Who is a godfather for a child? How to dress a godfather for a christening

Baptism becomes one of the most significant moments in the earthly life of any believer, and therefore it is necessary to approach it with all responsibility. Yes and choice godparents This is not an easy task for a child. After all godfather and the godmother will play an important role in the baby's life.

Who can't be godfather

First of all, it is necessary to immediately reject candidates who, according to church canons, simply cannot act as the child’s godparents. So who is it? Firstly, the biological father and mother, as well as any other relatives of the baby, cannot be godparents. Secondly, you should not offer to become godparents to married couples or those about to get married. The fact is that godparents must have an exclusively spiritual connection, and intimate relationships between them are generally unacceptable. In addition, an adherent of another religion, be it even Catholicism or Protestantism, cannot become the godparent of an Orthodox Christian. Godparents should also not be people who have taken monastic vows. Even children cannot be godparents. Girls can take on this responsible mission only after 13 years of age, and boys - after 15. You shouldn’t stop your choice on people suffering mental illness, narcotic or alcohol addiction. The reason is simple: they are unable to take full responsibility for their actions, let alone responsibility for another person.

Choosing godparents

Do right choice It is very difficult in relation to godparents, because godparents will have to take guarantee for the child and become the same mentors for him as his own father and mother. So before you choose anyone, think about who you would entrust your child to without a shadow of a doubt. Godparents must love the child, become an authority for him, help him in everything, teach him kindness and understanding, and pray for him. And they will have to do all this throughout their lives. Therefore, choose people of high moral principles who lead a righteous lifestyle. Godparents must be believers and, of course, baptized. It is ideal if the child has two godparents. But if this is not possible, then you can get by with one thing: a mother for a girl and a father for a boy. Godmother she must come to church for baptism, but her father’s presence is not necessary.

Preparation of godparents

If you have made a choice, then first of all you must inform your godparents about your decision. According to tradition, shortly before baptism, it is advisable for future godmothers and fathers to go to confession and perform the rite of communion. On the day of the sacrament itself, they should not eat or perform marital duties. It is also good if the godparents learn the text of the “Creed”, which they will have to read at baptism. It is also necessary to ask the church ministers at what moments this text should be pronounced. Baptism places special obligations on the godmother. She is the one who purchases a christening shirt and a cross for the baby.

Christ's.

After the baby is immersed in the baptismal font, the godfather receives him from the hands of the priest. From here Slavic name – receiver. Thus, he takes upon himself the responsibility for life to raise the child in the Orthodox spirit, and the answer for this upbringing will be given at the Last Judgment.

During the Baptism of infants, the recipients pronounce (profess) the Creed in their place, pronounce vows and take care of teaching faith and morality to those received by them (;,).

The custom of having a recipient at Baptism dates back to the most ancient Apostolic Tradition.

The presence of two receivers is a Russian tradition. According to the rules of the Church, one godfather is enough: a godfather for a boy and a godmother for a girl. In practice, gender mismatch is tolerated.

In the Sacrament of Baptism, the godparents promise God to bring the baby to Him. It's important to remember this.

Who can be godfather

– The godfather (father) must be Orthodox Christian. A godfather cannot be from the Church (who does not regularly receive communion), a representative of another religion, or an atheist. The recipient is required not only to know and read it at Baptism, but also to spiritually educate the godson in the future, daily prayer for him.

– The godfather must be a churchgoer, ready to regularly take his godson to church and raise him in the Christian faith.

– After the Sacrament of Baptism has been performed, the godfather cannot be changed, even if he has gone missing or fallen from the faith.

– Pregnant and unmarried women can be godparents to both boys and girls.

– The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, and a husband and wife cannot be godparents for one child; other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.

– A person should only have one godparent. According to , only one recipient is considered necessary - a man for a male person being baptized or a woman for a female person. The presence of a second godfather is an unwritten, albeit ancient, custom of the Church.

– Monks and nuns are not allowed to be ordained.

– The rite of the Sacrament of Baptism assumes the presence of recipients in person during its celebration. As a last resort, infant baptism is allowed even without godparents, then the priest himself is considered godfather.

– Marriages between the baptized person and the recipient are prohibited: the recipient cannot marry his spiritual daughter, and the godfather cannot marry the widowed mother of his spiritual daughter ().

