Can a godfather baptize a godfather's child. Frequently asked questions about christenings

We know very little about baptism, but this is the first step of a person on the path to God.

The rite of christening a child- a bright holiday for the whole family! In order for the sacrament to take place according to all the canons, special attention must be paid to the choice of godparents for the baby.

Godparents are angels in the world who are called to help a little person begin a spiritual life, who will protect him from temptations all his life ... The choice of godparents affects the future of the child, this must always be remembered.

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Baptism of children in the church

By contacting a minister in the church, you can always get an accurate answer to this question. Taking the following people as godfathers and mothers is not allowed by the church!

Who can not be taken as godparents

1. You can not take a girl under 14 years old as a godmother, a boy under 15 years old as a godfather. Having reached this age, one can engage in spiritual education, the church believes.
2. In no case should a monk and a nun be taken as godparents.
3. You can not take people with mental illness as godparents.
4. It is forbidden to call a married man and woman as godparents. Kumovyam church forbids to marry.
5. The child's parents cannot be godparents.

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Who can be taken as a godfather contrary to superstition

1. It is believed among the people that it is impossible to take an unmarried woman as a godmother for a girl, and an unmarried man as a godmother for a boy. Take away happiness, take everything for yourself!

   Of course, this is a stupid superstition. The church does not take it seriously, because it has no Christian roots, and approves of such a choice of godparents. The main thing is that people are good!

2. Another superstition is about pregnant women who can't be godmothers.

   The Church does not forbid it! The only moment that can cause excitement: will it be convenient for the godmother to endure the entire baptism, will she have enough strength. This largely depends on the state of health and the duration of the pregnancy of the woman.

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What is selfless love, how to recognize the boundaries between good and evil, what is faith, conscience, patience and mercy: all this the child should tell the godson spiritual parents at every meeting. This is their main gift!

It is difficult to understand and accept such a statement. It is customary for us to bring money, toys to the godson's house, it is customary to spend time idly with the child. It's great, of course! But many people forget that godparents are primarily spiritual mentors.

A young, immature soul is so hard in the world! In order not to make mistakes in youth, in order to become a successful adult and not regret anything later, you need to receive a worthy spiritual and moral education in childhood.

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The sacrament of the baptism of a child carried out once. In no case should a child be rebaptized, no matter what happens! The Church forbids this holy rite a second time. What kind of godparents the parents choose for the child, these will remain for life.

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Christ comes to us in the form of a man, what you do for a man you do for Christ. Tell your friends about this useful article!

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Is it possible for an adult to be baptized without godparents?

To answer the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents, it is enough to read the following of the sacrament of Baptism, then much will become clear to us. The following is composed for adults, that is, it contains places where the person being baptized says prayers, answers the priest's questions. In the case when we baptize a child, godparents are responsible for him and read prayers. Therefore, it is obvious that the sacrament of the Baptism of a child cannot take place without adults. But an adult is able to profess his faith himself.

Can a child be baptized without one of the godparents?

The question whether a child can be baptized without a godmother can be answered in the same way as the question whether a child can be baptized without a godfather. If it was not possible to find a person capable of taking on the duties of a godmother or father, it is possible to perform the sacrament of baptism without one of the parents. For a girl in this case, it will be more important if she has a godmother, for a boy - a godfather.

Can a child be baptized without godparents?

In this case, baptism can be performed only under the following circumstances:
The child's life is in danger, he is in serious condition. At such a moment, a priest or any layman can perform baptism, pouring holy water three times on the baby’s head and saying the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". If, after being baptized by a layman, the baby survives and recovers, then you need to turn to the Church and complete the Sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
In the event that not a single godparent was found for the child, the priest can take on the duties of godparents and say prayers for the child on his own. If the priest is familiar with the baby, then he will be able to take care of him and instruct him in the faith, but if not, then he will commemorate the godson in prayer at every divine service. Not all priests take on such responsibility, therefore, in different churches, the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents is answered differently.
Still, it's best to make sure that your child has two godparents, just like two relatives (see How to choose godparents). After all, in later life he will need to see not only the example of the life of his parents, but also other people who attend the temple and try to live according to God's commandments.

