Choosing a church for baptism. What parents need to know about the christening of a boy and a girl: signs, rules of baptism in the Orthodox Church and recommendations

What is baptism and why is it performed on a person?

Baptism is a sacred act in which a believer in Christ, through triple immersion of the body in water with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity, is washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins he committed before Baptism, spiritually dies to a carnal, sinful life and, being born again, clothed with the grace of God for a holy life, according to the Gospel. The Apostle says: ≪ We were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.≫ (Rom. 6:4).

Without Baptism you cannot enter the Church of Christ and become a partaker of the grace-filled life.

How many times can you be baptized?

Baptism is a spiritual birth, which, like carnal birth, cannot be repeated. As at bodily birth, laid down once and for all appearance a person, so Baptism puts an indelible seal on the soul, which is not erased, even if the person has committed countless sins.

What should a person do who does not know whether he has been baptized and has no one to ask?

If an adult who wishes to be baptized does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child or whether he was baptized by a layman, but it is not known whether it was done correctly, then in this case he should receive Baptism from a priest, warning him of his doubts.

What is needed for Baptism?

To receive Baptism, an adult requires a voluntary and conscious desire to become a Christian, based on strong faith and heartfelt repentance.

How to prepare for Baptism?

The preparation for Holy Baptism is true repentance. Repentance is an essential condition for Baptism to be accepted in a worthy manner, for the salvation of the soul. Such repentance consists of recognizing one’s sins, regretting them, confessing them (in a confidential conversation with a priest, which is held immediately before baptism), leaving a sinful life, and realizing the need for a Redeemer.

Before Baptism, you need to get acquainted with the basics Orthodox faith, with the “Creed,” with the prayers “Our Father,” “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...,” and try to learn them. Public conversations for those wishing to be baptized, which are held daily in our church, will also help. It is advisable to read New Testament, God's Law and Catechism. It is important to accept the teachings of Christ with all your heart and mind, and then at the appointed time come to the temple on an empty stomach, having with you a cross, a white shirt and a towel.

When should a child be baptized? What is needed for this?

Specific time for performing the Sacrament of Infant Baptism church rules not installed. Orthodox Christians usually baptize their children between the eighth and fortieth day of life. Postponing the baptism of children after their fortieth birthday is undesirable; this indicates a lack of faith among parents who deprive their child of the grace of the Church Sacraments.

Are godparents required?

For children under 12-14 years of age, godparents (fathers) are obligatory, because the children themselves cannot consciously profess their faith, and godparents vouch for the faith of those being baptized. According to the rules of the 7th Ecumenical Council (787), from the moment of baptism, a child becomes a relative of the same sex as a recipient. Therefore, for the baptism of an infant, one godfather is required, two are not necessary. Adults can be baptized without godparents.

Where does the custom of having godparents come from?

During the times of persecution of Christians, when Christians gathered in a secret place to celebrate the Liturgy and prayers, a convert was accepted into the community only if he had a guarantor who prepared him for Baptism.

Who can be godfather?

All baptized and churchgoers, except for parents and other close relatives.

Who can't be a godfather?

Godparents cannot be:

1) children (the foster child must be at least 15 years old, the foster child must be at least 13 years old);

2) people are immoral and insane (mentally ill);

3) non-Orthodox;

4) husband and wife - for one person being baptized;

5) monks and nuns;

6) parents cannot be the guardians of their children.

Can a godfather marry a godfather?

According to the decrees adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church, which in turn are based on the decrees of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriage is impossible between the godfather, the goddaughter and the parents of the person being baptized. All other cases are permissible.

Can his mother be present at the Baptism of a baby while she is a month old?

He can be present, but in this case the ritual of churching the baby will not be performed, which consists of reading prayers relating to the mother and baby and bringing the baby to the throne or the royal doors (depending on gender), as if before the face of the Lord Himself. To be churched means to be introduced into the church assembly, to be numbered among the assembly of the faithful. Such inclusion is accomplished through the Sacrament of Baptism, in which a person is reborn to new life and becomes a full member of Christian society; churching is a special expression of this inclusion; it can be compared to an official act by which the new rights of a new member of society are secured and by which he is introduced into the possession of these rights.

Can parents be present at the Baptism of their child?

The customs existing in some places of not allowing father and mother to attend Baptism have no ecclesiastical basis. The only requirement is that parents must not participate in the Sacrament of Baptism (that is, they do not hold the baby in their arms, do not receive him from the font - this is done by godparents), and parents can only be present at Baptism.

Who should hold the child at Baptism?

During the entire Sacrament of Baptism, the baby is held in the arms of the godparents. When a boy is baptized, the child is usually held godmother, and the godfather - after that. If a girl is baptized, then first the godfather holds her in his arms, and the godmother receives her from the font.

Isn't it better to postpone Baptism until the time when the child can consciously say that he believes in God?

Since God gave parents a child who has not only a body, but also a soul, then they should take care not only of his physical growth. The sacrament of Baptism is a spiritual birth, which is the first and irreplaceable step on the path to eternal salvation. In Baptism, the grace of God sanctifies human nature, washing away original sin and giving the gift of eternal life. Only a baptized child is able to fully participate in holy things, be a partaker of the Eucharist, and generally perceive grace, which will protect him from many temptations and vices during the period of growth and maturation. And whoever postpones the Baptism of a child leaves the little soul exposed to the influence of the sinful world. Of course, a small child cannot yet express his faith, but this does not mean that parents should neglect his soul. The wishes of young children on many issues important to them are not always taken into account. For example, some children are afraid and do not want to visit the hospital, but their parents, even against their wishes, treat them. And the Sacraments of the Church, the first of which is Baptism, are spiritual healing and that spiritual nutrition that children need, although they do not yet realize it.

