Preparing the godparents for baptism prayer. Baptism of a child - conducting a sacrament Preparing the godmother for baptism

Complete collection and description: preparing the godparents for baptism prayer for the spiritual life of a believer.

Our Father, Who art in heaven!

Hallowed be thy name, may thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth.

Give us our daily bread;

and leave us our debts, as we also leave our debtors;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Our Father who art in heaven!

Hallowed be thy name;

Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be done, as in heaven, on earth;

Give us our daily bread this day;

And forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors;

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The next powerful and obligatory baptismal prayer is the "Symbol of Faith."

It is advisable, in preparation for the sacrament, to learn the Symbol of Faith by heart, in extreme cases, sight reading is permissible. This prayer contains, in the form of brief formulations, the entire Orthodox faith - that is, what Christians believe in, what it means, what it is directed to or for what purpose they believe in it. Both in the ancient Church and in subsequent times, knowledge of the Creed was a prerequisite in order to come to Baptism. This fundamental Christian prayer should be known to the godparents of infants, adults and children of conscious age who are receiving Baptism. The Creed is divided into 12 members - 12 brief statements. The first term speaks of 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 brief creeds, but when false teachings about God the Son and God the Holy Spirit appeared in the 4th century, it became necessary to supplement and clarify this prayer. The modern Creed was compiled by the fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea in 325 (the first seven members of the Creed) and by the fathers of the 2nd Ecumenical Council, held in 381 in Constantinople. (the other five members) Therefore, the full title of this prayer is the Nikaotzaregrad Symbol of Faith.

The third prayer for the baptism of a child for the godfather and godmother is "Virgin Mary, rejoice." She entered the list of prayer texts for baptism, since the church raises the Mother of God above all saints and angels. By the way, this prayer is also called "Angelic greeting", since it was composed according to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, with which he greeted the Mother of God, telling her that she gave birth to the Savior.

The text of this prayer is as follows:

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

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

Additional prayers for godparents

Prayer to the Lord for children and godchildren

God, our gracious and heavenly Father!

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

You and whom we deliver to Your care and protection.

Put in them strong faith, teach them to revere you and vouch for them

to love You, our Creator and Savior.

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

for the glory of your name.

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

and helpful people.

Give them mental and physical health and success in their labors.

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

passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.

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

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

with all the righteous have always thanked You with Your only-begotten Son and

by your life-giving Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for children and godchildren, father John (Krestyankin)

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart!

You have given me children according to the flesh, they are yours for your soul.

You redeemed both mine and their souls with Your invaluable Blood.

For the sake of Thy Divine Blood, I beg Thee, my sweetest Savior,

with your grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names),

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

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

Decorate their lives with all the kind and saving ones, arrange their fate like

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

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

give me a righteous heart to keep thy commandments,

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

Prayers for the person who is being baptized

A person who wants to receive Baptism needs to be prepared for the fact that conditions may arise that are not natural for him in ordinary times: passionate habits and sinful thoughts will intensify, 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 a person. 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, it cuts off (repels) the devil and his every action by divine names and mysteries that are terrible for him, expelling the devil, commands his demons to flee from a person and not to do him misfortunes. Likewise, the second prohibition expels demons in the Divine Name. The third prohibition is at the same time a prayer offered up to God, beseeching to completely expel the wicked spirit from the creation of God and to establish it in the faith "(St. Cyril of Jerusalem." Announcement lesson ").

Denying Satan

After prayers of prohibition, the priest turns the baptized person to the west - a symbol of darkness and dark forces. In the next rite after this, the baptized person must reject the previous sinful habits, give up pride and self-affirmation, and, as the Apostle Paul says, put off the old way of life of the old man, decaying in seductive lusts(Eph. 4; 22).

The baptized person must stand with uplifted (raised up) hands, symbolizing his submission to Christ. According to John Chrysostom, this submission "turns 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, these questions need to be known both to the godparents (if a baby is baptized) and to the godson.

"Do you deny Satan, and all his deeds, and all his aggels (demons), and all his ministry, and all his pride?"

And the catechuchman or his recipient answers, and says: "I am denied."

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

"Have you denied Satan?"

And the catechuchman or recipient answers(godfather) him:

Same the priest says:

"And blow, and spit on him."

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

Confession of fidelity ("combination") to Christ

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

Then the baptized (or the baby godfather) confesses fidelity to Christ three times.

And speaks(is talking) him a priest:

"Are you (are you combined) with Christ?"