It is reckless to invite a non-church person to be godparents: what can someone who does not know the subject teach? It’s like choosing a guide on a dangerous journey, where the price at stake is life (in our case, Eternal), a rogue who does not know the route.
It is also unreasonable for a church person to take vows before God to raise a child in the Christian faith, whose parents are not only outside the Church, but also do not intend to become a church member, to instill their child in Christ the Savior.
If you are invited to be a foster parent by parents who are not only not against baptizing a child, but are themselves ready to become members of the church community, then it is reasonable, before taking your own vows, to make your parents vow to fulfill the Commandments, to pray daily for their children, come to church with them, try to give them communion weekly. Ideally, it would be good to advise parents to go to Sunday school or catechesis classes: after a couple of classes it will be clear whether they are serious about spiritual life, or whether they view Baptism as a magical rite.

According to the ancient church rule, during the Baptism of infants, only one recipient was considered necessary - a man for a male person being baptized or a woman for a female person (Great Trebnik, Chapter 5, “see”). The rule about “being at Baptism to one recipient” belonged to the first centuries of Christianity and was strictly observed in the Eastern and Western Churches until the 9th century. In our time, the custom of having two godparents at Baptism has become widespread: the godfather and the godmother.

Only Orthodox successors or successors have ecclesiastical significance. Their names are remembered in prayers and included in certificates of Baptism. Receiver " represents the face of the person being baptized and vows to God for him, makes, confesses the symbol and is obliged to instruct the adopted son in the faith and law of God, which neither an ignoramus in the faith nor a non-believer can do"(Book on the positions of parish elders, 80).
According to practice ancient Church Just as people of other faiths are never allowed to adopt children, so it is indecent for an Orthodox Christian to be the adopter of children from parents of other faiths, except in those cases when the children are baptized into the Orthodox faith. The canons of the Church also do not provide for such a case as participation in baptism as a recipient of a person.

The insane, completely ignorant of the faith, as well as criminals, obvious sinners and those who came to the temple in drunk. For example, those who, due to negligence, did not attend confession and Holy Communion long time cannot give guidance and edification in life to their godchildren. Minors (under 14 years of age) cannot be recipients, since they are still incapable of teaching and are not firm in their understanding of the faith and power of the Sacrament (except in those cases when it is completely impossible to have an adult recipient).

Ancient Russia did not know such a rule that would eliminate monks from succession. It is known that the godfathers of our Russian grand ducal and royal children were mostly monks. Only later were monks prohibited from succession because it involves the monk in communication with the world (Nomocanon at the Great Trebnik). Parents cannot be recipients of their own children from the baptismal font. It is inconvenient for a woman who is in normal purification to be a recipient. In such cases, you can postpone Baptism or invite another recipient.

Church rules do not prohibit siblings, father and daughter, or mother and son from being the adoptive parents of the same baby. Currently, priests do not allow husband and wife to share the same child. To prevent violations existing rules Regarding the successors, the priest usually finds out in advance from the parents who they want to have as the successors for their children.

Prayers for godchildren

Prayer for children and godchildren, father

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart! You gave me children according to the flesh, they are Yours according to your soul. You redeemed both my soul and theirs with Your priceless Blood. For the sake of Your Divine Blood, I beg You, my sweetest Savior, with Your grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names), protect them with Your Divine fear, keep them from bad inclinations and habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and good. Decorate their lives with everything good and saving, arrange their fate as You yourself want and save their souls with their own destinies! Lord, God of our fathers! Give to my children (names) and godchildren (names) a right heart to keep Your commandments, Your revelations and Your statutes. And do it all! Amen.

On raising children as good Christians: Parents' prayer to the Lord God

God, our merciful and heavenly Father!
Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray to You and whom we entrust to Your care and protection.
Put strong faith in them, teach them to revere You and deign them to deeply love You, our Creator and Savior.
Guide them, God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything for the glory of Your name.
Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians and useful people.
Give them mental and physical health and success in their work.
Deliver them from the cunning wiles of the devil, from numerous temptations, from evil passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.
For the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the saints, lead them to the quiet haven of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they, along with all the righteous, will always thank You with Your only begotten Son and Your life-giving Spirit.
Amen.