Is it possible to be baptized at 50 - 60 years old?

You can be baptized at any age.

On what days is Baptism not performed?

There are no external restrictions for performing the Sacrament of Baptism - neither in time nor in the place where it is performed. But in some churches the Sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a schedule on certain days, for example, because the priest is busy.

Is only a priest able to perform Baptism?

IN exceptional cases, for example, when mortal danger for a newborn baby or an adult, when it is impossible to invite a priest or deacon, it is allowed for Baptism to be performed by a lay person - that is, anyone who has been baptized Orthodox Christian who understands the importance of Baptism.

In case of mortal danger, how can a person be baptized without a priest?

To do this, it is necessary to consciously, with sincere faith, with an understanding of the importance of the matter, accurately and correctly pronounce the formula of the Sacrament of Baptism - the sacramental words: “ The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father (first immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Son (second immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Holy Spirit (third immersion or sprinkling with water), amen.”. If a person baptized in this way remains alive, then the priest must complete the Baptism with the prayers and sacred rites prescribed in the rite, and if he dies, then he can have a funeral service, order memorial services, write his name in church notes

Can a pregnant woman be baptized?

Pregnancy is not an obstacle to the Sacrament of Baptism.

Do I need to bring a birth certificate to Baptism?

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, a birth certificate is not required; it is only needed to make an entry in the temple archive - who baptized whom and when.

What word does the word “baptism” come from? If from the word “cross,” then why does the Gospel say that John “baptized” with water even before the Savior suffered on the cross?

At all European languages“baptism” means “baptizo”, that is, immersion in water, washing in water. Initially, this term was not associated with the church Sacrament, denoting any washing with water, immersion in it. The Slavic language, which arose already in the Christian era, emphasizes precisely the Christian meaning of Baptism as co-crucifixion with Christ, dying in Christ and resurrection for a new life of grace. Therefore, when the Gospel speaks of the baptism of John, it means the symbolic immersion of people coming to him into water for the remission of sins; The origin of the name Sacrament from the word “cross” is a philological feature of our language.

About the Creed

Hwhat is the Creed?

The Creed is a brief and precise statement of the main truths of the Christian faith. It consists of twelve members (parts). Each of them contains the truth of the Orthodox faith. The 1st member speaks about God the Father, the 2nd-7th members talk about God the Son, the 8th - about God the Holy Spirit, the 9th - about the Church, the 10th - about baptism, the 11th and 12th - about resurrection of the dead and eternal life.

How and why was the Creed composed?

Since apostolic times, Christians have used so-called “articles of faith” to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. IN Ancient Church There were 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.

At the First Ecumenical Council the first seven members of the Creed were written, at the Second - the remaining five. The First Ecumenical Council took place in the city of Nicaea in 325 to confirm the apostolic teaching about the Son of God against the incorrect teaching of Arius. He believed that the Son of God was created by God the Father and therefore is not the true God. The Second Ecumenical Council took place in Constantinople (Constantinople) in 381 to confirm the apostolic teaching about the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedonius, who rejected the Divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. For the two cities in which these Ecumenical Councils took place, the Creed is called Nicene-Constantinopolitan.

What is the meaning of the Creed?

The meaning of the Creed is the preservation of a single confession of the immutable truths (dogmas) of the faith, and through this the unity of the Church.

The Creed begins with the word “I believe,” so saying it is a profession of faith.

When is the Creed said?

The symbol of faith is pronounced by those receiving baptism (“catechumens”) during the Sacrament of Baptism. At the baptism of an infant, the Creed is pronounced by the recipients. In addition, the Creed is collectively sung by believers in church during the Liturgy and read daily as part of the morning prayer rule. Every Orthodox Christian should know it.

How do we understand “I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible”?

This means believing in one God the Father, in the fact that God contains everything in His power and authority, controls everything, that He created heaven and earth, visible and invisible, that is spiritual world, to which the Angels belong. These words express the confidence that God exists, that He is one and there is no other besides Him, that everything that exists, as in the visible physical world, so in the invisible, spiritual, that is, the entire vast universe was created by God and nothing can exist without God. A person accepts this faith with his heart. Faith is confidence in real existence God and trust in Him. God is one, but not lonely, because God is one in essence, but trinity in Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible. Unity of Three, infinite loving friend friend of persons

How to understand “and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, in Whom all things were”?

It means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the same One God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, born before the beginning of time, that is, when there was no time yet. He, like Light from Light, is as inseparable from God the Father as light is from the sun. He is the True God, born of the True God. He was born, and not at all created by God the Father, that is, He is one being with the Father, Consubstantial with Him.

