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

How to prepare the godfather for the rite of baptism in the Orthodox Church Do not rush to give up this honorable mission if you feel a lack of knowledge about Christianity and church rules. You have an amazing opportunity to fix everything. Inspired by this important role, you can fill knowledge gaps through religious literature, temple visits, conversations with a priest, and become an example of virtue and obedience to the Lord for your godchild. It is with the aim of conveying to future recipients of their importance in the life of godchildren that most churches practice obligatory public talks for godparents, who are preparing at the stage of preparation for the sacrament.

How to get an interview

The number of classes is determined by the level of church-going of the recipients. After the first conversation, the priest decides how many lessons are needed.

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

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

Fasting, confession and communion

At the stage of preparation, it is also necessary to visit the temple, confess and commune a few days before the sacrament. Before baptism itself, it is supposed to observe a three-day fast, which implies the exclusion of animal products from the diet. In addition, it is necessary to refrain from recreational activities, intimacy and foul language. On the day of baptism, the godfather, like the godmother, is forbidden to eat food until the end of the rite, since sometimes after the sacrament, the priest holds the communion of the newly baptized and the recipients.

What prayers need to know the godfather The godparents must learn the main prayer of the rite. It is pronounced immediately after the words of renunciation of the devil and combination with Christ. Recipients must read and understand the meaning of prayer, which is a set of basic provisions of the Orthodox faith. The list of significant prayers also includes: "Theotokos, Virgin, rejoice", "Heavenly King." How to dress your godfather for a christening At the rite of baptism, the godfather, like the godmother, must wear a consecrated pectoral cross. The appearance is supposed to be modest, not attracting much attention. It is not recommended to enter the temple in sportswear, shorts, and a T-shirt. On a hot summer day, it is better to choose light trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.

What you need to buy for baptism

The duties of the godfather include the purchase of a one-piece and or gaitan for him. He also needs to purchase an icon of the Guardian Angel and a nominal icon with the image of the saint, whose name the godson will be named after.

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

• Is it possible to take photographs;
• There will be a mass or individual baptism, for how long;
• Will the sacrament be on the day of baptism or will it be necessary to commune the godson in a week;
• What should be brought to the church in addition to baptismal clothes, icons and a cross;
• When can a purchased cross be consecrated?

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.

Functions and Responsibilities of the Godfather During the Sacrament Godparents renounce the devil and combine 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. When a boy is baptized When the boy is baptized, the godfather receives the godson from the font. Together with the godmother, he wipes the baby and helps to put it in white, the color of which denotes the purity and sinlessness of the newly baptized soul. The godfather holds the baby under one year old in his arms. Children over two years of age can stand in front of the recipient.

At the christening girls

The godmother accepts the girl from the font. The task of the godfather at this time is to constantly be near, to help undress / dress the baby, to say prayers.

What are the duties of a godfather after baptism

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

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

For baptism or during the first year of life, the godfather needs to give the godson a children's Bible, so that as he grows up, the baby gets acquainted with the life of Christ. For birthday, Angel's Day, Christmas and other holidays, it will be right to purchase gifts with a spiritual meaning. The communication of the godson / goddaughter with the godfather 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.

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The sacrament of Baptism takes about 30-40 minutes. It is necessary to decide in advance on the name for the child, which will be given to him at Baptism, with the choice of the temple and the purchase of baptismal accessories. It is also necessary to first visit the temple where the Sacrament will take place and talk with the priest. With all the preliminary points, preparation for Epiphany will take no more than a week.

At what age is a child baptized?

You can baptize a child at any age.

There is a legend that a child should be baptized on the 40th day from the date of his birth. This is due to the fact that 40 days are mentioned in the Old Testament, and it is also believed that until the 40th day the mother cannot attend the Sacrament due to natural reasons. But you can baptize sooner or later, the main thing is not to delay it for a long time, not to leave the soul of a child without the grace of God.

In which temple to baptize a child?

