What you need to know about child baptism. When is it better to baptize a child after birth, on what days? What do you need to buy for the baptism of a child, what to give? Rules for baptizing a child in a church for a boy, girl, godparents, parents

What does baptism give a person? If you answer this question, then everyone will be able to quite consciously and reasonably make a choice - it is he who needs to be baptized, or not.

First of all, in Baptism, a person is cleansed of all sins, including original sin, which we inherit as a genetic disease (the name “original” has nothing to do with childbirth). This is stated in the main Christian prayer, which is called the "Symbol of Faith", and which must be read during Baptism: "I confess one baptism for the remission of sins." When preparing for Baptism, the "Symbol of Faith" must be read, understood and remembered, and if suddenly you do not agree with any of its points, then it is too early to be baptized.

Secondly, in Baptism a person is born into a new life, a spiritual life, in which he has completely different, previously inaccessible opportunities: union with God, receiving grace, and in the long term - inheritance of eternal life.

When is the best time to be baptized?

The question is when better man to accept baptism - sooner or later - in different periods of history was decided in different ways.

A simple logic speaks in favor of later baptisms (in adulthood and even old age): in the baptismal font, a person is cleansed of ALL his sins - both inherited original sin and accumulated independently throughout his life before baptism. So, the later he was baptized, the less mistakes If you manage to do it in the remaining period of time, the more righteous you will appear at the final judgment.

However, this logic has several serious flaws. Firstly, death does not always come in old age and according to a predetermined schedule, and when prudently postponing baptism “for later”, we must remember that this “later” may not come. Secondly, baptism gives a person the opportunity to unite with God already here, in this life, in the Sacrament of Communion, and by postponing baptism, we deprive ourselves of this opportunity.

The fashion for late baptisms arises periodically, and each time it causes a discussion around itself. In particular, St. Gregory of Nyssa, in an essay with a telling title “Against Those Who Postpone Baptism,” wrote as follows: “Secure yourself from the impermanence and uncertainty of life. Do not bargain with grace, so as not to lose the gift.

Should babies be baptized?

You can be baptized at any age, from the moment you are born. But the question of whether babies should be baptized comes up quite regularly. What are the most common arguments against child baptism?

Argument #1: “Choosing a child for baptism is violence; will grow up - he will figure it out. Raising children inevitably involves the fact that we have to make choices for them. We choose books and toys, clubs and sports clubs, school and place of residence for our children. We decide whether to vaccinate and take antibiotics, instill in the child what is good and what is bad - and in exactly the form in which we ourselves understand it. In any case, parents strive to raise their children in their own system of values ​​- this is the question of the freedom of choice of children. And baptism is not just a change of status in the heavenly office, it is, first of all, the acquisition of new opportunities by a person. And here I would like to quote a fragment from one of the forum discussions about the appropriateness of infant baptism:

“You see, this is a pointless argument, because at the root of it lies the question of how parents perceive God. If for them God is the most valuable thing in life, its meaning, truth and love, then mom and dad cannot even think of leaving their baby without this Gift. If, for parents, God is just one of the forms of knowledge and communication with the world, a part of culture, etc., then, of course, they can postpone the Baptism of an infant with a cold wording: "When he grows up, he will choose."

There is simply nothing to add here.

Argument No. 2: “You don’t need to baptize a child, because until the age of seven he is already sinless.” Indeed, children under the age of seven in the Orthodox tradition are considered infants who are not able to fully answer for their actions, so confession is not obligatory for them. However, they are not free from original sin, as mentioned above. And before baptism, they are deprived of many opportunities - they cannot receive communion, celebrate Angel Day (which they simply do not have), they cannot be prayed for in the Church - only at home.

In any case, the choice in this matter remains with the parents (namely, the parents, and not the grandparents and other relatives, friends and sympathizers).

What is needed for this

In addition to the desire to be baptized, you will need to fulfill certain conditions and related accessories. The necessary conditions may be the following: if a child is baptized, then you cannot do without godparents, and also, in some churches, you may be required to attend catechumens. Of the necessary accessories, we will name perhaps everything, but their complete package will depend both on your desire and on the church where Baptism takes place.

So, you will need: cross with the device on which it will be held on the neck, the chain or thread does not matter. If a small child is being baptized, it makes sense to take a silk or wide satin ribbon for a thread so that they do not cut the delicate skin. There are observations that gold and silver chains also do not cause unpleasant irritation to the baby's skin.

Christening shirt - it can be purchased at a specialized temple, or, if you like difficulties, sew it yourself, cut simple, it resembles a nightgown with an embroidered cross on the back. In fact, this is not a mandatory attribute of baptism, but it gives the event an additional sophistication and corresponds to the traditional church aesthetics. If you do not purchase a baptismal shirt, you need to stock up on a form of clothing that would not embarrass you and those around you when in contact with water. Now in many churches there are fonts for complete immersion, respectively, everything that the person being baptized will wear will be guaranteed to be wet. But even where baptism is done by dousing in a small font, at least up to your waist you will also be doused with water.

Candles - they can be purchased directly in the temple where the baptism will take place, they are necessary to participate in the procession, which takes place in the process of this worship. It is worth clarifying how many candles are needed in the church in which you are baptized per one baptized and godparents, because some of them are given to the altar as a donation.

Towel - but then you yourself understand, the more the better, if someone thinks that a small waffle towel is enough, he will be very jealous of people who are not too lazy to take real bath towels, it’s still wet.

Change of clothes- if you don’t have it, then not only until the end of baptism, but much after it, you will have to experience a number of awkwardness and inconvenience about your appearance. As a rule, temples provide a place where you can change clothes separately for men and women, and for the especially chaste and individual. However, it would be even better if you ask in advance if there is such a place in the temple and if suddenly it does not appear, and you are going to be baptized there, you can foresee everything in advance, by the way, it is usually necessary to take a baptismal appearance only before the baptism itself, with the exception feet, but more on that below. Until the very moment of baptism and after it, you can be in everyday clothes.

Slippers- they will be needed because, because your bare feet will be needed. As a rule, you will be offered to take off your shoes at the beginning of the service, and in order not to be left barefoot, you can take slippers with you. The most ideal option is slates.

Baptism certificate , in some temples it may not be available, so ask in advance if it will be issued. Now they are different types: simpler and more beautiful, you can choose and purchase on your own, or you can rely on the temple where baptism will be performed. In any case, it is necessary to ensure that it is correctly filled out, the full name of the baptized and godparents, the date of the baptism, the name and surname of the priest, the name of the temple, an indication of the heavenly patron and the day of the angel are correctly set.

Camera or video camera, of course, at your discretion, but after all, baptism is performed only once in a lifetime, why not capture it. Again, ask in advance if there are any restrictions on photography and video filming in this temple.

Godparents

In fact, the institution of godparents has now lost its former meaning. It is very rare to find an example of godparents really participating in the upbringing of their godchildren. Moreover, godparents very often simply live very far away and are physically unable to perform their duties. How about ideally? And ideally, godparents bear full responsibility on an equal basis with parents until the age of majority of their child for his Orthodox upbringing and education. In fact, they are the second parents. This care includes a whole range of activities - from home education, to joint church services and financing of relevant needs - for example, the acquisition of spiritual literature, icons, a baptismal cross, and finally.

During the baptism itself, the godparents renounce Satan for the one being baptized and unite with Christ, confirm this desire aloud and receive their child from the font. In a word, they testify before everyone about their own adequacy in the Christian upbringing of their godson. Naturally, according to church opinion, godparents are also responsible before God for the spiritual and moral life of their child.

This, of course, is an ideal, but one must strive for it. Therefore, godparents should be selected accordingly. Church practice, however, leaves the opportunity for the godfather to be less upset and reflect on his failure to fulfill his duties, if the godson or his parents do not want this. Here, the family world cannot be tested by the efforts of the godfather if the family is not ready for it. But you need to be reminded regularly. That is why the godparents must be included in the baptismal certificate.

Traditionally, a godfather is chosen for a boy, and a godmother for a girl, if it is not possible to have both at once. Godparents cannot be directly related to each other and the person being baptized, for example, a husband and wife cannot be godparents to each other and at the same time to the same child to whom they were invited. Other relatives may well be suitable for this role.