The Son of God is the second Person of the Holy Trinity according to His Divinity. He is called Lord because He is the true God, since the name Lord is one of the names of God. The Son of God is called Jesus, that is, the Savior, this name was given by the Archangel Gabriel himself. The prophets called Him Christ, that is, the Anointed One - this is how kings, high priests and prophets have long been called. Jesus, the Son of God, is so called because all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are immeasurably communicated to His humanity, and thus to Him belong in the highest degree the knowledge of a Prophet, the holiness of a High Priest, and the power of a King. Jesus Christ is called the Only Begotten Son of God because He is the one and only Son of God, born from the being of God the Father, and therefore He is one being(nature) with God the Father. The Creed says that He was born of the Father, and this depicts the personal property by which He differs from the other Persons of the Holy Trinity. It was said before all ages, so that no one would think that there was a time when He did not exist. The words of Light from Light in some way explain the incomprehensible birth of the Son of God from the Father. God the Father exists eternal Light, from Him is born the Son of God, Who is also the eternal Light; but God the Father and the Son of God are one eternal Light, indivisible, of one Divine nature. The words of God are true from God are true, taken from the Holy Scriptures: The Son of God came and gave people light and understanding so that they might know the true God and abide in His true Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (see 1 John 5:20). The words begotten, uncreated were added by the holy fathers of the Ecumenical Council to denounce Arius, who wickedly taught that the Son of God was created. The words consubstantial with the Father mean that the Son of God is one and the same Divine being with God the Father.

“In Whom all things were” means that everything that exists was created by Him, as well as by God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth. God the Father created everything by His Son as His eternal wisdom and His eternal Word. This means that the world was created by One God - the Holy Trinity.

How to understand “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”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race, appeared on earth, was incarnated by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human, that is, he took on not only the body, but also the human soul and became a perfect man, without ceasing at the same time to be God - became a God-man.

The Son of God, according to His promise, came to earth to save not just any people, but the entire human race. “He came down from heaven” - as He says about Himself: “No one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man who came down from heaven, who is in heaven” (John 3:13). The Son of God is omnipresent and therefore always abides in heaven and on earth, but on earth He was previously invisible and became visible only when He appeared in the flesh, became incarnate, that is, took upon Himself human flesh, except for sin, and became Man, without ceasing to be God . The Incarnation of Christ was accomplished with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Virgin, just as she was a Virgin, remained a Virgin after the Nativity of Christ. The Orthodox Church calls the Virgin Mary the Mother of God and honors Her above all created beings, not only people, but also angels, since she is the Mother of the Lord Himself.

The word becoming human was added so that no one would think that the Son of God took on only flesh or body, but so that in Him they would recognize a perfect Man, consisting of body and soul. Jesus Christ was crucified for all people - by His death on the cross He delivered the human race from sin, curse and death.

How do we understand “who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, who suffered and was buried”?

This means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ during the reign of Pontius Pilate in Judea (that is, at a very specific historical moment) was crucified on the cross for the sins of people for the sake of the salvation of the entire human race. He Himself was sinless. He really suffered, died and was buried. The Savior suffered and died not for His sins, which He did not have, but for the sins of the entire human race, and did not suffer because he could not avoid suffering, but because he voluntarily wanted to suffer.

How do we understand “and he who rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ rose again on the third day after His death, as predicted in Scripture. Jesus Christ, by the power of His Divinity, rose from the dead in the same body in which He was born and died. In the Scriptures of the Prophets Old Testament It was clearly predicted about the suffering, death, burial of the Savior and His resurrection, therefore it is said: “according to Scripture.” The words “according to Scripture” refer not only to the fifth, but also to the fourth member of the Creed.

Jesus Christ died in Good Friday about three o'clock in the afternoon, and rose after midnight from Saturday on the first day of the week, called from that time "Sunday". But in those days, even part of a day was taken as a whole day, which is why it is said that He was in the tomb for three days.

How do we understand “he who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father”?

This means to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, ascended into heaven with His most pure flesh and sat down at the right hand (on the right side, in honor) of God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven with His humanity (flesh and soul), and with His Divinity He always remained with the Father. The words “sitting on the right hand” (sitting on the right side) must be understood spiritually. They mean that the Lord Jesus Christ has the same power and glory with God the Father.

By His ascension, the Lord united the earthly with the heavenly and showed all people that their fatherland is in heaven, in the Kingdom of God, which is now open to all true believers.

How do we understand “and the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, whose Kingdom will have no end”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ will again (again, again) come to earth to judge all people, both living and dead, who will then be resurrected; and that after this Last Judgment the Kingdom of Christ will come, which will never end. This judgment is called terrible because the conscience of every person will open before everyone, and not only the good and evil deeds that someone has done throughout his life on earth will be revealed, but also all the words spoken, secret desires and thoughts. According to this judgment, the righteous will go into eternal life, and the sinners into eternal torment - because they did evil deeds for which they did not repent and which they did not make amends for. good deeds and correction of life.

How do we understand “and in the Holy Spirit, the Life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets”?

This means believing that the third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit, the same true Lord God as the Father and the Son. To believe that the Holy Spirit is the Life-Giving Spirit, He, together with God the Father and God the Son, gives life to creatures, including spiritual life to people: “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3: 5). The Holy Spirit deserves worship and glorification equal to the Father and the Son, therefore Jesus Christ commanded to baptize people (all nations) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19). The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets and apostles, and by His inspiration all the Holy books were written: “Prophecy was never made by the will of man, but the saints spoke it God's men, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:21).

It also talks about the main thing in the Orthodox faith - the mystery of the Holy Trinity: One God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed itself to people in a visible way: at the Baptism of the Lord in the form of a dove, and on the day of Pentecost He descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. A person can become a participant in the Holy Spirit through right faith, church sacraments and fervent prayer: “if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).

“Who proceeds from the Father” - Who proceeds from the Father; “He who is with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified” - Who should be worshiped and Who should be glorified equally with the Father and the Son. “Who spoke the prophets” - who spoke through the prophets.

How to understand “into One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”?

