home Thyroid Baptism of a child is a sacrament. Child baptism: rules, tips and practical issues

Baptism of a child is a sacrament. Child baptism: rules, tips and practical issues

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

Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to 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 his forefathers, communicated to him through birth. The sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once (just as a person is born only once).

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

The baptismal kit for your baby should be the one that is recommended to you in the church where you will be baptizing him. They can easily tell you what you need. Mainly it is a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.

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

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins Baptism. The most noticeable and important moment is the three-time immersion of the baby in the font with the words pronounced: “The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized 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, prepares to receive his godfather from the font. The one who has received Baptism then dresses in new white clothes and puts a cross on him.

Immediately after this another Sacrament is performed - Confirmation, in which the person being baptized, when the parts of the body are anointed with the consecrated Myrrh, in the name of the Holy Spirit, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life. After this, the priest and godparents with the newly baptized person walk 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 letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the sending of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ to the worldwide preaching of the faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, the priest washes the myrrh from the body of the baptized person with a special sponge dipped in holy water, saying the words: “Thou art justified. You have become enlightened. You are sanctified. You have washed yourself in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. You have become enlightened. You have been anointed with chrism. You have been sanctified in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized in a cross shape (on four sides) with the words: “The servant of God (name) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” puts the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. tonsure symbolizes submission to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized person brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After making petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism ends.

This is usually immediately followed by churching, denoting the first offering to the temple. The baby, taken by the priest in his arms, is carried through the temple, brought to the Royal Doors and brought into the altar (boys only), 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 baby should be given communion.

Why are only boys brought into the altar?

In principle, boys should not be included there either, this is just a tradition.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council determined: Let no one belonging to the ranks of the laity be allowed to enter the sacred altar... (rule 69). The famous canonist Bishop. gives the following comment to this resolution: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from the earliest times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. “The altar is reserved for sacred persons only.”

They say that before baptizing your child, you should confess and receive communion.

Even without regard to the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly begin the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have not done this before, then it would be good to take the first step towards a full church life before the Baptism of your own baby.

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

What is the Orthodox name for a baby?

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

There is no unambiguous church tradition for choosing names - often parents choose a name for the baby from the list of those saints who are glorified on the very day of the child’s birth, or on the eighth day, when the rite of naming is performed, or during the period of forty days (when the Sacrament of Baptism is usually performed). It is wise to choose a name from the church calendar list of names that are fairly close to the child's birthday. But, however, this is not some kind of obligatory church institution, and if there is some deep desire to name a 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 familiarize yourself 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 he is, where and when he lived, what was his way of life, on what days is his memory celebrated?
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Why do some churches close the church during the sacrament of Baptism (without 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 the one being baptized if strangers look at him, who is sufficiently exposed physically, and observe the greatest sacrament with the curious gaze of those who have no prayerful relationship with it. It seems that a prudent Orthodox person will not simply go as a spectator to someone else’s Baptism if he was not invited there. And if he lacks tact, then the church ministers act prudently by removing the curious from the church while the sacrament of Baptism is being performed.

What should come first - faith or Baptism? Can you be baptized to believe?

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

On the other hand, deep faith is what a baptized and churched person should strive for throughout his life. All people are sinners, and one must strive to acquire faith in such a way that it is combined with deeds. Faith, among other things, is an effort of 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.

It will be easier to strengthen your faith if you live the church life and not look at it from the outside.

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

A person is saved not on his own, not as an individual who unilaterally decides how to 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 to be 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 better to baptize a child?

A person can be baptized at any time from his first breath to his very last breath. In ancient times, there was a custom to baptize a child on the eighth day of birth, but this was not a mandatory rule.
It is most convenient to baptize a child during the first months of birth. At this time, the baby still does not distinguish his mother from the “strange 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 scary for him.
Older children already perceive reality quite consciously, they see that they are surrounded by people unfamiliar to them, and that their mother is either not there at all or for some reason she does not come to them, and may experience anxiety about this.

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

Baptism is the only Sacrament of the Church that, in case of emergency, can be performed by a layman. During the years of persecution, cases of such baptism were not uncommon - there were few churches and priests.
In addition, in earlier times, midwives sometimes baptized newborn babies if their lives were in danger: for example, if the child received a birth injury. This baptism is usually called "immersion." If a child died after such baptism, he was buried as a Christian; if he survived, he was brought to the temple and the priest supplemented the baptism performed by the layman with the necessary prayers and sacred rites.
Thus, in any case, a person baptized by a layman must “complete” his baptism in the temple. However, in earlier times, midwives were specially trained in how to perform baptism correctly; 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 a doubt about whether they were baptized or not.

Can parents attend Baptism?

They may well not just be present, but pray together 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 finding out about the procedure for performing Baptism in the church in which you want to baptize your child.

What does an adult 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, the one who comes to the baptismal font needs to decide for himself very important questions: does he need it and is he ready for it? Baptism is inappropriate if a person uses it to seek 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 Sacrament has been performed, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: regularly go to church, learn about divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will have no meaning.
It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at a minimum, carefully read these public conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.
It would be simply wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do very correctly by confessing the catechumens before Baptism.