Everyone decides for himself in which church it is better to baptize his child. For a small child, it is preferable if the church is located near the house. First of all, you can find out from relatives, close friends, where they baptized their children. What they liked and what they didn't. You should know that the larger the church, the more children it will be baptized. It can be difficult for babies to wait an hour and a half for their turn.

You should first visit the chosen temple and get acquainted with when you can perform the Sacrament of Baptism. Perhaps you have chosen a specific date and would like to christen it on this particular day. You can find out all the detailed information in the church. A child can be baptized on any day, but each parish has its own rules and should be found out in advance.

Usually baptized in the morning after the service.

Can a child be baptized in winter?

There are no obstacles to the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism in the winter season. The church is warm, the water for baptism is heated. I baptized my second daughter at the end of October in the Gerasimo-Boldinsky monastery of the Smolensk region. There were two families of us who baptize babies. The kids behaved great, no one cried. In the monastery itself it was warm, even hot, cozy and festive. The eldest daughter was baptized there, but in the summer. There were much more people, about 10 people. However, everything went surprisingly well, the Sacrament of Baptism itself took no more than an hour in time.

How Much Does Baptism Cost?

There is no official payment in the Orthodox Church. It is important to understand that our Church is separated from the State, and, therefore, exists only on donations from parishioners. Therefore, the amount that you will be told in the temple is only indicative. You can pay more if funds allow. If you have a difficult life situation and you cannot pay for the Baptism now, any priest is obliged to baptize the child free of charge. If you are denied access to a particular church, you can turn to the dean or other superior priests.

In Moscow and the Moscow region, the donation for Epiphany is about 2000-5000 rubles. For an individual performance of the Sacrament, the amount may be slightly higher. In the regions, donations from 1000 rubles are made, for example, in the churches of the Smolensk region, 1500-2500 rubles are paid for the baptism of a child.

Why do we need a conversation with a priest before Epiphany?

A preliminary conversation with the priest is needed so that the parents understand the importance and responsibility of the Sacrament being performed. It is necessary to baptize by faith, and not because the child is often sick, eats poorly, and is somehow disobedient.

During the conversation, the priest will tell about the Holy Scriptures, about the life of Jesus. About why a person is baptized. On the role of godparents in the life of a child.

Announcement talks have recently become obligatory in many temples. They usually take place where you will baptize the child. In churches there are premises for Sunday school classes, usually there a priest and invites parents and godparents. In most temples, these conversations take place on weekends, usually on Saturdays. But the father can appoint another time convenient for you and him.

How to choose the right godparents?

The husband and wife, the parents themselves, and also the monastics cannot be godparents for one child. All other believers can be godparents.

As for the age from which you can become a godfather, there are discrepancies. Some priests say that from adulthood, others - that from the age of 14 you can become a godfather or mother. It is better to address this question to the priest at an open talk before the Sacrament.

In the Russian Orthodox tradition, it is customary to have two godparents for a child: a man and a woman. However, there are no prescriptions for this in the Church. So, you can baptize a child with one godfather: for a boy, a man is traditionally chosen as godfather, for a girl - a woman.

With the permission of the priest, unbaptized people, representatives of other religions can become recipients, and you can also become a godfather in absentia, if there are significant reasons for this.

Assuming such responsibility, it should be understood that the godfather is the person who is obliged to support the child at the turning points of life. It is the godfather who should be close to his godson when he moves away from his parents at a transitional age.

Advice to parents: Choose a godfather you like. It's good if this person is near your child and can visit him from time to time. If you offered to become a godfather, but the person refused, you should not beg him. Perhaps the person feels that they are not ready to take on this responsibility. Look for another person.

Literature for parents and godparents:

Hieromonk Macarius (Markish) - ""

Archpriest Valentin Mordasov - ""

Do parents and godparents need to confess, receive communion before the sacrament of Baptism?

No, this is optional.

What should be purchased for baptism by godparents?

Usually, the godfather buys a pectoral cross for the godson, and also pays the costs of performing the Sacrament of Baptism. The godmother can also buy a cross for her goddaughter, as well as other necessary things.