And the catechuchman or recipient answers, verb:

And then - packs the priest says to him:

Prayer for the godparents at baptism

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

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

Prayer for the godparents at baptism

When going to church for baptism, it is necessary to put on a cross, refuse to use decorative cosmetics, and as for clothes, a woman must certainly wear a skirt below the knees. Before the beginning of the ritual, the priest must hold a conversation with potential godparents.

It is important not only to know the prayer texts by heart, but also to understand their meaning. During the sacrament, the priest pronounces them, so you can simply repeat the words after him in a whisper. The first and most important prayer, not only for the godparents, but also for all believers, is “Our Father”. It turns to God to help cope with existing temptations, to give food for life and to forgive sins. The text of the prayer to the godmother and father at baptism is as follows:

The next powerful and obligatory baptismal prayer is the "Symbol of Faith." It contains 12 short formulations of all Orthodox faiths. Saying a prayer, a person claims that he believes in God, who created heaven and earth, in his Son Jesus, who came down to earth for the salvation of people and endured torment, and then resurrected. Mentioned in prayer and about the Holy Spirit, which is worshiped by believers, as well as faith in baptism and eternal life. Godfathers, adults, as well as children of a conscious age must certainly know this important prayer. The prayer "Symbol of Faith", which is read by the godparents at baptism, sounds like this:

The third prayer for the baptism of a child for the godfather and godmother is "Virgin Mary, rejoice." She entered the list of prayer texts for baptism, since the church raises the Mother of God above all saints and angels. By the way, this prayer is also called "Angelic greeting", since it was composed according to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, with which he greeted the Mother of God, telling her that she gave birth to the Savior. The text of this prayer is as follows:

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

It is also worth figuring out which saints the godparents should pray for their godchildren. It is recommended to contact the saints as often as possible, which will protect the child from various problems and direct him in the right direction. The time for reading prayers does not matter, and you can say them both in the morning and in the evening. It is recommended to turn to the Savior in prayer texts, as well as to the Mother of God. It is best to do this in front of the icon of the Savior Jesus Christ and the Vladimir Mother of God.

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Baby Baptism: What Parents Need to Know

For Orthodox Christians, baptism 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 paradise - 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 the godparents?

The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. This is the cleansing of the soul and the spiritual birth of a person. According to the tradition of the Church, a baby should be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life. It is clear that at such an 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 the obligation to educate 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 mom and a second dad for your baby.

How to choose godparents?

When choosing a godfather for your little one, find someone you trust completely. These can be close friends or relatives with whom you maintain a good relationship at all times. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, the godparents are obliged to replace their godson.

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

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, recipients (godparents) cannot be:

• parents cannot be godfathers of their child;
• husband and wife are godparents of one infant;
• children (according to the decrees of the Holy Synod of 1836-1837, the godfather must be at least 15 years old, and the godmother must be at least 13 years old), because they are not yet able to vouch for the faith of the baptized person, and they themselves do not know the laws of Orthodoxy;
• people are immoral and insane: the former because they do not deserve to be godparents by their very way of life, and the latter because, due to illness, they are not able to vouch for the faith of the baptized person, or teach him the faith;
• the non-Orthodox are the recipients of the Orthodox.

What are the duties of godparents

Unfortunately, not every godparent can imagine why his new "position" is called this way. It is good to visit the godson and give gifts for the day of an angel or birth. However, it is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson includes a lot.

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

In addition, godparents can make life much easier for young mothers who find it difficult to find time to work with their baby. If everyone, to the best of their ability, spends free hours in communication with the child, then he himself will enjoy this.

The appearance of the godparents

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

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 the church, it is better not to draw attention to yourself, focusing on the purpose of your ward.

Preparing for the ceremony

Currently, the ceremony is performed mainly in temples. Only in exceptional cases, if, for example, the child is very sick, the sacrament can be performed at home or in the hospital. Then a separate clean room is necessarily allocated for the ceremony.

To baptize a baby, you must first of all 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 (or baptistery) - this is a separate room on the territory of the church, specially adapted for this rite. In large churches, baptism usually takes place quite magnificently and solemnly. But, perhaps, someone will like the secluded and calm atmosphere of small churches. Talk to the priest or novices, they will tell you in detail how the baptismal ceremony takes place in this church.

How to choose the day of your baptism?

