How to prepare to be a godmother. Responsibilities of the godmother during and after baptism

When a baby appears in the family, many parents think that it is time to baptize the child. Christening is the second holiday in the life of a family after the birth of a child, and for a little person they are of great importance.

The rite of baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, which is designed to protect a person from illness and death.

Return a person to spiritual life and help get into the Kingdom of Heaven. And this rite is called a sacrament because during the ceremony, whoever is baptized will receive the grace of God.

In order to avoid unintentionally causing harm during this ritual, you must know some customs and statutes that have been formed over many centuries.

This great action must be approached with all responsibility and a clear understanding of the purposes for which this ritual is being carried out. Remember, it is forbidden to carry out Baptism only because grandparents recommend it or it is fashionable and accepted among friends.

Choosing the time and age for a child's baptism

In the Orthodox canons there is no unambiguous rule about the age of a child for baptism and initiation into God's sacrament. All Orthodox believe that the best age to baptize a child is from 8 to 40 days from birth.

The decision to postpone the Sacrament of Baptism or not to perform it at all can only be influenced by the lack of faith of the parents, because they independently make the decision to deprive their child of the grace of God.

Many people hesitate whether this Sacrament should be postponed until the moment when the child himself can consciously make a choice in favor of God. The danger of such delay is that the baby’s soul will be open to any harmful influence of the sinful world.

Many parents only worry about how to feed and raise their child, but forget about the eternal soul; this cannot be done. At baptism, the grace of God will purify the child’s nature and give him eternal life. Simply put, this mysterious action will mean a spiritual birth. And after this, the child can be given communion.

A baby cannot talk about his faith, and this is understandable, so parents should take care of this. We do not ask his permission for vaccinations or for examination by a doctor, and we are sure that this is only for his benefit, making a decision without his consent.

Baptism, in its essence, is also healing, only spiritual, it is food for the soul, the baby himself cannot yet express or realize this.

Preparation for the sacrament

Although there are no restrictions on the place or time for the sacrament of baptism, in some churches it is carried out according to a schedule and on separate days. Most often this may be due to the priest’s busy schedule.

Before setting a date to baptize a child, decide where you will do it, go to the temple, find out the schedule and agree on the time for the Sacrament. If the parish has a registration to perform the ceremony, do so in advance.

There are, of course, exceptions; sometimes the child may be baptized earlier. If there are reasons for this, for example: weakness or illness of the baby, which may pose a threat to life. In this case, the Orthodox Church recommends carrying out the ceremony without delay.

Girl's baptism

To carry out a christening, a girl is usually bought special christening sets, which include a dress in white tones, a cap that can be replaced with a diaper, and a scarf. It is important that all things should be white, because it is this color, inherent in the purity of the soul and sinlessness, that embroidery or ribbons are allowed.

After the sacrament of baptism is performed, neither the dress nor the kryzhma are thrown away or given away. They are listened to without washing, and left with the baptized child until the end of his days.

The sacrament of baptism for a boy

To carry out the Sacrament of baptism for a boy, you will need almost the same list as for a girl:

a christening shirt that the future godmother will buy;
a pectoral cross on a thread or chain that the godfather will buy;
Be sure to have a baptismal diaper or towel with you.

Who should not be chosen as godparents?

There are rules in the church, according to which you cannot choose godparents:

But you should also know that brother and sister cannot become godparents for each other. It is also prohibited to baptize twins or twins at the same time, and they may have the same godparents.

Rules for godmother

At the time of the child's baptism, the future godmother should not be pregnant. If, however, this has already happened, then she definitely needs to confess, although this is mandatory for all godparents. Spiritual parents should have with them:

pectoral cross for babies;
christening shirt;
a napkin to wipe your face;
an icon of the Saint, named after the child, which will be a kind of protection;
2 towels (large for the toddler, small for the father).

According to custom, it is the godmother who buys the baby kryzhma and a baptismal set, and on the day of christening, she should be given a silk scarf to the priest.

