Child baptism. Signs and rituals associated with the baptism of a child. Folk signs and traditions for the baptism of the Lord Signs about christening

The sacrament of baptism is one of the most important events in a person’s life. It is not surprising that it is literally riddled with various signs, which the baby’s parents are often inclined to trust much more than the rules of the Orthodox Church. For example, there is a fairly widespread opinion that the rules and signs for the christening of a girl will be different than for the christening of a boy. Or about what you can and cannot do on christening day.

Let's look at the example of a girl's christening, the rules and signs that must be followed. And at the same time, let’s see how the christening of a girl (rules and signs) differs from the christening of a boy. So.

In accordance with the canons of the Orthodox Church, the rules of christening are the same for girls and boys. Everyone is equal before the Lord, regardless of gender. Nevertheless, even if they are the same, these rules must be followed - at least in order to show respect for the temple in which the baby is baptized.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the choice of godparents - these should be people you can rely on. In former times, godparents raised a child as their own if he was left without parents.

You should know that during the christening of a girl, the godmother takes the child from the font, and the godfather brings him to the font (for the christening of a boy, it’s the other way around). Perhaps this is the reason for the belief that a pregnant woman cannot be a godmother - according to signs, a pregnant godmother thinks more about her baby than about the one who is being baptized, and this is not good. But, in fact, physical activity is contraindicated for pregnant women, and holding a child during christening is not very easy.

Also, godparents need to learn the “Creed”, or at least have the text with them, since reading the “Creed” is an important part of the sacred rite.

Choosing a name for a child is not a rule, it is only a recommendation: choose the name of a saint that corresponds to the baby’s birthday.

As you can see, the rules for christening are very simple. And it practically doesn’t matter whether a boy or a girl is baptized. Except that a boy is brought into the altar, but a girl is not, because the Lord had the appearance of a man.

Let's see what signs exist for christenings.

There are many signs for christenings, and some of them contradict each other. Thus, some argue that the baptismal robe and towel with which the child was dried after baptism should be carefully stored throughout his life. Others recommend burning it all - the sooner the better. It is interesting that both contradictory signs are connected by one idea: it is believed that baptismal clothes and a towel can be used in sorcery, and thus, a person can be harmed or, on the contrary, a sick person can be healed.

They say that if a child cries during a christening, then this is a sure sign that evil spirits are leaving the baby.

One of the most important signs: do not show the baby to anyone before the sacrament is performed. A baptized child has protection, but an unbaptized one is weak in the face of the evil that can be brought to him.

When choosing godparents for a girl, they recommend a godmother who already has a godson - a boy, but the godfather may act in this role for the first time. When a boy is christened, it’s the other way around.

They say that getting caught in the rain on the day of a christening is a good omen and good luck for the child.

It is also believed that if the godmother holds a spoon in her bosom during the sacrament, then the child will then eat well if fed from this spoon. True, the child’s blood relatives (mother, father, grandmother) need to defend the service in the temple with this spoon after the christening.

They also advise that before the mother’s baptism, chew a clove of garlic and blow into the baby’s face - this way you can protect the child from the evil eye.

As you can see, the christening of a girl, the rules and signs are practically no different from the christening of a boy. There are other signs associated with christenings. Whether it is worth believing in them is another question. Maybe the main thing is not signs, but how the child will be raised, how he will grow up?

Reading time: 10 minutes

One of the most important events in the life of a believer is the 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 a responsible step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and church. Christenings have a long history, but the basic rules and canons have been preserved to this day. The holy baptism of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition; the rite rids the baby of 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, the church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of 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?

