Who buys a cross for a girl's christening. What do godparents give for christening? Christening girls: rules for the godfather

A Christian throughout his life participates in various rituals and sacraments, the very first of which is baptism. There are many traditions regarding this ritual. For example, a person must have godparents who must give certain gifts.

What do godparents give to a godson in Orthodoxy

The most important gift for christening is a pectoral cross. It doesn't have to be expensive and chic. Of course, most godparents present a gold or silver gift, but even a simple wooden cross is acceptable. The most important thing is to choose the right shape. If a small child is being baptized, then the ends of the product should be rounded so that the baby does not get scratched.

The cross for the baby should be small and with rounded corners.

Important! A cross bought not in a church must be consecrated.

Traditionally, a godmother buys a cross for a girl, and a godfather buys a cross for a boy. Some families break this tradition and, for example, buy an expensive and beautiful item together. A cross can be given both with a chain and with a simple rope or ribbon.

Check that the fastener on the gaitan is strong and small, and that the gaitan itself is suitable in length

Important! During baptism, it will be more convenient for the priest so that the cross on the gaitan is freely put on the baby over the head. Then the rope can be shortened or replaced.

The duties of the godmother also include the purchase of a special bed sheet and clothes for the baby. A piece of cloth in which a child is wrapped after baptism is called kryzhma. Kryzhma must be snow-white, in the warm season it is recommended to buy linen, in winter it can be replaced with terry. Kryzhma should be decorated with embroidery and Christian symbols. Of course, it will be better if the godmother embroiders everything herself, but if she does not know how to needlework, it's okay. After baptism, the kryzhma must be carefully stored.

The godmother traditionally buys a christening outfit

The godmother should give a baptismal outfit: a white baptismal long shirt and a white bonnet. Most often, the outfit is made of cotton fabric and decorated with embroidery, ribbons and beads, but only a cross is required from all this splendor (it can be on the chest or on the back).

The baptismal shirt can also be oar, it is much more convenient for the baby

Ideally, the godmother sews and decorates the clothes herself, but you can also buy ready-made ones, in any case, the baptismal shirt must be consecrated in advance in the church. Sometimes the gift is complemented with sliders and booties.

Church shops now sell ready-made baptismal kits. They include a shirt, kryzhma, sometimes even a cap and a simple cross. Such sets are already consecrated.

In shops at large churches there is always a choice of ready-made baptismal sets

The godfather must pay for the entire rite of baptism, the festive table. In the case of the christening of a girl, he is not obliged to buy any gifts, although by agreement he can purchase a cross. If desired, he can give any memorable thing: jewelry, children's toys, books.

The kid should receive an icon of the patron saint as a gift. Usually the godmother buys it, but the father can do it too, the parents themselves agree on this.

According to tradition, a silver spoon is also given for baptism, this can be done by any of the godparents, they are together or the grandparents of the child.

All other gifts are optional. Godparents (any of them or together) can give a children's Bible, a Psalter, a silver cup, a bag for storing the first strand, candles, a pillow with Orthodox drawings and inscriptions.

It is customary to give the Children's Bible and the Lives of the Saints for children

Traditions in other countries

The role of godparents in Catholicism is practically no different from their role in Orthodoxy. The godparents together give the child a cross and an icon. According to tradition, the godmother buys christening clothes, and the father buys a special candle. It is lit for the first time during the ceremony and is not thrown away in the future, since it should illuminate the life path of a person.

Protestants rarely baptize children, as they believe that an adult and conscious person should accept religion. Those who were baptized in childhood undergo confirmation in the future - a confirmation of their faith. Protestantism is divided into many branches, and in most of them there are no godparents. Godparents are present among Lutherans, Anglicans and Calvinists, but they are obligatory only for children, adults can do without them at all. In Protestantism, there are no strict requirements regarding gifts from godparents, they can not be given at all, the contribution to the spiritual development of the godson is much more important. But if the godparents give gifts, most often these are various silver items.

In Catholicism, godparents have the same duties as in Orthodoxy.

The ritual of baptism and the role of godparents in it are determined by tradition. For example, the father must pay for the ceremony, and the mother must sew or purchase clothes for the child.

