How to baptize a child? What are the rules for the baptism ceremony? How much does it cost? The editors of the Orthodoxy and Peace portal will answer these and other questions.
Child Baptism
When to baptize - different families solve this issue differently.
Most often they are baptized +/- 40 days after birth. The 40th day is also significant from a religious point of view (in the Old Testament church, on the 40th day a child was brought to the temple, on the 40th day a prayer is read over a woman who has given birth). For 40 days after giving birth, a woman does not participate in the sacraments of the Church: this is also related to the physiology of the postpartum period, and in general it is very reasonable - at this time, all the attention and energy of a woman should be focused on the child and her health.
After this period has expired, a special prayer must be read over her, which the priest will do before or after baptism. Very young children behave much calmer at baptism and are not afraid when someone else (godparents or priest) takes them in the arms. Well, don’t forget that up to three months, children can more easily tolerate head-dipping, because they retain intrauterine reflexes that help them hold their breath.
In any case, the choice of the moment is up to the parents and depends on the circumstances and the state of the child’s health. If the baby is in intensive care and there are health problems, the baby can be baptized in intensive care. To do this, you can invite a priest or MOTHER CAN BAPTIZE THE CHILD HERSELF.
You can baptize after 40 days.
If the child's life is in danger
If the baby is in intensive care, then you can invite a priest to baptize the child. From the hospital church or from any church - no one will refuse. Just first you need to find out what the baptism procedures are in this hospital.
If strangers are not allowed into the intensive care unit, or if the situation is different - an accident, for example - the mother or father (and the intensive care nurse at the request of the parents, and anyone else in general) can christen the child THEMSELVES. A few drops of water are needed. With these drops, the child must be crossed three times with the words:
Servant of God (NAME) is baptized
In the name of the Father. Amen. (we cross ourselves for the first time and sprinkle some water)
And the Son. Amen. (second time)
And the Holy Spirit. Amen. (third time).
The child is baptized. When he is discharged, the second part of baptism will have to be performed in church - Confirmation - joining the Church. Explain to the priest in advance that you baptized yourself in intensive care. You can baptize your baby at home, having agreed on this with the priest in the church.
Should I baptize in winter?
Of course, in churches they heat the water, the water in the font is warm.
The only thing is that if the temple has one door and the temple itself is small, one of your relatives can stand guard at the entrance so that the door does not suddenly open wide open.
How much to pay? And why pay?
Officially, in churches there is no fee for the Sacraments and services.
Christ also said: “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). But only the believers fed and watered the apostles, allowed them to spend the night, and in modern realities, the donation for baptism is one of the main sources of income for churches, from which they pay for light, electricity, repairs, fire-fighting work and the priest, who most often has many children. Price list in the temple - this is the approximate donation amount. If there really is no money, they MUST baptize for free. If they refuse, it’s a reason to contact the dean.
Is it necessary to call according to the calendar?
Whoever wants it. Some call it according to the calendar, some in honor of their favorite saint or someone else. Of course, if a girl was born on January 25, then she really wants the name Tatyana, but the parents choose the name for the child themselves - there are no “musts” here.
Where to baptize?
It is unlikely that this question will arise before you if you are already parishioners of some temple. If not, choose a temple to your liking. There is nothing wrong with visiting a few temples. If the employees are unfriendly and rude (this happens, yes), you can look for a temple where they will treat you kindly from the very beginning. Yes. We come to God in church, but there is no sin in choosing a church according to your liking. It’s good if the church has a separate baptismal room. It is usually warm, there are no drafts and there are no strangers.
If there are few churches in your city and they all have large parishes, then be sure to find out in advance how many children usually attend baptism. It may turn out that a dozen babies will be baptized at the same time, each of whom will be accompanied by a whole team of relatives. If you don’t like such a mass gathering, you can agree on an individual baptism.
Baptism photography
If you decide to hire a photographer for the christening, be sure to find out in advance whether he will be allowed to take pictures and use a flash. Some priests have a very negative attitude towards filming the Sacraments and an unpleasant surprise may await you.
As a rule, photography and video shooting are not prohibited anywhere. Photos from a baptism are a great joy for many years for the whole family, so if you can’t take pictures in a church, then you need to look for a church where you can take pictures (but even in Old Believer churches they allow you to take pictures at christenings)
In some cases, a child can be baptized at home. The main thing is to agree on this with the priest.
