Baptism of an adult, what you need to know. A tribute to fashion or the dictates of the heart
What is Baptism as a Sacrament? How does it happen?
Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual life. In Baptism, a person is cleansed from original sin - the sin of his forefathers, communicated to him through birth. The sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once (just as a person is born only once).
The baptism of an infant is performed according to the faith of the recipients, who have the sacred duty to teach children the true faith and help them become worthy members of the Church of Christ.
The baptismal kit for your baby should be the one that is recommended to you in the church where you will be baptizing him. They can easily tell you what you need. Mainly it is a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.
This sacrament consists of Announcements(reading special prayers over those preparing for baptism - “prohibitions”), renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, that is, union with Him, and confession Orthodox faith. Here the godparents must pronounce the appropriate words for the baby.
Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins Baptism. The most noticeable and important point- immersing the baby three times in the font with the words pronounced: “The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen." At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, prepares to receive his godfather from the font. The one who has received Baptism then puts on a new white clothes, a cross is put on it.
Immediately after this another Sacrament is performed - Confirmation, in which the person being baptized, when the parts of the body are anointed with the consecrated Myrrh, in the name of the Holy Spirit, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life. After this, the priest and godparents with the newly baptized person walk around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Then an excerpt from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the sending of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ to the worldwide preaching of the faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, the priest washes the myrrh from the body of the baptized person with a special sponge dipped in holy water, saying the words: “Thou art justified. You have become enlightened. You are sanctified. You have washed yourself in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. You have become enlightened. You have been anointed with chrism. You have been sanctified in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”
Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized in a cross shape (on four sides) with the words: “The servant of God (name) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” puts the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. tonsure symbolizes submission to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized person brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After making petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism ends.
This is usually immediately followed by churching, denoting the first offering to the temple. The baby, taken by the priest in his arms, is carried through the temple, brought to the Royal Doors and brought into the altar (boys only), after which he is given to his parents. Churching symbolizes the dedication of the baby to God according to the Old Testament model. After baptism, the baby should be given communion.
Why are only boys brought into the altar?
In principle, boys should not be included there either, this is just a tradition.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council determined: Let no one belonging to the ranks of the laity be allowed to enter the sacred altar... (rule 69). The famous canonist Bishop. gives the following comment to this resolution: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from the earliest times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. “The altar is reserved for sacred persons only.”
They say that before baptizing your child, you should confess and receive communion.
Even without regard to the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly begin the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have not done this before, then it would be good to take the first step towards a full church life before the Baptism of your own baby.
This is not a formal requirement, but a natural internal norm - because, introducing a child to church life through the sacrament of Baptism, introducing him into the fence of the Church - why should we ourselves remain outside it? For an adult who has not repented for many years, or has never in his life, and has not begun to accept the Holy Mysteries of Christ, is at this moment a very conditional Christian. Only by motivating himself to life in the sacraments of the Church does he actualize his Christianity.
What is the Orthodox name for a baby?
The right to choose a child's name belongs to his parents. Lists of names of saints - calendars - can help you in choosing a name. In the calendar, names are arranged in calendar order.
No clear answer church tradition choice of names - often parents choose a name for the baby from the list of those saints who are glorified on the very day of the child’s birth, or on the eighth day, when the rite of naming is performed, or during the period of forty days (when the Sacrament of Baptism is usually performed). It is wise to choose a name from a list of names church calendar of those that are fairly close after the child’s birthday. But, however, this is not some kind of obligatory church institution, and if there is some deep desire to name a child in honor of this or that saint, or some kind of vow on the part of the parents, or something else, then this is not an obstacle at all .
When choosing a name, you can familiarize yourself not only with what this or that name means, but also with the life of the saint in whose honor you want to name your baby: what kind of saint he is, where and when he lived, what was his way of life, on what days is his memory celebrated?
Cm. .
Why do some churches close the church during the sacrament of Baptism (without doing this during other sacraments) or ask people who call themselves Orthodox not to enter it?
Because during the Baptism of an adult, it is not very pleasant for the person being baptized or the one being baptized if strangers look at him, who is sufficiently exposed physically, and observe the greatest sacrament, with the curious gaze of those who have no prayerful relationship with it. I think he is also prudent Orthodox man he won’t just go as a spectator to someone else’s Baptism if he wasn’t invited there. And if he lacks tact, then the church ministers act prudently by removing the curious from the church while the sacrament of Baptism is being performed.
What should come first - faith or Baptism? Can you be baptized to believe?
Baptism is a Sacrament, that is special action God, in which, with the response of the desire of the person himself (certainly the person himself), he dies to a sinful and passionate life and is born into a new one - life in Christ Jesus.
On the other hand, deep faith is what a baptized and churched person should strive for throughout his life. All people are sinners, and one must strive to acquire faith in such a way that it is combined with deeds. Faith, among other things, is an effort of will. In the Gospel, one person who met the Savior exclaimed: “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief." () This man already believed in the Lord, but he wanted to believe even more, stronger, more decisively.
It will be easier to strengthen your faith if you live the church life and not look at it from the outside.
Why do we baptize babies? They still can’t choose their own religion and consciously follow Christ?
A person is saved not on his own, not as an individual who unilaterally decides how to be and act in this life, but as a member of the Church, a community in which everyone is responsible for each other. Therefore, an adult can vouch for the baby and say: I will try to make sure that he grows up to be a good Orthodox Christian. And while he cannot answer for himself, his godfather and godmother pledge their faith for him.
Does a person have the right to be baptized at any age?
Baptism is possible for a person of any age on any day of the year.
At what age is it better to baptize a child?
A person can be baptized at any time from his first breath to his very last breath. In ancient times, there was a custom to baptize a child on the eighth day of birth, but this was not a mandatory rule.
It is most convenient to baptize a child during the first months of birth. At this time, the baby still does not distinguish his mother from the “strange aunt” who will hold him in her arms during Baptism, and the “bearded uncle” who will always come up to him and “do something with him” is not scary for him.
Older children already perceive reality quite consciously, they see that they are surrounded by people unfamiliar to them, and that their mother is either not there at all or for some reason she does not come to them, and may experience anxiety about this.
Is it necessary to be baptized again if a person was “baptized by his grandmother at home”?
Baptism is the only Sacrament of the Church that, in case of emergency, can be performed by a layman. During the years of persecution, cases of such baptism were not uncommon - there were few churches and priests.
In addition, in earlier times, midwives sometimes baptized newborn babies if their lives were in danger: for example, if the child received a birth injury. This baptism is usually called "immersion." If a child died after such baptism, he was buried as a Christian; if he survived, he was brought to the temple and the priest supplemented the baptism performed by the layman with the necessary prayers and sacred rites.
Thus, in any case, a person baptized by a layman must “complete” his baptism in the temple. However, in earlier times, midwives were specially trained in how to perform baptism correctly; in the Soviet years, it is often completely unknown who baptized and how, whether this person was trained, whether he knew what and how to do. Therefore, for the sake of confidence in the actual performance of the Sacrament, priests most often baptize such “immersed” as if there was a doubt about whether they were baptized or not.
Can parents attend Baptism?
They may well not just be present, but pray together with the priest and godparents for their baby. There are no obstacles to this.
When is Baptism performed?
Baptism can take place at any time. However, in churches the procedure for performing Baptism is established differently depending on the internal routine, opportunities and circumstances. Therefore, you should worry in advance about finding out about the procedure for performing Baptism in the church in which you want to baptize your child.
What does an adult who wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism need?
For an adult, the basis for Baptism is the presence of a sincere Orthodox faith.
The purpose of Baptism is union with God. Therefore, the one who comes to the baptismal font needs to decide for himself very important questions: does he need it and is he ready for it? Baptism is inappropriate if a person uses it to seek some earthly blessings, success, or hopes to solve his family problems. Therefore, another important condition for Baptism is a strong desire to live as a Christian.
