Preparations for the christening of the boy's godmother. How to prepare for a child's Baptism. What parents and godparents need to know. What is needed for a boy's christening

Godparents: who can become a godparent? What do godmothers and godfathers need to know? How many godchildren can you have? The answers are in the article!

Briefly:

• The godfather, or godfather, must be Orthodox Christian. A godfather cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, or a very good atheist, because main responsibility godfather - to help the child grow in the Orthodox faith.
• There must be a godfather church man, ready to regularly take his godson to church and monitor his Christian upbringing.
• After baptism has been performed, godfather cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed greatly for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him.
• Pregnant and unmarried women CAN to be godparents of both boys and girls - do not listen to superstitious fears!
• Godparents the child's father and mother cannot be, and husband and wife cannot be godparents of the same child. other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.

Many of us were baptized in infancy and no longer remember how it happened. And then one day we are invited to become a godmother or godfather, or perhaps even more joyfully - our own child is born. Then we think once again about what the Sacrament of Baptism is, whether we can become godparents to someone and how we can choose godparents for our child.

Answers from Rev. Maxim Kozlov to questions about the responsibilities of godparents from the website “Tatiana’s Day”.

— I was invited to become godfather. What will I have to do?

- Being a godfather is both an honor and responsibility.

Godmothers and fathers, participating in the Sacrament, take responsibility for the little member of the Church, so they must be Orthodox people. Godparents, of course, should be a person who also has some experience of church life and will help the parents raise the baby in faith, piety and purity.

During the celebration of the Sacrament over the baby, the godfather (of the same gender as the child) will hold him in his arms, pronounce on his behalf the Creed and vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ. Read more about the procedure for performing Baptism.

The main thing in which the godfather can and should help and in which he undertakes an obligation is not only to be present at Baptism, but also then to help the one received from the font to grow, strengthen in church life, and in no case limit your Christianity only to the fact of Baptism. According to the teachings of the Church, for the way we took care of fulfilling these duties, we will be held accountable on the day of the last judgment, just as for the upbringing of our own children. Therefore, of course, the responsibility is very, very great.

- What should I give to my godson?

- Of course, you can give your godson a cross and a chain, and it doesn’t matter what they are made of; the main thing is that the cross be of the traditional form accepted in the Orthodox Church.

In the old days, there was a traditional church gift for christening - a silver spoon, which was called a “tooth gift”; it was the first spoon that was used when feeding a child, when he began to eat from a spoon.

— How can I choose godparents for my child?

— Firstly, godparents must be baptized, church-going Orthodox Christians.

The main thing is that the criterion for your choice of godfather or godmother is whether this person will subsequently be able to help you in a good, Christian upbringing received from the font, and not just in practical circumstances. And, of course, an important criterion should be the degree of our acquaintance and simply the friendliness of our relationship. Think about whether the godparents you choose will be the child’s church teachers or not.

— Is it possible for a person to have only one godparent?

- Yes it is possible. It is only important that the godparent be of the same gender as the godson.

— If one of the godparents cannot be present at the Sacrament of Baptism, is it possible to carry out the ceremony without him, but register him as a godparent?

— Until 1917, there was a practice of absentee godparents, but it was applied only to members of the imperial family, when they, as a sign of royal or grand-ducal favor, agreed to be considered the godparents of a particular baby. If we are talking about a similar situation, do so, but if not, then it is perhaps better to proceed from generally accepted practice.

- Who can’t be a godfather?

- Of course, non-Christians - atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and so on - cannot be godparents, no matter how close friends the child’s parents are and no matter how pleasant people they are to talk to.

An exceptional situation - if there are no close people close to Orthodoxy, and you are confident in the good morals of a non-Orthodox Christian - then the practice of our Church allows one of the godparents to be a representative of another Christian denomination: Catholic or Protestant.

According to the wise tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, a husband and wife cannot be godparents of the same child. Therefore, it is worth considering if you and the person with whom you want to start a family are invited to become adoptive parents.

- Which relative can be godfather?

- An aunt or uncle, grandmother or grandfather can become the adoptive parents of their little relatives. You just need to remember that a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child. However, it’s worth thinking about this: our close relatives will still take care of the child and help us raise him. In this case, aren’t we depriving the little person of love and care, because he could have one or two more adult Orthodox friends to whom he could turn throughout his life. This is especially important during the period when the child seeks authority outside the family. At this time, the godfather, without in any way opposing himself to the parents, could become the person whom the teenager trusts, from whom he asks for advice even about what he does not dare to tell his loved ones.

— Is it possible to refuse godparents? Or baptize a child for the purpose of normal upbringing in the faith?

— In any case, a child cannot be rebaptized, because the Sacrament of Baptism is performed once, and no sins of either the godparents, or his natural parents, or even the person himself can cancel all those grace-filled gifts that are given to a person in the Sacrament of Baptism.

