On what day of the week are children baptized? When to baptize a child? On what day is the sacrament held? Traditions and modern views.

Child baptism rules. When to baptize a child, everything about baptizing a child

You have had a baby and now the question has arisen about the baptism of the child. How to baptize a child, when to baptize a child and why baptize a child at all? We will talk about all this in our article. Before baptizing a child, of course, it is better to consult with your spiritual father, but you will find the answer to the main questions here.

In the modern world, every parent chooses whether to baptize their child or not. It happens that parents do not want to impose their religion on their child, so they leave the right to the child himself, when he grows up, to make a choice.

But most believing parents still try to ensure that their precious child’s guardian angel is with the baby throughout his life, and he will appear in the child only after baptism.
Parents always have a lot of questions - when to baptize, where to do it, how it will happen. Of course, it is better to get answers to all these questions from your priest, with whom you will baptize your child. We can explain some of them.

Why is a child baptized?

But really, why do they baptize a child? The question is quite controversial, let's try to find an answer to it. Everyone probably has their own opinion here. After all, someone still thinks that the Universe came into being because of a big bang and everything appeared by itself, and there is no Creator, and the Bible is fairy tales... As for me, it is stupid not to believe that God exists, but this my personal opinion. Let's return to the issue of child baptism. Why baptize a child? Parents who believe in God do not have such questions. And for parents who don’t believe... why baptize a child if you don’t believe? Pay tribute to fashion? This is of no use! After you baptize your child, you must teach him Orthodox traditions, visit the temple with your baby and give him communion. During the rite of baptism, we dedicate ourselves to God and renounce the works of Satan. So, before you baptize your child, think about why you are doing this? A baptized child will have his own guardian angel, the child will be able to ask for help from God, since he will be under his protection, the child will have an intercessor - a saint, whose name will be given to him at baptism.

If parents have different religions, then first of all they must agree among themselves on which religion they would prefer to baptize their child into. Do not forget that this is not an easy choice, and if you nevertheless decide that your child should be an Orthodox person, then adhere to Orthodox traditions in his upbringing.

When should a child be baptized?

According to tradition, a child must be baptized on the fortieth day after birth, but it can be later. This happens because a woman after giving birth is considered unclean and cannot enter the church. This law is established by the Bible, you cannot go against it. You can baptize earlier, but in this case the mother will not be present at the baptismal ceremony in the church.

After the baby is baptized, the priest reads a cleansing prayer over the mother, and only after that can she go to church and touch shrines.

How to choose the right name for a child at baptism?

Choosing a name for a child is a very important and responsible decision for parents. After all, as they say, whatever you name the ship, that’s how it will sail. We have two articles on our website, how to choose a name for a boy and how to choose a name for a girl, you can read them, then it will be easier for you to decide what name to give your child after his birth. Of course, you can choose a name before baptism. You can select a name by Orthodox calendar(in accordance with the names of the saints that appear in the calendar on the date of birth of your child). But it often happens that the names of saints do not really correspond modern world, then choose the name you like. If, some time after baptism, you want to change the child’s name, then they will not rebaptize him. And when you pray for your child or light candles, you will need to call the baby by the name with which you were baptized.

Choosing godparents

Usually, close people are chosen as godparents for their child - friends, one of the relatives. It happens that parents take as godparents people who were witnesses at their wedding. Of course, anyone can be godparents - sister and brothers, grandparents, uncles and aunts, friends and girlfriends. Moreover, they should not be non-believers, they should be representatives Orthodox Church, they should not be married to each other, they do not take nuns and monks, the mentally ill, young children, or those who came to church drunk as godparents. If you have chosen people who have not yet been baptized as godparents, then they must do this before your child’s baptism ceremony takes place. Remember that being a godfather is a great responsibility, first of all, before God. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godson and take part in raising the child in the Orthodox canons. If you are not baptized, this will not be an obstacle to the baptism of your child.
A little about the question of godparents married to each other. Married people cannot be godparents of one child. If this happens, then according to the rules, they should no longer share the same bed (that is, performing marital duties is prohibited). If a man and a woman first became godparents of one child and then decided to get married, then according to Orthodox canons they cannot do this, because they are each other’s spiritual sister and brother.
In any case, you must choose not only loved one, but a person who is ready to take care of the child will become his spiritual mentor. For example, in Catholic countries, upon the death of parents, godparents will be the first candidates for guardianship of the child, other relatives will be considered only in second place. It is possible that the child will have one godfather. In this case, he must be of the same sex as the child.