There is no church institution of Baptism on the fortieth day, this is primarily due to the fact that until the fortieth day the Church keeps the parent woman from entering the temple because of her postpartum infirmities and expirations that she has at this time. And the first entry of the mother 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 do not need to take the day of baptism directly, you can baptize the baby a little later, a little earlier. And now sometimes, at the request of the parents, they baptize the child until the fortieth day, especially when there is at least some danger to the health of the child (baptism in this case is considered a protective rite).

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

Preparing the godparents for the rite of baptism

If you want to comply with all the rules, start preparing for the ceremony in advance. Godfathers 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 cannot eat and have sex. At least one of the parents must know the Symbol of Faith prayer by heart. As a rule, when a girl is baptized, the "Symbol of Faith" is read by the godmother, and when a boy is baptized, by the father.

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

According to church custom, the godmother buys a kryzhma or "garment". This is a special fabric, or just a towel, in which the child is wrapped when taken out of the font. In addition, the godmother gives a christening gown and a cap with lace and ribbons (for a boy - with blue ones, for girls - with pink ones, respectively). The baptismal gown is kept for life. The towel, according to custom, is not washed after the baptism of the child, but is used if the child is sick.

The godfather, again according to custom, buys a baptismal cross and a chain. Some believe that the cross and the chain should be gold, some - silver, while others 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 Mary", "Symbol of Faith". During baptism, the godparents say the Symbol of Faith prayer for the baby. All these prayers are in a short prayer book, which, if desired, can be bought at the church shop.

What to bring to the temple?

As already mentioned, baptism is a birth into a new sinless life. Perceiving the newly baptized from the holy font, the godparents accept an absolutely pure, sin-free being. The symbol of such purity is white clothing - a 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 consecrate them and put them on to the baby.

What happens during the ordinance of baptism?

The priest, godparents, and the child are the main participants in the ordinance. According to ancient customs, the mother and father of the child 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, to observe the ceremony with those invited after saying a special prayer.

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

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

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

Then the priest takes the child away from them and performs the baptismal ceremony directly - three times immersion of the baptized person in the baptismal font. If it is warm in the baptismal room, then, most likely, your baby will be dipped naked. But when it is cold in the temple, only the neck, hands 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 recipients. It is believed that by taking the baby in their arms after the ceremony, the parents undertake the obligation to educate their godson in the Orthodox spirit throughout their life and to be held accountable for this upbringing at the Last Judgment. If they cannot often see their godson, then they should at least mention him in their daily prayers.

Prayer Symbol of Faith

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

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

For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation descended from heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became a man.

Crucified for us under the Pontic Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits on the right side of the Father.

And again coming in glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, who gives life, proceeding from the Father, adored with the Father and the Son, and glorified, speaking through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

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

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Parents need to choose good godparents before baptizing their child. Then the parents of the child and the godparents undergo a special interview with the priest, register for a specific time and day when the sacrament will be performed. You will also need to know certain Christian prayers for memory, prepare a baptismal set for a baby, a baptismal towel, a pectoral cross with a chain. The pectoral cross serves as an image of our life cross, which manifests itself in all sorrows, joys, worries and concerns. If a person carries his life cross with dignity and without murmurings, then he will rejoice at his salvation and will be in paradise abodes. The task of the godparents and the parents of the baby is to show him a good example with their lives, to teach the basic principles of Christian behavior and worldview.

What you need to know before baptizing a child

Parents of the child and his godparents should know certain Christian prayers, which include the prayer "Our Father", "Heavenly King", "Virgin Mary, rejoice", and also know by heart, or at least be able to read well. When you come with a baby to church for his baptism, you need to know why you want to do it. Parents and godparents always wish the child well and good. The highest blessing for every person is the salvation of his soul. The life that is given to us on earth is temporary and fleeting; it is a preparation for eternity. The eternal fate of the soul depends on how we live it. If a child is baptized, they will pray for him in church and at home, he will be brought up in a Christian spirit, strive to do good deeds and please God, then there will be all chances for the salvation of his soul. And this is the goal and responsibility that is entrusted to parents and godparents by God himself.

The baptism of a child is an event that occurs only once in a lifetime. It should be a stepping stone on the path of the spiritual ladder. Walking up the stairs is always more difficult than going down. The same applies to the spiritual life: doing good deeds, especially when we don’t feel like it, is much more difficult than relaxing and allowing ourselves to say or do something thoughtlessly. In the Holy Scriptures it is written that for every idle word, i.e. thoughtless, a person will be held accountable before God on the day of the Last Judgment. Raising a child is a very difficult and responsible job. After baptism, the Lord gives invisible grace not only to the child to grow physically and spiritually, but also to his parents and godparents to properly raise the baby. The main thing is that they listen to the suggestions that the Lord will send through their hearts and thoughts.