As for communication with godparents, then, of course, betrayal of faith, that is, falling away into one or another heterodox confession - Catholicism, Protestantism, especially falling into one or another non-Christian religion, atheism, a blatantly ungodly way of life - in essence speaks of that the person failed to fulfill his responsibility as a godfather. The spiritual union concluded in this sense in the Sacrament of Baptism can be considered dissolved by the godmother or godfather, and you can ask another church-going pious person to take a blessing from his confessor to take care of the godfather or godmother for this or that child.

“I was invited to be the girl’s godmother, but everyone tells me that the boy must be baptized first.” Is it so?

— The superstitious idea that a girl should have a boy as her first godson and that a baby girl taken from the font will become an obstacle to her subsequent marriage has no Christian roots and is an absolute fabrication that an Orthodox Christian woman should not be guided by.

— They say that one of the godparents must be married and have children. Is it so?

- On the one hand, the opinion that one of the godparents must be married and have children is a superstition, just like the idea that a girl who received a girl from the font will either not get married herself, or this will affect her fate some kind of imprint.

On the other hand, one can see a certain kind of sobriety in this opinion, if one does not approach it with a superstitious interpretation. Of course, it would be reasonable if people (or at least one of the godparents) who have sufficient life experience, who themselves already have the skill of raising children in faith and piety, and who have something to share with the baby’s physical parents, are chosen as godparents for the baby. And it would be highly desirable to look for such a godfather.

— Can a pregnant woman be a godmother?

— Church statutes do not prevent a pregnant woman from being a godmother. The only thing I urge you to think about is whether you have the strength and determination to share the love for your own child with the love for the adopted baby, whether you will have time to care for him, to advise the baby’s parents, to sometimes pray warmly for him , bring to the temple, somehow be a good older friend. If you are more or less confident in yourself and circumstances allow, then nothing prevents you from becoming a godmother, but in all other cases, it may be better to measure seven times before cutting once.

About godparents

Natalia Sukhinina

“I recently got into a conversation with a woman on the train, or rather, we even got into an argument. She argued that godparents, like father and mother, are obliged to raise their godson. But I don’t agree: a mother is a mother, whoever she allows to interfere in the child’s upbringing. I also once had a godson when I was young, but our paths diverged long ago, I don’t know where he lives now. And she, this woman, says that now I will have to answer for him. Responsible for someone else's child? I can’t believe it..."

(From a letter from a reader)

It so happened, and my life paths veered in a completely different direction from my godparents. Where they are now, how they live, and whether they are alive at all, I don’t know. I couldn’t even remember their names; I was baptized a long time ago, in infancy. I asked my parents, but they themselves don’t remember, they shrugged their shoulders, they said that people lived next door at that time, and they were invited to be godparents.

Where are they now, what are their names, do you remember?

To be honest, for me this circumstance was never a flaw, I grew up and grew up without godparents. No, I was lying, it happened once, I was jealous. A school friend was getting married and received a gossamer-thin gold chain as a wedding gift. The godmother gave it to us, she boasted, who could not even dream of such chains. That's when I became jealous. If I had a godmother, maybe I would...
Now, of course, having lived and thought about it, I am very sorry about my random “father and mother”, who are not even in my mind, that I remember them now in these lines. I remember without reproach, with regret. And, of course, in a dispute between my reader and a fellow traveler on the train, I am completely on the side of the fellow traveler. She's right. We must answer for the godsons and goddaughters who have scattered from their parents’ nests, because they are not random people in our lives, but our children, spiritual children, godparents.

Who doesn't know this picture?

Dressed up people stand aside in the temple. The center of attention is a baby in lush lace, they pass him from hand to hand, go out with him, distract him so that he does not cry. They are waiting for the christening. They look at their watches and get nervous.

Godmothers and fathers can be recognized immediately. They are somehow especially focused and important. They are in a hurry to get their wallet to pay for the upcoming christening, give some orders, rustle with bags of baptismal robes and fresh diapers. The little man does not understand anything, gawking at the wall frescoes, at the lights of the chandelier, at the “persons accompanying him,” among which the godfather’s face is one of many. But when the priest invites you, it’s time. They fussed, became agitated, the godparents tried their best to maintain importance, but it didn’t work, because for them, as well as for their godson, today’s entrance into God’s temple is a significant event.
“When was the last time you were in church?” the priest will ask. They will shrug their shoulders in embarrassment. He may not ask, of course. But even if he doesn’t ask, you can still easily determine from the awkwardness and tension that the godparents are not church people, and only the event in which they were invited to participate brought them under the arches of the church. Father will ask questions:

— Do you wear a cross?

— Do you read prayers?

- Are you reading the Gospel?

— Do you honor church holidays?

And the godparents will begin to mutter something incomprehensible and lower their eyes guiltily. The priest will certainly reassure you and remind you of the duty of godfathers and mothers, and of Christian duty in general. The godparents will hastily and willingly nod their heads, humbly accept the conviction of sin, and either from excitement, or from embarrassment, or from the seriousness of the moment, few will remember and let into the heart the main thought of the priest: we are all responsible for our godchildren, and now and forever. And whoever remembers will most likely misunderstand. And from time to time, mindful of his duty, he will begin to contribute what he can to the well-being of his godson.

