learn to walk, frequent falls are inevitable. There is a custom according to which one of the godparents must personally choose and buy (or make with his own hands) something that the child could wear on legs: tights, sliders, socks, and put on a new thing on the godson with his own hands. It is believed that after that it will become less frequent.fallor stop altogether.

The tradition has gone further and allows you to choose several pairs of godparents for one baby, this is also not bad - the more close people he has, the better.

List of necessary things

The baptized person needs several things for the ceremony:

  1. The baptismal shirt, it symbolizes the soul attached to grace, so it is desirable that the shirt be white; it can be inherited, but is used only in the rite of baptism.
  2. Kryzhma, a piece of cloth, a new diaper or towel - a child is taken into it after the font. Kryzhma symbolizes purity, the sinless beginning of life, during the subsequent life it serves a person and, unlike a baptismal shirt, belongs only to him.
  3. A pectoral cross, which the priest will put on the baby during the ceremony and which will be able to serve him for many years. If the cross was not purchased in a church shop, the priest consecrates it before the start of the ceremony, but at the same time checks whether it corresponds to the confession.
  4. The image of the saint in whose honor the baby is named.
  5. Candles for the ceremony.
  6. In some temples, it is customary to make a sacrifice: wine and bread.
  7. At one's own request, a bag can be purchased, designed to store the strands cut during the ceremony.
A baptismal shirt can be inherited, purchased especially for this child, but it would be best if the godmother sews it with her own hands. It is customary to wear a bonnet with a shirt.

Did you know? Popular rumor says that “a godfather with rags, a godfather with grandmothers” comes to baptism, that is, the godfather is supposed to provide the presence of baptismal clothes and kryzhma, and the godfather is charged with the obligation to buy a cross, candles, make voluntary donations and the like. At present, this popular "rule" is not very carefully observed, and all costs are negotiated and distributed in advance.

The set of things needed for the baptism of a child is the same for boys and girls, with the only difference being that the latter are required to wear a bonnet.

How much and to whom to pay?

Canonically, it is not supposed to take money for baptism, but in fact, donations to the temple are accepted, which must be made before the ceremony.

From the most ancient pagan times, religious buildings and the clergy working in them existed on donations, not being able to receive other material income, since they provided spiritual services.

In the modern world, little has changed, with the only difference being that the modern church is the same communal object as a house, where it is necessary to pay utility bills, current and major repairs, the maintenance of the object itself and the family of the priest, according to custom - large families.

Did you know? There is a belief that the hair cut at baptism should be put into running water for a happy, rich and interesting life for their owner. Flowing water, that is, a river or a spring, is a necessary condition for the foundation of a settlement, a source of life in the most direct sense, since it provides both water and food, if it is a river. It is not surprising that he was deified, worshiped and appreciated in every possible way.

But the priest has no right to refuse the sacrament of baptism to a poor family, because God's grace is not traded. If the refusal due to the impossibility of making donations nevertheless happened, you should contact the clergyman who oversees the order in the entire parish - the dean.

How is the ceremony

Many parents are worried about the fact that they are not allowed to be present at the baptism of their own child, but not all churches have this strict rule, and if they want to be witnesses of the sacrament, you can easily find a church where this is possible.

Therefore, both lay and godparents should study the general rules according to which the rite of baptism of a child takes place in Orthodoxy, as well as the rules that should be observed in this particular church.

All those present at the ceremony must be baptized, their pectoral crosses must be with them.

It is advisable to arrive at the temple in advance in order to tune in the right way, get acquainted with the situation, pray and feel peace, decent for the planned event. In addition, it is simply indecent to be late - the priest has a busy schedule and many duties.

When the time comes to begin the ceremony, the godparents bring the child into the temple, and the parent of the opposite sex holds him in his arms.
The baby is wrapped in a light cloth, the baptismal shirt is put on only after the font, just as the soul puts on clean clothes.

The priest asks the godparents to turn their faces to the west, where the abode of Satan is symbolically located, after which he invites them to renounce the devil and serve him three times. You need to answer: "I renounce."

Important! As for the presence or absence of a diaper, this issue should be clarified directly with the priest. On the one hand, a person should be naked, but on the other hand, without a diaper, everyone will somehow be restless.

After the renunciation, the godparents are supposed to read the "Symbol of Faith", a prayer that they, among others, must know by heart. It is a summary of the foundations and principles that the Christian religion adheres to.

After the act of renunciation, the priest blesses the water in the font and immerses the child in it three times, pronouncing the sacred formula of baptism, after which chrismation is performed.

From the font the godparent of the same sex takes the baby, wrapping him in a kryzhma, and the priest puts a pectoral cross on him.
The godfather, who does not have a baby in his arms, puts on him a pre-prepared baptismal shirt, symbolizing cleansing from all sin.