Is it possible to baptize a godfather's child?

You can become a godmother or godfather for any child, unless, of course, it is your own. There is even a pious tradition in Orthodox families to baptize each other's children: it is easier to keep in touch and communicate with godchildren.

Is it possible to baptize a child godfather?

Of course, people who have become godparents for one child can become godparents for another, there are no obstacles to this.

Can a child be baptized at home?

It is desirable that the baby be baptized in the church, because after baptism there is still a prayer for churching: the boy is brought to the altar, the girl is placed on the salt, from where her mother receives her.
There are cases when a child is sick or there is no temple nearby, and it is not possible to take the child far. You can invite a priest to your house, then the priest will read the prayers for churching when the baby is already brought to the temple. Bringing a child after baptism to the temple and taking communion is the duty of godparents and native parents.

Can two children be baptized?

Yes, if a family is baptizing two or more children at the same time, the same people can be asked to be their godparents. It will be even better, because two children have the same natural parents, there will be one godparents.

Is it possible for spouses to baptize a child?

This question cannot be answered in the affirmative. There is such a thing as the spiritual relationship of godparents to each other, it is impossible in the presence of marital relations. Therefore, it is impossible for a husband and wife to baptize a child.

Is it possible for a couple to baptize a child?

Godparents must have a spiritual relationship with each other, so even if the couple lives in a civil marriage and they are not registered as husband and wife, they cannot be godparents of the child.
If young people are not married but intend to get married in the future, they will also not be able to become godparents of one child.

Is it possible for relatives to baptize a child?

A child can be baptized by any relative, except for the relatives of the mother, father and relatives who are spouses, since spouses cannot be godparents.

Is it possible to refuse to baptize a child?

If you have many godchildren and you know that you will not be able to properly take care of the new godson, you are in another city or another country, you do not know much about the child’s family, it is better to refuse to baptize the baby. But if there is a possibility that the child will not be baptized at all because of your refusal, it is better to agree and ask God for help.

Can multiple children be baptized?

If parents baptize several of their children, it is highly desirable that the godparents be the same people. Then the children will have one godparents, just like relatives. It will be easier for the godparents to take care of raising all the children together. It is possible to baptize several children at the same time - not brothers or sisters.

Can a child be baptized twice? Is it possible to baptize a child a second time?

Such questions are rare, but still asked in the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism itself is performed on a person only once. After all, the meaning of this sacrament is the acceptance by a person of the Orthodox faith and recognition of him as a member of the Church. But there are several cases where such a question may arise:
If the children do not know whether they have been baptized or not. This happens if the child has lost his birth parents, or it is likely that the child was secretly baptized by one of the relatives. In this case, it is imperative to inform the priest about this, then the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a different order. The priest pronounces the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized (if not baptized (a)) in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen".
If the child was urgently baptized by a lay person. Such baptism is performed if there was a danger to the life of the child, but later he recovered. Then you need to come to the Church and complete the sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
If the child was baptized in another faith. The Orthodox Church recognizes the sacrament of Baptism in other confessions as valid in cases where the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a similar order and if the institution of the priesthood and apostolic succession in the ordination of priests have been preserved in this confession. Only Catholicism and the Old Believers can be attributed to such confessions (but only the direction where the priesthood has been preserved). After baptism in the Catholic faith, it is necessary to complete the sacrament of Baptism with chrismation, since in the Catholic Church chrismation is performed separately from baptism at a later age (about 15 years).

Can a sick child be baptized?

If a child is seriously ill, then baptism is necessary, it can be performed even in a hospital or at home. If the life of the baby is in danger, then, in extreme cases, he can even be christened by a layman.

Is it possible to baptize a child in absentia?

Baptism, like any sacrament, is a sacred ceremony in which the invisible grace of God is communicated to the believer under a visible image. The celebration of the sacrament of Baptism presupposes the physical presence of the person being baptized, the priest, and the godparents. The Sacrament is not just a prayer, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible in absentia.

Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting?

There are no days in the Orthodox Church when a child cannot be baptized. Baptism of a child can be performed on any day, agreed with the priest and godparents. Usually the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child in fasting arises due to the fact that the sacrament of wedding in the Church is not performed in fasting. Fasting is a time for repentance and abstaining from fast food and marital intimacy, so there are restrictions on weddings, but not baptisms. Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting? Of course, yes, and on any day of fasting, and on holidays, and on the eve of fasting days and holidays.

Is it possible to baptize a child on Saturday?

In all churches, urban and rural, Sunday worship is performed. Therefore, most often baptism is performed on Saturday: after baptism, you can participate in worship and take communion of the child the next day on Sunday.

Is it possible to baptize a child for Baptism?

In the Ancient Church, due to the spread of a large number of heresies, baptism was preceded by a long period of instruction in the faith, which lasted up to 3 years. And catechumens (learners) were baptized at the Baptism of the Lord (then this holiday was called the Enlightenment) and on Holy Saturday before Easter. The celebration of Baptism these days was a great feast in the Church. If you decide to baptize a child on Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord), then not only will you not violate the canons of the Church, but you will also follow the ancient Christian tradition.

Is it possible to baptize a child with menstruation?

The days of a woman's cleansing in the Church are called uncleanness, and many restrictions are associated with these days for women in the Old Testament. Today it is not fitting for a woman in uncleanness to touch shrines (icons, the cross), to receive the sacraments. Therefore, when choosing a day for the baptism of a child, it is advisable to take this circumstance into account. Nevertheless, baptism is performed on a child, and not on his godmother or mother, a woman in uncleanness, if necessary, can attend the sacrament, but should not touch the shrines.

Can a child be baptized under a different name?

There is a belief that the baby should be baptized under a different name, and no one should know his name in baptism, otherwise the child's energy will be spoiled. All these are rumors that have nothing to do with Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. A child can be baptized with a different name, but most often this is done if the real name of the child is not in the list of names of Orthodox saints (see Choosing a name according to the calendar).

Why does a child need godparents and who can become godparents?

A child, especially a newborn baby, cannot say anything about his faith, cannot answer the priest's question whether he renounces Satan and unites with Christ, cannot understand the meaning of the ongoing Sacrament. However, it is impossible to leave him outside the Church before he becomes an adult, since only in the Church is the grace necessary for his proper growth, for the preservation of his bodily and spiritual health. Therefore, the Church performs the Sacrament of Baptism over the infant and itself assumes the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith. The church is made up of people. She fulfills her obligation to properly educate a baptized child through those whom she calls godparents or godparents.
The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help in a good, Christian upbringing received from the font, and not only in practical circumstances, as well as the degree of acquaintance and simply friendliness of the relationship.
Concern about expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite the closest physical relatives as godfather and godfather. It was believed that, by virtue of natural kinship, they would help the child anyway. For the same reason, they tried not to allow brothers and sisters to have the same godfather. Therefore, relatives of grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts became godparents only as a last resort.
Now, having gathered to baptize a child, young parents often do not think about who to choose as godparents. They do not expect their child's godparents to take a serious part in his upbringing and invite people who, due to their lack of roots in church life, cannot fulfill the duties of godparents to be godparents. It also happens that people who become godparents are completely unaware that they really have a great honor. Most often, the honorary right to be godparents is granted to close friends or relatives, who, having performed simple actions during the Sacrament and having eaten all kinds of dishes at the festive table, rarely remember their duties, sometimes completely forgetting about the godchildren themselves.
However, when inviting godparents, you need to know that Baptism, according to the teachings of the Church, is the second birth, that is, “birth from water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), which Jesus Christ spoke of as a necessary condition for salvation. If physical birth is the entry of a person into the world, then Baptism becomes the entry into the Church. And the child is accepted in his spiritual birth by the godparents - new parents, guarantors before God for the faith of the new member of the Church they have accepted. Thus, only Orthodox, sincerely believing adults who are able to teach the godson the basics of faith can be godparents (minor and mentally ill people cannot be godparents). But do not be afraid if, agreeing to become a godfather, you do not fully meet these high requirements. This event can be a wonderful occasion for self-education.
The Church considers spiritual kinship as real as natural kinship. Therefore, in the relationship of spiritual relatives, there are the same features as in relation to natural relatives. At present, the Russian Orthodox Church, on the issue of marriages of spiritual relatives, adheres only to the 63rd canon of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriages between godchildren and their godchildren, godchildren and physical parents of the godson and godchildren are impossible between themselves. At the same time, the husband and wife are allowed to be godparents of different children in the same family. Brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son may be godparents of the same child.
The godmother's pregnancy is a perfectly acceptable condition for participation in the Sacrament of Baptism.

