How is the christening of an adult. How is an adult baptized? What is needed for the ceremony

Modern people are increasingly thinking about their souls, so many decide to be baptized in the church. But before you decide to take such a step, you should carefully weigh everything. If the desire to be baptized is caused only by the desire to pay tribute to fashion, then it is better to postpone it. After all, joining a church community imposes certain obligations on a person. With a conscious desire to live as a Christian, some preparation is required, the fulfillment of several conditions.

Baptism is one of the most ancient church traditions, which is written about in the Bible. Jesus Christ Himself was also baptized, so every believer should follow His example. A mandatory attribute of the sacrament is water, where the believer is immersed three times. This action is accompanied by an appeal to the persons of the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It symbolizes the spiritual birth into eternal life and the death of man to sin. In the sacrament, there is deliverance from original sin, which was inherited from the first people (Adam and Eve). Baptism is performed once in a lifetime.

The sacrament is preceded by an obligatory conversation with a church minister, simply with a priest. You can meet him after the end of any service, you just need to come up and say about your desire to undergo the ceremony.

In some temples, individual interviews are held, in others they are general. As a rule, it is required to come to the talks three times. During them, the priest talks about church life, about what changes the believer will have to make in his behavior, how an adult is baptized.

In former times there was an institution of catechumens. Future Christians were prepared to join the Christian community gradually. The preparatory period lasted from 40 days to several years. People studied the Holy Scriptures, learned to pray. The church community had to make sure that the applicant had a strong desire to live a Christian life.

Preparation for the ritual

Baptism takes place throughout the liturgical year. It doesn’t matter how old a person is, you can perform the ceremony at any age, on any day, there are no restrictions on this. After all, everyone has their own fate - some make such an important decision when they are in the hospital or under the influence of other circumstances that make you think about eternity.

It is possible to arrange for the rite to be performed individually, but this is usually done for a group that attended the readings. The day is chosen by the rector of the temple arbitrarily. As a rule, this is Saturday, so that new members of the church can fully participate in the Divine Liturgy the next morning, start communion.

Each temple may have its own timetable, which can usually be found at the entrance to the building.

It is better to know in advance how the rite of baptism of an adult goes, in order to take part in it consciously. The priest usually talks about this at preliminary conversations, explaining the meaning of each action. In Russia, all divine services and rites are held in Church Slavonic. It would be useful to get a dictionary in order to understand at least the most common expressions during worship. After all, being baptized in order to simply “stand up” the service is a rather pointless exercise. A baptismal kit will also be needed, it usually includes:

You can purchase these items separately, the main thing is not to forget anything. Spiritual preparation is also needed - it is desirable to know the 10 commandments, you need to memorize a couple of prayers (the Symbol of Faith, “Our Father”), they will be pronounced aloud during baptism.

How the sacrament is performed

The rite of baptism among the Orthodox is traditionally performed under the vaults of the temple. In many churches there are no specially built fonts for full immersion of the body in water. Then they use a large bowl over which people bow their heads. You should not worry about this - the main thing is that all the necessary prayers are read, then the sacrament is considered valid.

Usually a person is baptized in childhood, shortly after birth, choosing godmothers and fathers for him, who will have to monitor how the child honors God's laws and fulfills them during his earthly journey. But in the history of our country there was a period when excessive religiosity was not only not encouraged, but could also become a serious hindrance in relationships with relatives and colleagues. Someone believed without advertising their preferences, someone steadfastly endured a share of censure and criticism.

Therefore, most of the people born at that time did not have the opportunity to be baptized. More and more people in adulthood understand that they would like to turn to God and repent of their sins, leave the past life with hardships behind and be renewed.

Baptism of an adult

The rite of baptism of an adult is certainly different from the baptism of a child. First of all, it is a conscious choice for an adult, and therefore there are more requirements for him than for a child.

Many churches hold meetings for people who want to be baptized, where they talk about the Bible, about the relationship between man and higher powers, about the requirements for a servant of God.

Baptism is not a guarantee of a place in Paradise!

It should be understood that once baptized, no one can be guaranteed to earn a place in paradise after death. Baptism is just the beginning of a long and difficult journey on the path to union with the divine essence. By accepting Orthodoxy, a person accepts an obligation to live according to his precepts, which include the obligatory frequent attendance of church and fervent heartfelt prayers.

Nowadays, the requirements imposed by the church on those who wish to be baptized are rather mild, but earlier a priest could test a person, testing his faith for strength.

So, how should you prepare for baptism?

The main preparation takes place in the head: you need to fast for three days before the sacrament. During this fast, you can not eat meat, fatty foods, salty and spicy, you need to give up alcohol and smoking, and sexual abstinence will not be superfluous.

But it should be remembered that baptism is primarily a purification of the soul, and therefore during these three days it is worth focusing on peaceful and benevolent thoughts, avoiding anger and anger. It is obligatory to know by heart the "Symbol of Faith" - you will have to read this prayer by heart during baptism.

Things for baptism

It is worth buying a set of things for baptism in advance. Such a set necessarily includes a baptismal towel - new, always white, beautiful and large, so that you can wipe yourself off after rising from the font with consecrated water. Another indispensable item is a baptismal shirt, in the male version it is a spacious shirt, in the female version, variations in the form of a floor-length shirt are possible.