Godparents
Who can and cannot be a godfather is the most common question. Is it possible for a pregnant/unmarried/unbeliever/childless girl to baptize a girl, etc. - the number of variations is endless.
The answer is simple: the godfather must be a person
- Orthodox and church (HE is responsible for raising a child in the faith);
- not the child’s parent (godparents must replace the parents if something happens);
- a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child (or those who are going to get married);
- A monastic cannot be a godfather.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all necessary that there be two godparents. One thing is enough: women for girls and men for boys. .
Conversation before baptism
Now this is a must. For what? To baptize those who believe in Christ, and not those who come because “a child_is_sick_must_be_baptized_otherwise_they_will_jinx_and_we_are_Russian_and_Orthodox."
You have to come to the conversation, this is not an exam. usually the priest talks about Christ, the Gospel, reminds that you need to read the Gospel yourself. This looks like.
Often the need for conversation causes indignation among relatives and many try to “get around” them. Someone, complaining about a lack of time, or even just desire, is looking for priests who can ignore this rule. But first of all, this information is needed by the godparents themselves, because by offering them to become your child’s godparents, you impose a great responsibility on them and it would be nice for them to know about it. If godparents do not want to spend time on this, then this is a reason for you to think about whether the child needs adoptive parents who cannot sacrifice just a couple of their evenings for him.
If the godparents live in another city and can only come on the day of the sacrament, then they can have conversations in any church that is convenient. Upon completion, they will be given a certificate with which they can participate in the sacrament anywhere.
It is very good for godparents, if they don’t already know, to learn - this prayer is read three times during baptism and, it is likely that godparents will be asked to read it.
What to buy?
For baptism, a child needs a new baptismal shirt, a cross and a towel. All this can be bought at any church store and, as a rule, this is the task of the godparents. The baptismal shirt is then stored along with other mementos of the baby. In foreign stores there is a whole line of stunningly beautiful clothes for baptism; you can also use some beautiful set for discharge.
Baptismal name
Find out in advance what name the child will be baptized. If the child’s name is not in the calendar, select one that sounds similar in advance (Alina - Elena, Zhanna - Anna, Alisa - Alexandra) and tell the priest about it. And sometimes names are given strangely. One of my friends Zhanna was baptized Evgeniya. By the way, sometimes there are unexpected names in the calendar, say. Edward is such an Orthodox British saint (though later all the employees of the temple will not believe that there is such an Orthodox name). In church records and when performing other Sacraments, you will need to use the name given at baptism. Based on it, it will be determined when the child’s Angel Day is and who his heavenly patron is.
We arrived at the temple, what next?
At the church shop you will be asked to pay a donation for baptism. Before the sacrament, it is better to feed the baby so that he is more comfortable and calm.
Feed in the temple IT IS POSSIBLE, it’s good to wear nursing clothes or have an apron with you. If you need privacy, you can ask one of the temple employees to find a secluded place.
The only thing is that if the baby is feeding for a long time, it is better to have a bottle-sipper-syringe with food with you, so that it does not happen that the baby gets hungry in the middle of the service and you either have to wait half an hour until he eats or he will cry from hunger.
During the sacrament, the child is held in the arms of the godparents, the parents can only watch. The duration of Baptism is usually about an hour.
It is useful to familiarize yourself in advance with what will happen during the service in order to understand the meaning of what is happening. Here .
But mothers are not allowed to be baptized everywhere—it’s better to clarify this question in advance.
Cold water?
The water in the font is WARM. First, hot water is usually poured into it, and before the Sacrament it is diluted with cold water. But the water in the font is warm :)
The temple employees who collect it will make sure that the water is warm - they don’t want the child to freeze just as much as you do. After immersion, it will not be possible to immediately dress the child, and here again it is worth mentioning that it is good to baptize very young children in separate rooms and not in the church itself, where it is cool even in summer. In any case, don’t worry, everything happens quickly and the child will not have time to freeze.
Should a child wear a cross all the time?