Now you need to offer a sacrifice to the Lord for the acquired spiritual life, cutting off strands of hair crosswise from the head.

At the end of baptism and chrismation, a new member of the church community is carried around the font three times, after which a commemorative certificate of baptism is issued.

Did you know? Triple circumvention of something from ancient times means that a person is now at home here. For example, among the Slavs, a marriage was considered concluded, and a new daughter-in-law was accepted into the family, when the mother-in-law circled the young around the hearth three times. For the ancestral spirits living under his stones, this was enough to consider the new woman from now on as a member of her kind.

The baptism of the boy is completed by bringing him to the altar, the girls - by bowing to the image of the Mother of God.

In addition to the “Symbol of Faith”, for the safe baptism of a child, godparents need to know “Our Father” and “Virgin Mary” as a keepsake - prayers that are basic for every believer.

How are christenings celebrated?

After the baptism has taken place, this event should be celebrated. The parents of the child invite guests to the festive feast. Modern conditions do not always allow doing this at home, but it does not matter where the holiday is held.

Celebration Rules

Regardless of whether christening will be celebrated at home, in nature or in a cafe, you need to take care of a quiet place where the baby, loaded with an exorbitant amount of emotions, can retire with his mother, who will put him to her chest, sing a song, rock her, and he can sleep peacefully and gain strength.

Did you know? Interestingly, in European languages, the name of the rite of baptism is not associated with the cross - a symbol of the Christian faith. The name of the rite of communion with God's grace on them sounds like “baptizo”, in Greek it is “immersion in water”, and not only ritual, but everything in general. The Slavic language that arose in Christian times gave the name of the rite precisely the Christian load, and this is its philological feature.

This celebration is special, it should not be filled with noisy fun, loud music, copious libations. This is a quiet holiday. It’s good if they are present at it, with whom you can hold contests, various games and at the end give them memorable gifts.
The celebration is filled with joy and even jubilation, but not unbridled and inadequate, but bright and good. Parting words to all those present at the baptism, the priest gives advice to pray for the baby.

The interior design should use white and gold colors, which symbolize purity and renewal, warmth and light. The table is covered with a white tablecloth and served with gilded cutlery. If there is a desire to use flowers in the decoration, they are also selected according to the event, for example, white lilies or tulips.

Important! Without fail, among the treats there should be dough products, as well as cereals. Pies and pies, all kinds of buns and pretzels, pancakes and the like are indispensable attributes of the baptismal feast. Since ordinary porridge is not included in the list of festive dishes now, it can be prepared in some special way, using nuts and dried fruits, or you can make a cereal casserole or pudding.

In addition to sweets, it is customary to serve poultry baked in ceramic dishes. There should be a lot of vegetables and greens on the table, evoking thoughts of spring, the beginning of a new life and joy. But alcohol should be kept to a minimum. It is better if it is church or light wine.
And of course, one should not forget to record the rite itself and the subsequent celebration on photos and videos in order to preserve the memory of such an important event.

Did you know? During the celebration of christening for a young father, our ancestors prepared a special porridge, very salty and spicy, with pepper, horseradish, mustard and similar seasonings. He had to eat at least a spoonful of this terrible treat, because it symbolized the birth pangs, some of which the father was invited to experience in this way on that very day.

What to give a newborn

According to established traditions, godparents give the child a silver cross with a chain, a silver spoon, a kryzhma, a baptismal shirt. The new time dictates new conditions, and now you can issue a bank account for your godson or give a gold jewelry, in a word, a valuable, useful and preferably practical gift.

The rest of the guests also try to please with good gifts: clothes, high-quality toys, jewelry, books, special children's furniture and appliances, bed linen.

It is silver jewelry that is traditional for christening, but no one forbids choosing gold if there is such a desire and opportunity. It would be appropriate to make an engraving on it.

FAQ

Periodically, people have questions that are not directly related to the ritual, but related to it.

How to dress?

How pure should be the thoughts of people who are to be present at the most important church rite in a person’s life, their outfit should be just as modest and magnificent. It is not welcome, and in many temples it is forbidden for women to wear trousers, transparent and open clothes, and apply makeup.

A headscarf or shawl is obligatory for visiting the temple: a woman is obliged to cover her head, while a man, on the contrary, exposes her.

The attire of men should also look modest and dignified: a shirt should be preferred to a T-shirt or T-shirt, if the choice is still on a T-shirt, it should be without a drawing or inscriptions that distract attention.

If a man decides to wear jeans as trousers, they should not look defiant, be with holes and bright inscriptions, hang low on the hips.

Should they be called saints?

Before baptism, the child is named. This may be the name already given to the child at birth and documented, or another name that the baby is called in honor of an Orthodox saint.