You will also need baptismal slippers from clothes, as you will have to take off your shoes and be without socks and shoes for some time. Also in the sets are baptismal candles and a pectoral cross.

Where to buy christening clothes?

All these items are sold in church shops, but you should take care of purchasing them in advance. The pectoral cross is worn until the end of life, it cannot be removed, so you should choose one that will be comfortable and inconspicuous throughout the entire time. In addition, the choice in the shops is not rich, the stock of goods is limited, so you simply may not get the right thing.

If you prepare such a set in advance, on the day of baptism, peace and not fuss will reign in your thoughts, besides, craftswomen can decorate a shirt with embroidery - an image of an Orthodox cross is required on the back. Women should also think about a headscarf, since being in church with an uncovered head is strictly condemned, even during the sacrament. The clothes in which you were baptized must not be worn and it is better not to wash.

How is the rite of baptism

The sacrament of baptism begins with the fact that the priest blows three times in the face: this symbolizes the moment of the creation of man, the moment God breathes new life into man. After this, a blessing follows and the reading of prayers begins, at the end of which the person must go through the rite of renunciation of Satan.

The west is considered a symbol of evil and dark forces, so the person being baptized turns in that direction, and the priest conducting the ceremony begins to ask questions that must be answered consciously. Having renounced Satan, you need to turn to the east and confess your devotion to Christ: in the same way, questions will be asked, which will need to be answered three times and at the end you will need to read the "Creed", which is a very brief summary of the entire Orthodox moral teaching.

After that, questions from the priest will follow again, and now comes the time for dipping into the water.

The priest changes into light clothes, which personify the purity of the life of Christ, and begins with the consecration of the font. First, candles are lit, after which oil is consecrated, with which the baptized are anointed: everything inside a person going to God must be cleansed of sins. Then, special baptismal prayers are read over people immersed in the font.

After that, leaving the water, you put on that same baptismal shirt, which symbolizes the beginning of a completely new life, cleansed of old sins.

Under the reading of a special prayer, a pectoral cross is put on the neck of each person who comes out of the font. After that, together with the priest, they make three circles around the font - such a passage symbolizes eternity. Then comes the turn of hymns, at the end of which the epistles of the Apostles are read. The final act is the symbolic cutting of the hair.

Godmother and father

From time immemorial, the church has advised taking one godfather for a boy and one godmother for a girl, but most often the child had both godparents. They could not be blood parents, just as monks and nuns were forbidden to be godparents.

However, in the absence of living relatives of the child, the priest who conducts the ceremony became the godfather. Do adults need godparents? It is believed that no, since at this age everyone is free to make decisions and be responsible for his actions and thoughts before God, and he does not need mentors.

But if you have baptized close relatives or friends who sincerely wish you well, then they can be present at the ceremony as godparents and hold a candle while immersed in the font.

How to behave after the ceremony

After baptism, a person must keep the 10 commandments of the Law of God. Thus, he will show God that he has accepted his covenants and strives for eternal life, is ready to pray for himself and other people. Now the main thing is not love for oneself, but love for loved ones and for God, who promises peace on earth. Communication with God is a prayer that exists for every moment of life. People pray during illness, life troubles, when they have something to thank God for and something to repent of.

sincerity of desires

If you decide to be baptized, think about your desire: is it a tribute to fashion, or are you making concessions to relatives, do you want to be baptized for the company, for show? It happens that a husband or wife goes to church only for the sake of another spouse, being indifferent to the values ​​of Orthodoxy.

If there is no sincere desire in your heart to recognize God, you should not perform this rite. Wait for it to appear inside you. And you should not, on the contrary, put pressure on a person to be baptized - what makes your life better and happier can confuse the worldview of another. Everyone must come to God on their own and make their own decision to be baptized. Then everything will go smoothly, and peace will be established in the soul.

Today, a person comes to the Lord through illness, sorrow, problems, or, over time, realizing that material values ​​\u200b\u200bare fragile, and spiritual ones are relative, and he begins to seek support in the Church, from the Lord through His commandments and teachings. Entry into the Church, otherwise called churching, begins with the Sacrament of Baptism. How the christening takes place, and how to prepare for it, will be described later.

How to choose godparents?

The first task, and perhaps the most important, that parents who want to baptize their child face is to decide who can be godparents. Why the most important, because the godmother or godfather will have to be responsible for the spiritual development, upbringing of the child. That is why it is desirable that godparents be Orthodox people and go to church. Godparents must not be married. An aunt, grandmother, sisters and brothers can become godparents for a child.

How is the baptism?

Before the baptism. It is advisable for godparents to attend public discussions, which describe in detail how it goes. The sacrament of Baptism consists of reading prayers over a person who is preparing to be baptized, in another way, this rite is called an announcement. After the end of the announcement, the Baptism itself begins. The most important moment is the immersion of an adult or a child in the font, you need to dive three times. After immersion in the font, a cross is put on the person being baptized, and he is anointed with the sacred Myrrh. After that, a detour is made three times around the font - a symbol of eternity. After that, men and boys are brought to the altar, and girls and women are only brought to the altar. Baptism ends with the cutting of the hair and the washing away of the sacred Myrrh. The baptism of children is somewhat different from the baptism of adults. You can make a video of the Sacrament of Baptism, which will remain in your memory for a long time, and will bring joy at every viewing.

