Baptism of a child: what godparents need to know. Necessary things: we understand in more detail. Baptism of the baby: rules

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 is given to him 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

This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know from me how to solve exactly your 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:

atheists or non-believers;
monks and nuns;
mentally ill people;
children under 15;
drug addicts and alcoholics;
promiscuous women and men;
spouses or sexually close people;
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.
Training. 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 baptized 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.

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Rules for the godmother:
must not be pregnant;
not have mental illness;
conduct a confession before the ceremony;
not be married to the godfather and not be his close relative;
not be a nun;
be of age.

What does a godmother buy for a boy's christening:
the fabric in which the baby is wrapped (kryzhma);
baptismal set (shirt, blanket, cap);
a silk scarf for a priest.

Christening of a boy, rules for a godfather
confess before the sacrament of baptism;
not to be married to the godmother, not to be her closest relative;
not have problems with the law and mental illness;
not be a minister of the church (monk);
reach adulthood.

What does the godfather buy for the boy's christening:
purchase of a cross for a child;
buying a gift
fulfillment of all financial obligations.

Duties of godparents at the baptism of a boy
must be an example for inheritance;
regularly prays for his godson;
instruct the boy on the true path according to God's commandments;
always keep in touch with him (even if they live far from him);
be present at the first communion of the baby;
in the event of illness or death of the parents, take full responsibility for the upbringing of the child.

But the most important thing is that the godparents understand the importance of their rank, and the boy knows that there are always people next to him who will help, prompt, support. Godparents are spiritual educators, and their role in the life of a godson cannot be overestimated.
Responsibilities of a godfather at the baptism of a boy
Another fairly important duty of the godfather is to buy a gift for his godson. And its implementation must be treated with special understanding. According to tradition, the godfather should give a silver spoon for christening.
It must be said that it is products from this noble metal that are the most frequent gifts for the rite of baptism. It is a symbol of prosperity and fullness of life. The Bible can be a wonderful gift. Reading it will help in shaping the spiritual world of the boy.
Also often engraved. This thing for the child becomes very personal and passes with him along the path of life, protecting him from all sorts of adversities.
In addition, the godfather can give:
silver or gold jewelry;
personal photo album;
clothes;
thematic religious and artistic books;
various toys.

Names for a boy's christening
Choosing a name for christening is a very important issue in preparing for them and a rather big problem, since sometimes there are different opinions here, which are not always possible to agree on. But most often parents turn to the priest.
If the boy’s name is Orthodox, then you don’t have to change it, but still many try to do this, because in this way they want to protect the baby from everything bad. The name is selected mainly according to the holy calendar, taking into account the day (or period) in which the child was born, while the name can be either consonant with the mundane or completely different from it.
What is needed for the baptism of a boy
The baptism of a child is the great mission of man on Earth. What is needed for the baptism of a child, a boy - the main thing is that you need to be especially attentive and prepared. Godparents should read as much spiritual literature as possible in order to be able to help their godson in any life situation.
And what is important, the godfather, as a man, must develop and form the best male qualities, such as: courage, endurance, self-control, willpower and spirit. After all, the role of godparents does not end immediately after the rite of baptism, this is a long way to become a little person, and there can be no room for error.
Therefore, when preparing to become godparents, you need to weigh the pros and cons many times, try to understand yourself, study religious literature, be educated in the field of spirituality, and most importantly, be a real example for the child.
Life prepares trials for everyone, but not everyone can cope with them. And often there come moments when not parents, close relatives or friends can help, but godparents, because their spiritual level and knowledge of life are quite high.
They are like “faithful companions” who go with a person through life, and when necessary, bring them to God with the help of communion, confession, and prayer. And it is thanks to them that from early childhood the child feels the boundless confidence, care and grace of the Almighty.
The Lord is always with you!
See also a video about the sacrament of baptism:

Twins are baptized on different days, but the same people are allowed to be their godparents.