A baptismal set for a boy includes:

New baptismal shirt and kryzhma (towel).

If the baby is a baby, you can purchase additional socks and a cap. During Baptism, it is better to remove the diaper, if any, on the baby. You will be able to put it on after the baby has been dipped three times in the baptismal font.

Kryzhma, cap, shirt and booties for a boy

A baptismal set for a girl includes:

Christening gown, headscarf and canopy (towel).

For a girl, instead of a baptismal shirt, you can purchase a baptismal dress.

Traditionally, in the decoration of the christening attire for boys, blue tones are used, for girls - pink. But the outfit can be snow-white as a symbol of purity. For girls, finishing the baptismal set with ruffles and lace is allowed.

The baptismal dress should be made only of natural materials: cotton or linen, silk is most often used in decoration.

To choose the right outfit for Baptism, you need to know the age of the child, at least approximately his height or weight. Buy a christening gown in the size your child usually wears. For a boy, you can buy a baptismal shirt one size larger than usual, because it is made of cotton and does not stretch. This will make it easier to put it on.

In winter, a hooded towel should be purchased.

A baptismal set can also be bought at church, but not always. Little churches won't sell it to you. Parents themselves can purchase such a set, and then the godparents give something else.

It is customary to keep the baptismal attire throughout life. It can be washed if necessary.

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, you will need baptismal candles, which are covered with elegant lace napkins so that wax does not drip onto your hands. You can buy such candles in any church shop.

What should be given to godparents for Baptism?

Any gift can be. A good book, household items, something a child needs. Often, godparents present icons of Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, the Saint in whose honor the baby is named, prayer books, Bibles for children, and other spiritual literature.

Measured icons are usually made to order in icon painting workshops.

Some people order beautiful measured icons, which will become a family heirloom and, possibly, will be passed down from generation to generation. The dimensional icon is called because it is made in the size of the child at the time of his birth. Such a shrine is made to order, depicting a saint on it - the patron saint of a child. If the godparents know the name of the saint, after whom their godson will be named, they can order a measured icon for a gift in advance. It is done in icon-painting workshops at churches, or you can search for private manufacturers of such icons on the Internet. The average cost of a measured icon in Moscow is 17,000 rubles.

Who is attending the Epiphany?

Priest Alexander Ilyushenko answers as follows: “All relatives and just close people can be present at baptism. Baptism is called a sacrament not because it is performed in secret from everyone, but because in baptism, as in the performance of other church sacraments, the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit is communicated to the soul of the believer under the visible image of the performance of the established sacraments ”.

The mother can also attend the Baptism of her child. There are no prohibitions for her today. In the pre-Christian era, there was a ban on visiting the temple for a woman who had just given birth. Only after 40 days she could cross the threshold of the temple and touch the shrines. But today this rule of ritual purity is no longer as important as it used to be.

Under what name should the child be baptized?

If you named your child according to the Holy Calendar, then the name at Baptism will be the same. For example, your baby girl was born on January 25, and you named her Tatyana. At Baptism, she will remain the name Tatiana in honor of the holy Great Martyr Tatiana, whose day of remembrance is celebrated by the Orthodox on January 25.

In the Russian Orthodox Church they baptize only under those names that are contained in the Holy Calendar, i.e. there must be an Orthodox saint with the same name. You cannot baptize a child with a name that is not there.

Participating in the performance of Church Sacraments, submitting notes, the name given at Baptism is always indicated.

And what if your name is not in the Holy Calendar? Here is what the priest Dionysius Svechnikov says: “If a person's name is not Orthodox (not contained in the calendar), then they name him in honor of the saint whose memory falls on the day of baptism (if there is no male or female name on that day, then they look at the following days), or on his birthday ... And sometimes a person asks to baptize him in honor of a certain saint, and this is quite acceptable. Sometimes they choose a name for a person, just consonant with his name. "

What to do at Epiphany?

