Child christening rules and customs. Christenings: traditions, rituals, signs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signs and customs associated with the baptism of a child

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parents of a newborn wonder: “ How is the baptism ceremony for a child carried out?“This rite is a symbol of a person’s acceptance into the fold of the Christian Church. Baptism is a rite of spiritual birth, as a result of which a guardian angel is assigned to a person. During the sacred rite of baptism, the child is introduced to the Christian Church and becomes under its protection and patronage.

Before undergoing the rite of baptism of a child, parents should carefully prepare and learn about all the features included in the rite of baptism of a child.

Choosing a name for a child.

First of all, the baby needs to choose a name. They are usually named after saints, published annually in church calendars. Most often, the name of the saint or saint that is closest to the calendar is chosen, determined by the child’s date of birth. And on this day of remembrance of the saint, Angel Day is celebrated.

Although there are no strict requirements for binding to a date, you can choose any Name you like so that the child’s baptism takes place according to the rules of the Church. If parents have difficulty choosing a name, the priest himself will select a suitable name and name the baby.

Time for baptism.

The baptism ceremony of a child takes place at as early an age as possible. The Church prescribes the baptism of infants on the eighth day of life or after forty days from birth. There are no restrictions in choosing the day on which the child’s baptism should occur, however, parents who baptized their children much later after forty days are advised to perform the sacrament as early as possible, when the baby is mostly asleep, in order to protect the kids from stress and unfamiliar surroundings, as well as large crowds of people.

Godparents.

Godparents- the main receivers. They take the child into their arms from the baptismal font. The rite of baptism of a child takes place in such a way that the Godmother and Godfather pronounce baptismal vows instead of their godson, since the child cannot do this on his own. The adoptive parents take on the responsibility of instilling in the child faith in God, helping and caring for the godson or goddaughter.

According to the rules of the church, before carrying out the baptism ceremony of a child, you need to take the choice of recipients very seriously. The godparent must be a believer, an Orthodox person wearing a cross on his chest, usually of the same gender as the child, but as a rule, both a godmother and a godfather are chosen for each child.

Who cannot take part in such a matter as the baptism of a child? You cannot choose minor children, non-Christians, unbaptized people, married couples or couples preparing to get married as godparents. Women during their menstrual purifications, those who lead immoral lives, as well as random strangers who have nothing to do with you and your family. There is no limit to how many times a person can become a godparent in their life. As noted earlier, the baptism of a child can take place on any day of the week, on any date, and even during Lent.

Preparation for the baptism ceremony.

Before the ceremony, you need to go to the temple and find out all the questions that interest you, parents. You can ask them in the icon shop. The church worker will record all the information about the child and godparents necessary to obtain a baptismal certificate, offer you to purchase a special brochure about the sacrament of baptism, and also offer to make a voluntary donation for the development of the temple. There, in the shop, they will set a time and day on which the godfather and mother will have to appear for a conversation with the priest. Keep in mind that without this preliminary conversation, the baptismal ceremony cannot take place. On the day appointed for baptism, you should arrive at the church in advance in order to prepare for the baptism ceremony of the child without haste and clarify the questions that concern you. The photographer, videographer filming the baptism ceremony will have to ask the priest for a blessing for this process.

Parents must remember that at the baptism ceremony the child must be dressed in everything that is clean and comfortable for changing into a baptismal shirt. If the baby begins to scream in the arms of the receivers, then the mother is allowed to calm him down, you can even give him a pacifier if necessary. Communion of a child should be done regularly after you have been baptized in the Church. Until the age of seven - without confession, and after - after confession. And don’t forget about the personalized icon, which depicts the patron saint of the baptized baby. It can be purchased at the icon shop.

Baptismal shirt and pectoral cross.

Traditionally, the shirt is bought by the godmother and the cross by the godfather. Choose a smooth cross so that it does not scratch the baby’s delicate skin. As a rule, preference is given to a silver cross, but you can also buy a gold one. You can buy a cross either in a store or in an icon shop, where they will show you a complete catalog of baptismal sets. A store-bought cross must be consecrated in the Church. The child must wear the blessed cross without removing it; it is removed only during bathing. If you lose your cross, buy a new one, consecrate it in church and boldly wear it to replace the lost one. The shirt must be white. You can sew it yourself, buy it in a children's store or an icon shop. You will also definitely need a kryzhma - fabric, a towel, an openwork diaper. When taking the child out of the font, you will need to wrap him in kryzhma to wipe him and prevent the baby from freezing.