Is it possible to baptize during Lent?

Yes, you can. Moreover, in earlier times, fasts served as preparation not only for a specific holiday, but also for joining new members, i.e. to the Baptism of the Catechumens. Thus, in the ancient Church people were baptized mainly on the eve of major Church holidays, including during Lent. 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 Baptism to a person?

A priest not only can, but must refuse Baptism to a person if he does not believe in God as the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.
Among the reasons for refusal of Baptism may be a person’s unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards Baptism. The magical attitude towards Baptism is the desire to use it to protect yourself from the forces of evil, to get rid of “damage” or the “evil eye”, and to receive all kinds of spiritual or material “bonuses”.
People who are drunk or leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until they repent and reform.

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

This situation occurs quite often. There is no need to baptize a person a second time - you can only baptize once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and giving him communion with a new name.

How many times can you be baptized?

Definitely - once. Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person can only be born once. The Orthodox Creed says: “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.” Secondary baptism is unacceptable.

What to do if you don’t know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to ask?

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. The priest will perform Baptism according to a special rite for such cases.

About godparents (successors)

What responsibilities do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?

Godparents have three main responsibilities towards their godchildren:
1. Prayer room. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godson, and also, as he grows up, to teach prayer so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrinal. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Moral. Using your own example, show your godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a truly good Christian.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Godparents are guarantors for their godson. They are entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the spiritual and moral education of their godson. His 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.
First, listen to public conversations in the temple or on.
Then read either the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Choose for yourself - the first is shorter, the second is clearer. You can also find them in; more precisely, in the New Testament.
Read the text carefully - during Baptism, one of the godparents reads it by heart or from sight. It would also be good if by the time of Baptism you knew it by heart.
After Baptism, deepen and expand your knowledge of Biblical 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 for godparents is godparents. They received this name because they “received” the person being baptized from the font; at the same time, the Church, as it were, delegates to them part of its care for the new Christian and teaching him Christian life and morality, therefore, not only is the presence of godparents required during Baptism and their active participation, 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 baby receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become recipients of Baptism.
In addition, godparents take on the responsibility of raising their 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 live this way themselves.
The question arises: can representatives of other Christian denominations, for example Catholics or Lutherans, then become godparents? The answer is negative - they cannot for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients of Baptism.

What things should you bring with you to Baptism and which godparent should do it?

For Baptism you will need a baptismal set. As a rule, this is a pectoral cross with a chain or ribbon, several candles, and a baptismal shirt. The cross can also be purchased in regular stores, but then you should ask a priest to consecrate it.
You will need a towel or diaper to wrap and dry your baby after the bath.
According to an unwritten tradition, the godfather acquires a cross for a boy, and the 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, they are the same gender as the child, that is, for a boy - godfather, and for a girl - godmother.
The possibility of having both a godfather and a godmother for a child is a pious custom.
It is not customary to have more than two receivers.

How to choose godparents for a child?

The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person will subsequently be able to help in the Christian education of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and simply the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing.
In former times, concern for expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite close relatives as godparents. It was believed that they, due to natural kinship, would help the child. For this reason, natural grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became recipients. However, this is not prohibited, and is now becoming more and more common.

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?

Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to adoption. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she can do so.

Who can't be a godfather?

Minors; Gentiles; mentally ill; completely ignorant of the faith; persons in a state of intoxication; A married couple cannot be godparents for the same child.

What should godparents give to their godson?

This question lies in the area of human customs and does not concern spiritual life, regulated by Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter for the godparents. You don't have to give anything at all.
However, it seems that the gift, if it does take place, should be useful and remind of Baptism. This could be the Bible or the New Testament, a cross or an icon of the saint after whom 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 literal sense of the word - it is impossible. Only the one who received the child from the font will be the godfather. However, in a sense, this can be done.
Let's draw a parallel with an ordinary birth: let's say a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, abandon him, do not fulfill their parental responsibilities and do not care for him. In this case, someone can adopt the child and raise him as his own. This person will become, although adopted, a parent in the true sense of the word.
The same is true in spiritual birth. If the 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 full care of the child. And you can also call him “godfather”.
In this case, the child cannot be baptized a second time.

Can a young man become godfather to his bride?

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

How many times can a person become a godfather?

As many as he deems possible.
Being a godparent is a lot of responsibility. Some may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, some five or six, and some perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for themselves.

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

Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to bear responsibility for the child, then it will be more honest to the parents and to the child and to himself to say so directly than to formally become a godfather and not fulfill his duties.

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

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

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

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

It is believed that wearing a pectoral cross protects a person from the forces of evil, and also strengthens his spirit and directs him to the true path. The appearance or cost of the material of the cross does not matter at all - as long as the cross is Orthodox and not pagan

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

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

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

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

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

Recommendations for preparing for the baptism ceremony of a small child

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

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

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

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

Who to choose as godparents?

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

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

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

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

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

Who can't become a godfather?

