Child baptism: rules, recommendations, advice. Frequently asked questions about baptisms: Is it possible to baptize two children?

A godfather is able to make an invaluable contribution to the spiritual education of his godson/goddaughter, helping parents instill in their child the love of God, explain the meaning of divine services, and teach the basics of the Orthodox faith. After all, spiritual mentoring is the main task of the recipient.

How to pass an interview

The number of classes is determined by the level of churching of the recipients. After the first conversation, the priest decides how many classes will be needed.

• If future godparents regularly visit church, confess, and receive communion, then you can get by with one or two meetings.
• If knowledge and understanding are not enough, then there may be three to five conversations.

During the interview, recipients are not only told the procedure for conducting the ceremony and their responsibilities are announced. The priest conveys the main meaning of accepting the Christian faith. After the first meeting, the godparents are given the task to learn the basic Orthodox prayers (if they do not know them), and also begin to study the text of the Gospel.

Fasting, Confession and Communion

At the preparation stage, it is also necessary to visit the temple a few days before the sacrament, confess and receive communion. Just before baptism, one is required to observe a three-day fast, which involves excluding animal products from the diet. In addition, it is necessary to refrain from entertainment, intimacy and foul language. On the day of baptism, the godfather, like the godmother, is forbidden to eat food until the end of the ceremony, since sometimes after the sacrament the priest administers communion to the newly baptized person and his recipients.

What prayers does a godfather need to know? Godparents must learn the main prayer of the ritual. It is pronounced immediately after the words of renunciation of the devil and union with Christ. The recipients must read and understand the meaning of the prayer, which is a set of basic provisions of the Orthodox faith. The list of significant prayers also includes: “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary,” “Heavenly King.” How to dress a godfather for a christening At the baptismal ceremony, the godfather, like the godmother, must wear a consecrated cross. The appearance is expected to be modest and not attract much attention. It is not recommended to enter the temple in sportswear, shorts, or a T-shirt. On a hot summer day, it is better to choose light trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.

What do you need to buy for baptism?

The responsibilities of the godfather include purchasing the body and or gaitan for it. He also needs to purchase an icon of the Guardian Angel and a personalized icon with the image of the saint whose name the godson will be named.

The godfather should visit the church where the ceremony will take place in advance and clarify the details of the organization:

• Is it possible to take photographs?
• Whether the baptism will be mass or individual, how long it will last;
• Will there be communion on the day of baptism or will it be necessary to give communion to the godson in a week;
• What needs to be brought to the temple in addition to baptismal clothes, an icon and a cross;
• When can you consecrate a purchased cross?

Donating to the needs of the temple is also the responsibility of the godfather. The amount of payment for the ceremony can be found out in advance. Candles are purchased on the day of the sacrament according to the number of invited guests.

Roles and responsibilities of the godfather during the sacrament The godparents renounce the devil and are united with Christ instead of the godson, then the main stage of baptism begins - immersion in the font, symbolizing death and rebirth from water and the Holy Spirit. At the baptism of a boy When a boy is baptized, the godfather receives the godson from the baptismal font. Together with his godmother, he wipes the baby and helps dress him in white, the color of which denotes the purity and sinlessness of the newly baptized soul. The godfather holds a baby up to one year old in his arms. Children over two years old can stand in front of the receiver.

At a girl's christening

The girl is received from the font by her godmother. The godfather’s task at this time is to constantly be nearby, help undress/dress the baby, and say prayers.

What are the responsibilities of a godfather after baptism?

When turning to God in daily prayer, the godfather must mention the name of his godson and ask for health and prosperity for him. When visiting a temple, you need to write notes with the child’s name and order a magpie about health.

The godfather is of particular importance to the boy. He should become for him an example of masculinity, piety, and mercy. It is very important to take a grown-up child with you to church, teach him to pray, and honor Orthodox laws. It’s good when the godfather brings the child to first confession and communion. It is necessary to visit church together on major church holidays, as well as on Angel’s Day, light candles for health, and say a prayer to the heavenly patron.