You can carry out the sacrament of baptism of a child on any day, be it a holiday, an ordinary day, or a fast day. In church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates for the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are overcrowded and it will be difficult to hold 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 fathers, 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 those people who give gifts to a child on holidays, but also engage in spiritual education, teach the rules of Christian life and the basics 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 select mentors for their child. 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 the Orthodox spirit is assigned to their godchildren. Preparing for this most important stage in a child’s life plays a huge role, 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 of the 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. Of the many tasks assigned to godparents, the most important is daily prayer for their 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 treat this with loyalty 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 again answer the priest’s questions. 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 receivers each take a candle in their hands, and 3 more are lit on the eastern side of the font. 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. The priest blows into the vessel with oil three times, makes the sign of the cross over it, and 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 the baby is also given a cross.
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 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 baptism 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 kept 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 most important sacraments in a person’s life. Sometimes a person comes to him already in adulthood, but much more often the decision to perform the ritual is made by the parents of a newborn, turning to the temple almost immediately after his birth. In this case, all responsibility for preparing for the celebration and choosing godparents falls on their shoulders, and then it won’t hurt to know the rules and signs accompanying this special day. Moreover, it is worth considering that there are differences between boys and girls.

Rules for a boy's christening

• The most important task during baptism is the choice of godparents. After all, these people should become spiritual mentors for the baby, and in the event of the death of the real parents, fully replace them. Therefore, only adults and believers, baptized in the Orthodox tradition and not married to each other, are selected for this role. Moreover, it is believed that for a boy it is especially important to have a godfather, and it is not at all necessary to have a godmother.
• The place where a child is baptized does not matter. Parents, depending on their own preferences, can choose an Orthodox church for the ceremony either on the next street or in another hemisphere. In addition, if there is fear for the life of a child, the priest may well conduct the ceremony at home or in the hospital.
• Future godparents must certainly undergo an interview in the temple. During this meeting, the godfather and godfather not only discuss all organizational issues, but also receive from the priest additional information about the sacrament, as well as instructions on the importance of their role. In addition, it is useful to undergo a rite of purification and confession.
• The ritual of a boy's baptism consists of the obligatory anointing with oil and immersion in the font. It ends with putting on the baptismal set and visiting the altar.
• Usually the presence of the mother in the church during the baptism of her son is not allowed. However, if the desire is very strong, then this is quite possible under certain conditions: reading a special prayer before and after the ceremony, mandatory confession to the mother and several days of fasting preceding the date of baptism.
• A necessary attribute for baptism, in addition to the pectoral cross, is a baptismal set. The most important item in it is considered to be the kryzhma - a special elegant diaper with the image of an Orthodox cross and the initials of the baby. In addition to it, there must be a baptismal shirt, a cap and a blanket.
• All items of the baptism set should be kept in the family as heirlooms and reused only at the baptism of the next child. It is believed that this makes the bond between siblings stronger.
• In addition to the spiritual responsibilities of mentoring the godson, godparents must bear part of the costs associated with the baptism. Thus, the godfather’s responsibilities include purchasing a cross and paying for the ceremony. The godmother purchases or makes her own baptismal set.

Signs for the baptism ceremony

There are many different beliefs associated with the sacrament of baptism. Therefore, many parents, who wish their offspring all the best, strive to observe during the ceremony not only church customs, but also folk traditions accumulated over many centuries.

• Almost all relatives believe that before baptism the child is absolutely defenseless against any dark forces and unkind people. That is why, until the sacrament is performed, the baby is not shown to anyone except the closest people, who are guaranteed with all their hearts to wish him only the happiest fate.
• Inevitably, when traveling to the temple, the baby is exposed to a large number of prying eyes. To prevent any of the idle onlookers from accidentally or intentionally causing harm to the baby, “garlic” protection is used. To do this, the mother must chew a clove of garlic before leaving the house and immediately after that blow on the baby. It is believed that the bright aroma of the vegetable will serve as a true talisman against the evil eye.
• When getting the child ready for church, the mother should take care of new clothes for him. It is believed that if he appears before the Lord in new clothes, the boy’s life will certainly turn out well. And how can you not be dressed up on such a special day of your life!
• Knowledgeable parents never wash the baptismal set after the ceremony. It is kept in the house not only as a family heirloom. They resort to his help in case of any ailment of the child, wrapping the baby in kryzhma. Many believe that this ritual eases the child’s suffering and promotes recovery.
• Traditionally, after a church sacrament, a festive table is set in the boy’s house. It is not customary to make it too rich, but the menu must certainly include dough products, cereals, fruits, vegetables and herbs, and light alcohol. In addition, godparents must certainly taste every dish so that the godson never knows the need.
• For godparents participating in the baptismal ceremony for the first time, there is one more sign. It is believed that a woman's first godson should be a boy, and a man's first godson should be a girl. Otherwise, their personal life will be unhappy.
• Signs strictly prohibit taking a pregnant woman as a godmother. Our ancestors believed that her participation in the ritual could harm not only her future godson, but also her own, unborn child. After all, the godmother’s thoughts during the sacrament should be completely focused on only one child - her godson, and in the case of a woman in an interesting position, this is impossible by definition.