What are the duties of godparents?

The obligations that recipients take on before God are very serious. Therefore, godparents must understand the responsibility they take on. Godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly Confession and Communion, to give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the features of the church calendar, the grace-filled power of miraculous icons and other shrines. The godparents must accustom those taken from the font to attend church services, fast and observe other provisions of the Church Charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson.
Their duties also include taking care of protecting their godchildren from all sorts of temptations and temptations, which are especially dangerous in childhood and adolescence. Godparents, knowing the abilities and character traits they received from the font, can help them determine their life path, give advice in choosing an education and a suitable profession. Advice in choosing a spouse is also important; according to the custom of the Russian Church, it is the godparents who prepare the wedding for their godson. And in general, in cases where physical parents are unable to financially provide for their children, this responsibility is assumed primarily not by grandparents or other relatives, but by godparents.
A frivolous attitude to the duties of a godfather is a grave sin, since the fate of the godson depends on it. Therefore, you should not thoughtlessly agree to an invitation to become a successor, especially if you already have one godson. Refusal to go to the godfather should also not be taken as an insult or neglect.

Is it worth it to agree to be a godfather if the child's parents are not churched?

In this case, the need for a godfather increases, and his responsibility only increases. Otherwise, how can a child come to Church?
However, while fulfilling the duty of a beneficiary, parents should not be reproached for their frivolity and lack of faith. Patience, condescension, love and continuous labor of spiritual upbringing of a child can prove to be an irrefutable proof of the truth of Orthodoxy for his parents as well.

How many godfathers and mothers can a person have?

Church rules provide for the presence of one godfather (godfather) when performing the Sacrament of Baptism. For a baptized boy, this is a godfather (godfather), for a girl - a godmother (godmother).
But since the duties of godparents are numerous (thus, in special cases, godparents replace the physical parents of their godson), and the responsibility before God for the fate of the godson is very great, the Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition of inviting two godparents - the godfather and the godmother. There can be no other godparents besides these two.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism involves the study of the Gospel, the foundations of the Orthodox faith, the basic rules of Christian piety. Fasting, confession and Communion before Baptism are not formally obligatory for godparents. A believer must adhere to these rules constantly. It would be good if at least one of the godparents could read the Creed during baptism.

Which of the things you need to bring with you to Baptism and which of the godparents should do this?

For baptism, you will need a baptismal kit (it will be recommended to you in a candle shop). This is mainly a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt (you do not need to bring a bonnet). Then you will need a towel or a sheet - to wrap the child after the font. According to the established tradition, a godfather buys a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl. It is customary to bring a sheet and a towel to the godmother. But it will not be a mistake if someone alone buys everything you need.

Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant ?

Church tradition does not know "appointed in absentia" godparents. The very meaning of the reception shows that the godparents must be present at the Baptism of the child and, of course, give their consent to this honorary title. Baptism without any recipients at all is performed only in special circumstances, for example, when the life of a child is in serious danger.

Can representatives of other Christian denominations, in particular Catholics, become godparents?

The Sacrament of Baptism makes a person a particle of the Mysterious Body of Christ, a member of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Such a Church, founded by the Apostles and preserving intact the dogmatic teaching of the Ecumenical Councils, is only the Orthodox Church. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the recipients act as guarantors of the faith of their godchild and accept before God the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith.
Of course, a person who does not belong to the Orthodox Church cannot fulfill such duties.