All present should dress appropriately. There should be nothing bright, provocative, distracting the mind and attention of other people. Women should wear modest skirts and cover their heads with a scarf. It is also necessary to wear a pectoral cross on the chest for those who come to the temple of God to perform the Church Sacrament.

Before Baptism, you should buy candles, prepare a towel, a cross for the child - you will give these things to the priest. Also, you should keep a towel for the baby and a baptismal outfit at the ready.

During the performance of the Sacrament, the priest will put a cross around your child's neck. After that, it is never recommended to remove the cross.

Many parents are afraid that the rope on which the cross weighs can harm the baby. If you have such concerns, you can buy a thin chain or. Even if they get tangled, they will easily break without harming the child.

All children behave differently in the church. But, if you are calm and peaceful, set your soul in a solemn mood, then your child, as a rule, will behave well and calmly. If the baby is breastfeeding, you should first feed him so that he does not cry from hunger. If the child is asleep, do not wake him up before time. The mother can take him in her arms if he bursts into tears.

In many churches it is allowed to photograph the Sacrament of Baptism. But again, this question should be discussed in advance with the priest. The photographer should be as attentive as possible, not annoying, not interfere with the performance of the Sacrament. It is unacceptable to use mobile phones during the Communion.

What happens during the Sacrament of Baptism?

During Epiphany, the godparents usually stand behind the priest, one of them holding the child in his arms. The priest reads the main prayers, then asks the godparents and the child to turn their faces to the west and renounce Satan three times.

During Baptism, the godparents read two prayers: Our Father and the Symbol of Faith. The father will also read these prayers and you can repeat the words after him quietly. Some write in advance the words of prayers on a piece of paper.

Then the infant is chrismated. At each anointing, the priest says the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents repeat after him: "Amen." After that, a lock of hair is cut off from the head of the child as a sign of his dedication to the Warriors of Christ and his readiness to serve God. Then comes the main moment of the Sacrament - a triple immersion in the Holy font. In the cold season, the child is not dipped, but only the head, neck and feet are moistened with water. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. Thus, he takes on the responsibility of raising a child in faith and will be responsible for him at the Last Judgment.

What to do after Epiphany?

After the Baptism, all those present can gather at home in a close family circle and celebrate this solemn event. Relatives can give gifts, say kind words, read poetry. It's good if someone himself writes a couple of lines in honor of such an important event in the life of a little person.

Sweetheart, beloved, dear,
My desired goddaughter,
You are the only one in the world
And the whole world is for you today.
Congratulations on your Epiphany
And I wish you happiness
Let your angel protect you
From misfortune in life and misfortune.

Your child has become a Christian, has entered the bosom of the Orthodox Church, and now his further path depends only on you and the godparents. If you want to raise a believer, live a righteous life yourself, keep the commandments of Christ. A child can only be raised by personal example and good conversations. At every opportunity, godparents should talk with their godchildren, explain Christian truths to them, visit churches, confess and receive communion. If possible, travel to holy places. Now there is a very large selection of excellent Christian literature for children. There are books even for the little ones.

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

What you need to know before baptizing a child

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

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

Fasting, confession and communion before the baptism of a child

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

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

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

Confession before the baptism of a child

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

Communion before the baptism of a child

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

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

The baptism of a child, in a family of believers, is a tremulous event that is awaited from the moment the baby is born. This is the first Sacrament with which the church greets a person who has come to God for the first time. The choice made on this day determines the entire future life of the child.

When to baptize a child, which church to choose? Is the time of year important at the time of baptism? Who should be chosen as godparents, what duties are assigned to them and what is their responsibility? How is the baptismal procedure carried out?

What needs to be prepared before christening, how to celebrate after? This is just a small part of the questions that caring representatives of the interests of the child have.

What is child baptism?

Baptism of a child is the first sacrament of 7, which has its own rite and traditions. After the christening, the child is considered to be in communion with God, and his spiritual upbringing is entrusted to the godparents. From this moment on, the Guardian Angel is assigned to the person.