Parents are often concerned about the safety of their child wearing a cross. Someone is afraid that the child may be harmed by the rope or ribbon on which the cross hangs. Many people worry that the child might lose the cross or it might be stolen, for example, in the garden. As a rule, the cross is worn on a short ribbon that cannot get tangled anywhere. And for kindergarten you can prepare a special inexpensive cross.
And they say that...
Baptism, like many other things in our lives, is surrounded by many stupid superstitions and prejudices. Older relatives can add worries and worries with stories about bad omens and prohibitions. It is better to clarify any doubtful questions with the priest, not trusting grandmothers, even very experienced ones.
Is it possible to celebrate baptism?
It is quite logical that relatives who will gather for Epiphany will want to continue the celebration at home or in a restaurant. The main thing is that during the holiday they do not forget the reason for which everyone gathered.
After baptism
When the Sacrament is over, you will be given a certificate of baptism, which will indicate when the baptism was performed, by whom, and the day on which the child has a name day will also be written. After baptism, you will definitely need to go to the temple again to give the baby communion. In general, babies should be given communion regularly.
In this article:
Baptism is a kind of spiritual cleansing of a person, which is performed only once in a lifetime. A person who is going to be baptized must know the basics of Orthodoxy, as well as the most important prayers. As for infants, they cannot yet learn the Orthodox faith, but their godparents can vouch for them. It is the godparents who, during the ceremony, undertake before God to raise their godson according to Orthodox canons. They must be people leading a pious lifestyle, and even in the event of misfortune, if suddenly their godson is left without parents, they must replace them for him.
The question arises whether it is worth baptizing infants, because they still cannot independently understand what is happening. The fact is that baptized children can venerate icons and receive communion regularly, thus having protection and an Orthodox upbringing from birth. After a secret ceremony in honor of the little one, you can submit notes about health, order magpies and mention his name in prayers.
Before the ceremony, you need to take care of purchasing an Orthodox cross. It is usually purchased from the temple as it is properly made and sanctified. But, if you need a cross made of gold, but there is no way to buy it in the temple. In this case, you need to purchase it at a jewelry store and show it to the clergyman before the ceremony. In Orthodox practice, there should be two godparents: a woman and a man, but only one is required. For a boy to be baptized, it is obligatory for a man to participate in the baptism, and for a girl, a woman.
Preparing a mother for her baby's Baptism
On the eve of the day of the ceremony, it is necessary to discuss in advance with the Priest the issue of the presence of the mother in the baptismal room. It is believed that a woman is purified only on the fortieth day after giving birth, so if the Baptism of the baby is planned earlier, the mother will not be present.
If forty days have passed since the birth of the baby, and the mother wants to be present, she needs to inform the Priest about this the day before the ceremony so that he can read a special cleansing prayer, after which she will be allowed into the baptismal room.
How does the Baptism ceremony take place?
The duration of this sacrament is an hour and a half. Before it begins, candles are lit in the temple and the Priest reads special prayers. To carry out Baptism, the baby is undressed, and he is in the arms of his godparents. The girl should be held in her arms by her godfather, and the boy should be held by her godmother. In winter, the baby will most likely be left dressed. But the legs and arms must remain open.
After all the necessary prayers have been read, the Priest will ask the godparents to face the western side of the temple and answer important questions. Then they recite a special prayer.
Next, the Priest will bless the water, oil and anoint the chest, ears, legs and arms with crumbs.
Then, the Priest will take the baby in his arms and plunge his head into the water three times. In this case, the baby should be turned to face the eastern part of the temple. And only after this, the baby is given into the hands of his godparents. When receiving a godson, the godfather holds a kryzma in his hands - a special cloth for baptism. After the child has dried, he can be dressed in baptismal clothes and put on a cross.
Clothes should be white, this indicates that he has a pure soul, which he must preserve, and the cross is considered a sign of faith in the Lord. Parents must take care to preserve the baptismal robe and kryzhma.
After the rite of Baptism, the rite of Confirmation will be performed, during which the Priest anoints the baby with specially consecrated oil (chrism), as if outlining the image of a cross on the forehead, nostrils, eyes, ears, lips, arms and legs.
Then, the Priest goes around the font with candles three times and wipes the myrrh remaining on the baby’s body. Afterwards, the prayer required for cutting the hair is read and the Priest cuts the baby’s hair in a cross shape. They are then rolled with wax and placed in the font.