Adult Baptism

Before Baptism, it is important for an adult to know what components the Orthodox faith has, and for this it is advisable to read the New Testament, read about the Sacraments of the Church. In addition, one who wishes to be baptized must know the following three prayers: “Our Father”, the Symbol of Faith, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.” These prayers can be taken from the prayer book. Before baptism, it is necessary to observe a three-day fast, i.e. do not eat dairy food, meat, eggs, and of course refrain from bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol. And also during fasting, it is undesirable to attend entertainment events. Baptism itself is the same for both small children and adults, the only difference is that the adult performs the necessary actions on his own, and the godparents help the child. To dive into the font you need to buy clothes. For men, this is a baptismal shirt, a woman can wear a long sleeved shirt or can purchase a dress designed specifically for baptism. Baptismal clothing must be new, clean, and white. And you will also need a towel, a cross, candles, slates, because in the Sacrament there are moments when a person should not be wearing shoes and socks. In the temple, a woman must be in a headscarf.

Baptism of a child

As for the baptism of a child, then, as mentioned earlier, everything should be done for him by the godparent, namely: read prayers for him or with him, help get dressed, help when immersed in the font, etc. Godparents must advance purchase a baptismal shirt, a cross for a child. After immersion in the font, the priest passes the child to the godparent (the godfather takes the boys from the font, and the godmother takes the girls), so the godfather should have a towel in his hands. Further Baptism of the child takes place in the same way as for an adult.

Choosing a gift for the godson

When one of the relatives or close people finds out that they will become godparents, they immediately think about what to give to the godson. In fact, choosing a gift is not difficult.

Since ancient times, godparents gave their godson a pectoral cross, clothes for baptism, and an icon of the saint whose name the child was named.

For an infant or small child, you need to purchase such a cross that it is light, and the rope should not be long.

Even in ancient times, instead of clothes for baptism, the godmother gave the godson "kryzhma" - a white cloth, as a symbol of purity, the state in which a person is perceived from the font. Today, such a fabric can be a towel, a white diaper. Baptismal clothes can be sewn by the godmother. It can be decorated with lace or embroidery.

One of the best important gifts, of course, will be the Bible, as well as other books that can be purchased at the church shop. But the most valuable gift is the godparents' prayer for their godchildren.

Video on the topic of the article.

Not so long ago, some 15 years ago, in many churches, especially large urban ones, almost every Sunday one could observe an amazing picture: the rite of mass Baptism. Up to 100 people were baptized at a time. People came to the temple with their whole families. This could only be seen in the first centuries of Christianity with only one “small” difference: then people understood well what they were doing. In our time, as is usually the case, people made the decision to be baptized spontaneously, for company, and simply paying tribute to fashion.

Although today you probably won’t see mass Baptism, however, unfortunately, little has changed in the very attitude towards the Sacrament. Not everyone knows what it really is. For many, as before, this is just a rite that allegedly has some kind of magical effect or simply identifies by nationality: baptized means Russian. But it is gratifying that not everyone approaches this important issue so lightly. This is evidenced by the incessant stream of questions coming to our diocesan website. It remains only to recall that answers to many questions have already been posted on it, and before asking your own, you need to see if someone has already asked about something similar.

Why is it necessary to be baptized?

The Sacrament of Baptism is one of the main Sacraments of the Orthodox Church. This is where the Christian life begins. The Sacrament of Baptism was established by the Lord Himself: Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God(In. 3 , 5). The importance of this event is also evidenced by the fact that in Russia spiritual birth was considered more important than bodily, so many did not even remember when they were born, and celebrated not their birthday, but the day of an angel, or name day - the day of memory of the saint whose name a person received at Baptism.

By accepting the Sacrament of Baptism, a person is freed from original sin and becomes a full member of the Church, that is, receives her prayerful help. This is especially necessary, of course, for babies, since they are the least protected in our unstable time. But the main thing in this Sacrament is that a person is born for eternity, it becomes possible for him to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven in the future life. For a believer, bodily death is no longer death, but sleep (therefore, those who died in Christ are called the reposed).

When is the Sacrament of Baptism performed?

The Charter of the Orthodox Church allows the Sacrament of Baptism to be performed on any day of the year. However, each temple has its own schedule of services, in which a strictly defined time can be set aside for Baptism. Therefore, a few days before the expected date of Baptism, you should contact the temple where you are going to perform this Sacrament in order to find out everything that is necessary for this.

How can an adult be baptized and what is needed for this?

For an adult, the basis for baptism is faith. You need to prepare for Baptism, decide for yourself even before accepting it, very important, in fact, the most important questions in life: do you personally need this, are you ready? Those who come to the Baptismal font should not look here exclusively for earthly goods: health, success, or solving family problems. The purpose of Baptism is union with God.