The ceremony is usually held no earlier than 40 days from birth. Why exactly 40 days? The fact is that according to church canons, a woman who has given birth to a child cannot enter the church for 40 days after childbirth, since she is considered "unclean". Therefore, until this time, the mother stands at the door of the church, handing over the child to the godparents. It is also believed that at an earlier age, the process will be perceived much easier. The older the child is, the more difficult it is to dip him into the baptismal font.

It happens that they baptize earlier, in an unusual environment. This exception is connected with the health of the child. So, there are cases of baptism of a child in a hospital, at home. At the same time, the ceremony itself can be performed by the child's mother, and then chrismation will be made by the priest in the church.

The rite itself is not much different from the ancient ones. And it consists of basic actions. First, prayers of prohibitions are read over the child, then the renunciation of Satan and reunification with God, and after that, the confession of the Orthodox faith is pronounced by the godparents. After the Announcement, a plunge into the font takes place.

Then Confirmation is done by the priest, aimed at strengthening the child in the spiritual life.

After Confirmation, with a child in their arms, the godparents walk around the baptismal font three times behind the priest. They do this as a sign of the manifestation of joy from reunification with God and eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom. Then the priest reads excerpts from the Epistle and the Gospel, and at the end of the reading, with the help of a special sponge, he washes the myrrh from the baby's body, saying the words:

Then, the child's hair is cut crosswise, saying the words:

The process of cutting hair symbolizes obedience to God, a kind of sacrifice. Actually, this baptism is considered complete. Further, the process of churching takes place. In his arms, the priest carries the child around the church, introducing him to the church.

It is worth noting that according to church canons, a woman cannot be a clergyman. Therefore, only boys are brought into the altar itself.

After incubation, the child is handed over to the parents.

Washing with water may differ depending on the faith, and the process of baptism may also slightly differ, depending on the customs of the church itself.

In the early church, following the example of Jesus Christ, they were baptized en masse in the river. Such a tradition is practiced in Protestantism.

Fasting, confession and communion before the baptism of a child

When preparing for baptism, the main task of parents is to choose responsible godparents for their child. It has long been believed that if trouble happens to the parents, the godparents are obliged to take over the entire litigation of raising the godchildren. It is very important that the desire to baptize a child is mutual, then spiritual guidance will not be a burden, and prayers for health will be sincere.

Before the very ceremony of baptism, parents and godparents always come to the church for a conversation, where the priest will talk about the duties of the godparents and the process itself. Do not be shy, you should find out everything in advance: is it possible to shoot with the camera, will you be alone.

For some dioceses of the Orthodox Church, a mandatory requirement is:

• observance of the fast a week before the sacrament;
• confession / repentance of sins;
• participle.

Others leave this decision to the godparents themselves.

Fasting before the baptism of a child

7 days before confession, the godfather and godmother must adhere to strict fasting. This week, godparents need to adhere to a righteous lifestyle: read prayers, do not participate in festivities, do not watch TV, give up empty activities. There are exclusively lean foods, excluding dairy and meat products, as well as their derivatives.

Confession and communion before the baptism of a child

After fasting, future godparents must come to confession, where they are given the opportunity to repent of all sins committed on purpose or inadvertently. Do not forget to obey bad thoughts and empty words, smoking, or drinking. After the sacrament of confession, all efforts should be directed to your spiritual rethinking, so that this does not happen again in the future.

You should not hide your sins, because the main task of the priest is not to condemn you for your actions, but to help you get on the right path.

After the priest has forgiven sins, you can proceed to the sacrament. In the ecclesiastical world, the Sacrament of Holy Communion is nothing more than the gift of grace from God to people. Few are able to fully understand what is happening. Wine and bread are nothing but the body of Jesus Christ, eating them, we are given the opportunity to unite with God.

What prayers do you need to know before baptizing a child?

Believers, even though they went to church occasionally, know prayers for memory. But there are three prayers that should be learned before baptism, so as not to read from paper:

1. "Our Father".
2. "Mother of God, Virgin, rejoice."
3. "Symbol of faith".