Can parents, including those who have adopted a child, be godparents for him?

At Baptism, the person being baptized enters into a spiritual relationship with his godfather, who becomes his godfather or godmother. This spiritual kinship (1st degree) is recognized by the canons as more important than kinship in the flesh (canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council), and is fundamentally incompatible with it.
Parents, including those who have adopted a child, in no case can be godparents of their own children: neither both together, nor each separately, otherwise such a close degree of kinship would form between the parents, which would make it inadmissible to continue their marital cohabitation.

Name day. How to determine the name day

How to determine the name day- this question is asked by every person who has ever thought about the meaning of his name.

name day- this is not a holiday of the name - this is the day of memory of the saint, in whose honor the person was named. As you know, in Russia the name of the child was given according to the holy calendar - the church calendar - and the parents prayerfully hoped that the child would live life worthy of the name of the saint who became the patron saint of the baby. During the years of atheism in Russia, the meaning of tradition has been forgotten - now a person is first given a name, and then, already growing up, he is looking for a church calendar to find out when the day of his memory, when to celebrate name day. The word name day comes from the word “The namesake”, “The namesake saint” - the modern “namesake” came from the same word. That is, the name day is the holiday of a saint bearing the same name.

Often, parents choose a name for the child in advance, having a special love for one or another saint, then the day of the Angel is no longer associated with the birthday.

How to determine your name day if there are several saints with this name?

The name of the saint whose memory follows your birthday is determined by the calendar, for example, according to the Orthodox calendar. As a rule, the name day is the day following the birthday of the saint, whose name the Christian bears. For example, Anna, who was born on November 20, will have Angel's Day on December 3 - the day following her birthday, when St. Anna, and her saint will be St. mts. Anna Persian.

The following nuance should be remembered: in 2000, at the Bishops' Council, the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia were glorified: if you were baptized before the year 2000, then your saint is selected from the saints glorified before the year 2000. For example, if your name is Catherine, and you were baptized before the glorification of the New Martyrs, then your saint is St. Great Martyr Catherine, if you were baptized after the Council, then you can choose Saint Catherine, whose date of memory is closer to your birthday.

If the name that you were called is not in the calendar, then at baptism the name that is closest in sound is chosen. For example, Dina - Evdokia, Lilia - Leah, Angelica - Angelina, Jeanne - John, Milan - Militsa. According to tradition, Alice receives the name Alexandra in baptism, in honor of St. Passion-bearer Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova, before the adoption of Orthodoxy, bore the name Alice. Some names in the church tradition have a different sound, for example, Svetlana is Photinia (from the Greek photos - light), and Victoria is Nika, both names in Latin and Greek mean “victory”.

How to celebrate birthday?

On the day of the Angel, the Orthodox try to confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. If the day of the angel falls on a fast day or fast, then the celebration and feasts are usually transferred to non-fast days. On non-fast days, many invite guests to share the bright joy of the holiday with relatives and friends.

This sacrament serves as the door to Christ's Church. Because only the person who has received Baptism can be considered a member. No wonder this rite is called the spiritual birth of a person. Jesus Christ told his disciples that no one can enter the Kingdom of God who is not born from water.

So, we learn about the purpose of this rite, its subtleties, rules and traditions.

Whether to baptize a child: pros and cons

Translated from Greek, the word "baptism" means "immersion in water." The rite is the first and most important sacrament for an Orthodox person. Baptism is the process of immersing a baby in water three times with the priest pronouncing the prayers established by the church.

Today, there are disputes about the need for baptism of children in infancy, when they themselves still do not understand anything, do not realize the essence of the rite.

There are a number of reasons for this, the main of which is the acquisition of full membership in the Church of Christ. That is, the rite itself joins the child to God, faith, makes it possible to take part in other church sacraments. We are talking about communion, chrismation, confession, unction, wedding. An unbaptized baby cannot be given communion, applied to shrines.

