It needs to be done for the godmother before the christening. What are the responsibilities of a godmother?

Any prayer for an Orthodox Christian has a specific purpose. The Prayer of the Creed for Baptism, consisting of 12 parts, has a special meaning in the Sacrament being performed.

She is the basis Orthodox teaching the entire Christian world. Her Sacred text was compiled and approved at the 1st and 2nd Ecumenical Councils.

What you need to know about prayer

The Creed is included in the morning prayers.
It is read at every Divine Liturgy in cathedrals and churches.
Every Orthodox person should know the Symbol by heart. It is necessary to learn it even before receiving Baptism in order to have correct knowledge about God and His Teachings.
During the celebration of the Sacrament, godparents must also know it by heart and read it without hesitation or mistakes.

Child Baptism

Important! Understanding the meaning of the lines of the prayer, a Christian will always be able to answer the question: in whom and how do you believe? A the last word"Amen!" means the truth of the Orthodox faith: “truly”, “undoubtedly”.

About other basic Orthodox prayers:

Holy text of prayer

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. 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, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. Tea resurrection of the dead, and the life of the next century. Amen.

Interpretation of the sacred text

The Church has kept the “Creed” since apostolic times and will keep it forever.

Each of the 12 parts of the doctrinal text has its own meaning:

We believe in God, the Creator of all living and inanimate things, Heaven and Earth, everything visible and invisible. The entire Universe revealed to humanity is a generous Gift from the Heavenly Father.
The Son of God, born of God the Father, is His continuation, has a human image and nature. He is the second Person of the Great Holy Trinity.
The Lord came down from Heaven to Earth and for the sake of saving us, sinful people, became a man.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior, took upon himself the sins of mankind to atone for them, for which he was crucified on the Cross.
After the terrible Crucifixion, on the third day He miraculously rose again.
Jesus, after His Ascension, took a place next to His Father at the Heavenly Throne.
Governing body Great Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit - will be eternal and will never end. The Lord will judge us, righteous and sinners, according to our repose in Heaven.
The Holy Spirit gives life to everything on Earth and speaks to people through the prophets.
A person living in Christ must believe in the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Every Orthodox Christian is obliged to accept the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, otherwise there is no way for him to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to his Paradise abodes. During the celebration of the Sacrament, the person being baptized is immersed three times in consecrated water, thereby the person dies to a sinful life and is born to a spiritual one.
All the dead will be resurrected during the Second Coming of Christ to Earth, and each of them will be assigned by God a “deserved” place in Heaven - heaven or hell, eternal torment or endless joy and life with Christ. The resting bodies will unite with the souls and will be immortal.
Completion of prayer, forgiveness of sins and faith in eternal life in the heavenly abode. Amen! - means “truly, so be it!”

Origin of the prayer text

The text of the prayer contains a confession of the Christian Orthodox faith, its truths, dogmas and all basic provisions. With its help, newly converted Christians prepare to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

Previously, in ancient times, there were several short “Creeds”. They were called upon to remind those being baptized of what they believe in and what they bring to the world. But at the same time, false teaching about God was actively spreading throughout the world. That is why a more precise and dogmatically flawless text was compiled a little later. It has grown and acquired a modern appearance.

An updated version of the prayer was compiled at the Councils in 325 and 381, and is used by the entire Orthodox Church.

1 The Council was convened in Nicaea regarding the spread of false teaching about Christ by the presbyter Arius. He argued that Jesus was created by God the Father but was not the Supreme Creation. In condemnation of the Aryan assertion, the first seven dogmas of the Prayer were composed.

Interesting about Orthodoxy:

At the 2nd Council, the heresy of Macedonius, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit, was condemned. As a result of the rejection of his lies by the Assembly, the following lines of prayer were given.

About Baptism

We are convinced that in the Sacrament of Confession a believer is forgiven all his sins, and through Baptism a Christian becomes a member of the Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Now he has the right to receive Holy Communion - the Blood and Flesh of Christ, and upon his peaceful death he will receive Eternal Life. In the Sacrament of Confirmation he will be given the Grace of the Holy Spirit.

At the wedding, the Lord will forever bless the union between a man and a woman, which cannot be dissolved. Member only Orthodox Church granted the opportunity to perform the Sacrament of ordination as a minister of the Church. In the Unction, a believer is given healing from physical and spiritual illnesses.

It is very important to carefully approach the issue of choosing godparents, especially if an infant is being baptized. There is special training to prepare future godparents.

Important! The Creed is not a formula for confession, but an important prayer. By pronouncing the word “I Believe,” faith in Christ and the Truths commanded by Him come to life in the human mind.

That is why every Orthodox Christian is obliged, if not daily, then at least, regularly, read the Creed.

Video about how the Creed is read at baptism.

This summer I became a godmother. She treated the sacrament of Baptism with all responsibility and reverence. Baptism is a person's decision to become a Christian. If parents perform Baptism for a child, then they choose godparents. One godfather for a boy or one godmother for a girl is considered sufficient.

Who can be godfather

When choosing a godparent for their child, parents must be sure that the godparents will take responsibility for the responsibilities that the rite of Baptism imposes on them.
The child's parents themselves, people serving as monks or nuns, the unbaptized, non-believers, the mentally ill and people who are drunk cannot be godparents.

What a godmother needs to know

The godmother must understand and realize the meaning of the rite of Baptism and live according to the commandments of God. You must know the following prayers: Our Father, the Heavenly King and the Creed. The Creed is read by the godparents during Baptism.

What to prepare before baptism

The godmother must prepare a gift for her godson. It is best to consult with the child's parents. For my daughter, I bought a silver cross with a chain and the book “The Basics of Orthodoxy.” Gifts should be from the heart.

I also bought a baptismal set for the girls in advance. It includes a white lace robe to make it easy to undress the child for swimming in the font, a scarf and socks. Such baptismal sets, separately for girls and boys, are available for sale in the church store.

We talked with our parents about how we would spend the day after the whole ceremony.

It is better if there are the closest people. This day should pass without fuss and hassle.

How to behave during Baptism

The attitude towards the temple should be reverent. When entering a temple, you need to cross yourself. The woman must wear a headdress. You should choose modest clothing so that your arms and shoulders are covered. You are not allowed to enter the temple in trousers.

During the ceremony, Father explains everything in detail. It is necessary to repeat prayers after him. After washing the child in the font, he is given into the hands of the godmother.