However, Baptism is only a generous pledge of our salvation. After the celebration of the Sacrament, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: regularly visit the temple, learn divine services, pray and study the path of approaching God with the help of the creations of those who have traveled this path - the holy fathers. That is to learn life in God. If this does not happen, then Baptism will not make any sense.

In ancient times, Baptism was preceded by a rather long period (from forty days to several months, or even years) of categorical conversations - instructions in faith. The person was gradually prepared to make a decision. Now in most churches for those who are preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism, preparatory conversations are held, during which you can find out what the doctrine of the Orthodox Church is. If such a practice is not followed in the temple, you can and should talk with the priest about your decision, and he will be able to at least briefly talk about the essence of the Sacrament, answer questions, and advise what to read on this topic.

Before Baptism, it is advisable to start attending the temple (but not stay at the liturgy after the words “catechumens, go out”): there you can not only see how the services are held, but also meet believers who will help in acquiring the necessary knowledge. You need to try to learn as much as possible about this Sacrament, start reading Orthodox literature. But first of all, you need to read the Gospel, best of all - from Matthew, since the Gospel is the law, which they promise to fulfill during Baptism. Read Symbol of faith- this prayer is in any prayer book, try to study it, since it contains the confession of faith of an Orthodox Christian.

And one more thing: you need to bring repentance for your entire life. Such a confession, in fact, is not a Sacrament, but it is an ancient practice that makes it possible to comprehend, understand one's mistakes and try not to repeat them.

To conduct the Sacrament of Baptism, you need to have a consecrated cross on a chain (it is better to consecrate it in advance), a baptismal shirt (a new long white shirt, which later needs to be kept as a home shrine) and a towel that will be needed after leaving the water.

When is the best time to baptize a newborn baby? And how is a newborn given communion?

The ceremony of naming, with which the Sacrament of Baptism begins, is usually performed on the 8th day after the birth of the baby. However, the Charter does not prohibit doing this on any of the previous days. Since the time of purification of the mother of the child continues until the fortieth day, and she can enter the temple only after this period (subject to reading a special, so-called "fortieth" prayer), usually the Sacrament is performed on the fortieth day or a little later. Baptism should not be postponed until a later date, because the sooner a newborn infant becomes a member of the Church, the more protected he will be from the sin that surrounds him and the evil that comes from sin.

The Orthodox Church believes that a newborn can and should be communed, and as often as possible. The Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is not food in the usual sense of the word. A person takes communion not to satiate his flesh, but solely to establish an essential connection with the Lord. The Charter provides for the communion of infants only with the Blood of Christ, which is why they can be communed only at the full Divine Liturgy, but not at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, which is served on Wednesdays and Fridays during Great Lent.

The reality of communion does not depend on the number of Holy Gifts offered to the communicant. Therefore, the fullness of Divine grace becomes the property of a child who is communed with the Blood of Christ, served under the guise of such an insignificant amount of wine that it will not harm his health in any way.

How to choose a name for a child?

The name of a Christian is holy. The naming establishes a special connection between the baptized, that is, the person who has joined the Church, and the saint whose name is chosen. This saint becomes the heavenly patron of the baptized. To him, after the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, most often a believer turns to him with a prayer. The Orthodox Church does not impose any restrictions on the choice of a name for a child, as long as it is the name of a saint revered by the Church. Lists of saints, which are called saints, will help you choose a name. They are usually printed at the end of church calendars.

It may happen that the name you have chosen was borne by several saints. In this case, it is useful to read their lives and choose the name of the saint whose life touched you the most.

In the past, there was a tradition according to which the child was named after a saint whose memory is celebrated on the child's birthday or one of the days closest to it. This tradition is good because rare, sometimes almost forgotten names again became alive and loved.

If the child has already received a name that is not in the calendar, at Baptism he will be given another, most often consonant with the secular.

Is it possible to baptize a child at home and how much does it cost?

In churches there is no price for performing the Sacrament of Baptism, there is a recommended donation amount. And if people who wish to receive Baptism do not have the necessary means, then this Sacrament, of course, must be performed free of charge. As for Baptism at home, it is justified and possible only when it comes to a seriously ill person who himself cannot get to the temple. Relatives bring children to church, and if the child does not have any life-threatening diseases, then he must be baptized in the church.

How to prepare a preschool child for the Sacrament of Baptism?

At the age of 5-6 years, a child can easily learn what the meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism is. Before the Baptism, the child should be introduced to the main content of the Gospel, at least in the volume of the children's Bible, to tell him about the earthly life of Christ, about His Divine-human dignity, about His commandments.

It is desirable that before the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, the child has repeatedly visited an Orthodox church, including during worship. The kid must be gradually accustomed to the life of an Orthodox Christian, so that he falls in love with the temple, understands the purpose of the icons, knows who is depicted on them, what the candle placed in front of the icon means. The child must learn to pray for himself, for his parents, for his friends and loved ones, for deceased relatives. Immediately before performing the Sacrament of Baptism, you need to learn a few simple prayers with him: Jesus Prayer, Our Father, Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...

It is said that parents should not be present at their child's christening. Is it so?