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

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

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

Memo for godparents

Nuances of christening

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

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

Features of christenings for boys and girls

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

“...Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God...” (John 3:5).
“...He who has faith and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not have faith will be condemned...” (Mark 16:16)

The Church Sacraments are a Divine institution, and the Lord Himself performs them. A sacrament is a sacred action in which the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God, is secretly (incomprehensibly) given to a person through visible signs and symbols.

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

The door to the Church of Christ is the Sacrament of Baptism: 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 heaven are closed. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself told 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, - Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...” (Matthew 28:19).

The sacrament of Baptism consists of the consecration of water and oil, anointing with consecrated oil and the subsequent, most important sacred rite, three times immersion of the baptized person 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 with the person being baptized, is a symbol of healing and health, reconciliation and peace. The candles represent the light of the right faith; censer - the fragrance of the Holy Spirit. The white robes of the newly baptized person represent the new life or soul of a Christian freed from the power of sin and Satan, which he must keep unsullied; and, finally, the pectoral cross - the crucifixion 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 (godparents), who become full participants in this Sacrament along with infants.

Only baptized people of the Orthodox faith who have not fallen away from church communion are allowed to receive the Sacraments of the Church. Falling away from the Church occurs not only as a result of committing grave (mortal) sins, but also in cases where people have not begun the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Repentance for a long time. Didn’t take Communion - in fact, didn’t want to have a part 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 have no life in you. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on 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. The Greek word for repentance is “metanoia,” which literally translates as “change of mind.” A change of mind is an awareness of the disgust of your current state and a desire to be reborn, a desire to change for the better, which excludes a formal attitude towards this Sacrament.

These preparatory requirements apply not only to the child’s natural parents (at least one of them), but also to godparents. In addition, he who approaches the Sacraments of the Church must undoubtedly know the basics of the Orthodox faith: what he believes in and in Whom he trusts. Therefore, at a minimum, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the interpretation of the Creed and read at least one Gospel (for example, according to Mark).

Baptism of infants without parental preparation is permissible only “out of fear of death,” i.e. in case of a threat to the child’s life (serious illness, urgent complex surgery).

If you live a full church life and began the Sacrament of Holy Communion no later than a year ago, then immediately before the baby’s baptism it is not necessary to confess and receive communion.

The ritual 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 for her is like a seal of the original curse on the woman, is prohibited from entering the temple. On the fortieth day, the mother stands at the entrance to the temple, holding the baby in her arms, ready to offer him and her motherhood to God. In her prayers, the Church unites two motherhoods: human and the motherhood of the Most Pure Virgin, who gave birth to the true Lawgiver. Prayer fills human motherhood with the unique joy and fullness of Mary's Divine Motherhood. The child, whom She carried and with whom, as 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 baptism?

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

Everyone who is baptized repeats 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 the creation of the will of Satan, in order to then be resurrected to life with God. Our entire nature is renewed to its very foundations. All our sins, for which we sincerely repented, are left to us.

If a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose responsibilities include the Christian education of their godchildren. They will give a strict answer for them at the Judgment of God. Anyone who has agreed to become a godfather must realize that he is taking on enormous responsibility for the child, and if he neglects to fulfill his duties, he will be severely punished.

To give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life and pray for their godson.

Godparents - godparents

The custom of having recipients at Baptism dates back to the most ancient Apostolic Tradition. The Greek word anadekhomenos (receiver) also means “guarantor for the debtor.” Saint John Chrysostom, in one of his catechetical conversations, explains the role of recipients as follows: “If you wish, let us turn our word to your recipients, so that they too 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 fall into carelessness. Think, beloved, about those who have accepted a guarantee for money, that they are in greater danger than the debtor who took the money. For if the debtor appears prudent, then the guarantor will lighten the burden; if he becomes unreasonable, then great danger will be in store for him. Therefore, a certain sage instructs, saying: “If you guarantee, take care as if you are obliged to pay” (Sir. 8:16). If those who have accepted the guarantee of money consider themselves responsible, then how much more those who are involved in the spiritual, those who have accepted the guarantee of virtue, must show great care, 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 partakers of glory if with their instructions they lead those being taught to the path of virtue; and 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 through the actions themselves what kind of love they should show in teaching about spiritual things. And if it is commendable to lead those who are not relatives to zeal for virtue, then how much more should we fulfill what is required in relation to the one whom we accept as a spiritual child. Now you, the recipients, have learned that you are in considerable danger if you fall into carelessness.”

Parents need to remember that to the decision 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 commitment, the commitment of the godparents is also required. It is expressed in the baptismal vow of the godparents for the baby before God and the Church: “I renounce Satan, I am united to Christ.” Therefore, when baptizing a baby, 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 established tradition, there are two recipients: a man and a woman.