As sad as it is to say, children often die, and an unbaptized boy or girl will not be buried after death. And parents need to know about it.

During the ceremony of Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends on the baby. After that, a girl or a boy is already under the protection of the Lord God, the Mother of God, the Guardian Angel. By the way, the child is named after him, focusing on church dates.

Only for a baptized person (and a baby in our case) can you pray in the temple, send spiritual requests (about health, well-being, good deeds). That is, a baptized child is a child of God, before whom the gates of the temple and the Kingdom of God are open. As for the arguments against the baptism of young children, they relate mainly to the fact that a person should accept faith intelligently. And children, especially those under one year old, absolutely do not understand what happens to them during Baptism and why this is necessary. Opponents of the ceremony in infancy believe that it is necessary to baptize a child when he understands everything that happens to him and wants it. But since from the moment of birth, their father and mother are responsible for the children, they, in this case, make the decision that as soon as possible their baby will gain the protection of God, grow up healthy and meek.

Baptism of children among Catholics and Orthodox

The main purpose of Baptism among Catholics is the cleansing of the baby from original sin, his acceptance into Catholicism, and union with the Church. In fact, the Orthodox have the same goal of the rite. Baptism gives a boy or girl strength for life and protection that is not present at birth.

It is customary for Catholics to baptize a child 4-6 weeks after birth. But the ritual takes place much later. Up to 6 weeks, the baby is baptized in extreme cases, when he is sick, was born weak. In such situations, dad and mom try to help the child gain the protection of higher powers, and with it health.

Usually Catholics notify the priest 2-3 weeks before the desired date.

Church law allows children to be baptized throughout the year, that is, on holidays and fasting. But you should first learn about the customs that exist in a particular church. Indeed, in some parishes there is a tradition to conduct the rite of baptism once a month. However, this is more the exception than the rule.

Each parent decides exactly how the church baptism ceremony will take place, whether it will be chamber or crowded. Often, Catholic children are baptized during the holy imsha - a liturgical action in Catholicism, which is similar to the Orthodox Liturgy. It is possible to organize a baptism in a quiet atmosphere, that is, in the sacristy - a special room near the main hall of the church. A prerequisite for the ceremony is the presence of a crucifix.

Godparents for Catholics can be believers and practicing Catholics who have undergone the rite of bezhmovaniya. This is the name of the ritual of chrismation, which takes place in adulthood. The main condition for obtaining the right to become godparents is the consciousness of people who will adequately cope with the role of the child's second parents.

In Orthodoxy, the same rules apply to godparents. The baptismal process itself is a little different. A prerequisite for choosing godparents is their belonging to the church, their spiritual readiness to take on new responsibilities.

Baptism of children born out of wedlock

The Church always stands up for the birth of children, recognizing abortion as a sin. Therefore, it does not matter from which marriage they are born. Priests don't ask about it. The priest does not refuse to baptize a child if he is born by a woman living in a civil marriage or without a husband at all.

The latest trends - the birth of babies as a result of surrogate motherhood - cause an ambiguous assessment of the clergy and society. However, despite this, even such children are baptized.

Baptism of a child: godparents (baptism without godparents)

According to church canons, relatives can also be godparents. Grandmothers, aunts, grandfathers, uncles can calmly baptize the baby by the decision of the parents. But an adoptive father cannot become a godfather to an adopted baby. This is stated in Canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council. Godparents are also called the child's godparents. They don't have to be spouses.

As for baptism without godparents, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a baby without godparents, that is, if there are no godparents. This is possible in the event of a complete absence of worthy, truly believing candidates for godparents.

Signs, rules and traditions

What do you need to know when planning to baptize a child, parents and future godparents? The sacrament traditionally consists of the consecration of oil and water, the anointing with oil, and the main sacrament - the threefold immersion of the baby in water.

Water has long been a symbol of purification. Immersion in it is a symbol of repentance. Oil is a symbol of health and healing, peace, while candles play the role of right faith, the censer symbolizes the fragrance of the Holy Spirit.