Prayer to the Lord God, composed by the venerable

Lord, You are the only One who weighs everything, who is able to do everything, and who wants to save everyone and come to the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Thy truth and Thy Holy will, strengthen them to walk according to Thy commandments and have mercy on me, a sinner.
Amen.
Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust to You my children whom You have given to me, fulfill my prayer.
I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways that You Yourself know. Save them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing that is contrary to You touch their souls. But grant them faith, love and hope for salvation, and may their life path be holy and blameless before God.
Bless them, Lord, may they strive every minute of their lives to fulfill Your Holy will, so that You, Lord, may always abide with them by Your Holy Spirit.
Lord, teach them to pray to You, so that prayer may be their support, joy in sorrow and consolation of their life, and so that we, their parents, may be saved by their prayer.
May Your angels always protect them.
May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors, and may they fulfill Your commandment of love. And if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You, and You, in Your ineffable mercy, forgive them.
When their earthly life ends, then take them to Your Heavenly Abodes, where let them lead with them other Your chosen servants.
Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and Your saints (all holy families are listed), Lord, have mercy on us, as You are glorified with Your Beginningless Son and with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.

Does it really teach that marriage between godparents is inadmissible according to Article 211 of the Nomocanon?

Obstacles to marriage and adoption at baptism. Grigorovsky S.P. Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2007. By blessing His Holiness Patriarch Alexia II. pp. 49-51. Quote from there:

« Currently, Article 211 of the Nomocanon [which states the inadmissibility of marriage between adoptive children] has no practical significance and should be considered cancelled... Since at baptism it is enough for one recipient or one recipient, depending on the gender of the person being baptized, there is no reason to consider the recipients to be in any spiritual relationship and therefore prohibit them from marrying each other».

Prof. Pavlov in his course Church law comments on the problem of the spiritual relationship between the recipient and the recipient of one child and the marriage between them:

“...several rules of apocryphal origin and strange content (for example, rule 211, prohibiting a husband and wife from being the adoptive parents of the same baby, on pain of being separated from their marital cohabitation). Already in the first years of its existence, the Holy Synod began to regard such rules with great doubt and often made decisions directly contrary to them, especially in matters of marriage.”

In December 2017, at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church a document was adopted which stated: “ Marriages between recipients can be performed with the blessing of the diocesan bishop (taking into account the decree of the Holy Synod of December 31, 1837)".

Can pregnant and unmarried women become godparents?

Pregnant and unmarried women can be godparents of both boys and girls; there are no canonical prohibitions on this. All prohibitions apply exclusively to dense folk superstitions and have no power for Christians.

At what age do you not need a godfather?

Persons over 14 years of age.

How to baptize a child if one or more family members are against it?

– You should try to bring such people to a meeting with the priest. The main thing here is to understand what is inside a person, why he refuses to baptize his child. If people are atheists, it can be difficult to convince them to give up their views. But it is still possible to convince of the need for a calm and loyal attitude towards the fact of a child’s baptism.

Unless anyone is born of water and the Spirit,

cannot enter the Kingdom of God(John 3:5)

The birth of a child in an Orthodox family is followed by his baptism. Unfortunately, not all Orthodox Christians are churchgoers, so many questions arise: what is the time frame for a child’s baptism, how does the procedure itself work, who are the godparents, who can be spiritual teachers for boys and girls?

The Orthodox Church does not set the age of baptism for children. In each family, this issue is resolved independently, based on the characteristics of the way of life, the health of the child, and so on.

For centuries, a tradition has been established to baptize infants no earlier than 40 days from their birth. There is an explanation for this. His parents brought Jesus Christ to the Temple for dedication to God on the fortieth day, according to the custom of the ancient Jews.

During the same period, a woman after childbirth goes through a period of cleansing. After reading a special prayer, she can visit the temple and fully participate in the life of the Church and its Sacraments, including being present at the baptism of her child.

If the baby is weak and sick, you can wait until he grows up and gets stronger. The church prays for “mother and child,” so God’s help will not leave both of them, but the child’s full participation in church life will be possible only after baptism.

If the life of a newborn is in danger of death, then it is better to baptize him as early as possible in order to be able to pray for health or remember him during the Liturgy. Regular communion, which is possible only for a Christian, will strengthen the child’s physical and spiritual strength.

When the family decides to baptize their child, but still you shouldn’t put it off for too long most important event in his life. There is another argument in favor of this decision: a baby at the age of 1-2 months is not yet attached to his mother and family, he is not frightened by strangers and extraneous sounds. Throughout the entire Sacrament, the godparents will hold the baby in their arms; an older child may resist this.

Features of christenings for boys and girls

The sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person who consciously believes in Christian truths. An adult himself testifies to his readiness to unite with Christ and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to expect conscious faith from infants. During the Sacrament of Baptism, they must take a vow of fidelity to God and renounce the forces of evil and sin.