During infant baptism, the recipients hold their godchildren in their arms throughout the entire Sacrament. It is preferable that the boy be held by the godfather, and the girl by the godmother, but if this is difficult, then you can hold them in turns. After immersing the baby in the font three times, he is passed into the arms of his godfather or godmother (depending on the gender of the person being baptized). It is precisely because, after immersion in the font, the godfather takes the baby from the hands of the priest, that the Slavic name “receiver” came about. Thus, for the rest of his life, he takes upon himself the responsibility to raise the child in the Orthodox spirit, and he will give an answer for this upbringing at 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, have not read the Gospel, do not know how to cross themselves correctly, and 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 education of the newly baptized person.

It is completely unacceptable for people who have fallen away from the Church as a result of committing grave (mortal) sins to become godparents. (The most “ordinary” of them are fornication (carnal intimacy between men and women without legal marriage), adultery (cheating on one’s husband or wife), abortion (killing one’s own children), the responsibility for which is shared by the man. Treason against the Lord is also a grave sin God through turning to other religions, sects, spiritual healers, psychics, sorcerers, fortune tellers, astrologers, etc.). Before participating in the Sacraments of the Church, such people must reunite 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 churchgoers, confession is mandatory!

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

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

While 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 godparents are only assistants in this.

Subsequently, when the child reaches conscious age, the recipient must explain to him the basics of the Orthodox faith, take him to Communion and take care of his moral and spiritual state. This once again shows that you need to choose godparents from people who are baptized and Orthodox believers, who are familiar with the content of the Holy Scriptures, who live the church life in its Sacraments.

It is advisable that some time before the child’s baptism, the godparents confess and receive communion.

It is desirable that children be excluded from participating in the Sacrament of Baptism as recipients, since they themselves still know too little and cannot be the true educators of their godson. Monks and nuns are not allowed to be godparents, and parents cannot be godparents of their own children.

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

Order of announcement

Baptism is preceded by the rite of announcement, during which the priest reads prohibitory prayers directed against Satan.

The priest blows crosswise on the person being baptized three times, saying the words: “drive 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 created man from 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 person being 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 He created on the part of the angels, overwhelmed by pride. And the source of evil lies not in their ignorance and imperfection, but, on the contrary, in that knowledge and perfection that led them to the temptation of pride and falling away. Satan belonged to the very first and best creations of God. He was perfect, wise and strong enough to know the Lord and disobey Him, rebel against Him, desire “freedom” from Him. But since such “freedom” (i.e. arbitrariness) is impossible in the Kingdom of Divine Harmony, which exists only with voluntary agreement with 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 angels” is first performed. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says in a catechetical teaching: “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: first, he casts out and drives away the devil and all his actions with Divine names and sacraments that are terrible for him, casting out the devil, commands his demons to flee from man and not to create misfortunes for him. Similarly, the second prohibition drives out demons by the Divine Name. The third prohibition is also a prayer offered to God, begging to completely expel the evil spirit from God’s creation and establish it in the faith.”

Renunciation of Satan

The baptized person (or godparents, if a baby is baptized) renounces Satan, that is, rejects sinful habits and lifestyle, renounces pride and self-affirmation, realizing that an unbaptized person is always a captive of passions and Satan.

Confession of Fidelity to Christ

However, a person himself will never be able to wage war with the devil without an alliance with Christ. Therefore, after a declaration of war against Satan, the rite of announcement follows a combination with Christ.

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

The person being baptized confesses his faith and reads the Creed. If an infant is baptized, then the Creed must be read by the recipient for him.

SYMBOL OF FAITH

1I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
2And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.
3 For our sake, man and for our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
4 She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
5And he rose again on the third day according to the Scripture.
6And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7And the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
8And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, we are worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
9Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
10I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
11I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
12 and the life of the next century. 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 slightly with the Creed, i.e. does not have the proper faith, then he cannot proceed to the Sacrament of Baptism in person and even baptize his own children. What will he teach them? The responsibility for teaching the truths of the faith to infants lies with their recipients and parents, and if they forget about this, they commit a grave sin. A detailed interpretation of the Creed can be found in any book “The Law of God”.

Since the time of the apostles, Christians have used “articles of faith” to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. The ancient Church had several short creeds. In the 4th century, when false teachings about God the Son and the Holy Spirit appeared, the need arose to supplement and clarify the previous symbols. Thus, the Creed now used by the Orthodox Church arose. It was compiled by the Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils. The First Ecumenical Council adopted seven members of the Creed, the Second - the remaining five. The First Ecumenical Council took place in 325 AD in Nicaea to establish 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. The Second Ecumenical Council - in Constantinople in 381 to establish the true teaching about the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedon, who rejected the Divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. When studying, the Symbol is divided into 12 members. The first talks about God the Father, then through 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.

Sacrament of Baptism

Blessing of water

At the beginning of the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest censes around the font and reads prayers for the consecration of the water, then blesses the water in which the person being baptized will wash his sins. He makes the sign of the cross over her three times, blows on her, saying the prayer: “May all opposing 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 rite, 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. Firstly, water is the primary cosmic element. At the beginning of creation, “the Spirit of God hovered over the waters” (Gen. 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 all of scripture and is included in the narrative of creation, fall and salvation. Saint John the Baptist 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.

