Baptism is one of the important events in the life of an Orthodox person. It is believed that he receives a kind of pass to the Kingdom of God. This is the moment of a person's spiritual birth, when his previous sins are forgiven, and the soul is purified. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of godparents for the child, since they have an influence on the spiritual life and salvation of the believer. Therefore, the godfather, whose duties and responsibilities lie in all of the above, must be worthy.

The role of the godfather in a child's life

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

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

What do you need to know to choose godparents?

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

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

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

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

Who can't be godfather?

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

• Those who are going to become spouses in the future or are already such in the present.
• Parents of the kid.
• Those who took monastic vows.
• Unbaptized people or unbelievers in the Lord.
• You cannot take people who have a mental illness as godparents.
• Those who profess a different faith.

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

Required items for the ceremony

It should be told in more detail about what items are needed for this rite:

• Kryzhma. This is a special towel on which a cross is embroidered or simply depicted. A child is wrapped in it during chrismation, as well as when prohibitive prayers are read. Sometimes the name of the baby and the date of his baptism are embroidered on such a towel.
• Baptismal diaper. This is not really a necessary attribute, but should be when it is cold. The baby is wiped with this diaper after dipping into the baptismal font, and then wrapped in a canyon again.
• Christening clothes. This can be a baptismal set (dress) for a girl or a special shirt for a boy. It is desirable that these clothes be purchased as a gift by the child's recipient.
• It is necessary to have a pectoral cross with you for a future Christian. The godfather usually buys it. The baptismal duties for him, of course, are not limited to this acquisition, but they will be written about them below.
• It is necessary to bring an envelope for your baby's cropped hair.
• You should also purchase icons for the child and make a donation to the temple (this is an optional condition).

Is there any special preparation for the recipients before the ceremony?

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

If this is your first time in the role of godfather, then it is advisable to get acquainted with how the sacrament goes, what prayers are read, what is the order of the chants. This is necessary because when you become the spiritual educator of a little person, you need more than just a formal presence. A sincere prayer is needed, which should not stop even after the completion of the sacrament, because this is the essence of becoming a godfather.

In more detail about what duties the godfather has during the performance of this rite will be described below.

Present

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

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

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

For parents, especially for the baby's mother, a prayer book will be a good gift, where there will be necessary prayers for the whole family.

How were christenings celebrated in ancient times?

Earlier, as now, christenings were a very significant event in the life of people. This sacrament was performed necessarily no later than two months from the birth of the baby, and sometimes even earlier, on the eighth day. This happened because there used to be a high mortality rate for babies, so it was very important for loved ones to baptize the child before the irreparable happens, so that his soul goes to heaven.

The celebration of the initiation of the little man into the church took place with a large number of guests. This was especially noticeable in large villages. A lot of people gathered for such a holiday, who came with gifts and best wishes to the baby. At the same time, they brought mainly various pastries - pies, pies, pretzels. In the house where the little man lived, a magnificent table was laid for the guests, and there was practically no alcohol (there could only be red wine in very small quantities).

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

It was customary to invite the midwife who took the baby to the table. They could also call the priest, who performed the rite of baptism. During the festival, they sang numerous songs, thus wishing the child all the best. They saw off all the guests, presenting everyone with sweets.

How is baptism going? Duties of the Godfather

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

The duties of the godfather during the baptism of a girl are one, a boy - others (although they differ slightly). If the child is not yet a year old and cannot stand by himself, then he is held in his arms all the time. The first half of the ceremony (before dipping into the baptismal font), the godmothers hold the boys, and the fathers hold the girls. After the dive, everything changes. Since the father is the main thing for the boy, it is he who accepts the child, and the mother accepts the girl. And until the end of the ceremony, everything continues.

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

The next step in the ceremony will be the consecration of the water in the font. Before immersing the baptized person in it, he should be anointed with oil (back, chest, ears, forehead, legs and arms.) Only after this immersion in the font takes place. The priest reads prayers at the same time. This action symbolizes dying to the world and resurrection to the Lord. So there is a kind of cleansing.