For all the frivolity of the fulfillment of their duties by godparents, at least on name days and other personal and church holidays, just humanly, godparents should congratulate their godchildren without depriving them of this fellowship. And finally, if the parents of the baptized disappear, the godparents must take care of them as if they were their own children, to the point of taking them to their home, at least as Sirius Black took Harry Potter.

About catechumens, or why do we need lectures before baptism?

Today, in most churches in Yekaterinburg, as part of the preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism, it is offered to attend special classes - categorical conversations. The number and quality of them in each church is different, but the meaning is the same - to explain to the baptized the foundations of the faith that they are going to accept, to tell about the changes that take place in life after baptism. That is, categorical conversations should contribute to a more conscious and more serious approach to Baptism.

Announcement - that is, oral instruction in the faith before being baptized - this is precisely the new, which is the well-forgotten old. The tradition of catechetical conversations was formed in the Church already in the second or third centuries after the birth of Christ. Then the announcement lasted from forty days to three years. Even special categorical schools were created, which became truly centers of education. For example, in one of the most famous - the Alexandrian catechumens school - not only theology and philosophy were taught, but also ethics, dialectics and even physics.

The memory of the traditions of the ancient Church has come down to us in worship and folklore. So far the main church service- Liturgy (the same one that you can get to if you come to the temple Sunday morning) is divided into two parts. The first part is called the "liturgy of the catechumens" - it is also attended by those who are not baptized, but who are preparing for baptism, that is, catechumens. Pray together with everyone, listen to the reading Holy Scripture and a sermon. This part ends with a special prayer - specifically for the catechumens. There are words addressed by the priest to themselves: “Pray, catechumens, O Lord,” after which the catechumens themselves must answer, “Lord, have mercy.” And since there were many catechumens in the ancient Church, and they answered with enthusiasm, the saying arose "shout like catechumens." However, today it is not relevant, since all prayers are sung by the church choir. The second part of the service - "the liturgy of the faithful" - begins with the words "catechumens, depart." Only the baptized remain for the second part of the liturgy.

Now in many churches this catechetical conversation is partially restored, however, in very different forms. Somewhere, godparents or adults being baptized are required to attend only one conversation that precedes the celebration of the Sacrament. And somewhere you need to attend 12 or 16 classes. Announcement conversations allow you to get first-hand information, as they say, and in some way are a unique opportunity for a kind of church educational program.

In any case, you will have to clarify whether the church that you have chosen for baptism has such conditions for its acceptance, and whether you are ready to agree to it. There is always one more proven and traditionally Russian way to solve all problems - to be baptized by acquaintance. Then, as a rule, the familiar father hopes for your home self-education, and will not torment you with tedious narrations if you evaluate everything that happened from the creation of the world until the events of at least 33 years from the birth of Christ in Palestine.

How is Baptism

Baptism can be performed both individually and collectively, depending on your wishes. Again, this issue needs to be resolved the day before. Naturally, individual baptisms will always be preferable, but, unfortunately, not many people know about their right to be baptized in this way, and not wait for one common day. You just need to talk to the priest.

At the beginning of the baptism, the priest will explain where to whom to stand: to those being baptized, to those who are baptized, and to sympathizers who have come to worry about their loved ones. Also, obviously, explanations will be given for those who take photos and videos. By the way, the best position is in front of the priest and a little to the side, then you can choose the most successful angle for the main points.

Baptism begins with naming prayers, by which the baptized are assigned their Christian names. Also, from that time on, a person has his heavenly patron and the Guardian Angel is activated. Sometimes people are renamed if the calendar does not contain the name given to the child by his parents. The priest reads prayers and first overshadows everyone sign of the cross, blessing those who came, and then puts his hand with his palm on their head, symbolizing church patronage. At the same time, those who are being baptized will need to loudly tell the priest their names, in the future the priest will slowly remember them.

After that, four rather long prohibitive prayers are read, which are forbidden to act on the baptized forces of Satan, the forces of demons. Those who have watched Western thrillers and horror films on the topic of exorcism can safely draw analogies, the way it is. In the Orthodox baptismal tradition there is a place for the exorcism of the devil. As a sign of this, the priest turns to those being baptized and blows three times and crosswise into each person's face, pronouncing the appropriate words of the spell. If worms or cockroaches didn’t fall out of you, you can assume that you successfully passed the exorcism rite.

From this moment, the phase of active participation of those being baptized and godparents in the event begins. Everyone turns to face west, as a rule, towards the exit from the temple, and the priest warns that now he will ask questions that should be answered loudly and clearly, preferably in unison. He himself suggests what to answer along the way, however, if people attended the categorical conversations, they themselves know. At the same time, as a sign of freedom from the shackles of Satan, everyone raises both hands up, showing that there are no fetters on the wrists. Twice the priest asks three times whether those who have come renounce Satan, to which they answer in the affirmative with the established formulations.

The most active actions in this event are the fulfillment of the priest's proposal: "And blow and spit on him." At this point, you need to blow and spit on the floor. The fact is that the life of a Christian begins with an insult, with spitting at the enemy of salvation. Thus, the person says: we have nothing in common with you, Satan, there is simply nothing, I spit on you - the latter happens literally.

Immediately after the renunciation of the devil, union with Christ is made. Everyone turns to face east, as a rule, to the altar, as they stood, and again answer the questions of the priest, but with their hands down. The priest asks several times about the seriousness of the intentions of those who came, and they also answer in the prescribed form. At this stage, it is good if one of the godparents turns out to be especially prepared and can take on the reading aloud of the Symbol of the Orthodox Faith. A creed is a set of basic doctrinal truths, or dogmas, which briefly states what we Christians believe. If none of those who came by heart knows the Creed, the priest himself can read it, and the rest will try to understand at least something. Ideally, every Christian should not only know it by heart, but also be able to comment on why it is so and not otherwise. But, usually, this is your first task in self-education. It is easy to find the Creed, it is in any Prayer Book or in a book that is simply necessary for everyone and which is called very familiarly: "The Law of God."

After reading the Creed at the end of all questions, the priest teaches those who came how to properly baptize and bow, meaning how to make the sign of the cross. In addition to the fact that we fold our fingers at baptism in a certain way - the thumb, index and middle fingers together, symbolizing our faith in the Trinity, and bend two to the palm - the ring and little fingers, as a sign that Christ was both God and Man, we overshadow them yourself like this: on the forehead, on the stomach, on the right shoulder and on the left, completing the sign of the cross with a small bow. We thereby invoke the sanctification of God on all our thoughts, feelings and actions. And we are baptized from right to left in honor of the prudent thief who was crucified according to right hand from Christ, and did not swear at Him together with everyone, but simply quietly asked the Lord to remember him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is at this moment that one should change clothes, taking on the actual baptismal appearance. Before the immersion, the priest will anoint you with holy oil - oil, which symbolizes the Mercy of God. He will anoint the forehead, chest, ears, arms and legs.

Usually, they are baptized by seniority, starting with the smallest, but this is up to the priest to decide. Needless to say, you should take a good shower the night before.

You will dive into the water three times, and if this is related to diving, calculate in advance how much oxygen you will need. Try to dive, but not swim, because with a large font it will be difficult to catch you right away. While you are being submerged or doused, the support team prepares a large towel, and photojournalists do not leave their cameras idle. Immediately after baptism, you should change clothes, but your legs should still be free.

Then it comes to crosses. If you purchased them in the temple, you don’t have to consecrate them, but if this is a thing from a store, you should ask in advance for the cross to be consecrated to you, they can do it right here, at baptism.

The priest himself puts crosses on everyone, which should be immediately removed behind the collar, since it is not a shirt and not a cover, but underwear.

Sacrament of Chrismation

After this, the Sacrament of Chrismation is performed. You will again be smeared with holy oil, but this time it is not oil, but holy Miro. In this Sacrament, a person is given the grace-filled Gifts of the Holy Spirit for leading the Christian life. And this Sacrament is so important that it, like baptism, is accepted by a person only once (for the second time in a life, they are anointed only when they are ordained as bishops and upon accession to the royal throne, hence the expression "anointed to the kingdom"). The priest will anoint the forehead, chest, lips, eyes, nose, ears, hands and feet.