In the Orthodox Church there are no strict rules regarding who should give the baby a cross for the rite of Baptism. As a rule, parents and godparents agree among themselves who will get such an important event as choosing a pectoral cross. In addition to parents and godparents, grandparents and even just family friends can give a cross to a baby. Usually, when asked who buys a cross for christening for a girl or a boy, the clergy answer this way: “The one who wishes the child well and presents such a gift from the bottom of his heart.”

But still, as practice shows, at the Baptism of a female child, the future godmother chooses a pectoral cross for him, and at the Baptism of a boy, the choice falls on the godfather. For the girl, the influence of the godmother is important, it is possible that she is a close friend of the girl's mother. The godmother is always happy to help raise her beloved goddaughter, and the pectoral cross given after the rite of Baptism will always protect the child from evil people. But the duty of the godmother is not only to choose a cross for the girl. She should also take her to church for communion, tell her how to behave, and congratulate her on all important church holidays. At that moment, when the godmother gives the baby a cross for christening, she thus begins to show that she takes responsibility for caring for her goddaughter.

How to choose a cross for a girl for christening.

Choosing a cross for a girl for christening, as well as for a boy, is a very important task. It is worth approaching it with all responsibility. As mentioned above, not only parents and godparents, but also family friends can give a cross to a child. You can buy a pectoral cross in the Church or in a jewelry store. If you buy this creed from a jewelry store, then it will be necessary to bless it. First of all, you should pay attention to such two important parameters as size and material. If the budget allows, it is better to buy a cross made of gold. At the same time, check with the seller what other metals and in what ratio are included in the jewelry besides gold. The fact is that some metals, which are found in large quantities in gold, can cause allergic reactions on the skin.

As for the size, it should be small. It is worth buying a small pectoral cross that will not interfere with the baby. It is very important that there are no stones on the product. Small children put everything in their mouths, and if a child accidentally swallows a bitten pebble, it is hard to imagine how it will all end. If you are interested in the price of gold crosses, then

The choice of a cross for christening should be approached with special responsibility. But before you go shopping for a symbol of faith for a baby, you should decide who should give such a gift to the baby. The Church does not oblige any of the participants in the Sacrament of Baptism to buy a pectoral cross for a baby. If you ask such a question to a clergyman, you can hear in response that such a gift should be made from a pure heart, and not because it is necessary. Probably for this reason, the Orthodox tradition does not indicate who exactly should buy a cross for christening.

Parents, godparents, relatives, friends of parents can purchase a symbol of faith for a baby. As a rule, in the process of preparing for Baptism, this does not arise problems. Usually someone volunteers to buy a pectoral cross for a child. Most often, the godmother buys a cross for the christening of a girl, and the godfather buys a boy. Together with the pectoral cross, the godparents can give the child a children's Bible or any other children's church literature. Even if a child cannot read, you can still give him church books. While he is small, his parents can read for him. In addition to books, godparents can give the baby icons. You can buy a gold cross for men, women or children. You will be surprised by the rich assortment and low prices.

How to choose a cross for a child for christening.

When choosing a cross for a child for christening, there are several factors to consider. First of all, it is necessary to determine the type of precious metal. Today, a huge assortment of pectoral crosses made of gold and silver are presented. However, you can also find jewelry made from other precious metals, such as platinum. The cost of silver and gold crosses of the same weight differs significantly. Children are encouraged to buy jewelry made of gold. They are not as fastidious in care as, for example, silver ones. They do not blacken or darken over time. At the same time, gold jewelry in very rare cases can cause allergic reactions. Children's delicate skin often reacts to silver with skin rashes.

The size of a child's cross is of great importance. It must be small. It is desirable that the product does not have sharp corners, and there are no stones. All this can injure delicate baby skin. You can wear a cross on a chain or on a rope. But it is better for babies to wear a pectoral cross on a string. Its length should be such that the child cannot take the cross into his mouth. You can order a chain around your neck in the online store or buy it in the Temple. It is not necessary to dedicate the chain.

One of the most important events in a child's life is the christening of a girl. The priest will tell you about the rules for parents and godparents before performing the ceremony. The baptism of a child is a great sacrament, after which the baby receives the protection and protection of God. He has a guardian angel who saves from misfortunes and troubles.