Blessing of the oil

After the consecration of the water, the priest reads a prayer for the consecration of the oil (oil) and the water is anointed with it. Then the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: the face, chest, arms and legs. In the ancient world, oil was used primarily as a remedy. Oil, symbolizing healing, light and joy, was a sign of God's reconciliation with man. The dove that Noah released from the ark returned and brought him an olive branch, “and Noah knew that the water had departed from the earth” (Gen. 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 the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

Baptism renews and restores the whole person to his original integrity, reconciling soul and body. The oil of gladness is anointed on the water and body of man for reconciliation with God and in God with the world.

Immersion in the font

Immediately after anointing comes the most important moment of baptism - immersion in the font.

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

Vestment of the newly baptized

Putting on the “robes of light” after Baptism marks, first of all, a person’s return 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 this clothing with the shining vestments of Christ, transfigured on Mount Tabor. The transfigured Christ revealed Himself to the disciples not in the nude, but in clothing “white as light,” in the uncreated radiance of Divine glory. In the sacrament of Baptism, a person regains his original robe of glory, and the fundamental truth of Christianity is clearly and truly revealed to the believing soul: having received Baptism, “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, 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 “new 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 gives a person the will to salvation and the strength to go through life, bearing his cross. And therefore Baptism can and should be defined not figuratively, not symbolically, but essentially as death and resurrection.

In the Christian understanding, death is, first of all, a spiritual phenomenon. You can be dead while still living on earth, and not be involved in death while lying in the grave. Death is the distance of a person from life, that is, from God. The Lord is the only Giver of life and Life Itself. Death is not the opposite of immortality, but of 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 anger, emptiness.

We are saved not because we believe in the supernatural power and might of the Lord, since this is not the kind of faith He wants from us. Believing in Christ means not only recognizing Him, not only receiving from Him, but, above all, working for His glory. You 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 fulfilling the will of His Father.

Immersion in water means that the baptized person dies to 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 both a grave and a mother for us...” (St. Gregory of Nyssa).

Sacrament of Confirmation

After immersion in the font and donning white clothes, the priest anoints the newly enlightened one with the holy Myrrh: he seals it with the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

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

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

The priest anoints an already baptized person with holy oil. His forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs are anointed.

Different parts of the body are anointed with the 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. Our eyes are anointed so that we do not grope in the dark along the path of vice, but so that we walk along the path of salvation under the guidance of the gracious light; ears - so that our ear becomes sensitive to hearing the word of God; lips - 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 the chest - so that we, clothed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, overcome all enemy power and can do everything in Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). In a word, our thoughts, desires, our heart and our whole body are sanctified in order to make them capable of a new Christian life. Anointing with Myrrh is a visible sign, a seal that the newly baptized person is given the Holy Spirit from God. From the moment this sacred seal is placed on us, the Holy Spirit enters into betrothal, into a close living connection 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 at the end of the anointing the recipient replies: “Amen,” which means “Truly, truly.”

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

Having acquired 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 air and food are needed to strengthen the strength of a baby, so those born spiritually through Baptism need special, spiritual food. Such food is taught by the Holy Church in the sacrament of Confirmation, through which the Holy Spirit descends on our soul. It is similar to the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, which happened at the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reading of the Holy Scriptures 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 joy of the Church about 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 person expresses the desire to serve God forever, to be a lamp that is placed not hidden, but on a candlestick (Luke 8:16), so that he may shine on all people with his goodness. 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 lit candles.

Final rites of Baptism

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

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

The cutting of hair, which occurs immediately after washing the newly baptized Holy Myrrh from the body, 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 thanksgiving what has become a symbol of beauty in this world - hair. The meaning of this sacrifice during Infant Baptism is revealed especially vividly and touchingly. 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 tonsured 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 the early years it depends on his parents and godparents what the continuation will be. Try to ensure that your child’s communication with God continues, first of all, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, in which a person truly unites with God.

A child can receive communion in any Orthodox church. An infant (up to 7 years old) does not need to confess before Communion, and does not have to be in 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 given communion after feeding (but not immediately after; children in church should not be allowed to chew bagels, crackers, etc. before communion). When feeding, meat foods should be excluded. If possible, try to start giving your children communion on an empty stomach earlier, teaching them the skills of fasting, i.e. After midnight on the day of communion, the child should not be allowed to eat or drink. After 4 years, you can only take communion on an empty stomach.

From an early age, try to instill in your children the skills of communication with God, knowledge about faith and the Church through reading prayers, Holy Scripture for children (the Bible, the Holy Gospel), reading the lives of 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.

Memo to parents

To baptize a child you must:

1) purchase in the temple:
- a consecrated cross on a ribbon (if the cross was purchased at a jewelry store, then it must be consecrated);
- baptismal shirt;
- a baptismal icon (usually bought by godparents): for a boy - the Savior, for a girl - the Most Holy Theotokos (this icon should be beautiful and expensive (to the best of your ability), because it will be with the child all his life and it is with this icon that you will then bless him upon entering into marriage).

2) bring with you:
- diaper and towel for the baby;
- a paper napkin or handkerchief to wipe the child’s face.