In addition, it is important that godparents read morning and evening prayers before baptism.

What should be the christening robe?

Since baptism is a holiday, the dress must be appropriate. But do not forget about the peculiarities of the place and what outfits will be inappropriate.

how to dress a child for baptism?

For baptism, the child is dressed in white robes. This is a symbol of cleansing from sins, and also emphasizes his readiness for a pure life.

The color white symbolizes the joy that the soul is now betrothed to God. It is believed that the calling of every soul is to become the bride of God.

At the same time, it is worth considering the weather factors and the practicality of the clothes. You have to undress the child, and after bathing, quickly put it on so that the child does not catch a cold. This will not have to be done by a skilled mother, but by inexperienced godfathers, who, perhaps, will do this for the first time.

It is believed that from the moment of birth to one year, children see Angels and God. According to popular beliefs, a good life for a child will be ensured by new clothes, in which he will be brought to meet God. And upon arrival home, the child is put on fur products, laying out expensive things around him, which, according to signs, should bring him wealth.

You can buy christening clothes at any church shop. There you can also buy a kryzhma (a special white towel, in which the child is wrapped after the font). It is worth noting that baptismal things are not washed or given anywhere. They are kept close to the child. At the moment of illness, the cannon is taken out and placed next to it, counting on a speedy recovery.

The godfather buys the cross for the child. It makes no difference what material the pectoral cross is made of.

how to dress as godparents when a child is baptized?

For the church, the appearance of the parishioners is of great importance. If the godparents are not aware of the church requirements, it is worth clarifying them in advance so that there are no troubles.

Since this is a bright holiday, then the outfit should be in light colors: white, beige, pale pink, blue, turquoise. But it is better to avoid flashy and provocative outfits. If you were not planning to wear a dress, you can wear a suit made of a skirt and a blouse.

The godmother should consider that:

• sleeves should be long;
• the length of the dress cannot in any way be above the knee, but rather to the floor;
• no pants;
• no neckline;
• the head must be covered;
• when choosing shoes, it is better to give preference to practical shoes, or a stable heel.

As for the godfather, the choice of outfit is not so diverse - it can be a suit, or trousers with a shirt, of the same color scheme. Actually, it is indecent to wear shorts and a T-shirt to church. The main thing for a man is the absence of a headdress. It is also customary for little boys to take off their hats upon entering.

Important! The sacrament of baptism can take up to an hour, and sometimes up to 2 hours if another baby is baptized in front of you. Therefore, the clothes should be as comfortable as possible, it is the duty of the godparent to hold the child in the church.

How do parents dress for the baptism of their child?

The role of parents in the ceremony is not great, and the mother herself can be allowed into the church only at the end of the baptism so that she can take the child in her arms from the hands of the priest.

Choosing an outfit is worth considering the same rules as for godfathers. If the baby is breastfed, it is worth considering the time of the ceremony, and use breast pads for nursing mothers. Also, in case of a possible hitch, the mother should take care of the practicality of the outfit in order to feed the child in case of something.

Who can be chosen as godfather when a child is baptized?

If it is not possible to choose both godparents, a mentor of the same gender is often chosen. That is, a godfather must have a godson.

This person must profess the same faith that a newborn is converted to, have stable spiritual values, and be close to the family.

The godfather cannot be the godmother's husband.

The church also insists that a spiritual mentor must be mentally healthy and not sinful, that is, must not have addictions.

Who can be the godmother when a child is baptized?

Since godparents are parents before God, they must be clean before him: there can be no talk of love, sexual relations between them.

Godmother can be:

• woman in position;
• unmarried lady.

Listening to superstitions on this topic is not worth it. There are no prohibitions on this in the church statutes. However, it is worth considering whether she will have enough time and love for a godson after the birth of her own child. After all, the godmother has a responsible task - to attract the child into church life. Also, the godmother must bring the child to communion for the first time.

It is also important to note that it is forbidden to refuse or change one of the godparents. Even if his further participation in the child's life is impossible, or the person ruined his life by plunging into sin: drugs, alcohol, gambling addiction. In this case, the church insists that the child and the parents should pray for the godparent.