The child should be familiar with his godmother so that he is not afraid and does not experience stress from an unfamiliar environment. But even if the child cries, it’s okay. Father conducts his service and the children gradually calm down.

What should a godmother do after baptism?

Immediately after baptism, Christenings are celebrated. The invitees gather at the table. It would be better if the godmother takes on some of the troubles on this day.

In the future, the godmother should be there at important moments in the life of the goddaughter. Don’t forget her on Birthdays, Church holidays and others significant days in the fate of the child.

For loving heart Great opportunities open up for mothers. When talking about responsibilities, I would like to clarify that these responsibilities are very joyful. Lead a person’s life according to God’s law.

Not everyone is trusted to be godparents. We must be proud of this and be a true friend, mentor and spiritual guardian of the child.

From the rite of Baptism, the child has not only a godmother, but also a Guardian Angel who will accompany him throughout his life.

Baptism is one of the important events in life Orthodox man. It is believed that he receives some kind of pass into the Kingdom of God. This is the moment of a person’s spiritual birth, when his previous sins are forgiven and his soul is cleansed. Special attention One should pay attention to the choice of godparents for the child, since they have an influence on the spiritual life and salvation of the believer. That's why Godfather, whose duties and responsibilities include all of the above, must be worthy.

The role of a godfather in a child's life

Now let's take a closer look at what role the godfather plays in Orthodoxy, whose responsibilities include not only gifts for holidays. The most important thing he must do is to provide assistance in the spiritual life of his godson. So, let's look at the responsibilities in order:

Set a worthy example for him with your life. This means that in the presence of a godson you cannot drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or speak swear words. You need to be noble in your actions.
Prayers for your godson are obligatory, especially in difficult moments.
Visiting a temple with your child.
Spiritual education of the godson is mandatory (stories about God, teaching the Bible, etc.). If there are problems in life situations, then provide all possible assistance.
The responsibilities of the godfather also include financial support if necessary (if the parents a difficult situation with money or work).

What do you need to know to choose godparents?

So, how to choose a godfather or godfather? What should you be guided by? Firstly, you should know that in the spiritual life of a child, the most important thing is a godfather of the same sex (for a boy - a godfather, for a girl - a godmother). However, according to established tradition, two are chosen as godfathers.

Of course, the decision who will be the child’s spiritual educator throughout his life is made at family council. If there are any difficulties when choosing, then consult with your priest or spiritual father. He will probably suggest a suitable candidate, because this is quite an honorable duty.

It is very important that godparents do not get lost in life, that they continue to spiritually care for the child throughout his life. Both the godmother and the godfather, whose duties and functions are described above, have their own responsibilities before the Lord.

Based on all this, Christians who are over fourteen years old are suitable for the role of spiritual parents. They take responsibility for the future spiritual life of the child, praying for him, and then teaching him to live in the Lord.

Who can't be a godfather?

When choosing a godfather or mother, you need to know who cannot be for your child:

Those who are going to become spouses in the future or are already such in the present.
Parents of the baby.
Those who accepted monasticism.
Unbaptized people or non-believers in the Lord.
You cannot take as godparents people who have mental illness.
Those who profess a different faith.

All of this should be taken into account before a godfather is chosen. His responsibilities are quite extensive, so the person who agreed to be him must be clearly aware of everything.

Necessary items for the ceremony

You should talk in more detail about what items are needed for this ritual:

Kryzhma. This is a special towel on which a cross is embroidered or simply depicted. A child is wrapped in it during anointing, as well as when prayers of prohibition are read. Sometimes the baby's name and the date of his baptism are embroidered on such a towel.
Baptismal swaddling cloth. This is not an entirely necessary attribute, but it should be there when it’s cold. This diaper is used to wipe the baby after dipping into the font, and then wrap it again in the kryzhma.
Clothes for baptism. This could be a christening set (dress) for a girl or a special shirt for a boy. It is advisable that these clothes be purchased as a gift by the baby’s successor.
It is necessary to have a pectoral cross with you for a future Christian. Usually it is acquired by the godfather. Responsibilities at baptism for him, of course, are not limited only to this acquisition, but they will be written about them below.
It is necessary to take with you an envelope for the baby's cut hair.
You should also purchase icons for the child and make a donation to the temple (this is an optional condition).

Is there any special preparation for recipients before the ceremony?

You should also pay attention to preparing for christening. The most correct step would be to contact your confessor or priest for advice. However, you should know that usually before the sacrament it is necessary to confess and receive communion. Before this, you need to fast (the priest should tell you about the number of days). You may need additional actions, such as reading prayers, spiritual literature, etc. It is also advisable not to attend noisy parties, various entertainment venues, or watch TV at this time. It is advisable to devote all your free time to prayer.

If this is your first time in the role of godfather, then it is advisable to familiarize yourself with how the sacrament is performed, what prayers are read, and what the order of chants is. This is necessary because when you become a spiritual educator little man, you need more than just a formal presence. Sincere prayer is necessary, which should not stop even after the completion of the sacrament, because this is the essence of becoming a godparent.

More details about what responsibilities the godfather has during this ritual will be discussed below.

Present

Considering the question of the duties of a godfather at a christening, it should be said that on this day it is customary to give gifts, both to the baby and to the godfather. If desired, you can give a gift to your parents.

It is appropriate for a child to give both an educational toy and something more important for spiritual life, such as a Bible for children with pictures. By the way, the gift can be discussed in advance with the parents, because something else may turn out to be more important at this moment.

There is one main gift that his godfather must give the baby. The responsibilities during baptism are not only to hold the baby, but also to show the first example of honoring the Lord. After all, children understand everything from birth at the level of feelings. In addition to reading prayers, such a gift is a pectoral cross, which is baptismal. It must be bought and presented by the recipient.

For parents, especially for the mother of the baby, a good gift There will be a prayer book containing the necessary prayers for the whole family.

How were christenings celebrated in ancient times?

Previously, as now, christenings were a very significant event in people's lives. This sacrament was necessarily performed no later than two months after the baby was born, and sometimes earlier, on the eighth day. This happened because there used to be a high infant mortality rate, so it was very important for loved ones to baptize the child before the irreparable happened, so that his soul would go to heaven.

The celebration of the little man's joining the church was celebrated with a large number of guests. This was especially noticeable in large villages. Many people gathered for such a holiday, who came with gifts and Best wishes baby. At the same time, they brought mainly various pastries - kulebyaki, pies, pretzels. In the house where the little man lived, a sumptuous table was laid for the guests, and there was practically no alcohol (there could only be red wine in very small quantities).