Selecting a cross

In this matter, freedom of choice is provided. It will be practical if the cross is small with rounded edges so that the child does not get hurt. It is not at all necessary that the cross be from precious metal, for baptism, as a rule, they buy an ordinary metal cross. The more expensive one can be given as a birthday present later.
Of course, it is better to baptize a child in a church. Choose any one you like, but better yet, baptize in the one you go to. There are times when a child is sick, then the priest baptizes both at home and in the hospital.
Women need to wear skirts (not mini-skirts) and cover their heads for baptism. Men do not cover their heads. For a child, they usually buy baptismal sets, which include a cap, a diaper, and a baptismal shirt. All this undoubtedly creates a feeling of celebration, but this is not at all necessary. For baptism you need a clean vest or vest, a clean towel or diaper. At baptism, the child will be without clothes; they dress him in a baptismal shirt after.
For a child’s christening, godparents can give an icon of the child’s patron saint, a cross, or a baptismal shirt, which can then be passed on from generation to generation. Gifts given for christening are purely symbolic, because the most important thing for a child is baptism itself, which will help him find a patron and protector.

Video. on what days are children baptized?

What do we know about the Sacrament of Baptism, what do parents and godparents need to know in order to baptize a child, what requirements does the Church make for the performance of this Sacrament, on what days is it performed in the church and on the Saturday of Lazarus?

Baptism age for children

One may decide that baptism is only possible in mature age, consciously approaching the choice of faith. This is wrong. The church has been carrying out this activity since ancient times, but it is mandatory to fulfill some rather strict conditions.

In the future, children should be raised as Orthodox Christians, participate in church life, receiving the sacraments, having mentors who teach them this. For this purpose, there are recipients at baptism, that is, godparents. They make a vow to God instead of a child who cannot yet do it himself. They further bear responsibility for the spiritual education of the godson, and it is they who will be responsible before God for what kind of Christian the child for whom they have vouched has become.

The issue of age, that is, at what time to baptize a child, should be decided by parents. You need to approach the choice of godparents in the same way as agreeing to become a godparent, thinking about what kind of spiritual education the child will receive in the future.

When is it appropriate to baptize a baby?

On what days are children baptized? Since ancient times, it has been customary in the church to baptize on the eighth or fortieth day. And here's why.

By church tradition On the birthday of the mother and child, three prayers are read by the priest, blessing the mother and the baby who has come into this world.

On the eighth day, the priest performs the naming ceremony. This ritual has a deep spiritual meaning. The name affirms our existence in the Universe. The Church in this rite recognizes the uniqueness of a particular person, his personality endowed with a divine gift. By our name given to us in baptism, the Lord knows us and accepts prayers for us.

The name of a Christian has always been considered holy, so there is a tradition of naming it in honor of an Orthodox saint, who then becomes the person’s heavenly intercessor. It's the name given to a person in the naming ceremony, is mentioned by him when receiving the Sacraments of the Church (confession, communion, wedding), when commemorating in notes, when commemorating in home prayers.

On the fortieth day, a ritual must be performed over the mother, containing cleansing prayers, allowing her from this day to attend the temple and again be a member of the church (from the day of birth until the fortieth day, the woman is excommunicated from the temple for the period of purification). The ritual must take place in the temple.

These three rites (on the first, eighth and fortieth day) are performed at Baptism, if not performed separately, each in its own time. Therefore, the widespread tradition of baptism is on the eighth day, when a name should be given, or on the fortieth day, when the mother can already come to the temple and be introduced into the bosom of the church with a cleansing prayer.