It happens that the parents called the child a non-Orthodox name, and then at baptism the priest names him close in sound or a completely different name, chosen by the parents on their own or on his advice.

Did you know? Angel Day or Name Day is the day on which the memory of the saint is celebrated, in whose honor the baby is named.

The name can be found in church calendars, special literature, the Internet. It was once customary to name a child after a saint whose memory is celebrated on the day of baptism or birthday, but following this custom is not at all necessary.

A priest will never name a child according to his own mind, without taking into account the will of the parents.

Who to invite?

Traditionally, relatives and closest friends with their families and children are invited to such an event. The presence of godparents is mandatory.

Did you know? The words “godfather” and “godfather” are not at all terms referring exclusively to Christianity, although godparents are called so in relation to actual parents, as well as to each other. At the moment, it is no longer possible to determine what the origin of these words is, they are so ancient. There is a version that they are the same root with the word "idol", a deity, that is, people who call each other godfathers are spiritual relatives.

What to do if the mother is "unclean"?

Until the forty day mark, the mother is considered "unclean" and is forbidden to attend church. After this time, she is allowed to take part in baptism after reading a special cleansing prayer over her.

If you want to baptize the baby earlier, the mother is not present at the ceremony. If the baby is already several months old, the monthly cycle after childbirth has recovered, and the baby’s christening just falls on one of these moments, you should consult with the priest.

On the one hand, the shedding of blood within the temple is prohibited, on the other hand, modern hygiene products make it possible to completely neutralize this effect. Therefore, in each temple, this issue is looked at individually.

Everything that has been said about critical days also applies to the godmother.

Is it possible to baptize without a priest?

In exceptional cases, a child can be baptized at any time, even immediately after birth, and any baptized layman can do this. The ceremony requires one parent, some water and knowledge of a short special prayer.

However, it should be understood that this rite is incomplete, in the future it requires mandatory completion in the temple. The priest should be warned of the actions taken, so that he can properly complete what he started.

Can I wash my baby right away?

The Church does not put any prohibitions on bathing after the ceremony, however, many prefer not to wash the baptized child for several days, so that the sacred oil applied during the sacrament remains on his body longer.

Baptizing a child in infancy or waiting until he decides in life has long been a personal matter for a single family. For believing families, this is not an issue, and the rest make their choice in accordance with personal considerations.
And when it has already been made in favor of baptism, one should study the issue, pay attention to the choice of the temple and the priest, godparents, carefully plan and hold the holiday so that a good memory remains of it.


Baptism of a child: to baptize or not to baptize a child is the choice of parents today. Recently, more and more often, young spouses leave the right to choose a child "for growth", not wanting to impose their opinion, their religion on him. However, most believing parents still prefer to endow the child with a guardian angel almost from the first days of life, which, according to legend, appears in the child only after his baptism.

There are many questions related to the sacrament of baptism: where to baptize, when, how ... Of course, it is better to look for detailed answers from the priest who will conduct the ceremony. But we will try to at least lift the veil of the sacrament called baptism.

Why is a child baptized?

In theory, for truly believing parents, such a question should not arise at all, since the Bible says that “whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” And a baptized child, therefore, is under the protection of God, and in addition, he has his own guardian angel and intercessor (the saint whose name the child is named at baptism).

What about parents who belong to different religions? In such cases, first of all, they will have to agree among themselves on what religion they wish for their child. And if Orthodoxy is chosen, then the child will be baptized according to Orthodox customs, only a parent of a different faith will not be able to be present at the ceremony. It is only important to remember that this choice is not an easy task, and if you baptize your child, try to continue to adhere to Orthodox traditions regarding his upbringing.

When to baptize a child

At what age can a child be baptized? Traditionally, the baby is baptized on the 40th day after his birth or later. This is due to the fact that a woman is not allowed to enter the temple in the first weeks after giving birth, since she is considered “unclean”. An earlier baptism is also possible, for example, on the eighth day, however, when the ceremony is performed in the temple, the mother will not be able to attend it.

How to choose a name for a child at baptism

In fact, the name is chosen even before baptism, in accordance with the names of those saints whose name appears on the church calendar for your baby's birthday. True, it happens that such names do not quite correspond to the modern situation, for example, few parents will agree to name their son Athenogen or Theopent.

Then choose the name that you like, but at baptism, still be guided by the church calendar, if the name is not Orthodox (for example, Timur - Timothy).

There is a belief that it is necessary to baptize and call according to the passport with different names, they say, this will help protect the child from the evil eye.

But this belief has nothing to do with the Orthodox world and came to us from Jewish traditions or Islam. It is impossible to rebaptize a child in a different name if, for example, he falls ill.