After the Sacrament has been performed, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: regularly go to church, learn about divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will have no meaning.
It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at a minimum, carefully read these public conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.
It would be simply wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do very correctly by confessing the catechumens before Baptism.
Is it possible to baptize during Lent?
Yes, you can. Moreover, in earlier times, fasts served as preparation not only for a specific holiday, but also for joining new members, i.e. to the Baptism of the Catechumens. Thus, in the ancient Church people were baptized mainly on the eve of major Church holidays, including during Lent. Traces of this are still preserved in the peculiarities of the services of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Pentecost.
In what case can a priest refuse Baptism to a person?
A priest not only can, but must refuse Baptism to a person if he does not believe in God as the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.
Among the reasons for refusal of Baptism may be a person’s unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards Baptism. The magical attitude towards Baptism is the desire to use it to protect yourself from the forces of evil, to get rid of “damage” or the “evil eye”, and to receive all kinds of spiritual or material “bonuses”.
People who are drunk or leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until they repent and reform.
What to do if it is known for sure that a person has been baptized, but no one remembers the name with which he was baptized? Baptize a second time?
This situation occurs quite often. There is no need to baptize a person a second time - you can only baptize once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and giving him communion with a new name.
How many times can you be baptized?
Definitely - once. Baptism – yes spiritual birth, and a person can only be born once. The Orthodox Creed says: “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.” Secondary baptism is unacceptable.
What to do if you don’t know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to ask?
You need to be baptized, but at the same time warn the priest that you may be baptized, but you don’t know for sure. The priest will perform Baptism according to a special rite for such cases.
About godparents (successors)
What responsibilities do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?
Godparents have three main responsibilities towards their godchildren:
1. Prayer room. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godson, and also, as he grows up, to teach prayer so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrinal. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Moral. On by example, show the godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a truly good Christian.
How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?
Godparents are guarantors for their godson. They are entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the spiritual and moral education of their godson. His godparents teach him the basics of the Orthodox faith, prayer and the way of life of a true Christian. Consequently, the godparents themselves must know both the Gospel and church life well, have good prayer practice, and regularly participate in divine services and Church Sacraments.
Have you decided to become a godfather, but do not meet the requirements? Make it a reason to start moving in that direction.
First, listen to public conversations in the temple or on.
Then read either the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Choose for yourself - the first is shorter, the second is clearer. You can also find them in; more precisely, in the New Testament.
Read the text carefully - during Baptism, one of the godparents reads it by heart or from sight. It would also be good if by the time of Baptism you knew it by heart.
After Baptism, deepen and expand your knowledge of Biblical history, pray at home and participate in church services - this way you will gradually acquire the practical skills of a Christian.
Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant?
The original name for godparents is godparents. They received this name because they “received” the person being baptized from the font; at the same time, the Church, as it were, delegates to them part of its care for the new Christian and teaching him Christian life and morality, therefore, not only is the presence of godparents required during Baptism and their active participation, but also their conscious desire to take on such responsibility.
Can representatives of other religions become godparents?
Definitely not.
In Baptism, the recipients testify to the Orthodox faith, and according to their faith, the baby receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become recipients of Baptism.
In addition, godparents take on the responsibility of raising their godson in Orthodoxy. Representatives of other religions cannot fulfill these duties because for us Christianity is not a theory, but life itself in Christ. This life can only be taught by those who live this way themselves.
The question arises: can representatives of other Christian denominations, for example Catholics or Lutherans, then become godparents? The answer is negative - they cannot for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients of Baptism.
What things should you bring with you to Baptism and which godparent should do it?
For Baptism you will need a baptismal set. As a rule, this is a pectoral cross with a chain or ribbon, several candles, and a baptismal shirt. The cross can also be purchased in regular stores, but then you should ask a priest to consecrate it.
You will need a towel or diaper to wrap and dry your baby after the bath.
According to an unwritten tradition, the godfather acquires a cross for a boy, and the godmother for a girl. Although this rule does not have to be followed.
How many godfathers and mothers should a person have?
One. As a rule, they are the same gender as the child, that is, for a boy - godfather, and for a girl - godmother.
The possibility of having both a godfather and a godmother for a child is a pious custom.
It is not customary to have more than two receivers.
How to choose godparents for a child?
The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person will subsequently be able to help in the Christian education of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and simply the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing.
In former times, concern for expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite close relatives as godparents. It was believed that they, due to natural kinship, would help the child. For this reason, natural grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became recipients. However, this is not prohibited, and is now becoming more and more common.
Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?
Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to adoption. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she can do so.
Who can't be a godfather?
Minors; Gentiles; mentally ill; completely ignorant of the faith; persons in a state of intoxication; A married couple cannot be godparents for the same child.
What should godparents give to their godson?
This question lies in the area of human customs and does not concern spiritual life, regulated by Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter for the godparents. You don't have to give anything at all.
However, it seems that the gift, if it does take place, should be useful and remind of Baptism. It could be the Bible or New Testament, a pectoral cross or an icon of the saint after whom the child is named. There are many options.
If godparents do not fulfill their duties, is it possible to take other godparents and what needs to be done for this?
In the literal sense of the word - it is impossible. Only the one who received the child from the font will be the godfather. However, in a sense, this can be done.
Let's draw a parallel with an ordinary birth: let's say a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, abandon him, do not fulfill their parental responsibilities and do not care for him. In this case, someone can adopt the child and raise him as his own. This person will become, although adopted, a parent in in the truest sense this word.
The same is true in spiritual birth. If the real godparents do not fulfill their duties, and there is a person who can and wants to take on their function, then he should receive a blessing for this from the priest and after that begin to take full care of the child. And you can also call him “godfather”.
In this case, the child cannot be baptized a second time.
Can a young man become godfather to his bride?
Definitely not. A spiritual relationship arises between the godparent and godson, which excludes the possibility of marriage.
How many times can a person become a godfather?
As many as he deems possible.
Being a godparent is a lot of responsibility. Some may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, some five or six, and some perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for themselves.
Can a person refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?
Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to bear responsibility for the child, then it will be more honest to the parents and to the child and to himself to say so directly than to formally become a godfather and not fulfill his duties.
Is it possible to become a godfather to two or three children from the same family?
Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.
A short article about the essence of the sacrament of baptism and what happens during baptism.
About the essence of the sacrament of baptism
A CONVERSATION ABOUT why a person comes to Baptism must begin with a story about the time when God created the whole world and people, placing them to dominate the new world.
He endowed people with consciousness and freedom so that they would have the happiness of loving, for love is impossible neither without consciousness nor without freedom. Love exists highest good, and the Lord God endowed people with this highest good, because He Himself loved them immeasurably. From that time on, the life of Adam and Eve acquired its Meaning: to love all of God’s creation, to love each other and most of all to love God as the Source of this love.
Love brings those who love together. And therefore the meaning human life it has also become about being close to God.
THE FALL was a betrayal of love. which was accomplished by the first people. They exchanged love for God for the desire to be independent, autonomous. Having lost love, they moved away from God. A certain wall was erected between them and God, which prevented them from communicating with Him and being in unity with Him.
Having moved away from the Source of life - God - people received death. The death was twofold. Firstly, spiritual, from which the heart hardens, the ability to love, compassion, and have sincere and pure relationships with other people is lost. A person in his spiritual death decomposes into pride, hatred, envy, wickedness, etc., which are a small hell for him.
Secondly, this is physical death, that is, the death of the body. It is preceded by its predecessors: bodily infirmities, illnesses, old age.
The distance of people from God affected the entire human society, introducing decay into its very foundations. This was expressed in the emergence of social injustice, hostility, wars, genocides, fascism, etc.