Many do not know at what age to baptize a daughter. Priests advise doing this in the first year of life, but there are no restrictions. You can baptize both infants and teenagers. The only difference in the ceremony is that small children are dipped into the font, and older ones are poured with water from it on their heads.

After 40 days from the moment of birth, the mother is already allowed to be present at the ritual. The Church advises not to delay the sacrament, because before it is held, the baby does not have a protector and patron. There are practical explanations for this: babies easily endure immersion in water, react calmly and are not frightened when they are picked up by a stranger. It is difficult for an older child to withstand the entire time of the ceremony.

There is a Slavic custom to carry out baptism for 8 or 40 days. On the first date, it was customary to name the newborn, and on the second date, the mother can already visit the temple, since the natural cleansing after the appearance of the baby has ended. If a child was born weak and sick, it is advisable to christen him immediately.

Until the age of seven, the decision is made by the parents. Children under the age of 14 must consent to the ceremony. Older teenagers are baptized only if they want to. If the child is in the hospital, there is a threat to his life or there is no way to bring him from home to church, then you should contact the priest and ask him to perform the ritual outside the church. As a rule, doctors and clergy do not refuse people in such a situation.

Preparation for the sacrament

Native parents are not godparents for their child, they themselves choose where to baptize him. They need to agree with the priest about the time, it depends on the church schedule. It is advisable to choose godparents from among the believers: they are responsible before the Lord for the spiritual development of the child.

Choice of godparents

Godparents must be chosen for the girl. They meet the following criteria:

profess Orthodoxy;
are not officially or civilly married to each other;
are of legal age.

Pregnant women become godparents, but there are several nuances:

a woman should feel good in order to be able to withstand the whole ceremony;
she wants to take responsibility for this particular girl.

Parents need to know who cannot be godparents. These include:

unrepentant sinners;
young children;
unbaptized and non-believers;
nuns, monks;
women who have recently given birth, if 40 days have not passed since the birth of the child;
persons leading an immoral lifestyle, violating commandments;
alcoholics;
Gentiles.

For Orthodox who constantly visit the temple, additional preparation is not required. For others, it is obligatory to confess and take communion. The priest conducts a conversation before baptism, explains how to behave during the ceremony and what is needed for baptism. Close relatives: sister, grandmother, aunt can also be godparents.

What is needed for the ritual

The godmother is responsible for raising the girl in the Orthodox spirit. Before the sacrament, you will need to visit the church and pass an interview at which they talk about God and the rules of the great sacrament. It is important that she be able to handle the baby, as she will have to undress him and put on the baptismal set.

The baptism kit includes:

For babies, a kryzhma (a large towel) or a baptismal dress for a girl. Godmother buys.
The godfather acquires the cross. It can be worn on a string or chain. For small children, it is advisable to choose a cross with rounded outlines without sharp corners so as not to be scratched.

A cross and a chain are chosen based on their capabilities: from simple metal or from gold, silver. There are no strict requirements on what to buy and to whom, so parents, grandfather or uncle can buy them.

Preparation and rules for godparents:

visit the temple for confession and communion;
observe a short fast (3 days), refusing meat food, bad thoughts and words;
learn the text of the prayer for baptism "Symbol of Faith", "Our Father";
acquire the necessary attributes for baptism;
not to eat before the sacrament.

church rules

During the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Church rules for the godmother say that her main task is to read during the ritual of prayer. If you are unable to memorize it, you can take a prayer book. By tradition, he buys a white towel (kryzhma), a baptismal set. As a gift, he acquires an icon with a saint whose name was given to the goddaughter during the ceremony. According to the church rules for the godfather, he brings the child into the church and holds it in his arms until the time comes to hand it over to the clergyman.

Godparents and spouses often do not know on which days the sacrament of baptism is performed. In church rules there are no prohibitions on holidays, fasting or ordinary days of the week. Exceptions are made only for three great holidays: Christmas, Easter, Trinity. At this time, the priest is unlikely to have free time for the sacrament. In many churches, a routine is established, baptisms are held only on certain days, as a rule, this is Saturday. In a conversation with the priest, they clarify how the ceremony goes, what is needed for it.