Choosing godparents for a child

As godparents, as a rule, they choose close people: relatives, friends. Often they are those who have already been a witness at the wedding. And this is not forbidden. In fact, anyone can be a godfather: the grandparents of the godson, older brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, friends and girlfriends. There are only seven restrictions:

  1. unbelievers;
  2. representatives of another religion (even Christian, but non-Orthodox);
  3. married to each other (including the parents of the child);
  4. monks and nuns;
  5. the mentally ill;
  6. minors;
  7. who came to the temple in a state of intoxication.

If the future godfather or godmother of your child is non-Orthodox, but they themselves want to be baptized, they must do this in advance, but not on the same day with the baby.

An interesting fact: if the parents of the child are not baptized, this is not an obstacle to the ceremony.

A separate issue is married godparents. Popular rumor says: If the spouses become godparents, they cannot stand together at the font, otherwise they will disperse in three months. In fact, they cannot be godparents at all. Or after they become godparents, they must stop living a married life (meaning not so much cohabitation as the fulfillment of marital duty). Moreover, if a guy and a girl become godparents and then, after some time, they themselves want to get married, they, according to church canons, cannot do this, since they are already spiritual brother and sister.

Whoever you choose, it should not just be a close person, but a person who is ready to take care of the godson, to become his spiritual mentor.

In Catholic countries, by the way, godparents become the primary candidates for guardianship in the event of the death of the parents of their godson; and the rest of the relatives, even the closest ones, are considered only secondarily.

A child can only have one godfather. But it must be of the same gender as the child.

Responsibilities of Godparents

Many believe that the duties of godparents are to participate in the rite of baptism, and in the future, simply giving gifts for the holidays and spending some time together. However, they forget that this is not all.
It should be important that one of the desires should be the care and guardianship of the baby. Consider what duties are assigned to godparents according to the Orthodox faith:

  • teach the child all the basics of the Christian faith, as well as learn prayers with him. The obligations of the godfather and mother at the baptism of a boy in this case are no different;
  • by example to teach mercy, kindness and love;
  • planted parents should know all the necessary prayers, as well as wear a pectoral cross and be able to make the sign of the cross correctly.

The duties of the godmother and father at baptism should be all possible assistance in preparing for the sacrament and its further celebration. Godparents must make a gift, it can be a cross, an icon of the baby's patron saint or a baptismal set. This can be agreed with the parents of the child.

When a girl is baptized, a woman should be ready to receive the child after immersion in the font, as well as change the baby's clothes and, if necessary, calm her down. When a boy is baptized, all this is done by a man.

After the celebration, it is also necessary to devote a lot of time to the child, engaging in his spiritual development. Now you know all the differences between the baptism of a boy and a girl, which means that there should be no problems. It is known that compliance with all the rules is the key to the health and strength of the child, regardless of his gender.

The right choice of godparents is a guarantee of a good spiritual development of the baby, which means that there will be fewer bad deeds in his life.

Features of the rite of baptism of a child in the church

Christianity provides for the mandatory baptism of children and adults, which is considered one of the main sacraments of the Orthodox Church. There is a belief that Baptism protects a person from the influence of evil forces on him, revives his spirituality, and opens the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Preparing for the Baptism of a Child

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 its help, traditional healers remove curses and help in the treatment of serious diseases.

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.

What to buy for baptism

Before baptism, the godmother must buy a cloth, in which they will then wrap the baby after dipping into the font. She must also purchase a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, cap and blanket.

In addition, the godmother must have a silk handkerchief during the christening, which she must then present to the priest after the completion of the mysterious ceremony.

The godfather must buy a small pectoral cross before baptism. If the cross was purchased outside the church, then it must be consecrated before baptism. If it was purchased in a church shop, it is not necessary to consecrate it.
In addition, the godfather is responsible for the financial part of the ceremony. That is, he must pay in the church for all services.

However, if one of the godparents has financial difficulties, then the parents of the baby or one of the godparents can take over the payment for church services or the purchase of a baptismal set. This moment is not fundamental.

The parents of the child, in turn, must purchase a new robe for their child and a candle before baptism (the church itself will tell you how many candles you need to have at the time of baptism). In addition, they are obliged to set the table at home, this custom was observed many years ago. The church will tell you about everything else, as well as help you decide on the choice of a church name for the baby and help you draw up baptismal documents.

How to choose a cross for the baptism of a child

There are no rules for this, really. But in general, a small cross with rounded edges is more practical for a child (so as not to get hurt). Optionally, it must be a cross of gold or silver; for baptism, you can buy an ordinary metal one, and later, for your first birthday, for example, buy a more expensive one.