If there are no godparents when the child is baptized, how to baptize the child?

The moment of baptism of a child is often postponed due to the absence of godparents. It may be the impossibility of being present on this particular day, or the unwillingness of loved ones to take responsibility for themselves, or the absence of a suitable candidate.

In this case, baptism is performed without godparents according to the Christian rite. Father himself pronounces vows of renunciation of Satan, of union with Christ. But this does not mean that the father becomes the godfather of the child. Especially if the parents are not frequent visitors to this church. Often the priest has his own family, his godchildren, who require attention, and besides, he has a lot of worries.

The father baptizes the child, as required by his service. And kinship is possible only by mutual agreement. It is impossible to fulfill spiritual obligations in relation to a person whom you do not know.

If the child's parents are parishioners of the church where the child was baptized, you can discuss the issue of the godfather with the priest, perhaps he will take on this important role. But you should not put the upbringing of your child on him, because the child is baptized according to the faith of the parents, that is, the main role is assigned to them.

What name will the baby be given at baptism?

The day of baptism will henceforth be the day of the Angel. That is why church officials often insist on giving the child a baptismal name according to Christmastide, that is, in honor of the saints, whose memory falls on the next day to the birthday. This option will also serve as a good example for the future Christian.

Many parents insist that they leave their real name on the certificate. Others, believing in the power of corruption, demand that the child be given a different name, difficult to perceive, in order to avoid damage.

Residual decision for the parents. The church has no right to dictate what name a child should have.

Prayer of the godparents at baptism

The most important prayer that the godparents have to say in the process is the "Symbol of Faith."

What responsibilities should godparents fulfill in a child's life?

The importance of choosing godparents is that, according to established traditions, it is they who are responsible for the spiritual development of the godson, take him to church, give communion, educate by good example, and help.

When choosing a suitable candidate, you should not look at material wealth, since the main task of the godfather is not to give gifts, but to pay attention: to come, talk, advise, instruct. Baptism is just the beginning of a child's spiritual life, which in the future depends on the parents and spiritual mentors, that is, godparents.

Baptism is the birth of a new Christian. The importance of this bright day is great, and therefore many questions arise.

Father Oleg tried to answer the majority:

It is worth instilling faith in God in a child from early childhood, teaching God communion by reading prayers. Show the importance of every good deed in parables. Talk about punishments for sins. A child should be taught to see the presence of God in everything that surrounds us.

Repentance or confession is a sacrament in which a person who confesses his sins to a priest, through his forgiveness, is released from sins by the Lord Himself. The question about Father, is asked by many people who join the church life. The preliminary confession prepares the soul of the penitent for the Great Meal - the Sacrament of Communion.

The essence of confession

The Holy Fathers call the Sacrament of Penance the second baptism. In the first case, at Baptism, a person receives cleansing from the original sin of the ancestors Adam and Eve, and in the second, the penitent is washed from his sins, committed after baptism. However, from the weakness of their human nature, people continue to sin, and these sins separate them from God, standing between them as an obstacle. They are unable to overcome this barrier on their own. But the Sacrament of Repentance helps to be saved and to acquire that union with God acquired at Baptism.

The Gospel says about repentance that it is a necessary condition for the salvation of the soul. A person throughout his life must continuously struggle with his sins. And, in spite of all defeats and falls, he should not lose heart, despair and grumble, but repent all the time and continue to carry his life's cross, which the Lord Jesus Christ placed on him.

Realizing your sins

In this matter, the main thing is to learn that in the Sacrament of Confession a repentant person is forgiven all his sins, and the soul is freed from sinful bonds. The ten commandments received by Moses from God, and the nine received from the Lord Jesus Christ, contain the entire moral and spiritual law of life.