At the end of all the rituals, the priest reads a prayer for the baby and godparents, blessing everyone to leave the temple. If the baby is 40 days old at the time of Baptism, then Churching also takes place. A priest with a child in his hands marks them with a cross at the entrance to the temple, in the center of the temple and near the Royal Gate. If a baby is baptized - a boy, then the Priest with the child in his arms enters the altar. If a girl is baptized, she is not brought into the altar, since she cannot become a clergyman in the future. After which, the child, both male and female, is applied to the icons of the Mother of God and the Savior. It is then given to one of the parents. After which the child must be given communion.
Communion in Orthodox churches occurs at the end of the morning liturgy. If parents bring a baby to the temple at the time of communion, then they line up among the communicants. In the temple, parents and babies are usually allowed to go first. Usually, communicants are given bread and wine, but if the communicant is small, then he is given wine. It is always necessary to give Holy Communion to babies, at least once a month, then the baby will get sick less and feel great.
What things are needed for baptism?:
- A small Orthodox cross (you can choose any one you like, but it is better to purchase it in a church where it will already be illuminated);
- Christening gown or christening shirt;
- Baptismal kryzhma - the cloth into which the godparents receive the baby during Baptism;
- Icon;
- Diaper;
- Towel;
- Candles.
Parents should not forget immediately after the ceremony about the cross they bought; the child must wear it constantly, throughout his life. Therefore, take care in advance about where the cross will hang on your baby’s body. The best option would be a satin rope, since a chain or rope can rub the baby’s delicate skin. When the child grows up, you can put a chain on him.
The baby needs to be fed on a schedule, so the mother should take care of feeding times so that he is not hungry during Baptism.
If you want to capture this important moment in life, find out in advance whether it is possible to take photos or videos during the ceremony, and if the Priest gives his consent, then agree with the photographer in advance.
How godparents are chosen and their responsibilities
Currently, young parents choose godparents for their baby, without particularly thinking about the responsibility that will be entrusted to them after the ceremony. Therefore, it often turns out that the child saw his godfather or godmother once or twice in his life.
When choosing godparents, you should take into account that they are close to your family and are on good and friendly terms. Godparents must themselves be baptized. It is necessary that the godparents wear a cross at the time of the ceremony. The baby's relatives can also be godparents: grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. But these people cannot be insane, leading an antisocial lifestyle, and coming to the temple for the ceremony while intoxicated. Also, the parents of the baby who is going to be baptized, as well as a man and woman who are married or those who are going to get married, cannot become godparents. Monks and nuns, as well as minors, cannot be godparents.
If the baby’s parents are not baptized, then there will be no obstacles to the baptism of their child. The most important thing is that their godparents be baptized. The main responsibility of the godparents after the ceremony will be the proper upbringing of the child, facilitating the child’s visit to church, receiving communion and explaining the Orthodox canons to him.
How to choose a baptism day and name
Usually, up to forty days from birth, infants who are weak or sick and whose lives are in danger are baptized. In such cases, as a rule, the ceremony is performed in a hospital or at home. If everything is fine with the child, he grows and develops as expected, he can be baptized already on the fortieth day after birth. Before baptizing a child, you must choose a temple where this sacrament will take place and talk with the Priest about the day. The ritual can be performed on any day; there are no prohibitions on this matter; it can be performed during Lent and on great Orthodox holidays.
As for the name, it is chosen by the parents even before baptism. Parents name the baby as their heart tells them, it can come from the name of the saint on whose day the baby was born, or the name of the saint whose memorial day was on the eighth day from the baby’s birth. You can name your child any name you like, but it is natural to use common sense so that in the future the child can live comfortably with this name.
If the parents chose a name for the child, but there is no saint with that name in Orthodox history, then the child can be baptized under the name of the saint on whose day he was born, and in the future in life it will be he who will be his patron.
This sacrament must be taken seriously. A properly performed ritual will help protect the baby for life.
Useful video about the sacrament of baptism
It is believed that baptizing a child helps protect the newborn from all evil, as well as take care of his health. In Orthodoxy, when a baby appears in a family, the question is raised about how the child is baptized, rules and signs.
After baptism, many people remove the cross so that the baby does not pull it and the string does not rub the delicate skin. They are worn already at a conscious age.