This means believing in the Church founded by Jesus Christ through the Apostles: one, Holy, Catholic (which includes all the faithful, its members). This speaks of the Church of Christ, which Jesus Christ founded on earth for the sanctification of sinful people and their reunification with God. The Church is the totality of all Orthodox Christians, living and dead, united by the faith and love of Christ, the hierarchy and the holy sacraments. Each individual Orthodox Christian is called a member, or part of the Church. When talking about faith in the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, then the Church means all the people who are faithful to it, who profess the same Orthodox faith, and not the building where they go to pray to God and which is called the temple of God.

The Church is one because “there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

The Church is Holy, because “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (i.e., for all believers - members of the Church) in order to sanctify it (having sanctified every Christian with baptism), cleansing it with the washing of water through the word (i.e., baptismal water and with the sacramental words of baptism), in order to present her to Himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).

The Church is Catholic, or Catholic, or Ecumenical, because it is not limited to any place (space), nor time, nor people, but includes true believers from all places, times and peoples.

The Church is Apostolic because it has continuously and unchangeably preserved since the time of the Apostles both the teaching and the succession of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through consecrated ordination. The True Church is also called Orthodox or True Believer.

How do we understand “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins”?

This means recognizing and openly declaring that for spiritual rebirth and forgiveness of sins one only needs to be baptized once. Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water, with the invocation of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life. Baptism is one, because it is a spiritual birth, and a person is born once, and therefore is baptized once.

The Creed only mentions Baptism because it is the door to the Church of Christ. Only those who have received Baptism can participate in other church sacraments. A sacrament is such a sacred action through which the real power (grace) of the Holy Spirit is secretly, invisibly given to a person.

How do we understand the “tea of ​​the resurrection of the dead”?

This means expecting with hope and confidence (tea - I expect) that a time will come when the souls of dead people will again unite with their bodies and all the dead will come to life through the action of the omnipotence of God. The resurrection of the dead will follow simultaneously with the Second and Glorious Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the moment of the general resurrection, the bodies of dead people will change; in essence, the bodies will be the same, but in quality they will be different from the current bodies - they will be spiritual - incorruptible and immortal. The bodies of those people who will still be alive at the Second Coming of the Savior will also change. According to the change of man himself, the entire visible world will change - from perishable to imperishable.

How to understand “and the life of the next century. Amen"?

This means expecting that after the resurrection of the dead, the Judgment of Christ will take place, and for the righteous there will come the endless joy of eternal bliss in unity with God. The life of the future century is the life that will happen after the Resurrection of the dead and the General Judgment of Christ. The word "amen" means confirmation - truly so! This is the only way the truth of the Orthodox faith can be expressed and it cannot be changed by anyone.

About naming and names

Are name days and Angel's Day the same thing?

Sometimes name day is called the day of an angel, because the saint and the guardian angel come so close in their service to man that they are even designated by a common name, although they are not identified.

Each person has his own Guardian Angel, he is given by God at Baptism. The Guardian Angel is a disembodied spirit; he has no name. And the saints, in whose honor people are given names, are also people who righteous life pleased God and glorified by the Church. The day of remembrance of the saint whose name a person bears is a name day. One saint can be the patron saint of many people with the same names.

Angel Day is the day of a person’s Baptism, and Angel Day can also be called the day of remembrance of all Heavenly Powers ethereal (November 21, new style).

But in the popular consciousness, these holidays have merged together, and on name day people congratulate them on Angel’s Day.

How to choose a name for a baby?

In the Russian Orthodox Church there is a custom to name a baby in honor of saints (according to the calendar). The baby is usually named after the saint, whose memory is celebrated by the Church on the birthday itself, on the eighth day after his birth, or on the day of Epiphany. But you can choose the name of any saint whose memory is celebrated shortly after the baby’s birthday. Sometimes a child is named after a saint who was chosen in advance and prayed to even before the child was born.

How to correctly determine who your saint is?

You need to find in the month book (at the end of the Orthodox church calendar) the saint of the same name, and if there are several of them, then choose the one whose memorial day comes first after the birthday or the one you especially reverence. You can also rely on the priest’s choice of name at baptism.

How to determine the name day?

Name day, the day of the namesake, is the day of remembrance of the saint of the same name, closest after your birthday, or the one in whose honor the priest named you when performing the Sacrament of Baptism.

How should you spend your name day?

On this day you need to go to Church, take communion, submit notes about the health and repose of your relatives, and order a prayer service to your patron saint. The best activity on name day is reading the life of your saint and other spiritual books, as well as performing deeds of piety. A festive meal for relatives and friends without any excesses in “eating and drinking” is also not forbidden.

Is it possible to name a child after the father?

It is possible if this name is in the Orthodox month book.

What to do if the child does not have Orthodox name?

If the name under which the child is registered is not in the Orthodox calendar, this does not mean that his name should be changed at Baptism. It is quite possible that, out of ignorance, the parents gave the child an Orthodox name, but in its Western European or local form. In this case, the priest usually translates it into the Church Slavonic form and baptizes under this name, having previously informed it to the parents of the person being baptized or to himself.

Here are examples of such translations: Angela - Angelina; Zhanna - Joanna; Oksana, Aksinya - Ksenia; Agrafena - Agrippina; Polina - Appolinaria; Lukeria - Glyceria; Egor - Georgy; Jan - John; Denis - Dionysius; Svetlana - Fotina or Fotinia; Martha - Martha; Akim - Joachim; Korney - Cornelius; Leon - Leo; Thomas - Thomas.