Where to conduct the rite of baptism

It is preferable, of course, to baptize a child in a church. Arrival can be chosen at your discretion. But lately, young parents are leaning towards small churches, often even in rural areas. The motives are simple: large churches are becoming more and more like a store (you have to pay for everything: the consecration of the cross, and the christenings themselves, and the testimony, and besides, you will be persuaded to buy a bunch of additional and not very necessary things).

In large churches, the rite of baptism is put on stream, so it is often carried out without a soul. In a small village church, priests more often show sincerity towards the celebration of the sacrament. They have no right to refuse you to conduct the ceremony because you are “not local” in the church. But it’s still not worth insisting: if you and your child are not welcome here, then why go here?

You can baptize a child at home and even in the hospital where you gave birth. But such cases are usually reserved for emergencies, such as if the child is sick. In addition, the priest's visit "to the house" will, of course, have to be paid separately.

The rite of baptism of a child (process)

Throughout the ceremony, the godparents stand next to the priest and one of them holds the child in his arms. Before the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the room where the ceremony takes place and reads three prayers. After that, he asks the godfathers to turn to the west with the godson - symbolically, there is the abode of Satan.

After that, the priest puts several questions, which are answered by the godparents. These questions may differ in different churches, but mostly sound like this: “do you renounce Satan” “Or do you renounce all his works” “Or do you renounce all service to him?” All questions should be answered with “I renounce. »Questions and answers are repeated three times.

After that, the godparents should read the "Symbol of Faith" - a summary of the foundations of the Christian religion, which all believers should know by heart. Then the chrismation takes place: the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs of the child with a cross-shaped movement. After that, the rite of baptism is carried out directly - three times the child is immersed in the font.

What to wear to baptism for a child and parents

Parents must be dressed according to Christian Orthodox laws: women with covered shoulders and legs and a covered head, men with an uncovered head. The rest: trousers or a long skirt, dress or suit - it's up to you.

The main thing is that the outfit should not be defiant.

For a child, they sell christening sets in an assortment: a diaper, an envelope, a bonnet, a baptismal shirt with embroidery. All this is very beautiful and, perhaps, helps parents create a holiday atmosphere. But not necessarily. All you need for baptism is a baptismal shirt (you can also use a regular white clean undershirt), a clean diaper and a towel (or another diaper to wipe the baby after dipping into the font).

When the child is baptized, he must be in only one diaper, without clothes and a diaper. A baptismal shirt is put on for a child after the ceremony.

Video: how the rite of baptism of a child takes place in the church

What to give a child for christening

Traditionally, they give symbols of faith - a cross, an icon depicting a patron saint - they are presented by godparents. They can also buy (or better, sew with their own hands) a christening diaper and a shirt. By the way, it can then be passed on “by inheritance”.

But if you yourself definitely want to give something, choose gifts related to the Orthodox faith (Bible, rosary, amulet, icon) or traditional ones: a silver spoon, a rattle ... Gifts for christening should be purely symbolic, because the main gift for your child is the sacrament itself, which opens a window to the righteous world for him and makes it possible to find a protector and patron.

Baptism of a girl and baptism of a boy - are there any differences

Usually, any christening for girls and boys is not much different. Everything happens according to the usual scenario, the only difference is that the girl will not be brought to the altar. At the christening, the girl is covered with a headdress.

In the event that the parents chose two godparents for their child, both mother and father, then in this case, the godmother holds the child in her arms, and after dipping into the font, the godfather takes it in her arms.

In addition, the godfather must accept the child from the hands of the priest, and then bring him to the altar. Such actions are the main differences between the rite of baptism of a girl and a boy.

It is worth remembering that every boy is a potential church minister in the future, and only men can serve at the altar. Therefore, women are not allowed to the altar, because her main role is to be an assistant to her husband.

If you correctly follow all the requirements and Orthodox traditions regarding the rite of baptism of a child, in this case the child will grow up strong, happy. The right choice of godparents, father and mother, will also have a beneficial effect on the fate of the child.

The spiritual life of a child with good godparents will develop, which means that he will commit less bad deeds that are considered sinful in the Christian life. A correct and balanced approach to the orderliness of this issue will make the child safe and happy.

Signs associated with the rite of baptism of a child

  • Do not wipe up water that has fallen on the baby during baptism
  • To make your child lucky in life, try to treat the first person you meet with a piece of bread or rolls on the way to church.
  • If a boy and a girl are being baptized at the same time, make sure the boy is baptized first.
  • If a child screams during the ceremony, this is very good! In some places, it is believed that if a child is too calm during baptism, then he is too good for life on this earth.
  • It is considered very bad luck for your child to be the first to be baptized in a new church.
  • Water that has fallen on the child's face during the rite of baptism cannot be wiped off, it should be allowed to dry. Small children, as a rule, really do not like it when water gets on their face and begin to react violently, but those present should be patient and not wipe the water from the baby's face.
  • It was widely believed that newborn children were most vulnerable to the actions of evil spirits. Therefore, in order to protect against them, the child was periodically covered with a garment of her father before the rite of baptism. To protect against evil spirits, garlic, bread, salt or a piece of iron were also placed in the baby's crib.
  • It is not desirable that baptism be immediately after the funeral. If it takes place immediately after the wedding, then the child will grow up cheerful and rich.
  • In order for the baby to grow up happy, healthy and rich, the mother of the child should bring a silver coin, an egg and a pinch of salt with her to the baptismal ceremony.