Fasting, confession and sacrament before the baptism of a child

There are dioceses of the Orthodox Church where fasting, confession and communion before the baptism of the child of his godparents are a strict requirement for the baptism of a child. In other dioceses, this is expressed in the form of a wish. Fasting, confession, and the sacrament are important aspects of spiritual preparation for the ordinance. Responsible parents and godparents of the baby will have to follow his spiritual life, and this cannot be done without a personal example that the baby will see.

Fasting before the baptism of the child with the godfather and godmother

Godparents who are preparing for the sacrament of confession and communion should eat lean food and pray more for several days. Fasting usually lasts three to seven days. On these days, the godfather and godmother should not eat foods that contain meat, milk and its derivatives, eggs and other animal products. On these days, you need to try to diligently fulfill your morning and evening prayer rule, not watch TV, not engage in empty activities, avoid various entertainment.

Confession before the baptism of a child

The godmother and godfather should prepare well for the confession that will take place before the baptism of their godson or goddaughter. During the confession before the baptism of the child, you need to sincerely tell the priest about those words, thoughts and actions that you regret. Perhaps you have offended someone and brought pain with your thoughtless word. There are people to whom you have not paid enough attention, although they really needed it, and you could have done it. Perhaps you have condemned or envied someone. Before confession, you can retire somewhere, think well and analyze your behavior. The sacrament of confession is called in another way the sacrament of repentance. The word repentance occurs and this sacrament is expressed in Greek by the word "mitanoya", which means "change." After confession, in which you tell about what you repent of, you need to make every effort to make your spiritual change. Those nasty thoughts, words and deeds should be tried to be avoided and tried not to be done again.

The sacrament before the baptism of the child

The Sacrament of Holy Communion or the Eucharist is one of the most amazing moments of the manifestation of God's grace in the life of people. This sacrament cannot be understood by the human mind. However, the soul and body of a Christian perceives the Eucharist to the extent that it is ready for it. During the sacrament, under the guise of bread and wine, believers partake of the very Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, we unite with God Himself. In order to at least a little comprehend this sacrament and prepare for it, before the sacrament, they usually observe fasting and begin the sacrament of confession, and also read special prayers. These prayers are contained in the Orthodox prayer book, they are called "Follow-up to Holy Communion." Also, before this sequence, believing Christians read the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ, the canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the canon to the Guardian Angel and the canon to holy communion. If these prayers are read thoughtfully and reasoned about their meaning, then a picture of the Last Judgment opens up before a person, God's love for righteous people and anger towards sinners. Also, these prayers contain a large number of examples when people who committed very terrible sins, such as fornication and murder, came to repentance and received God's mercy and forgiveness. These prayers are designed to warm up the heart of a Christian, and make him capable of receiving God's grace. Now there are Orthodox prayer books in which there is a parallel translation from the Church Slavonic language into Russian. If you do not have such a prayer book, and you do not understand the meaning of some words, you can search for these prayers in Russian on the Internet. You can print them out and keep them in front of your eyes while reading prayers in Church Slavonic. When you come across an incomprehensible moment or word, you can watch it in Russian.

After the baptism of the child, you need to try in the near future so that the baby also begins the sacrament of Holy Communion.

How should you prepare for the baptism of children? Unfortunately, few parents are aware of all the details of this rite.

Baptism is a new birth of a person for spiritual life, in which he can attain the Kingdom of Heaven. Along with communion, confession, wedding, unction and ordination, baptism is one of the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, which should be treated with full responsibility.

Preparation for the sacrament of baptism presupposes the observance of a number of rules that are provided by the church charter. How much does a baptismal ceremony cost? How to dress for baptism of a child? We will answer these and other questions that are of interest to believers.

How to prepare for a baby's baptism?

First of all, you need to choose a temple where this ceremony will take place, and agree with the priest about the time of the ceremony. It is carried out almost on all days of the week; baptism is often carried out on Saturday.

However, on the days of major church holidays, when solemn services are taking place and many people visit churches, it is better not to carry out this rite. Also, in some parishes during Great Lent, children are baptized only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Talk to the priest the day before, ask him the questions you are interested in, and the priest will tell you in detail what preparation for the ceremony of baptism of a child should include.

When should a baby be baptized?