At baptism or during the first year of life, the godparent should be given a children's Bible so that as the child grows up he becomes familiar with the life of Christ. For birthdays, Angel Day, Christmas and other holidays, it is right to purchase gifts with spiritual meaning. Communication between a godson and goddaughter should not be interrupted throughout life. Relationships built on trust will allow an adult child to turn to the recipient for advice or support in a difficult life situation. The godfather, in turn, must be ready to come to the aid of his godson or daughter.

Photos provided

Frequently asked questions when preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism

Question:Is it possible to baptize a child during Lent?
Answer: Can. In any of all four Posts. The Sacrament of Baptism is performed on any day of the year, regardless of the presence of Lent, Church holidays, day of the week and national holidays.

There are no restrictions in this regard for performing the Sacrament of Baptism.

Question:On what days can you not be baptized? Are there any special signs about this?

Answer:You can always be baptized, on all days.

Signs are superstitions; believing signs is a great sin.

Question:We want to baptize a child, do we need to buy a baptismal shirt and come to church?

Answer:You can register for Baptism in the Temple in advance, when visiting the church in person, and in some Temples you can also register by phone.

Important! By the time of the chosen date, the future godparents of the baby must undergo a preliminary conversation in the church (as a rule, in the Temples there is a schedule of such conversations, or you can find out about the time by phone). You can attend such conversations in any Temple, not necessarily in the one where Baptism is planned. Upon completion, a certificate is issued with the seal of the Temple stating that the future godparents attended public conversations and can become godparents.

For the Sacrament of Baptism you will need at least a baptismal shirt and a baptismal diaper or a baptismal towel and a cross. If the child is a newborn, up to a year old, then most often they use a cap, both for girls and boys.

Question:Can a child be a godmother?

Answer:Yes, maybe, if she herself is baptized in the Orthodox faith.

Question: Is it possible to offer to become godparents to a married couple? Can husband and wife be godparents?

Answer: No, those who are married to each other or are planning to get married should not become godparents of one child.

Question: Can relatives be godparents?

Answer: Yes, any relatives who have been baptized in Orthodoxy and have reached the age of majority and are not married to each other can be godparents

Question: Is it possible to be a godmother to an unmarried girl?

Answer:Yes, you can. The main thing is that the future godmother herself believes in God and loves the baby, and, naturally, is baptized in Orthodoxy.

And the godfather of the same child should not be the person with whom she is going to marry.

Question: Can a sibling be a godfather? (to his brother)

Answer:Yes, it can. Siblings can be godparents to their brothers and sisters, either individually or together.

They must be baptized themselves, have love and care for the baby, and understand the responsibility of the status of godparents.

Question: Who can't become a godfather?

Answer:People of other religions and confessions, atheists, unbaptized, spouses (together with one child), minors, persons planning to get married (together with one child)

Even if a person who is very good in moral qualities and close to you is an atheist, he cannot become a godfather.

Question: Is it a sin to refuse to be a godfather? (godmother)

Answer: There is no sin in this. If you feel unprepared to take responsibility for helping in the spiritual upbringing of your child, then it is better to say so to the child’s parents, thanking them for their trust.

So that the decision to refuse or the decision to agree does not turn out to be momentary, it is best to take time to think. You can also consult with a priest, but you make the decision yourself, of course.

Question: Critical days fall on the day of Epiphany. I'm godmother. What to do?

Answer: It is worth moving the date of Baptism. On critical days, women cannot take part in the Sacraments. You can only be present in the Temple and pray.

Since the Baptism of a baby implies the presence of godparents, parents of the child, etc., it happens that the date is postponed (sudden critical days, urgent departure on a business trip, colds - you also don’t need to come with them, so as not to infect others), all this is met with understanding and you simply sign up for the Temple the next day, if possible warning about the cancellation of the upcoming Baptism.