It is the godfather who should buy the baby a cross or another gift, for example, a silver spoon. And also the responsibility for the financial conduct of the ceremony falls on his shoulders. During our lifetime, it is permissible, if godparents have financial difficulties, for the parents to bear part of the expenses.

Dress code for godparents

A prerequisite for spiritual parents is the presence of a cross on the body. According to Orthodox traditions, a woman who comes to the temple should have her head covered with a headscarf and a dress covering her shoulders, arms and knees. The only exceptions are little girls.. You should know that it is better not to wear high-heeled shoes, because the baptism ceremony can last up to several hours and you will have to stand on your feet during this entire procedure, with the child in your arms.

For men, there are no serious prohibitions, except for the idea of wearing a T-shirt or shorts, because it will look inappropriate in church. It is undesirable to attract attention within the walls of the temple, but it’s better to focus on what you came here for. You can demonstrate a fashionable haircut or stylish boots at home during the holiday.

Sacrament in the church

All Orthodox Christians are required to know the prayers Our Father, Most Pure Theotokos, Hail and the Creed, which are recited by godparents during the sacrament of baptism.

For baptism, a birth certificate is not needed.

Since the baby is too small, his godparents prepare for the ceremony instead; this condition is met for children under 14 years of age. The future Godfather must attend conversations with the priest in the temple. The number of such conversations will be determined by the rector of the Temple, and spiritual parents must confess to the priest. In addition to conversations, future godparents, a few days before the event, should abstain from carnal pleasures and learn the Creed prayer. It will also require a week of strict fasting.

In the church where they confessed and the godparents took communion and will baptize the baby too. The baby's godparents must be baptized; a person who has not undergone this Sacrament himself cannot take on the responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of anyone.

Responsibilities of recipients

Spiritual parents must clearly understand their role in the life of this child. They witnessed the Baptism of a baby, who himself cannot yet understand and be responsible for everything that happens to him. The godmother and godfather, in essence, take the child’s guarantee before God, make vows, and profess the Creed.

Throughout life, they will be full-fledged mentors to their spiritual child, guiding and accompanying them on the path of true, Christian life. These duties are impossible to fulfill if the godfather himself is indifferent to the Faith, so one must constantly study the fundamentals of Orthodoxy, the meaning of the vows, and improve. Before agreeing to become a godfather, talk to the clergyman.

According to the church, it makes no sense to become a spiritual mentor in absentia, because... The concept of godparents is lost. It is with mutual participation at baptism, an invisible thread of spiritual connection is stretched out, which leaves its mark. During absentee baptism, there is no connection between the participants in the Sacrament and, in fact, the baby is left without spiritual mentors. Important: Godparents must participate in the spiritual and Christian education of their godson. Believers sincerely believe that they will answer for the fulfillment of their spiritual duties at the judgment of God.

The Sacrament of Baptism takes about 30-40 minutes. It is necessary to decide in advance on the name for the child that will be given to him at Baptism, the choice of a 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 steps, preparation for Baptism will take no more than a week.

At what age is a child baptized?

A child can be baptized 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 be present at the Sacrament due to natural reasons. But you can baptize earlier or later, the main thing is not to delay it for too long, and not to leave the child’s soul without the grace of God.

In which church should a child be baptized?

Everyone decides for themselves in which church it is better to baptize their child. For a small child, it is preferable if the church is located close to home. First of all, you can find out from relatives and 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 will be baptized in it. It may be difficult for little ones to wait an hour and a half for their turn.

You should first visit the chosen temple and find out when you can perform the Sacrament of Baptism. Perhaps you have chosen a specific date and would like to christen it on that 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 you should know them in advance.

Usually they baptize in the morning after the service.

Is it possible to baptize a child in winter?

There are no obstacles to performing 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 at the Gerasimo-Boldinsky Monastery in the Smolensk region. We were two families who baptize babies. The children behaved wonderfully, 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 smoothly; the Sacrament of Baptism itself took no more than an hour.