Is it possible to baptize them? “Yes, it’s possible,” answers the Orthodox Church. Receivers from the font or godparents are given to the baby at baptism in order to be responsible for him before the Lord not only during the sacrament itself, but also in subsequent earthly and eternal life. Infants are baptized according to their faith and the faith of the parents.

Godparents have a special role in the spiritual education of a child. They make a promise to God to lead the godson through life in a Christian way, to raise him in the spirit of the Orthodox faith. The life of the recipients themselves should be a worthy example of piety and love for God and for others. According to established tradition, a godfather and a godmother are chosen for the child, by analogy with the parents.

However, according to church canons, one thing is enough:

• men - for a boy;
• women - for girls.

There may even be gender mismatch. However, each such case is considered individually, the decision is made by the priest. The main thing is that future godparents are full members of the Orthodox Church, know the basics of the Orthodox faith and are ready to raise the child spiritually.

Who cannot be among the godparents according to church rules?

For newborn boys and girls, before choosing adopters, it is necessary to know who can and cannot become them.

The priest will refuse to administer the Sacrament of Baptism if the following are chosen as recipients:

Can godparents be husband and wife or become one in the future? There are no canons prohibiting this in Orthodoxy. In 2017, the Council of Bishops updated the permission for marriages of successors with the blessing of the diocesan bishop. Such permission existed before, but a tradition has developed to prohibit such marriages.

Who can be a godparent for a boy or girl?

The main criterion when choosing recipients is their belonging to Orthodoxy, as well as their church membership - the desire to live in accordance with Christian truths, fight sin, and correct themselves.

The mission of the recipients is to testify before God for their ward about faith, renunciation of Satan, a promise to build their lives according to the commandments of God, and to help their godson or goddaughter fulfill all these promises in the future life.

Spiritual work continues throughout the life of godparents and their godchildren. Prayer for godchildren must be supported real deeds: take the child to communion, read spiritual literature with him, learn prayer, explain the basics of the Orthodox faith.

The Church allows one of the godparents to be of a different Christian faith - Catholic or Protestant, if there is no possibility of finding an Orthodox Christian in the family environment.

A clergyman can become a godson, but as a rule, they have many responsibilities and will have little free time for full communication with the godson.

Age of majority is an optional but desirable condition. The responsibility that godparents take on in the face of God involves understanding the importance of the role of the godparent and understanding what spiritual mentoring is.

Can godparents be relatives of the child?

The child's relatives, including the closest ones, can be chosen to play the role of recipient. Except for the parents.

Before you choose one of your relatives as your child's adoptive parent, you need to think about this: a few years will pass, and the child will grow up. Teenagers are not ready to discuss their problems with their closest relatives; this is the psychology of this age.

They are looking for an authoritative adult outside the family. A godfather could become such a person, help and guide the teenager in the right direction along the Christian path of development. Of course, provided that he took all previous years active participation in raising his godson, and they developed a trusting relationship.

From this point of view, choosing close relatives for the role of adoptive parents is not always the best solution.

It is right to choose church-going Orthodox Christians who will raise the child in faith and love for God, respect for people.

You need to answer the following questions:

• Who can you entrust the body and soul of a child to?
• Who will help raise him in faith?
• Who can you become spiritually related to?

Godparents are mentors in Orthodox faith, and not rare guests with gifts on birthdays. True Christian love is the most valuable gift to godchildren from their godparents, and the most important role is to be an example in the organization of Christian life.

How to choose godparents for a child if the parents are non-believers?

Unbelieving parents can baptize their children. Strictly speaking, the presence of parents is not necessary. In some churches, the priest does not allow parents to attend the Sacrament at all.

Atheists can be godparents for boys and girls

IN Soviet times grandmothers brought their children to be baptized without the participation of atheist parents.

They preserved and remembered the Orthodox faith and hoped for the mercy of God. Having grown up, these children came to God consciously.

Godparents, who can be spiritual educators for boys and girls, take full responsibility for raising a child in the truths of the Gospel.

Their role increases many times over: only they can graft a branch onto the Tree of Life, cultivate the seeds of the Orthodox faith in the soul of the godson.

You can baptize a child even if the parents are of a different faith.

In such situations, first of all, you need to think about the benefits for the child: the parents must have consent to baptism in order to avoid conflicts.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?

Sometimes life situations arise when a child needs to be baptized immediately, for example, if he is in danger of death. A priest can perform the Sacrament of baptism without recipients, so that he can help the child in the struggle for life with the help of the Holy Gifts and common prayer the entire Orthodox Church.