Question: How much does Baptism cost? How much do they pay for a child's Baptism?

Answer:Payment, in our understanding, is considered a donation to the Temple; as such, there is no price for any church ceremony. (Temples exist only on donations from parishioners; they pay for utilities, restoration work, and conduct charitable activities, helping low-income families and others in need of support)

When registering for Baptism, you can ask about accepted donations; in many Temples there is an announcement with the indicated approximate amounts.

In case of difficult financial situation, a child or adult will be baptized in any Temple for free (without donations)

Question: Who pays for the Baptism of a child in the Church? Who pays for the christening?

Answer:Anyone present at your child’s Baptism can make a donation. There are no restrictions or rules here.

These can be the baby’s parents themselves, godparents, grandparents, and also invited friends.

More often, the godfather makes a donation and buys a cross and candles (you can buy a cross when you sign up for Baptism or come to public conversations, candles - on the day of Baptism), and the godmother buys clothes, sometimes the costs of Baptism are divided in half by future godparents.

Usually this side of the issue is discussed in advance, when parents make an agreement with future godparents and invite their loved ones to the child’s Baptism.

Question: Who buys what for a christening? Who buys what for a boy's christening? Who buys what for a girl’s christening?

Answer: There are no rules regulating these purchases. Both parents and godparents or relatives and friends can buy.

Traditionally, the cross is bought by the future godfather, and the clothes - a baptismal shirt, kryzhma (baptismal towel or baptismal diaper), cap, blanket or blanket - are chosen by the godmother. They can divide the expenses equally if it is more convenient for everyone.

Also, probably in half the cases, parents buy baptismal clothes. Grandmothers often order baptismal sets.

It all depends on desires, financial capabilities, as well as the availability of time to choose and make a purchase.

If you are planning a festive lunch or dinner in honor of this event, then the costs can also be distributed differently - there are no strict rules about who pays for what, but more often it is the baby's parents.

Some parents and godparents wonder whether it is necessary to give communion to their child after Baptism. In order to give a correct and comprehensive answer to this question, you need to reflect on the meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism itself. According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, during this Sacrament a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ. During the interview before the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest usually tells the parents and godparents about the great responsibility that is entrusted to them when baptizing a child. They must make every effort to ensure that their child is worthy of his Christian calling. It is impossible to imagine the life of a Christian who does not participate in church services. Therefore, from the moment of Baptism, the child is brought to the Sacrament of the Eucharist or Communion. It will be wonderful if his parents and godparents participate in this Sacrament along with the baby. When a priest, during the celebration of the Sacrament of Communion, gives a child, under the guise of bread and wine, a particle of the very Body and Blood of Christ, a real miracle occurs. This miracle cannot be described in human words, since during the Sacrament of the Eucharist a person unites with God himself. Therefore, it is not surprising that after participating in this holy Sacrament of the Church, many incurably ill and near-death people received complete healing. If parents and godparents are unable to bring their child to the Holy Chalice with Communion on the day of his baptism, then this needs to be done as soon as possible. Many priests recommend that the child participate in the Sacrament of Communion every Sunday.

The mother’s prayer after the child’s baptism is an integral part of fulfilling her maternal duty. Mother's love is one of the most sacrificial types of love that exists on earth. During Baptism, a person is given special spiritual and physical strength for life in Christ, and it becomes more difficult for him to agree with unkind thoughts. At the same time, Christian virtues, such as love, loyalty, friendship, respect, mercy, faith and many others, can more easily develop in him. When the baby’s parents and his godparents decide what to do after the child’s baptism, then first of all they should think about his first Eucharist in life. The baby will not be able to tell you about this, but he will feel the special grace and inexpressible love of God, which will be poured into his heart during the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. His first Eucharist should be the first step in his active church life.

