What godparents should know. What should a godmother know about a boy's christening? What should godfathers do during the sacrament of baptism

For all Orthodox people, baptism is a very important event in life, because it is the second birth of a person (spiritual, and the first was physical when the child was born), the purification of his soul for later life, a kind of pass into the Kingdom of God. The newly enlightened person is forgiven for all his former sins. For this reason, the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for every person who is looking for the meaning of life and salvation.

God-parents

Who are godparents?

Baptism is a very important sacrament. This is the spiritual birth of a person and the cleansing of his soul from all existing sins. The Church recommends that a child be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day after birth. On the eighth day of his life, Jesus himself was consecrated to his Heavenly Father. On the fortieth day, since it is during this period that a woman’s body after childbirth becomes physiologically clean and she is allowed to go to the temple, because for a small child the presence of a mother is necessary.

Naturally, children, being at this age, cannot realize the whole essence of faith, one should not expect repentance and faith from them, and these two conditions are the main ones for uniting with the Lord God. For this, the child is assigned godparents, who are later responsible for raising their godson (goddaughter) in the Orthodox spirit. It is necessary to choose godparents very responsibly, because it is these people who will be the second mother and second father for the baby.

How to choose godparents?

You need to choose godparents for your child among people close to you or good friends with whom you regularly maintain relationships. These should be people you absolutely trust. Church tradition says that if something happens to the biological parents of the child, the godparents take on this role.

Godparents can only be Orthodox believers who can give an account of their faith. For a child, one godparent is usually enough, for a girl only a godmother is needed, and for a boy - a godfather. But traditionally both are invited to godfathers. You can choose two, three, four, seven godparents, as you please.

Church standards state that godparents cannot be:

• Leah's spouses are the bride and groom, since marital relations between people who are in spiritual relationship are prohibited.
• Parents of your child;
• Minors, because they do not have a clear core of faith.
• Nuns and monks;
• unbaptized people;
• Non-believers (also non-believers);
• People who participate in various cult sects, organizations;
• Immoral people, because their way of life does not deserve to be godparents.
• Crazy people, because they are not able to vouch for the faith of the baby, and in the future they will not be able to teach him faith.

What happens during baptism?

Most often, baptism takes place in the church, although it is permissible to conduct outside it. Typically, the duration of the sacrament lasts from thirty minutes to one hour.

The main participants in the sacrament of Baptism are the child, the godparents and the priest. In ancient times, parents could not participate in the sacrament, but in recent years the church has begun to be much more loyal to this. And at the sacrament of baptism, both the mother and the father of the child are allowed to be present (after reading a special prayer).

During the whole process, the recipients stand next to the priest, one of them has the person being baptized in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, the priest walks around the baptismal room in white robes and reads prayers three times. Then he turns to the godparents and the godson with a request to turn their faces to the west, this symbolizes the abode of Satan. The person being baptized is asked some questions. But since he is still very small and cannot speak, Io's godparents are responsible for him (if the child is an adult and can speak, then he answers on his own). Questions and answers are repeated three times. Then the godparents need to read the Creed. The Creed summarizes the foundations of the Christian faith.

The priest consecrates oil (oil) and water, and the child is anointed with oil as a sign that he has become a full member of the Christian church. The person being baptized is given a name and dipped three times in holy water. The godparents take the baby from the font into the christening diaper (kryzhma). If the baby is baptized in the cold season and for some reason it is impossible to completely undress him (for example, the air temperature in the baptismal room is very cold), then the child’s arms and legs should be prepared in advance, they should be naked. If the room is warm, then the child is dipped naked. After immersion in water, the priest conducts chrismation. He dips the brush in a bowl of myrrh, the child is anointed with eyes, forehead, ears, nostrils, chest, legs and arms. At each anointing, these words are spoken: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". Together with the father, the godparents repeat "Amen".