We will consider the features of the process of baptism of a newborn, as well as folk signs preserved in the memory of many generations, in our article.
In many religions, water is the source of life, so it is not surprising that in Orthodoxy, newborns are also dipped in water, believing that they will become stronger and grow healthy.
First, let's find out in more detail how a child is baptized in a church. This rite is recognized by Orthodoxy if it is performed by Armenians, Calvinists, Catholics, as well as in the Anglican or Lutheran Church.
Rules for baptizing a child in church
Any occupation or business implies certain rules, the observance of which is necessary for all participants. In the same way, all rituals and traditions have their own canons.
Basic rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church:
- The sacrament is performed in the temple, although there may be exceptions. For example, if the baby is under the supervision of doctors, and it is not possible to take him to the temple.
- The sacrament is performed by the priest within an hour on the 40th day from birth, since both the baby and the mother can already physically withstand the ceremony.
- First, the priest reads prohibition prayers to protect the baby from all evil.
- Since the baby does not yet speak, the godparents must renounce Satan three times in his place, and also voice their desire to be reunited with Jesus Christ.
- The prayer “Creed” is also read by the priest three times.
- Next, water and oil, that is, oil, are blessed.
- According to tradition, the baby is dipped into the font three times.
a) immersion in the font; b) anointing
- The name given to the baby in the church is not disclosed, since it has a protective function and is a kind of talisman - a talisman.
- After this, the baby is wrapped in kryzhma, that is, a diaper special for this ritual, so as not to catch a cold. But it’s better not to remove water from your face.
- The next step is confirmation, when the priest anoints the child with oil.
- Next, the Gospel and the Apostle are read, then the priest cuts off a small amount of the baby’s hair.
- After putting a cross on his neck, the baby becomes a Christian.
- During the process of baptism, infants are not only dipped, but also the baby is sprinkled, which is also allowed.
- Any person can be baptized only once, just like he can be born into the world.
According to one belief, if a baby cries very loudly during baptism, then it is evil spirits who are leaving the child alone. The very rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy, the rules of which we have examined, is the most important step for parents, as well as relatives, so on such a day they all gather together to celebrate this event.
Girl's christening: rules and signs
Let's take a closer look at the christening of a girl - rules and signs:
- You need to arrive in advance, and when they call you to the temple, the godfather brings the baby.
- There is anointing with oil and immersion in the font.
- They put on a cross and bring it to the icon of the Mother of God.
- During the ritual, the godmother recites the prayers “Our Father” and “Creed.”
- After dipping into the font, the baby is covered with kryzhma, and the mother calms the child.
- The godfather gives a silver cross, but the godmother must take care of the kryzhma and the baptismal set.
a) kryzhma; b) baptismal set
Everything that is needed for the baptism of a girl’s child is thought out and prepared in advance: a cross, a white diaper, a baptismal dress. The godfather pays for the entire ceremony. When choosing a cross, you need to take into account that the ends of the cross do not prick the girl, so choose rounded ones. A cross or the girl’s date of birth can be embroidered on the kryzhma. It is also worth stocking up on a hat, dress and booties.
There is a sign according to which the kryzhma is not washed for a year. When the baby is sick, it can be used to cover the baby for his speedy recovery.
You can give a girl a cross chain, books, a photo album, as well as various toys and hygiene products for the holiday. The icons of the Mother of God, Matrona, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, embroidered with a cross or beads, will become symbolic.
Remember that choosing godparents for your child is a responsible task. It is impossible to change them, even if the person does not suit you over time. An important goal of godparents is to include their godson in the church, talk about moral issues, and go to church together.
What is needed to baptize a boy child?
Traditionally, the child’s parents are not in the church, so all responsibilities are assigned to the godparents. You can be a mother, but only after long conversations, fasting, and following certain rules. The godmother brings the baby into the church, covered with a white cloth. The priest and godparents repeat the prayers. Then he is turned to the west, anointed with oil, dipped into the font and carried around it. The priest himself completes the sacrament at the altar with the child in his arms.
It is important to know what is needed for the baptism of a boy child so that the sacrament takes place at the highest level and is properly organized:
- You will need a kryzhma, a baptismal shirt and a white blanket.