HOWEVER, although people lost and betrayed their love for God, God continued to love people immeasurably. From the very moment of the Fall, He began to prepare the salvation of people from sin and from lack of love. This preparation was most evident in the history of the Old Testament people of Israel, as described in the books Old Testament, making up the first part Holy Scripture or the Bible.
THE CENTER of the history of the salvation of mankind was the event of the Incarnation, when God Himself took on human nature and was born from the Virgin Mary as a man.
It was the God-man (that is, God and man) Jesus Christ.
He took upon Himself fallen human nature, torn to shreds by sin, in order to heal Him with Himself, heal its wounds and unite it with the Holy Trinity.
Through the Incarnation, the great Sacrament of the Reunion of man with God, the Sacrament of Salvation, was accomplished.
Our Lord and God Jesus Christ preached His teaching, which was later recorded by His disciples in the Gospels, was captured by the envy of the Jews, suffered the most humiliating and cruel torments: ridicule, slaps, scourging, was condemned to death and crucified on the cross. He voluntarily gave himself up to this suffering. In him, in this surrender of Himself to death, His great love to the fallen human race.
Being Life and the Source of Life, He could not be embraced by death and hell, but destroyed them. He conquered death: spiritual and physical, by resurrecting on the third day after His crucifixion.
Since then, the dominion of death over the world and man has been destroyed, hell has been defeated. The Church especially celebrates this celebration of Life and Love on Easter Day.
Forty days after His Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, and ten days later - on the Feast of Pentecost - He sent down the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Since then, all those who believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior formed the Church of Christ.
The CHURCH of Christ is a theanthropic organism in which people are united with God and are sanctified by the grace of God. Here they are delivered from death by the power of Christ and receive Eternal Life. In the Church they escape from the hands of hell and enter the Kingdom of God, becoming children of God. The Church itself is the Kingdom of God on earth. It unites everyone who has the same – Orthodox – faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives the same church life, participating in the Sacraments of the Church, and who has received Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Thus, joining the Church and sharing all its benefits, which are Eternal Life, reunification with God, resurrection of the ability to love, rejoice in pure joy, have spiritual health, etc., is accomplished through Baptism.
Baptism is not magic, it is NOT taken for the sake of bodily health, life success or getting rid of troubles. Baptism is accepted in order to have Eternal Life and live in unity with God.
What happens during baptism
THE WORD "baptism" (in Greek "vaptisis") means "immersion."
The main action of Baptism is the three-time immersion of the baptized person in water, which symbolizes the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb, after which the Resurrection took place.
Everyone who is baptized repeats the path of Christ: he dies and then is resurrected. Dies to the sinful life and Satan and is resurrected to start a new life, life with God. At the same time, his entire nature is renewed to its very foundations. He is forgiven all his sins that he committed before Baptism.
A person renounces Satan and unites with Christ, becoming a member of the Church.
IF a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose responsibilities include the Christian upbringing of their godchildren. For them they will give a strict answer at the judgment of God. Anyone who has agreed to become a godfather must realize that he is taking on enormous responsibility for the child he is baptizing, and if he neglects to fulfill his duties, he will be severely punished.
To give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life and pray for their godson.
LET'S CONSIDER in more detail what happens to a person during Baptism and what he commits to after receiving it. To do this, we use the text of the order of this Sacrament.
The performance of Baptism is preceded by the rite of announcement, during which the priest reads prohibitory prayers directed against Satan. In them, the priest, in the name of God, forbids the devil to dominate the heart of the person being baptized, drives him away from the person. The person is called a “newly chosen soldier of Christ our God.”
After these prayers, the priest blows on the lips of the person being baptized, his forehead and chest, saying the words: “Cast out from him (or from her) every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart...”.
The person being baptized (or godparents, if an infant is being baptized) turns to face west, and the priest asks:
– Do you renounce Satan, all his works and all his angels, all his ministry and all his pride?
The person being baptized answers:
- I renounce.
This is repeated three times. Then the priest asks three times:
– Have you renounced Satan?
And the person being baptized answers:
- I renounced.
The priest says:
“And blow and spit on him.”
The baptized person must blow and spit in front of him as a sign of his contempt for Satan. Thus, the baptized person declares war on the devil. His weapons will be fasting, prayer, participation in church sacraments, and above all the Sacrament of the Eucharist. He will have to fight with his passions, the evil hidden in his soul.
The reward for victory will be eternal life. Defeat will also be eternal - it will consist of endless torment in the underworld along with Satan and his angels.
HOWEVER, man himself will never be able to wage war with the devil - without alliance with Christ. Therefore, after declaring war on Satan, the rite of announcement is followed by union with Christ. The priest asks:
– Are you united with Christ?
The person being baptized answers:
- I match.
After this the priest asks:
– Have you been united with Christ?
The person being baptized answers:
- It was combined.
The priest asks:
- And do you believe Him?
The person being baptized answers:
“I believe in Him as King and God,” and then reads the Creed.
AFTER THIS the rite of Baptism itself begins. The priest blesses the water in which the person being baptized will wash away his sins. He makes the sign of the cross over her three times, blows on her, saying the prayer:
“May all opposing forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your cross.”
Then, after some more prayers and sacred rites, the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: the forehead, chest and shoulders. Oil is a symbol of mercy, and in this case, God's mercy towards a repentant sinner. Anointing with oil also refers to the parable of the Good Samaritan told by the Savior. In this parable, the Good Samaritan, who was a type of Christ, anointed a man who had “fallen among the robbers” with oil so that he would be healed.
THEN, finally, comes the most important moment - the Baptism itself.
The priest immerses the person being baptized into water three times with the words:
- The servant of God (name is called) is baptized in the name of the Father, Amen (first immersion). And the Son, Amen (second immersion). And the Holy Spirit, Amen (third immersion).
AFTER Baptism, Confirmation is performed, which has the following meaning.
On the day of Pentecost, as mentioned above, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples of Christ. Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit descends on each of us, filling us with the power of God.
Holy Myrrh is oil prepared in a special way, which is blessed by the Patriarch once a year and then sent to all dioceses, where the bishops distribute it to the priests. This is a great shrine.
The priest anoints an already baptized person with Holy Myrrh, namely: his forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs. Each time he repeats the words:
Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Through this sacred act, the Holy Spirit descends on a person.
Then the Holy Scripture is read, a few more prayers, and the rite of Baptism can be considered completed.
However, a person, leaving the temple, must remember that his Christian life is just beginning, that he has renounced Satan and united with Christ. Now he must begin another life...
BAPTISM is the beginning of a new life. A person must bear the fruits of Baptism, and this requires work.
BAPTISM obliges a person to do many things. First of all, it obliges him to fight with himself: with his passions, bad inclinations, in general, with his “old man” who hates other people, is angry, envies, is proud, despises, deceives, commits fornication, etc.
Baptism also obliges a person to lead a church life, which primarily consists of participating in the Sacrament of the Eucharist - communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Sacrament is performed in Orthodox churches during the Divine Liturgy. After receiving Baptism, a person must come to church for churching, after which he can already participate in the Eucharist.
THE EUCHARIST is the core of church life. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives Himself to people in communion during every Orthodox liturgy. People partake of His Flesh and Blood in order to be in constant unity with Him. Without participation in the Eucharist, a person cannot hope for his salvation.
EVERY true believer in Christ should regularly participate in the Eucharist. First, he must clear his conscience through the Sacrament of Repentance and fast for several days, reinforcing the fast with intense prayer. And then, having asked permission from the priest, to partake of the Most Pure Mysteries of Christ.
Parents or godparents should bring small children to communion as often as possible. They do not require special preparation, since they are clean without it. The only thing that is needed is for the children to receive communion on an empty stomach, without eating anything in the morning.
ANOTHER ONE the most important condition spiritual life is prayer. A person who has received Baptism commits himself to prayer.