Child baptism ceremony.

Now let’s look at how the rite of baptism of a child takes place. First, the priest asks questions to the godparents, and they give answers on behalf of the godson. Then the priest anoints different parts of the baby’s body with church oil, Oil, for the mental and physical health of the baby. Next, the child’s baptism itself occurs, namely, the priest reads a prayer, and the parents and godparents repeat it after him. Remember that the godfather brings the girl to the font, and the godmother brings the boy to the font. The priest immerses the child without clothes into the holy water of the baptismal font three times, and the second godparent takes the child from the hands of the priest and puts on a previously prepared baptismal shirt. The girl's head is covered with a cap or scarf. They wrap the child in kryzhma and the priest re-anoints the child with oil - the holy Myrrh. This is a symbolic placing of the seals of the gift of the Holy Spirit on the child's body. After this, a lock of the baby’s hair is cut off and left in the Church, as a symbol of sacrifice to God and a pledge of dedication. At the end of the baptismal ceremony, the priest reads prayers that complete the ritual.

Completion of the baptism ceremony.

After the ceremony, entries are made in the church books, and the parents receive a certificate of baptism of the child. Upon arrival home, guests are called and a “christening” is celebrated - a large family holiday, at which it is customary to wish the child happiness, health and give symbolic gifts. According to tradition, the godparents are the last to leave the godson's house. Now you know how the rite of baptism of a child takes place and you can responsibly approach this issue and prepare accordingly.

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

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

It is considered a good sign if the child begins to cry less after the baptism ceremony, is not so capricious, and begins to sleep better. It is also believed that after baptism the child’s health improves. It is not for nothing that they advise not to postpone the baptismal ceremony if the baby was born weak or premature - in this case, the sacrament can be performed even within the walls of a maternity hospital or at home.
The godfather must give the child a cross, and the godmother must buy clothes for baptism.
You cannot wipe the water off the baby’s face after bathing - the holy water must dry on the face itself.
After the baptism ceremony, the clothes the baby was wearing cannot be washed. It is necessary to let the holy water dry on it, and then leave it and protect it as a talisman throughout the child’s life. It is believed that if a baby is sick, he should be wiped with a baptismal robe - and this will help him recover. Also, these clothes cannot be reused at another baptism ceremony.
Baptismal clothing should be exclusively light in color. As a rule, white. Minor drawings, inscriptions, and embroideries on baptismal clothing are also allowed.
If a child does not cry during the ceremony, this is a very good sign. It’s even better if the baby fell asleep during the sacrament.
It is believed that the child will have a happy life if you hear church bells before the christening.
You cannot buy a cross made of gold - this metal is considered unclean and sinful. The cross should be silver or just metal.
The child’s life will be happy if immediately after the baptism ceremony a wedding takes place in the temple.
It is a bad omen to postpone the previously planned baptism of a child to another date.
An unbaptized baby cannot be brought into someone else's house. You can visit with your baby only after the sacrament.
The woman should be the first to baptize the boy, and the husband should be the first to baptize the girl. Otherwise, it is believed that the godson will take away their happy family life.
Non-believers cannot be godparents, mentally ill people, as well as drug addicts and alcoholics.
Children cannot become godparents. The girl must be at least 13 years old, and the guy must be at least 15.
It is impossible for several children to be baptized in the same water (font). This is a bad omen.
It is a bad omen if during the ceremony the priest forgets or confuses the words, objects fall from his hands.
There should be no love affair between the godmother and father - this is a sin. It is also desirable that they be blood relatives.
A pregnant woman cannot baptize her child - otherwise both her godson and her own baby will often get sick.
For a child's christening, a measured icon is ordered or purchased from the church. It is called measured because it corresponds in centimeters to the height of the child at birth. This should be the child’s personal icon; only a child can pray in front of it. It is believed that a measured icon is a strong amulet for a child and gives him protection.
Godparents should not sit in church - otherwise the child will face an unfortunate fate.
Before the baby is baptized, you should not show it to anyone, not even relatives. It is believed that the child does not yet have protection, so the baby can be jinxed.
I will accept that you cannot refuse if you are asked to become godparents, the church explains this: refusing is not a sin, but baptizing a child and not taking part in his life and spiritual development is a great sin. Therefore, it is better to refuse if you are not sure that you can conscientiously fulfill all the duties of a godfather or mother.
The child must be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life, then the sacrament will give the baby very strong protection.
On the day of baptism, a child’s guardian angel appears, so do not delay the ceremony and baptize the baby quickly.
After baptism, the baby receives his second (church) name, which cannot be announced to anyone.
Before the baptismal ceremony (both relatives and godparents) must read a prayer.
A woman who has had an abortion should not be invited to become a godmother.
When baptized, the godmother must have her head covered, and she cannot be baptized in trousers - it must be a skirt or dress below the knees.
The rite of baptism is a sacrament, so the baby and godparents participate in it, and the father may also be present. It is advisable not to invite other relatives and friends to the ceremony. They can congratulate the baby already at the christening - this is a celebration in honor of baptism.
You can baptize a child on any day of the week, as well as on major church holidays and fasting. However, among the people it is Saturday that is considered the most successful day for the sacrament.