When the process of chrismation ends, the Gospel and the Apostle are read, and together with these prayers, a small tuft of hair is cut off from the child. As a sign that the baby has become a Christian, a cross is put on his neck. A strand of cut hair remains in the church as a sign of dedication, and symbolizes sacrifice to God. When the rite of baptism ends, the godparents take the baby from the hands of the priest. For this reason, godparents are often called godparents. After they take the child in their arms after the completion of the ceremony, they undertake to raise the baby in the Orthodox spirit for the rest of their lives. The godparents are also responsible for the spiritual upbringing of their godson at the Last Judgment. If it is not possible to see your godson every day, then you should mention them in your prayers.

Responsibilities of Godparents

Alas, not all godparents understand the full meaning of their new "position". It is very good, of course, to taste your godson and give him gifts for his birthday, Angel Day and other holidays. But this is not the primary responsibility of godparents. They must take very great care of their godson, and this care includes many things.

We need to pray every day for the godson. You need to accustom yourself to turn to God once a day, namely before going to bed. It's not difficult at all. You can ask God for help in raising your children, salvation, health, well-being of relatives, godchildren. It is very important that the child, at least from time to time, visits the temple with godparents, they should take him to communion on a church holiday. All godparents give gifts to children, but it would be better if they have a Christian meaning. An excellent gift would be a children's Bible, all the main events of the Holy History are described in it.

Also, godparents can help young mothers who do not always find time to work with a child.

What godparents should look like

At the rite of baptism, the recipients must have consecrated pectoral crosses. Traditionally, in church, a woman should have a headscarf or scarf covered with a head scarf, and a skirt or dress should be below the knee and with closed shoulders. The only exceptions are little girls.

Since baptism takes a long time, it is not recommended to wear high-heeled shoes, because most of the time you will need to stand with the baby in your arms. A godmother should not have lipstick on her lips. As for men, there are no specific requirements for their appearance (naturally, it is better to refrain from wearing shorts, because such clothes will not look appropriate in the temple). In church, you need to dress modestly so as not to attract attention to yourself, you need to focus on the ceremony itself.

Preparation for the ceremony

Today, almost everyone baptizes children in churches. Naturally, there are exceptions, for example, if the baby is very sick, then in this case the sacrament can be performed in the hospital or at home. Then you need to provide a separate clean room for the ceremony.

For the baptism of a child, the first thing to do is to choose a temple. Walk around different churches, ask what are the features of the ceremony in each of them. It is also worth considering that baptism is not always carried out directly in the temple. Many churches have a baptistery (baptismal). The baptismal is a separate room, which is located on the territory of the temple, adapted specifically for the rite of baptism. If the temple is large, then the ceremony is usually held solemnly and magnificently. And someone may like the calm secluded atmosphere of a small church. Talk to the novices or the priest, they will be able to tell you about all the details of the baptismal ceremony.

How to choose the day of baptism?

There is no establishment of a baptismal church on the fortieth day after the birth of a child. This is due to the fact that until the fortieth day a woman who has given birth to a child cannot enter the temple, since at that time she has postpartum discharge and infirmities. Before entering the temple, special prayers are read over the woman. But, if you want to baptize a child before forty days or later, then no one can forbid you to do this. Children, at the request of their parents, are often baptized before the fortieth day, especially if something threatens the child's health. In this case, baptism is performed as a protective rite against all evil spirits.

In ancient times, the feast of baptism was equated in importance with the greatest holidays of Christians, for example, Easter. But today, baptism is a family holiday. And now the ceremony is allowed to be carried out on almost any day, except for such great church holidays as the Trinity, Christmas, Easter. Often on such days the churches are overcrowded, so it is recommended to postpone the day of baptism to another date. You can visit most churches without an appointment. The sacrament of baptism usually begins at 10 am, since the service ends at this time. But in this case, there is a high chance that your child will be baptized with someone else, or you will have to wait a bit. It is much more convenient to agree in advance with the priest who will conduct the ceremony on a specific day and time. In this case, your baby will be baptized in splendid isolation and the first. It is very important that the day of baptism did not coincide with the critical day of the godmother, since otherwise she would not be able to attend the church.