Traditionally, during baptism, namely during the entire ceremony, the godparents hold the baby in their arms. The boy is usually held by the godfather, the girl by the godmother. You can do this in sequence.

After the child is immersed in the font, the priest passes it to the godfather or godmother. They take him in their arms. This is where the name “receiver” comes from. So for the rest of their lives they take upon themselves the responsibility of raising a child in the spirit of Orthodoxy, teaching faith and piety, introducing them to the Sacraments, and praying for them.

A spiritual relationship is established between the godparents and the parents of the baby.

There are traditions in preparation for the ceremony. The godfather, as a rule, incurs payment for baptism, the purchase of a pectoral cross. The godmother buys the things necessary for baptism. It's a towel, a baptismal shirt, a sheet.

There are also signs associated with baptism, but their observance is not at all necessary. So, they say that a woman should be the first to baptize a boy, a man - a girl. They also say that a person who sees a child for the first time at baptism should put money next to him so that he is healthy. Also, the candle must be lit with the right hand so that the baby is not left-handed. But all this is nothing more than belief.

What to give at baptism

The godmother and the godmother can discuss in advance what and who will give. Many couples today consult with the parents of the baby about this. After all, before baptism, a child is always given a lot, and dad and mom know better what is missing.

Usually, if the godfather gives a golden cross, then the godmother - toys, costumes, overalls, brings them with sweets so that the baby lives sweetly. You can also choose a memorable gift so that the boy or girl keeps it for a long time as a sign of spiritual connection with the second parents.

Is it possible to baptize each other's children

Often priests are asked whether the parents of a baby are allowed to become godparents with the children of their godfathers, that is, the godparents of their children. This is allowed, because such an action of spiritual kinship does not violate in any way. It only strengthens it. One of the parents can become a godfather, for example, a godfather girl who was born. Only now, both spouses should not be the recipients of one baby.

Baptism of a child by a pregnant woman

The expectant mother is blessed by God for the birth of a baby. This is very good. Therefore, no one and nothing can forbid her to become a godmother. This will not affect her child, only impose additional spiritual responsibilities.

And if someone says that pregnant women cannot be baptized, then this is not related to church canons, but rather superstition. Participation in all church sacraments will only benefit the expectant mother.

Baptism of the child and menstruation at the godmother

According to the Old Testament religion, purity (including physical purity) is an important condition for approaching everything spiritual. Physical impurity in the books of the Old Testament was precisely considered monthly. One should not dare to approach the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord on such days.

To avoid such situations, parents and godparents must first discuss the date of the ceremony.

Baptism of children in Lent

There is no church prohibition to baptize children during fasting. But believers avoid doing this most often because the ceremony is followed by a celebration, and it should be fasting.

Any celebrations during fasting are not welcome. Therefore, you can only perform the Sacrament if the child is weak (seven months old, for example) or postpone Baptism for a while after the end of the Orthodox fast.

Especially for - Diana Rudenko

Baptism is one of the most important events in the life of a person professing the Orthodox faith. It is this sacrament that is the first and main step of the newborn soul towards Christianity, its introduction to the church.

At baptism, the baby is given a church personal name by the name of one of the Orthodox saints. It is believed that this saint will be the heavenly patron and protector of the soul of a little Christian, so his choice is very important. In addition, church names often coincide with secular (civil) names, with the exception of non-Christian names.

The choice of godparents is also very important, because godparents will have to share the responsibility and work of raising the baby. Therefore, many have various questions regarding the correct choice of godparents for a child.

So, one of the most common questions is: is it possible to baptize a child with your godfather (your godfather)? To tell the truth, here the opinions of many clergy differ: some argue that it is strictly forbidden to baptize the children of their godfathers, while others insist that this is possible.

Of course, in order to find out the exact answer to this question, it is better to ask the priest of the church for advice. He will surely tell you.

Godparents of the same child cannot be people who are related by blood ties, for example, a brother and sister, it is also forbidden for a husband and wife to baptize one child, non-Orthodox people and minors, monastics and, of course, blood parents.