How much does Baptism cost?

There is no official fee in the Orthodox Church. Here it is important to understand that in our country the Church is separated from the State, and, therefore, exists only on the donations of parishioners. Therefore, the amount that they will tell you in the temple is only approximate. You can pay more if your funds allow. If you have a difficult life situation and you cannot pay for Baptism now, any priest is obliged to baptize the child for free. If you are denied entry into a particular church, you can contact the dean or other higher priests.

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

Why is a conversation with the priest necessary before Baptism?

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

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

Catechetical conversations have recently become mandatory in many churches. They usually take place where you will baptize the child. Churches have rooms for Sunday school classes; usually the priest invites parents and godparents there. In most churches, such 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?

Godparents for one child cannot be husband and wife, the parents themselves, or monastics. All other believers can be godparents.

As for the age at which you can become a godfather, there are discrepancies. Some priests say that from the age of majority, others say that from the age of 14 you can become a godfather or mother. It is better to address this question to the priest at a public conversation 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 regulations in this regard in the Church. So, you can baptize a child with one godfather: for a boy, a man is traditionally chosen as a godparent, for a girl, a woman is chosen.

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

When taking on such responsibility, you should understand that the godfather is the person who is obliged to support the child at turning points in life. It is the godfather who should be next to his godson when he moves away from his parents during adolescence.

Advice to parents: choose a godfather you like. It is good if this person is close to your child and can visit him from time to time. If you offered to become a godfather, and the person refused, you should not beg him. Perhaps the person feels that he is 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 and receive communion before performing the Sacrament of Baptism?

No, this is not necessary.

What should godparents purchase for Baptism?

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

The baptism set for a boy includes:

A new baptismal shirt and kryzhma (towel).

If the child is an infant, you can purchase additional socks and a cap. During Baptism, it is better to remove the diaper, if the baby is wearing one. You can put it on after the baby is dipped into the font three times.

Kryzhma, cap, shirt and booties for a boy

Baptism set for girls includes:

Baptismal dress, head scarf and kryzhma (towel).

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

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

The baptismal attire should be made only from natural materials: cotton or linen; silk is most often used for 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 outfit 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 on.

In winter, you should buy a towel with a hood.

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

It is customary to keep the baptismal attire throughout your life. If necessary, it can be washed.

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

What should you give to godparents for Epiphany?

The gift can be anything. A good book, household items, something necessary for a child. Often godparents present icons of Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Saint after whom 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 that will become family heirlooms and possibly be passed down from generation to generation. The icon is called a dimensional icon because it is made to the size of the child at the time of his birth. Such a shrine is made to order, depicting a saint - the patron saint of a child. If godparents know the name of the saint in whose honor their godson will be named, they can pre-order a measured icon for a gift. 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 present at the Baptism?

Priest Alexander Ilyushenko answers this way: “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, under the visible image of the performance of established sacred rites, the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit is communicated to the soul of the believer.”

The mother can also be present at her child's Baptism. 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 could she cross the threshold of the temple and touch the shrines. But today this rule of ritual purity no longer has the same meaning as before.

What name should a child be baptized under?

If you named your child according to the Saints, then the name at Baptism will be the same. For example, you had a girl 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 memorial day the Orthodox celebrate on January 25.

In the Russian Orthodox Church they baptize only under those names that are contained in the Saints, i.e. there must be an Orthodox saint with the same name. It is impossible to baptize a child with a name that is not there.

When participating in the performance of church Sacraments and submitting notes, the name given at Baptism is always indicated.

What to do if your name is not in the Saints? Here is what priest Dionisy Svechnikov says: “If a person’s name is not Orthodox (not contained in the calendar), then they give him a name 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 look at the following days), or on his birthday . And sometimes a person asks to be baptized in honor of a particular saint, and this is completely acceptable. Sometimes they choose a name for a person that is simply consonant with his name.”

What to do during Baptism?