However, a person can be baptized on his first birthday and on any subsequent one. The main thing is not to delay and not to deprive the child of the opportunity to become a Christian and heir to the Kingdom of Heaven as soon as possible. You also need to know that if a child is in mortal danger or sick, then he needs to be baptized as soon as possible. For this purpose, a priest is invited to the maternity hospital.

What requirements does the church impose on godparents?

As has already been said, they take responsibility for raising the godson in the faith and make vows before God for him. Accordingly, they themselves must be Orthodox Christians, understanding the fundamentals of faith and living the life of the church, that is, participating in the Sacraments (confession, communion).

In former times, Baptism was preceded by a period of announcement - the time that was given to a person to prepare for the great Sacrament. In the first centuries of Christianity, this period lasted up to two years. The catechumens - those who are about to receive the Sacrament of Baptism - were instructed in the truths of the faith, studied Scripture and Tradition, were present at the Divine Services. Only after thorough preparation was the person baptized.

Currently, there is also preparation - public conversations, at which classes are held for adults who want to be baptized, and godparents who want to be the child's adoptive parents. Conversations are held at churches. Most often there are two of them, but there are parishes that organize longer preparations.

First of all, it must be said that there is no day in the year on which this sacrament cannot be performed. On what days are children baptized in church? The main condition is the person’s readiness for this. In addition, there is even the possibility of baptism not by a priest, but by any Christian. But this is only allowed if the person is dying and there is no way to call a priest.

Our ancestors did this, for example, when a baby was born very weak and the mother, fearing that he would die, washed him three times with water with the words of prayer: “The servant of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father (wash with water), Amen, and the Son (wash water), amen, and the Holy Spirit (wash with water), amen.” Such baptism is accepted by the Church. If the child remains alive, then you need to contact the priest in the future so that he completes the Sacrament. This, of course, is only permissible if there is a real threat to human life. But you need to know about this.

And in order to find out on what days children are baptized in the church in which it was decided to receive the Sacrament, you need to contact the church shop with this question. In large churches there are usually days specially set aside for this, then Baptism occurs simultaneously for several people. In small parishes, it is enough to contact the priest and agree on a time with him. The same opportunity exists in large churches, if there is a desire to be baptized separately.

In former times, the day for receiving Baptism was timed to coincide with great holidays, primarily Easter and Epiphany. Therefore, there are no obstacles to baptizing a child on Trinity, Palm Sunday, Lazarus Saturday, Christmas or Epiphany. The only difficulty may arise if the priests are busy that day and simply cannot perform the Sacrament. Therefore, in this case, you need to find out in advance on what days children are baptized in church, or discuss the day with the priest.

Where to perform the Sacrament of Baptism?

Can be done anywhere. In emergency situations, as already mentioned, even a layman can baptize. If you choose, at home or in the temple - of course, in the temple, where the Spirit of God is present in a special way. There is also the possibility of performing the Sacrament on an open source (river, sea), as happened in ancient times, as the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was baptized. This issue can also be discussed with a priest.

Just do not forget that the Sacrament will be performed in any place according to the faith of the person being baptized or the recipients, if it is a child, and does not depend on the place where it will take place.

How to live after Baptism?

For a true believer who consciously accepts Baptism, this Sacrament turns out to be an opportunity to join eternity here, to become what God wants us to be. We are all children of the Lord, but after baptism we become closer to God. However, for this it is not enough just to be baptized; further life in Christ is necessary, participation in the remaining Sacraments of the Church is necessary.

So at what age should a child be baptized? Preferably as soon as possible. But you need to understand that this Sacrament in itself does not guarantee salvation, but is only the first step towards it. And it is good when, after the child’s baptism, the family continues to live in the bosom of the Church, setting an example for their child.

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One of major events in the life of a believer, this is a sacrament during which he is accepted into the faith and the church. The baptism of a child, both a boy and a girl, is carried out according to certain rules of the church. The sacrament is carried out according to a ritual that has not changed for several centuries. Parents and godparents must prepare carefully and in advance for this significant event.

What is baby baptism

The rite of baptism of a child is an important step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and church. Christenings have long history, but before today the basic rules and canons have been preserved. Holy baptism The birth of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition, the ritual saves the baby from sins (hereditary or personal) and birth takes place for a holy, spiritual life.