Preparing Godparents for the Sacrament

In order for all the rules to be observed, it is necessary to prepare for the ceremony in advance. Godparents must taste the church on the eve of baptism, confess, repent of all sins, and take communion. It is very good if the godparents fast before the day of the ceremony, but this is not a mandatory requirement. On the day of the ceremony, godparents are forbidden to have sex and eat food. At least one of the godfathers should know by heart the “Symbol of Faith”. According to the rules, the godmother reads the "Symbol of Faith" at the baptism of a girl, and the godfather - at the baptism of a boy.

There is such an unspoken rule that all expenses associated with baptism are borne by the godparents. Some churches do not have specific prices, in which case, after the completion of the baptism, the invited and godparents make voluntary donations. The amount of these costs is not discussed anywhere and they are not mandatory. But, as a rule, the custom is observed.

According to church traditions, the godmother of the child buys a “rizka” or kryzhma for baptism. It can be a regular towel or a special cloth that the baby is wrapped in when they are taken out of the font. Also, the godmother gives the baby a baptismal shirt and a bonnet with ribbons and lace, for girls - with pink, and for a boy - with blue. The baptismal shirt is preserved throughout a person's life. After the baptism of the baby, the kryzhma is not washed, as droplets of the oil of the World may remain on it. In the process of the sacrament, the kryzhma is endowed with some miraculous abilities. In the event that the child is sick, they cover him with a blanket or use it as a pillowcase for a pillow for the baby.

The godfather gives the child a baptismal cross and a chain. Many people think that it is best to choose a silver cross, some believe that a gold cross is best, and someone has an opinion that it is best for small children to buy a cross on a string or on a ribbon, and not on a chain. This is individual.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian should know the basic prayers: "Symbol of Faith", "Our Father", "Virgin Mother of God". In the process of baptism, the godparents say the “Symbol of Faith” prayer for the child. Each of these prayers is in a short prayer book, it can, if desired, be purchased at the church shop.

What do you need to take with you to church for the baptism of the baby?

Baptism symbolizes the birth of a person into a sinless new life. Godparents, accepting a child from the holy font, accept a completely pure being, which does not have a single sin. Such purity is symbolized by clothes - kryzhma, it, together with a cross, is an essential attribute. Kryzhma is usually bought by the godmother of the child, and the cross is bought by the godfather.

For a small child, a white lace diaper, a baptismal shirt, or a new towel that has not yet been washed can serve as a cover.

Baptism of a baby is an exciting event!

How to prepare for it so as not to miss anything,

not to break the tradition, so that everything is in order?!

WHAT SHOULD A GODMASS KNOW? This role can be performed by an Orthodox Christian who has received Holy Baptism and follows God's Commandments in her life. The godmother must prepare for the ritual in advance. Her duties are not only to know the prayers at baptism, but also to treat the ongoing ceremony with all awareness. Most often, Russian Orthodox Temples suggest the use of the following prayers for the baptism of a child: “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”; "King of Heaven"; "Our Father". It is also important to be able to read the Creed. These prayers need to be known not only to the godmother, but to every Orthodox Christian. They express the whole essence of faith, help to turn to God, cleanse oneself of sin and gain strength to overcome obstacles on the path of life. The godmother must be aware that in the modern world it is not easy to raise a believing person in a child. However, sincere love and affection for the baby will help to instill the best qualities and traits. It is necessary to rely not only on one's own strength, but also to ask the Lord for help in this difficult work.

WHAT SHOULD A GODMASS BUY? Based on her own abilities, the godmother is obliged to help her parents prepare for the ritual and celebration. She must buy a cross and a chain for her godson, an icon of the patron saint, a kryzhma. This issue is quite individual and is decided jointly with the father and mother of the child. In addition, she needs to pass a special interview with the priest before the christening.