Holy Myrrh (from the Greek μύρον "fragrant oil") is a specially prepared and consecrated fragrant oil. AT Orthodox Church Miro is prepared on the basis of olive oil with the addition of white wine and many aromatic substances (this includes aloe, frankincense, rose petals, violet, spicy and galangal roots, nutmeg, rose, lemon and clove oils - about forty ingredients in total). The abundance of components symbolizes the diversity of Christian virtues.

Myrrh is brewed by the Patriarch on Holy Week in the Small Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery (in Moscow), where a special oven has been set up for this purpose. It is consecrated on Maundy Thursday (the last Thursday before Easter) at the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, and from there it is transported by bishops to their dioceses. This is where the saying “everyone is smeared with one world” comes from in the Russian language.

Previously, baptisms were performed quite rarely in churches, because they were waiting for the graduation of the catechumens school and arranged a parish holiday. And they celebrated as follows: they made a small procession to some famous place that was not far from the temple, or they walked around the temple itself and sang songs of the newly baptized, in which they glorified the event. And now, you will also be offered to participate in the procession, which, as a rule, now takes place around the font where the baptism took place. To do this, you will need candles prepared in advance, one for each. During the procession, you will also be invited to take part in the general singing, and this opportunity should not be missed. Especially if everything is recorded on a video camera.

Immediately after Baptism and Confirmation, a person makes the first, at least in his baptized life, a thankful sacrifice to God. And such a sacrifice is none other than his own hair, that adornment that crowns the most wonderful part of our body. Hairstyles do not suffer at the same time, the priest will cut your hair three times very modestly and tastefully, in the form of a cross on your head.

The baptism ends with churching prayers, while men are led into the altar - the holiest place of the Temple, and they are read to women in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

What's next?

And then you yourself are already the owners of the gift that you just received. Again, ideally, it would be a good idea to take the change seriously and start your own religious life. Find out what prayer is, try to attend Saturday and Sunday services in the church, go to confession and take communion at least once a month, and so on, but this, in more detail and in detail, should be discussed separately. In any case, baptism makes each one more of God's own than it was before. Baptism is the birth of a new person. And each of us knows perfectly well that it is not easy to give birth to a person, but it is even more difficult to raise him.

Symbol of faith

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born from the Father before all ages, Light from Light, God is true from God is true, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, by Him all was. For us for the sake of man and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the packs of the future with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. Tea of ​​the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the next century. Amen.

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

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

1. It is considered a good sign if the child began to cry less after the rite of baptism, not so capricious, began to sleep better. It is also believed that after baptism, the child's health improves. It is not in vain that they advise not to postpone the rite of baptism if the baby was born weak, premature - in this case, the sacrament can be performed even within the walls of the maternity hospital or at home.
2. The godfather should give the child a cross, and the godmother should buy clothes for christening.
3. You can not wipe the water from the face of the baby after bathing - the holy water should dry on the face itself.
4. After the rite of baptism, the clothes in which the baby was, cannot be washed. It is necessary that holy water dry on it, and then leave and protect it as a talisman throughout the life of the child. It is believed that if the baby is ill, he needs to be wiped with a baptismal robe - and this will help him recover. Also, you can not use these clothes again at another rite of baptism.
5. Baptismal clothing must be exclusively light color. Usually white. Minor drawings, inscriptions, embroideries on christening clothes are also allowed.
6. If the child does not cry during the ceremony - this is very good omen. Even better if the baby fell asleep during the sacrament.
7. It is believed that the child will have a happy life if you hear church bells before the christening.
8. You can not buy a cross made of gold - this metal is considered unclean, sinful. The cross must be silver or just metal.
9. The life of a child will turn out happily if, immediately after the rite of baptism, a wedding takes place in the temple.
10. It is a bad omen to postpone the previously planned rite of baptism of a child to another date.
11. An unbaptized baby cannot be brought into someone else's house. You can visit with a baby only after the sacrament.
12. The woman should be the first to baptize the boy, and the husband the girl. Otherwise, it is believed that the godson will take away their happy family life.
13. Unbelieving people cannot be godparents, mentally ill people, as well as drug addicts and alcoholics.
14. Children cannot become godparents. Girls must be at least 13 years old and boys must be at least 15.
15. It is impossible for several babies to be baptized in the same water (font). This is a bad omen.
16. It is a bad omen, if during the ceremony the priest forgets or confuses words, objects fall from his hands.
17. Between the godmother and the father there should not be a love affair - this is a sin. It is also desirable that they be blood relatives.
18. A pregnant woman should not baptize a child - otherwise both the godson and her own baby will often get sick.
19. For christening a child in a church, a measured icon is ordered or bought. It is called measured because it corresponds in centimeters to the height of the child at birth. This should be a personal icon of the baby; only a child can pray in front of it. It is believed that the measured icon is a strong amulet for the child, gives him protection.
20. Godparents should not sit down in church - otherwise the child will have an unfortunate fate.
21. Before the baptism of the baby, you should not show anyone, even relatives. It is believed that the child does not yet have protection, because the baby can be jinxed.
22. I will accept that you cannot refuse if you are asked to become godparents, the church explains this: to refuse is not a sin, but to baptize a child and not take part in his life, spiritual development is a big sin. Therefore, it is better to refuse if you are not sure that you can conscientiously fulfill all the duties of a godfather or mother.
23. The child must be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life, then the sacrament will give the baby very strong protection.
24. On the day of baptism, the child has his guardian angel, so you should not delay the ceremony and christen the baby faster.
25. After baptism, the baby receives his second (church) name, which cannot be voiced to anyone.
26. Before the rite of baptism (both relatives and godparents) must read a prayer.
27. A woman who has had an abortion should not be invited to be a godmother.
28. At baptism, the godmother must have her head covered, and it is also impossible to baptize in trousers - it must be a skirt or dress below the knees.
29. The rite of baptism is a sacrament, so the baby and godparents participate in it, and the father may also be present. It is advisable not to invite other relatives and friends to the ceremony. They can congratulate the baby already at the christening - this is a celebration in honor of baptism.
30. You can baptize a child on any day of the week, as well as on major church holidays and fasting. However, among the people, it is Saturday that is considered the most successful day for the sacrament.

What is Baptism as a Sacrament? How does it happen?

Baptism is the Sacrament in which the believer, when the body is immersed three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dies for a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual life. In Baptism, a person is cleansed from original sin - the sin of the forefathers, communicated to him through birth. The Sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once (as well as a person is born only once).

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

The baptismal set for your baby should be the one recommended to you in the church where you will baptize him. They will easily tell you what you need. This is mainly a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.

The baptismal set for a girl has both a number of common features and a number of differences from that for a male baby. The most important part of it is, of course, pectoral cross ic, which is given to the baby by her godfather. But in addition to it, a set of appropriate christening clothes is also needed, which includes a scarf, a dress and a towel (kryzhma). It is necessary in order to wrap the baby after dipping into the font. Christening sets for girls are often decorated with embroidery and other decorative elements. But make sure there aren't too many of them. This can create inconvenience for both the girl and the godparents during Baptism. A baptismal set for a boy, as a rule, is more restrained in decor and consists of a baptismal shirt, a hat and, again, a cape towel. And, of course, a pectoral cross. Sometimes christening sets are also complemented by booties. When purchasing a baptismal set for a boy, pay attention that all things are as convenient as possible. This is true, both for clothes for girls and for boys.

This sacrament consists of the Announcement (reading of special prayers - “prohibitions” over those preparing for baptism), renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, that is, union with Him, and confession of the Orthodox faith. Here, for the baby, the godparents should pronounce the appropriate words.

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the Baptism begins. most notable and important point- three times immersion of the baby in the font with the pronunciation of the words: “To the servant of God is resounding (servant of God) (name) in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen". At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, is preparing to receive his godfather from the font. After that, the one who has received Baptism is dressed in new white clothes, a cross is put on him.

Immediately after this, another Sacrament is performed - in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the person being baptized, while anointing the parts of the body in the name of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life. After that, the priest and the godparents with the newly baptized go around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Then an excerpt from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Lord Jesus Christ sending the apostles to the worldwide preaching of faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. After the myrrh, the priest is washed from the body of the baptized person with a special sponge dipped in holy water, with the words: “Thou hast been justified. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been sanctified. Thou hast been washed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been anointed. Thou hast been sanctified, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized cross-shaped (on four sides) with the words: “ Slave gets haircut(a) God's(name) in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen”, folds her hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. The tonsure symbolizes obedience to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After the utterance of petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the sacrament of baptism ends.