In the case where it is not possible to establish such a correspondence (for example, names such as Elvira, Diana do not have them), the priest recommends that the parents or the person being baptized choose an Orthodox name (preferably close in sound), which will henceforth be his church name.

What to do if a person with a non-Orthodox name does not remember the name with which he was baptized?

You can raise the archive in the church where the person was baptized. If this is not possible, you need to contact a priest. The priest will read a naming prayer and name the Orthodox saint.

Is it possible to change the Orthodox name given at birth to another Orthodox name at Baptism? For example, should Vitaly be baptized with the name Vyacheslav?

If at birth the baby was given the name contained in Orthodox calendar, when naming, you should not change this name to another. Sometimes people who wish to be baptized ask to be given a name that is different from the one given at birth. In most cases, this is not due to the desire to radically change the way of life, as happens when accepting monasticism, but with a superstitious desire to avoid the influence of sorcerers, those who know the name person.

Baptism is the first of the seven main sacraments, symbolizing the birth of a person in faith. Parents want their child’s meeting with the church to be remembered as a bright, joyful event, and they try to foresee in advance everything that is needed for the child’s baptism, as well as to properly prepare for it. What you need to know about child baptism Having decided on the location and date of the christening, parents and future godparents need to agree with the priest on the days to attend public conversations, during which the priest will explain the essence of the sacrament, tell how the ceremony is carried out, and also what responsibilities appear for the recipients. In addition, immediately before baptism, godparents must fast for three days, confess and receive communion.

Interview before Baptism

The main purpose of public conversations is to convey the essence of the Orthodox faith and convince those who wish to accept Baptism or become a recipient of its truth.

The organization of such interviews depends on the rules established in the temple. Meetings can be regular - held on certain days for parents and future godparents, for example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In some churches, these conversations are strictly individual and scheduled at an agreed upon time. There are temples that, after listening to lectures, practice exams and issue a corresponding certificate. The duration of such a course can be up to 7 days.

The interview does not have to take place in the church where the baptism is planned. Out-of-town godparents can listen to public conversations in the church closest to them.

Communion and fasting before the Sacrament

A day or two before baptism, both parents and recipients need to visit the temple, confess and receive communion in order to be cleansed of sins before the bright event.

Before the sacrament of the cross one is supposed to fast for three days, abstaining from foul language, pleasures and amusements. On the day of baptism, the godparents are prohibited from eating until the end of the ceremony, since very often after the ceremony there is communion immediately, and the godparents are given the opportunity to take communion together with the godson.

Preparation for the rite of Baptism

At what age should a child be baptized? The Orthodox Church calls for infants to be baptized as early as possible, so that grace may quickly descend on the child and he will find his Guardian Angel. Most often, the 40th day of birth is chosen as the date of christening. There are several reasons for this: up to 40 days the woman in labor is not allowed to participate in church sacraments, after which a cleansing prayer is read over her, allowing participation in baptism; in babies in the first months of life, intrauterine reflexes do not completely fade away, so they can easily tolerate being dipped into water; newborns behave more calmly when strangers (godparents, priest) take them in their arms.

On what days can a baby be baptized?

The baptism of children is carried out on any day, including holidays and Lenten days. On weekends, services are usually longer and the number of parishioners is larger, so it is better to arrange for a baptism on a weekday. On major holidays, when services of special content and duration are held, Baptism may not be held at all, it all depends on the specific church. It is also worth considering that during Lent, the treats at the christening celebration should be Lenten.

It is good to choose a day when the atmosphere in the church is calmer and there are few people, but it is better to agree with the priest about an individual sacrament, discussing the main nuances of organizing the ceremony:

• the date of the ceremony is agreed upon;
• a list of necessary baptismal accessories is announced;
• the name of the child, which he will be named at baptism, is specified.

Is it possible to baptize on critical days? On the days of monthly cleansing, women are forbidden to participate in church sacraments, so the date of baptism should be selected when the godmother and mother of the child do not have menstruation. If critical days unexpectedly occurred earlier or later and falls just at the time of christening, then the priest must be informed about this. The priest may recommend postponing the sacrament, and if this is not possible, then give certain recommendations. Most likely, the godmother will simply be present in the temple, without taking full part in the ritual, that is, she will not be able to accept the child from the font and hold him in her arms, and also venerate the icons. Offering prayers is permitted.

What you need to take to church for a girl’s baptism: list

Godparents need to prepare the necessary baptismal supplies in advance:

• A pectoral cross on a string or chain - should be bought by the godfather. If purchased in a jewelry store, then the priest must be warned before the sacrament begins so that he can consecrate the product. In the church shop, all the crosses have already been consecrated.
• - white cloth (diaper, towel) for taking from the font, bought or sewn by the godmother. In the cold season, you may additionally need a blanket or blanket to wrap your child before the bath and warm him up after.
• or a dress - clothes after the font are bought by the godmother. The cut of the shirt should be loose and give access to the chest, arms, and legs for the priest to anoint. The fabric should be natural and pleasant to the body, well absorb remaining moisture.
• . It is not necessary for a baby girl (up to 7 years old), but parents themselves prefer to wear caps for newborn children, even for boys. But for one-year-old babies and girls from one year old, lace scarves and headbands are selected - they beautifully complement the image. It is advisable to buy a product that matches harmoniously with the dress. In ready-made sets, all baptismal accessories are made in the same style, so this outfit will be preferable.
• Icon by name. If there is no image of the heavenly patron in stock, then you can purchase an icon of the Mother of God or revered saints - Nicholas the Pleasant, Panteleimon the Healer, Matrona of Moscow.
• Church candles for the sacrament.