There were traditional holiday dishes. For example, a rooster baked in porridge for a boy or a chicken for a girl. There were also a lot of shaped baked goods, which symbolized wealth, fertility, and longevity.

It was customary to invite the midwife to the table, who would receive the baby. They could also call the priest who performed the baptismal ceremony. During the celebration, numerous songs were sung, thus wishing the child all the best. They saw off all the guests, presenting each with sweets.

How is baptism performed? Responsibilities of a Godfather

Now let's look at how the ceremony itself takes place, what should be done at this time and what responsibilities each of those present has. In our time, this sacrament usually occurs on the fortieth day after birth. Parents or future godparents must go to the chosen temple in advance and sign up for the chosen date, as well as agree on the process itself. After all, you can hold individual christenings or general ones.

The responsibilities of the godfather during the baptism of a girl are the same, and that of a boy are different (although they differ slightly). If the child is not yet a year old and cannot stand on his own, then he is held in his arms all the time. For the first half of the ceremony (before immersion in the font), boys are held by their godmothers, and girls by their fathers. After the dive, everything changes. Since the main thing for a boy is the father, it is he who accepts the child, and the mother accepts the girl. And this continues until the end of the ceremony.

The service itself lasts about forty minutes (more time is required if there are many people). It begins after the celebration of the liturgy. The performance of the sacrament begins with the laying on of hands on the person being baptized and the recitation of a special prayer. After this, you should renounce Satan and his works. Adults are responsible for a child who cannot speak.

The next step in the ritual will be the consecration of the water in the font. Before immersing the person being baptized into it, he should be anointed with oil (back, chest, ears, forehead, legs and arms.) Only after this does immersion into the font occur. The priest reads prayers. This action symbolizes dying to the world and resurrecting to the Lord. This is how a kind of cleansing occurs.

Then the child is handed over to the godfather, he is wrapped in kryzhma (as mentioned above, the boy is handed over to the father, and the girl to the mother). Now the baby is anointed with myrrh.

So, now you know the responsibilities of a godfather when baptizing a boy and a girl. As you can see, they are slightly different.

Baptism at home

In addition to baptism in the temple, it would not be reprehensible to perform this sacrament at home, with your family. However, it is better to do it in the right place. This is based on the fact that after baptism, boys must be brought into the altar (girls simply venerate the icons).

After the ceremony is completed, the little man becomes a full member of the church. This can be felt most strongly only in the temple. Therefore, home christenings are possible only if the baby is unable to withstand the ceremony in church. They are also committed when the child is in mortal danger(illness, etc.). If the whole sacrament takes place in home environment, then the godfather has the same responsibilities for baptism as if the ceremony were performed in a temple.

Church life of new Christians

You should know that after baptism, a person’s spiritual life just begins. The first acquaintance with church rules begins with the prayer of one’s own mother and godmother. This is how, invisibly, the word of God is instilled in the baby. And in the future, when he sees everything for himself, you can slowly introduce him to family prayer, explaining its value.

Special mention should be made about baptismal accessories. Kryzhma and special clothes(if you purchased it) should be stored separately and not used in everyday life. A christening shirt (dress) can be worn when a child is ill (or simply wrapped in it). The icon that was used during the sacrament should be placed near the baby’s crib or on the home iconostasis (if there is one). The candle is used on special occasions and is also kept for life.

The responsibilities of a godfather at baptism are just beginning. In the future, when the child grows up, he will need to go to church with him, take communion and attend services. Of course, this can be done with parents, but it is better if it is a godfather. By the way, you need to take your child to church from an early age. It is there, in the bosom of the church, that he will be able to realize all the greatness of God. If he doesn’t understand something, you need to patiently explain the difficult moments.

This is how addiction occurs and beneficial effect per person per capita. Church chants and prayers calm and strengthen. During growing up there may be difficult questions. If godparents or parents cannot answer them, then it is better to turn to the priest.

Conclusion

So now you know what the responsibilities of a godfather are. They need to be taken seriously from the very beginning, as soon as such an offer is made to you. If necessary, consult with the priest about what you should do for your child, how to educate him in the spiritual life and what support to provide. Be careful, because from now on you and your godson are spiritually connected forever. You will also be responsible for his sins, so upbringing should be treated with special importance. By the way, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to refuse this.

The Orthodox Catechism gives the following definition of this Sacrament: Baptism (Greek vaptisis - immersion) is a Sacrament in which the believer, by immersing the 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 spiritual, holy life. Since Baptism exists spiritual birth, and if a person is born once, then this Sacrament will not be repeated.

Purpose of the Sacrament

Fruit Baptism a person should be that he stops living for himself and begins to live for Christ and other people, finding in this the fullness of life. A necessary condition for the acceptance of this great Sacrament by an adult is firm faith and repentance for all sins committed before Baptism. By this Sacrament the person baptized is introduced into the Church and becomes a member of it. A person who has become a Christian must decisively be reborn according to the word of the Lord, who said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments”(John 14; 15). And who promised as follows: “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love”(John 15; 10).

History of the establishment of the Sacrament

Old Testament baptism. The history of the Old Testament Church knows the institution of water baptism from the post-Maccabean period (beginning with the Roman conquest of Judea in 63 BC). It symbolized not only physical, but also moral purification of the person approaching it. With this baptism, John the Baptist baptized those who came to him at Bethabara by the Jordan (John 1:28). When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to John, they asked him: “Why do you baptize if you are neither Christ, nor Elijah, nor a prophet?”(John 1:25). This question indirectly talks about great importance, which the Jews attached to water baptism. Jesus Christ, having received this baptism from the Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John in the waters of the Jordan, in order to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), thereby sanctified it. Types of baptism are also visible in cleansing, ritual ablutions (See: Lev. 14; 8.15; 5), which in Old Testament prophecies become symbols of cleansing from sins.
New Testament Baptism. Actually, the Sacrament of Baptism was established by Christ before His Ascension, when He said to the disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matt. 28; 19, 20). In general, all the Sacraments existing in the Church were established directly by Christ, but in the Gospel He clearly speaks only about the three most important ones: Baptism, Communion and Repentance. From the words of the Lord, spoken by him in a night conversation with Nicodemus, it is clear that the Sacrament of Baptism has exceptional significance for a person: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised at what I said to you: you must be born again.”(John 3; 5-7).

Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism

In ordinary life circumstances The Sacrament of Baptism is performed by bishops and priests of the Orthodox Church. In this case, the Sacrament will be performed in full accordance with the order described below. But the Sacrament of Baptism is the only one of the seven Sacraments of the Orthodox Church that, under certain circumstances, can be performed by a deacon, a psalm-reader, a layman, and even a woman. This may happen if real threat life of the person being baptized (for example, when dangerous disease child).
But commit Baptism and in this case it is possible only by observing the necessary conditions. A lay person who will baptize in the above circumstances must:
1) be a believing Christian;
2) correctly pronounce the mystical words: “The servant of God (servant of God, named) is baptized in the name of the Father (first immersion), Amen, and the Son (second immersion), Amen, and the Holy Spirit (third immersion), Amen.”;
3) perform three immersions of the baptized person in water at those moments of the secret prayer that are indicated in the second condition. If a person baptized by a layman (subject to three conditions being met) dies, the completed Sacrament is considered valid and this gives the right to remember the deceased during worship as a full member of the Church of Christ. If he recovers, then he Baptism must be supplemented by the performance of the Sacrament of Confirmation on him.
If Baptism was done incorrectly, that is, the above conditions were not met, the priest must perform Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation according to the usual rites. If it is not known whether a person has been baptized and there is no way to find out, then he can be baptized again, although the Sacrament of Baptism is not repeated. If suddenly it turns out to be the second Baptism, then the ignorance of the baptized person will not be imputed to him. In such doubtful cases, the Breviary of Metropolitan Peter Mogila suggests adding the words “there is one who is not baptized”, although the ancient Church did not know such a “conditional” Baptism.

Place and time of Baptism

The modern practice of performing the Sacrament of Baptism is such that, for the most part, it is performed in the church, in the part of it that is intended for this - in the baptistery. In some places there are separate baptismal churches. IN Lately The practice of the ancient Church began to be revived, which consisted in the fact that mass baptism performed in natural bodies of water. Regarding the time of Baptism, the remark about the need to perform the Sacrament before the Liturgy, so that the baptized person can partake of the Holy Mysteries, can be significant. But this practice is almost never widespread. For the most part, Baptism is performed during the day, and the newly baptized receives communion either the next day or at some other time in the near future.

Godparents

Receiver (Greek) anadejumenos- guarantor for the debtor) - a person who takes upon himself the responsibility of instructing his godson in spiritual life, praying for him, overseeing his upbringing, teaching pious life, hard work, meekness, abstinence, love and other virtues. The godfather also bears part of the responsibility for the actions of his godson. As already noted, only one recipient is considered necessary - a man for a male child being baptized or a woman for a female child. But, according to a tradition rooted in Russia since the 15th century, there are two successors: a man and a woman. Throughout the continuation of the Sacrament, the recipients hold their godchildren in their arms. After immersing the baby in the font three times, the receiver (of the same gender as the baby) must dry the baby’s body with a clean diaper or towel. In addition, the recipient must read the Creed at the appropriate moment in the rite of the Sacrament and give answers to the priest’s questions about renunciation of Satan and union with Christ. When the child reaches conscious age, the recipient will have to explain to him the basics of the Orthodox faith, take him to Communion and take care of his moral condition. When choosing godparents for their children, parents should be guided primarily not by considerations of their high social or property status, but by the confidence that future godparents, themselves being faithful children of the Orthodox Church, will be able to fulfill the responsibilities that the institution of succession imposes on them.

Who cannot be a godparent?

According to the norms of the Synodal period of the Russian Church, “the insane, completely ignorant of the faith, as well as criminals, obvious sinners and all persons in general who have fallen low in public opinion due to their moral behavior cannot be recipients... Those who have not attended confession and Holy Communion 5-10 years, of course, due to negligence, cannot give those received from the font guidance and edification in their lives, which is the responsibility of the recipients.”
At the moment, there are several categories of people who cannot be recipients specific person according to a number of criteria. This is a certain degree of kinship, and monastic vows given by the person who wants to be offered to become the successor of a child or adult.
The following persons cannot be godparents.
1. Monks and nuns.
2. Parents for their own children.
3. Persons who are married to each other (or the bride and groom) cannot baptize one baby, because with a spiritual relationship, married life is unacceptable. In this case, spouses are allowed to be the adoptive parents of different children of the same parents, but at different times.
4. Non-believers.
5. Unbaptized.
6. Minors.
7. Mentally abnormal (mentally ill) people.
8. Persons who came to the temple drunk.
As a last resort, Baptism is allowed without recipients, then the priest himself is considered the godfather. Father and mother can be present at Baptism own child. But the mother of the person being baptized may not be allowed to participate in the Sacrament if the prayer of the 40th day is not read over her.
Two small prayers from godparents for their godchildren:
“Lord Jesus Christ, be Thy mercy upon my godson (my goddaughter) (names), keep him (her) under Your roof, cover him (her) from every evil lust, drive away from him (her) every enemy and adversary, open to him ( her) ears and eyes of the heart, grant tenderness and humility to his (her) heart.”
“Save, Lord, and have mercy on my godson (my) (names) and enlighten him (her) with the light of the mind of Your Holy Gospel and guide him (her) on the path of Your commandments and teach him (her), O Savior, to do his will Yours, for You are our God, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Order of performance (rites) of the Sacrament of Baptism

The surest way to understand spiritual meaning each Sacrament is a deep study of its rite (rite), that is, the sequence of sacred rites and prayers. The Sacrament itself, through its visible image (that is, sacred rites and prayers), has an uplifting spiritual effect on the souls of believers, since a person immersed in sensory life needs external signs in order to become capable of contemplating invisible objects. Therefore, the entire ritual composition of the Sacraments and Orthodox worship in general, permeated with symbolism, should be perceived by the consciousness of believers as a path to communion with God.

Scheme of worship Sacraments of Baptism Prayers and rituals preceding Baptism The following prayers precede Baptism.
1. Prayers for a baby’s birthday ( “on the first day before the wife gave birth to a boy”).
2. Prayer for naming a name on the eighth day (“to designate a child who receives a name on his eighth birthday”).
3. Prayers for the 40th day (“for a woman in labor, forty days each”).

Following the order of announcement

1. Prayer of announcement ( “to create the catechumen”).
2. Prayers for banning evil spirits.
3. Renunciation of Satan.
4. Confession of fidelity ( "combination") Christ.
5. Confession of the Creed.

Consequence of Holy Baptism

Before Epiphany, the font is censed and candles are lit on its eastern side. The priest’s initial exclamation is the same as at the Liturgy: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
1. Blessing of water.
2. Blessing of the oil.
3. Baptism.
4. Dressing the newly baptized person in white robes.