This is usually immediately followed by churching, which marks the first bringing to the temple. The baby, taken by the priest in his arms, is carried by him through the temple, brought to the Royal Doors and brought into the altar (only boys), after which he is given to his parents. Churching symbolizes the dedication of the baby to God according to the Old Testament model. After baptism, the infant should be given communion.

Why are only boys brought to the altar?

In principle, boys should not be brought there either, this is just a tradition. The Sixth Ecumenical Council determined: None of all those belonging to the category of the laity should be allowed to enter the inside of the sacred altar ... (). Renowned canonist ep. gives this decree the following commentary: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from ancient times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. "The altar is for sacred persons only."

They say that before you baptize your child, you should confess and take communion.

Even regardless of the Baptism of the child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly approach and saint. If you have not done this until now, then it will be good to take the first step towards a full-fledged church life by anticipating the Baptism of your own baby.

This is not a formal requirement, but a natural internal norm - because, introducing the child to Church life through the sacrament of Baptism, introducing him into the Church's fence - why should we ourselves remain outside of it? For an adult who has not repented for many years, or never in his life, has not begun to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ, at this moment is a very conditionally Christian. Only by prompting himself to live in the sacraments of the Church does he actualize his Christianity.

What is the Orthodox name for the baby?

The right to choose the name of the child belongs to his parents. In choosing a name, lists of the names of saints can help you - the saints. In the holy calendar, the names are arranged in calendar order.

No unambiguous church tradition choosing names - often parents choose a name for the baby from the list of those saints who are glorified on the very day the child is born, or on the eighth day, when the rite of naming is performed, or in the period of forty days (when the Sacrament of Baptism is usually performed). Wisely choose a name from a list of names church calendar of those that are close enough after the child's birthday. But by the way, this is not some kind of obligatory church establishment, and if there is some deep desire to name the child in honor of this or that saint, or some kind of vow on the part of the parents, or something else, then this is not an obstacle at all. .

When choosing a name, you can get acquainted not only with what this or that name means, but also with the life of the saint in whose honor you want to name your baby: what kind of saint is it, where and when did he live, what was his lifestyle, on which days his memory is celebrated.

Why do some churches close the church for the time of the sacrament of Baptism (not doing this during other Sacraments) or ask people who call themselves Orthodox not to enter it?

Because during the Baptism of an adult, it is not very pleasant for the person being baptized or being baptized, if strangers look at him, sufficiently bodily exposed, observe the greatest sacrament, the curious look of those who have nothing to do with prayer. It seems that a prudent Orthodox person will not go simply as a spectator to someone else's Baptism, if he was not invited there. And if he lacks tact, then church ministers act prudently, removing the curious from the temple at the time of the sacrament of Baptism.

What must come first, faith or baptism? Is it possible to be baptized to believe?

Baptism is a Sacrament, that is, a special action of God, in which, with the reciprocal desire of the person himself (certainly the person himself), he dies for a sinful and passionate life and is born into a new life - life in Christ Jesus.

And on the other hand, this is what a baptized and churched person should strive for all his life. All people are sinners, and one must strive for such an acquisition of faith, with which deeds are combined. Faith, among other things, is an effort of the will. In the Gospel, one person who met the Savior exclaimed: “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief." () This man already believed in the Lord, but he wanted to believe even more, stronger, more decisively.

Strengthening in faith will be easier if you live the church life, and not look at it from the outside.

Why do we baptize babies? They still cannot choose their own religion and consciously follow Christ?

A person is saved not on his own, not as an individual who single-handedly decides how he should be and act in this life, but as a member of the Church, a community in which everyone is responsible for each other. Therefore, an adult can vouch for the baby and say: I will try to make sure that he grows up as a good Orthodox Christian. And while he cannot answer for himself, his godfather and godmother pledge their faith for him.

Does a person have the right to be baptized at any age?

Baptism is possible for a person of any age on any day of the year.

At what age is it best to baptize a child?

You can baptize a person at any time from his first to his very last breath. In ancient times, it was customary to baptize a child on the eighth day from birth, but this was not a mandatory rule.

It is most convenient to baptize a child during the first months from birth. At this time, the baby still does not distinguish his mother from the “alien aunt”, who will hold him in her arms during Baptism, and the “bearded uncle”, who will always come up to him and “do something with him”, is not terrible for him.

Older children already quite consciously perceive reality, they see that they are surrounded by people they do not know, and their mothers are either not at all or for some reason she does not go to them, and may experience anxiety about this.

Is it necessary to be baptized again if a person was “baptized by a grandmother at home”?

Baptism is the only Sacrament of the Church, which, in case of emergency, can be performed even by a lay person. During the years of persecution of the Church, cases of such baptism were not rare - there were few churches and priests.

In addition, in the old days, midwives sometimes baptized newborn babies if their lives were in danger: for example, if the child received a birth injury. This baptism is commonly referred to as "immersion." If a child died after such a baptism, then he was buried as a Christian; if he survived, then he was brought to the temple and the priest made up for the baptism performed by the layman with the necessary prayers and sacred rites.

Thus, in any case, a person baptized by a lay person must “refill” the baptism in the temple. However, in the old days, midwives were specially taught how to properly perform baptism; in the Soviet years, it is often completely unknown who baptized and how, whether this person was trained, whether he knew what and how to do. Therefore, for the sake of confidence in the actual performance of the Sacrament, priests most often baptize such "immersed" as if there was doubt whether they were baptized or not.

Can parents attend Baptism?

They may well, and not just be present, but pray with the priest and godparents for their baby. There are no obstacles to this.

When is Baptism performed?

Baptism can take place at any time. However, in churches, the procedure for performing Baptism is established differently depending on the internal routine, opportunities and circumstances. Therefore, you should worry in advance about how to find out about the procedure for performing Baptism in the temple in which you want to baptize your child.

What does an adult person who wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism need?

For an adult, the basis for Baptism is the presence of a sincere Orthodox faith. The purpose of Baptism is union with God. Therefore, those who come to the baptismal font need to decide for themselves very important questions: does he need this and is he ready for this? Baptism is inappropriate if a person with his help is looking for some earthly blessings, success, or hopes to solve his family problems. Therefore, another important condition for Baptism is a strong desire to live as a Christian.

After the celebration of the Sacrament, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: go to church regularly, learn divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will not make any sense.

It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at least carefully read these catechetical conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the prayer "Our Father".

It would be just wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do it very correctly when they confess catechumens before Baptism.

Is it possible to baptize during Lent?

Yes, you can. Moreover, in former times, fasting served as a preparation not only for a certain holiday, but also for the entry of new members into the Church, i.e. to the baptism of the catechumens. Thus, in the ancient Church, they were baptized mainly on the eve of big Church holidays, including during fasting. Traces of this are still preserved in the peculiarities of the services of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Pentecost.

In what case can a priest refuse a person to be baptized?

A priest not only can, but also must refuse a person to be baptized if he does not believe in God in the way the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.

Among the grounds for refusing baptism may be a person's unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards baptism. The magical attitude to Baptism is the desire to use it to protect oneself from the forces of evil, to get rid of, to receive all kinds of spiritual or material "bonuses".

Persons in a state of intoxication and leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until their repentance and correction.

What to do if it is known for sure that a person was baptized, but no one remembers the name with which he was baptized? Baptize a second time?

This situation occurs quite often. It is not necessary to baptize a person a second time - you can baptize only once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and communion him with a new name.

How many times can you be baptized?

Definitely one time. Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person can be born only once. The Orthodox Creed says: "I confess one baptism for the remission of sins." Secondary baptism is not allowed.

What to do if you do not know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to find out from?

You need to be baptized, but at the same time warn the priest that you may be baptized, but you don’t know for sure about it. The priest will perform Baptism according to a special order for such cases.

What duties do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?

Godparents have three main duties towards godchildren:
1. Prayer. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godchild, and also, as he grows, teach him to pray, so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrine. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Preacher. On own example, show the godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a real good Christian.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Godparents are guarantors for their godson. They are entrusted with the duty to take care of the spiritual and moral education of their godson. Godparents teach him the basics of the Orthodox faith, prayer and the way of life of a true Christian. Consequently, the godparents themselves must know both the Gospel and church life well, have good prayer practice, and regularly participate in divine services and Church Sacraments.