PRAYER is a person’s appeal to God. In it, he asks the Lord for mercy, asks for forgiveness of sins, help in difficulties, thanks God for His blessings to himself.
Prayer is food for the soul, without which it dies of spiritual hunger.
You need to pray constantly. Usually all Orthodox Christians read the so-called “Morning” and “Morning” in the morning and evening. Evening rule”, which are contained in the “Prayer Books”. During the day you can pray the “Jesus Prayer”:
God, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
Or, more extensively: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
This prayer is convenient because you can pray it everywhere: on the street, at work, on the road.
In any case, you need to consult a priest about your prayer rule.
A PERSON who has been baptized must always remember that he has renounced Satan and promised not to participate in his affairs. Therefore, he breaks this oath, given to God, the one who, after Baptism, begins to go to all kinds of “psychics”, “spellcasters”, “ traditional healers" etc. Thus, he again enters into an alliance with Satan and refuses his union with Christ, denying his Baptism.
A person must remain faithful to the Orthodox Church and not participate in meetings of Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses and other sectarians. Deadly Sin performed by those who are re-baptized by Baptists.
A Christian cannot be a follower of the Roerichs, occultism, or various Eastern cults.
The sacrament of baptism. From the series "The Law of God":
Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Christian Church. This solemn action plays a huge role in the life of a believer. It has a cleansing meaning, as a result of which a person, as it were, dies and is reborn again for a new life.
The sacrament of baptism is carried out with the help of water, which, on a cosmic level, endows a person with grace and cleanses him of the sin given to him at birth. An adult is forgiven any sins committed before baptism.
A tribute to fashion or the dictates of the heart
If for some reason a person was not baptized in infancy, then conscious age sooner or later this problem begins to bother him. It is important to figure out whether he needs to be baptized or not. And if so, then why?.
Often in conversations at the everyday level you can hear questions: “Is baptism so important?”, “Is it really impossible to communicate with God without it?”
Returning to the origins of Christian teaching, it is worth remembering what the Lord bequeathed before ascending to heaven after the resurrection: “... go and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
If people want to be Christians, they must comply with the will of the Savior. After all, it was he, the son of God, who lived among people, took upon himself the sins of the human race, suffered severe suffering on the cross, died, was resurrected and ascended to God. With his life, he showed people the path of salvation, the path along which they can come to God. But for this you need to die and rise again with Jesus. The sacrament of baptism symbolizes precisely these actions.
To be baptized or not- This is the choice of an adult. No one can force him to do this. It is important that a person does not succumb to the temptation to “be like everyone else,” without having in his soul the desire to subordinate his life to serving God.
The priests claim that it is possible to perform the ritual without the person being baptized believing in God, but it will not cost anything. If after baptism a person does not live according to Christian customs (reading spiritual literature, attending divine services, observing fasts and church holidays), the grace of God will quickly disappear, and the atheist will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven after death.
It is no secret that some people undergo the rite of baptism to acquire, in their opinion, certain benefits for themselves. For example: improve your health, improve your financial situation, protect yourself from damage and the evil eye. This is absolutely unacceptable. After all, the essence of baptism is to give yourself to God completely and limitlessly, and not to wait for “manna from heaven” from him.
Preparation period
Adults apply to the Russian Orthodox Church for baptism. Therefore, preparation for baptism differs significantly from the ritual for infants, because for the child important decision his parents accept him, and the formed personality himself bears responsibility for his actions. The clergy are not indifferent to knowing what is behind a person’s desire to be baptized.
In the old days, people who turned to the church with a request for baptism were declared catechumens. Their preparation for the day of baptism lasted more than one day. During this period, they read a lot, attended church, and studied the basics of Christianity. And only the clergy decided whether a person was ready to perform the ritual. In essence, the catechumens were gradually introduced to the life of the church.
Today, priests also carry out preparatory work with those who have expressed a desire to undergo the sacrament of baptism. When people ask questions: “How to carry out Baptism?”, “What is needed for the rite of Baptism for an adult?”, “Is it worth being baptized if the wife wants it?”, there can only be one answer: “You need sincere and firm faith.”
Steps to achieve what you want
There is no need to expect the priest to be gentle and affectionate; his goal is to understand the person’s readiness to be baptized . The main thing is to stand your ground, answer sincerely and without hiding. The first meeting may be unsuccessful, and he will schedule several more audiences. Like a real psychologist, the priest understands that at the first meeting it is impossible to understand the human essence. Subsequent conversations are needed to establish the truth. How many there will be is up to the priest to decide.
In conversations with the priest, those who wish to be baptized will receive answers to unclear questions regarding the Christian religion. You can find out from him how the baptism of an adult takes place, how many times you can be baptized. And after deciding that a person is ready for an important event, find out what the cost of this action is.
Reward for Receiving God's Grace
Temples do not charge fees for rituals. There is only a donation for the needs of the church, which is collected in special boxes. Its value depends on the desires and capabilities of people; it can be pennies or thousands. Details can be found in a candle shop or from church workers.
But this does not happen everywhere. Some churches have price lists with fixed prices for various services. You can find out how much the required procedure costs. Trading in churches is not encouraged by the Bible, but in order to survive in difficult times, clergy have to turn a blind eye to this unpleasing business. Although the funds collected mainly go to helping the poor, repairing church buildings, and building new churches.
Required information
There are nuances that you need to pay attention to:
Preparation for the sacrament
Before the ceremony compliance is required at least in within three last days. It involves giving up meat, dairy products, eggs, alcoholic beverages, and smoking.
It would not hurt to spend this time reading the Gospel, the Law of God, Psalms, and prayers. It is worth giving up having fun, watching TV, spouses need to abstain from intimate relationships.
Before being baptized, we must make peace with all our enemies, confess.
On the eve of baptism, starting from midnight, there should be no poppy dew in your mouth.
Important Attributes
Adult men and women must have a baptismal shirt, a towel, open slippers, a pectoral cross on a chain or rope.
Clothing and towel must be white. For men it is a long shirt, and for women it is a long nightgown with long sleeves or a dress. These clothes are not worn in everyday life and are not washed. It is believed that it has the ability to help during serious illnesses if it is placed on an unhealthy person.
About there is an opinion that it should not be gold. It is better to buy a silver or ordinary inexpensive cross in the church. It is important to remember that after the priest places it around the neck of the baptized person, you cannot remove the symbol of faith, unless there is special permission to do so. medical indications.
Instead of slippers, flip flops are suitable so that the feet are open during the sacrament.
Features of women's baptism
Women and girls are in the temple with their heads covered. This speaks of humility before God and men. Clothes should be modest, clean and tidy. Cosmetics and jewelry are prohibited.
The ceremony is not performed if the woman is menstruating. This issue is discussed with the priest in advance in order to choose the right day.
During immersion in water, the baptismal shirt will get wet and, most likely, will be see-through. To avoid an awkward moment, you can wear a swimsuit underneath..
Baptism ceremony for an adult
After completion of all actions, the ritual of anointing occurs, when the priest makes signs in the form of crosses with the words “Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” on the body of the person being baptized. Then the priest, together with the baptized person, walk around the font three times, this symbolizes eternity.
Finally, hair is cut- this means that the new Christian is given over to God’s will.
After baptism, the life of a new member of the Holy Church changes dramatically. Man accepted the obligation to fulfill the commandments of the Lord. This will bring certain changes to your usual life. You will have to give up many habits, control your actions, and change, if necessary, your attitude towards others. But don't be afraid of changes. There is a lot of light and joy in the Christian faith.
What is baptism and why is it performed on a person?
Baptism is a sacred act in which a believer in Christ, through triple immersion of the body in water with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity, is washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins committed by him before Baptism, spiritually dies to a carnal, sinful life and, being born again, clothed with the grace of God for a holy life, according to the Gospel. The Apostle says: ≪ We were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.≫ (Rom. 6:4).