There are no rules prohibiting the presence of parents at the christening of their child. The opinion that parents should not be present at the Baptism of an infant probably developed for the following reasons: Baptism is a spiritual birth, and since at this spiritual birth there are recipients who become spiritual parents to the child, there is no need for carnal parents to be here. In addition, before the child was baptized almost immediately after birth, so the mother could not be present at the christening "according to the ordinary law of purification."

Marina Novakova

Since ancient times, in the Orthodox Church, there has been a custom dating back to apostolic times to have godparents at Baptism. They became the spiritual parents of the child and the spiritual relatives of his parents. Until relatively recently, godfather and godfather were practically a family member, their presence was mandatory during all significant family events. It is gratifying that nepotism in the good sense of the word is actively reviving today.

Why does a child need godparents and who can become godparents?

A child, especially a newborn baby, cannot say anything about his faith, cannot answer the priest's question whether he renounces Satan and unites with Christ, cannot understand the meaning of the ongoing Sacrament. However, it is impossible to leave him outside the Church before he becomes an adult, since only in the Church is the grace necessary for his proper growth, for the preservation of his bodily and spiritual health. Therefore, the Church performs the Sacrament of Baptism over the infant and itself assumes the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith. The church is made up of people. She fulfills her obligation to properly educate a baptized child through those whom she calls godparents or godparents.

The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help in the good, Christian upbringing received from the font, and not only in practical circumstances, as well as the degree of acquaintance and simply friendliness of the relationship.

Concern about expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite the closest physical relatives as godfather and godfather. It was believed that, by virtue of natural kinship, they would help the child anyway. For the same reason, they tried not to allow brothers and sisters to have the same godfather. Therefore, relatives of grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts became godparents only as a last resort.

Now, having gathered to baptize a child, young parents often do not think about who to choose as godparents. They do not expect their child's godparents to take a serious part in his upbringing and invite people who, due to their lack of roots in church life, cannot fulfill the duties of godparents to be godparents. It also happens that people who become godparents are completely unaware that they really have a great honor. Most often, the honorary right to be godparents is granted to close friends or relatives, who, having performed simple actions during the celebration of the Sacrament and having eaten all kinds of dishes at the festive table, rarely remember their duties, sometimes completely forgetting about the godchildren themselves.

However, when inviting godparents, you need to know that Baptism, according to the teachings of the Church, is a second birth, that is, “birth from water and the Spirit” (John 3, 5), which Jesus Christ spoke of as a necessary condition for salvation. If physical birth is the entry of a person into the world, then Baptism becomes the entry into the Church. And the child is accepted in his spiritual birth by the godparents - new parents, guarantors before God for the faith of the new member of the Church they have accepted. Thus, only Orthodox, sincerely believing adults who are able to teach the godchild the basics of faith can be godparents (minor and mentally ill people cannot be godparents). But do not be afraid if, agreeing to become a godfather, you do not fully meet these high requirements. This event can be a wonderful occasion for self-education.

The Church considers spiritual kinship as real as natural kinship. Therefore, in the relationship of spiritual relatives, there are the same features as in relation to natural relatives. At present, the Russian Orthodox Church, on the issue of marriages of spiritual relatives, adheres only to the 63rd canon of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriages between godchildren and their godchildren, godchildren and physical parents of the godson and godchildren are impossible between themselves. At the same time, the husband and wife are allowed to be godparents of different children in the same family. Brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son may be godparents of the same child.

The godmother's pregnancy is a perfectly acceptable condition for participation in the Sacrament of Baptism.

What are the duties of godparents?

The obligations that recipients take on before God are very serious. Therefore, godparents must understand the responsibility they take on. Godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly Confession and Communion, to give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the features of the church calendar, the grace-filled power of miraculous icons and other shrines. The godparents must accustom those taken from the font to attend church services, fast and observe other provisions of the Church Charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson.

Their duties also include taking care of protecting their godchildren from all sorts of temptations and temptations, which are especially dangerous in childhood and adolescence. Godparents, knowing the abilities and character traits they received from the font, can help them determine their life path, give advice in choosing an education and a suitable profession. Advice in choosing a spouse is also important; according to the custom of the Russian Church, it is the godparents who prepare the wedding for their godson. And in general, in cases where physical parents are unable to financially provide for their children, this responsibility is assumed primarily not by grandparents or other relatives, but by godparents.

A frivolous attitude to the duties of a godfather is a grave sin, since the fate of the godson depends on it. Therefore, you should not thoughtlessly agree to an invitation to become a successor, especially if you already have one godson. Refusal to go to the godfather should also not be taken as an insult or neglect.

Is it worth it to agree to be a godfather if the child's parents are not churched?

In this case, the need for a godfather increases, and his responsibility only increases. Otherwise, how can a child come to Church?

However, while fulfilling the duty of a beneficiary, parents should not be reproached for their frivolity and lack of faith. Patience, condescension, love and continuous labor of spiritual upbringing of a child can prove to be irrefutable proof of the truth of Orthodoxy for his parents as well.

How many godfathers and mothers can a person have?

Church rules provide for the presence of one godfather (godfather) when performing the Sacrament of Baptism. For a baptized boy, this is a godfather (godfather), for a girl - a godmother (godmother).