Have you decided to become a godfather, but do not meet the requirements? Make it a reason to start moving in that direction. To get started, listen to the catechumens in the temple or at specialized courses organized in your diocese. Then read your choice of Mark or Luke. Choose for yourself - the first is shorter, the second is clearer. You can also find them in the Bible; Specifically, the New Testament. Carefully read the text of the Creed - during Baptism, one of the godparents reads it by heart or from a sheet. It would also be good if by the time of Epiphany you knew the prayer “Our Father” by heart.

After Baptism, deepen and expand your knowledge of bible history, pray at home and participate in church services - this way you will gradually acquire the practical skills of a Christian.

Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant?

The original name of godparents is godparents. They received such a name because they "received" the baptized from the font; at the same time, the Church, as it were, delegates to them part of her care for the new Christian and teaching him the Christian life and morality, therefore, not only the presence of the godparents during Baptism and their active participation is obligatory, but also their conscious desire to take on such responsibility.

Can representatives of other religions become godparents?

Definitely not. In Baptism, the recipients testify to the Orthodox faith, and according to their faith, the infant receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become godparents at Baptism.

In addition, the godparents take on the obligation to educate the godson in Orthodoxy. Representatives of other religions cannot fulfill these duties because for us Christianity is not a theory, but life itself in Christ. This life can only be taught by those who themselves live this way.

The question arises: can then representatives of other Christian denominations, for example, Catholics or Lutherans, become godparents? The answer is no - they can't for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients at Baptism.

Which of the things you need to bring with you to Baptism and which of the godparents should do this?

For Baptism you will need a baptismal kit. This is usually pectoral cross with a chain or ribbon, a few candles, a baptismal shirt. The cross can also be purchased in ordinary stores, but then you should ask the priest to consecrate it. You will need a towel or diaper to wrap and dry the baby after the font. According to an unwritten tradition, a godfather acquires a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl. Although this rule does not have to be followed.

How many godfathers and mothers should a person have?

One. As a rule, the same sex as the child, that is, for a boy - a godfather, and for a girl - a godmother. The opportunity for a child to have both a godfather and a godmother is a pious custom. It is not customary to have more than two recipients.

How to choose godparents for a child?

The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help in the Christian upbringing of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and just the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing. In the old days, concern about expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite the next of kin as godparents. It was believed that, by virtue of natural kinship, they would help the child anyway. For this reason, family grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became foster parents. Nevertheless, it is not forbidden, and now it is becoming more and more frequent.

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?

Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to acceptance. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she may well do it.

Who can't be a godmother?

minors; Gentiles; the mentally ill; wholly ignorant of the faith; intoxicated persons

What should godparents give to a godson?

This question lies in the realm of human customs and does not concern the spiritual life regulated by Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter of the godparents. You may not give anything at all. However, it seems that the gift, if there is one, should be useful and remind of Baptism. It could be the Bible or New Testament, pectoral cross or icon of the saint in whose honor the child is named. There are many options.

If godparents do not fulfill their duties, is it possible to take other godparents and what needs to be done for this?

In the truest sense of the word, it is impossible. The godfather will be only the one who perceived the child from the font. However, in a sense, this can be done. Let's draw a parallel with a normal birth: for example, a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, refuse him, do not fulfill their parental duties and do not take care of him. In this case, the child can be adopted by someone and raised as a native. This person will become, although adopted, but a parent in the true sense of the word. It is the same with spiritual birth. If real godparents do not fulfill their duties, and there is a person who can and wants to take on their function, then he should receive a blessing for this from the priest and after that begin to take care of the child in every possible way. And "godfather" at the same time it can also be called. At the same time, a child cannot be baptized again.

Can a young man become godfather to his bride?

Definitely not. A spiritual kinship arises between the godparent and the godson, which excludes the possibility of marriage.

How many times can a person become a godfather?

As many as you think possible. Being a godparent is a big responsibility. Someone may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, someone five or six, and someone perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for himself.

Can a person refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?

Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to be responsible for the child, then it will be more honest to both the parents and the child and to himself to say this directly, rather than formally becoming a godfather and not fulfilling his duties.

Is it possible to become a godfather for two or three children from the same family?

Yes, you can. There are no canonical barriers to this.

One of the fundamental components of the Sacrament of Baptism performed is the godparents. Without them, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible. As you know, the first godfather was John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. For the first Russian people who were baptized in Rus', the godfather was the person who performed the rite of Baptism. The Sacrament itself took place several in an unusual way. Since a huge number of people were baptized at once, they gathered on the banks of a river and, under the guidance of a priest, entered the water, some up to the waist and some up to the throat, the priest divided them into 2 parts: female and male, after which he performed the Sacrament Baptism. At the same time, all women were given one Orthodox female name, and men - male.

At present, everyone can choose godparents for his child himself. It is only important to remember that godparents should not be married to each other, and you cannot be godfather to your wife or your husband. It is interesting that in Rus', a girl from the age of 13 could become a godmother, and a boy who was 15 years old could become a godfather.

Also in Rus' there was a tradition according to which the boy had only a godfather, and if a girl was baptized, then she had only a godmother. Now, as a rule, the baby has both godparents.

Godparents play a huge role in a child's life. They are working on his spiritual upbringing, on introducing him to the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church. Therefore, they must be, first of all, Orthodox people. With their lives they should set an example for their growing spiritual children. It is wonderful when a godson can attend church with his godparents and partake of other sacraments of the church.

It is important to establish a friendly trusting relationship with your godson so that the godson can turn to his godparents for advice and support at any time.

1. 2. Guardian Angel

During the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism, the child has a guardian angel, who throughout the life of the child protects him from troubles and misfortunes. It is very important from an early age to teach a baby to read prayers not only to Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, but also to the Guardian Angel, who constantly, day and night, stands guard and protects us from evil. The child should be taught the simplest prayer: "Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me."

1. 3. Christening clothes

During the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism, the soul of the child is transformed, it is born into Eternal life. And the symbol of this transformation is snow-white christening set for a boy or a girl, it includes, as a rule, a baptismal shirt or dress, a cap, booties, as well as a special diaper - kryzhma.

The snow-white outfit of the child testifies to his purity of soul, that all his sins have been cleansed. According to the ancient Russian Orthodox tradition, a baptismal shirt can be inherited, from one child to another. But kryzhma should be kept until the end of his days. In the old days, when ailments and illnesses attacked a person, he covered himself with a roof, and all diseases receded.

1. 4. The role of parents at Baptism

In ancient times, the parents of a child could not be at the church during the Sacrament of Baptism. The mother after childbirth was considered “unclean” for forty days and could not be present in the Church, and this “uncleanness” in a sense was transferred to the father. And the parents gave their child to the godparents, while they themselves stayed at home and prepared the festive table. In many families, this tradition has been preserved to this day. After the godparents returned, they again handed over the child to the parents, and called them his new name given at baptism.

1. 5. Guests

Our ancestors believed that the less people know about the Sacrament of Baptism, the better. As a rule, the composition of the guests, in addition to parents and godparents, included a midwife who took birth from her mother and 4-5 more closest relatives. No magnificent feasts were arranged, the event was celebrated in the closest family circle. In many places of the Russian land, there was even such a custom that after the Sacrament of Baptism, the child was passed by the parent through the window in order to deceive evil spirits. At the same time, the new name of the baby was called to the parents, and evil spirits should not have recognized him. main decoration holiday table was christening porridge. And there were two porridges. They were prepared from buckwheat or wheat groats. One porridge "with fun" was prepared for the father, it contained a lot of seasonings, from such porridge - literally the eyes climbed onto the forehead. This was done so that the father, at least to some extent, could feel all the pain of the mother while she was giving birth. The same porridge that all the guests ate was cooked with honey, boiled, and served in a fur hat, which symbolized the wealth that awaits the baby in the future.

After the festive table, guests traditionally received gifts from their parents, and the daughter-in-law also gave gifts to the mother-in-law, who, in turn, gave gifts to the mother and baby.