The main thing when choosing a godfather for a baby is the readiness of a person to be responsible for him, to take on the responsibility of raising him, helping his parents, caring for a little soul and guiding her on the right path in life. Also, it is believed that the sins of the godson until the age of 17 are taken by the godparents.

Therefore, as a rule, close friends of the child's parents or their relatives, who must be of the Orthodox faith, baptized and over 12 years old, become godparents. Refusing an offer to become a godparent is not accepted.

So, there are several cases when family ties between godparents are acceptable. For example, a husband and wife can baptize different children in the same family. Mother and son, father and daughter can baptize one godson. Also, the same godfathers, father and mother, can baptize several children in one family. A brother or sister can be a godfather or, respectively, a godmother to a sibling. Grandparents, as well as aunts or uncles, if they are not married, can be godparents to their grandson or nephew.

According to tradition, the godfather must purchase, and often takes on all the expenses associated with the ceremony. It is believed that for baptism it is better to take a silver cross, which will protect the baby from envy and an unkind eye.

The golden cross, on the contrary, should not be taken for the ceremony, since gold is considered to be a “dirty” and sinful metal. In addition, the cross is an important symbol in the sacrament of baptism, it is designed to remind a person of the feat of the Savior on the cross, as well as the duty of a newborn Christian.

The godmother purchases a baptismal shirt and towel for the baby. Instead of a towel, you can take a beautiful diaper or an eyecup - a diaper made of thin lace material. Such a shirt is also an important symbol; it must be white. Its meaning is in the transfiguration of a person, the purity of life in Christ. After baptism, both the baptismal shirt and the towel are cleaned at home and carefully stored.

In most cases, people are baptized in childhood. And often childhood is quite early. Therefore, the entire responsibility for the choice of godparents lies entirely with the parents of the child. And it is very important that they choose the right godparents.

What requirements must godparents meet?

First of all, it is desirable that the godfather be an Orthodox Christian. The Orthodox Church will not accept a Muslim or an atheist as a spiritual parent. After all, the main purpose of the godparent is to help the child in the education of the Orthodox faith. In this regard, it is desirable that the godfather be a church-going person. This means that he will be able to take on the responsibility of regularly driving the godson to church and observing all the necessary rituals and services.

Of course, you can also choose that person as a godfather who has nothing to do with the church, but in this case it is worth remembering that no matter how good a person he is, in fact, the godfather cannot correspond to the definition.

When choosing a godfather for your child, remember that you make this choice once and for all: you cannot change the godfather. If, after some time, he does not change for the better, the family with the godson will only have to pray that enlightenment overtakes him.

Often there are questions about whether it is possible to appoint the next of kin, pregnant women, etc. And often the inhabitants do not have the answer to these questions. The Church, on the other hand, gives a fairly clear explanation on the topic of who can be the godparents of a child. So, contrary to popular myth, you can freely choose a woman. And both , and .

The restriction applies only to the father or mother of the child, who cannot be godparents to their own baby. It is also not allowed for spouses to become spiritual parents of one child (if the couple only plans to get married, it also falls under the ban). Other relatives, including siblings of the child's parents, as well as their parents, may well take on the duties of godparents. Also, you should not choose priests or monks, young children as godparents. In addition, adoptive parents also cannot become godparents to their stepdaughters and stepsons.

By the way, with regard to godmothers, there is a ban on the participation of ladies in the sacrament of Baptism during the period of monthly impurity.

What should godparents give to a child during the performance of the sacrament of Baptism

It is usually argued that godparents must purchase for the rite of Baptism. Naturally, if the person who was chosen for such an honorary position does not want to make a mistake, it is better to consult with the parents in advance.

Also, godparents often purchase silver for their godchildren. Such a gift is especially relevant if the baby is baptized at the age when his first tooth pops out.

The godfather should establish contact with his godson to the maximum. After all, he becomes not only the spiritual mentor of the baptized, but also a kind of understudy of biological parents. After all, one of the duties of the godfather is considered to be the upbringing of the child in the event that the natural parents die or are unable, due to certain circumstances, to fulfill their parental duties.