What you need to buy for a boy's baptism: list

The list of things for a boy’s christening is practically the same. Godparents and parents will need to bring with them:

• Pectoral cross - , or .
• - terry or cotton (according to the season).
• or a ready-made baptismal set without a headdress. For newborn boys, a cap is allowed.
• A personalized icon or image of the Savior.
• Church candles.
• A second small towel so that the priest can dry his hands. Afterwards it remains for the needs of the church.
• A bottle of water, a pacifier.
• Spare clothes.
• Birth certificate, passports of mom and dad.

Rules and responsibilities of parents and godparents

All those invited to the temple for the sacrament must wear pectoral crosses and also know your responsibilities.

Godfather and godmother The girl should be received from the font and held in her arms throughout the entire sacrament by the godmother, the boy by the godfather. The godparents will also have to dress the baby in baptismal clothes, so it’s good if they have experience interacting with newborns. The recipients, instead of the baptized person, renounce the unclean and his deeds and take a vow of allegiance to the Lord, thereby promising God to help the newly-made Christian believe and live according to the laws of the church. Mom and Dad The parents of a child under seven years of age (infant) must give their consent to baptism, since they are the ones who will be involved in the spiritual education of the child and his inclusion in the church. A child over 7 years old (adolescent) makes this decision himself.

The presence of the mother at the baptism depends on how many days have passed since the birth. Only after 40 days and after reading a cleansing prayer is the young mother allowed to attend the ceremony.

When, after baptism, the priest conducts churching: he brings and places the baby to the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God (the boys are first brought into the altar), then after that he is given either to the godparents or to the father and mother present.

The first communion may be scheduled for some other day, for example, in a week. Parents or mother will need to come with the child to the morning prayer service so that the priest will give the baby communion. Children need to receive Holy Communion as often as possible, preferably every week.

Grandparents

Grandparents present at the baptism offer prayers and can help the godparents change the child’s clothes. Being one of the closest relatives, they take part in solving organizational issues. If desired, they can buy additional baptismal accessories, for example, a blanket, blanket, booties, socks, which will be needed during the sacrament and will also be useful to the child in the future.

What prayers do you need to know to baptize a child? The main prayer said by the person being baptized or his recipients is. You need to know it by heart, or at least read it confidently from the page, understanding the meaning. This prayer consists of 12 statements and briefly describes the essence of the Orthodox faith. The recipients also pronounce the prayer words of the godfather and godmother, in which they ask to be named godparents and to be blessed for this sacred mission. It is customary to know the prayers that are well known to all Orthodox believers and “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice.”

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 state of health of the child. 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 there is no access for strangers to 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. (we baptize for the first time 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 the baptism – great joy on for many years for the whole family, so if you can’t film in a church, then you need to look for a church where you can film (but even in Old Believer churches they allow filming 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 godfather - this is the most frequently asked 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 neglect 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 Evgeniya. 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 the baby does not get 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. It is usually poured there first hot water, before the Sacrament it is diluted cold. 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.

The reasons why people decide to baptize their children sometimes turn out to be very original in the sense that they have nothing to do with the Church.

Baptism can be perceived as following a family structure:

« Our family follows the tradition of baptizing children. And I don't want to give up on her“, says one of the users.

Sometimes baptism is perceived as a national tradition:

« I won’t call myself a churchgoer; for me it’s more a question of continuity and some kind of identification: a Russian person is an Orthodox Christian».

This statement is accompanied by a lengthy justification:

« People (for the most part) profess (feel a sense of belonging) to the religion that has historically developed on the territory of their state. Hindus do not convert to Christianity, the Japanese do not strive for Judaism, and Iranians are indifferent to Zen. Everyone minds their own business».

Such non-church people, “Orthodox by culture”, are identified by sociological surveys in Russian society from two thirds to 80%. We even like to appeal to this number on occasion. But it seems that it is with these people that when they go to church, wanting to baptize their children, what happens is greatest number misunderstandings, sad and comical situations, the essence of which is the same: they don’t really know what they are asking for, but they definitely demand that they do what they ask.

Godparents without “fanatical piety”

« I baptized two of my children and an older relative, and everything was easy, sincere and festive...

Now the priest sternly asked me when I confessed and received communion in last time, how often I go to church and which one, what prayers I know. I am not different from many of my compatriots in my overly fanatical piety, so I honestly answered that I do all this at the behest of my soul, not rarely, but not every day. I received the answer: “I’m tired of baptizing atheists!»

The commentator was offended. But how can I explain to her that baptism is not just a “holiday”, and Christianity is not only “God in the soul”?

Another case:

« We had a godfather brother relatives. He’s generally a hard-working guy, from the village, all the women there come to him for help, and he doesn’t take a penny from anyone, he’s always happy to help. He also turned out to be unworthy».

Are godfather and “good man” the same thing?

« A friend asked me to be her baby's godmother. I prepared thoroughly - I bought everything I needed at the Baptism store, got myself mentally ready, and now I read about the interview and was upset. I don’t particularly observe Orthodox customs, what if the priest won’t allow me to see this sacrament?».

Obviously, in the minds of such people, baptism is just a beautiful rite. So complaints are flying across the Internet about the refusal to “perform the ritual.” Or that for some reason the “ritual” was carried out not individually or in the main church (which was chosen by the applicants for being beautiful and ancient), but in a small baptismal church (or even in a separate baptismal room), where the photographer and camera operator could turn around normally.