Traditional christening gifts

Such an important event in a person’s life as baptism must certainly be accompanied by gifts from all those invited. However, it is worth considering that there are certain rules and traditions regarding the choice of gifts.

• For the godfather, in addition to the cross, a silver spoon or other gift made of this precious metal is considered a mandatory offering. A personal Bible as a gift would be an excellent choice.
• For the godmother, in addition to the baptismal set, a traditional gift is an icon with the image of the baby’s patron saint. Most often, it is purchased ready-made, but it is quite possible to present a hand-made product, for example, bead embroidery.
• In addition to the obligatory gifts, guests can choose from a wide range of religious and thematic fiction. For families with low incomes, children's clothing, cosmetics and toys will be a good help. A good memorable surprise would be a video or photograph of the baptism ceremony, an exclusive photo album for the first images of the baby.

Orthodox believers know about the seven Christian sacraments, one of which is baptism. The teaching says that every Orthodox Christian needs to be baptized in order to save his soul and gain the Kingdom of Heaven after physical death. God's grace descends on those who are baptized, but there are also difficulties - everyone who accepts the ritual becomes a warrior of God's army, and the forces of evil fall upon him. To avoid misfortunes, you need to wear a cross.

The day of baptism is very important for a believer - it is like the day of his second birth. This event must be approached with full responsibility. Let's talk about what the baby needs to perform the sacrament, what to buy and take with him, what godparents should do, how to celebrate this holiday at home.If the godparents (godparents) take on part of the responsibility for organizing the ceremony, this will be correct. Preparations for the holiday are carried out by all its participants, especially the baby’s relatives.

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

According to custom, the baby is baptized on the 8th or 40th day after birth. There are circumstances that can affect the timing of the baptism of an infant: if the baby is sick, the illness poses a threat to life, you can baptize him earlier. Orthodoxy says that after christening a person has a guardian angel who is always behind his right shoulder. He will protect the baby and can save him. It is believed that the more prayers addressed to an angel, the stronger he will be.

Some people prefer to wait until the little man grows up and becomes stronger. The other side of the coin is that while the child is an infant, he sleeps in the arms of his godmother and calmly endures the sacrament. The older he gets, the more difficult it is for him to serve quietly. At 2 years old, the baby is spinning, wants to run, go outside. This creates difficulties for the priest and godparents, because the action can last more than an hour. Bathing a baby in the font is also easier.

The first thing mom and dad do before the sacrament is choose a spiritual name for the baby. In our country, a tradition has developed of calling a baby in the world by a name other than the one given to him at baptism in the church - this is a custom justified in Orthodoxy, since it is believed that only the mother and father, the priest and the recipients can know the church name.

Then the little man will be more protected from life’s adversities. In the church, you can agree that the baby is named after the saint on whose day the baby’s birth date falls.

Recommendations for preparing for the baptism ceremony of a small child

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This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!

How to organize a child's christening? You need to visit the temple where the procedure will take place. In the church shop you can ask any questions you may have. The church minister in the shop will offer you to read a brochure about baptism, which describes all the rules. The date of birth of your baby will be written down, and the desired church name of the baby and the names of his godparents will be asked. For the ceremony, a voluntary payment is made in the form of a donation, which goes to the needs of the temple. How much should I pay? The amount of donation may vary from church to church.