Everyone present should dress appropriately. There should be nothing bright, provocative, or distracting the mind and attention of other people. Women should wear modest skirts and cover their heads with a headscarf. It is also necessary to wear a 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. You should also have a baby towel and baptismal attire ready.

During the Sacrament, the priest will place a cross around your child’s neck. After this, it is never recommended to remove the cross.

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

All children behave differently in 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 an infant, you should feed him first so that he does not cry from hunger. If the child is sleeping, do not wake him up ahead of time. The mother can hold him in her arms if he bursts into tears.

Many churches allow photography of the Sacrament of Baptism. But again, this issue should be discussed with the priest in advance. The photographer must be as attentive as possible, not intrusive, and not interfere with the performance of the Sacrament. It is unacceptable to use mobile phones during Communion.

What happens during the Sacrament of Baptism?

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

During Baptism, godparents read two prayers: “Our Father” and “Creed.” Father will also read these prayers and you can quietly repeat the words after him. Some people write the words of their prayers on a piece of paper in advance.

Then the baby is anointed. At each anointing, the priest pronounces the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents repeat after him: “Amen.” Afterwards, a lock of hair is cut from the child’s head as a sign of his dedication to the Warriors of Christ and readiness to serve God. Next comes the main moment of the Sacrament - three times 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 accepts the responsibility to raise the child in faith and will be responsible for him at the Last Judgment.

What to do after Baptism?

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

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

Your child has become a Christian, entered the fold of the Orthodox Church, and now his future path depends only on you and his 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 kind conversations. Godparents, whenever possible, should talk to their godchildren, explain Christian truths to them, visit churches, confess and receive communion. If possible, travel to holy places. Nowadays there is a very large selection of excellent Christian literature for children. There are books even for the little ones.

The sacrament of baptism is often the very first holiday in a child’s life. The ritual has several meanings. Firstly, from this day on, the child is considered to be under the protection of the Lord and the guardian angel, and therefore he is not afraid of the evil eye and evil tongues.

Secondly, after the sacrament, the baby joins Orthodoxy and acquires spiritual values. How to perform the ritual according to all the rules and provide your child with a proper Orthodox upbringing? How to choose a baptismal set for a boy and a girl, and what should it contain? You will find the answers in our article.

The rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy is one of the seven sacraments of the church, performed with the blessing of God.

Essentially, baptism is the conversion of a child to the Christian religion. The ritual is practiced not only in Orthodoxy, but also in Catholicism, Protestantism and other Christian denominations.

The Church places a sacred meaning in baptism. This rite is designed to send down the blessing of the Holy Spirit on a new believer. It is from this moment that the baby is under the protection of a guardian angel.

The central part of baptism is the immersion of the baby into the illuminated baptismal font. This action symbolizes cleansing from original sin, and also marks the renunciation of a sinful life. The immersion of the baby in the illuminated water should remind everyone present of the sacrifice of Christ, of the price at which he atoned for our sins. Coming out of the font, on the contrary, symbolizes resurrection and new eternal life, life in the Lord.

After the baptismal ceremony, the child becomes a member of the Church and has the opportunity to perform all other sacraments. From this moment on, he must live according to the Commandments of Christ and not commit sinful acts. It is also believed that from this moment on the baby receives protection from the evil eye. That is why the child (including in the photo) is often not shown to anyone except the closest people before baptism.

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The Church does not prescribe rules for choosing the required age depending on gender or any other differences. Age for baptism of a child: parents choose a boy or a girl independently. Even an adult can be baptized if he expresses such a desire. However, it is still advisable to carry out the ceremony as early as possible. Firstly, the earlier the procedure is completed, the fewer sins need to be “washed away” from the baby, and secondly, the baby tolerates the long procedure much more calmly than an older child.

Nowadays, there is a widespread development of atheism among young people. In this regard, one can come across the opinion that the rite of baptism should be carried out at a more mature age, when a person himself can consciously choose a religion. Well, such a choice is the right of parents.