How to prepare for a child's first Communion after Baptism

The ideal option would be if the child’s parents and godparents receive communion after Baptism. Then, in preparation for this Sacrament, they will need to diligently read the penitential canon to our Lord Jesus Christ, the prayer canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as the canon to the Guardian Angel, the canon to Holy Communion and the follow-up to Holy Communion. For adults, it is recommended to eat lean food for at least three days before Communion. On the evening before Communion or on the day of the Divine Liturgy before Communion, you must begin the Sacrament of Confession. During Confession, you need to wholeheartedly repent of your sins and misdeeds. If the parents and godparents of the child do not have the opportunity to adequately prepare for the Sacrament of Communion and proceed to it, then at least the child himself must be brought to church for the Eucharist. We need to pray for him both at home and in church. Communion of a child after Baptism is an important element at the beginning of his spiritual journey. Children under three years old can be fed in the morning before Communion. Try to make sure your child gets a good night's sleep the night before you go to church with him. It is important that he is not hungry and is dressed in clothes that are comfortable for him.

How does a child’s first Communion take place after Baptism?

The first communion of a child after Baptism should not differ from subsequent ones. When adults who are responsible for the Christian upbringing of a child think about how to give communion to a child, they must know, on the one hand, the spiritual requirements of preparation for this Sacrament, and on the other hand, some features of external behavior. Spiritual rules include a special prayer for a child on the day of Communion. You need to ask the Lord - both in your own words and in the words from the prayer book - that the Lord will grant the baby His Divine grace, so that the child will grow up to be a true and worthy member of the Church of Christ, who is walking along the path of salvation.

When you bring a child to the Holy Chalice, he should be placed on his right hand. The baby’s hands must be carefully held so that he cannot accidentally push them against the priest’s hand, which is holding the Holy Chalice with the Eucharist.

The word Eucharist translated from Greek means “thanksgiving.” When Christians begin the Sacrament of Holy Communion, they thus express gratitude to their Creator for all His blessings in their lives. In the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament there are these words: “Give thanks in everything.” Of course, the Sacrament of Holy Communion is not the only way to express one’s gratitude to the Lord, but it should be an integral part of the way of Christian life. If a child, from early childhood, is accustomed to regularly receive the Sacraments of the Holy Orthodox Church, then at a more mature age he will not have such spiritual problems as people who do not participate in church life have.

How to properly prepare for the baptism of a child? The rite of baptism of a newborn child is shrouded in a huge number of folk signs, traditions and rules. Let's talk about the most popular of them: what should you pay attention to on the day of baptism, and which folk signs are nothing more than prejudice? In this article we will look at 30 of the most popular rules and signs that may help parents decide how, when and why to baptize their baby.

Baptism of children. Rules, signs and traditions associated with the sacrament of baptism:

1. It is considered a good sign if the child begins to cry less after the baptism ceremony, is not so capricious, and begins to sleep better. It is also believed that after baptism the child’s health improves. It is not for nothing that they advise not to postpone the baptismal ceremony if the baby was born weak or premature - in this case, the sacrament can be performed even within the walls of a maternity hospital or at home.
2. The godfather must give the child a cross, and the godmother must buy clothes for baptism.
3. You cannot wipe the water off the baby’s face after bathing - the holy water must dry on the face itself.
4. After the baptism ceremony, the clothes the baby was wearing cannot be washed. It is necessary to let the holy water dry on it, and then leave it and protect it as a talisman throughout the child’s life. It is believed that if a baby is sick, he should be wiped with a baptismal robe - and this will help him recover. Also, these clothes cannot be reused at another baptism ceremony.
5. Baptismal clothing should be exclusively light in color. As a rule, white. Minor drawings, inscriptions, and embroideries on baptismal clothing are also allowed.
6. If a child does not cry during the ceremony, this is a very good sign. It’s even better if the baby fell asleep during the sacrament.
7. It is believed that the child will have a happy life if you hear church bells before the christening.
8. You cannot buy a cross made of gold - this metal is considered unclean and sinful. The cross should be silver or just metal.
9. The child’s life will be happy if immediately after the baptism ceremony a wedding takes place in the temple.
10. It is a bad omen to postpone the previously planned baptism of a child to another date.
11. An unbaptized baby cannot be brought into someone else's house. You can visit with your baby only after the sacrament.
12. The woman should be the first to baptize the boy, and the husband should be the first to baptize the girl. Otherwise, it is believed that the godson will take away their happy family life.
13. Non-believers cannot be godparents, mentally ill people, as well as drug addicts and alcoholics.
14. Children cannot become godparents. The girl must be at least 13 years old, and the guy must be at least 15.
15. It is impossible for several children to be baptized in the same water (font). This is a bad omen.
16. It is a bad omen if during the ceremony the priest forgets or confuses the words, objects fall from his hands.
17. There should be no love affair between the godmother and father - this is a sin. It is also desirable that they be blood relatives.
18. A pregnant woman cannot baptize her child - otherwise both her godson and her own baby will often get sick.
19. For a child's christening, a measured icon is ordered or purchased from the church. It is called measured because it corresponds in centimeters to the height of the child at birth. This should be the child’s personal icon; only a child can pray in front of it. It is believed that a measured icon is a strong amulet for a child and gives him protection.
20. Godparents should not sit in church - otherwise the child will face an unfortunate fate.
21. Before the baby is baptized, you should not show it to anyone, not even relatives. It is believed that the child does not yet have protection, so the baby can be jinxed.
22. I will accept that you cannot refuse if you are asked to become godparents, the church explains this: refusing is not a sin, but baptizing a child and not taking part in his life and spiritual development is a great sin. Therefore, it is better to refuse if you are not sure that you can conscientiously fulfill all the duties of a godfather or mother.
23. The child must be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life, then the sacrament will give the baby very strong protection.
24. On the day of baptism, the child’s guardian angel appears, so do not delay the ceremony and baptize the baby quickly.
25. After baptism, the baby receives his second (church) name, which cannot be announced to anyone.
26. Before the baptismal ceremony (both relatives and godparents) must read a prayer.
27. A woman who has had an abortion should not be invited to become a godmother.
28. When baptized, the godmother must have her head covered, and she cannot be baptized in trousers - it must be a skirt or dress below the knees.
29. The rite of baptism is a sacrament, so the baby and godparents participate in it, and the father may also be present. It is advisable not to invite other relatives and friends to the ceremony. They can congratulate the baby already at the christening - this is a celebration in honor of baptism.
30. You can baptize a child on any day of the week, as well as on major church holidays and fasting. However, among the people it is Saturday that is considered the most successful day for the sacrament.

What is baptism, why is it really needed, what is the essence of baptizing a child? What are the rules for baptizing a child in the church, how is the baptismal ceremony performed? What needs to be done before baptism and after baptism? Do you need godparents and how to choose a godparent? These and many other questions confront parents who are about to baptize their child. In this material you will find answers to the most common questions about the baptism of a child.

Child baptism ceremony

The essence of child baptism

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the convert is immersed three times in a font of blessed water with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The essence of child baptism is that the little person “dies” to a life of sin and is reborn to life with God through a mysterious ceremony.

The Bible says:

Anyone who is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God

In. 3:5

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned

Mk. 16:16

This rite was established by the Lord Jesus Christ himself when He was baptized by John the Baptist (known as the Baptist) in the waters of the Jordan River.

Baptism is necessary for a person to save his soul. This is a new birth for spiritual life in which a person can reach the Heavenly Kingdom. Through baptism, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible power of God - grace - acts on a person. Jesus Christ, sending the apostles to preach the gospel, taught them to baptize people:

Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit

Mf. 28, 19

Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and can begin other church sacraments. If parents wish their child a worthy, moral life - with God, the Creator of the world and the Source of all that is good and bright - this path should begin with baptism.