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

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

Baptism at home

In addition to being baptized in the temple, it will not be reprehensible to perform this sacrament at home, with your family. However, it is better to do it in the right place. This is based on the fact that after the baptism of the boys, it is imperative that they be brought to the altar (girls simply kiss the icons).

After the ceremony is completed, the little man becomes a full member of the church. This can be felt most strongly only in the temple. Therefore, home christenings are possible only if the infant is unable to endure the ceremony in the church. They are also performed when the child is in mortal danger (illness, etc.). If the entire sacrament takes place at home, then the godfather has the same duties for baptism as if the rite was performed in a church.

Church life of new Christians

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

Special mention should be made of baptismal accessories. Kryzhma and special clothing (if you purchased one) should be stored separately and not used in everyday life. The baptismal shirt (dress) can be worn in moments of illness of the child (or simply wrapped in it). The icon that was used during the sacrament must be placed near the baby's bed or on the home iconostasis (if any). The candle is used on special occasions and is also kept for life.

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

This is how addiction and beneficial effects on the human soul take place. Church chants and prayers are calming and strengthening. As you grow up, difficult questions can arise. If godfathers or parents cannot give answers to them, then it is better to turn to the priest.

Conclusion

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

Baptized, obliged to instruct him in the rules of the Christian life.

The baptism of an infant is performed according to the recipients, who have a holy duty to teach children the true faith, to help them become worthy members of Christ.

After the baby is immersed in the baptismal font, the godfather receives him from the hands of the priest. Hence the Slavic name - recipient... Thus, he takes upon himself the duty of raising a child in the Orthodox spirit for the rest of his life, and the answer for this upbringing will be given at the Last Judgment.

At the Baptism of infants, the recipients recite (confess) instead of them the Symbol of Faith, pronounce vows and take care of teaching the faith and morality of those they perceived (;,).

The custom of having a receiver at Baptism goes back to the most ancient Apostolic Tradition.

The presence of two recipients is a Russian tradition. According to the rules of the Church, one recipient is enough: a godfather for a boy and a godmother for a girl. In practice, gender mismatch is allowed.

In the Sacrament of Baptism, the godparents promise God to bring a baby to Him. It is important to keep this in mind.

Who can be godfather

- An Orthodox Christian must be the godfather (recipient). A godfather cannot be from the Church (one who does not receive communion on a regular basis), a representative of another religion, or an atheist. The recipient is required not only to know and read it at Baptism, but also the spiritual education of the godson in the future, daily prayer for him.

- The godfather must be a churched person, ready to regularly take the godson to church and educate him in the Christian faith.

- After the Sacrament of Baptism has been performed, the godfather cannot be changed, even if he is missing or has fallen away from the faith.

- Pregnant and unmarried women can be godparents of both boys and girls.

- The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, as well as a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child, other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.

- A person should have only one godparent. According to, only one recipient is considered necessary - a man for a baptized male person or a woman for a female person. The presence of a second godfather is an unwritten, albeit ancient, custom of the Church.

- Monks and nuns are not allowed to be accepted.

- The Rite of the Sacrament of Baptism assumes the full-time presence of the recipients during its performance. In an extreme case, the Baptism of infants is allowed without recipients, then the priest himself is considered the godfather.

- Marriages between the baptized person and the recipient are prohibited: the recipient cannot marry his spiritual daughter, and the godfather cannot marry the widowed mother of his spiritual daughter ().

It is reckless to invite a non-church person to be godparents: what can one teach who does not know the subject himself? It's like choosing a guide on a dangerous journey, where the price of the issue is life (in our case - Eternal), a rogue who does not know the route.
It is just as unreasonable for a church person to take upon himself before God vows to bring up in the Christian faith a baby whose parents are not only outside the Church, but are not going to become churched, to inculcate their child to Christ the Savior.
If you are invited to be a recipient by parents who are not only not opposed to baptizing a child, but are themselves ready to become members of the church community, then it is reasonable, before taking their own vows, to take a vow from their parents to fulfill the Commandments, pray daily for their children, come with them to church, try to commune them weekly. Ideally, it would be good to advise parents to go to Sunday school or to catechism classes: after a couple of sessions it will be clear whether they are serious about spiritual life, or whether they consider Baptism as a magical rite.