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

Women should enter the temple in modest clothing, without lipstick, otherwise, when you kiss the icons and the cross, traces of lipstick will remain on them. If you only have short skirts in your wardrobe, i.e. above the knee, it is better to come in trousers and tie the skirt provided in the temple.

Women (mother and godmother) in monthly impurity cannot participate in the sacraments until the end of these days.

If you would like to take photos or videos during the sacrament of Baptism, you should ask in advance for the blessing of the priest who will perform the sacrament.

Appendix: prayers for children

Daily Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your mercy on my children (names), keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil lust, drive away from them every enemy and adversary, open their ears and the eyes of their hearts, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts. Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my children (names) and turn them to repentance. Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my children (names), and enlighten their minds with the light of reason of Your Holy Gospel, and guide them on the path of Your commandments, and teach them, O Savior, to do Your will, for You are our God.

Prayer for children (Reverend Ambrose of Optina)
Lord, You alone weigh everything, you can do everything, and you want everyone to be saved and to come to the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Thy truth and Thy Holy will and strengthen them to walk according to Thy commandments and have mercy on me, a sinner.

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ for godchildren
Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Thy mercy on my godchildren (names), keep them under Thy roof, cover them from all evil lust, drive away from them every enemy and adversary, open the ears and eyes of their hearts, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts. Lord, we are all Your creation, have pity on my godchildren (names) and turn them to repentance.

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my godchildren (names), and enlighten their minds with the light of the mind of Your Holy Gospel, and guide them on the path of Your commandments, and teach them, O Savior, to do Your will, for You are our God.

Prayer to the Mother of God for the conversion of a lost godson (St. Gabriel of Novgorod)
Oh, All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven! By Your Nativity You saved the human race from the eternal torment of the devil: for from You Christ was born, our Savior. Look with Your mercy on this (name), deprived of God’s mercy and grace, intercede with Your Mother’s boldness and Your prayers from Your Son, Christ our God, so that He may send down His grace from above on this perishing one. O Most Blessed One! You are the hope of the unreliable, You are the salvation of the desperate, may the enemy not rejoice over his soul!

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God...” (John 3:5).
The Church Sacraments are a Divine institution, and the Lord Himself performs them. A sacrament is a sacred action in which the grace of the Holy Spirit, or the saving power of God, is secretly (incomprehensibly) given to a person through visible signs and symbols.

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

Requirements for participants in the Sacrament of Infant Baptism.

Baptism of infants without parental preparation is permissible only “out of fear of death,” i.e. in case of a threat to the child’s life (serious illness, urgent complex surgery).

If you live a full church life and began the Sacrament of Holy Communion no later than a year ago, then immediately before the baby’s baptism it is not necessary to confess and receive communion.

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

What happens during baptism?

To give a child a Christian upbringing, the godparents themselves must live a Christian life and pray for their godson.

Godparents are godparents.

The custom of having recipients at Baptism dates back to the most ancient Apostolic Tradition. The Greek word anadekhomenos (receiver) also means “guarantor for the debtor.” Saint John Chrysostom, in one of his public discourses, explains the role of successors: “If you wish, let us turn the word to your successors, so that they too 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, about those who have accepted a guarantee for money, that they are in greater danger than the debtor who took the money. For if the debtor appears prudent, then the guarantor will lighten the burden; if he becomes unreasonable, then great danger will be in store for him. Therefore, a certain sage instructs, saying: “If you guarantee, take care as if you are obliged to pay” (Sir. 8:16). If those who have accepted the guarantee of money consider themselves responsible, then how much more those who are involved in the spiritual, those who have accepted the guarantee of virtue, must show great care, 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 partakers of glory if with their instructions they lead those being taught to the path of virtue; and 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 through the actions themselves what kind of love they should show in teaching about spiritual things. And if it is commendable to lead those who are not relatives to zeal for virtue, then how much more should we fulfill what is required in relation to the one whom we accept as a spiritual child. Now you, the recipients, have learned that you are in considerable danger if you fall into carelessness.”

It is completely unacceptable for people who have fallen away from the Church as a result of committing grave (mortal) sins to become godparents. Before participating in the Sacraments of the Church, such people must reunite 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 churchgoers, confession is mandatory!

It is advisable that some time before the child’s baptism, the godparents confess and receive communion.

The rite of announcement.

Baptism is preceded by the rite of announcement, during which the priest reads prohibitory prayers directed against Satan.

Three prohibitions against unclean spirits.

Renunciation of Satan.

Confession of fidelity to Christ.

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

The person being baptized confesses his faith and reads the Creed. If an infant is baptized, then the Creed must be read by the recipient 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 only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.
3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
5. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by 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 is with the Father and the Son, we are 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 hope for the resurrection of the dead,
12. And the life of the next century. Amen.

Sacrament of Baptism.

Blessing of water.

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

Blessing of the oil.

Immersion in the font.

Immediately after anointing comes the most important moment of baptism - immersion in the font.

The vestments of the newly baptized.

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 anger, emptiness.