Some believe that a child should be baptized by his own choice at a conscious age. But that's not true. If parents want to raise a child to be a moral, strong-spirited personality based on Christian values, then baptism is necessary at a very early age, since it washes away the mark of original sin and allows the child to participate in the sacraments, without which there will simply be no spiritual development.

Another popular myth is that the need for baptism is to bestow health through the sacrament. A similar approach generally applies to all church sacraments, when people are convinced that unction or communion - it doesn’t matter - is aimed at solving pressing, earthly issues of a person, such as healing from illnesses or obtaining material benefits. Baptism is the child’s entrance into the Church, the community of people of the Orthodox faith. His health will depend, not least of all, on the lifestyle of his parents and their prayers for him, as well as on compliance with the simplest principles of proper care for the baby.

Child baptism in church

Church rules state that after his birth the ceremony is performed according to existing custom on the 40th day. But depending on the circumstances, this can be done earlier or later. For example, after birth a child is weak and sick, God forbid - near death. Baptism gives you a chance to pray to God for the child and to give him communion immediately after the completion of the sacrament.

For baptism, you need to choose the temple in which the ceremony will be held, pre-select godparents, undergo a public conversation (at which the church minister will tell you about all the rules), the child needs to choose a name at baptism, although it may coincide with the one given at birth.

Parents and godparents need to prayerfully prepare for this event, as well as know the basic Orthodox prayers, which the priest will first inform you about. The following attributes must be prepared for the sacrament of baptism: a pectoral cross, baptismal clothing, a towel, candles, an icon of the heavenly patron of the person being baptized. This entire “set” can be purchased at the temple.

How to choose a temple for child baptism

The temple for performing the sacrament of baptism can be any Orthodox temple of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate or another canonical Local Orthodox Church, either located directly next to the family’s place of residence, or chosen at will.

Archpriest

VSEVOLOD CHAPLIN

Rector of the Church of St. Theodore Studite at the Nikitsky Gate, Moscow

Priest

ANTON RUSAKEVICH

Rector of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Gorodomlya Island

Hieromonk

JONAFAN (BOGOMAZ)

Monastery of the Dormition Monastery in Ivanovo

Hieromonk The godfather must be a church person, ready to regularly take the godson to church and monitor his Christian upbringing. After baptism has been performed, the godson cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed greatly for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him. Pregnant and unmarried women CAN be godparents to both boys and girls - don’t listen to superstitious fears! The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, and a husband and wife cannot be godparents for the same child. Other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents. // priest Anton Rusakevich

My husband and I had a son, he is 10 months old. I can't choose his godfather. The reason is that I have never communicated in an Orthodox environment. I would like to find a godfather so that I can teach him, go to church with him, and instruct him, but I don’t communicate with such people. Please advise what to do.

You can baptize without a godfather. And so you can ask the priest to become godfather. // hieromonk Matthew (Kozlov)

Is it necessary for the godfather to confess and receive communion before baptizing a baby, or will they not be baptized without this?

Preferably! Because the godfather must help his godson in joining the church, i.e. in spiritual life, and confession is the first step towards it. And if the godfather does not understand anything about this, then what is the use of the godfather? So, precisely in order for godparents to join church life themselves, they need to start this with confession. // hieromonk Jonathan (Bogomaz)

We are going to baptize a baby. Is it possible to choose a heavenly patron yourself? Or strictly according to the calendar? For example: the baby was named Dmitry. The first date after birth is the date of the transfer of the relics of Demetrius Basarbovsky (Bassarabovsky), Bulgarian, St. Will he be the heavenly patron? Or can parents decide for themselves at the request of Demetrius of Thessaloniki?

Yes, you can choose your own heavenly patron. // priest Anton Rusakevich

This is the situation: my son’s godfather bought a cross in a jewelry store, so it is not blessed. It so happened that the christening took place a little earlier than planned and until that moment it was not possible to consecrate the cross. In this regard, they baptized him like this. I am worried about the question: did the baptism take place in full and is it possible to consecrate the cross later? Will this affect my son? Thank you!