WHAT SHOULD THE GODDOMEN DO? Of course, the main duty during baptism is to fervently pray that the godson will be able to receive holy grace. It is necessary to turn to God in a request to give her and her blood parents strength and wisdom to raise a child according to church commandments. During the process of the girl's baptism, the godmother takes her in her arms after immersing herself in the font. When a boy is baptized, then, on the contrary, before immersion. It is very important to establish a connection with the baby before the ritual, so that he feels calm and safe. You may need to change the child or shake. Baptisms take place in several stages. First, the parents, the priest and the godmother read prayers, and an immersion in the font is carried out. Then the chrismation with the oil of peace is carried out. The priest smears the baby’s forehead, eyes, ears, chest crosswise and says: “The seal of the Holy Spirit. Amen". At the next stage, there is a cross-cutting of hair on each side of the child's head. This symbolizes obedience to the Lord and is presented as a kind of sacrifice. Dressing for christening should be modest and neat. You can not come in trousers, and the skirt must be below the knees. A scarf is an invariable attribute for going to church under any circumstances.

CELEBRATE EVENT After the church ceremony, the family and guests go to the orphanage. The festive table is traditional, on which there must be sweet pies. In ancient times, sweet porridge with butter and milk was cooked especially for such a holiday. This dish can be replaced with a more modern one, for example, a cereal-based casserole with the addition of berries or fruits. But for dad they cooked a special porridge - very salty, spicy and scalding. He had to eat a dish that symbolized the difficulties of childbirth in a woman. Thus, her father partly shared her hardships. It is good if children of different ages are invited to visit. This was also a tradition in ancient times. For them, a lot of different sweet treats need to be served on the table.

Being a godmother is a great honor, but also a great responsibility, because she has to become the spiritual mentor of her godson or goddaughter. If close people have given you such an honor, it means that they express special trust in you and hope that you will fulfill this role with dignity.

However, keep in mind that in addition to fulfilling the duties of a godmother during baptism, you will later have to instruct your godson in matters of the Christian faith, take him to communion, and set an example for him.

As for the preparation for baptism, this stage takes several days for the godmother. What does the godmother do during christening? What does she need to know about the rite of this sacrament? We will answer these and some other questions.

According to the church charter, the child's mother, a nun, an unbelieving and unbaptized woman cannot be a godmother. Not only the mother’s friend can act as a godmother, but also one of the relatives, for example, the baby’s grandmother or aunt. However, the adoptive mother cannot perform the duties of a godmother either during or after baptism.

How can a godmother prepare for a baptismal ceremony?

Preparation for baptism for the godmother begins a few days before this ceremony. She, like the godfather, needs to fast for three days, and then confess and take communion.

It is also imperative to talk with the priest, who will tell you in detail what the godmother needs to know about this sacrament and what she has to do during the rite of baptism.

As a rule, the duties of a godmother in preparation for baptism include knowing by heart some of the prayers that will need to be read during this ceremony: “Symbol of faith”, “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, “King of Heaven”, etc.

They express the essence of faith, help to be cleansed of sin and gain strength to overcome obstacles on the path of life. Although in some parishes the knowledge of these prayers is not required: during the ceremony, the godparents will only need to repeat some phrases after the priest.

The preparation of the godmother for the rite of baptism does not end there. She will need to purchase the things necessary for this ceremony, to know what actions will have to be performed during the ceremony. However, let's talk about everything in order.

What else does a godmother need to know about the rules for baptizing a child? Dress modestly for christening. You can not come to the temple in trousers, and the skirt must be below the knees. The head of women in an Orthodox church is necessarily covered with a scarf.

What should the godmother do during baptism? The rite consists of the rite of announcement (reading special prayers over the child), his renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, as well as the confession of the Orthodox faith. The corresponding words for the baby on his behalf are pronounced by the godparents, refusing the unclean spirit and promising to remain faithful to the Lord.

If a girl is baptized, then the godmother should hold her in her arms during the baptism ceremony, if the rite is a boy, then the godfather. Although this can be done by one of the godparents who is better acquainted with the baby and next to whom the child feels more comfortable.

However, in any case, the godmother should be well acquainted with the child in order to maintain emotional contact with the baby and be able to calm him down if he bursts into tears.

After that, as the child is baptized, immersed in water three times in the font and while reading prayers, the godmother must take him in her arms. To do this, you need a kryzhma - a white towel. According to the signs, drops from the face of the baby should not be wiped off so that his life is happy.

Then a cross is put on the child (if it is not purchased in the church, it will need to be consecrated in advance) and a baptismal outfit - a shirt to toe for a boy and a dress for a girl. Also, the baby will need a cap or scarf.