Choosing a name

If the name with which the baby is registered on the birth certificate is not in the calendar, then you should decide on choosing another one. They select names for the child’s baptism that are consonant with the world, for example, Zhanna - Anna, Sergei - Sergius. When there is no such correspondence in the church calendar, the name of the saint is used, who is honored immediately after the birth of the baby. When choosing a name, it is better to seek help from a clergyman rather than doing it yourself. IN church rituals the name given during the sacrament is used. It is necessary to know him in order to honor the heavenly intercessor.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

The Church recommends scheduling a baby's christening as early as possible. Catholics and Orthodox Christians schedule the baptism of a child in the first months from the date of birth, although a person of any age is allowed to perform the ceremony. Some people postpone baptism until a person can independently decide on his choice of religion. Often the date for the sacrament is set on the 40th day of the baby’s life. The choice of the date of baptism, which establishes when to baptize a child, has several reasonable explanations:

• newborns up to 3 months can easily tolerate head-first dives;
• babies behave calmer and are not afraid when strangers pick them up;
• The mother of the baby is allowed to enter the church after 40 days from the date of birth.

Child christening - rules and signs

If the baptism of an infant is carried out according to all the rules, preparation for the sacrament should begin in advance. For future godparents church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of the christening, repenting and receiving communion. It is also recommended to fast for 3-4 days, although this condition is not mandatory. On the morning of the ceremony, godparents should not eat or have sex the day before.

On what days are children baptized in church?

The sacrament of baptism of a child can be performed on any day, be it a holiday, an ordinary day, or a fast day. IN church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates of the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are crowded and it will be difficult to conduct the sacrament. Some churches have their own schedule related to internal regulations. When choosing the day on which the baptism of children will be scheduled, it is better to consult with a priest.

Rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church

When you decide to baptize a child, it is important not only to choose a temple and purchase baptismal supplies, but also to familiarize yourself with the conditions defined by the church that parents and guests must follow. Church rules state that everyone must wear crosses. Women should wear closed dresses and cover their heads with a scarf. The baptism process lasts at least half an hour, the baby will be held in your arms, so it is better to avoid uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Men will need a dark suit, but not black. Although the church does not set strict rules regarding the appearance of men, it is not necessary to arrive at the place where the sacraments are performed wearing shorts and a T-shirt. On the eve of the solemn event, the parents, as well as godmothers and popes must confess. A few days before the sacrament takes place, you should fast.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy child

When a boy is christened, the godfather is always involved in the ceremony. Traditionally, he takes on all financial obligations, buys a cross for the ceremony and a gift. The custom of paying for the ritual is not always entrusted to the godfather; depending on the financial situation, the child’s natural parents can make a donation to the church. It is up to the godmother to buy a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, a blanket, and sometimes a cap. She is also responsible for buying kryzhma and a silk scarf for the clergy.

Girl christening

At the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Its main task is to read the “Creed” prayer during the ceremony. If it is difficult to memorize a text, you can take a hint with words. Traditionally, a woman gives a baptismal set and buys a kryzhma (white towel) for her godchildren. As a gift, you can present an icon of the saint whose name the goddaughter bears. The godfather must buy a cross, and also helps the girl’s parents financially by paying for the ceremony.

Choosing godparents

One of the main tasks of parents is to choose the right godparents (fathers) from Orthodox Christians for their newborn. These are not just the people who give gifts to the child on holidays, but also engage in spiritual education and teach the rules Christian life and the fundamentals of Orthodox doctrine. According to the church charter, one godparent is required: for a girl - a woman, for a boy - a man, but often both the godmother and the godfather are invited for the baptism procedure. Both recipients must be Orthodox Christians.

Receivers cannot be changed, so parents must carefully choose mentors for their baby. Often the child’s relatives are invited to this responsible “position”. Grandmothers, uncles, older sisters and any other people close to the family can become godparents. If you choose adoptees from the family, the godson will communicate with them more often, for example, at family events. In addition to the conditions set by the church, it is worth paying attention to the following qualities of potential godparents:

• reliability;
• responsibility;
• high moral and ethical values.