Before the sacrament of baptism, godparents must be sent for an interview with the priest. If the baby’s mother and father come along with them and take part in the conversation, this will only be a plus. The priest will tell you how the baptism of a young child is performed, and what you need to take with you. He will definitely ask during the conversation whether the mother and father and the baby’s adoptive parents are baptized. If not, then the unbaptized should be baptized before the sacrament is performed on the baby. During the conversation, the priest will give recommendations to the baby’s family and set a day and time for the child’s baptism. On this day, you should arrive early in order to have time to get your bearings and prepare. Many parents invite a photographer to their child’s christening and take photos and videos. You need to know that to record videos and take photographs, you must ask permission and blessings from the priest.

The priest will be able to tell you more about the sacrament and instruct the godparents, with whom a preliminary conversation must be held. Parents of the baby can also attend.

Who to choose as godparents?

Usually godparents are people of the same sex as the baby: for girls it is a woman, for boys it is a man. You can invite two godparents of different genders. Then the baby will have a spiritual father and mother.

The question of who is worthy to become your baby's godfather is very important. Godparents become the baby's second parents. Think about who treats the little man better, who is ready to bear responsibility for him, give him a spiritual example, and pray for him? Most often, relatives and family friends become recipients.

It is best if the godfather is a deeply religious person who knows and observes church traditions and laws. This person should often visit your home, since he is responsible for the upbringing of the little man, primarily spiritual. He will be next to your baby all his life.

You can choose your mother’s or father’s sister or brother, a close friend or family friend, or the baby’s grandmother or grandfather as your godfather.

The recipients must be baptized themselves - this must be done in advance. Parents need to understand that the issue of choosing godparents must be approached very seriously.

Who can't become a godfather?

The laws of baptism in the Orthodox Church are such that the following cannot become a godparent:

1. atheists or non-believers;
2. monks and nuns;
3. mentally ill people;
4. children under 15 years of age;
5. drug addicts and alcoholics;
6. promiscuous women and men;
7. spouses or sexually close people;
8. baby's parents.

Brother and sister cannot be godparents to each other. If you are baptizing twins, you must not do it on the same day. Twins may well have the same godparents.

If twins are growing up in a family, then they need to be baptized on different days, but another pair of godparents is not needed for this - it is enough to find two reliable and pious people

Memo for godparents

• Appearance. The baby's adoptive parents must come to church with their crosses around their necks. If it is a woman, she wears a skirt that is below the knee and a jacket with sleeves to the temple. A headdress is required for the godmother. The rules for being in church also apply to a man’s clothing: you cannot expose your knees and shoulders, that is, even in hot weather you will have to give up shorts and a T-shirt. A man is in the temple with his head uncovered.
• Purchases and payment. People often ask, who should buy a cross for a child’s baptism? Who pays for the procedure? There is a certain procedure for baptizing a newborn child and preparing for it.
  1. It assumes that the godfather buys a cross for the godson and also pays for the baptism. The godmother buys a cross for her goddaughter. It is best to choose a cross made of ordinary metal or silver. It is not customary to use a golden cross at a ceremony. When choosing a cross, make sure that it cannot injure the baby; let the cross have oval edges.
  2. In addition to the godmother's cross, you need to buy a towel, baptismal shirt and sheet in advance. She buys kryzhma - the material in which the baby is baptized. Caring mothers keep the material for many years, as it helps to cure the child from illness. The sick little man is wrapped in kryzhma, and he begins to recover. It should be stored in a place hidden from prying eyes, since it is believed that through it it can be used to damage the baby.
• Preparation. People appointed as spiritual parents are obliged to prepare themselves for the baptism ceremony of a small child. Preparation includes strict fasting, starting a few days before the event, and refusal of entertainment and pleasure. The day before, it’s a good idea to take communion in church, before going to confession. You must take your child's birth certificate with you to church. You can watch the video of the baptism in advance to roughly understand the sequence of events.
• Prayer. Recipients are required to learn the “Creed” prayer. This prayer is read by the priest three times during the sacrament of baptism of the child; the godfather may also be asked to read it by heart.