In the future, when the baby gets better, you can find people who will become godparents for the child and help the parents spiritually raise the boy or girl. Churched parents can do this on their own.

In emergency situations, lay people can baptize a baby by saying the Baptismal Prayer. At the first opportunity, the priest will complete what he started, since the process of Baptism consists of several stages and ends with the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Responsibilities of godparents

Godparents have serious responsibilities towards their godchildren in raising them in the traditions of the Orthodox Church:

Godparents renounce sin for the child and undertake obligations for the spiritual education of the godson before God. The Church teaches that at the last judgment He will ask for the upbringing of godchildren in the same way as for the upbringing of his own children.

Now it becomes clear why choosing godparents is a responsible and difficult decision. The connection with them can become stronger than with blood relatives, since it is sanctified by the Lord and based on Christian love.

How can godparents prepare for the Great Sacrament?

For a churchgoer there is nothing special in preparation. Prayer, fasting, confession, communion, reading the Gospel - the ordinary life of a Christian. Each parish may have its own traditions, so it is worth checking with the church where the baptism will take place whether there are any special requirements for recipients.

In many parishes, so-called public meetings are held for those future godparents who are still little familiar with the life of the Church. The priest explains in detail the main provisions of the Orthodox faith, talks about the Sacrament of Baptism, as well as those parish traditions that relate to baptism.

Godparents, who can be godparents for boys and girls from the font, so as not to approach holy duties formally, must prepare themselves to participate in the upcoming Sacrament:

• read at least one Gospel;
• carefully study the Creed - it is read out loud during baptism;
• if possible, learn “Our Father” - one of the main Christian prayers;
• confess and receive communion.

Even if the priest does not require it, it is advisable to take such steps. The duties of godparents require involvement in the Church. Therefore, from this moment the deliverance of the recipients themselves from sinful slavery can begin, the beginning of their new life in Christ and with Christ has been laid. Only then is it possible to fully fulfill the duties of a spiritual mentor.

IN Orthodox church the woman must wear a skirt that covers her knees and cover her head. A man must wear trousers and no headdress.

What should godparents have during a christening?

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest only needs pectoral cross and the shirt, everything else is a tribute to tradition.

Most often, godparents prepare:

These items are kept throughout life as a shrine. There is no need to wash the kryzhma: if a child gets sick, you can cover the baby with it so that it will help him recover faster.

There are no strict rules about who prepares what for baptism. Different localities and parishes have their own traditions, and they may differ from each other. You need to agree in advance who is responsible for what.

The child’s parents can prepare everything they need themselves. Things sewn or knitted will retain the warmth of the hands and love of the one who created them.

What else to consider before Baptism:

1. An important question concerns the cost of baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism, like all other Sacraments and rites of the Church, is performed free of charge. As a sign of gratitude, you can donate a certain amount to the temple. You can find out its size at the arrival or determine it yourself.
2. Usually the child is given a certificate of Baptism, the names of the child and his adoptive parents are written on it, so their documents may be needed.
3. You need to find out whether it is possible to photograph the Baptism process; not all priests allow this.
4. The sacrament lasts long enough, the baby will need ordinary care products.

Baptism procedure

Baptism takes place in the temple itself or in a special baptismal room, which can be a separate building. In fact, these are two separate Sacraments, following each other: Baptism and Confirmation.

The entire procedure lasts about 40 minutes. All this time the baby is in the arms of the recipients, they hand him over to the priest when the ritual requires it.

Godparents, who can be spiritual parents for boys or girls, can familiarize themselves with the Baptism scheme, to imagine how things will happen:

Stages of the Baptism procedure	Actions taking place in the temple
Order of announcement: Three prohibitions against unclean spirits	Special prayers of “prohibitions” are read over the person being baptized.
Renunciation of Satan	The recipient, on behalf of the baby, loudly renounces Satan three times.
Combination of Christ	One of the godparents reads the Creed for the baby.
Sacrament of Baptism: Blessing of water and oil	The priest reads special prayers for consecration, first water, and then oil (oil)
Immersion in the font	The recipient receives the child after the font in Kryzhma. The priest puts a cross on the child.
Vestment of the newly baptized	The recipients put the baptismal shirt on the baby
Sacrament of Confirmation:	Parts of the body are anointed with myrrh, thus giving the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Procession around the font	Godparents with candles and a baby in their arms walk around the font three times.
Reading the Gospel	They listen to the Gospel with candles in their hands.
Washing away the Holy Peace	The priest washes away the remnants of the world.
Hair cutting	The priest cuts off some hair from the baby's head in a cross shape, which he wraps in wax and lowers into the font. This is the first sacrifice to God and a sign of submission to Him.
Churching	The priest walks around the temple with the baby in his arms, and the boys are still brought into the altar.