But since the duties of godparents are numerous (thus, in special cases, godparents replace the physical parents of their godson), and the responsibility before God for the fate of the godson is very great, the Russian Orthodox Church has a tradition of inviting two godparents - the godfather and the godmother. There can be no other godparents besides these two.

How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?

Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism involves the study of the Gospel, the foundations of the Orthodox faith, the basic rules of Christian piety. Fasting, confession and Communion before Baptism are not formally obligatory for godparents. A believer must adhere to these rules constantly. It would be good if at least one of the godparents could read the Creed during baptism.

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

You can find out what you need to purchase in advance at the church where you will baptize the child. For baptism, you will need a baptismal kit (it will be recommended to you in a candle shop). This is mainly a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt (you do not need to bring a bonnet). Then you will need a towel or a sheet - to wrap the child after the font. According to the established tradition, a godfather buys a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl. It is customary to bring a sheet and a towel to the godmother. But it will not be a mistake if someone alone buys everything you need.

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

Church tradition does not know "appointed in absentia" godparents. The very meaning of the reception shows that the godparents must be present at the Baptism of the child and, of course, give their consent to this honorary title. Baptism without any recipients at all is performed only in special circumstances, for example, when the life of a child is in serious danger.

Can representatives of other Christian denominations, in particular Catholics, become godparents?

The Sacrament of Baptism makes a person a particle of the Mysterious Body of Christ, a member of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Such a Church, founded by the Apostles and preserving intact the dogmatic teaching of the Ecumenical Councils, is only the Orthodox Church. The Roman Catholic Church, separated from the fullness of the Universal Church in 1054, lost and distorted many doctrinal principles; therefore it cannot be considered the true Church. In the Sacrament of Baptism, the recipients act as guarantors of the faith of their godchild and accept before God the obligation to educate him in the Orthodox faith.

Of course, a person who does not belong to the Orthodox Church cannot fulfill such duties.

Can parents, including those who have adopted a child, be godparents for him?

At Baptism, the person being baptized enters into a spiritual kinship with his godfather, who becomes his godfather or godmother. This spiritual kinship (of the 1st degree) is recognized by the canons as more important than kinship according to the flesh (canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council), and is fundamentally incompatible with it.

Parents, including those who have adopted a child, in no case can be the godparents of their own children: neither both together, nor each separately, otherwise such a close degree of kinship would form between the parents, which would make it inadmissible to continue their marital cohabitation.

Marina Novakova

Baptism of infants up to 7 years.

For babies, the Sacrament of Baptism is performed:

Saturdays at 12.30

Sundays at 14.00

Mandatory 2 public speaking conversations are held with godparents. Saturday at 12.00 and Sunday at 13.30. Without these conversations, the Sacrament of Baptism will not be performed.

Consecrated cross (in the church shop all crosses are consecrated)

Two large bath towels

Baptismal shirt (can be bought at the church store)

Birth certificate

Baptism certificate issued

On holidays, changes in the schedule of the Sacrament are possible.

Inquiries by phone: 421-71-41

Baptism of adults and children after 7 years.

The interview is held on Fridays at 19.00 in the temple. There are 5 interviews in total. After that, with the blessing of the priest, the Sacrament of Baptism is performed.

The time is appointed by the priest

For Baptism you must have:

consecrated cross

christening shirt

Birth certificate

Towel or sheet

Slippers

After the Sacrament is performed, a Baptismal Certificate is issued.

To film the sacrament of Baptism, a blessing is taken from the priest who performs the Sacrament.

How is the Sacrament of Baptism performed in the church? In this article you will find a detailed photo essay on how a baby is baptized, with a description of all parts of the ceremony.

How is the Sacrament of Baptism performed?

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

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

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

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

Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins christening. The most noticeable and important moment is the threefold immersion of the baby in the font with the pronunciation of the words:

“The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen."

At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, is preparing to receive his godfather from the font.

After that, the one who has received Baptism is dressed in new white clothes, a cross is put on him.

Immediately after this, another Sacrament - Confirmation in which the baptized person, when the parts of the body are anointed by the Holy World in the name of the Holy Spirit, are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life.

After that, the priest and the godparents with the newly baptized go around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Then an excerpt from the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the Lord Jesus Christ sending the apostles to the worldwide preaching of faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

After the myrrh is washed by the priest from the body of the baptized with a special sponge dipped in holy water, with the words:

“Thou hast justified. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been sanctified. Thou hast been washed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. Thou hast been enlightened. Thou hast been anointed. Thou art sanctified, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen."

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

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

Why are only boys brought to the altar?

- Girls are not carried through the Royal Doors for the reason that women in general, in the modern practice of the Orthodox Church, are not allowed into the altar, because they cannot be church and clergymen. And every boy, at least potentially, can become one, therefore, it rushes through the Royal Doors.

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

– Of course, even regardless of the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to begin the sacraments of confession and Holy Communion with a certain regularity. If you have not done this until now, then it will be good to take the first step towards a full-fledged church life by anticipating the Baptism of your own baby.

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

What happens during a baptism?