According to the ancient church rule, at the Baptism of infants, only one recipient was considered necessary - a man for a male to be baptized or a woman for a female (Bolshoi Trebnik, Chapter 5, “see”). The rule of "being at Baptism to one recipient" belonged to the first centuries of Christianity and was strictly observed in the Eastern and Western Churches until the 9th century. In our time, the custom has become widespread that there are two recipients at Baptism: the godfather and the godmother.

Only Orthodox receivers or receivers have ecclesiastical significance. Their names are remembered in prayers and entered into the certificates of Baptism. Receiver " represents the person of the baptized person and for him vows to God, makes, the Symbol confesses and is obliged to instruct the accepted son in the faith and the law of God, which neither an ignorant in faith nor a non-believer can make”(Book on the offices of parish presbyters, 80).
According to the practice of the ancient Church, just as non-believers are never allowed to be receptive, so it is indecent for an Orthodox to be a receiver of children from parents of other faiths, except for those cases when children are baptized into the Orthodox faith. The canons of the Church also do not provide for such a case as participation in baptism as the recipient of a person.

The insane, completely ignorant of the faith, as well as criminals, obvious sinners and those who came to church drunk cannot be recipients. For example, those who have not been through confession and Holy Communion for a long time cannot give guidance and edification in life to their godchildren. Minors (up to 14 years old) cannot be receivers, since they are still incapable of teaching and are not firm in understanding the faith and power of the Sacrament (except for those cases when it is completely impossible to have an adult receiver).

The ancient Russian did not know such a rule that would eliminate the monks from acceptance. It is known that the godfathers of our Russian grand-ducal and royal children were mostly monks. It was only later that the monks were forbidden to accept acceptance because it involves the monk in communion with the world (Nomokanon at the Great Trebnik). Parents cannot be receivers from the baptismal font of their own children. It is uncomfortable for a woman in ordinary cleansing to be a recipient. In such cases, you can postpone Baptism or invite another recipient.

Church rules do not prohibit siblings, fathers and daughter, or mother and son from being the recipients of the same baby. Currently, priests do not allow husband and wife to share the same baby. In order to prevent violations of the existing rules regarding recipients, the priest usually finds out in advance from the parents who they want to have as recipients for their children.

Prayers for the godchildren

Prayer for children and godchildren, father

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 Your Divine Blood, I implore You, my sweetest Savior, with Your grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names), protect them with Your Divine fear, keep them from evil inclinations and habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and of good. Decorate their lives with all that are kind and saving, arrange their fate as you yourself want and save their souls with their own fate! Lord, God of our fathers! Give my children (names) and godchildren (names) a righteous heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes. And do it all! Amen.

On raising children as good Christians: Prayer of parents to the Lord God

God, our gracious and heavenly Father!
Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray to You and whom we deliver to Your care and protection.
Put in them strong faith, teach them to revere You and honor them to love You, our Creator and Savior.
Guide them, O God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything to the glory of Your name.
Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians and useful 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 Mother and all the saints, lead them to the quiet harbor of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they, with all the righteous, always thank You with Your only-begotten Son and Your life-giving Spirit.
Amen.

Prayer to the Lord God, compiled by the monk

Lord, You are the One with all things, all you can and all want to be saved and come into the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Thy truth and Thy will, Holy One, strengthen them and walk in Thy commandments and have mercy on me a sinner.
Amen.
Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust to You my children, whom You gave me, fulfill my prayer.
I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways that You yourself know. Keep them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing that is contrary to You touch their souls. But give them faith, love and hope for salvation, and may their life's path be holy and blameless before God.
Bless them, Lord, that they strive every minute of their lives to fulfill Your Holy Will, so that You, Lord, could always be with them by Your Holy Spirit.
Lord, teach them to pray to Thee, so that prayer would be their support, a joy in sorrows and the consolation of their lives, and so that we, their parents, might also be saved by their prayer.
Let Thy angels keep them always.
May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors, and may they fulfill Your commandment of love. And if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You, and You, by Your ineffable mercy, forgive them.
When their earthly life ends, then take them to Your Heavenly Abodes, where let them lead with them the other servants of Your chosen ones.
Through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and Thy saints (all holy families are listed), Lord, have mercy on us, as you were glorified with Thy Godhead Son and with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever.
Amen.