Perhaps someone will consider that the observance of all these rituals is superfluous, they say, and so it will cost. But, perhaps, nevertheless, one should not neglect these, in fact, very simple rules and conduct experiments in such an important matter as the rite of baptism. After all, the future of a child largely depends on the awareness and moderation of their parents.

Video: Can a pregnant woman baptize a child?

So the New Year holidays have come to an end. Tomorrow is Baptism. And although the weather outside my window is not Epiphany at all - there are puddles on the pavement from the night rain, which means that

plus temperature outside - for me Epiphany remains one of the most mysterious and enigmatic holidays. On this day, the Universe opens the veil and we can find out our future, solve seemingly insoluble problems, and get answers to our questions.

If anyone does not know, Epiphany as a holiday is established in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The ritual of baptism itself implies repentance, deliverance from sins. And although Jesus had nothing to repent of, he, showing humility, accepted Baptism from John and thereby sanctified the water nature with himself. Since then, on the day of Epiphany, all the world's waters, the waters of the entire Earth - from a small stream to the oceans - become holy on this day. This also applies to tap water. You don't have to go to church to get holy water. It is enough on the morning of January 19 to open a tap in your apartment, draw water into a clean jar and close it tightly with a lid. This is enough for you to have holy water in your house for a whole year. So far, no one has been able to explain this phenomenon, but scientists have stated the fact that there are no harmful microorganisms in Epiphany water.

As you understand, the consecration of water is not required by anyone - neither by the priest, nor even by the Pope, but this ritual continues to be performed in churches. But this is not so important. The important thing is that Epiphany water really has miraculous properties and can heal both the body and the soul. Therefore, it is necessary that Epiphany water be in the house all year round. In case of illness, you need to drink it, you can clean the room or things by sprinkling them with holy water. If you consecrate your house with Epiphany water, there will always be peace and order in it.

BAPTISM: HOW TO CLEAR YOUR HOUSE CORRECTLY WITH HOLY WATER

It is necessary to sprinkle housing with a pinch of the right hand, crosswise, bypassing the room clockwise. That is, starting from the entrance, go deep into the house on the left side and go around all the rooms. You must finish sprinkling where you started, at the front door. When sprinkling, the door or window must be open or ajar. Sprinkle the house with holy water with the words "By sprinkling this sacred water to flee, let every impure and demonic act be realized."

The fact is that all our thoughts and emotions have their own energy. Thought is material, whatever the skeptics say. All our quarrels at home, squabbles, petty conflicts leave their energy trace in the house. This negative energy accumulates in the corners of the apartment and does not intend to just take and disappear. There is a version that this negative energy, like a spark, is trying to kindle a flame. That is, it will influence the people living in this room in order to provoke them to new scandals and anger. And so constantly, until it becomes so strong that the life of people in such a house will become a nightmare. Therefore, after each more or less serious quarrel, it is necessary to clean your home, which is enough to do once a week. I would like there to be no quarrels and troubles at all, but this does not happen. Therefore, if you still have a conflict with a loved one, try not to succumb to emotions. The more negative emotions, the greater the release of negative energy. You not only violate the structure of housing, which leads to even stronger scandals, fatigue, apathy, unwillingness to do anything around the house, but also violate your energy structure, which is already fraught with diseases and the rapid fading of youth. A apartment needs cleaning.

To cleanse the home of negativity, elementary but effective methods are used. First, ventilate your home at least once a week. The air contains charged particles that are good at destroying clots of negative energy and thereby purifying the home. In addition, without going into the teachings of Feng Shui, I will say that stagnation of air in the house interferes with your material and financial well-being. Try to do a wet cleaning once a week. A tablespoon of salt per bucket of water. It is believed that God has the properties of stability and constancy, and the devil of destruction and chaos. According to magical analogies, salt refers to substances with positive energy, since, being a preservative, it prevents destruction. This means he is opposed to the devil. I will not prove whether it is positive or not, but for all the years of my work, and there were several dozen house cleanings, including from a poltergeist, salt has shown its effectiveness. Naturally, it must be used wisely and it should not be used to wipe furniture that does not like salt. If it is possible to make silver water, then you can use it for cleaning. Be sure to keep a geranium bush at home. There is no hassle with her, and the protection is excellent. Light natural wax candles more often. Unlike paraffin and stearin candles, wax contains a large charge of pure positive energy, which will be perceived by your body and clean your apartment. When going around the apartment with a candle, which many do, always move in the direction of the sun. You should end your tour where you started. Delay near the corners and, baptizing them with a candle, say "Let all impure and demonic power, black thoughts, dark energy burn." By tradition, the detour is done three times. During the round, be sure to open the window. The negative force needs a way out of the room. If the window is not opened or there is another way to the street, then the negativity will simply be driven through the rooms with a stop in the same place.