Is church just beautiful?

Baptize... without an interview

However, the main wave of indignation is caused by the requirement for parents and godparents to undergo public conversations. As the main argument against them, participants in online discussions cite the practice that existed in the Church in the 1990s, when everyone who came was baptized upon first conversion.

However, let’s figure out what public conversations are in general and why they arose.

The introduction into church practice of preparatory conversations for those being baptized themselves (in the case of adults being baptized), as well as for parents and godparents (in the case of infant baptism), is regulated by the document “On religious, educational and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church,” which entered into in force on December 28, 2011.

It says, in particular:

« It is unacceptable to perform the Sacrament of Baptism on adults who, not knowing the basics of faith, refuse to prepare to participate in the Sacrament.”

“The Sacrament of Baptism cannot be performed on a person who denies the fundamental truths of the Orthodox faith and Christian morality. People who wish to be baptized for superstitious reasons cannot be allowed to participate in the Sacrament of Baptism.”

That is, the main goal of pre-baptism conversations is not to conduct a “test for good man", as the authors of some of the above entries considered. Their goal is to explain to a person the basics of the religion to which he converts himself or converts a child.

At our request, the cleric of the Church of St. Nicholas at the Straw Gatehouse, Priest Dimitry Turkin, comments on the situation:

For many years, priests had to baptize almost everyone who asked for it. Very few baptized people became parishioners. Sometimes people who were very far from the true faith and did not seek to know this faith were accepted into membership of the Church. There is hope that this situation has passed forever.

So, you need to accustom yourself to the idea that you need to prepare for baptism, and if there is objectively no such readiness, then there will be no baptism.

Currently, preparation for baptism consists of listening to lectures mainly by future godparents. Of course, like any new business, it is not without its shortcomings. Essentially, we are trying to revive the practice of catechumens before baptism. This is an obvious benefit for the Church, so the world does not want to accept it.

The mistake of those who critically evaluate our attempts to resist the formal attitude towards the Sacrament is that it seems to them that we are trying to force someone to teach something. In fact, we are still trying, forgive the rudeness, to simply filter out those who do not want to learn anything themselves. Believe me, they do not need either Christ or His Church.

It is very good that someone declares: “the baptism of a child is the reason to start going to church.” Attending preparatory lectures is precisely the beginning of going to church. In addition, this is also a way to begin to understand something in church life. But we can no longer count on “suddenly they will start.”

Imagine the feelings of a priest forced to baptize everyone who comes for years. Believe me, it is very difficult and painful for the soul to pray with and for those who themselves do not want anything and simply indifferently defend the time of the Sacrament.

In fact, we don't turn anyone away. If a person has completed the preparation, then he is allowed to be baptized. It’s just that those who have decided for themselves that they don’t need anything from the Church other than the fact of baptism do not come to our conversations and therefore do not come to be baptized or baptize their children.

There were many different cases of baptism, but I don’t remember a single one when a person who initially showed indifference became a parishioner.

In general, over the time that has passed since the introduction of public conversations into church practice, the attitude towards them has become calmer. However, the phrase in the title of this section still occupies a leading place in the list of search queries.

Interview stumbling blocks

In addition to the very fact of their holding, public conversations raise a number of questions.

Firstly, at the very beginning of the conversation, apparently, they were carried out, as they say, “with zeal beyond reason.” The correspondent knows of a case when several years ago in the summer an Orthodox couple from Moscow tried to baptize their third child in Vologda with their parents.

After sitting through a two-hour lecture with three children from zero to four years in her arms, my mother then tried to talk to the priest about “mitigating the procedure.” To which I received the answer: “ Either sit through two more meetings, or go to be baptized at your place of residence».

In Moscow, after asking the same couple a few questions, the priest told the parents to prepare for communion. The child was baptized on the next convenient day for them.

Priest Dimitry Turkin comments:

The participation (NB, not the presence) of godparents and (or) parents is mandatory in cases where they are not churchgoers or are not parishioners of a given temple. If parishioners who confess and receive communion in church ask for baptism, they receive permission without preparation.

If these are people from another parish, then in a short conversation they must show their degree of church membership and, then, based on the results, they will either receive permission to be baptized, or they will be offered to undergo preparatory conversations.

Cases of a routine attitude towards catechesis (both on the part of participants and on the part of organizers) were also noted in online records:

« It's just something like a lecture. I went for three Saturdays. Dad was sitting with the baby. I don't regret it. At least I took a little nap».

In other cases, the very content of the conversation raised questions. The Regulations “On Religious-Educational and Catechetical Ministry” provide for:

“The catechumen of adults involves several conversations, including the study of the Creed, selected passages of Holy Scripture, the foundations of Christian morality, including ideas about sins and virtues, and an introduction to the liturgical life of the Church.”

The official document prescribes: when necessary, there should be at least two conversations, but their content and duration are determined by the catechist “with love and prudence.” However, life practice can often differ significantly:

« I went last year, and they gave me videos on my laptop to watch with speeches by clergy about the benefits of the very talk I came to.».

Sometimes the meaning of the conversation, according to the testimonies of those announced, came down to maintaining superstitions associated with baptism:

« The interview was more like a conversation about life. The main thing that worried them was whether we were dating our godfather, whether we were living together as a man and a woman, or whether we were getting married...»

In other cases, the content of the conversation itself is generally difficult to understand:

« The inappropriate lady who conducted this interview took it upon herself to tell why small children die, but there was no logic in it».