Sacrament of Confirmation.

After immersion in the font and donning white clothes, the priest anoints the newly enlightened one with the holy Myrrh: he seals it with the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

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

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

The priest anoints an already baptized person with holy oil. His forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs are anointed.

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

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

Reading of the Holy Scriptures 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 joy of the Church about the birth of a 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 person expresses the desire to serve God forever, to be a lamp that is placed not hidden, but on a candlestick (Luke 8:16), so that he may shine on all people with his goodness. 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 lit candles.

Final rites of Baptism.

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

Conclusion.

Memo to parents.

For the Baptism of a child you must purchase:

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

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

Aggel is a fallen angel.
Rips away - church, reject, sweep away, push away.

How to baptize a child? What are the rules for the baptism ceremony? How much does it cost? The editors of the portal “Orthodoxy and Peace” will answer these and other questions.

Child Baptism

When to baptize - different families solve this issue differently.

Most often they are baptized +/- 40 days after birth. The 40th day is also significant from a religious point of view (in the Old Testament church, on the 40th day a child was brought to the temple, on the 40th day a prayer is read over a woman who has given birth). For 40 days after giving birth, a woman does not participate in the sacraments of the Church: this is also related to the physiology of the postpartum period, and in general it is very reasonable - at this time, all the attention and energy of a woman should be focused on the child and her health.

After this period has expired, a special prayer must be read over her, which the priest will do before or after baptism. Very young children behave much calmer at baptism and are not afraid when someone else (godparents or priest) takes them in the arms. Well, don’t forget that up to three months, children can more easily tolerate head-dipping, because they retain intrauterine reflexes that help them hold their breath.

In any case, the choice of the moment is up to the parents and depends on the circumstances and the state of the child’s health. If the baby is in intensive care and there are health problems, the baby can be baptized in intensive care. To do this, you can invite a priest or MOTHER CAN BAPTIZE THE CHILD HERSELF.

You can baptize after 40 days.

If the child's life is in danger

If the baby is in intensive care, then you can invite a priest to baptize the child. From the hospital church or from any church - no one will refuse. Just first you need to find out what the baptism procedures are in this hospital.

If strangers are not allowed into the intensive care unit, or if the situation is different - an accident, for example - the mother or father (and the intensive care nurse at the request of the parents and anyone else in general) the child can be christened THEMSELVES. A few drops of water are needed. With these drops, the child must be crossed three times with the words:

Servant of God (NAME) is baptized
In the name of the Father. Amen. (for the first time we baptize and sprinkle some water)
And the Son. Amen. (second time)
And the Holy Spirit. Amen. (third time).

The child is baptized. When he is discharged, the second part of baptism will have to be performed in church - Confirmation - joining the Church. Explain to the priest in advance that you baptized yourself in intensive care. You can baptize your baby at home, having agreed on this with the priest in the church.

Should I baptize in winter?

Of course, in churches they heat the water, the water in the font is warm.

The only thing is that if the temple has one door and the temple itself is small, one of your relatives can stand guard at the entrance so that the door does not suddenly open wide open.

How much to pay? And why pay?

Officially, in churches there is no fee for the Sacraments and services.

Christ also said: “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). But only the believers fed and watered the apostles, allowed them to spend the night, and in modern realities, the donation for baptism is one of the main sources of income for churches, from which they pay for light, electricity, repairs, fire-fighting work and the priest, who most often has many children. Price list in the temple - this is the approximate donation amount. If there really is no money, they MUST baptize for free. If they refuse, it’s a reason to contact the dean.

Is it necessary to call according to the calendar?

Whoever wants it. Some call it according to the calendar, some in honor of their favorite saint or someone else. Of course, if a girl was born on January 25, then the name Tatyana really begs for her, but the parents choose the name for the child themselves - there are no “musts” here.

Where to baptize?

It is unlikely that this question will arise before you if you are already parishioners of some temple. If not, choose a temple to your liking. There is nothing wrong with visiting a few temples. If the employees are unfriendly and rude (this happens, yes), you can look for a temple where they will treat you kindly from the very beginning. Yes. We come to God in church, but there is no sin in choosing a church according to your liking. It’s good if the church has a separate baptismal room. It is usually warm, there are no drafts and there are no strangers.
If there are few churches in your city and they all have large parishes, then be sure to find out in advance how many children usually attend baptism. It may turn out that a dozen babies will be baptized at the same time, each of whom will be accompanied by a whole team of relatives. If you don’t like such a mass gathering, you can agree on an individual baptism.

Baptism photography

If you decide to hire a photographer for the christening, be sure to find out in advance whether he will be allowed to take pictures and use a flash. Some priests have a very negative attitude towards filming the Sacraments and an unpleasant surprise may await you.
As a rule, photography and video shooting are not prohibited anywhere. Photos from a baptism are a great joy for many years for the whole family, so if you can’t take pictures in a church, then you need to look for a church where you can take pictures (but even in Old Believer churches they allow you to take pictures at christenings)
In some cases, a child can be baptized at home. The main thing is to agree on this with the priest.