Who has no right to be a godfather

According to the norms of church law, sometimes a person cannot become a godfather or godmother. The high responsibility that is imposed on the recipients determines the circle of people who cannot claim such an honorable role. The following cannot become godparents:

• spouses or bride and groom for one child;
• parents for their baby;
• monks and nuns;
• non-Orthodox, unbaptized;
• immoral or insane;
• children (boys under 15, girls under 13).

The sacrament of baptism - rules for godparents

Responsibility for raising their godchildren in Orthodox spirit assigned to recipients. Preparing for it the most important stage plays a huge role in a child’s life, although it does not require much effort. Previously, recipients need to undergo a special interview by visiting the church. The godmother helps the parents prepare some items for the child's baptism. It is important that she knows how to handle the child, that she can take off his clothes and put on the baptismal set.

The godmother plays the most important role when the sacrament is performed on a girl. In cases where male infants are baptized, the godfather bears great responsibility. He takes the baby after immersing himself in the holy font, when the baby is wrapped in kryzhma. The godfather can also participate in the purchase of a baptismal set or cross. All material expenses are secondary; the main condition for a child’s baptism is the sincere faith of the relatives and godparents.

What you need to know

Godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of spiritual education of the godson, teaching him the basics Christian faith. If the recipients are not sufficiently informed, then they should fill in the gaps, study the relevant literature, and talk with priests. Before the sacrament, it is better to learn about the rules of the ceremony. It is important to clarify at what stage the godmother takes the baby, and when the baby is held by the godfather, at what point the child is wrapped in kryzhma, and when the baptismal shirt is put on him.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

To receive the sacrament of baptism, a person (or recipients, if the ceremony is performed on a child) needs to know two fundamental prayers for all Christians: “Our Father”, “Creed”. It is better to know their text by heart and understand the meaning. In the modern church, they are tolerant of the fact that recipients do not remember prayers. It is allowed to read them according to the prayer book.

Responsibilities of godparents

The role of godparents does not end after the sacrament of baptism; they need to pay a lot of attention to the spiritual education of the godson. Through personal example, the recipients must demonstrate human virtues to the child and teach him the basics of the Christian faith. With Christian upbringing, children need to learn to resort to the sacraments of confession, communion, and become familiar with the dates of church holidays. Godparents give knowledge about the gracious power of the icon of the Mother of God and other shrines.

The godparents teach the godchildren to attend services, pray, observe fasting and other provisions of the church charter. From numerous tasks assigned to godparents, the most important thing is daily prayer about his godson. Throughout your life, you should maintain a warm and trusting relationship with your godson, be with him in sorrow and joy.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The sacred sacrament is carried out according to a specific plan and in an established order, which does not change for many years. The baptism of a child is called a spiritual birth, the main participants in the process are the priest, godparents and the newborn. According to ancient customs, the baby’s natural parents should not be present during the ceremony, but today they are loyal to this and allow mom and dad to attend the sacrament. The procedure can be divided into the following stages:

1. The rite of announcement. At that stage, over those preparing for baptism, the priest three times reads prohibitory prayers against evil and the baby’s renunciation of it. The baby is wrapped only in diapers, his chest and face should be free.
2. Prohibition on unclean spirits. Turning to the west, the priest reads prayers against Satan three times.
3. The renunciation of the recipients. The priest asks questions, and the recipients are responsible for the baby.
4. Confession of fidelity to the son of God. The godparents and the baby turn to the east and answer the priest’s questions again. At the end of the rite of confession of allegiance, the recipients read the prayer “Creed.”
5. Blessing of water. The priest dresses in white robes and performs the ceremony. The recipients pick up a candle each, 3 more are lit with east side fonts After reading the prayer and asking for illumination of the water, the priest baptizes the water three times and blows on it.
6. Blessing of the oil. This stage of baptism is carried out similarly to the illumination of water. Father blows into a vessel of oil three times and overshadows it sign of the cross, reads a prayer. The water of the font is anointed with sacred oil when the person is baptized.
7. Immersion of the baby in the font three times. The priest baptizes the child by immersing him in water three times. The procedure is accompanied by special prayers. After the baby is dipped into the font three times, the priest hands the baby over to his receivers. The godfather takes the boy's child, and the godmother takes the girl's child. The baby is wrapped in a baptismal towel or kryzhma.
8. Dressing the baby in baptismal clothes. The baptism ceremony continues with the putting on of baptismal shirts on the newly baptized, and a cross is put on the baby.
9. Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest anoints the baby’s forehead, eyes, cheeks, chest, arms and legs while saying a prayer. The boy is carried around the altar three times, the priest helps the girls to venerate the icon of the Mother of God. The process is accompanied by a prayer of churching.
10. Hair cutting ritual. The priest cuts some hair from the newborn's head. At the end of the sacrament, this hair remains in the church as a symbol of the first sacrifice to God.