Usually babies are baptized when they reach 8 or 40 days old. But if the baby is seriously ill, then you can christen him earlier than usual. Some parents are afraid that their beloved child is not enough for such a ceremony, and try to postpone it until later when the child grows up.

However, it does not pose any danger, and according to the testimony of many parents, after that the babies become calmer, grow and develop faster.

Try not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary, so as not to deprive the child of this ordinance for the sake of circumstances. As the priests say, it is the spiritual healing and nourishment for the soul that the baby needs, although he still cannot realize and express it.

However, according to the church's charter, you can become a Christian at any age, and if you did not baptize your son or daughter in infancy, you can do it later. There is an opinion that it is advisable to confess and receive the Holy Communion before a child over 7 years old. However, this is not so, because only baptized people are allowed to these sacraments.

During the baptismal procedure, parents are only present in the temple, but do not participate in the ceremony itself. If the baby is baptized before the 40th day from the time of birth, then his mother cannot enter the temple. Then she can be here after the priest reads a special prayer of permission over her.

How much does it cost to baptize a child?

Many churches provide for a certain amount of donations from believers, which traditionally leaves from 600 to 2 thousand rubles. However, such contributions are voluntary, and if the godparents or the baby's parents are not able to contribute the required amount, then the child must be baptized free of charge.

How to Prepare for Baptism by Godparents?

Parents, preparing for the baptism of a child, must choose godparents for him. They cannot be people who are married to each other, as well as unbelievers and unbaptized people.

Godfathers should be familiar with Orthodox rituals, because if they themselves are ignorant in these matters, then what can they teach the child. In the future, they will need to constantly pray for their wards, tell them about the Lord and the Church, and lead them to Holy Communion in the temple.

It is believed that the spiritual parent of the baby is a person of the same sex, and the second godfather performs a formal function in this procedure. Therefore, it is allowed for a girl to invite only a godmother, and for a boy - a godfather.

According to church rules, the same person can be the godfather of the second child from the same family, if he already had one with the first.

Not only friends and acquaintances of his parents can act as godparents, but also other relatives of the child, for example, his grandfather, grandmother, uncle or aunt. However, the adoptive father or mother, according to the 53rd rule of the VI Ecumenical Council, cannot play this role.

Priests, but not monks, can also be godparents or supporters of the children of their friends, acquaintances or parishioners.

Preparing for the baptism of a child assumes that on the eve of the godparents they have to fast for several days, and then confess and receive communion. In some parishes, they are required to know by heart the prayers that are read during the ceremony ("The Symbol of Faith", etc.). Although often the priest simply asks the godparents to repeat individual phrases after him.

By tradition, the godparents acquire a pectoral cross for the baby and bear the costs associated with the ceremony. The godfather pays for the procedure in the temple and food for the festive table, which is traditionally set after christening.

How to dress for baptism of a child?

The godmother buys the baby a christening outfit - a shirt for a boy or a dress for a girl, a beautiful cap with ribbons and lace. It is advisable that these things are sewn from natural fabrics that do not irritate the delicate baby skin.

After bathing in the font, the baby is wrapped in a snow-white towel - a kryzhma. These consecrated objects should subsequently be carefully kept in the family, and not used in everyday life.

And how to dress an older child for baptism? For him, you need to choose such clothes so that you can easily open your feet, chest and hands for anointing if necessary.

On the eve of baptism, specify how this ceremony will take place - with a full immersion in the baptismal font or only with the washing of the child's head; for one of your little ones or they will be baptized with other children and even adults.

Family members and friends who will be in the temple must dress in a certain way. Sportswear, casual or overly revealing clothing is not suitable for this. Your outfit should be modest and discreet.

Bright makeup, trousers in a women's wardrobe, a deep neckline or high cutouts on dresses are not welcome. Before entering the temple, women will have to put on hats, while men, on the contrary, will have to take them off.

Knowing these details will help you take into account the essentials and be sure that you are fully prepared for your baby's baptism.

The sacrament of baptism is one of the seven great sacraments of the church. It is performed as the first of all the sacraments and symbolizes the spiritual birth of a person, his cleansing from sins. But what sins can a baby have? It turns out that newborn children are sinful before God - they are responsible for the actions of their parents and ancestors. And then there is such a thing as original sin. Therefore, you should not neglect the rite of baptism - this is a very important and responsible step. This means that you should think carefully about how to prepare for the baptism of a child, so that this day becomes a bright and unforgettable holiday. After all, a baptized child is guarded by a guardian angel who accompanies him all his life, protecting him from adversity and disease.