Does it really teach about the inadmissibility of marriage between godparents according to Article 211 of the Nomokanon?

Obstacles to wedding and baptismal acceptance. Grigorovsky S.P. Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2007. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. S. 49-51. Quoting from there:

« At present, Article 211 of the Nomokanon [which indicates the inadmissibility of marriage between recipients] has no practical meaning and should be considered canceled ... in any spiritual relationship and therefore prohibit them from entering into marriage with each other».

Prof. Pavlov, in his course on Church Law, comments on the problem of the spiritual relationship of the recipient and the recipient of one child and the marriage between them:

“… Several rules of apocryphal origin and strange content (for example, 211 rule forbidding a husband and wife to be the recipients of the same baby, under pain of being separated from marital cohabitation). The Holy Synod, already in the first years of its existence, began to treat such rules with great doubt and often made decisions that were directly opposite to them, especially in matters of marriage. "

In December 2017, at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, a document was adopted, which states: “ Marriages between recipients can be carried out with the blessing of the diocesan bishop (subject to the decree of the Holy Synod of December 31, 1837) ".

Can pregnant and unmarried women become gods?

Pregnant and unmarried women can be godparents, there is no canonical prohibition on this. All prohibitions refer exclusively to the dense folk superstitions and have no effect for Christians.

The baptism of a child is a crucial step. Parents should not only be sure that the baby needs it, but also choose the right godparents. After all, the upbringing of a child in faith and piety depends on this, according to the destiny of the godparents.

About the godfather

If women are more often more responsible for such an event as baptism, then men can let some details and moments take their course. This is not worth doing, because every godfather must remember that he will ultimately bear responsibility before God for his actions. Therefore, the godfather must first learn his duties well in order to know what to do in a given situation.

Preparation

We must remember that if they were offered such a responsible role, they cannot refuse, this is considered a bad sign. Having agreed with their new status as godparents, they should be well aware of what they will need to do or not do in order to prepare for the ceremony. So, a few days before the baby is baptized, the godparents must observe fasting, not live sexually. It is also worth remembering that atheists and married people cannot be godparents. What should the godmother and godfather figure out for themselves? The responsibilities entrusted to them must be strictly fulfilled, whether they like it or not. Previously, the child had only one godfather, of the same gender, today it has changed a little, but the main godparent is the one who is of the same gender as the baby. It is also worth remembering that the godparents must bear all the costs of preparing the ceremony. A man buys a cross, and also pays for the services of a church (photographer), a woman buys a christening gown and a towel - a canopy. Also, the godmother should prepare treats for the guests who came to congratulate the child on such an important day as baptism.

Ceremony

The godmother must remember that you cannot wear makeup for the baptismal ceremony, that is, use any makeup. Any jewelry is also not welcome, but you can and even need to put on your own. The duties of a godfather at baptism do not imply anything difficult. You just need to hold the baby and do whatever the father says. It is also better to pre-learn the Symbol of Faith prayer, it will need to be said during the baptismal ceremony. during the ceremony are the same.

Life

It is worth recalling once again that the main godfather for a child is the person who is of the same sex with him. If there was a godfather, his duties should be thoroughly understood. After all, it is he who will have to tell the kid who God is, what kind of faith the child is and how to behave correctly during various church rituals. Knowing the duties of a godfather, a man should lead an honest, pious life, because the child will also look up to him, look closely at the manner of his behavior. It is a misconception that godparents should only give gifts to the baby for numerous holidays, but this is not enough. It is the godmother and the godfather, whose responsibilities are the spiritual education of the child, who are responsible for what kind of person the child will become, how he will settle in society in the future.