Celebration of christening

The holy sacrament of baby baptism ends with a family celebration. The ceremonial table should include dishes made from dough and cereals. Guests are often treated to pancakes, pies and other pastries. It is traditional to serve poultry; clay dishes are used for baking it. An indispensable treat should be vegetables and herbs, symbolizing spring and the beginning of a new life. Godparents and the guests present the baby with a gift. There are no special requirements for choosing a gift. You can give anything: from an icon of a saint to a set of silver spoons.

What to do with baptismal items

How to be baptized is described in detail in the Bible, but there are no recommendations for the use of baptismal paraphernalia. Because of this, there are many opinions and advice. Priests can recommend several options for storing kryzhma to parents:

• put it in a corner of the chest of drawers and take it out in extreme cases (if the baby is sick or is acting restless);
• place the kryzhma near the crib, hiding it from public view, so that it protects the baby.

When the baby does not wear the cross all the time, it can be stored along with the kryzhma in the chest of drawers. While opinions may differ regarding the use of kryzhma, there are actions that absolutely cannot be carried out with it. The baptismal towel cannot be washed, thrown away, or baptized another person in it. The baptismal shirt is put into a box or a special bag and stored for life. There is an opinion that it has healing powers; the shirt can be applied to the sore spot of the person who has been baptized in it.

Video

Baptism is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. This rite consists of accepting the Christian faith. It is designed to protect a person from the influence of dark forces and direct his life in a bright spiritual direction. There is an opinion regarding the correctness of accepting Christianity already at an adult, meaningful age. However, Orthodox priests claim the opposite. Being baptized in infancy, a person early finds a guardian angel, is cleansed of original sin and is forever accepted into the holy church monastery.

The Orthodox Church recommends that infants be baptized on the 8th or 40th day after their birth. Newborn children staying in dangerous disease, it is worth christening as soon as possible. Before the christening, you need to decide on the choice of an Orthodox name for the baby. The saint bearing the same name becomes his intercessor before higher powers. Orthodox name a limited number of people should know, this will make a person invulnerable to evil and ill-wishers.

Child baptism in church

Many people are interested in what days and how a child is baptized in the church. The rules are almost the same in each Orthodox church. You can choose any day of the week for christening. The exception is major church holidays, when due to heavy workload the priest will not be able to perform the ceremony.

Preparation for the sacrament

Preparation for the sacrament involves the purchase of a baptismal kit, preliminary conversations with a clergyman and the choice of godfather and mother. The baptismal set includes a shirt (diaper), a pectoral cross and an icon depicting the patron saint. For female infants, a hat or scarf is added. The baptismal shirt (kryzhma) is considered a miraculous amulet and must be kept throughout the life of its owner.
With her help traditional healers remove curses and help in the treatment of serious diseases.

Kryzhma for baptism

You can buy kryzhma or sew it yourself. It can do like dear mother, and so is the future godmother. Preference is given white color fabric as a symbol of purity and purity.

Traditionally, the godfather buys the pectoral cross. It should be made of inexpensive metal. It is allowed to have a cross made of silver, as this metal is capable of purifying and driving away evil spirits. But gold is not considered pure, so gold crosses are undesirable. You can purchase such a cross in the future, not forgetting to consecrate it. After the sacrament is performed, the pectoral cross is supposed to be worn constantly as a symbol of faith.