Appearance

During the ceremony, parents and godparents must be with a pectoral cross. They also have a certain appearance.

Women should be covered with a head covering, a skirt below the knee and a blouse that has sleeves and fastens under the throat. Men should be in the temple without a headdress and in clothes that cover their shoulders and legs. Thus, even in very strong heat it is impossible to appear in the temple in a T-shirt and short pants.

What should godparents buy

A cross should be bought by a godmother or godmother. They, according to the rules, make a donation for the ceremony. When buying a cross, you should pay attention to the fact that it is completely safe for the baby and cannot injure him. The golden cross is not used during the ceremony. The pectoral cross is needed from metal or silver.

The godparents also purchase a baptismal shirt, towels and kryzhma (a sheet in which they are baptized). What is needed for the baptism of a child is given by future godparents, and this is a rule that has been established for a long time.

If there are any doubts that all the things necessary for the ceremony are available, it is necessary to clarify the list in the church in advance. It is worth considering that for the baptism of a child-girl, you need to buy a scarf or a lace cap.

Preparation for the ceremony

Preparation for the baptism of a child is required from persons who are chosen as godparents. A few days before the sacrament, they must observe a strict fast, during which a complete renunciation of any entertainment and sexual contact is also required. Also, before the ceremony, they take communion after confessing.

It will be good if the parents confess and purify themselves before the sacrament. When it is best to do this is determined with the priest.

It is necessary to learn the godfather and the prayer read at the baptism of the child - "The Symbol of Faith." It is read 3 times during the sacrament. The godfather may also be required to read it over the baby by heart.

The nuances of the ceremony

Baptism takes place in most cases in the temple or in a specially designated room for this on the territory of the church. However, if necessary, arrangements can be made for the ordinance to be performed at home or in a hospital. In this case, parents will need to pay all expenses for the organization.

There are certain features during the ceremony that require mandatory observance:

it is allowed to baptize a child on any day;
the godfather must bring the child into the temple, and the parents enter after him;
if the baby is a girl, then her head should be covered with a scarf or an openwork cap;
during the ceremony, only relatives should be in the church - everyone else who wants to be called to christening comes home to celebrate this event and be sure to give gifts, which can be toys or things. What is given for the baptism of a child depends largely on the financial situation of the family;
during the sacrament, the mother must pray for her child.
if there are two godparents, then before the boy is immersed in the font, the woman holds him, and after that - the man. The girl, both before and after, is held only by a woman;
the godfather wears the boys at the altar during baptism, but the girls are not.

If necessary, additional prayers may be included in the rite of baptism. This is required if linings have taken place, or the child is seriously ill. The priest must be informed about this in advance, and then, if necessary, he will expand the service at baptism. Because of this, it is impossible to say exactly how long the baptism of a child in the church takes. On average, the ceremony takes from 1 hour to an hour and a half.

Participle

A baptized person is admitted to communion immediately. Further, the date of the first communion depends only on when his parents bring him. More often, for the first time, parents take the child to communion when he can already understand what is happening, and this is 4-5 years old. At the same time, there is no prohibition on the fact that an infant who was baptized even the day before took part in the sacrament of communion. Communion after the baptism of a child can be held from the next day.

If the child is under 3 years old, then it is necessary to feed him before communion for the last time in 2 hours. Children older than 3 years on the day of communion must refuse food before it.

During communion, a pectoral cross must be worn. Without a cross, one should not take part in the sacrament of communion.

Compulsory gifts at baptism

There are a number of gifts that a child must receive at baptism. This is an established tradition, the violation of which should not be. What a grandmother needs to know about gifts for a child's christening is a serious topic. It is the grandmother who gives obligatory gifts. It has traditionally developed that gifts related directly to the rite and further to faith are given by godparents and grandmothers.

There are several obligatory gifts for christening:

Bible.
Icon - this may be the face of the patron saint of the baby, Nicholas the Wonderworker or the Virgin.
Ladanka.