Even during the preparation for baptism, the godmother is obliged to choose these things for the child. In the old days, women sewed them themselves, but today you can buy a baptismal outfit and kryzhma in a store or a church shop.

These things after the christening are not washed and are not used for their intended purpose. They are recommended to be kept throughout a person's life, as they serve as amulets, helping him to avoid various troubles and diseases.

What else needs to be done by a godmother when a child is baptized? After the initiation into the font, the godparents and the priest walk around with the baby three times as a sign of spiritual joy from the union of a new member of Christ's church with the Savior for eternal life.

After the ceremony of chrismation, when parts of the child's body are smeared with chrism and prayers are read, the priest washes the chrism with a special sponge moistened with holy water.

Then the priest slightly trims the child's hair from four sides, which are folded onto a wax cake and lowered into the font, which symbolizes obedience to God and sacrifice in gratitude for the beginning of spiritual life.

(The godmother will need a small bag to store the baby's cut hair, which can also be stored with the towel and shirt.)

After that, the priest reads prayers for the child and his godparents, followed by churching. The father carries the baby around the temple. If it is a boy, then he is brought to the altar. At the end of the ceremony, the child is applied to one of the icons of the Savior and to the icon of the Mother of God, and then given to the parents.

In addition to the things necessary for the ceremony, the godmother can give the baby an icon with the image of his patron saint, a "measured icon", a children's Bible, a prayer book or items that do not have a church focus (clothes, shoes, toys, etc.), and also to assist his parents in organizing a festive feast on the occasion of christening.

We have already told what the godmother has to know and do during the rite of baptism of the child. But your mission does not end there. As already mentioned, you will need to take part in the life of the godson and beyond.

You will attend church with your child if the parents are unable to do so due to illness or absence. You will need to contribute to the spiritual growth of the godson, give him advice in difficult life situations. In a word, take care of him along with his parents, because now you are responsible for the new member of the Christian church before God.

Baptism is the first and most significant event in a child's life. According to church rites, the sacrament should take place on the 8th and 40th day from the birth of the baby, but in principle, parents can independently choose the time for the ceremony. The choice of godparents is of great importance, since a serious responsibility will lie on their shoulders. It is important to figure out what kind of prayer is read at baptism, since the godparents are direct participants in the ritual. In addition to prayer texts, second parents should have at least a basic understanding of faith and religion.

To begin with, it is worth talking about the duties of the godfather and mother, since they consist not only in attending the ceremony and buying gifts, but also in providing assistance throughout the life of the child. It is believed that godparents will be responsible for the sins of their godchild at the judgment of God, so it is important to raise him as a good person who believes in God. The duties of a godparent are as follows: pray for the godson, regularly go to church with the child and tell him about God. You also need to teach the child to pray and be baptized. It is important to instill good qualities in him so that he lives by the rules.

Prayer for godparents at baptism

Going to church for baptism, you must put on a cross, refuse to use decorative cosmetics, and as for clothing, a woman must certainly wear a skirt below her knees. Before the start of the ritual, the priest will definitely have a conversation with potential godparents.

Prayer texts are important not only to know by heart, but also to understand their meaning. During the sacrament, they are spoken by the priest, so you can simply whisper the words after him. The first and most important prayer, and not only for godparents, but for all believers, is “Our Father”. It contains an appeal to God to help him cope with existing temptations, give food for life and forgive for sins. The text of the prayer of the godmother and father at baptism is as follows:
In Church Slavonic:

Our Father, who art in heaven!
Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth.
Give us our daily bread today;
and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

In Russian:

Our Father who art in heaven!
May your name be hallowed;
Let your kingdom come;
may Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Give us our daily bread for this day;
And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The next strong and obligatory prayer at baptism is the Creed.
It is advisable, in preparation for the sacrament, to learn the Creed by heart, in extreme cases, it is permissible to read from a sheet. This prayer contains, in the form of brief formulations, the whole Orthodox dogma - that is, what Christians believe, what it means, what it is aimed at or for what purpose they believe in it. Both in the ancient Church and in subsequent times, knowledge of the Creed was a necessary condition in order to come to Baptism. This fundamental Christian prayer should be known to the godparents of babies, adults and children of conscious age who are baptized. The creed is divided into 12 parts - 12 short statements. The first member speaks of God the Father, then up to the seventh inclusive - about God the Son, in the eighth - about God the Holy Spirit, in the ninth - about the Church, in the tenth - about Baptism, in the eleventh - about the resurrection of the dead, in the twelfth - about eternal life .