In the old days, it was customary to baptize a child on the eighth or fortieth day after his birth. Why these days? On the eighth day, the newborn was given a name, and forty days later it was allowed to enter the mother's temple, since by this time her body was cleared. The Bible says that boys are baptized on the fortieth day, and girls on the eightieth day. Previously, they were in such a hurry with the christening because there was a fairly high mortality rate among infants and the parents were afraid that the child would die without having time to be baptized. For this reason, you can baptize a baby literally immediately after birth.

There are no strict rules for when to baptize a child. It is up to the parents to decide. But early baptism also has common sense - a small child does not know how to distinguish between friends and foes, so the likelihood that he will be afraid of the priest and start crying is minimal. In addition, up to three months of age, the baby can more easily endure dipping into the font, since he still has reflexes that do not allow him to choke.

If a child was born in the fall or winter and has to be baptized during the cold season, many mothers worry if the baby will catch a cold. In fact, he has very little chance of catching a cold during his christening. The water in the font is heated before the ceremony, and in the church, as a rule, it is warm enough.

It makes sense to baptize a baby early, who was born weak, premature. In some cases, the ceremony is carried out directly in the hospital. After all, a weak child, like no one, needs the protection of higher powers. In such cases, the mother herself can baptize the baby, even without the godparents. Later, when the child gets stronger, one should go to church, explain the situation to the priest and complete the ceremony by performing Confirmation and cutting the curls.

As for the choice of the day of baptism, there are no restrictions - children are baptized both in fasting and on holidays. However, it is worth discussing this moment with the priest with whom you plan to hold the ceremony. The fact is that on the days of fasting and on holidays, the service in the church takes longer than on an ordinary day, and it will be difficult for the priest to allocate time for the ceremony.

The sacrament lasts from about half an hour to an hour. Its duration depends on the number of children who are baptized at the same time. If you want your baby to be baptized separately, you need to take care of this in advance, having agreed with the priest.

How to choose godparents?

There are no hard and fast rules here either. You can choose any person. The main thing is that he be Orthodox, observe the canons of Christianity and be able to introduce your child to the church in the future. It is desirable that the godfather be an adult.

The presence of one godfather is mandatory for the baby: the boy is baptized by a man, and a girl is baptized by a woman. It is the recipient who is of the same sex as the person being baptized who receives him from the font. But in our time, it is customary to take a couple of godparents, which is also not a violation.

How to choose a church?

It would seem that it could be easier. Most often, parents choose the church that is closest to their home. If it suits you, you yourself often go there, then why not? But there are situations when you go to church, and you are not comfortable there, your soul does not lie. Maybe the church is too big, and you want to conduct the sacrament in a more secluded setting, or maybe you did not answer all your questions clearly enough. In this case, it is worth looking for another church. It is necessary to choose a temple where they will pay maximum attention to you and the child, answer all questions, listen to your wishes. After all, the baptism of your child is such a crucial step, and here every little thing can play a role.

What is needed to baptize a child?

In fact, not so many: a cross, a crown and a baptismal shirt.

The cross must be necessarily with a crucifix and with the words “Save and preserve” on the back, otherwise it is not an Orthodox cross, but only a piece of jewelry. It can be made from any metal. The choice remains with the godparents, because they are the ones who buy the cross for the ceremony. But parents can also purchase a cross. If you are not sure that you can determine in the store which of the crosses is Orthodox, buy it in the church shop, then you will definitely buy the “correct” cross.

You also need to purchase a string for the cross. It is desirable that it is not thin and made of natural materials, because the rope will constantly come into contact with the baby's delicate skin.

Kryzhma is, in fact, an ordinary piece of fabric, in which a child is wrapped after the font. Today, the role of kryzhma is often played by a towel with embroidered or painted crosses and angels. Kryzhma must be kept and the child is covered with it when he is sick, in order to help the child recover faster. Buying a kryzhma is the responsibility of the future godmother.

The baptismal shirt is sewn from natural materials - cotton, silk. The color of the shirt should be light, preferably white, because it symbolizes cleansing from sins. A dress or a beautiful suit can play the role of a christening gown. The main thing is that clothes for baptism should be loose, conveniently and quickly put on and take off. The baptismal shirt, like the kryzhma, is prepared by the future godmother. She can sew it with her own hand - the soul and love of the godmother will be invested in such a shirt, which means it will become a real talisman for the child for life.