Rituals and prayers preceding Baptism

The meaning of preparatory rites. The Russian Church is experiencing a unique moment in its history. Today, as in the ancient Christian Church, to Sacrament of Baptism adults, fully formed personalities, come running. That Sacrament, which over the past few centuries before the tragedy of the beginning of the 20th century was performed almost exclusively on infants, became the lot of adults. In this regard, according to the logic of things, the institution of catechumens (catechumens), that is, persons consciously preparing to join the Church, should have been restored. Indeed, in the ancient Church, those preparing to receive Baptism were gradually introduced into its life. Over a significant period of time, which ranged from 40 days to three years, they studied the truths of faith, read the Holy Scriptures, and took part in common prayers. The important point was that the bishop, to whom the person wishing to be baptized came, tested his moral qualities and the sincerity of his desire to become a Christian. It is clear that much of this practice of the early Christian Church in modern conditions By various reasons impossible. But the catechetical conversations before Baptism, reading by catechumens Holy Scripture, Orthodox literature of relevant content, common prayers in the temple are not only available, but should also be mandatory. Sacrament of Baptism it should not be profaned and turned into an ethnographic ritual performed with goals that have nothing to do with the essence of Christianity. Moreover, the preparatory rites, which were of significant importance for the early Church, did not disappear and did not subsequently become “infantile” (due to the age of those brought to Baptism), but to this day they have retained the “adult” rites, which have always been an integral part of this Sacrament. Thus, preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism of an adult serves his conscious entry into the Orthodox Church.
Concerning Baptism infants, who, also according to the faith of their parents, are brought to an Orthodox church, then here it is necessary to adhere to the centuries-old practice of the Church. It is based on Canonical provisions: the already mentioned 124th rule of the Carthage Council and the 84th rule of the VI Ecumenical Council (680), which prescribe not to interfere Baptism babies. The Fathers of the Church also left direct indications of the need for their Baptism: “Do you have a baby? - Do not allow time for the damage to worsen; let him be sanctified in infancy and consecrated to the Spirit from his youth.”(St. Gregory the Theologian. "Word on Epiphany").

Following the order of announcement

Preparing adults for Baptism. An adult who wishes to be baptized must have an understanding of the most important components of the Orthodox faith. If the person being baptized did not go to public conversations, then he must independently obtain the knowledge that is given there from Orthodox literature of the relevant content. He must know the main part of the dogmatic teaching about the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Son of God, His Sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection, about the Church of Christ and the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Communion, and other absolutely necessary information of a catechetical nature. In addition, it is necessary to know by heart the Creed (which can be found in any prayer book) and two most important prayers: the Lord’s Prayer ( "Our Father...") And “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...”. An adult should, if possible, prepare himself for Sacrament of Baptism a three-day (or better yet, seven-day) fast, that is, refusal to eat meat, dairy foods and eggs, alcohol, smoking, rude expressions, as well as reconciliation with those with whom he is in a quarrel. Those living in marriage need to abstain from marital communication during this time. Preparation for the celebration of the Sacrament in the temple is accompanied by special prayers that open the rite of announcement. But before reading these prayers, the priest performs a number of other actions: the priest loosens (unties) the belt of the one who wants to be enlightened (to be baptized), and undresses (undresses) and strips (frees from clothes) him, and places him to the east in a single robe, ungirdled, unveiled, and without shoes , having his hands down (down), and blows on his face three times, and marks his forehead and chest three times, and lays his hand on his head. The threefold cross-shaped blow on the person being baptized symbolically recalls the moment of creation: the Lord God created man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Just as when God created man, he breathed the breath of life into his face, so when he is recreated, the priest blows three times on the face of the person being baptized. After this, the priest blesses the person being baptized three times and, laying his hand on his head, begins reading prayers. The hand of the clergyman at this moment symbolizes the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and the fact that it lies on the head is a symbol of protection, refuge and blessing.
Babies at the moment of onset Sacraments of Baptism should be in only diapers, which the priest opens so that the baby’s face and chest are free.
Youths (over seven years old) and adults cover their bodies while reading prayers and blessing water with a sheet they brought with them. At the very moment of Baptism, the sheet must be removed. In addition, all strangers who are not directly involved in the baptism must be removed from the baptismal center. Sacraments of Baptism.
On this day, a newly baptized person will become a full member of the Church of Christ and will be able to begin the second, most important of the Sacraments - Communion. To do this, he needs to come to the temple on an empty stomach (not eat or drink from 12 o'clock at night the previous day until he takes communion).

Prayers to ban evil spirits

According to the teachings of the Church, based on biblical evidence, prophetic revelations and its mystical experience, the source of evil in the world is not abstract, but is most definitely personified in fallen spiritual beings. These are active demonic forces, the presence and activity of which for most people is not always clear and conscious. Nevertheless, their activities, marked at the dawn of mankind by the expulsion of the ancestors from Paradise, remain as destructive as before.
A person who wants to accept Baptism, one must be prepared for the fact that conditions may arise that are not natural for him in normal times: passionate habits will intensify and sinful thoughts, indifference to what is happening will appear, causeless anger, arrogance, vain thoughts and more will arise. All this is evidence of the increased influence of demonic forces on humans.
That is why in the rite of announcement there are three prayers of prohibition against evil spirits. “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: first, he repels (repels) the devil and all of his actions with Divine names and sacraments that are terrible for him, driving out the devil, commands his demons to flee from man and not to create misfortunes for him. Similarly, the second prohibition drives out demons by the Divine Name. The third prohibition is also a prayer offered to God, begging him to completely expel the evil spirit from God’s creation and establish him in the faith.”(St. Cyril of Jerusalem. "Catechetical Teaching").

Renunciation of Satan

After the prayers of prohibition, the priest turns the baptized person to the west - a symbol of darkness and dark forces. In the rite that follows this rite, the baptized person must renounce his former sinful habits, renounce pride and self-assertion, and, as the Apostle Paul says, put aside his former way of life as the old man, which is corrupted by deceitful lusts (Eph. 4:22). The person being baptized should stand with his hands raised up, symbolizing his submission to Christ. According to John Chrysostom, this is submission “transforms slavery into freedom... returns from a foreign land to his homeland, to Heavenly Jerusalem...”.
The priest will ask him questions, and he will have to consciously answer them. Therefore, both godparents (if a baby is being baptized) and the godson need to know these questions. The priest asks: “Do you deny Satan, and all his works, and all his angels (demons), and all his ministry, and all his pride?” And the catechumen or his recipient answers and says: "I deny". Questions and answers to them are repeated three times. At the Baptism of an infant, either the godfather or the godmother gives answers for him, depending on who is being baptized: a boy or a girl. And further, the priest asks the person being baptized: “Have you renounced Satan?”. And the catechumen or godfather (godfather) answers: "Resigned". The priest also says: "Blow and spit on it". After this, the baptized person stands under the protection of Christ, taking, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, the shield of faith... in order to be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:16).