There were several brief creeds in the ancient Church, but when false teachings about God the Son and God the Holy Spirit appeared in the 4th century, it became necessary to supplement and clarify this prayer. The modern Creed was compiled by the fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325 (the first seven members of the Creed) and the fathers of the 2nd Ecumenical Council held in 381 in Constantinople. (the remaining five members) Therefore, the full name of this prayer is the Nicetsaregrad Creed.

The third prayer at the baptism of a child for the godfather and the godmother is “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.” She was included in the list of prayer texts at baptism, since the church exalts the Mother of God above all saints and angels. By the way, this prayer is also called the "Angelic Greeting", since it was composed according to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, with which he greeted the Mother of God, telling her that she had given birth to the Savior.

The text of this prayer is as follows:
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, gracious Mary, the Lord is with you, blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if you gave birth to our souls as the Savior.

Translation:
Mother of God Virgin Mary, full of the grace of God, rejoice! The Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the Fruit born of Thee, because You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

They repeat this prayer several times, but the Mother of God herself bequeathed to believers to pronounce these lines exactly 150 times.

It is also worth figuring out which saints godparents should pray for their godchildren. It is recommended to turn to the saints as often as possible, which will protect the child from various problems and direct him in the right direction. The time for reading prayers does not matter, and they can be said both in the morning and in the evening. It is recommended to turn in prayer texts to the Savior, as well as to the Mother of God.

Additional prayers that godparents need to know

Prayer to the Lord for children and godchildren

God, our merciful and heavenly Father!

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

You and whom we commit to Your care and protection.

Put strong faith in them, teach them to revere You and honor them strongly

love You, our Creator and Savior.

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

for the glory of Your name.

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

and helpful people.
Give them health of mind and body and success in their labors.

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

passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.

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

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

with all the righteous always gave thanks to you with your only begotten Son and

by your life-giving Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for children and godchildren, Father John (Krestyankin)

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart!

You gave me children according to the flesh, they are Yours according to your soul.

You have redeemed both my soul and theirs with Your priceless Blood.

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

by Your grace, touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names),

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

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

Decorate their lives with everything good and saving, arrange their fate as

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

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

give me a right heart to keep your commandments,

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

Prayers for a person who is baptized

A person who wants to be baptized needs to be prepared for the fact that conditions may arise that are not natural for him at ordinary times: passionate habits and sinful thoughts will intensify, indifference to what is happening will appear, causeless anger, arrogance, conceited thoughts will arise and more. All this is evidence of the increased influence of demonic forces on a person. That is why in the rank of announcement there are three prayers of prohibition against evil spirits: “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: the first - it repels (repels) the devil and all his actions with terrible Divine names and sacraments for him, expelling the devil, commands his demons to flee from a person and not make trouble for him. Similarly, the second prohibition casts out demons with the Divine Name. The third prohibition is at the same time a prayer offered to God, imploring to completely expel the evil spirit from the creation of God and confirm it in the faith ”(St. Cyril of Jerusalem. “Catechetical Teaching”).

Renunciation of Satan

After the prayers of prohibition, the priest turns the person being baptized to the west - a symbol of darkness and dark forces. In the rite following this, the baptized must renounce his former sinful habits, renounce pride and self-affirmation, and, as the Apostle Paul says, put aside the old way of life of the old man, decaying in seductive lusts(Eph. 4; 22).

The person being baptized should stand with arms upraised (lifted up), symbolizing his submission to Christ. According to John Chrysostom, this submission "turns slavery into freedom... returns from a foreign land to their homeland, to Heavenly Jerusalem...".