How to choose godparents

Choosing godparents is a responsible and difficult matter. Having gone through all your close relatives and friends, you need to settle on the most worthy and moral people who can give your child an Orthodox upbringing. The Church sets a number of restrictions when choosing recipients.

You cannot choose the following as godparents:

clergy;
people professing a religion other than Orthodoxy;
atheists;
those who have not reached church adulthood (13 years for girls and 15 years for boys);
a couple about to get married.

When looking for godparents, you should choose a person who:

Copes well with children. This will be useful both during the ceremony itself and during the performance of subsequent duties of spiritual education.
Characterized by a decent lifestyle and has moral guidelines;
Same sex as the child. Most often, two people of different sexes are chosen as godparents, but this is not at all necessary. Church rules prescribe as a necessity the presence of only a godson of the same sex.

Important! The question often arises about whether a pregnant woman can baptize her child. To dispel all superstitions in this regard, we inform you: it is possible. But in this case, the pregnant woman must decide for herself whether she has enough love, strength and time to raise two babies at once.

Like any important event, baptism requires special preparation on the part of the heroes of the occasion. What do you need to know in order to prepare for the sacrament in advance?

First, it is necessary to settle the formal side of the process. To do this, you need to come to church in advance. During such a visit, an appointment is made for the ceremony, questions are asked about the intricacies of the procedure, and (if necessary) a blessing is taken to capture the sacrament of baptism on a photo or videotape. At the same time, it is necessary to resolve organizational issues with the clergy: the amount of donation to the church, a list of items that must be carried with you.

First of all, these are documents: parents’ passports and the birth certificate of their baby. There are also attributes of baptism, which include a whole list of necessary things. They can be purchased separately or by purchasing a whole baptismal set. Baptism sets for boys and girls usually differ slightly. What does such a set include?

Silver pectoral cross

This subject is central to the entire procedure. It is by putting a cross on a child that the clergyman accepts him as a member of the Church. According to the rules of baptism, the godfather must purchase a pectoral cross.

However, if the latter has a difficult financial situation, the child’s parents can also take on this responsibility. Such a cross can be purchased both in the church itself and outside it. However, it is worth remembering that a cross purchased in a regular jewelry store should be illuminated before starting the sacrament of baptism itself.

Kryzhma

A large piece of fabric or a special towel that is used to swaddle the baby during the sacrament. Unlike the cross, this attribute must be presented by the godmother. The size of the kryzhma depends on the age of the godson.

If a child is baptized under the age of three months, then a kryzhma of 80x80 cm is suitable. For the baptism of older children, they usually buy a cloth measuring 100x100 cm. In addition to the size, the color of the kryzhma and the material from which it is made play an important role. As for color, the church rules here clearly state: the kryzhma must be white.

A baptismal set for a boy usually includes a strict white cap. For girls' sets, decor is allowed. When choosing a material, you must be guided by practicality: the fabric should be pleasant to the body and have good absorbent properties.

After the ceremony, the canvas must be preserved. It is believed that it acquires miraculous properties during the ritual and is capable of healing the baptized person in the future. Requirements for the material are dictated by considerations of practicality: the fabric must be natural and absorb well.

The christening set for a boy includes a shirt, and for girls - a dress with a cap. The outfit should be light colors, which symbolizes the solemnity of the moment, as well as the purity and purity of the baptized person.

The best option would be a white outfit, but you can also give preference to ivory or champagne. The godmother also buys a dress or shirt for baptism.

In addition, care must be taken to ensure that the density of the fabric matches the time of year when the sacrament is performed. Typically, a baptismal set for a boy or girl contains natural fabrics.

Preference is given to white clothing, as it is a symbol of purity. The density of the fabric should be chosen depending on the weather conditions of the time of year in which the child is baptized. In addition, it should certainly be comfortable and pleasant for the baby.

In addition, you need to ensure that you have:

towels for the priest;
three church candles - during the sacrament they are placed in special candlesticks on the font and lit.