It is advisable to give the child communion for the first time the next day.

The sacrament of Baptism is the first sacrament that a Christian receives. Without it, the beginning of a new life with Christ and in Christ is impossible, and, therefore, salvation is impossible. A newborn child has not yet done anything wrong, but he inherits the sinful nature of his first parents. He is already on his way to death.

During Baptism, in an incomprehensible way, a person is cleansed from sin, dies to it and is born again in purity, receives hope of salvation and eternal life. This is possible only in connection with the Lord. The Body of Christ is called the Church.

According to its wise arrangement, the Sacrament of Confirmation follows immediately after Baptism. A person receives the mysterious gifts of the Holy Spirit, which will act invisibly in him and strengthen him in his desire to live according to Christ.

Godparents, who can guide boys and girls on the path to eternal life, take responsibility for whether they go forward or stay put. The sacrament of Baptism so far only places the child at the beginning of this road.

Is the magical, magical effect of Baptism possible without faith? The answer to this question is given by the Gospel: “According to your faith, be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29). Where there is true faith, there is no need for superstition.

What to give to a godson or goddaughter?

A christening gift should have a spiritual meaning, be useful for the further upbringing of the child in Orthodox traditions and remind of the day of spiritual birth.

These could be:

Many interesting gifts are sold in church shops. It's not about the cost, but about the spiritual value of the item.

Can a pregnant woman be a godmother?

There are no obstacles for a woman to become a godmother.

It is necessary to evaluate whether she has enough love, kindness and opportunities for two children: her unborn one and the adopted one. Not only spiritual and prayerful help is required from godparents, but also effective help, requiring strength and time.

Is it possible to refuse godparents?

A child cannot refuse such godparents. Godparents may change for the worse and stop fulfilling their responsibilities towards their godson or goddaughter. In such cases, you need to teach the child to pray for their correction. This will become for him a lesson in Christian love and mercy.

If parents still need help in the spiritual upbringing of their child, they can find a pious, church-going person and ask him to take on the responsibilities of a godparent, but he still will not be considered a godparent. For such an agreement it is necessary to obtain the blessing of a priest or confessor, if you have one.

Is it possible to baptize a child for normal upbringing in the faith?

There is no such thing as rebaptism in the Orthodox Church. A person is not born twice, either physically or spiritually, and Baptism is a spiritual birth in Christ.

In order for a child to be raised in the Orthodox faith, the adults around him must live according to the canons of this faith and be an example in a pious Christian life.

The responsibility that falls on godparents is great. Their mission goes beyond the time-bound nature of earthly life. Godparents are those who can be guides to the Kingdom of God for boys and girls.

Article format: Vladimir the Great

Video about children's baptism

What you need to know before baptizing a child:

As a rule, in the eyes of the godson, the godfather or godmother is a special person. Many times I have heard with what love and tenderness people pronounce the word “godfather”, as if they were touching something hidden in their lives. The recipients themselves are most often proud of this “status”. But do we really know how to live up to the title of godparents, do we have an idea of ​​the obligations that we have undertaken? And in general, what does it mean to be a godfather?

During the sacrament of Baptism, as a godmother, I vouched before the Church for the faith of the person being baptized. This means that now I must cultivate this faith in my godson. If you think about it, you just give up. Why did I think I could handle it? After all, I’m not even responsible for this life little man, but for his salvation. And just as a mother feels the baby’s need for her care, so I must feel the urgent need for my help on his path to God. The Church has entrusted me with the care of the human soul, and now I fulfill it with all my perplexities, weaknesses, stupidities, groping, stumbling and limping. But my two godchildren have only such a godmother. So, this is not the time to doubt, it means that I have no right to fail?!

After reading special literature, it is possible at least in general outline find out what responsibilities godparents have that help them raise their godchildren in the Orthodox faith. But in the practical performance of these duties, questions still arise that require clarification. It is best in such cases to contact a priest. I asked the cleric of the Saratov church in honor of the icon to answer my questions Mother of God“Quench my sorrows” by Hieromonk Dorotheus (Baranov).

— The very first and main help of a godparent to his godson is, of course, prayer. What should this prayer be, what should we ask God for?