Godparents

Who can and cannot be a godfather is the most common question. Is it possible for a pregnant/unmarried/unbeliever/childless girl to baptize a girl, etc. – the number of variations is endless.

The answer is simple: the godfather must be a person

– Orthodox and church (HE is responsible for raising a child in the faith);

– not the child’s parent (godparents must replace the parents if something happens);

– a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child (or those who are going to get married);

- A monastic cannot be a godfather.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all necessary that there be two godparents. One thing is enough: women for girls and men for boys. .

Conversation before baptism

Now this is a must. For what? To baptize those who believe in Christ, and not those who come because “a child_is_sick_must_be_baptized_otherwise_they_will_jinx_and_we_are_Russian_and_Orthodox.”

You have to come to the conversation, this is not an exam. usually the priest talks about Christ, the Gospel, reminds that you need to read the Gospel yourself. This looks like.

Often the need for conversation causes indignation among relatives and many try to “get around” them. Someone, complaining about a lack of time, or even just desire, is looking for priests who can ignore this rule. But first of all, this information is needed by the godparents themselves, because by offering them to become your child’s godparents, you impose a great responsibility on them and it would be nice for them to know about it. If godparents do not want to spend time on this, then this is a reason for you to think about whether the child needs adoptive parents who cannot sacrifice just a couple of their evenings for him.

If the godparents live in another city and can only come on the day of the sacrament, then they can have conversations in any church that is convenient. Upon completion, they will be given a certificate with which they can participate in the sacrament anywhere.

It is very good for godparents, if they don’t already know, to learn - this prayer is read three times during baptism and, it is likely that godparents will be asked to read it.

What to buy?

For baptism, a child needs a new baptismal shirt, a cross and a towel. All this can be bought at any church store and, as a rule, this is the task of the godparents. The baptismal shirt is then stored along with other mementos of the baby. In foreign stores there is a whole line of stunningly beautiful clothes for baptism; you can also use some beautiful set for discharge.

Baptismal name

Find out in advance what name the child will be baptized. If the child’s name is not in the calendar, select one that sounds similar in advance (Alina - Elena, Zhanna - Anna, Alisa - Alexandra) and tell the priest about it. And sometimes names are given strangely. One of my friends Zhanna was baptized Evgenia. By the way, sometimes there are unexpected names in the calendar, say. Edward is such an Orthodox British saint (though later all the employees of the temple will not believe that there is such an Orthodox name). In church records and when performing other Sacraments, you will need to use the name given at baptism. Based on it, it will be determined when the child’s Angel Day is and who his heavenly patron is.

We arrived at the temple, what next?

At the church shop you will be asked to pay a donation for baptism. Before the sacrament, it is better to feed the baby so that he is more comfortable and calm.

Feed in the temple IT IS POSSIBLE, it’s good to wear nursing clothes or have an apron with you. If you need privacy, you can ask one of the temple employees to find a secluded place.
The only thing is that if the baby is feeding for a long time, it is better to have a bottle-sipper-syringe with food with you, so that it does not happen that the baby gets hungry in the middle of the service and you either have to wait half an hour until he eats or he will cry from hunger.

During the sacrament, the child is held in the arms of the godparents, the parents can only watch. The duration of Baptism is usually about an hour.

It is useful to familiarize yourself in advance with what will happen during the service in order to understand the meaning of what is happening. Here .

But mothers are not allowed to be baptized everywhere - it is better to clarify this question in advance.

Cold water?

The water in the font is WARM. First, hot water is usually poured into it, and before the Sacrament it is diluted with cold water. but the water in the font is warm :)

The temple employees who collect it will make sure that the water is warm - they don’t want the child to freeze just as much as you do. After immersion, it will not be possible to immediately dress the child, and here again it is worth mentioning that it is good to baptize very young children in separate rooms and not in the church itself, where it is cool even in summer. In any case, don’t worry, everything happens quickly and the child will not have time to freeze.

Should a child wear a cross all the time?

Parents are often concerned about the safety of their child wearing a cross. Someone is afraid that the child may be harmed by the rope or ribbon on which the cross hangs. Many people worry that the child might lose the cross or it might be stolen, for example, in the garden. As a rule, the cross is worn on a short ribbon that cannot get tangled anywhere. And for kindergarten you can prepare a special inexpensive cross.

And they say that...

Baptism, like many other things in our lives, is surrounded by many stupid superstitions and prejudices. Older relatives can add worries and worries with stories about bad omens and prohibitions. It is better to clarify any doubtful questions with the priest, not trusting grandmothers, even very experienced ones.

Is it possible to celebrate baptism?

It is quite logical that relatives who will gather for Epiphany will want to continue the celebration at home or in a restaurant. The main thing is that during the holiday they do not forget the reason for which everyone gathered.

After baptism

When the Sacrament is over, you will be given a certificate of baptism, which will indicate when the baptism was performed, by whom, and the day on which the child has a name day will also be written. After baptism, you will definitely need to go to the temple again to give the baby communion. In general, babies should be given communion regularly.