Sometimes those who came were clearly not ready for the teaching to move “to a practical level.” Although, perhaps, the tone of the conversation was not entirely correct:

« The abbess of the church (I could be wrong) conducted a monologue about what irresponsible, sinful, low people we all are.

There were a lot of godparents and parents, some tried to ask questions, to which they received short answers in the style of: “There’s a book, everything is written there, what’s not clear?»

True, our godfather, convicted of fornication to the whole crowd, (he was already for a long time lived with a girl), got married. Perhaps we are not Orthodox and should not be baptized, but this is not the way to convey it.”

On Thursday of the first week of Great Lent, March 14, there will be NO public conversations before baptism. The next conversation will take place on Saturday, March 16 at 14:00, topic: Creed.

Baptism is a fundamental sacrament. Christian life begins with him. When immersed three times in blessed water with the invocation of the baptizing name of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, a person dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life. Thus, the baptized person is introduced into the Church and becomes its member.

Holy Baptism is the main guarantee of our salvation, for, according to the word of the Lord, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit(John 3:5–6).

Since Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person will be born one day, then this Sacrament can only be performed once in a lifetime.

Baptism is impossible without faith wishing to receive the Sacrament. Purpose of Baptism- union with God, receiving His saving grace.

Those who are baptized are granted remission of all sins- both the first-born and personal, committed before Baptism, for God, by the Death of His Son on the cross, blotted out original sin and all the sins of every person from the beginning of the world to the end of it.

What is needed for a child's baptism:

• Child's birth certificate;
• Certificates of completion of public consultations;
• Christening shirt, diaper;
• Cross;
• Towel;
• Candles;
• For older children (who are already walking) - a swimsuit and rubber slippers.

What is needed for the baptism of an adult:

• Birth certificate;
• Certificate of completion of public consultations;
• Christening shirt;
• Cross;
• Towel;
• Candles;
• Swimsuit and rubber slippers.

Public conversations:

Infant adoptees (godparents), adults being baptized and children over 7 years old must first undergo two preparatory conversations.

For adults coming to Baptism it is still necessary to read the Gospel of Mark and undergo an individual confessional conversation with a priest - any day from 17:30 in the temple.

Conversations take place in a Sunday School class.
There is no need to register in advance.

Thursday at 18:30
Saturday at 14:00
Sunday at 16:30

Directions:

Frequently asked questions:

1. Are public conversations mandatory?
Adults being baptized They must undergo preparation for the Sacrament - two public conversations and a confessional with a priest.

By blessing His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis prepared a document “On religious, educational and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church.” According to this document, “all adults and children over 7 years of age who wish to receive the Sacrament of Baptism must undergo the announcement. It is unacceptable to perform the Sacrament of Baptism on adults who, not knowing the basics of faith, refuse to prepare to participate in the Sacrament.”

In exceptional cases(elderly age, illness and other good reasons) preparation time can be reduced at the discretion of the priest.

For godparents, two preparatory conversations are necessary.

If the recipient is a churchgoer (regularly participating in the Sacraments of the Church), he only needs to approach the priest once for a short conversation or have such conversations in his church with his confessor.

2. How to choose a godfather (godfather)
The custom of having recipients at Baptism dates back to the most ancient Apostolic Tradition.

According to the Trebnik, only one receiver is needed- a man for a male person being baptized or a woman for a female person. According to established tradition, there is a practice of inviting two recipients to participate in the Sacrament: a man and a woman.

Recipients cannot be:

• Unbaptized or persons of another religion
• Non-believers and those unwilling to join the truths of the Orthodox faith.
• Parents of the child
• Minors
• Mentally ill
• Married couple or persons intending to marry
• Absentee adoption is not allowed

3. What should a godfather/godmother do before baptism?
The godfather and godmother must attend catechesis in the church, come to Confession and Communion before the baptism of their godson. This also needs to be done by the parents of the child who is going to be baptized.

4. Is it possible to have conversations in another temple?
Conversations can be held in any Orthodox church. In most temples, at the end of the conversations, you are given certificate(can be simply handwritten by the priest).

5. What to do if godparents live in another city/country.
If they are Orthodox people, they probably know where to be Orthodox church in their city/country and can always come to a conversation about preparation for baptism with the priest of a given temple.

6. What prayers do you need to know for baptism?
The three main prayers that a person receiving baptism must know by heart are the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos.

Creed

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to whom all things were. For our sake, man and for our salvation, who came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, we are worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven! Let him be holy Your name Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

7. What kind of cross is needed for baptism?
Anyone is suitable for Baptism orthodox cross. The main thing is that it is durable and does not break. Regarding the size, pattern, precious metal and material, there is no difference. It is important that a person has reverence before baptism. The cross can be purchased at the discretion of parents and godparents in the church shop of the temple.

8. What clothes are needed for baptism?
Baptism kits for children or adults are sold in the church shop of the temple. Parents, godparents and guests also need to pay attention to their clothes. Men should choose long sleeves and trousers. For women - a headdress (scarf or hat), long sleeves and a skirt below the knees.

9. Is it necessary to confess and receive communion before baptism?
A person who receives baptism only needs to confess. But the parents and godfather of the child who is being baptized must both confess and receive communion. This is especially important for those who have not received communion for a long time, because it is the sacrament of the Eucharist and the sacrament of repentance that connects us with Christ and His Church.

10. Is communion necessary after baptism?
After baptism, it is necessary for an adult to receive communion, and for the parents of a baptized child to bring him to the cup of communion for the first time. And after that, try to take communion regularly.