Without Baptism you cannot enter the Church of Christ and become a partaker of the grace-filled life.
How many times can you be baptized?
Baptism is a spiritual birth, which, like carnal birth, cannot be repeated. Just as at physical birth, the external appearance of a person is laid down once and for all, so Baptism puts an indelible stamp on the soul, which is not erased, even if the person has committed countless sins.
What should a person do who does not know whether he has been baptized and has no one to ask?
If an adult who wishes to be baptized does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child or whether he was baptized by a layman, but it is not known whether it was done correctly, then in this case he should receive Baptism from a priest, warning him of his doubts.
What is needed for Baptism?
To receive Baptism, an adult requires a voluntary and conscious desire to become a Christian, based on strong faith and heartfelt repentance.
How to prepare for Baptism?
The preparation for Holy Baptism is true repentance. Repentance is an essential condition for Baptism to be accepted in a worthy manner, for the salvation of the soul. Such repentance consists of recognizing one’s sins, regretting them, confessing them (in a confidential conversation with a priest, which is held immediately before baptism), leaving a sinful life, and realizing the need for a Redeemer.
Before Baptism, you need to get acquainted with the basics of the Orthodox faith, with the “Symbol of Faith,” with the prayers “Our Father,” “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice ...” and try to learn them. Public conversations for those wishing to be baptized, which are held daily in our church, will also help. It is advisable to read the New Testament, the Law of God and the Catechism. It is important to accept the teachings of Christ with all your heart and mind, and then at the appointed time come to church on an empty stomach, having a cross with you, white shirt and a towel.
When should a child be baptized? What is needed for this?
Church rules have not established a specific time for performing the Sacrament of Infant Baptism. Orthodox Christians usually baptize their children between the eighth and fortieth day of life. Postponing the baptism of children after their fortieth birthday is undesirable; this indicates a lack of faith among parents who deprive their child of the grace of the Church Sacraments.
Are godparents required?
For children under 12-14 years of age, godparents (fathers) are obligatory, because the children themselves cannot consciously profess their faith, and godparents vouch for the faith of those being baptized. According to the rules of the 7th Ecumenical Council (787), from the moment of baptism, a child becomes a relative of the same sex as a recipient. Therefore, for the baptism of an infant, one godfather is required, two are not necessary. Adults can be baptized without godparents.
Where does the custom of having godparents come from?
During the times of persecution of Christians, when Christians gathered in a secret place to celebrate the Liturgy and prayers, a convert was accepted into the community only if he had a guarantor who prepared him for Baptism.
Who can be godfather?
All baptized and churchgoers, except for parents and other close relatives.
Who can't be a godfather?
Godparents cannot be:
1) children (the foster child must be at least 15 years old, the foster child must be at least 13 years old);
2) people are immoral and insane (mentally ill);
3) non-Orthodox;
4) husband and wife - for one person being baptized;
5) monks and nuns;
6) parents cannot be the guardians of their children.
Can a godfather marry a godfather?
According to the resolutions adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church, which in turn are based on the decisions of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriage is impossible between the godfather, the goddaughter and the parents of the person being baptized. All other cases are permissible.
Can his mother be present at the Baptism of a baby while she is a month old?
He can be present, but in this case the ritual of churching the baby will not be performed, which consists of reading prayers relating to the mother and baby and bringing the baby to the throne or the royal doors (depending on gender), as if before the face of the Lord Himself. To be churched means to be introduced into the church assembly, to be numbered among the assembly of the faithful. Such inclusion is accomplished through the Sacrament of Baptism, in which a person is reborn to a new life and becomes a full member of Christian society; churching is a special expression of this inclusion; it can be compared to an official act by which the new rights of a new member of society are secured and by which he is introduced into the possession of these rights.
Can parents be present at the Baptism of their child?
The customs existing in some places of not allowing father and mother to attend Baptism have no ecclesiastical basis. The only requirement is that parents must not participate in the Sacrament of Baptism (that is, they do not hold the baby in their arms, do not receive him from the font - this is done by godparents), and parents can only be present at Baptism.
Who should hold the child at Baptism?
During the entire Sacrament of Baptism, the baby is held in the arms of the godparents. When a boy is baptized, the child is usually held by the godmother before immersion in the font, and by the godfather after that. If a girl is baptized, then first the godfather holds her in his arms, and the godmother receives her from the font.
Isn't it better to postpone Baptism until the time when the child can consciously say that he believes in God?
Since God gave parents a child who has not only a body, but also a soul, then they should take care not only of his physical growth. The sacrament of Baptism is a spiritual birth, which is the first and irreplaceable step on the path to eternal salvation. In Baptism, the grace of God sanctifies human nature, washing away original sin and giving the gift of eternal life. Only baptized child is able to fully participate in holy things, be a partaker of the Eucharist, and generally perceive grace, which will protect him from many temptations and vices during the period of growth and maturation. And whoever postpones the Baptism of a child leaves the little soul exposed to the influence of the sinful world. Certainly, Small child cannot yet express his faith, but this does not mean that his parents should neglect his soul. The wishes of young children on many issues important to them are not always taken into account. For example, some children are afraid and do not want to visit the hospital, but their parents, even against their wishes, treat them. And the Sacraments of the Church, the first of which is Baptism, are spiritual healing and that spiritual nutrition that children need, although they do not yet realize it.
Is it possible to be baptized at 50 - 60 years old?
You can be baptized at any age.
On what days is Baptism not performed?
There are no external restrictions for performing the Sacrament of Baptism - neither in time nor in the place where it is performed. But in some churches the Sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a schedule on certain days, for example, because the priest is busy.
Is only a priest able to perform Baptism?
IN exceptional cases, for example, when mortal danger for a newborn baby or an adult, when it is impossible to invite a priest or deacon, it is allowed for Baptism to be performed by a layperson - that is, any baptized Orthodox Christian who understands the importance of Baptism.
In case of mortal danger, how can a person be baptized without a priest?
To do this, it is necessary to consciously, with sincere faith, with an understanding of the importance of the matter, accurately and correctly pronounce the formula of the Sacrament of Baptism - the sacramental words: “ The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father (first immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Son (second immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Holy Spirit (third immersion or sprinkling with water), amen.”. If a person baptized in this way remains alive, then the priest must complete the Baptism with the prayers and sacred rites prescribed in the rite, and if he dies, then he can have a funeral service, order memorial services, write his name in church notes
Can a pregnant woman be baptized?
Pregnancy is not an obstacle to the Sacrament of Baptism.
Do I need to bring a birth certificate to Baptism?
To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, a birth certificate is not required; it is only needed to make an entry in the temple archive - who baptized whom and when.
What word does the word “baptism” come from? If from the word “cross,” then why does the Gospel say that John “baptized” with water even before the Savior suffered on the cross?
In all European languages, “baptism” means “baptizo,” that is, immersion in water, washing in water. Initially, this term was not associated with the church Sacrament, denoting any washing with water, immersion in it. The Slavic language, which arose already in the Christian era, emphasizes precisely the Christian meaning of Baptism as co-crucifixion with Christ, dying in Christ and resurrection for a new life of grace. Therefore, when the Gospel speaks of the baptism of John, it means the symbolic immersion of people coming to him into water for the remission of sins; The origin of the name Sacrament from the word “cross” is a philological feature of our language.
About the Creed
Hwhat is the Creed?
A creed is a brief and precise statement of the main truths of the Christian faith. It consists of twelve members (parts). Each of them contains the truth of the Orthodox faith. The 1st member speaks about God the Father, the 2nd-7th members talk about God the Son, the 8th - about God the Holy Spirit, the 9th - about the Church, the 10th - about baptism, the 11th and 12th - about resurrection of the dead and eternal life.
How and why was the Creed composed?