1. 6. Gifts from godparents

According to tradition, the godmother cooked for Epiphany, often sewed on her own, christening set for boy or for a girl. These outfits did not have a fundamental difference, only a baptismal dress was sewn for a girl, and a baptismal shirt for a boy.

The godfather paid for the Sacrament of Baptism itself, and also bought a cross.

Wealthy godparents from about the 12th century. gave their godchildren sets of 12 "apostolic" gold or silver spoons. On such spoons were engraved images of the apostles. Poorer people also tried to give at least one silver spoon, which also promised wealth to the child in the future.

Currently, the choice of gifts is huge. But still, first of all, the gift should have a spiritual meaning for the child. This may be a children's prayer book, or a Children's Bible, an icon from the image of a saint - the patron saint of a baby. A good gift would be a measured icon, which is made in the growth of a child. Such a gift in early childhood will teach the baby to the idea that he has a spiritual patron, his protector, to whom he can turn with his troubles and sorrows.

1. 7. Behavior in the Church

It is very important before the beginning of the Sacrament of Baptism to attend the conversations that the priest holds in the church. In conversations, he talks about the significance of Baptism in the life of an infant, about why it is performed, about the role of parents and godparents in the Sacrament performed.

Many are required to confess before participating in the Sacrament of Baptism. It is important to remember that you need to come to church in proper clothes - for a woman a skirt and a scarf, there should not be any defiant colors in clothes. Bright paint on the face, bright fashionable nail polish and an abundance of jewelry are also not welcome.

Godparents and all other male guests should also be dressed festively, but in soothing colors, they enter the church without a headdress.

Be sure to have with you the consecrated crosses for baptism, which must be worn by the person.

During the Sacrament, the godparents hold the baby in their arms, and on his behalf they read all the proper prayers and renounce Satan.

According to tradition, if a girl is baptized, the godmother holds her, if a boy is baptized, the godfather.

Also, one should not forget about the baptismal candles that the godparents keep lit during the Sacrament of Baptism.

Well, everything is behind us - and the godparents, led by a new member of the Orthodox Church, rush home, where the baby's parents and the festive table are waiting for them.

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…” (John 3:5).
The sacraments of the Church are a Divine institution, and the Lord Himself performs them. A sacrament is such a sacred act in which visible signs and symbols secretly (in an incomprehensible way) give a person the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God.

The very word "sacrament" indicates that it is not subject to examination by the mind, but is accepted by the believing heart.

The Sacrament of Baptism serves as the door to the Church of Christ: only a person who has received Baptism can become a member of the Church, and therefore this Sacrament is also called "spiritual birth." For an unbaptized person, the gates of paradise are closed. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said to His disciples: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3.5) - And before ascending to heaven he blessed them, - So, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit ... ”(Mt 28, 19).

The Sacrament of Baptism consists of the consecration of water and oil, the anointing with consecrated oil, and the subsequent, most important sacrament, the threefold immersion of the person being baptized in water with the words: “The servant of God (his name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". Since ancient times, water has been a symbol of purification, and immersion in it is a symbol of repentance. The consecrated oil, which during the Sacrament is first anointed with water, and then baptized, is a symbol of healing and health, reconciliation and peace. Candles depict the light of the right faith; censer - the fragrance of the Holy Spirit. The white clothes of the newly baptized - the new life or soul of a Christian freed from the power of sin and Satan, which he must keep unspotted; and, finally, the pectoral cross - the cross following of Christ and a sign of faith in His victory.

Requirements for participants in the Sacrament of Infant Baptism.

Infants cannot consciously begin the Sacrament of Baptism, therefore the baptism of children is performed according to the faith of parents and godparents, who become full participants in this Sacrament along with babies.

Only baptized people of the Orthodox faith who have not fallen away from church communion are allowed to the Sacraments of the Church. Falling away from the Church occurs not only as a result of the commission of grave (mortal) sins, but also in cases where people have not approached the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Repentance for a sufficiently long time. Did not Communion - in fact, did not want to have parts with God. “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:53-54). Therefore, before participating in the Sacrament of Baptism, such people who have fallen away from church communion must be reunited with the Church through repentance. In the Sacrament of Confession, a person receives forgiveness for his sins and is reunited with the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It should be noted here that Repentance implies not only a listing of the sins committed, but also a firm decision to change one's life. In Greek, repentance sounds like "metanoia", which literally translates as "change of mind." A change of mind is an awareness of the opposite of your current state and a desire to be reborn, a desire to change for the better, which excludes a formal relationship to this Sacrament.

These preparatory requirements apply not only to the child's natural parents (in extreme cases, to one of them), but also to the godparents. In addition, those approaching the Sacraments of the Church, of course, must know the basics of the Orthodox faith: what he believes in and in whom he trusts. Therefore, at a minimum, it is necessary to understand well the interpretation of the Creed and read at least one Gospel (for example, from Mark).

Baptism of infants without the preparation of parents is permissible only "for fear of death", i.e. in case of a threat to the life of the child (serious illness, urgent complex operation).

If you live a full-fledged church life and entered the Sacrament of Holy Communion no later than a year ago, then immediately before the baptism of an infant, it is not necessary to confess and receive communion.

The rite preceding baptism is the reading of a cleansing prayer over mothers.

During the first forty days after the birth of a child, the mother “according to the ordinary law of natural purification”, which is for her like a seal of the original curse on a woman, is forbidden to enter the temple. On the fortieth day, the mother stands at the entrance to the temple, holding the baby in her arms, ready to bring him and her motherhood to God. In her prayers, the Church unites two motherhoods: the human motherhood and the motherhood of the Most Pure Virgin, who gave birth to the true Lawgiver. Prayer fills human motherhood with unique joy and fullness of the Divine Motherhood of Mary. The Child, whom She carried and with whom, as a Mother, she was completely united, filled Her with grace. Now this grace fills the Church, and every mother who brings her child to God receives it.

What happens during a baptism?

The word "baptism" means "immersion". The main action of baptism is the threefold immersion of the person being baptized in water, which symbolizes the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb, after which the Resurrection took place.

Everyone who is baptized follows the path of Christ. Just as Christ died on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins, in the sacrament of baptism we die to a sinful life and to do the will of Satan, so that we can then be resurrected to life with God. Our whole being is thus renewed to its very foundations. We are left with all our sins, in which we sincerely repented.

If a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose duties include the Christian upbringing of their godchildren. For them, they will give a strict answer at the Judgment of God. The one who agreed to become a godfather must realize that he takes on a huge responsibility for the child, and if he is negligent in fulfilling his duties, he will be severely punished.

In order to give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life, pray for their godson.

Godparents are godparents.

The custom of having godparents at Baptism goes back to ancient Apostolic Tradition. The Greek word "anadechomenos" (successor) also has the meaning "guarantor for the debtor." St. John Chrysostom, in one of his catechumens, explains the role of godparents as follows: “If you wish, let us turn a word to your godparents, so that they can see what reward they will receive if they show great zeal for you, and, on the contrary, what condemnation will follow them.” if they become careless. Think, beloved, of those who have accepted the surety of money, that they are in greater danger than the debtor who has taken the money. For if the debtor appears prudent, then the surety will lighten the burden; if he becomes unreasonable, then he will be in great danger. Therefore, a certain sage instructs, saying: “If you guarantee, take care, as one who is obliged to pay” (Sir. 8, 16). If those who have taken the guarantee of money consider themselves responsible, then how much more should those who are involved in the spiritual, those who have taken the guarantee of virtue, show great concern, convincing, advising, correcting, showing fatherly love. And let them not think that what is happening does not matter to them, but let them know for sure that they too will become partners in glory if by their instructions they lead those who are being taught to the path of virtue; but if they fall into idleness, there will be much condemnation for them. For this is why it is customary to call them spiritual fathers, so that they learn by their own deeds what kind of love they should show in spiritual instruction. And if it is commendable to bring to zeal for virtue those who are by no means relatives, then how much more should we fulfill the prescribed in relation to the one whom we accept as a spiritual child. Now you, godparents, have also learned that you are in great danger if you fall into carelessness.

Parents need to remember that in deciding to baptize a child, they must attach a conscious promise to God to raise him according to the rules of the Orthodox Church. But, in addition to their obligation, the obligation of godparents is also required. It is expressed in the baptismal vow of the godparents for the baby before God and the Church: "I deny Satan, unite myself with Christ." Therefore, when baptizing an infant, special attention should be paid to the godparents and their faith.