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

What is baby baptism

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

Choosing a name

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

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

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

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

Child christening - rules and signs

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

On what days are children baptized in church?

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

Rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church

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

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

What is needed for the baptism of a boy child

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

Girl christening

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

Choosing godparents

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

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

reliability;
responsibility;
high moral and ethical values.

Who has no right to be a godfather

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

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

The sacrament of baptism - rules for godparents

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

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

What you need to know

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

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

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

Responsibilities of godparents

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

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

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

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

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

Celebration of christening

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

What to do with baptismal items

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

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

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

Video

Orthodox baptism of a child - rules for parents and recommendations from the church. What signs exist about the baptism of a child, how does this ceremony take place, what is the role of the godfather and mother. What you should and shouldn't do on the day of baptism.

The rite of baptism is an important event for both the baby and his parents. Therefore, it is no coincidence that this ceremony takes place in compliance with all the required rules and conditions. After all, according to many popular beliefs, the future success and happiness of a child depends precisely on the completion of the Sacrament of Baptism.

On this symbolic day, the second parents - the godmother and father - take upon themselves the patronage of the baby of their own free will. It is from this day that they are responsible before God for the upbringing of their godson. Therefore, all participants in the upcoming ceremony are interested in observing all folk customs and signs associated with the baptism of a child. Because the future fate of the baby depends on the strict fulfillment of all the conditions of the ritual.

For centuries, people have collected beliefs about infant baptism. There are quite a lot of them, so we will focus on the main signs and rules that must be strictly followed.

Golden rules of baptism

Godparents must be believers and reliable people.
It is best to baptize a baby in the first months after birth.
You cannot enter into arguments with the priest over the choice of a name for the baby.
You should not buy a gold cross for a newborn child.
The baby's baptism should be celebrated modestly, without unnecessary noise and luxury.

Baptism day - 5 rules for parents

Now let's look at the beliefs associated directly with the day when the church ceremony takes place:

1. On the day of christening you should not quarrel.

2. In order for the child to be financially prosperous in the future, it is necessary to count the money in the house in the morning before the baby’s baptism.

3. The day of baptism has always been equated with a festive event. Therefore, in the house where the celebration is celebrated, no work is done on this day.

4. People remaining in the house should not open the doors to neighbors or relatives until all participants in the ceremony return from church.

5. After baptism, you must keep the baptismal gown, towel, candles, and diaper. According to custom, these items must be kept throughout a person’s life, and when his earthly journey is completed, he must take them with him. In addition, all baptismal items are endowed with a sacred meaning and help in the treatment of the most serious illnesses.

2. The baby is dressed in everything new and taken to church to be baptized. It is believed that new clothes will provide the baby with a good life in the future. After all, it is no coincidence that christening is equated to a second birthday. Accordingly, elegant clothing in which the baby will appear for the first time before the Almighty becomes a mandatory requirement for the holiday. Most likely, this very ancient superstition is associated with the origins of Christianity in Rus'.

3. After the baptism at the festive table, the godparents should try all the dishes. It is believed that this ritual will help the godson become a wealthy person in the future.

4. Godfather and godfather should not be involved in a love relationship. They must be pure before the Lord, because they are responsible for the baby and vouch for him. It is for this reason that spouses are never taken as godparents. So the well-known saying about godfather and godfather is completely wrong in its essence.

5. Everyone knows that you can’t take a pregnant woman as a godmother. A pregnant woman must think about the child she is carrying. If the thought of something bad suddenly flashes through her head, this may negatively affect the fate of the baby who is being baptized.

To believe or not to believe in signs passed on by people from mouth to mouth is a personal matter for everyone. But when it comes to the fate of a tiny person, you want to do everything possible for the sake of his health and happiness in the future.