It is also an ingrained tradition to give a child a silver spoon for baptism by a grandmother or grandfather for the first feeding. This is not just a beautiful item, but useful for a child, since silver ions have an antibacterial effect.

The baptism of a child is not just a traditional beautiful ritual that is supposed to be carried out, but the introduction of a small person to spiritual life. It is important to approach the ceremony competently and with an understanding of what is happening. In the future, the child must, through the efforts of parents and godparents, realize the importance of spiritual life and follow the rules of the Church.

Useful video in case of disagreement to baptize or not a baby

Almost immediately after the birth of a child, many parents think about his Baptism in the church.

But if in ancient times every Orthodox family knew about the rules and traditions of this ritual, now mom and dad face numerous questions: what is needed for the Baptism of a child, why this sacrament is performed, when can a baby be baptized, who should be taken as godparents?

The excitement of adults is not surprising, because this is the first big holiday in the life of a tiny man.

According to the Orthodox tradition, Baptism is a great sacrament that comes from God. It is the Almighty who gives His gift to people not for their moral qualities, but simply because He loves His children.

This ceremony is designed to give the little man the grace of the Holy Spirit, which no one sees or touches, but it is real.

The baptism of a child always takes place with the participation of water. Immersion in the font is a kind of symbol of renunciation of the former life, cleansing from sins (including the original), and the exit from the water symbolizes a new life, pure from everything.

In all Christian directions, this ceremony takes place in a special way. For example, in the Catholic Church, a baby must be doused with water, while in Orthodoxy, children (and adults) are usually immersed in a font three times.

How about in other traditions? Protestants simply sprinkle the baby, while Adventists and Baptists baptize in natural reservoirs.

Church rules do not specify a specific time and age when it is necessary to baptize a child, but recommendations still exist - early childhood. Orthodox parents usually seek to perform this ceremony if the age of the newborn is from 8 to 40 days.

The fortieth day after the birth of a baby is a significant date from the point of view of the church. It was on this day that even in the pre-Christian period, the child was brought to the temple.

with the physiological characteristics of the postpartum period;
workload, since the mother throws all her attention and strength on the baby and her health.

Some parents postpone the christening of a child until he is one year old, and even until his conscious age, when he himself decides at what age to be baptized and whether he needs this rite at all.

Of course, the last word about Baptism belongs only to parents, but the priests warn that all this time the soul of the child is in danger, being exposed to the harmful influence of the sinful world.

Despite the absence of any specific restrictions affecting the time and place of the celebration, the sacrament in individual temples takes place on specific days and hours. This is usually associated with heavy workloads and the busyness of the holy father.

Before setting the date of Epiphany, you should contact the parish to clarify whether there is any schedule and agree with the priest on the time of the event. This must be done if you want to conduct the ceremony calmly and without nerves and not disturb the baby in vain.

After solving organizational issues, you just have to come to the approved time. Many parents are interested in what is needed for baptism. Of course, you can’t come empty-handed, you must take with you:

a pectoral cross for a child (for a girl, the godmother must acquire it, and for a newborn male, respectively, the father);
baptismal shirt;
a napkin so that after the sacrament is over, you can wipe the baby's face;
the image of that saint, which can become a protective amulet for the child (usually the choice depends on the name of the baby);
two towels (one larger for the baby, the second smaller - as a donation to the church).

Many parents are interested in knowing whether it is worth taking a child's birth certificate with them. We hasten to reassure you: no documents are needed to conduct the rite of Baptism.

But the pectoral cross, bought not in a church shop, you must consecrate before the ritual.

Godmother and father (the so-called godparents) should be with you. They need to be trained for the ordinance in place of the baby if the baby is under 12-14 years old. The recipients undergo a course of special conversations at the church and confession with a priest.

However, godparents are waiting not only for special conversations, for several days before Baptism they must refrain from carnal pleasures, learn a special prayer and fast. In addition, in the same parish where the baby will be baptized, they should take the sacrament.