Since apostolic times, Christians have used so-called “articles of faith” to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. The Ancient Church had several short creeds. In the 4th century, when false teachings about God the Son and the Holy Spirit appeared, the need arose to supplement and clarify the previous symbols.
At the First Ecumenical Council the first seven members of the Creed were written, at the Second - the remaining five. The First Ecumenical Council took place in the city of Nicaea in 325 to approve apostolic teaching about the Son of God against the incorrect teaching of Arius. He believed that the Son of God was created by God the Father and therefore is not the true God. The Second Ecumenical Council took place in Constantinople (Constantinople) in 381 to confirm the apostolic teaching about the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedonius, who rejected the Divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. For the two cities in which these Ecumenical Councils took place, the Creed is called Nicene-Constantinopolitan.
What is the meaning of the Creed?
The meaning of the Creed is the preservation of a single confession of the immutable truths (dogmas) of the faith, and through this the unity of the Church.
The Creed begins with the word “I believe,” so saying it is a profession of faith.
When is the Creed said?
The symbol of faith is pronounced by those receiving baptism (“catechumens”) during the Sacrament of Baptism. At the baptism of an infant, the Creed is pronounced by the recipients. In addition, the Creed is collectively sung by believers in church during the Liturgy and read daily as part of the morning prayer rule. Every Orthodox Christian should know it.
How do we understand “I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible”?
This means believing in one God the Father, in the fact that God contains everything in His power and authority, controls everything, that He created heaven and earth, visible and invisible, that is, the spiritual world to which the Angels belong. These words express the confidence that God exists, that He is one and there is no other besides Him, that everything that exists, both in the visible physical world and in the invisible, spiritual world, that is, the entire vast universe was created by God and nothing can be without God. A person accepts this faith with his heart. Faith is confidence in the real existence of God and trust in Him. God is one, but not lonely, because God is one in essence, but trinity in Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible. Unity of Three, infinite loving friend friend of persons
How to understand “and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, in Whom all things were”?
This means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the same One God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, born before the beginning of time, that is, when there was no time yet. He, like Light from Light, is as inseparable from God the Father as light is from the sun. He is the True God, born of the True God. He was born, and not at all created by God the Father, that is, He is one being with the Father, Consubstantial with Him.
The Son of God is the second Person of the Holy Trinity according to His Divinity. He is called Lord because He is the true God, since the name Lord is one of the names of God. The Son of God is called Jesus, that is, the Savior, this name was given by the Archangel Gabriel himself. The prophets called Him Christ, that is, the Anointed One - this is how kings, high priests and prophets have long been called. Jesus, the Son of God, is so called because all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are immeasurably communicated to His humanity, and thus to Him belong in the highest degree the knowledge of a Prophet, the holiness of a High Priest, and the power of a King. Jesus Christ is called the Only Begotten Son of God because He is the one and only Son of God, born from the being of God the Father, and therefore He is of one being (nature) with God the Father. The Creed says that He was born of the Father, and this depicts the personal property by which He differs from the other Persons of the Holy Trinity. It was said before all ages, so that no one would think that there was a time when He did not exist. The words of Light from Light in some way explain the incomprehensible birth of the Son of God from the Father. God the Father is eternal Light, from Him is born the Son of God, Who is also eternal Light; but God the Father and the Son of God are one eternal Light, indivisible, of one Divine nature. The words of God are true from God are true, taken from the Holy Scriptures: The Son of God came and gave people light and understanding so that they might know the true God and abide in His true Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (see 1 John 5:20). The words begotten, uncreated were added by the holy fathers of the Ecumenical Council to denounce Arius, who wickedly taught that the Son of God was created. The words consubstantial with the Father mean that the Son of God is one and the same Divine being with God the Father.
“In Whom all things were” means that everything that exists was created by Him, as well as by God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth. God the Father created everything by His Son as His eternal wisdom and His eternal Word. This means that the world was created by One God - the Holy Trinity.
How to understand “for our sake man and for our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human”?
This means believing that Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race, appeared on earth, was incarnated by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human, that is, he took on not only the body, but also the human soul and became a perfect man, without ceasing at the same time to be God - became a God-man.
The Son of God, according to His promise, came to earth to save not just any people, but the entire human race. “He came down from heaven” - as He says about Himself: “No one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man who came down from heaven, who is in heaven” (John 3:13). The Son of God is omnipresent and therefore always abides in heaven and on earth, but on earth He was previously invisible and became visible only when He appeared in the flesh, became incarnate, that is, took upon Himself human flesh, except for sin, and became Man, without ceasing to be God . The Incarnation of Christ was accomplished with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Virgin, just as she was a Virgin, remained a Virgin after the Nativity of Christ. The Orthodox Church calls the Virgin Mary the Mother of God and honors Her above all created beings, not only people, but also angels, since she is the Mother of the Lord Himself.
The word made man was added so that no one would think that the Son of God took on only flesh or body, but so that they would recognize Him as perfect man consisting of body and soul. Jesus Christ was crucified for all people - by His death on the cross He delivered the human race from sin, curse and death.
How do we understand “who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, who suffered and was buried”?
This means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ during the reign of Pontius Pilate in Judea (that is, at a very specific historical moment) was crucified on the cross for the sins of people for the sake of the salvation of the entire human race. He Himself was sinless. He really suffered, died and was buried. The Savior suffered and died not for His sins, which He did not have, but for the sins of the entire human race, and did not suffer because he could not avoid suffering, but because he voluntarily wanted to suffer.
How do we understand “and he who rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures”?
This means believing that Jesus Christ rose again on the third day after His death, as predicted in Scripture. Jesus Christ, by the power of His Divinity, rose from the dead in the same body in which He was born and died. In the Scriptures of the prophets of the Old Testament, it was clearly predicted about the suffering, death, burial of the Savior and His resurrection, therefore it is said: “according to the Scriptures.” The words “according to Scripture” refer not only to the fifth, but also to the fourth member of the Creed.
Jesus Christ died on Good Friday at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and rose again after midnight on Saturday on the first day of the week, called from that time “Sunday”. But in those days, even part of a day was taken as a whole day, which is why it is said that He was in the tomb for three days.
How do we understand “he who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father”?
This means to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, ascended into heaven with His most pure flesh and sat down at the right hand (on the right side, in honor) of God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven with His humanity (flesh and soul), and with His Divinity He always remained with the Father. The words “sitting on the right hand” (sitting on right side), must be understood spiritually. They mean that the Lord Jesus Christ has the same power and glory with God the Father.
By His ascension, the Lord united the earthly with the heavenly and showed all people that their fatherland is in heaven, in the Kingdom of God, which is now open to all true believers.
How do we understand “and the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, whose Kingdom will have no end”?
This means believing that Jesus Christ will again (again, again) come to earth to judge all people, both living and dead, who will then be resurrected; and that after this Last Judgment the Kingdom of Christ will come, which will never end. This judgment is called terrible because the conscience of every person will open before everyone, and not only the good and evil deeds that someone has done throughout his life on earth will be revealed, but also all the words spoken, secret desires and thoughts. According to this judgment, the righteous will go into eternal life, and the sinners into eternal torment - because they did evil deeds for which they did not repent and which they did not make amends for. good deeds and correction of life.
How to understand “and in the Holy Spirit, the Life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets”?
This means believing that the third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit, as true the Lord God as the Father and the Son. To believe that the Holy Spirit is the Life-Giving Spirit, He, together with God the Father and God the Son, gives life to creatures, including spiritual life to people: “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3: 5). The Holy Spirit deserves worship and glorification equal to the Father and the Son, therefore Jesus Christ commanded to baptize people (all nations) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19). The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets and apostles, and all the Holy books were written by His inspiration: “Never was prophecy made by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).