Godparents often wonder what is better to buy for the cross: a chain or a cord? In church shops they sell ropes - gaitanchiki, specially designed for wearing it. They are safe and easy to use and are especially suitable for young children.

Relatives and godparents should first visit the priest and ask him all the necessary questions about the upcoming ceremony. He will tell you in detail what is needed to properly participate in it. To take photos or videos, you must obtain his approval and blessing. On the day of christening, you must have the baby's birth certificate with you. Based on this, a baptismal certificate will be issued.

Choosing godparents

The choice of godparents should not be made for mercantile reasons. Priests advise inviting believers for this, who in the future are able to become spiritual parents and mentors for the godson, and, if necessary, replace his father and mother. They must necessarily belong to the Orthodox faith.

Future godparents are invited to the temple for a conversation with the priest. The clergyman will tell them how the child is baptized, explain their role in the ceremony and in the spiritual life of the future godson. Church rules strictly define the category of persons who cannot be godparents:

• the child's parents;
• atheists and representatives of other religions;
• temple staff;
• minors;
• persons who are married to each other.

Women are forbidden to be present in the holy monastery during menstrual periods. Before performing the sacrament, godparents must observe three-day fast, confess and receive communion.

Baptism of children in church

Church rules previously prohibited parents of children from being with them during the ceremony. Today the order of the ceremony has changed somewhat and Orthodox priest can baptize the baby in their presence.

All participants in the ritual need to pay attention to their appearance. It must meet church requirements. In clothes, subdued colors are preferred. All those present must wear pectoral crosses, and in the hands of baptismal candles.

Christenings of children of both sexes follow the same rules. The first sacred act is the laying of the hand of the priest on the baby. Such a gesture symbolizes gaining the protection of God. The godparents answer some of the priest’s questions on behalf of the godson, then the priest anoints the child with church oil (oil).

After the anointing, the godparents with the baby in their arms must go to the font. The priest sanctifies the water and immerses the baby in it three times. If a boy is being baptized, then the godmother brings him to the font, and if a girl is baptized, then the godfather brings him to the font. After washing, you need to put on a baptismal shirt and cover your head. The priest performs the rite of anointing, which happens only once in a lifetime.

Rules for baptism in the church

Then a small strand of hair is cut from the child's head. The baby is carried around the font 3 times. This means that he accepted Orthodox faith and united with her forever. The entire ceremony is accompanied by constant reading of prayers.

Upon returning from the holy monastery, all those invited gather at the festive table. During the celebration, children are given gifts and warm, sincere wishes.

Duration and cost of the ceremony

The duration and cost of the ceremony vary. Many parents are interested in how long it takes to baptize a child in a church. This largely depends on the priest. Most often, the ritual takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The main material expenses fall on the shoulders of the blood father and mother, although there was once a custom to pay everything in full to the godfather. The cost of baptism in a church is indicated in the price list with prices for church services. It can be found in the icon shop. You can find out how much it costs to baptize a child in a church from its workers. Traditionally, the amount ranges from 600 to 2000 rubles.

Everyone decides for himself whether to believe in omens or not. There are beliefs associated with christenings. Our wise ancestors advised us to do the following:

• do not inform strangers about the date of the upcoming christening;
• allow only an even number of guests into the temple;
• before the christening, count all the money in the house - this will ensure the child a comfortable life;
• on the day of christening, as well as on church holidays, do not perform any work;
• do not open the doors of the house to anyone until all participants in the ritual return from the temple;
• do not take a pregnant woman as a godparent;
• on a holiday, do not make noise or quarrel in the house;
• After the feast, the last of the guests should be the godmother and father.

Orthodox priests teach that the mere fact of baptism is not enough to enter the Heavenly Kingdom. What is important is further life in Christ and participation in all church sacraments. The Church calls on parents of baptized children to live in its bosom and set a worthy example to the growing generation.

Rules for baptizing a child in church: video

There are no days when it is strictly forbidden to baptize a child. But those parents who want to conduct the sacrament according to Orthodox canons adhere to certain rules. Since ancient times, it has been a common tradition to carry out baptism on the eighth or fortieth day from the birth of the baby. On the eighth day of the child’s life, the priest performs an important naming ceremony. By the name received on this day, the Lord knows the person and accepts his prayers.