Rules for godparents

Being godparents is a very responsible mission. The chosen recipients must clearly understand the importance of their purpose. They act as witnesses to the sacrament and thereby vouch for the godson in the face of the Lord. Until the baby grows up and learns to take full responsibility for his actions, the godchildren are spiritually responsible for his actions.

As the child grows and develops, the recipients become his spiritual mentors. Some accompany him on his life’s path, help him in difficult situations and try to protect him from wrong actions. That is why it is so important to choose spiritually developed people. If the recipient is indifferent to religion, he will not be able to give proper religious education.

Preparation for the baptism process begins in advance. Future godparents must undergo a so-called interview. Usually this is a short conversation with the priest. During the conversation, the clergyman finds out how spiritually developed the people who are going to become mentors are. Also at the interview, the godmother and father will learn about What needed for the baptism of a child, and how the procedure will go and what prayers should be learned in order to say them later during the ceremony.

The christening of a boy and a girl involves certain rules that differ little from each other. So, it is important to take care of the following:

Pectoral crosses are required;
proper clothing. The rules for the godmother state that she should be dressed discreetly: dull clothes covering her legs and shoulders, as well as a headscarf covering her hair. There should be no makeup on your face, especially lipstick. As for the godfather, it is also better to give preference to a solemn but discreet style. It is prohibited to wear black clothing to the ceremony.
You can’t shout loudly or laugh. The sacrament of baptism takes place in a calm, solemn atmosphere.
parents should not participate in baptism, only observe from the sidelines;
the prayer said during the sacrament (most often, this is the “Creed”) should be known to all those present.

Important! The rules of the Church do not provide for charging a fee for the sacrament of baptism, however, usually the child’s parents or godfather make a donation, the amount of which is confirmed with the priest.

Procedure for performing the sacrament

As already mentioned, the central action of the entire ritual is the immersion of the baby in the font three times. The number “three” was not chosen by chance. The Bible states that this is how many days Jesus spent in the tomb before resurrecting and ascending to his Father. However, in addition to this, the ritual also includes a number of important stages that are carried out in strict sequence.

Casting out the evil one

Before baptizing a child, it is necessary to cast out the evil one. Satan and the unclean are always close to the child, since he was born with original sin. In order to drive out the evil spirit, before starting the procedure, the priest must read aloud prohibitory prayers against the Devil.

Also at this stage, in prayer, you can ask God to strengthen the child in faith and not allow him to follow an unrighteous path.

Renunciation of sin

At this stage, godparents come into action. They must renounce the unrighteous lifestyle and mortal sins that dominate their hearts. After all, only righteous people can give a child a worthy religious education. The most important thing you need to know and understand: at first, the child is very vulnerable to vices and passions that seek to take possession of him.

That is why the people around him must set an example of integrity. After the renunciation, one of the godparents (the one of the same sex as the godson) reads the Creed prayer. It is from this moment that the baby is ready to become an Orthodox Christian.

Upon completion of the first three stages, you can proceed directly to the sacrament of Baptism.

To begin with, the priest blesses the water. To do this, he goes around the font three times, consecrating it with a censer and reading a prayer. Then he blesses all participants to perform the sacrament.
Blessing of the oil. The priest reads a prayer for the consecration of oil (oil), which is added to the water of the font. At the request of those present, you can also anoint some parts of the baby’s body with oil. It is believed that this will bring even greater blessing to the child.
Immersion in the font. After the priest has dipped the child into the font three times, the baby is considered Orthodox. At baptism, the baby is given an Orthodox name. It can be the same as secular, or different. This name remains with the child for life, and a saint with the same name becomes his guardian angel.

After the child’s christening is completed, as a rule, a celebration is held with family and friends.

The baptism of a child is an important and necessary step, but it must be remembered that the greatest love, the most reliable protection and the most worthy upbringing should be given to the child, first of all, by the parents. It is then that his soul will be bright and pure.

Christening is a fateful event for every child and parents. This is the acquisition of spiritual peace, integrity of spirit, God's reliable protection of a person. In addition, the baby has second parents who are always ready to provide help and assistance. The responsibilities of a godmother are especially valuable in later life.