- You need to choose a non-pregnant adult woman without mental illness as godparents.
- The godmother buys a silk scarf for the priest.
- The godfather is responsible for the financial side of the issue, for gifts. He must also be an adult and a person of high moral character with no criminal record. Also, the godfather must not be married to the godmother.
There is a tradition in which the godfather gives the baby a silver spoon as a gift.
It is the godparents who undertake to take care of the baby when trouble happens to their mother and father, so they should consciously approach this decision, confess and try to be a role model for the godson.
While following all the rules, do not forget that you must learn the prayers by heart if you are chosen as a godparent. If you are afraid of getting confused or forgetting the words, then it is better to write a prayer on a piece of paper and read it.
Festive table for a child's christening
When the baptism ceremony of a child is completed, you always want to pleasantly celebrate this event. To do this, you need to know some secrets, as well as traditions and signs.
We'll tell you how to prepare for your child's baptism and think through all the organizational issues.
How to set the table for a child's christening?
Initially, we note that the baby’s parents are involved in organizing the feast, and godparents and relatives help. If you want to celebrate a ritual according to ancient traditions, then it’s worth remembering how our grandparents did it.
For a child’s christening, dishes with the following names: “Babkina’s pies”, “Babkina’s porridge”, “Babkina’s cheesecake” are suitable. This is due to the tradition of honoring the midwife who helped the mother give birth.
So the midwife brought this porridge with her, and they called it kutya. The porridge was seasoned with butter, eggs, honey, cream, and milk was added. Decorated with eggs cut in half. There was a tradition in ancient times when a ransom had to be given for porridge.
A rooster was baked in baptismal porridge if a boy was born, and if a girl was born, then a chicken was cooked. Yeast pies in the shape of hearts, flowers, pretzels, horns, ears, birds, and buns were very popular.
Any feast is not complete without signs and gifts for each other. The mother of a baptized child was given walnuts so that her milk would be nutritious and tasty. But the older children received nuts, peas or legumes. According to legend, guys with such gifts became good speakers. Our ancestors believed that if children were given various gifts, then fate would be favorable to them.
Menu for baby's christening
Naturally, in addition to preparing traditional dishes, the tastes and wishes of the invited guests should be taken into account. So, young people will prefer salads, various desserts, and it wouldn’t hurt to prepare an original cake for the holiday.
You can choose several dish options and discuss them with godparents and relatives. For example, you can prepare a vitamin salad, a children's snack, cutlets with mashed potatoes, or a fruit cake with jelly.
Also a good option would be the following menu: chicken salad, stuffed vegetables, baked potatoes with cheese, fish in tomato sauce, cottage cheese cake with berries.
What is better and more appetizing is up to each family to choose independently, because the main condition remains a wonderful, friendly atmosphere, and not a specific delicacy.
Try to have several dishes on the table so that each guest can choose something to suit their taste.
Of course, the holiday will not become truly memorable and bright if you do not take care of the cake. A real pie, made with your own hands, or a custom-made cake with a fancy design will equally delight both young and adult guests on the holiday table. The cake is also a gift from the godfather.
Who buys a cross for a christening?
Rituals are always accompanied by folk beliefs and signs. So, people advise not to use red shades in baby’s clothes, and the kryzhma should be white.
In addition, the baby must be wearing a hat during the baptism process. It is recommended to continue wearing the cap for 12 weeks. And in order for the baby’s life to be successful, during baptism they place water in a cup on the window.
Let's find out, for example, who buys a cross for a boy's christening. There is a tradition according to which the godmother buys the cross for the godson, and the godfather gives the cross as a gift. It would be appropriate to give the child and his family a Bible, which in the future he will be able to read and join spiritual life.
The baptism of a baby is a big and important holiday for any religious family, so spare no time and effort to properly prepare for this important event.
In addition, many parents believe that their child will get sick less if he is baptized, because he will have invisible protection.
Modern parents often film the ritual with a video camera and use the services of photographers, so they will have the opportunity to show this event to their adult children in the future and once again plunge into the atmosphere of the sacrament.
We wish you and your children good and health!
A girl was born into the family. What kind of person will she be? What name should I give her? What is needed for a girl's Baptism? Who to choose as godparents? These and many other questions begin to worry a happy family when a baby is born. Let's try to figure out some of them together.