Also candles are needed for the ceremony. Their number should be checked with the priest. It will depend on how many godparents you have chosen for the baby, because each of them will hold a candle during the sacrament. It is better if you prepare candles in advance, although you can buy them right before the ceremony in the church shop.

They also carry an icon of the saint to the church, in whose name the baby is baptized. In some churches there is a tradition to donate this icon to the temple, but most often it is given to the parents of the baby and becomes a talisman for the child.

Whom to invite?

Christening is a family holiday, so do not invite many people to church. Let only the closest people be present at the sacrament: parents, godparents, grandfathers and grandmothers. The rest can be invited to a christening celebration at home or in a restaurant.

Choosing a name

When planning to baptize a child, it is important for parents to decide on the name under which they will be baptized. After all, not always the name that was given to the baby at birth is in the calendar. In this case, any consonant name is chosen or the name that was listed on the calendar on the child's birthday is taken. In the future, this name will be used when performing other church ordinances, and also based on it, the patron saint of the baby and the day of his angel are determined.

How to prepare future godparents for the baby's baptism?

Godfathers also need to prepare for the ceremony, because they take on great responsibility. Sometimes future godparents do not fully understand the seriousness of the upcoming step, so before the ceremony it is worth having a conversation with the priest. During such a conversation, the priest talks about the meaning of the sacrament of baptism, as well as about what responsibilities the godparents of the baby take on.

It will not be superfluous if the godparents learn the Word of Faith prayer, which is read during the ceremony. Perhaps the priest will ask them to read it. Every Orthodox person should know the Word of Faith prayer by heart, and also explain its meaning.

Also, future recipients should observe fasting, confess and receive communion for three days before the sacrament. On the day of the sacrament itself, the godparents do not take food until the ceremony has taken place.

Photo and video fixation

Christening is a memorable day, which means it must be captured so that later the grown-up baby can be told about his holiday. Take care of the choice of a photographer in advance, look for reviews, look at the portfolio. It is important that the photographer or operator has experience in shooting christenings, because photographing children requires special skills.

Some of the guests can also take pictures of the sacrament, but in this case, be prepared for the fact that some important moment of baptism may be missed, for example, immersing a baby in a font.

Discuss the issue of photo and video shooting with the priest before the ceremony, because each temple has its own rules.

Financial question

Today in almost every church there is a fixed cost for conducting rituals, including baptism. This is not entirely correct. No one can extort money from you, and if you simply do not have it, then the priest cannot refuse to carry out the sacrament. But modern realities are such that a church cannot exist without donations, because you have to pay for utilities, carry out repairs, pay maintenance personnel, etc. Therefore, if possible, make a donation to the cashier of the temple. This responsibility usually falls on the shoulders of the godfather.

How to celebrate baptism?

Epiphany is a holiday, so it is quite logical that many after the church want to celebrate it at home or in a restaurant, at a table with newly made godfathers. Such an event can be held, but at the same time you should not forget for what reason everyone gathered. Therefore, it is better not to plan noisy festivities with a lot of alcohol. You can just sit with your family. If you celebrate baptism on the day of fasting, then the dishes on the table must be lean.

Let there be a lot of sweets on the table, because this is a children's holiday. In the old days it was customary to bake pies for christenings, and in our time it is possible to observe this pleasant tradition. You can even set a symbolic sweet table, because christening is such a bright and joyful holiday, and I would not want to overshadow it with alcohol and the consequences of its excessive use.

Baptism superstitions

There are many signs and superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism. Let's try to expose some of them.

A woman cannot be the first to baptize a girl

According to this statement, the goddaughter takes happiness from her godmother. In fact, this is not true. There is no such information either in the church canons or in the Holy Scriptures. If a person deserves happiness, then no one will take it away.

Pregnant women cannot become godfathers

Also an erroneous judgment. Most likely based on the fact that women in childbirth often died in childbirth, so the child could be left without a godmother. Today, medicine has stepped far forward and death in childbirth is a rather rare phenomenon, which means that nothing prevents a pregnant woman from baptizing her baby.

Can't refuse to be godfather

Refusing to baptize a child is not a sin. It will be even better if the potential recipient does not feel ready to take responsibility for the spiritual education of the child. It will be more honest to refuse than to baptize and not fulfill your duties as godfather.

Having made an important decision to baptize your child, approach the preparation of the christening as responsibly as possible, having thought through every detail of the holiday in advance. After all, this is a great day for a baby, when he finds the protection and support of the Almighty, and may this day pass calmly and solemnly, be bright and joyful, like the whole future life of a new Orthodox Christian!