Therefore, before confessing, you need to turn to your conscience and remember all your sins from childhood in order to prepare a real confession. How it goes, not everyone knows, and even rejects, but a true Orthodox Christian, overcoming his pride and false shame, begins to spiritually crucify himself, honestly and sincerely confess his spiritual imperfection. And here it is important to understand that unconfessed sins will be determined to a person in eternal condemnation, and repentance will mean victory over oneself.

What is real confession. How is this sacrament going

Before confessing to a priest, it is necessary to seriously prepare and realize the whole need to cleanse the soul from sins. To do this, you need to come to terms with all the offenders and with those who have been offended, refrain from gossip and condemnation, any obscene thoughts, watching numerous entertainment programs and reading lightweight literature. It is better to devote free time to reading the Holy Scriptures and other spiritual literature. It is advisable to confess a little in advance at the evening service, so that during the morning Liturgy you will no longer be distracted from the service and devote time to prayer preparation for Holy Communion. But already, as a last resort, you can confess in the morning (basically everyone does this).

For the first time, not everyone knows how to confess correctly, what to say to the priest, etc. In this case, you need to warn the priest about this, and he will direct everything in the right direction. Confession first of all presupposes the ability to see and realize one's sins; at the moment of expressing them, the priest should not justify himself and shift the blame onto another.

Children under 7 years old and all newly baptized people receive communion on this day without confession; this cannot be done only to women who are in purification (when they have their period or after childbirth until the 40th day). The text of the confession can be written on a piece of paper so as not to get lost later and remember everything.

Confession procedure

In church, a lot of people usually gather for confession, and before approaching the priest, you need to turn to face the people and say out loud: "Forgive me, sinner," and they will answer: "God will forgive, and we forgive." And already then it is necessary to go to the confessor. Approaching the analogue (high stand under the book), crossing yourself and bowing to the belt, without kissing the Cross and the Gospel, bowing your head, you can proceed to confession.

Previously confessed sins do not need to be repeated, for, as the Church teaches, they have already forgiven, but if they have been repeated again, then one must repent of them again. At the end of your confession, you need to listen to the words of the priest and When he finishes - cross yourself twice, bow to the belt, kiss the Cross and the Gospel, and then, crossing yourself and bowing again, accept the blessing of your father and go to your place.

What to repent of

Concluding the topic “Confession. How is this sacrament going ”, it is necessary to familiarize oneself with the most common sins in our modern world.

Sins against God - pride, lack of faith or unbelief, renunciation of God and the Church, careless fulfillment of the sign of the cross, not wearing a cross, violation of the commandments of God, mentioning the name of the Lord in vain, careless fulfillment of non-attendance at church, prayer without zeal, talking and walking in church during services, belief in superstition, appeal to psychics and fortune-tellers, thoughts of suicide, etc.

Sins against one's neighbor - upsetting parents, robbery and extortion, stinginess in charity, cruelty, slander, bribery, insults, taunts and evil jokes, irritation, anger, gossip, gossip, greed, scandals, tantrums, insults, betrayal, treason, etc. etc.

Sins against oneself - vanity, arrogance, anxiety, envy, vengefulness, striving for earthly glory and honor, addiction to money, gluttony, smoking, drunkenness, gambling, masturbation, fornication, excessive attention to one's flesh, despondency, longing, sadness etc.

God will forgive any sin, nothing is impossible for him, a person only needs to truly realize his sinful deeds and sincerely repent of them.

Participle

Confessions are usually made in order to receive Communion, and for this you need to talk for several days, which implies prayer and fasting, attending evening services and reading at home, in addition to evening and morning prayers, the canons: Theotokos, Guardian Angel, Penitent, to Communion, and, if possible , or rather, at will - Akathist to Jesus the Sweetest. After midnight, they no longer eat or drink, they begin the sacrament on an empty stomach. After receiving the Sacrament of Communion, one should read the prayers for Holy Communion.

Don't be afraid to go to confession. How is it going? You can read the exact information about this in special brochures that are sold in each church, they describe everything in great detail. And then the main thing is to tune in to this faithful and salutary deed, because the Orthodox Christian must always think about death so that it does not catch him by surprise - without even communion.