Girl's name at Baptism
Nowadays there are a lot of different 
series and films. The behavior of the heroes and heroines amazes the imagination of the audience. Many mothers want to name their daughters after their favorite heroines. Will it be possible to baptize a girl with this name?
Everything will depend on whether there is such a thing. If there is, then it is possible. But in any case Girl's baptism The name should be given not in honor of a TV character, grandmother or friend, but in honor of a saint who will prayerfully protect the little Christian from all the evil slander of evil forces. The girl will come running to the heavenly patroness with her joys and sorrows and celebrate the Day of Remembrance of her saint. There will be a name day or Angel Day celebration for the child.
It is better to choose according to the life of the holy saint of God, whose exploits impressed you most. You can pay special attention to the lives of saints whose memory is celebrated by the Church closer to their birthday or Epiphany.
Godparents for a girl
After a girl’s Baptism, her godmother plays the main role. In exceptional cases, the absence of a godfather is allowed, but a godmother must be present. Godparents must be practicing Orthodox Christians. Practicing means regularly 
approaching the Sacraments of the Church, knowing prayers and being able to help raise a child in the Orthodox faith. In upbringing, the leading role is often played not by what we say to the child, but by the example we set for him. If the girl’s godparents do not go to Church themselves, are Christians only by the fact of their Baptism, do not pray morning and evening, do not try to fight their passions and worldly attachments, do not lead a Christian lifestyle, then what example can they set for the child?..
Although it happens that by teaching others we learn something ourselves. So it is in spiritual life. For example, they took a rather secular woman as a godmother, and she was so imbued with a sense of responsibility towards her goddaughter that she began to lead a completely different life. She had a reassessment of values. Instead of living for her own pleasure, she began to pray fervently, do good deeds to her neighbors and pay a lot of attention to her goddaughter.
Clothes for girls' baptism
There is a wider choice than for . Representatives of women's 
genders begin to dress more elegantly and variedly from early childhood. At Baptism, a girl can wear not only a cap, but also a festive scarf on her head. Instead of a baptismal shirt, you can wear a special baptismal dress. You can buy clothes for a girl’s baptism separately, or you can immediately buy a ready-made baptism set. Everything that is needed for a girl’s Baptism should be prepared several days before the planned Sacrament. Godparents can take care of this. The godfather, for example, can, with a chain, pay a donation to the Church recommended in the temple for Baptism. The godmother can buy a kryzhma for Baptism, a baptismal set or clothes for Baptism.
Congratulations on the Baptism (christening) of a girl
Girl's baptism, gives her the opportunity to be a full member of the Christian community on earth and an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven in God’s abodes. 
This is a big and joyful event that is usually celebrated solemnly. Family members, godparents and all close relatives and friends are invited to the Christening. may look like her parents presenting her with various gifts, saying kind words and wishes. Gifts can include clothes, toys, items needed to care for a child, cribs, strollers, books, dishes and much more. But when choosing a gift for Christening, one must not forget about the great spiritual significance of the Sacrament of Baptism. Therefore, gifts should also be beneficial for the soul of the newly baptized. These could be personalized icons or measured icons, books of the Gospel, Bible, Prayer Book or Lives of Saints, a silver spoon for Christening with the image of the Cross or prayers, or anything else that will be useful for the spiritual growth of a little Christian.
Orthodox Christians who have become parents of a girl for the first time are very interested in the topic of baptism: when should the ceremony be performed and what should be prepared for it, how to choose the right godparents, and are there days when it is possible and impossible to baptize a child? The priest of the nearest church will answer all these questions.
One small nuance - the difference between the christening of a boy and a girl is only that the baby is brought to the altar, but the baby is not. Otherwise, the baptism process is completely identical.
When is baptism performed?
You can baptize a child at any time; of course, it is better to choose a warm season for this so that the naked baby does not catch a cold. Previously, children were baptized on the 8th or 40th day of birth, now they are mostly baptized before they are one year old.
In Soviet times, the church was not very revered, so many remained unbaptized, and were able to do this already in adulthood, a conscious age, which is also allowed and encouraged, because it is never too late to come to God. Therefore, if a child is baptized in adolescence, there is no need to force the student, ask his opinion whether he wants it himself or not.