It is not worth collecting a lot of baptismal water, since as you use it, you can add plain water. According to legend, even one drop of Epiphany water can sanctify the ocean.

BAPTISM - TRADITIONS

I will say a few words about baptismal traditions. January 17 - the merry Christmas time ended, and on the evening of the 18th, Epiphany Christmas Eve will come - on this day, a strict fast must be observed. I'll make a reservation right away - this is not my opinion, these are traditions. And to observe it or not is everyone's business. I personally think it's more important what COMES out of a person's mouth than what goes in. But I am not going to argue with someone and prove something to anyone about this. These words were not invented by me, Jesus Christ said so. Who does not believe - re-read the New Testament.

After the prayer service in the church, returning home, it is customary to mark with a cross drawn with chalk or candle soot, all the windows and doors of the house. It is believed that in this way you can protect your home from the penetration of evil spirits, which are especially active this evening.

According to tradition, as on Christmas Eve, the whole family is supposed to sit down at the table, which is served only with meatless dishes and kutya made from rice, honey and raisins. Such kutya is called - juicy.

But the main tradition, although, in my opinion, useless (the priests must do something) is the blessing of water. The priest lowers the cross into the water either into the hole or into a container of water. Bathing in the consecrated hole, they are cured of diseases and cleansed of sins.

How to swim in the hole for Epiphany

On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, rivers are specially cut down and ice-holes are equipped for the mass bathing of believers. What inform the population of these cities in the media.

There are no strict rules on how to swim (dip) in the hole for Epiphany.

As a rule, bathing is a three-time immersion in water with your head. At the same time, the believer is baptized and says "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!".
Since ancient times, it has been believed that bathing at Epiphany promotes healing from various ailments.

Water is living matter. It has the ability to change its structure under the influence of a source of information. Therefore, with what thoughts you approach it, you will receive it. To plunge into cold water, special preparation is not required. The human body is designed to experience frequent exposure to cold. All you need is the attitude.

What happens to the human body when it comes into contact with cold water? For example, during winter swimming in the hole?

1. Plunging headlong into ice water, the water instantly awakens the central nervous part of the brain, and the brain heals the body.

2. Short-term exposure to low and ultra-low temperatures is perceived by the body as a positive stress: it relieves inflammation, pain, swelling, spasm.

3. Our body is enveloped in air, the thermal conductivity of which is 28 times less than the thermal conductivity of water. This is the focus of hardening with cold water. And during a short run in the snow (for example, to an ice hole and back), only 10% of the body surface is cooled.

4. Cold water releases the deep forces of the body, the body temperature after contact with it reaches 40º, at which viruses, microbes and diseased cells die.
Systemic winter swimming contributes to the improvement of the body, but diving into an ice hole once a year is the strongest stress for the body.

Safety rules for swimming in the hole for Epiphany

Are you going to swim in the hole for the first time on Epiphany? In order for everything to go without harm to the body, you need to know a few simple rules. Even priests advise those who do not feel very well not to take risks: swimming in cold water can be dangerous for those suffering from heart disease, hypertension, respiratory diseases, skin ...

For young children, "hiking" into the hole is also contraindicated: they have not yet an established system of thermoregulation.

If everything is in order with your health, some preparation for ablution in Jordan is still needed. Firstly, a few hours before swimming, you need to eat a hearty meal: the body will need calories to cope with a jump in temperature. But alcohol before diving into the hole is strictly prohibited: the effect of alcohol in a stressful situation for the body can be dangerous.

Carefully approach the choice of clothes and shoes: everything should be easy to take off and put on. It is worth taking non-slip slippers with you so that you can approach Jordan in them, and a rug to stand on it after washing.

Before entering the Jordan, you need to warm up: do a light warm-up. Enter the hole without too much haste. Going to your knees, rinse your face, and only then dive. It is not worth being in the water for more than 10 seconds.

Coming out of the hole, the first thing you need to do is put on a hat, dry yourself with a towel, get dressed and get warm as soon as possible. It is good to take a sip of hot tea with honey from a thermos - but alcohol for several hours after bathing is again not recommended.