The Sacrament of Baptism is the second birth of a person to life, a birth from water and the Spirit, which the Savior speaks of as a necessary condition forinherit eternal life. If the carnal birth is a person's coming into the world, then Baptism is his entering and joining the Church of Christ. And the newly-baptized in his spiritual birth is received by the godparents, who vouch for the faith of the new Orthodox Christian they have accepted.

It is more useful for the godfather and godmother to begin preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism long before the sacrament itself. First of all, this preparation consists in studying the Holy Scriptures, the foundations of the Orthodox faith and the main rules of Christian piety.

Formally, the godfather does not need to fast, confess and receive communion before the sacrament, however, if you are a believer and are connected with the Church not only by your own baptism, then most likely you adhere to these rules constantly, and it will not be difficult for you to confess and receive communion in advance.

After you have agreed to become a godfather, do not postpone the immediate preparation for the sacrament on the back burner. First of all, visit the temple in which it was decided to baptize the baby. The priest who will baptize the baby will interview you before Baptism and tell you what to buy for the Sacrament. This is a baptismal set consisting of a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. In addition, you will need a sheet or towel to wrap and dry your baby after immersion in the hot tub. Traditionally, the godfather buys the pectoral cross for the boy, and the godmother for the girl, who also brings a towel. But if only one godfather buys everything you need, it's okay. In fact, it doesn't really matter.

The priest, godparents, and a child are the main participants in the sacrament. The child's parents only observe the sacrament and pray with the invitees.

The duties of the godfather at Baptism include holding the baby in his arms if a boy is baptized. The godmother is standing nearby at this time. If a girl is baptized, then everything happens the other way around. Before performing the sacrament, a priest in white vestments walks around the baptismal room or church, reciting three prayers. After that, he asks the godfather and godson to turn their faces to the west and asks the baptized one a few questions. If the baby is baptized, then the godfather answers these questions for him. In addition, during baptism, the godparents read aloud the Creed instead of the baby and pronounce on his behalf the vows of renouncing Satan. Try to memorize the Creed. It can be found in any prayer book that you can buy at any church shop. The boy from the font is perceived by the godfather, and the girl by the godmother. The second godparent helps to dry the baby and put on a baptismal shirt.

The duties of the godmother and godfather, among other things, include the question of what to give the godson for christening.

Duties of the Godfather after Baptism

The duties of the godfather, which he takes upon himself in the Sacrament of Baptism, are very serious, therefore you must clearly understand what is required of you in the future.

The godfather is obliged to give spiritual education to his godson, bring to the attention of the child the main canons of the Orthodox faith, teach the child to resort to the saving sacraments of Confession and Communion, help parents in raising and caring for the godson, and bear responsibility for the upbringing and life of the child if something will happen to his parents. But, of course, the main duty of the godfather is to pray for the godson.

The duties of godparents also include guardianship of the godson from various temptations and sinful temptations, which are especially dangerous in childhood and adolescence. The godfather, knowing the character, talents and desires of the godson, can help him with the choice of education, future profession and even a spouse.

Remember that the fate of your godson will largely depend on how well you perform your duties as a godfather, so a frivolous attitude towards them is simply unacceptable.

Now you understand why you shouldn't mindlessly accept an invitation to become a godfather, especially if you already have a godson. Think about whether you have the strength, patience, wisdom and love to cope with such a serious responsibility as the spiritual education of a baby.

The godfather must be aware of the responsibility for his duties

Unfortunately, the main duties of the godfather now boil down to buying a pectoral cross for the future godson, paying for the sacrament, drinking to the godson's happiness and saying goodbye to him until an unknown date, regularly marking his godparentage with toys or a bill in an envelope. However, for the Orthodox Church, the duties of a godfather are not at all like that.

In the Sacrament, instead of a baby, you renounce the devil, his pride and his service, declare for the baby a complete readiness to be united with Christ. Try to bring up the baby so that you yourself will not be ashamed of your guarantee in the future.