Future spiritual parents are usually chosen among relatives (aunt, sisters/brothers, grandparents) or closest friends. The most important condition is that both chosen ones must be baptized and believers. If your relatives want to become godparents for the baby, but the sacrament has not passed, they should be baptized before the ritual.

In some situations, real parents can become spiritual, however, as a rule, these cases still become exceptional. Before making a final decision, it is better to consult with the priest.

Future spiritual parents should know and be aware of what they are doing, why they are doing it, and what needs to be done. Speaking in church language, the godmothers, mom and dad, vouch for the baby before the Almighty. After the ceremony and for life, they become mentors to the spirit child.

Agree that such duties can be performed only if the person himself is not indifferent to faith, constantly improves himself, studies the basics of Orthodoxy, understands the essence of the ceremony and the meaning of prayer words and vows.

Godparents mom and dad should raise the godson as true Christians. In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to believe that spiritual parents will have to answer very severely at God's Judgment for poor-quality performance of their duties!

Features of the rite of Baptism of a child

The process of Baptism is immersion in water. That is why dipping the baby three times in the font is the main action of this sacred ceremony. The number "three" tells us about the three days that Jesus spent in the tomb, and after them there was a miraculous resurrection.

What is child baptism? Parents need to know what priests do, how long the process itself takes, what they can and cannot do. This sacrament includes several important steps that are performed by the priest in a certain sequence developed over the centuries:

The rank of announcement. Before starting the ceremony, the priest reads to those present special prayers-prohibitions against the devil. After that, the clergyman blows on the newborn 3 times and pronounces the words of the expulsion of Satan. Then the priest should bless the child three times and read a prayer, placing his hand on the child's head.

Three prayers of "prohibition" (spells against unclean spirits). Now the priest is doing the following - he is driving Satan away with the help of God's name. That is, he prays to the Almighty to drive away demons and strengthen those present in faith.

Renunciation. Future spiritual parents should renounce sins, obscene habits, a sinful lifestyle and excessive pride. Thus, godparents recognize that unbaptized people are vulnerable to various vicious thoughts and desires, as well as sinful passions.

Reading the Creed. Since it is worth considering the very young age of the baby, the godmother or father reads the confession of fidelity to the Son of God. Thus, the child enters the army of Christ.

Baptism of a child. After all these important rituals, the time comes for the ceremony itself, for which the relatives and relatives of the baby gathered. The priest must do the following:

bless the water . The father walks around the font and reads prayers for the water;
consecrate oil. The clergyman pronounces special words with which the church oil is consecrated, and the font water is anointed with it. Then you need to anoint the face of the newborn, chest, arms and legs.
plunge into the pool. Since the child is immersed 3 times, the rite itself looks quite unusual. The father pronounces certain words, after which he dips the baby into the water (and so on three times). After that, a prepared cross is put on the already baptized baby, wiped with a towel and dressed in a baptismal shirt.

Chrismation. This sacrament is the anointing of special parts of the child's body with the world. The priest touches the eyes, forehead, lips and nostrils, limbs and chest of the newly minted follower of Orthodoxy. Do not think that this is just a beautiful rite. In each of the movements of the clergyman, a certain meaning and sign is hidden.

Procession around the font. After the chrismation, the reading of the Holy Scripture begins, during which the priest walks around the font with water and talks about the importance of joining another follower to the Church. The godparents at this solemn moment stand still, holding lighted candles in their hands.

Completion. After reading the Gospel, the clergyman conducts the final rite, during which:

the world is washed away, because the seal of the Spirit has already entered the child's heart;
hair is cut as a kind of sacrifice, since the child does not yet have other gifts that he could donate to God.

Everything, the great sacrament is over, now the baby must be brought up by both parents and godfathers in love for the Lord and in accordance with Orthodox traditions.

Are boy's christenings different? There are still certain differences in the baptism of a boy and a girl.