The word "baptism" means "immersion". The main action of baptism is the threefold immersion of the person being baptized in water, which symbolizes the three-day stay of Christ in the tomb, after which the Resurrection took place.
Everyone who is baptized follows the path of Christ. Just as Christ died on the Cross as a sacrifice for our sins, in the sacrament of baptism we die to a sinful life and to do the will of Satan, so that we can then be resurrected to life with God. Our whole being is thus renewed to its very foundations.

We are left with all our sins, in which we sincerely repented. If a baby is baptized, then he must have godparents, whose duties include the Christian upbringing of their godchildren. For them, they will give a strict answer at the Judgment of God.

Anyone who has agreed to become a godfather must realize that he is taking on a huge responsibility for the child.

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

Chin of announcement

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

The priest blows crosswise on the person being baptized three times, saying the words: “cast out from him (or from her) every evil and unclean spirit hidden and nesting in his heart ...”.

They are a reminder that "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2.7).

The hand of the clergyman is the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, which is a gesture of protection and blessing, for in the future this person will face a mortal battle with the forces of darkness.

Three Prohibitions on Unclean Spirits

The Church tells us about the rebellion against God in the spiritual world created by Him of a part of the angels, possessed by pride. And the source of evil lies not in their ignorance and imperfection, but, on the contrary, in those knowledge and perfection that led them to the temptation of pride and falling away.

Satan belonged to the very first and best creations of God. He was perfect, wise, and strong enough to know the Lord and disobey Him, to rebel against Him, to desire "freedom" from Him. But since such “freedom” (i.e., arbitrariness) is impossible in the Kingdom of Divine Harmony, which exists only with voluntary consent to the Will of God, Satan and his angels are expelled by God from this Kingdom.

That is why, at baptism, the prohibition of “Satan and all his Aggels” is first performed. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says in the catechetical teaching: “The content of these prohibitions is as follows: first, it cuts off and drives the devil and all his actions with terrible Divine names and sacraments for him, expelling the devil, commands his demons to flee from a person and not create misfortunes for him.

Similarly, the second prohibition casts out demons with the Divine Name.

The third prohibition is together with a prayer offered to God, imploring to completely expel the evil spirit from the creation of God and confirm him in the faith.

Renunciation of Satan

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

Confession of fidelity to Christ

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

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

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

SYMBOL OF FAITH

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

2 And into one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was.

3 For us, man, and for our salvation, who descended from heaven, and became incarnate of the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human.

4 He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

5 And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

6 And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

7 And the packs of the one to come with glory to be judged by the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

8 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

9 Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

10 I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

11 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

12 and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The creed contains all the basic Christian truths.

In ancient times, a person had to study them before baptism. And now this is a necessary condition for baptism.

Consecration of water

At the beginning of the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest performs incense around the font and reads prayers for the blessing of water, then blesses the water in which the person being baptized will have to wash their sins.

He makes the sign of the cross over her three times, blows on her, saying a prayer:

“Let all opposing forces be crushed under the sign of the image of Your Cross.”

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

In prayers and actions during the consecration of water for Baptism, all aspects of the sacrament are revealed, its connection with the world and matter, with life in all its manifestations is shown.

Water is the oldest religious symbol. From a Christian point of view, three main aspects of this symbolism seem important. First, water is the primary cosmic element. At the beginning of creation, "the Spirit of God hovered over the waters" (Genesis 1:2).

At the same time, it is a symbol of destruction and death. The basis of life, life-giving force and, on the other hand, the basis of death, destructive force - such is the dual image of water in Christian theology. And finally, water is a symbol of purification, rebirth and renewal. This symbolism permeates the entire scripture, is included in the story of creation, the fall and salvation. Saint John the Forerunner called the people to repentance and cleansing from sins in the waters of the Jordan, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, having received Baptism from him, sanctified the water element.

Oil consecration

After the consecration of the water, the priest reads a prayer for the consecration of the oil (oil) and the water will be anointed with it. Then the priest anoints the person being baptized with oil: face, chest, arms and legs. In the ancient world, oil was used primarily as a remedy.

Oil, symbolizing healing, light and joy, was a sign of reconciliation between God and man. The dove, released by Noah from the ark, returned and brought him an olive branch, “and Noah knew that the water had gone down from the earth” (Genesis 8:11).

So, in anointing the water and the body of the baptized with oil, the oil signifies the fullness of life and the joy of reconciliation with God, since “in Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5).

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

Immersion in the font

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

The priest immerses the person being baptized three times in water with the words:

The servant of God is baptized (name is called) in the name of the Father, amen (first immersion). And the Son, amen (second immersion). And the Holy Spirit, amen (third dive).

Immediately after immersion, a cross is laid on the newly baptized - a sign of his acceptance of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, faith that Christ truly died and truly rose from the dead, so that in Him we can die for sin in relation to our mortal life and become partakers - here and now to eternal life.

Vestments of the newly baptized

Putting on a “light robe” after Baptism marks, first of all, the return of a person to the integrity and innocence that he possessed in paradise, the restoration of his true nature, distorted by sin.

Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, compares these clothes with the shining robes of Christ, who was transfigured on Mount Tabor. The transfigured Christ revealed Himself to the disciples not in a naked form, but in clothes “white as light”, in the uncreated radiance of Divine glory.