Why is it right to be baptized on your 8th birthday? The 8th day is marked by the naming of the baby. As for the 40th, it is believed that after 40 days the mother is completely cleansed after giving birth and can already enter the church. At the birth of a girl, the period increases to 80 days.
Even if you decide to have a christening during Lent, it’s okay, you just need to ensure that the subsequent celebration and meal meet the requirements of the temple.
Who to choose as godparents
Today, young parents in choosing godparents for their child are guided by different motives, for example, they turn to friends and acquaintances for help, but they do not take into account whether these people are believers, whether they observe God’s canons, or whether they know how to pray. After all, it is the godparents who will subsequently have this mission in relation to their goddaughter.
If it is not possible to find 2 godparents at once, enlist the support of one - if a girl is being christened, she must have a godmother, if a boy is being baptized - a godfather. It makes no difference whether the godfather (mother) is married or not - this is more a prejudice than a rule. A pregnant woman can also become a godmother, but you need to take into account that it is difficult for an expectant mother to carry a baby in her arms, so it is better to choose another person for this role.
A woman who is on her menstrual period is prohibited from entering the temple. Also, as godparents, avoid:
- minors;
- unbaptized, unbelievers;
- spouses or lovers who are just planning to enter into a marriage;
- strangers;
- immoral people;
- incompetent.
In order for baptism to go off without a hitch, the godparents must first go to church, communicate with the priest, confess, take communion, pray and learn more about the rite itself.
Without which the ceremony cannot be carried out
The main and most important attribute of a christening is a cross for the baby; the godfather chooses and buys it. If the purchase is made in a store, it is subject to lighting on the day of baptism. If the cross was bought in a shop at the temple, you no longer need to do this.
List of gifts for a girl for the ceremony:
- Specially tailored clothes, the godmother takes care of this. It is advisable that she sew the shirts, dresses and kryzhmas with her own hands, but ready-made products are also available in stores. Clothing for a child is a symbol of purity, therefore it is made of snow-white fabric. You can decorate the dress with embroidery or ribbons.
- Baptism set consisting of a hat and diaper. It is impossible to pass on the clothes in which the baby was baptized; they are not washed, they are simply dried and carefully stored for life.
What does the ritual look like?
The process of baptizing a child goes something like this:
- First, the vows are pronounced. The godparents give appropriate answers to the questions asked by the priest, after which the priest smears the baby in several areas of the body with oil; it is believed that this stage will help the baby always remain healthy, physically and mentally. It is necessary that the child is undressed; if you are worried that the baby will freeze, wrap her in a towel.
- Then baptism occurs.
From the hands of the godmother the child is passed into the hands of the priest, who lowers the baby into the water in the font three times.
- The girl is wrapped in kryzhma, dried and put on a shirt prepared for baptism, not forgetting about the cap to cover her head.
- Now the girl’s body is anointed with oil called holy myrrh, from that moment the child manifests his spiritual gifts.
- When the baptismal ceremony has come to an end, the priest cuts off a small lock of hair from the girl’s hair, which must be left in the church; it is a kind of symbol of sacrifice to the Lord. The entire ritual is accompanied by the reading of prayers.
As for the duration of baptism, the ceremony can last a couple of hours if several babies are baptized on this day. If the ritual takes place for one girl, it takes no more than half an hour.
After the ceremony, the godparents will be given baptismal certificates, and a record of this wonderful event will forever remain in the church book. Dress your child in festive clothes and go home with him, where a table with delicious treats has already been prepared for the guests.
Gifts for girls
There is no need to make the holiday a competition to see who can give a more beautiful and more expensive gift; it is better if the gifts are spiritual in nature. It is wonderful when guests bring with them the Bible, icons, a silver spoon or mug for a child, a Prayer Book and other spiritual things. But if this is already planned in gifts from others, then buy what the baby needs. This could be beautiful clothes, a doll for a girl, a crib, a stroller, dishes.
It is customary to end a festive meal on the occasion of a child’s baptism with a delicious cake, baked to order by the mother or experienced pastry chefs. If one of the guests decides to give a cake, be sure to specify what it will be like, so that each of those invited to the wonderful event can enjoy a piece of the sweet treat.