Godmother

Before agreeing to baptize a child, a woman must accept the great responsibility placed on her shoulders. It is important to understand what it means to be a godfather, and not to superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in your heart and full responsibility. This could be a relative or friend, not necessarily married, but a believer and an exemplary one. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby and be sure to receive communion.

Responsibilities of a Godmother

You should not conduct an interview or casting for the role of second parents. You just need to draw a conclusion about the attitude of the applicants towards God, the people around them and all living things. If the baby’s mother thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the church sacrament, and that’s where participation in the fate of the new person ends, then she is very mistaken. Spiritual education and development of a child is what a godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case we are talking about the following responsibilities of godparents:

Be with the child all the time, help in difficult situations.
Teach prayers and simply talk about God, his role in the life of every person, and attend church together.
Every year, congratulate you on your birthday and give gifts on Angel’s Day.
Take communion regularly, involve your godson/goddaughter in the ritual.

How many times can you be a godfather?

Every Orthodox person can take part in this church rite, an unlimited number of times, if the child’s parents request it. A truthful and informed decision is welcome. Another important question that worries us before the sacrament is who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can take on responsibilities, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be godparents:

non-believers;
church ministers;
people of other faiths;
unbaptized;
mentally unstable people;
biological parents.

Baptism of a child - rules for the godmother

The baptismal towel and clothes are made or purchased by the future godmother, and this is an obligatory stage of preparation for the upcoming sacrament. In addition, a woman must first receive communion and confession; on the day of christening, she must have a cross on her chest. There are other rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church, which are important to include in the ritual.

Girl's christening - rules for the godmother

It is important for a girl to have a spiritual mother, since she is the first one, after the child’s mother and father, to be responsible for him. It is one thing to baptize a baby, and quite another to become a support, support, and spiritual mentor in life for a growing person. The responsibilities of the godmother at the baptism of a girl are as follows:

Before the sacrament begins, read the prayers for the child by heart, among them the “Creed.”
Wear a modest long dress for the christening and tie a scarf around your head.
Take your goddaughter in your arms after immersion in the font, dress her in white clothes.
Hold your goddaughter in your arms while passing around the font behind the priests, while reading prayers, and the procession of anointing.

Boy's christening - rules for godmother

During the christening of a boy, an important role is played not only by the godmother, but also by the father, who in the future will provide him with spiritual support in everything. The main responsibilities of the godmother during the baptism of a boy are identical, as during the church ceremony of a girl. The only difference is the following: after immersion in the font, the baby is picked up by the godfather; The priest also carries baptized boys behind the altar.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

During the procession, the priest leaves a reminder of what the godparents should do: say out loud three times the prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”, “Hail to the Virgin Mary”, “Heavenly King”, answer honestly several traditional questions about faith. Each prayer for godparents at baptism gives a powerful energy charge and helps the child receive grace.

What do you give a girl at christening?

What should the godmother do after the completion of the sacrament? Buy and present your godson or goddaughter with a memorable gift. This is where the problem arises with choosing a suitable present. So what does the godmother give to a girl’s christening?

silver or gold cross;
icon of God;
personal icon of the Guardian Angel;
silver spoon.

What does the godmother buy for a boy's christening?

For future men, there are also certain requirements for gifts. This one needs to know what is needed for a boy’s christening, so as not to be taken by surprise during the sacrament. Here's what a second mom should do:

buy a white vest, blanket, towel;
present a Bible, a personal icon as a gift;
make another memorable present.

What should a godmother do?

If a woman has her own children, nephews, younger brothers and sisters, she should not forget about her own godchildren. There are a number of beliefs and signs about why godparents are needed. This is what a godmother must do until the last day of her life:

Pray for your godson every day, ask God for a bright path for him.
Attend church with him, take communion, confess.
Participate in spiritual formation, growth and development.
Become a role model in his mind.
Take full responsibility for the baby if the blood parents die.