In general, only one recipient is considered necessary: ​​a man for a male person to be baptized, or a woman for a female person. But, according to tradition, there are two recipients: a man and a woman.

During the baptism of infants, the recipients hold their godchildren in their arms throughout the Sacrament. It is preferable that the godfather holds the boy and the godmother holds the girl, but if this is difficult, then you can keep it in turn. After three times the baby is immersed in the font, he is transferred to the hands of the godfather or godmother (depending on the gender of the baptized). It is precisely because, after immersion in the font, the godfather (s) takes the baby from the hands of the priest, and the Slavic name of the recipient has gone. Thus, he takes upon himself the obligation to educate the child in the Orthodox spirit for the rest of his life, and the answer for this upbringing will be given to the Last Judgment. Godparents try to teach their godchildren faith and piety, introduce them to the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church and pray for them until the end of their days.

Often people are not serious about choosing godparents for their child. The vast majority of godparents do not meet the minimum requirements of the Church: they do not know a single prayer, they have not read the Gospel, they do not know how to cross themselves correctly, they do not wear a cross. Such a recipient will become only a formal godfather for the child, although the Church places great responsibility on him for the spiritual upbringing of the newly baptized.

It is absolutely unacceptable that people who have fallen away from the Church as a result of grave (mortal) sins become godparents. Before participating in the Sacraments of the Church, such people must be reunited with the Church through repentance in the Sacrament of Confession.

This applies not only to godparents, but also to parents. For those who are not churched, confession is obligatory!

You need to understand that parents should choose godparents depending on the spiritual qualities that they want to see in their child in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to ask to become godparents precisely those people who meet these qualities. Parents also need to remember that by offering other people to be godparents, they impose on them a great responsibility regarding the upbringing of the child in the Orthodox faith.

Therefore, before inviting someone to become the godparents of your child, you need to determine for yourself whether this person will be able to bear such responsibility, whether it will not be an extra sin, for which you will have to answer at the Last Judgment.

Despite the fact that the godparents are responsible before God for the upbringing of their godchildren, parents bear full responsibility for the spiritual, mental and physical development of their children, and the godparents are only assistants in this.

Subsequently, upon reaching the child of conscious age, the recipient must explain to him the basics of the Orthodox faith, lead him to Communion and take care of his moral and spiritual condition. This once again shows that it is necessary to choose godparents from people who are baptized and Orthodox believers, who are familiar with the content of Holy Scripture, who live the Church life in its Sacraments.

It is desirable that some time before the baptism of the child, the godparents confess and take communion.

It is desirable that children be removed from participation in the Sacrament of Baptism as godparents, since they themselves still know too little and cannot be true educators of their godson. Monks and nuns are not allowed to receive children, nor can parents be parents of their own children.

In spiritual kinship, marriage is prohibited between the recipients and those who were received in the Sacrament of Baptism, as well as with the parents of those who were accepted. That is, the godfather and godmother cannot marry either godchildren or goddaughters, or their blood relatives fathers and mothers. The recipient and the recipient (godfather and mother of the same person being baptized) may be married to each other.

The rank of announcement.

The performance of baptism is preceded by the rite of pronouncement, during which the priest reads prohibition prayers directed against Satan.

The priest blows crosswise on the person being baptized three times, saying the words: “cast out from him (or from her) every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart ...”. They are a reminder that "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2.7). Then he blesses three times and, laying his hand on the head of the baptized, reads a prayer. The hand of the clergyman is the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, which is a gesture of protection and blessing, for in the future this person will face a mortal battle with the forces of darkness.

Three prohibitions against unclean spirits.

The Church tells us about the rebellion against God in the spiritual world created by Him of a part of the angels, possessed by pride. And the source of evil lies not in their ignorance and imperfection, but, on the contrary, in those knowledge and perfection that led them to the temptation of pride and falling away. Satan belonged to the very first and the best creatures God. He was perfect, wise, and strong enough to know the Lord and disobey Him, to rebel against Him, to desire "freedom" from Him. But since such “freedom” (i.e., arbitrariness) is impossible in the Kingdom of Divine Harmony, which exists only with voluntary consent to the Will of God, Satan and his angels are expelled by God from this Kingdom.

That is why, at baptism, the prohibition of “Satan and all his Aggels” is first performed. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says in the catechetical teaching: “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: first, it cuts off and drives the devil and all his actions with Divine names and sacraments that are terrible for him, driving out the devil, commands his demons to flee from a person and not create misfortunes for him. Similarly, the second prohibition casts out demons with the Divine Name. The third prohibition is together with a prayer offered to God, imploring to completely expel the evil spirit from the creation of God and confirm him in the faith.

Renunciation of Satan.

The person being baptized (or godparents, if an infant is being baptized) renounces Satan, i.e., renounces sinful habits and lifestyle, renounces pride and self-affirmation, realizing that an unbaptized person is always a prisoner of passions, Satan.

Confession of fidelity to Christ.

However, man himself can never wage war with the devil without an alliance with Christ. Therefore, after the declaration of war on Satan, in the rank of announcement, a combination with Christ follows.

The child becomes a member of Christ's host. His weapons will be fasting, prayer, participation in church sacraments. He has to fight with his sinful passions - the evil that lies in his heart.

The baptized confesses the faith, reads the Creed. If an infant is baptized, then the recipient must read the Symbol of Faith for him.

SYMBOL OF FAITH

1. I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was.
3. For us, man, and for our salvation, who descended from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human.
4. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.
5. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures.
6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7. And the packs of the coming with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
12. And the life of the future age. Amen.

The creed contains all the basic Christian truths. In ancient times, a person had to study them before baptism. And now this is a necessary condition for baptism. If a person does not agree even in the slightest with the Creed, i.e. does not have the proper faith, then he cannot personally proceed to the Sacrament of Baptism and even baptize his own children. What will he teach them? The responsibility for teaching the truths of faith to infants rests with their godparents and, if they forget this, they commit a grave sin. A detailed interpretation of the Creed can be found in any book of the Law of God.

Since apostolic times, Christians have used "creeds" to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. There were several short creeds in the ancient Church. In the 4th century, when false teachings about God the Son and the Holy Spirit appeared, it became necessary to supplement and clarify the old symbols. Thus arose the Creed now used by the Orthodox Church. It was compiled by the Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils. I Ecumenical Council adopted seven members of the Creed, II - the remaining five. The First Ecumenical Council was held in 325 A.D. in Nicaea to affirm the true teaching about the Son of God against the false teaching of Arius that the Son of God was created by God the Father. II Ecumenical Council - in Constantinople in 381 to affirm the true teaching about the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedonia, which rejected the divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. When studying, the Symbol is divided into 12 members. The first one speaks of God the Father, then up to the seventh inclusive - about God the Son, in the eighth - about God the Holy Spirit, in the ninth - about the Church, in the tenth - about baptism, in the eleventh - about the resurrection of the dead, in the twelfth - about eternal life.

Mystery of Baptism.

Consecration of water.

At the beginning of the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest performs incense around the font and reads prayers for the blessing of water, then blesses the water in which the person being baptized will have to wash their sins. He overshadows her three times with the sign of the cross, blows on her, saying a prayer: “Let all the opposite forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your Cross.”

The consecration of water for Baptism is one of the most important parts of the service, which has the deepest connection with the sacrament itself.

In prayers and actions during the consecration of water for Baptism, all aspects of the sacrament are revealed, its connection with the world and matter, with life in all its manifestations is shown. Water is the oldest religious symbol. From a Christian point of view, three main aspects of this symbolism seem important. First, water is the primary cosmic element. At the beginning of creation, "the Spirit of God hovered over the waters" (Genesis 1:2). At the same time, it is a symbol of destruction and death. The basis of life, life-giving force and, on the other hand, the basis of death, destructive force - such is the dual image of water in Christian theology. And finally, water is a symbol of purification, rebirth and renewal. This symbolism permeates the entire scripture, is included in the story of creation, the fall and salvation. Saint John the Forerunner called the people to repentance and cleansing from sins in the waters of the Jordan, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, having received Baptism from him, sanctified the water element.

The consecration of the oil.