It also talks about the main thing in the Orthodox faith - the mystery of the Holy Trinity: One God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed itself to people in a visible way: at the Baptism of the Lord in the form of a dove, and on the day of Pentecost He descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. A person can become a participant in the Holy Spirit through right faith, church sacraments and fervent prayer: “if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).
“Who proceeds from the Father” - Who proceeds from the Father; “He who is with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified” - Who should be worshiped and Who should be glorified equally with the Father and the Son. “Who spoke the prophets” - who spoke through the prophets.
How to understand “into One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”?
This means believing in the Church founded by Jesus Christ through the Apostles: one, Holy, Catholic (which includes all the faithful, its members). This speaks of the Church of Christ, which Jesus Christ founded on earth for the sanctification of sinful people and their reunification with God. The Church is the totality of all Orthodox Christians, living and dead, united by the faith and love of Christ, the hierarchy and the holy sacraments. Each individual Orthodox Christian is called a member, or part of the Church. When we talk about faith in the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, then the Church means all the people who are faithful to it, who profess the same Orthodox faith, and not the building where they go to pray to God and which is called the temple of God.
The Church is one because “there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all” (Eph. 4:4-6).
The Church is Holy, because “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (i.e., for all believers - members of the Church) in order to sanctify it (having sanctified every Christian with baptism), cleansing it with the washing of water through the word (i.e., baptismal water and with the sacramental words of baptism), in order to present her to Himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).
The Church is Catholic, or Catholic, or Ecumenical, because it is not limited to any place (space), nor time, nor people, but includes true believers from all places, times and peoples.
The Church is Apostolic because it has continuously and unchangeably preserved since the time of the Apostles both the teaching and the succession of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through consecrated ordination. The True Church is also called Orthodox or True Believer.
How do we understand “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins”?
This means recognizing and openly declaring that for spiritual rebirth and forgiveness of sins one only needs to be baptized once. Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water, with the invocation of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life. Baptism is one, because it is a spiritual birth, and a person is born once, and therefore is baptized once.
The Creed only mentions Baptism because it is the door to the Church of Christ. Only those who have received Baptism can participate in other church sacraments. A sacrament is such a sacred action through which the real power (grace) of the Holy Spirit is secretly, invisibly given to a person.
How do we understand the “tea of the resurrection of the dead”?
This means expecting with hope and confidence (tea - I expect) that a time will come when the souls of dead people will again unite with their bodies and all the dead will come to life through the action of the omnipotence of God. The resurrection of the dead will follow simultaneously with the Second and Glorious Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the moment of the general resurrection, the bodies of dead people will change; in essence, the bodies will be the same, but in quality they will be different from the current bodies - they will be spiritual - incorruptible and immortal. The bodies of those people who will still be alive at the Second Coming of the Savior will also change. According to the change of man himself, the entire visible world will change - from perishable to imperishable.
How to understand “and the life of the next century. Amen"?
This means expecting that after the resurrection of the dead, the Judgment of Christ will take place, and for the righteous there will come the endless joy of eternal bliss in unity with God. The life of the next century is the life that will come after Resurrection of the Dead and the General Judgment of Christ. The word "amen" means confirmation - truly so! This is the only way the truth of the Orthodox faith can be expressed and it cannot be changed by anyone.
About naming and names
Are name days and Angel's Day the same thing?
Sometimes name day is called the day of an angel, because the saint and the guardian angel come so close in their service to man that they are even designated by a common name, although they are not identified.
Each person has his own Guardian Angel, he is given by God at Baptism. The Guardian Angel is a disembodied spirit; he has no name. And the saints, in whose honor people are given names, are also people who pleased God with their righteous lives and were glorified by the Church. The day of remembrance of the saint whose name a person bears is a name day. One saint can be the patron saint of many people with the same names.
Angel Day is the day of a person’s Baptism, and Angel Day can also be called the day of remembrance of all the ethereal Heavenly Powers (November 21, new style).
But in the popular consciousness, these holidays have merged together, and on name day people congratulate them on Angel’s Day.
How to choose a name for a baby?
In the Russian Orthodox Church there is a custom to name a baby in honor of saints (according to the calendar). The baby is usually named after the saint, whose memory is celebrated by the Church on the birthday itself, on the eighth day after his birth, or on the day of Epiphany. But you can choose the name of any saint whose memory is celebrated shortly after the baby’s birthday. Sometimes a child is named after a saint who was chosen in advance and prayed to even before the child was born.
How to correctly determine who your saint is?
You need to find in the month book (at the end of the Orthodox church calendar) the saint of the same name, and if there are several of them, then choose the one whose memorial day comes first after his birthday or the one you especially reverence. You can also rely on the priest’s choice of name at baptism.
How to determine the name day?
Name day, the day of the namesake, is the day of remembrance of the saint of the same name, closest after your birthday, or the one in whose honor the priest named you when performing the Sacrament of Baptism.
How should you spend your name day?
On this day you need to go to Church, take communion, submit notes about the health and repose of your relatives, and order a prayer service to your patron saint. The best activity on name day is reading the life of your saint and other spiritual books, as well as performing deeds of piety. A festive meal for relatives and friends without any excesses in “eating and drinking” is also not forbidden.
Is it possible to name a child after the father?
It is possible if this name is in the Orthodox monthly book.
What to do if the child does not have Orthodox name?
If the name under which the child is registered is not in the Orthodox calendar, this does not mean that his name should be changed at Baptism. It is quite possible that, out of ignorance, the parents gave the child an Orthodox name, but in its Western European or local form. In this case, the priest usually translates it into the Church Slavonic form and baptizes under this name, having previously informed it to the parents of the person being baptized or to himself.
Here are examples of such translations: Angela - Angelina; Zhanna - Joanna; Oksana, Aksinya - Ksenia; Agrafena - Agrippina; Polina - Appolinaria; Lukeria - Glyceria; Egor - Georgy; Jan - John; Denis - Dionysius; Svetlana - Fotina or Fotinia; Martha - Martha; Akim - Joachim; Korney - Cornelius; Leon - Leo; Thomas - Thomas.
In the case where it is not possible to establish such a correspondence (for example, names such as Elvira, Diana do not have them), the priest recommends that the parents or the person being baptized choose an Orthodox name (preferably close in sound), which will henceforth be his church name.
What to do if a person with a non-Orthodox name does not remember the name with which he was baptized?
You can raise the archive in the church where the person was baptized. If this is not possible, you need to contact a priest. The priest will read a naming prayer and name the Orthodox saint.
Is it possible to change the Orthodox name given at birth to another Orthodox name at Baptism? For example, should Vitaly be baptized with the name Vyacheslav?
If at birth the baby was given a name contained in the Orthodox calendar, this name should not be changed to another when naming. Sometimes people who wish to be baptized ask to be given a name that is different from the one given at birth. In most cases, this is not due to the desire to radically change the way of life, as is the case when accepting monasticism, but to a superstitious desire to avoid the influence of sorcerers who know the person’s name.
It has always been believed that hair contains the strength and energy of a person. Hair is the habitat of your soul and the spirit of your head. It used to be that every person had a halo around their head. When a person sinned, the rays of heavenly energy became heavier under the influence of sin and fell, turning into hair. But nevertheless, they continue to nourish a person with the energy of heaven.
There are so many superstitions about hair that you can’t trust your hair to just anyone, that after combing you can’t throw your hair away because... if they fly away in the wind, your head will hurt. If you cut your hair, you will lose your strength, so small children under one year old, and in some nations up to 3 years old, should not cut their hair. ...
All signs are based on the fact that any effect on hair can change a person’s life. Therefore, by allowing our hair to be cut off during Baptism, we seem to show our trust in God, we entrust our lives to him, we give our consent to change our lives. Hair is a symbol of obedience and...
Since ancient times, tonsure has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. An example is the Old Testament story about Samson (Judges, Chapter 16). This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the initiation of readers.