- If the godfather is a church person, then he does not need any special prayers, because he regularly prays for his neighbors on Divine Liturgy, submits health notes so that the Church can pray for them collectively, remembers his godchildren at home prayer in the morning and evening. Thus, everything depends on the degree of churchgoing of the godfather. The intensity of the church life of the recipient is reflected in the life of his ward, even if they are separated by a long distance. After all, the spiritual relationship that arises in the Sacrament between the godfather and the baptized is as close as the relationship in the flesh.

— The godfather must take care to commune the godson with the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. What to do if parents prohibit it?

— The question is complex. Of course, spiritual responsibility lies with the godfather, but he shares this responsibility with his parents. In a material sense, the child is completely dependent on them, and this situation cannot be changed. It is necessary, of course, to exhort parents: not to persuade, but to convince. After all, reluctance to give communion to a child always has specific reasons. From the most banal - lack of time - to such a serious reason as lack of faith. If the matter really is a matter of unbelief, then for the godfather this is a field for unobtrusive preaching when communicating with parents. After all, one day they decided to baptize their baby, and this means that at least in the most rudimentary state, faith is present in their hearts.

Of course, everything is much simpler when the child’s parents themselves regularly attend services, pray at home, live church life, and resort to the sacraments of the Church. Then their son or daughter organically perceives Christian traditions, the very concept of the existence of God.

—What if parents are far from the life of the Church? After all, it is not enough that my goddaughter simply hears the name of God in the mouths of her relatives, knows the holidays of Christmas and Easter; It’s not enough that I give icons and books, and her wonderful grandmother sometimes brings the girl to church for Communion. She is growing up, and her knowledge of God and the Orthodox faith should become more and more conscious and deep. What and how should I, godmother, do for this? How to talk to a child about God?

— Giving books is very important. Especially if direct communication is limited. Nowadays there are many children's books that talk about Christian values ​​through some situations; There are wonderful children's prayer books, colorful and well illustrated. I would recommend linking book gifts to church holidays, with the memory of some especially revered saints, with name days, so that the child already enters the sacred life of the Church through the event. I understood that he receives gifts for Christmas not because January 7 has arrived, but because we want to do something nice for our loved ones on the Savior’s birthday. And, of course, it is no less important to instill a love of reading from childhood. We need to make it clear to the child that the main thing in a book is not the pictures - it exists to be read.

And we need to talk about God most in simple words. That He is everywhere, that He is the Creator. And most importantly, the child must feel that the person who tells him about God believes in Him. Finding an informal approach to a child’s heart is a great art, a lot of work. Of course, often even parents don’t always succeed. In any case, the adult must be vigilant: if the child does not perceive what he is told, if his attention is scattered, he must translate his story into a form more accessible to his understanding. And if you managed to capture the child’s attention, contact has occurred, then you can begin to build a conversation on a more serious level. And if the godfather has the opportunity to make his contribution to mental and then spiritual education, thank God!

— What if time is lost and contact with the child is not found? In addition, it often happens that communication is completely lost and nothing is known about the fate of the godson. How can the recipient rehabilitate himself?

— Here, unfortunately, we have to talk about the sad, because, most likely, nothing. If the godson has already become an adult, then at least let him know that he has a godfather and that you are ready to establish a relationship with him. When the godson is still small, you need to seek contact with the parents. They need to feel your readiness to come to the rescue at any moment. And let their godfather be just a good, reliable family friend. This is already a lot.

But if there is no contact at all, then, as we have already said, you just need to pray. These words “just pray” are often used in passing. Lack of faith in the power of prayer is one of the most big problems modern Christian. When a person has faith in the power of prayer, then he will be calm in his soul, realizing that he did everything possible in this situation, when even contact was lost. There will definitely be benefits from such prayer.

— So it turns out that prayer is, after all, the most important thing for the recipient, which cannot be deviated from under any circumstances?

- Undoubtedly. Often we pray for someone else more fervently than for ourselves, especially if he is in difficult circumstances. Anthony the Great saw that the whole world was entangled in a network of sin. And what can we, Christians, oppose to this? There are family and spiritual ties between us, and we must create our own “protection system,” which consists of prayer for each other.

...And praying for each other is an expression of our love. In the book “On the Responsibilities of a Godmother” by the Blago publishing house, I read that given the current shortage of love in the world, it is extremely important to make the godson feel that he is loved. This will give joy and light to a child’s soul. At the same time, you need to teach him to love himself. After all, as the Apostle John the Theologian said: He who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). And my main task, as a godmother, is to do everything in life little man, whom the Church entrusted to my care, his main meeting took place - a meeting with God.