Parents and invited guests are allowed to attend the church. These include the next of kin, photography and video filming are allowed, but it is time to get the consent of the priest. Sometimes a professional is invited to capture all the important moments of the ceremony.

How to dress for a christening

When going to a ritual, you need to know what to baptize in. There are church rules that provide for festive clothing for all those present. Allowed:

skirt below the knees;
closed jacket with long sleeves;
head scarf.

You should not be in trousers, shorts, a short skirt in church. Clothing should cover the neckline, back and arms. Men can be bareheaded in a shirt and trousers, a woman must wear a headscarf.

The color and pattern of outfits is not regulated, but it is advisable to choose something light for baptism, because this is a big holiday for the family.

How does the sacrament happen?

During the ritual, crosses must be worn on everyone. Church laws stipulate the sequence of the ceremony. At the baptism of the girl, the godfather brings (brings) her into the premises of the temple, and after dipping into the font, the godmother accepts and dresses. The process of baptism is long, it takes place in several stages:

Entry into the temple of the baby by the godparents of the opposite sex.
Reading prohibition prayers to renounce the child from evil. The baby is wrapped in a diaper at this time.
Prayers against Satan, during which there is a renunciation of him. The priest asks the question of refusal three times, his godparents are responsible for the small child;
The combination to Christ and the reading of the "Creed" by the godparents.
The recipients take lighted candles in their hands, three more are installed on the font. The priest sanctifies water and oil.
The priest dips the child into a font of cold water three times, after which a cross is put on.
During immersion there is a cleansing from sins and a birth for spiritual life.
The godmother takes the baby in her hands and wraps it in a baptismal towel, then dresses it.
The priest performs chrismation by applying oil to the cross on the legs, arms, back, stomach and forehead of the child.
The godparents with the child follow the priest three times around the font, at this time he reads prayers.
A small strand of hair is cut off from the girl's head, they remain in the church, symbolizing the spiritual unity of the child with God.
The priest takes the child in his arms and puts it on the icon of the Mother of God. This means that the sacrament has come true and the child is churched.

Baptism is a lengthy procedure that takes from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. It also depends on whether one child is baptized or several.

A week after baptism, you should come to church for communion, the clergyman will tell the exact date.

Choosing a church name

During the ceremony, the child receives a new name. As usual, it is chosen from those that are consonant with the worldly or are in the lists of the saints. If there is no match for the name on the birth certificate, you should seek help from a priest. She will tell you which saint is revered on the girl’s birthday or baptism, her name will become the second for her. Will be used in church ceremonies. Thus, the children have another holiday - the day of the heavenly intercessor (saint), whose name was given at the time of baptism. The church name is not disclosed to outsiders, so as not to weaken the protection of the baby.

Responsibilities of a godmother

A woman who agrees to become a godmother takes responsibility for the life and spiritual development of the girl. Her responsibilities include:

pray for the goddaughter, ask God for help for her in a difficult situation;
go to church together, confess and take communion;
take part in spiritual education, development;
be a worthy role model;
talk about God, go to church together;
wish happy birthday, give gifts on angel's day;
give instructions, help with advice and practical deeds;
to take the girl to be raised if her parents are dead.

Baptism cost

Not everyone understands why pay for the ceremony, because Jesus bequeathed not to take money for baptism, so that poor people would not be excommunicated from the church due to lack of funds. But earlier there was a tradition to give a tenth of the income in favor of the church, to donate funds. Now there are fewer contributions, so ministers are forced to draw up a price list in order to be able to pay for the maintenance of the temple. The cost depends on the chosen church.

There is no single price, so you can find out how much to pay only in the temple that has been chosen to perform the sacrament. Boxes are set up in churches to collect donations, the clergyman may say that there is no fee, but you have the right to put any amount you can into it. The estimated cost of the ritual is from 1500, there is no upper limit. For him, you will need a baptismal set, which includes: a white dress, kryzhma and a scarf (bonnet).

How to store baptismal things

There are no rules in the Bible for the use of things left after christening, but the clergy recommend that parents keep the roof and the baptismal cross. They can be folded into a chest of drawers and stored together with the child's clothes so that they are not in front of strangers. If he falls ill, behaves restlessly, they cover him with a blanket.