So, girls cannot be brought to the altar, unlike male children. Well, for a boy, only a godfather will be enough, and a godmother will be enough for a girl.

How much to pay for the ritual?

Many parents are interested in how much it costs to baptize a child, is it necessary to pay for the sacrament? Official sources claim that no payment in the church for the sacrament and the requirements should be taken.

However, we all understand that we still have to pay, since the temple itself pays for utilities, the priest, and the workers in the church. How much to pay? In general, price tags in temples are approximate amounts for donations.

If you cannot give money for the sacrament, the child must be baptized for free!

Parents who decide to baptize a baby face many questions: what is needed for baptism, how much to pay for the service, who can and cannot be invited as godparents, how long the ceremony takes, and many, many others.

Yes, there are a lot of things to do, so if you are also tormented by such questions, seek help from a church located nearby. The priest will surely dispel all your fears.

Hello, I'm Nadezhda Plotnikova. Having successfully studied at SUSU as a special psychologist, she devoted several years to working with children with developmental problems and advising parents on the upbringing of children. I apply the experience gained, among other things, in the creation of psychological articles. Of course, in no case do I pretend to be the ultimate truth, but I hope that my articles will help dear readers deal with any difficulties.

The word 'baptism' comes from the Greek word 'baptisma' which means 'dipping into water'. This is the first sacrament that must be passed in order to be accepted into the Christian Church.

It is through baptism that God meets people who come to him. Baptism is accepted for the purpose of living with faith in God in the heart.

The rite of baptism of a child - the moment of acceptance into the Christian faith

The Rite of Baptism in Christianity

This ritual has a deep history. For the baptism of a child, the rules for parents developed over the years, and were passed down from generation to generation. Even today, rituals with water are quite common in many religions, as water represents the source of life. According to belief, water washes away all sins from a person and returns to a new and pure life.

The rite of baptism itself has some differences in different churches. The Catholic Church conducts the rite of baptism by pouring water on the child, in the Orthodox Church he is immersed in water three times, and the Protestants simply sprinkle the baby with water.

Baptized baby gets his guardian angel

Regardless of which church a child is admitted to, the baptism of a child provides certain rules for parents. They need to think carefully and prepare before they perform the ordinance of baptizing a child.

What age will be most favorable for the sacrament of baptism?

The decision at what age to baptize their baby is made by each family individually. However, do not delay with the conduct of this ceremony. The sooner a child is baptized, the sooner God's grace will come upon him.

This important sacrament is of great importance for the soul of the child. There is a belief that the soul of a child is sinless until it has set foot on the ground. Therefore, parents try to baptize their child before the age of one. Most often this occurs on the fortieth day after childbirth. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the postpartum period.

The optimal age of a child for christening is from a month to six months

A woman is not allowed to participate in the sacraments for forty days after the birth of the baby.

This is quite logical, because in the first weeks the mother of the child should pay all her attention only to the baby. After this period of time, a special prayer is read over the woman. The priest does this either before or after the rite of baptism.

If the child is in the hospital, then the rite of baptism can be performed there. In this case, priests are invited or the mother conducts the ceremony herself.

Baptism in the hospital allows deviations from the rules

Advice to parents: it is much better to baptize a child at a very young age. Then the child will behave calmly, will not be frightened when someone else takes him in his arms and will more easily endure dipping with his head, since babies have intrauterine reflexes that help to hold their breath.

How to decide on the choice of godparents?

The next important issue that parents should seriously think about is who to take as godfathers. It is the godparents who are responsible for instilling in the child the spirituality and moral and ethical qualities of a Christian.

There are some prohibitions regarding who can be godfathers.

According to Church law, people who do not believe in God, are non-believers, unbaptized, members of sects, fortune-telling women, people with alcohol and drug addiction, mentally ill people, minors, monks, married couples and biological parents of a child cannot be godparents.

A pregnant woman can become a godmother

A pregnant woman can be taken as godfather. The church treats expectant mothers with great respect.