In the sacrament of Baptism, a person regains his original garment of glory, the believing soul is clearly and really revealed to the basic truth of Christianity: having received Baptism, “you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:3-4).

The deepest mystery is being accomplished: the unity of the human and the Divine in "renewed life." The grace given to a person in Baptism, as in the other sacraments, is the fruit of the sacrificial death of Christ and His Resurrection. She informs a person of the will to salvation and the strength to go through life, carrying his cross.

And therefore Baptism can and must be defined not figuratively, not symbolically, but in essence as death and resurrection. In the Christian understanding, death is, first of all, a spiritual phenomenon. One can be dead while still living on earth, and be innocent of death while lying in the grave.

Death is the remoteness of a person from life, that is, from God. The Lord is the only Giver of life and Life Itself. Death is opposed not to immortality, but to true Life, which was “the light of men” (John 1:4). Life without God is spiritual death, which turns human life into loneliness and suffering, fills it with fear and self-deception, turns a person into slavery to sin and malice, emptiness.

We are not saved because we believe in the supernatural power and power of the Lord, because this is not the kind of faith He wants from us. To believe in Christ means not only to acknowledge Him, not only to receive from Him, but, above all, to work for His glory.

One cannot expect help from Him without fulfilling His commandments and, above all, the commandments of love; one cannot call Him Lord and bow before Him without doing the will of His Father. Immersion in water means that the person being baptized dies for a life of sin and is buried with Christ in order to live with Him and in Him (Rom. 6:3-11; Col. 2:12-13). This is the most important thing in the sacrament of Baptism. Only by the grace of God do we know that “this water is truly for us both a tomb and a mother…” (St. Gregory of Nyssa).

Sacrament of Chrismation

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

Through chrismation, the Holy Spirit descends on each of us, filling us with the power of God, just as once on the day of Pentecost he descended on the disciples of Christ. Holy chrism is oil prepared in a special way, which is consecrated once a year by the patriarch and then sent to all dioceses, where the hierarchs distribute it to the abbots. A priest anoints an already baptized person with holy chrism.

His forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs are anointed. Different parts of the body are anointed with Holy Myrrh in order to sanctify the whole person through anointing: both his body and his soul.

The forehead is anointed to remove the shame that covered it due to the crime of Adam, and to sanctify our thoughts.

Eyes are anointed so that we do not grope in the dark along the path of vice, but that we walk along the path of salvation under the guidance of the grace-filled light; ears - so that our ear becomes sensitive to hearing the word of God; mouth - so that they become capable of broadcasting Divine truth.

Hands are anointed for sanctification for pious work, for deeds pleasing to God; feet - for our walking in the footsteps of the commandments of the Lord; and breasts, so that, clothed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may overcome every enemy force and be able to do everything in Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

In a word, our thoughts, desires, our heart and our whole body are sanctified to make them fit for the new Christian life.

The anointing with Myrrh is a visible sign, a seal that the newly baptized is granted the Holy Spirit by God. From the moment this sacred seal is placed on us, the Holy Spirit enters into betrothal, into a close living relationship with our soul. From that very moment we become Christians.

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

Confirmation is a new independent sacrament, although it is associated with Baptism and is performed, according to the rules of the Orthodox Church, immediately after immersion in the font three times. Acquiring a new son through Baptism, our caring mother - the Holy Church - without any delay begins to apply her care to him. Just as in bodily life, to strengthen the strength of an infant, air and food are needed, so for a person born spiritually through Baptism, special, spiritual food is needed.

Such food is taught by the holy Church in the sacrament of Chrismation, through which the Holy Spirit descends upon our soul. It is like the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, which was at the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Scripture reading and procession around the font

After the Sacrament of Confirmation there is a threefold procession around the font. The solemn circumambulation of the font with the singing of “Be baptized into Christ…” is, first of all, an expression of the Church’s joy at the birth of its new member by the Spirit of God.

On the other hand, since the circle is a sign of eternity, this procession shows that the newly enlightened one expresses a desire to serve God forever, to be a lamp that is placed not under a bushel, but on a candlestick (Luke 8:16), let it shine on all people with its good deeds and asks the Lord to grant him eternal bliss. Immediately after the procession around the font there is a reading of the Apostle and the Gospel. During the reading, the godparents stand with lighted candles.

The final rites of Baptism

The final rites of the rites of Baptism and Confirmation - the washing away of the Holy Myrrh and the cutting of the hair - are performed immediately after the reading of the Gospel. The first rite is the washing away from the body of the newly baptized holy Myrrh. Now external, visible signs and symbols can be eliminated, because from now on only the internal assimilation of the gift of grace, faith and fidelity by a person will support him and give him strength.

The Christian must bear the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit in his heart. Hair cutting, which is performed immediately after washing off the body of the newly baptized Holy Myrrh, has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the rite of initiation of readers. In a fallen world, the path to the restoration of Divine beauty, darkened, humiliated, distorted, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with bringing to Him with joy and gratitude that which in this world has become a symbol of beauty - hair.

The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly at the Baptism of infants. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore several hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) [name] is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Conclusion

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

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

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