What not to do with a baptismal towel:

wash;
throwing away;
be used to baptize others.

There is an opinion that the baptismal shirt is a healing amulet that is applied to a sore spot for a speedy recovery. Not all parents know if a child should wear a cross all the time. This is desirable, but if necessary, they are temporarily removed. This thing cannot be thrown away, because it is the best amulet. Even if they bought a new cross and chain, they keep the old one.

Folk signs and traditions of celebration

After the holy sacrament, the celebration of christening takes place in the family circle. It is customary to cook dishes from cereals and vegetables, poultry, pastries, pies. Godparents and guests usually ask their parents in advance what to give the girl. There are no special rules for choosing a thing, but the following are considered a good present:

saint icon;
a silver spoon or a set of them;
children's clothing, toys;
Bible.

It is believed that love relationships between godfathers are a great sin, there are many other folk signs:

you can’t show the newborn to anyone before baptism, because at that time he is weak and defenseless, it is easy to jinx him;
during the christening, the child appears before God, so he is smartly dressed;
a bad sign is considered an odd number of guests present at the christening;
during the ceremony, the candle must be held firmly in your hands, covering it with the second palm so that it does not fall, does not go out;
after the christening, they immediately go home, without turning anywhere along the road, otherwise the child's guardian angel will weaken.

Main Traditions :

to choose believing and reliable people as godparents;
do not argue with the priest about the choice of name;
do not purchase a gold cross for newborns;
after the christening, the godmother brings the child into the house;
baptize the child as early as possible;
do not have drunken parties;
invite the minimum possible number of people.

An Orthodox becomes a godfather any number of times, there are no restrictive rules. Baptism is the second most important holiday for a person after a birthday. The rite refers to one of the seven Orthodox church sacraments. After it, original sin is removed and God's grace and protection descend on the baptized. It purifies and gives eternal life, means spiritual birth.

The rite of baptism is the most important event in a person's life, the beginning of his spiritual existence. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, the godfather is the godfather at the baptism of the boy. It is he who takes the baby from the hands of the priest, thereby assuming full responsibility for the further church upbringing of the child.

In principle, only a godfather is enough to baptize a boy, although the godmother is also traditionally invited. Since the sacrament is performed, in most cases, at a very early, unconscious age, preferably on the fortieth day after birth, the godfather assumes spiritual responsibility.

Who should buy a cross

The pectoral cross is not a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of a person's deep faith. The desire to give it to the baby can be called a measure of the seriousness of the intentions of the boy's future spiritual mentor.

Such a purchase is not mandatory, it can be purchased for baptism or by the parents themselves or other close people, for example, grandparents. However, if the godfather makes a gift, then this will become another symbol of his spiritual connection with the baby.

After all, it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive cross, in this case you can rely on the basic principle of Orthodoxy on this issue - every cross is true and its life-giving power.

This is useful to know:

Cross selection

If you buy a cross for baptism in a church shop, you can be sure that it is consecrated and complies with all the canons. If you choose in jewelry stores, then you need to consecrate in advance or during the ceremony, the priest will definitely ask about it. Traditionally for boys they buy crosses of a simple form, without stones. However, in most cases, the choice depends entirely on personal preferences and wishes.

In order for the symbol of faith to serve for a long time, not to be lost, when buying, you need to pay attention to the workmanship and some important points. The weakest point is the eyelet for the chain and its attachment to the body, so these parts must have sufficient thickness, respectively, strength. You can read more about choosing a pectoral cross in the article or watch the video.

Who can be the boy's godfather

The answer is simple and unequivocal - a man, necessarily baptized, of the Orthodox faith. Everything else depends on the parents, who take on the serious responsibility of choosing a spiritual mentor for their child. After all, this person must guide and help the boy throughout his life in difficult times, especially in matters of faith. Also, the godfather, if necessary, should be ready to replace the parents of the baby.

Therefore, this issue must be approached very seriously and proceed not only from relations with parents, but special attention should be paid to the desire of the future godfather to devote his time to the spiritual upbringing of the boy, the readiness to take care as if he were his own child.