Nuances of christening

• A little man can be baptized on any day of the week - on holidays and weekdays, on Lent and on an ordinary day, but most often christenings take place on Saturday.
• The foster children are supposed to pick up the child from the parents in advance and go with him to church on the appointed day and time. Their parents follow them. There is a sign that the godfather should chew a clove of garlic and breathe in the baby’s face. In this way, evil forces are driven away from the baby.
• Only the closest people are present at the ceremony in the temple - the parents of the boy or girl receiving the sacrament, maybe grandparents. The rest can come to the house of the baptized person after the ceremony and celebrate this event at the festive table.
• Baptism of an infant does not always take place in the church itself. Sometimes the priest conducts the ceremony in a specially designated room.
• If necessary, parents can arrange a ceremony at home or in the maternity hospital. To do this, you need to come to an agreement with the priest and pay all his expenses for organizing the sacrament.
• The priest reads prayers and anoints the newborn. Then he cuts a lock of hair from his head, as if making a sacrifice to God. Then the baby is lowered into the font three times, the priest says: “Here is the cross, my daughter (my son), carry it.” Together with the priest, the godfather says: “Amen.”
• The child's parents also come to church, observing Orthodox customs. They dress as is customary in the temple. During the ceremony, the mother can pray for her child. Such prayers will surely be answered.
• In the evening, relatives and friends come to the holiday with gifts. Their choice depends on wealth and imagination: toys or clothes, baby care items or an icon of the baby’s patron saint.

Traditionally, baptism takes place on the premises of a church, but in some circumstances parents may request an outdoor ceremony - for example, at home or in the maternity ward

Features of christenings for boys and girls

The christening of a girl and a boy differs little. During the ritual, the godfather carries the male child behind the altar, but the godmother does not carry the female child there. The christening of a newborn girl requires the presence of a headdress, that is, a headscarf is put on her. When a little boy is christened, he is in the temple without a headdress.

If both godparents participate in the ritual, then first the godmother holds the boy, and after bathing in the font, the godfather picks him up and carries him to the altar. The girl is held in her arms only by her godmother. This is the main difference in the ritual for children of the opposite sex.

If the procedure for baptizing a small child is followed, the child’s blood and spiritual parents will prepare for christening, and the child will grow up healthy and cheerful. When he grows up, he will become a highly spiritual person striving for a righteous life.

Clinical and perinatal psychologist, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Perinatal Psychology and Reproductive Psychology and Volgograd State Medical University with a degree in clinical psychology

The fate of children who died without baptism, whose souls still wander around the world restless, was considered difficult - it was possible to help them only by giving them a name. Such children were buried at crossroads, where passers-by could “baptize” them. Therefore, they tried to christen the baby as soon as possible. For weak children, a priest was invited to the home, and the rest were baptized on the first Sunday after birth.

At baptism, parents rarely asked the priest to give one name or another to the child; usually the priest gave the child the name of the saint whose memory is celebrated on the day of baptism or the day closest to it. Most often, the child was baptized on the eighth day after birth.

Main characters at baptism- godparents, or godparents (that is, those who receive the child from the font), they were popularly called godfather and godfather. High demands are placed on them: they must be well-behaved, show diligence in the affairs of the church, know prayers, fast regularly, confess, and receive communion. The father of the newborn invited the adoptive children: he came to the house of the future godfather, bowed to him and asked him to become a godfather (or godmother) with the words: “Go introduce the baby to the Orthodox faith.” This was followed by a treat for the newcomer, and the child’s father had to bring alcohol and some delicacies.

Among the people, adoptive parents were considered the child's second parents, his guardians and patrons. They were often chosen from one of the relatives - adults, respected and wealthy. Invitation to godparents was considered an honor, and refusal of nepotism was regarded as a sin. Those families in which children often died invited the first person they met to become godfathers, believing that his happiness would be passed on to the newborn.