In a fallen world, the path to the restoration of Divine beauty, darkened, humiliated, distorted, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with bringing to Him with joy and thanksgiving what has become a symbol of beauty in this world - hair. The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly during Infant Baptism. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore a few scanty hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (the servant of God) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit….
Cutting hair has been a symbol of both obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. For example, the rite of entry into the monastic order is called “tonsuring.”
In the preliminary prayer, the priest glorifies God for giving man His image and creating man with a beautiful body and soul, and every part of him is filled with beauty and meaning. Above all, he placed his head, and in it there are many feelings that do not interfere with each other.
The priest cuts a few strands of hair from the head of the newly baptized person as a sacrifice and dedication to God.
Saying the words: “The servant of God (the name is given here) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” the priest uses special scissors to cut strands of hair from the head of the person being tonsured crosswise in four places: on the back of the head, at the forehead, on the right and left sides of the head .
At this time, the godfather or the person serving the priest prepares a lump of wax, rolling it out thinly so that the hair fits in it. Having molded the wax into a lump along with the hair...
How long before christening should I go to church? We went in two days, but our city is small and we were baptized on a weekday.
How long does a christening last? about an hour
Is the baby dipped in the font or watered with water from it? they lowered us into the font with our feet, where there was water about up to his waist and they poured it on top
Is it true that the mother is not allowed to attend the christening itself? I was there, and then they read a postpartum cleansing prayer over me
Is it necessary to wear a dress/skirt (after childbirth, I can’t fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes)? yes, with a decent length hem (at least just above the knee) and a headscarf or scarf on your head
How did your little ones behave during baptism? Mostly he was calm in his godmother’s arms, looking at everything with curiosity. He cried just a little when they took him out of the font - he didn’t understand why they bathed him so little (he loves it very much)
Is it true that a priest cuts a child’s hair (I read somewhere that he cuts it with a cross...
Help, explain, shower with ideas!!! Girls, after tomorrow my princess turns one year old!!! I’m sitting here racking my brains... how can we organize it... we will celebrate on Saturday, but the day after tomorrow... how can we so competently divide this holiday into two days... oh well, my question is the following:
1. As you know, the godfather must cut his lock of hair in the shape of a cross! Where? on the back of the head, on the side, on the forehead??? and most importantly WHY???
2. who knows the explanation of what is placed in front of the child (keys, money, etc.)
3. those who have already celebrated this wonderful holiday, maybe you have some advice, for example, “this and that was unnecessary, I don’t recommend doing it” or, on the contrary, “I regret that we didn’t do such and such, I advise you” or “we did THIS AND SO we advise you too” Insertion codes:
Copy the code and paste it into the window for creating a post on LiveInternet, having first enabled the “Source” mode there
As it will be…
Why does the Church cut off a lock of a person’s hair during the Sacrament of Baptism?
Why does the Church cut off a lock of a person’s hair during the Sacrament of Baptism?
Because:
This symbolizes that the person being baptized belongs to the Lord. In ancient times, slaves in the Roman Empire had their hair cut certain part hair as a sign that this person belongs to his master. Likewise, when cutting hair during the Sacrament of Baptism, a person places his life in the hands of God, accepts the Lord as a slave and promises to obey His will. Today, slavery is perceived by us as unambiguously negative phenomenon- Christianity taught the whole world this. But at the same time, Christians know very well that one cannot be absolutely free; a person always remains dependent on something - a slave to his passions and habits. And only in baptism a person, giving himself over to obedience to God, ceases to be a slave of Satan, leaves his power and moves to absolute freedom - under the power and protection of God. V…
And what's funny? The ritual is such that the godfather cuts a cross on the child’s head, but our godfather died recently (((so I’m asking who can do this, instead of him.
this is all just, as you correctly said, a RITE, and nothing more! People came up with such a tradition. It has nothing to do with faith and religion. IMHO, I am intolerant of all kinds of rituals, because it turns out that we don’t particularly believe in God, we don’t follow any of the church’s rules, but the godfather must make a cross on the head of a one-year-old baby. Meaning??!!! and when my child was a year old, no one cut his hair, but they cut it when it was necessary to put his hair in order, when it was time...
View full version: Child's first haircut. Sign-superstition?
17.12.2010, 15:20
I’m interested in the question: why keep a child’s hair after the first haircut? For what, as a keepsake or is there some special meaning in this? My mother says that my first hairs after a haircut are also lying somewhere. She doesn’t know why this is done. When my son had his hair cut for the first time, they gave me his cut hair in an envelope. I’ve been keeping it for 1.5 years now, but I don’t know why.
17.12.2010, 15:24
I have a lock of hair that was cut off at baptism, and after the first cut we threw the hair away.
17.12.2010, 15:26
We had our hair cut at a salon for the first time, the hairdresser carefully collected our hair and gave it to us, I don’t know why, but I keep it :)
17.12.2010, 15:44
But we don’t keep it, this is the first time I’ve heard about such a sign….
17.12.2010, 15:54
I have a tuft of hair that was cut during...
It has long been believed that a child should not have his first haircut until he is one year old. This is due to the fact that hair contains cosmic energy, and if you cut it ahead of schedule, then this will bring misfortune and illness to the child. In Poland, there was a belief that premature haircuts would lead to poverty; Belarusians believed that this would disrupt the development of speech. There are peoples who do not cut their children's hair until they are seven years old, for fear of damaging the child's mind. Among the Goths, kings were not allowed to cut their hair throughout their entire lives from birth. Cutting your hair meant giving up the throne.
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I won't explain it exactly. I know that adults prepare for communion, read prayers and the Bible. You can’t really prepare children, they are children. Communion of a child protects him from the devil, the evil eye, bad people, that’s how my grandmother explained it to us. Communion usually takes place after the morning service, so if your child is small and it will be difficult for you to stand with him in church for the entire service, find out from the clergy approximately what time the service ends and communion begins. This is the time you come to.
The communion itself is quick, the child is placed or taken on right hand and bring it to the priest. The church minister will ask the child’s name; if the child himself does not speak yet, then the mother will call it. They say: “The baby ... (name) receives communion, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. At this time, the child is given the so-called Jesus blood to drink from a special spoon, something lung type fruit drink, slightly sour. That's all. Then you can wash it down with either milk or juice. Mom, on the side, can be given a piece of sacred bread if...
Often we do not know how to approach this or that issue related to a wedding, the birth of a child, or family relations refers to the church. We found out the answers to the most common ones.
1. Can I get married if my grandmother recently died?
Yes, you can sign and get married. Grief for the deceased is a personal matter and is measured by love for them.
2. The day before the wedding, my grandfather died, who asked in advance not to postpone the wedding in the event of his death. Should I repent and confess now?
If it was the will of the dying person, there is no sin in it and there is nothing to repent for, but you can confess about it. And of course you should pray for your grandfather.
3. Is it possible to get married in leap year?
The Church considers prohibitions or restrictions on marriage during a leap year to be prejudices and does not distinguish leap years from the rest.
4. On what days can you not get married?
They don’t get married on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays...
View full version: 1 year old child - traditions and their interpretation?
My godson turns 1 year old next week. I know that there is some kind of tradition that the child is sat on a casing and given a choice various items- gold, car keys, paints, a book, a bottle...
I would like to know in more detail this whole procedure with its interpretation, preferably what is cut there (because they will ask me, as a godmother 🙂), in what sequence, etc.
Google searches turned up nothing 🙁
Therefore, I ask for advice from experienced mothers, fathers and others like them 😀
Hair is cut on four sides, as at baptism - from the forehead, from the back of the head, above the ears. By a little. Parents keep them, in my opinion, more as a memory than for anything :)
Although in church the priest told us that this should be done.
And about the casing it’s quite simple. The casing should be spread with the fur facing out, and the baby should be placed on it. They lay out various objects related to different professions in front of him and offer him something...