But many still do not choose this date for baptism due to a strict rule - the mother of the child cannot be present at the ceremony until the fortieth day after the birth of the child. Until this period passes, his mother is excommunicated from the church for purification, and then a special cleansing rite is performed on her, allowing her to visit the temple again. Therefore, the most common date of baptism is the fortieth day of the baby’s life.

Attention! Don’t forget to find out in advance if there is another event planned in the church for that day, because then there will be a lot of people in the church, which will interfere with the sacrament, and the priest may be busy.

Baptism on holidays

Previously, baptism was timed to coincide with church holidays- Easter, Epiphany, Trinity, Nativity of Christ, Palm Sunday and others. The sacrament is allowed to be performed on any holiday, but you need to understand that a lot of parishioners visit the temple these days. The child may not be comfortable among a large and noisy crowd. And as noted earlier, the priest may not have enough time to perform the baptismal ceremony. Therefore, if you still decide to perform the sacrament during the holidays, you must visit the church in advance and make an agreement with the priest.

What else do you need to know when choosing a date?

We have compiled a list of what else you should pay attention to when choosing a baptism date:

1. You need to know that according to church rules, the child’s mother and godmother cannot come to church during critical days. Therefore, you need to check your cycle in advance and, if necessary, move the date of baptism.
2. If you are concerned about your baby's health, you can find out the weather for the coming week and choose the warmest day. Some people postpone baptism until the summer to be sure that their child will not get sick after swimming.
3. There are also parents who completely refuse to baptize their child in infancy. There is nothing catastrophic about this! Remember, a child can be baptized at any age. Some specially time the sacrament to coincide with the child’s birthday, for example, when he turns one year old.
4. Often the day of the baptism is chosen to be a day off so that as many relatives as possible can come. By the way, an unlimited number of people can attend the ceremony; it is only important that they are relatives and friends.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of godparents, who are entrusted with the most important mission - to raise the godson in the faith.

How to perform a baptism at home?

In some cases, such as illness of a child or parent, or living in a hard-to-reach rural areas, you can invite a priest home and perform baptism there. This method is also sometimes used by those who do not want to take their child to church in cold weather. But in this case, keep in mind that the priest may not agree to your proposal. In addition, only in the church does the most important part of baptism take place - bringing girls to the altar and bringing boys into it. So a child can be baptized at home, but only in the temple does this sacrament take on full meaning.

Advice! After baptism at home, the priest can be invited to stay at the ceremonial table in order to celebrate the christening.

11 folk signs about the baptism of a child

Signs of baptism by Orthodox Christians were passed down from generation to generation. We have selected the most famous of them:

• clothes for baptism should be new, light in color. After all, it is believed that it is in it that the child appears before God for the first time;
• you need to baptize the child early, because after the ceremony he has his own guardian angel, who from that moment on will protect the baby;
• for the same reason, you should not show the baby to a large number of people before the sacrament. After all, the child is absolutely defenseless in front of everything;
• Saturday is considered the most successful day for baptism;
• on festive table After christening, you should not serve pork; it is best if it is rooster or chicken.
• godfather and godfather should not be in romantic relationships, especially to be husband and wife. It is best if they are relatives;
• the godparent must give the child a cross for the sacrament, and it is better if the cross is not made of gold;
• It’s good if there is a wedding in the church before or after the baptism. And vice versa, it’s bad if it’s a funeral service for the deceased;
• You should not invite a woman who has had an abortion to become a godmother;
• kryzhma (special towel for the ceremony) should be given godmother. It must be stored for life without washing;
• If you buy a cross or other things necessary for a ceremony in church, under no circumstances take the change, or leave it in the donation box.

When choosing a day of baptism, rely on church rules or choose a date convenient for the family and child - your decision! The main thing to remember is that baptism is a sacred sacrament that will largely determine the future fate of your baby. Therefore, you must prepare for it and take it seriously!

Child baptism ritual - video