Remember that there is no responsibility higher, more sacred and more terrible than those that you impose upon yourself, becoming a godfather. Of course, it is difficult to lead others along a difficult life path, if you yourself constantly stumble, and it is necessary to do this, because you yourself agreed, took on this and now an endless answer for the one whom you vouched for.

You may think that such duties and the own father are beyond the power to fulfill. But that is precisely why the Church has given you to help him. You must help each other in the difficult task of raising a child. In addition, you, as a godfather, are obliged to watch even the baby's parents. Remember, there are so many families in which the parents do not care about the spiritual and moral upbringing of the child. How many dads who do not consider it their duty to raise a baby. How many mothers who give their children to nannies, so as not to burden their lives and not give up their usual pleasures. It is here that your field for the spiritual activity of the godfather is located. It is here that you have to take the floor and remind the father of his family duty to educate and teach his baby, to remind the mother, burdened by maternal responsibilities, of her duty.

If it seems to you that these tasks are very difficult and impracticable, then think about the consecrated dignity of the title of godfather and the activity that gives you the right to be an earthly guardian angel of a little man; think about what blessings the Heavenly Father prepares for the one who teaches and educates a person in the Love of God.

In addition, for you personally, the activity of the godfather will not be useless. If you understand the need for the spiritual education of your godson, and you yourself are not very strong in this science, then, of course, study it yourself together with your child.

If you yourself do not often attend church, then now no, no, and go with your child. If you like to chat or discuss someone's actions, then you will have to think a hundred times before saying something, because the little godson or goddaughter is spinning around you. It is both pleasant for you and useful for the child.

Now, if God has brought or will lead you to become a receiver for someone, then you will agree to this not out of your head, but after thinking and preparing for everything thoroughly, and you will become a true godfather for your godson.

To be the chosen godparent of a child is a very honorable mission. Few of the modern married couples thought about what qualities godfathers should have. After all, as you know, the recipients (godparents) will subsequently be the spiritual parents of the baby, who are responsible before God for the behavior and actions of their godson. Very often, close friends or relatives are invited for this, who do not fully understand what will be the responsibilities of the godfather and mother.

What is a godfather for?

Being a godfather means teaching your godson love for the world around you, giving spiritual education according to the principles of the Orthodox Church, teaching prayers and going to church with him. It is very important to remember that it is the recipient, and not the grandparents, who takes on the material care of the child if his parents are sick and incapacitated: good nutrition, buying clothes and toys, assistance in obtaining an education and a profession are all that should do a godfather for raising his son or daughter. Also, according to the canons of the church, with the loss of physical parents, it is he who becomes the first applicant for the adoption of a minor godson or goddaughter.

How to Prepare for Baptism?

So, the decision has been made - the recipient has been selected, and he has agreed. The godfather should know that this is a sacrament, and before him you need to fast for several days, and you need to carefully prepare for the rite itself:

1. On the eve, visit the church where the service will take place and talk to the priest. He will tell you what is needed in order for the child to be baptized, how the sacrament will take place, etc.
2. Confess and receive communion. Now these requirements are optional, but the church is very welcome.
3. Memorize the Symbol of Faith prayer.
4. Discuss with the godson's parents if they need any help: organizing transport, preparing a banquet, etc.

Of what the godfather should give at baptism, the most obligatory is a pectoral cross and a thread (chain). Some are limited only to this, while others give icons, toys, etc. If there is no godmother, then do not forget that the recipient will need to buy more, as well as a diaper (sheet) in which the baby will be wrapped.

What does the recipient do during the ceremony?

The duties of the godfather at Baptism include:

It so happens that for some reason, parents want to change their godfather, but they don't know if it can be done. The clergy explain that this cannot be done in the Orthodox faith.

Becoming a godfather is a great responsibility, because you are responsible to the church for your godson. Try to cultivate in him love for God and neighbor, talk about sins and protect him from them, and also do not forget the godson in your prayers.