Bathing in ice water causes the adrenal glands to produce a large dose of anti-inflammatory hormones. They will protect the body for a couple more days, but in the next week, take care of your health: the "splash" of the body's natural defenses will be replaced by a decline, at this time you should especially take care of yourself.

divination

And although fortune-telling is not included in church traditions, many young girls are looking forward to it. And not in vain. After all, it is on this day that you can find out when you will get married, and what name your future husband will have, and from which side to expect him. If you are not interested in questions of this kind, at Baptism you can find out what life will be like in general. There are many types of divination: with candles, and with water, and with a mirror. You can make a dream on this day so that you have an answer.

I have already talked about my dreams and the types of fortune-telling, too. By the way, fortune-telling for Christmas and Epiphany are the same. So watch, read, guess. Let divination for Baptism predict you only happiness, good luck, health and prosperity!

Believing Orthodox people know about the seven Christian sacraments, one of which is baptism. The teaching says that every Orthodox needs to be baptized in order to save his soul and gain the Kingdom of Heaven after physical death. God's grace descends on those who are baptized, but there are also difficulties - everyone who takes the rite becomes a warrior of God's army, the forces of evil fall upon him. To avoid adversity, you need to wear a pectoral cross.

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

It is believed that wearing a pectoral cross protects a person from the forces of evil, and also strengthens his spirit and directs him to the true path. In this case, the appearance or cost of the material of the cross does not matter - if only the cross was Orthodox, and not pagan

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

According to custom, the baby is baptized on the 8th or 40th day after birth. There are circumstances that can affect the term for the baptism of an infant: if the baby is sick, the disease poses a threat to life, you can christen him earlier. Orthodoxy says that after christening, a guardian angel appears in a person, who is always behind his right shoulder. He will protect the baby and can save him. It is believed that the more prayers are addressed to the angel, the stronger it will be.

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

The first thing mom and dad do before the sacrament is choose a spiritual name for the baby. In our country, a tradition has developed to call a baby in the world not by the name that he is given at baptism in the church - this is a custom justified in Orthodoxy, since it is believed that only a mother and father, a priest and godparents can know the church name.

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

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

Dear reader!

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!

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

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



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

Who to choose as godparents?

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

The question of who is worthy to be the godfather of your baby is very important. Godparents become the second parents of the baby. Think about who treats the little man better, who is ready to bear responsibility for him, give him a spiritual example, and pray for him? Most often, relatives and friends of the family become the recipients.

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

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

The recipients must be baptized themselves - this must be done in advance. Parents need to understand that the issue of choosing godparents must be approached very seriously.

Who cannot become a godfather?

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

  1. atheists or non-believers;
  2. monks and nuns;
  3. mentally ill people;
  4. children under 15;
  5. drug addicts and alcoholics;
  6. promiscuous women and men;
  7. spouses or sexually close people;
  8. baby's parents.

Brother and sister cannot be godparents to each other. If you are baptizing twins, you must not do it on the same day. Godparents for twins may well be the same.



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

Reminder for godparents

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

The nuances of christening

  • A little man can be christened on any day of the week - on holidays and weekdays, on fasting and on a normal day, but most often christenings take place on Saturday.
  • The recipients are supposed to pick up the child from their parents in advance and go with him to church on the appointed day and time. The parents follow them. There is a sign that the godfather should chew a clove of garlic and breathe in the face of the baby. In this way, evil forces are driven away from the baby.
  • Only the closest people are present at the ceremony in the temple - the parents of the boy or girl who receives the sacrament, maybe grandparents. The rest can come to the house of the baptized after the ceremony and celebrate this event at the festive table.
  • Infant baptism does not always take place in the church itself. Sometimes the priest conducts the ceremony in a specially designated room.
  • If necessary, parents can arrange a ceremony at home or in the hospital. To do this, you need to agree with the priest and pay all his expenses for organizing the sacrament.
  • The priest reads prayers and anoints the newborn. Then he cuts a strand of hair from his head, as if offering a sacrifice to God. Then the baby is lowered into the font three times, the priest says: “Here is the cross, my daughter (my son), carry it.” Together with the father, the godfather (aya) says: “Amen.”
  • The parents of the child also come to church, observing Orthodox customs. They dress as is customary in the temple. During the ceremony, a mother can pray for her child. Such prayers will surely be heard.
  • In the evening, relatives and friends come to the holiday with gifts. Their choice depends on wealth and imagination: toys or clothes, baby care items or the icon of the saint - the patron saint of the baby.


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

Features of christening boys and girls

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

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

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

Clinical and perinatal psychologist, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Perinatal and Reproductive Psychology and Volgograd State Medical University with a degree in Clinical Psychology