Baptism is the most significant event in the life of every Orthodox person. And of course, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing godparents. After all, they are second parents and play an important role in a person’s life. There are many superstitions about godparents. And many people wonder: who can be a godfather and who cannot. Let's try to answer the most frequently asked questions on this topic.

Can children be godparents?

By church rules, children from the age of seven already bear full responsibility for their actions. They are no longer allowed to take communion without confession. Therefore, if a child is sufficiently churched, he can become a godfather. But, choosing in godparents of the child, think carefully. The godmother or father must raise their godson in the Orthodox faith, and the child himself is still just learning the basics of Orthodoxy. Still, it is better to choose an adult, accomplished person as godparents. After all, if something happens to the child’s blood parents, the minor will not be able to take responsibility for the godson. If you nevertheless decide to take a minor as godparents, it is better that this is a child who has reached the age of 15.

Can there be one godfather?

There are situations when a christening has already been scheduled, an agreement has been made with the priest and guests have been invited, but one of the godparents cannot attend the baptism. Or you couldn’t find a second receiver at all. What to do in such a situation? The Church allows baptism with one godparent. The second one can be recorded in absentia on the baptismal certificate. But there is one here important point. When a girl is baptized, a godmother must be present, and for a male infant, a godfather must be present. During the sacrament, the godfather (of the same sex as the child) will recite on behalf of the baby a vow of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, as well as the Creed.

Can a sister be a godmother?

If the sister is a believer, Orthodox man, she can become a godmother. But it is desirable that the godmother is already quite an adult, because she will have to bear responsibility not only for herself, but also for her godson. Many who have adult sisters take them as godparents. After all, no one will take care of his godson as much as dear person.

Can an ex-husband be a godfather?

It's more of a moral issue. If you and your ex-husband still have wonderful friendly relations, and he is not the natural father of your child, he can become the godfather. But if your ex-husband the natural father of the child, then he cannot be the adopter, since natural parents cannot be the adopter of their child. Well, again, the godfather becomes practically a relative, so discuss with your current husband whether he will be against your such a close relationship with ex-husband.

Can the godfather's wife be a godmother?

The godfather's wife cannot be a successor if we're talking about about the same baby, since the church prohibits spouses from being the adoptive parents of one child. During the sacrament, they acquire a spiritual connection, which means there cannot be anything between them. intimate relationships.

Can a brother be a godfather?

A sibling or cousin can become a godfather. The Church does not prohibit close relatives from being godparents. The only exceptions are the child's parents. Grandmothers, brothers, aunts and uncles can be godparents. The main thing is that these people are Orthodox, baptized, and take a responsible approach to fulfilling the duties of godparents. That is, to teach a child the basics of Orthodoxy and raise him to be a believer, an honest and decent person.

Can husband and wife be godparents?

During the baptismal ceremony, a woman and a man become spiritual relatives, which means they cannot be married. Because marriage implies physical intimacy, which cannot exist between spiritual parents.

If the godmother and godfather are spouses, they are prohibited from participating in the sacrament of baptism of one child. Moreover, a man and woman cannot baptize the same child if they are just planning to get married. If they do become godparents of one baby, they will have to give up close relationships in favor of raising a godson.

A husband and wife can baptize children from the same family. A man can become the godfather of one child, and the wife can become the godmother of another baby.

If a husband and wife unknowingly become the adoptive parents of the same child, the spouses need to contact the ruling bishop. As a rule, there are two ways out of this situation: recognition of the marriage as invalid, or the spouses will be given penance for a sin committed out of ignorance.

Who definitely cannot be a receiver?

Before choosing godparents for your baby, you need to know who the church clearly prohibits from taking as godparents:

- the child’s blood parents;

- spouses;

- not baptized and atheists;

- people of other religions;

- monks;

- mentally retarded people;

- sectarians.

Choosing godparents is a very important point. And here you need to be guided primarily by the interests of the child, and not by your own. Often, best friends or “necessary” people are chosen as godparents, without really delving into how much the person is a church member.

If you want your child to be raised in the Orthodox faith, choose only believers who know prayers and regularly attend church services. If people do not visit the temple and believe, as they say from time to time, then great doubt arises in serious attitude to the sacrament and their duties.

It often happens that people's paths diverge, and the godfather cannot take part in raising the godson. But he is still responsible for this child, so the recipient must pray for his godson or goddaughter all his life.