The priest will ask him questions, and he will have to consciously answer them. Therefore, both the godparents (if they are baptizing a baby) and the godson need to know these questions.

The priest asks:

“Do you deny Satan, and all his works, and all his aggels (demons), and all his ministry, and all his pride?”

And the catechumen or his successor answers, and says: "I deny."

Questions and answers are repeated three times. When an infant is baptized, either the godfather or the godmother gives answers for him, depending on who is being baptized: a boy or a girl.

"Have you renounced Satan?"

And the catechumen or recipient answers(godfather) him:

"Forsaken."

Same the priest says:

"Blow and spit on him."

After this, the baptized stands under the protection of Christ, taking, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, shield of faith.. to be able quench all fiery darts of the evil one(Eph. 6; 16).

Confession of allegiance ("combination") to Christ

After the person being baptized has denied Satan, the priest turns him to the east: “When you deny Satan, breaking off absolutely every union with him, and the ancient agreement with hell, then God’s paradise is opened to you, planted in the east, from where our forefather was expelled for a crime . Meaning this, you turned from the west to the east, the land of the world” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem). At this moment, the hands of the person being baptized are lowered, symbolizing his agreement with Christ and obedience to Him.

Then the person being baptized (or the godfather of the baby) confesses his loyalty to Christ three times.

And the verb(He speaks) him a priest:

“Do you combine (are you combined) with Christ?”

And the catechumen or receiver answers, verb:

"I match."

And then - packs the priest tells him:

“Have you been united with Christ?”

And answers:

"Combine."

And paki verb:

“And do you believe Him?”

And verb:

"I believe Him, as the King and God."

Baptism is a fateful event for every child, parents. This is the acquisition of spiritual peace, integrity of the spirit, God's reliable protection of man. In addition, the baby has second parents who are always ready to provide help and assistance. The duties 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 superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in the heart and full responsibility. This may be a relative or girlfriend, not necessarily married, but believing and exemplary. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby, be sure to take communion.

Responsibilities of a godmother

You should not conduct an interview and casting for the role of second parents. You just need to make a conclusion, what is the attitude of the applicants to God, the surrounding people and all living things. If the mother of the crumbs thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the sacrament of the church, and this is where participation in the fate of a new person ends, then she is greatly mistaken. Spiritual upbringing and development of the child - this is what the godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case, we are talking about the following duties of godparents:

How many times can you be godfather

Every Orthodox person can participate in this church ceremony, and an unlimited number of times, if the baby's parents ask for it. A truthful and informed decision is only welcome. Another important question that worries before the sacrament, who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can assume duties, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be kerst:

• unbelievers;
• ministers of the church;
• people of other faiths;
• unbaptized;
• mentally unbalanced people;
• biological parents.

Baptism of a child - rules for the godmother

The future godmother makes or buys a baptismal towel and clothes, and this is a mandatory step in preparing for the upcoming sacrament. In addition, a woman must first take communion and confess; on the day of christening, it is imperative to have a cross on her chest. There are other rules for the baptism of a child in the Orthodox Church, which are important to include in the rite.

Christening girls - rules for the godmother

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

Boy's christening - rules for the godmother

During the christening of the boy, not only the godmother plays an important role, but also the father, who in the future will provide him with spiritual support in everything. The main duties of the godmother during the baptism of a boy are identical, as well as during the church ceremony of a girl. The only difference is this: after immersion in the font, the godfather takes the baby in his arms; 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 the prayer “Symbol of Faith”, “Our Father”, “Our Mother of God, Rejoice”, “King of Heaven” three times aloud, answer honestly several traditional questions about faith. Each prayer for godparents at baptism gives a powerful energy charge, contributes to the child receiving grace.

What do they give a girl for christening

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

• silver or gold cross;
• god's image;
• nominal icon of the Guardian Angel;
• silver spoon.

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

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

• buy a white vest, blanket, towel;
• to present as a gift a Bible, a nominal icon;
• make another memento.

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 will accept why godparents are needed. Here is what the godmother is obliged to do until the last day of her life:

Video: what godparents need to know before baptism