Godparents, as spiritual guides, have certain responsibilities.

They must:

set a good example for your child
regularly go to church and pray for the godson or goddaughter;
teach to believe in Jesus Christ;
bring up with faith in God in the heart.

Only the godparents hold the baby at the christening

At the christening, before going to church, the child must be bathed and dressed in clean and smart clothes.

Before the baptism process, the godfather buys a pectoral cross, and the godmother acquires a baptismal shirt and kryzhma, which symbolize that the baby comes out of the font without sin.

The pectoral cross is bought by the godfather

It is not necessary to have two godparents. But it should be borne in mind that the godmother holds the girl, and the godfather holds the boy. Biological parents are not forbidden to be in the temple during the ceremony, but they do not hold the child at the cross. This is what godparents do.

Kryzhma with a hood - for the little ones

It is the duty of the godparents to take an active part in the life of the child. He must feel their care, love, and understand how important these people are to him. Even if the godparents live far away, the children should talk to the godparents on the phone as often as possible and write letters.

It would be nice to prepare invitations for christening

The presence of godparents during the first communion is also desirable.

Features of the choice of baptismal attire

The baptismal shirt is the most important element in the sacrament of baptism. It must be bought by the godmother of the child.

Now there is a large selection of different options for baptismal dresses. When buying, you should consider some of the nuances.

Baptismal outfit for a boy made of cotton fabric

Advice to parents: Pay attention to the material of the baptismal garment. The fabric should be natural, delicate, soft and pleasant to the touch.

The best choice would be clothes made from natural silk, satin, linen, cotton. If the baby is comfortable, he will not cry and act up in church.

Christening outfit for cold weather

The baptismal shirt should be spacious.
Buttons on clothes should be firmly sewn on.
As for the color of clothing, white is most often preferred, which symbolizes youth and purity.
Of the accessories, you should limit yourself to a bib and a headdress. In winter, a lined coat, a warm coat and a sweater will come in handy.

What is the role of kryzhma in the rite of baptism?

The main attribute of christening is kryzhma. The godmother should buy it. In the process of baptism, it is in the kryzhma that the baby is taken from the font. It can be in the form of a linen, a towel, a new white diaper. She represents innocence and purity. The duty of the godmother is to buy a krizhma and bring it to the temple. During the ceremony, the child must always be in the roof.

If the child's age is up to three months, then the optimal dimensions are 0.75 m by 0.75 m. If the baby who will be baptized is older, then it is better to purchase a roof of 1 m by 1 m. Kryzhmy with a hood are convenient for very tiny babies.

During the baptism, the child is kept in a roof

The best kryzhma are those made of linen, cotton or terry. It should absorb moisture well.

Advice to parents: Remember that kryzhma is a powerful amulet for a child for life. If the child is very ill, then they cover him or wrap him in a kryzhma. Recovery comes immediately.

What to give for the christening of a child?

Before you go to the christening and buy a gift, you should consult with the child's parents. Most often, christening gifts are not practical.

The gospel is a desirable christening gift from the godfather

The godmother gives a christening shirt and kryzhma, and the godfather buys a pectoral cross and a silver spoon.

Silver spoon, cup and saucer - a traditional gift

Traditionally, gifts in the form of toys and books are given at the christening of a child.

Packing for a cross and a small gift

From clothes for a girl, you can buy a dress or a sundress, a hat with a scarf. For a boy - a sweater or overalls.

christening gift options

A stroller, crib, changing table, high chair, walker, children's furniture, swing, bicycle, car or doll can also be a good gift. Such gifts will be very useful and will help create comfort for the baby.

Very useful gifts will be a blanket, pillow, towel.

Educational toys are a great christening gift

If funds allow, you can buy items made of silver or gold.

A good gift would be a measured icon or a children's Bible.

Gift - icon-amulet

Also, a photo album from a child will be an original gift.

You can simply donate money, after putting it in an original envelope with religious motives.