After the consecration of the water, the priest reads a prayer for the consecration of the oil (oil) and the water will be anointed with it. Then the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: face, chest, arms and legs. AT ancient world oil was used primarily as a remedy. Oil, symbolizing healing, light and joy, was a sign of reconciliation between God and man. The dove, released by Noah from the ark, returned and brought him an olive branch, “and Noah knew that the water had gone down from the earth” (Genesis 8:11). So, in anointing the water and the body of the baptized with oil, the oil signifies the fullness of life and the joy of reconciliation with God, since “in Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5).

Baptism renews and restores the whole person in its original integrity, reconciles soul and body. The oil of joy is anointed on the water and the human body for reconciliation with God and in God with the world.

Dive into the pool.

Immediately after the anointing comes the most main point baptism - immersion in the font.

The priest immerses the person being baptized three times in water with the words: The servant of God (the name is called) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen (the first immersion). And the Son, amen (second immersion). And the Holy Spirit, amen (third dive). Immediately after immersion, a cross is laid on the newly baptized - a sign of his acceptance of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, faith that Christ truly died and truly rose from the dead, so that in Him we can die for sin in relation to our mortal life and become partakers - here and now, eternal life.

Vestment of the newly baptized.

Putting on a “light robe” after Baptism marks, first of all, the return of a person to the integrity and innocence that he possessed in paradise, the restoration of his true nature, distorted by sin. Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, compares these clothes with the shining robes of Christ, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor. The transfigured Christ revealed Himself to the disciples not in a naked form, but in clothes “white as light”, in the uncreated radiance of Divine glory. In the sacrament of Baptism, a person regains his original garment of glory, the believing soul is clearly and really revealed to the basic truth of Christianity: having received Baptism, “you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3-4). The deepest mystery is being accomplished: the unity of the human and the Divine in "renewed life." The grace given to a person in Baptism, as in the other sacraments, is the fruit of the sacrificial death of Christ and His Resurrection. She informs a person of the will to salvation and the strength to go through life, carrying his cross. And therefore Baptism can and must be defined not figuratively, not symbolically, but in essence as death and resurrection.

In the Christian understanding, death is, first of all, a spiritual phenomenon. One can be dead while still living on earth, and be innocent of death while lying in the grave. Death is the remoteness of a person from life, that is, from God. The Lord is the only Giver of life and Life Itself. Death is opposed not to immortality, but to true Life, which was “the light of men” (John 1:4).

Life without God is spiritual death, which turns human life into loneliness and suffering, fills it with fear and self-deception, turns a person into slavery to sin and malice, emptiness.

We are not saved because we believe in the supernatural power and power of the Lord, because this is not the kind of faith He wants from us. To believe in Christ means not only to acknowledge Him, not only to receive from Him, but, above all, to work for His glory. One cannot expect help from Him without fulfilling His commandments and, above all, the commandments of love; one cannot call Him Lord and bow before Him without doing the will of His Father.

Immersion in water means that the person being baptized dies for a life of sin and is buried with Christ in order to live with Him and in Him (Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:12-13). This is the most important thing in the sacrament of Baptism. Only by the grace of God do we know that “this water is truly for us both a tomb and a mother…” (St. Gregory of Nyssa).

Mystery of Chrismation.

After immersion in the font and dressing in white clothes, the priest will anoint the newly enlightened with the holy Myrrh: imprinting "the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Through chrismation, the Holy Spirit descends on each of us, filling us with the power of God, just as once on the day of Pentecost he descended on the disciples of Christ.

Holy chrism is oil prepared in a special way, which is consecrated once a year by the patriarch and then sent to all dioceses, where the bishops distribute it to the abbots.

A priest anoints an already baptized person with holy chrism. His forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs are anointed.

Different parts of the body are anointed with Holy Myrrh in order to sanctify the whole person through anointing: both his body and his soul. The forehead is anointed to remove the shame that covered it due to the crime of Adam, and to sanctify our thoughts. Eyes are anointed so that we do not grope in the dark along the path of vice, but that we walk along the path of salvation under the guidance of the grace-filled light; ears - so that our ear becomes sensitive to hearing the word of God; mouth - so that they become capable of broadcasting Divine truth. Hands are anointed for sanctification for pious work, for deeds pleasing to God; feet - for our walking in the footsteps of the commandments of the Lord; and chest - so that we, clothed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, overcome every enemy force and be able to do everything in Jesus Christ strengthening us (Philippians 4:13). In a word, our thoughts, desires, our heart and our whole body are sanctified to make them fit for the new Christian life. The anointing with Myrrh is a visible sign, a seal that the newly baptized is granted the Holy Spirit by God. From the moment this sacred seal is placed on us, the Holy Spirit enters into betrothal, into a close living relationship with our soul. From that very moment we become Christians.

Each time the priest repeats the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and the receiver, at the end of the anointing, answers: “Amen,” which means “Truly, truly.”

Chrismation- a new independent sacrament, although it is associated with Baptism and is performed, according to the rules of the Orthodox Church, immediately after three immersion in the font.

Acquiring a new son through Baptism, our caring mother - the Holy Church - without any delay begins to apply her care to him. Just as in bodily life, to strengthen the strength of an infant, air and food are needed, so for a person born spiritually through Baptism, special, spiritual food is needed. Such food is taught by the holy Church in the sacrament of Chrismation, through which the Holy Spirit descends upon our soul. It is like the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, which was at the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reading of the Holy Scripture and procession around the font. After the Sacrament of Confirmation there is a threefold procession around the font.

The solemn circumambulation of the font with the singing of “Be baptized into Christ…” is, first of all, an expression of the Church’s joy at the birth of its new member by the Spirit of God. On the other hand, since the circle is a sign of eternity, this procession shows that the newly enlightened one expresses a desire to serve God forever, to be a lamp that is placed not under a bushel, but on a candlestick (Luke 8:16), let it shine on all people with its good deeds and asks the Lord to grant him eternal bliss. Immediately after the procession around the font there is a reading of the Apostle and the Gospel. During the reading, the godparents stand with lighted candles.

The final rites of Baptism.

The final rites of the rites of Baptism and Confirmation - the washing away of the Holy Myrrh and the cutting of the hair - are performed immediately after the reading of the Gospel.

The first rite is the washing away from the body of the newly baptized holy Myrrh. Now external, visible signs and symbols can be eliminated, because from now on only the internal assimilation of the gift of grace, faith and fidelity by a person will support him and give him strength. The Christian must bear the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit in his heart.

Hair cutting, which is performed immediately after washing off the body of the newly baptized Holy Myrrh, has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the rite of initiation of readers. In a fallen world, the path to the restoration of Divine beauty, darkened, humiliated, distorted, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with bringing to Him with joy and gratitude that which in this world has become a symbol of beauty - hair. The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly at the Baptism of infants. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore several hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) [name] is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Conclusion.

Holy Baptism is the spiritual birth of a person, i.e. the beginning of his spiritual life, and in early years it depends on the parents and godparents what will be the continuation. Try to ensure that your child's communion with God continues, first of all, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, in which a person is truly united with God.

A child can be given communion at any Orthodox church. An infant (up to 7 years old) does not need confession before Communion, and it is not necessary to be in the church for the entire service. He can be brought / brought after the start of the service, depending on his spiritual age. Very young children can be communed after feeding (but not immediately after; children in the church should not be allowed to gnaw bagels, crackers, etc. before communion). When feeding, meat food should be excluded. As soon as possible, try to start taking communion on an empty stomach, accustoming them to the habits of fasting, i.e. after midnight on the day of the sacrament, the child should not be given food or drink. After 4 years, communion can only be done on an empty stomach.

From an early age, try to instill in children the skills of communion with God, knowledge of faith and the Church through reading prayers, Holy Scripture for children (Bible, Holy Gospel), reading the lives of the saints, the law of God and other spiritual literature. Teach children to see the presence of God in all manifestations of the world around us.

Reminder to parents.

For the Baptism of a child, you must purchase:

A consecrated cross on a ribbon (if the cross was bought in a jewelry store, then it must be consecrated);
- baptismal shirt;
- diaper and towel;

At the Baptism of children, the boy needs a godfather, the girl needs a godmother, you can invite both. Godparents must be over 16 years of age.

Aggel is a fallen angel.
Rejects - church, reject, dismiss, repel.