Confession of fidelity (“combination”) to Christ

After the person being baptized has renounced Satan, the priest turns him to the east: “When you deny Satan, completely breaking off every alliance with him, and the ancient agreement with hell, then God’s paradise opens up to you, planted in the east, from where our forefather was expelled for his crime. Meaning this, you turned from the west to the east, the land of light."(St. Cyril of Jerusalem). At this moment, the hands of the person being baptized are lowered, symbolizing his agreement with Christ and obedience to Him. Then the person being baptized (or the baby’s godfather) confesses his allegiance to Christ three times. And the priest says to him: “Are you compatible (are you compatible) with Christ?”. And the catechumen or recipient answers, saying: "I match". And then the priest again says to him: “Are you compatible with Christ?” And he answers: "Combined". And again he says: “And do you believe Him?”. And he says: “I believe in Him as a King and God”.
This is a very serious decision - because it is forever. Further - only faith and fidelity, regardless of any circumstances, for, according to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:62).

Confession of the Creed

The Creed contains in abbreviated form the entire Orthodox doctrine, all Christian truths. Both in ancient times and now, knowledge of the Creed - necessary condition in order to come to Baptism.
The Creed is divided into 12 members. The first clause speaks about God the Father, then through the seventh inclusive - about God the Son, in the eighth - about God the Holy Spirit, in the ninth - about the Church, in the tenth - about Baptism, in the eleventh - about the resurrection of the dead, in the twelfth - about eternal life . In the ancient Church there were several short creeds, but when false teachings about God the Son and God the Holy Spirit appeared in the 4th century, the need arose to supplement and clarify them. Modern Symbol of Faith was compiled by the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, held in 325 in Nicaea (the first seven members of the Symbol) and the Second Ecumenical Council, held in 381 in Constantinople (the remaining five members).

Creed:

1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

2. 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, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were.
3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from Heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
5. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures
6. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7. And again the coming one will judge with glory the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
9. Into One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
10. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.
11. Tea of the Resurrection of the Dead
12. And the life of the Future Age. Amen."

At the end of the reading of the Creed, the priest says to the person being baptized: “And he answers (says the person being baptized): "Combine". And again he says (the priest repeats): “And do you believe Him?”. And he says (says the person being baptized): “I believe in Him as a King and God”.
Then the Creed is read two more times. After the person being baptized reads the Creed a second time, the same questions and answers follow. The third time the priest asks the question three times and after the person being baptized answers "Combine" says the following: "And worship Him." After these words of the priest, the newly baptized person, making the sign of the cross, bows towards the altar, saying: “I adore the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible”. For a believer, this worship of God is necessary to overcome his pride and establish true freedom and dignity in Christ.

Consequence of Holy Baptism

Before performing the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest dresses in white robes: stole, brace and phelonion. These priestly robes symbolize the new life brought to earth by the Lord Jesus Christ. Incense is performed on the font and on all those present during the Sacrament. As already mentioned, the role of the godfather is extremely important, who is called the godfather “by birth of the Holy Spirit” and thus becomes a close relative (second degree of kinship) to the baby’s physical parents. His duties include constantly reminding his godson the contents of the vows given to God at Baptism, the truths of the Christian faith and the way of life that should be characteristic of a Christian. The ultimate goal of the godson is to raise his godson in Orthodox faith, in the spirit and power of godliness.

The substance of the Sacrament and the consecration of water

One of the most important parts of the ceremony begins Baptism- consecration of water for performing the Sacrament. The substance of the Sacrament - water - is one of the most ancient and universal religious symbols. Blessing of water for Baptism- one of the most important parts of rites. This is evidenced by the fact that even in the abbreviated “fear for the sake of death” rank Baptism Where such essential parts of the rite as the prohibition of evil spirits and the singing of the Creed are omitted, the prayer for the blessing of water should always be preserved. Use when Baptism Epiphany water, like any water blessed at prayer services in general, is not allowed. Only when Baptism infants by the laity “fear for the sake of death” can be used both previously consecrated and plain water. Baptism should be done in water at room temperature, and in winter time years - in a heated one. The water must be clean, without any admixture and odorless. The font or, in extreme cases, another vessel used to perform the Sacrament is strictly prohibited from being subsequently used for other purposes. After Baptism water from the font should be poured into a dry well on the temple grounds. If it is absent, go to a clean place that is not trampled underfoot - under a tree, under a temple, or in a river. It is unacceptable to store water for Baptism in the font for several days. If a baby is baptized, then the font in which it will be performed Baptism, placed in the center of the baptismal chapel. On the eastern side of the font, three candles are lit on a special holder. On the left side of the font there is a lectern on which the Cross, Gospel and baptismal box are placed. For Baptism For adults, pools (baptisteries) are made in churches, which allows the Sacrament to be performed by complete three-time immersion of the baptized person. The priest stands in front of the font, immediately behind him are the godparents holding the baby in their arms. If the person being baptized is an adult, his recipients stand behind him. The recipients are given candles. The first exclamation of ceremonies Baptism: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.”- currently begins only the three most important types of worship - Sacrament of Baptism, Eucharist and Sacrament of Marriage.
Next, the priest pronounces the Great Litany with petitions added to it for the blessing of water. At the end of all prayers for the consecration of water, the priest marks (baptizes) the water three times, immersing his fingers in the water, and, blowing on it, says: “Let all opposing forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your Cross”(three times).
This ends the consecration of water.

Priest's Preparatory Prayer

The preparatory prayer is part of the rite of blessing of water. By and large, this is the priest’s prayer for himself. A prayer to be worthy of your great mission. Likeness to Christ in word, in life, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Tim. 4:12) should be every day, and especially obvious during the hours of worship. The Church teaches that the grace given in the Sacrament of Baptism in no way depends on the moral qualities of the clergyman performing it.
But the Lord Jesus Christ said to all of us: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”(Matthew 5:48) and, of course, first of all this applies to the clergyman performing the divine service. Therefore, the personal spiritual state of the priest, regardless of the effectiveness of the Sacrament, is very important for the salvation of both himself and his spiritual children and the entire flock as a whole.