The article uses photos from the site pinterest.com

Both the parents of the child and the future godparents should prepare for the sacrament, because they are the ones who have to help the newly-made Orthodox Christian find the way to the church and strengthen his faith.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

What day should you schedule your baby to be baptized on?

Baptism is possible on any day of the year, periods of fasting and Orthodox holidays, but in some cases the priest may recommend to postpone the date of christening:

• if it coincides with great or twelve high feasts, when the church is crowded and longer services;
• during periods of strict Great and Dormition Lent, the sacrament is appointed on Saturday and Sunday.

Baptism in fasting involves a lean menu, which must be taken into account when preparing for the celebration.

Choosing Godparents

A tradition has developed that a pair of godparents is chosen for a child, although, according to church canons, one person of the same sex with the person being baptized can be the recipient.

For children from birth to 12 years old, the presence of the recipient at baptism is mandatory, since a child at this age is not able to comprehend the essence of the sacrament. Godparents make vows for him in front of the Almighty and thereby take upon themselves the responsibility of introducing him to the Orthodox faith.

Who is not allowed to be a godfather?

The rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church stipulate that adult Orthodox believers become receivers. Godfathers cannot be:

• parents of their own child;
• unbaptized people until they accept the faith and undergo the rite of baptism;
• minor children who are not fully aware of the importance of worship;
• a husband and wife, as well as a couple planning to marry, since a spiritual relationship arises between the recipients, which is higher than other bonds, even marriage;

Can a child be baptized on critical days?

It is important to choose the date of the christening so that the mother of the child and the godmother are in physiological purity, because on the days of the monthly cleansing it is forbidden to touch shrines and participate in church sacraments. If the critical days came unexpectedly and the date of baptism cannot be shifted, then the godmother must tell the priest about this. Most likely, she will be allowed to attend the sacrament, but without the opportunity to hold the child in her arms and kiss the icons.

Where to hold the sacrament of Baptism?

What is needed for a baptismal ceremony?

According to church rules, for the baptism of a child you need:

• Christening clothes -, (diaper or towel), which the godmother acquires in advance. The girl will also need: a cap, a scarf, a scarf, a stole.
• Pectoral cross on a string or chain. The godfather should buy it. It is necessary to choose an Orthodox consecrated cross. An unconsecrated cross is consecrated by the priest immediately before the beginning of the sacrament.

In addition, for the ceremony, you will need candles and an icon of the heavenly patron as a gift to the godson, and you will also need to make a donation for the sacrament.

Other accessories such as socks, booties, children's Orthodox literature can be purchased as needed and at your discretion.

The day before the christening, future godparents should confess and commune in order to spiritually cleanse themselves before the upcoming event.

Recommendations for choosing a church name: traditions and rules

How to dress correctly for parents and godparents for the baptism of a child?

In Orthodoxy, there are certain rules regarding clothing for visiting church, including for the rite of baptism of a child. Mom and godmother should choose a modest, tidy outfit, adhering to the following guidelines:

• A headdress is a must. It can be a scarf, shawl, restrained tippet.
• The dress or skirt should have a loose fit, without deep cuts and translucent inserts, the hem should cover the knees.
• Choose a top with a closed collar and shoulders.
• Shoes should be closed, on a low run. It is hard to stand the service with a child in your arms in high heels.
• Inappropriate makeup and lipstick are not allowed. It is forbidden to apply painted lips to the cross and icons.

Men should also be clean and tidy. Visiting church in a T-shirt, shorts, sports shoes is not encouraged. All those present in the building of the temple must have crosses.

Features of the celebration of children's christening

It is customary to celebrate the sacrament of the baptism of a child with a festive meal. Previously, such a dinner was held directly in the church. Today this rule is rarely observed, since not all temples provide this service. The christening celebration usually takes place at home or in a cafe, restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere, without protracted feasts and hectic fun. It is allowed to celebrate a joyful event with one sweet table, because, first of all, it is a children's holiday.

On the day of baptism, it is customary for a child to wish health, happiness, prosperity and to present gifts, preferably with spiritual content. For example, you can donate a children's Bible, a prayer book, an icon, a drinking cup, a silver spoon, a toy in the shape of an angel, etc.

Parents and godparents should remember the date of the baby's baptism and celebrate it annually, because this day is considered the Angel's Day of the child. A name embroidery with the date on a baptismal gown, diaper, or baptismal garment bag is a good clue.

Photo and video filming of the sacrament for memory