The godfather bought the cross, paid the priest, the godfather had to bring the child a shirt and several arshins of cotton or canvas, as well as a towel for the priest to wipe his hands after immersing the child in the font. Godparents were not limited to succession and guarantee for the godson before God; their role especially increased when the godson entered into marriage. At baptism, there is a renunciation of the devil and all his works, and with three times immersion in consecrated water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, cleansing from all sins, that is, hereditary sin (Adam) and personal sins. Baptism symbolizes birth to a spiritual, holy life. Orthodox baptism is performed once in a lifetime. The person being baptized is put on a white shirt as a sign of his spiritual purity. And they place a cross on him as a sign that he believes in Christ, crucified on the cross for us, and also as a sign that in his life he must patiently carry his cross (the burden of life) to the grave.

With a boy, the godfather or godfather must be Orthodox, and with a girl, the godmother must be an Orthodox godmother. After baptism, the sacrament of confirmation is performed. If in the sacrament of baptism a person is born for a new life - spiritual, then in the sacrament of anointing he receives grace that strengthens the strength of the baptized person to go through this new life. In a word, in Confirmation “everything necessary for (Christian) life and piety is given.”

To sanctify the thoughts, feelings and actions of a baptized person, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, hands and feet with holy oil and says: “Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

After confirmation, the person being baptized and the recipient, with lighted candles, circle the font three times in honor of the Most Holy Trinity and as a sign of spiritual joy.

Signs and customs associated with the baptism of a child

It is a bad omen if there is a funeral in the church on the day of his christening.

If the baby squeezed, sneezed or cried during baptism, it was believed that he would live; if he was silent and stretched out in the water, he would die.

During tonsure, the child's hair was rolled into wax, thrown into the font and observed: if the wax sinks, then the child will not live, if the wax floats, then the child will live.

Joining the family hearth. After returning from church, the baby was placed on a bench under the icon on a sheepskin coat, as a symbol of wealth, sometimes on the stove or brought to the forehead (outer opening) of the stove, which was considered the home of the brownie - the owner of the house, and they turned to the brownie with a request to accept the newborn into the house: “ Dear, come, take your child and strengthen your home! Lord, bless the new child in the house, apparently. In the name of the Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas the Pleasant and all saints. Amen".

Baptism dinner. The child’s father invited the guests with the words “to the baby for bread and salt and porridge.” When the invitees gathered, a baptismal dinner was held. Various dishes were served, but always buckwheat or millet porridge.

The grandmother began to treat those present, but they, according to custom, offered the first glass to the host: “Try it yourself, grandmother! - the host and guests joked in response to her treats. “God knows what kind of vodka you’re serving us, maybe it’s a conspiracy!” The father of the newborn drank first after the grandmother. For a snack, she served him salted porridge in a spoon (or mixed with mustard, pepper, vinegar, etc.), saying: “Eat, father-parent, eat, and be kind to your son (your daughter)!” Just as it was salty for you, so it was salty for your wife to give birth!”, “The porridge was salty, and it was salty for the wife to give birth, and the father and mother will get even saltier children after.” Then, throwing up the remaining porridge in the spoon, she said: “God only grant that our children have a happy life and they also jump.” Over porridge, gifts were exchanged - the godfather gave the godfather a scarf, and the godfather gave her money in return; money and gifts were placed on a pot of porridge or on special plates.

The godfathers feasted on the baby's father. “Eat it, dear kumanki! - the grandmother told them. - Happy goddaughter (or godson) to you! Just as you saw her (or him) under the cross, so you should see her (or him) under the crown!” After the godfathers, the others sitting at the table drank the vodka that was brought to them. At the same time, everyone, not excluding the parent himself, put money on the plate - in favor of the grandmother and on the pie - in favor of the mother in labor.

At the end of dinner, the grandmother put a pie on the table, placed a pot of porridge in a hat and a glass of vodka on a plate; at the same time she said: “Grandmother comes up and brings the porridge for selfish gain, for joy, for God’s mercy, for thick bottoms, for high stacks. Porridge on spoons, on the boy (girl)’s legs!”