Blessing of the oil

The vessel for the blessed oil and the brush must be signed: “Holy Oil,” and the vessel and the brush for the Holy Chrism, stored in the same place, must differ in appearance or should also have the inscription: “Holy Chrism.”
It is unacceptable to mix Holy Myrrh and oil during anointing.
The sequence of consecration of oil is similar to the sequence of consecration of water. First, demonic forces are expelled by blowing into a vessel with oil three times and making the sign of the cross three times. This is followed by remembering the significance of oil in salvation history and thanking God for this gift of healing, peace, spiritual strength and life: “... Bless this oil yourself with the power, and the action, and the influx of Your Holy Spirit, as if it were the anointing of incorruptibility, the weapon of righteousness, the renewal of soul and body, the driving away of every action of the devil, for the change of all evils, those who are anointed by faith or who eat from it to Your glory, and Your Only Begotten Son, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.”.
The priest “anoints” the water in the font or baptistery with blessed oil. Priest singing "Alleluia" three times with people, makes crosses three times with oil in water. The person being baptized is also anointed with oil, his body parts: forehead (forehead), chest, interdoramia (back between the shoulder blades), ears, arms and legs. The purpose of such anointing is to sanctify the thoughts, desires and actions of a person entering into a spiritual covenant with God. Oil, unlike the water used in the Sacrament of Baptism, can be consecrated in advance for future use.

Baptism

After anointing the person being baptized with the “oil of gladness,” the priest baptizes him in the font by immersing him three times in water and saying the baptismal prayer. And when the whole body is anointed, the priest baptizes him, holding him right (that is, straight) and looking (looking) to the east, saying: “The servant of God (or the servant of God, named) is baptized in the name of the Father...”(immerses the baptized person in water). And, rising from the water, he says: "Amen". Immersing it a second time, he says: "And the Son...". And, rising from the font: "Amen". Immersing for the third time, he says: "And the Holy Spirit...". And, rising from the font: "Amen". And further: “Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen". After the baptized person comes out of the water, he must turn to face the altar. At this moment, the 31st Psalm is sung three times, expressing the joy of cleansing from sins and entering into the Church of Christ: “Blessed are those who have abandoned iniquity, and those who have hidden behind sin. Blessed is the man, the Lord will not impute sin to him; there is flattery in his mouth...".

Dressing the newly baptized person in white robes

Just as at the beginning of the rite of announcement the baptized person was freed from clothes, so after the ceremony Sacraments of Baptism a new member of the Church of Christ is dressed in white clothes: a baptismal shirt of the appropriate size. Dressing the baptized person in white clothing, which the Church Fathers call “a shining robe, a royal robe, an incorruptible robe”, is a sign of the restoration of his true nature, lost by all humanity due to the fall of our ancestors. And dressing him in his robe, the priest says: “The servant of God (servant of God, named) is clothed in the robe of righteousness, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen”. At this moment the troparion is sung: “Give me a robe of light; dress in light like a robe, O most merciful Christ our God.”.
After it is put on the baptized person white clothes, a pectoral cross is placed on his neck, according to the ancient tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the same time, the priest can pronounce the words of the Savior: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and come after Me.”(Mark 8:34). Or other words: “Entrusted to the servant of God (servant of God, named) The Cross is the guardian of the entire universe, the Cross is the power of kings and nations, the Cross is the affirmation of believers, the Cross is the glory of Angels and the defeat of demons.”.

Chapters from the book (abbreviated) “Handbook of an Orthodox person. Sacraments of the Orthodox Church"(Danilovsky Blagovestnik, Moscow, 2007)

Baptism of a baby: what parents need to know

For Orthodox baptism- this is the second (but in a certain sense the main) spiritual birth of a person, his purification for subsequent existence, a kind of “pass” to heaven - the Kingdom of God. The newly enlightened person receives remission of previous sins. That is why Baptism, among all the Sacraments, is the first sacrament and is necessary for every person seeking salvation and the meaning of life.

God-parents

Who are godparents?

The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. This is the purification of the soul and the spiritual birth of a person. According to the tradition of the Church, an infant should be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life. It is clear that at this age it is impossible to demand from him faith and repentance - the two main conditions for union with God. Therefore, godparents are assigned to them, who undertake to raise their godchildren in the spirit of Orthodoxy. So the choice of godparents should be approached with all responsibility. After all, in theory, they should become a second mother and a second father for your baby.

How to choose godparents?

When choosing a godfather for your baby, find someone you trust completely. These could be your close friends or relatives with whom you constantly maintain good relationships. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, the godparents are obliged to replace them with the godson.

Only an Orthodox believer who is able to give an account of his faith can be a godfather. Actually, a boy needs only a godfather, and a girl only needs a godmother. But according to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. At your request there can be two, four, six...

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, godparents cannot be:
- parents cannot be godparents of their child;
- husband and wife godparents of one baby;
- children (according to the decrees of the Holy Synod of 1836-1837, the godfather must be no younger than 15 years old, and the godmother no younger than 13 years old), because they are not yet able to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized, and they themselves do not know enough about the laws of Orthodoxy;
- immoral and insane people: the first because they do not deserve to be godparents by their very way of life, and the second because, due to illness, they are unable to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized or teach him the faith;
- non-Orthodox - the successors of the Orthodox.

What are the responsibilities of godparents?

Unfortunately, not every godparent understands why his new “position” is called that way. Visiting your godson and giving gifts on an angel’s or birthday day is, of course, good. However, this is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson involves a lot.

First of all, this is a prayer for him. Learn to turn to God once a day - before going to bed. It's actually not difficult at all. Ask the Lord for health, salvation, help in raising your own children, the well-being of godchildren and relatives. It will be useful to master the path to the temple together with your child and take him to communion on a church holiday. It would be great to play educational games with your baby and read books to him. For example, many adults enjoy reading the children's Bible. It clearly describes all the main events of Sacred History.

In addition, godparents can make life much easier for young mothers who find it difficult to find time to spend with their baby. If everyone, to the best of their ability, spends their free hours communicating with the child, then they themselves will enjoy it.

Appearance of godparents

At the ceremony, the godparents (this is another name for the godfather) must come with the consecrated to the church pectoral crosses. In tradition Slavic peoples in the temple, women always had a covered head and a dress below the knees with covered shoulders(little girls may be an exception). You should not wear high-heeled shoes, as the baptism ceremony lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours and most time you will have to stand with the child in your arms. As for men, there are no requirements for their clothing, but it is better to refrain from shorts and T-shirts. Such an outfit would look out of place in church.

Let the good old order not become burdensome for you, because your beautiful trousers and new fashionable haircut can be demonstrated in other places. In church, it is better not to attract attention to yourself, focusing on the purpose of your parish.

Preparation for the ceremony

Currently, the ritual is performed mainly in churches. Only in exceptional cases, if, say, a child is very ill, can the sacrament be performed at home or in a hospital. Then a separate clean room must be allocated for the ceremony.

To baptize a child, you must first choose a church. Walk through the temples, listen to your feelings. But keep in mind that baptism does not always take place directly in the church. Most cathedrals have a baptismal chamber (or baptistery) - this is a separate room on the church grounds, specially adapted for this rite. In large churches, baptism usually takes place quite pompously and solemnly. But perhaps someone will like the secluded and calm atmosphere of small churches. Talk to the priest or the novices, they will tell you in detail about how the baptismal ceremony takes place in this church.

How to choose the day of baptism?

There is no church establishment of Baptism on the fortieth day; this is primarily due to the fact that until the fortieth day the Church keeps a woman-parent from entering the temple due to her postpartum infirmities and discharges that she experiences at this time. And the mother’s first entry into the temple after the break is accompanied by the reading of special cleansing prayers, before reading which she should not be present at the services.
But you don’t need to take the day of baptism literally; you can baptize the baby a little later, a little earlier. And now sometimes, at the request of the parents, a child is baptized before the fortieth day, especially when there is at least some danger to the child’s health (baptism in this case is considered as a protective rite).

In ancient times, the celebration of the sacrament was most often timed to coincide with the greatest Christian holidays, for example for Easter. But gradually baptism turned into a family holiday. And now, on the contrary, the ritual is carried out almost every day, with the exception of such large church holidays like Christmas, Easter, Trinity. These days, churches are usually overcrowded and priests advise postponing the ceremony. You can come to most temples without an appointment. Usually the sacrament of baptism begins at 10 o'clock, immediately after the service. True, in this case there is a high probability that several other people will be baptized besides you and you will either have to wait, or you will be baptized along with others. It is much more convenient to agree in one or two weeks with the priest who will perform the sacrament on a specific date and time. Then your baby will be baptized first and in splendid isolation. In addition, when choosing the day of baptism, try to ensure that it does not fall on critical days godmother. The fact is that during this period a woman should not venerate shrines: kiss the cross, icons, or better not enter the temple at all.

Preparing godparents for the baptismal ceremony

If you want to follow all the rules, start preparing for the ceremony in advance. Godparents need to go to church to confess, repent of their sins and receive communion. It is advisable (but not necessary) to fast for three to four days before the ceremony. But on the day of baptism, as well as before communion, godparents are not allowed to eat or have sex. At least one of the parents must know the “Creed” prayer by heart. As a rule, when a girl is baptized, the Creed is read by the godmother, and when a boy is baptized, by the father.

And one more thing: according to the unspoken rule, godparents bear all the costs of baptism. In some churches there are no official prices; it is believed that after the ceremony, godparents and guests make donations as much as they can. These costs are optional and their amount is not specified anywhere. But the custom is, as a rule, respected.

By church custom, the godmother buys kryzhma or “rizka”. This special fabric, or simply a towel in which the child is wrapped when taken out of the font. In addition, the godmother gives a baptismal shirt and a cap with lace and ribbons (for boys - with blue ones, for girls - with pink ones, respectively). The baptismal shirt is kept for life. According to custom, the towel is not washed after the child’s baptism, but is used if the child is sick.

The godfather, again according to custom, buys a baptismal cross and chain. Some believe that the cross and chain should be gold, some - silver, and some are of the opinion that small children should wear a cross on a ribbon or string.
What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian needs to know the basic prayers: “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God”, “Creed”. During baptism, the godparents say the “Creed” prayer for the baby. All these prayers are in a short prayer book, which can be purchased at the church store if desired.

What to bring to the temple?

As already mentioned, baptism is birth into a new sinless life. Receiving the newly baptized person from the holy font, the godparents accept an absolutely pure being, without sin. A symbol of such purity is white clothing - kryzhma, which is brought to the temple along with a cross on a chain or thread. Who should buy a cross and who should buy a chain, let the godparents decide for themselves. At the end of the ceremony, the priest will bless them and put them on the baby.

Kryzhma for small child An openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt or a new towel that has not yet been washed will serve.

What happens during the sacrament of baptism?

The priest, godparents and child are the main participants in the sacrament. According to ancient customs, the child’s mother and father should not be present when the sacrament is performed. Although recently the church has been more loyal to this prohibition and allows the father, and sometimes the mother of the baby, after pronouncing special prayer observe the ceremony together with those invited.

Throughout the entire ceremony, the recipients stand next to the priest and one of them holds the person being baptized in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the baptismal room or temple and reads three prayers. After which he asks the godparents and godson to turn their faces to the west - symbolically this is the abode of Satan. And, turning to the person being baptized, he asks several questions.

Questions and answers are repeated three times. After this, the godparents must read the “Symbol of Faith” - this summary the fundamentals of the Christian faith, which all Orthodox Christians should know by heart. Then the anointing takes place. Having dipped the brush into a vessel with myrrh, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs of the person being baptized with a cross. And with each anointing he says: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents and the priest repeat: “Amen.”

After anointing, a lock of hair is cut from the head, which remains in the temple as a pledge of dedication and a symbol of sacrifice to God. If a child is being baptized in the cold season or conditions do not allow him to undress (low temperature in the baptism room), free the baby’s arms and legs in advance.

Then the priest takes the child from them and directly performs the rite of baptism - immersing the person being baptized three times in the font. If the baptismal room is warm, then most likely your baby will be dipped naked. But when it is cold in the temple, only the neck, arms and feet are exposed for anointing. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. That is why godparents are also called godparents. It is believed that, having accepted the baby in their arms after the ceremony, parents undertake the obligation to raise their godson throughout their lives. Orthodox spirit and be held accountable for this upbringing at the Last Judgment. If they cannot see their godson often, they should at least mention him in their daily prayers.

Prayer Creed

I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.

For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, He came down from heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sat on right side Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His Kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped with the Father and the Son, and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church.

I recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come.