The first deposit immediately after baptism: an envelope with a crisp, solid bill - enough for a tooth. Then, for birthdays, as the child grows older, a luxurious set of children's trousseau, an expensive toy, a fashionable backpack, a bicycle, a branded suit, and so on up to a gold chain, to the envy of the poor, for a wedding.

We know very little. And it’s not just a problem, but something that we don’t really want to know. After all, if they wanted to, then before going to the temple as a godfather, they would have looked there the day before and asked the priest what this step “threatens” us, how best to prepare for it.
Godfather is a godfather in Slavic. Why? After immersion in the font, the priest transfers the baby from his own hands to the hands of the godfather. And he accepts, takes it into his own hands. The meaning of this action is very deep. By acceptance, the godfather takes upon himself the honorable, and most importantly, responsible mission of leading the godson along the path of ascension to the Heavenly inheritance. That's where! After all, baptism is the spiritual birth of a person. Remember in the Gospel of John: “Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

The Church calls its recipients with serious words – “guardians of faith and piety”. But in order to store, you need to know. Therefore, only a believing Orthodox person can be a godfather, and not the one who went to church for the first time with the baby being baptized. Godparents must know at least the basic prayers “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God”, “May God rise again...”, they must know the “Creed”, read the Gospel, the Psalter. And, of course, wear a cross, be able to be baptized.
One priest told me: they came to baptize a child, but the godfather did not have a cross. Father to him: put on the cross, but he can’t, he’s unbaptized. Just a joke, but the absolute truth.

Faith and repentance are the two main conditions for union with God. But faith and repentance cannot be demanded from a baby in lace, so the godparents are called upon, having faith and repentance, to pass them on and teach them to their successors. That is why they pronounce, instead of babies, the words of the “Creed” and the words of renunciation of Satan.

- Do you deny Satan and all his works? - asks the priest.

“I deny,” the receiver answers instead of the baby.

The priest is wearing a light festive robe as a sign of the beginning of a new life, and therefore of spiritual purity. He walks around the font, censes it, and everyone standing next to the lit candles. Candles are burning in the hands of the recipients. Very soon, the priest will lower the baby into the font three times and, wet, wrinkled, not at all understanding where he is and why, the servant of God, will hand him over to the hands of his godparents. And he will be dressed in white robes. At this time, a very beautiful troparion is sung: “Give me a robe of light, dress in light, like a robe...” Accept your child, successors. From now on, your life will be filled with special meaning, you have taken upon yourself the feat of spiritual parenthood, and for how you carry it, you will now have to answer before God.

At the First Ecumenical Council, a rule was adopted according to which women become successors for girls, men for boys. Simply put, a girl needs only a godmother, a boy only a godfather. But life, as often happens, made its own adjustments here too. According to ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. Of course, you can’t spoil the porridge with oil. But even here you need to know very specific rules. For example, a husband and wife cannot be godparents to one child, just as a child’s parents cannot be his godparents at the same time. Godparents cannot marry their godchildren.

... The baby's baptism is behind us. He has a big life ahead of him, in which we have a place equal to the father and mother who gave birth to him. Our work lies ahead, our constant desire to prepare our godson to ascend to spiritual heights. Where to begin? Yes, from the very beginning. At first, especially if the child is the first, parents are knocked off their feet by the worries that have fallen on them. They, as they say, don’t care about anything. Now is the time to give them a helping hand.

Carry the baby to Communion, make sure that icons hang over his cradle, give notes for him in church, order prayer services, constantly, like your own natural children, remember them in home prayers. Of course, there is no need to do this edifyingly, they say, you are mired in vanity, but I am all spiritual - I think about high things, I strive for high things, I take care of your child so that you can do without me... In general, the spiritual education of a child is only possible in case if the godfather is his own person in the house, welcome, tactful. Of course, you don’t need to shift all your worries onto yourself. The responsibilities of spiritual education are not removed from parents, but to help, support, replace somewhere, if necessary, this is mandatory, without this you cannot justify yourself before the Lord.

This is truly a difficult cross to bear. And, probably, you need to think carefully before placing it on yourself. Will I be able to? Do I have enough health, patience, and spiritual experience to become a recipient of a person entering life? And parents should take a good look at relatives and friends - candidates for the honorary post. Which of them will be able to become a truly kind assistant in education, who will be able to bestow your child with true Christian gifts - prayer, the ability to forgive, the ability to love God. And plush bunnies the size of elephants may be nice, but they are not at all necessary.

If there is trouble in the house, there are different criteria. How many unfortunate, restless children suffer from drunken fathers and unlucky mothers. And how many simply unfriendly, embittered people live under one roof and make children suffer cruelly. Such stories are as old as time and banal. But if a person who stood with a lit candle in front of the Epiphany font fits into this plot, if he, this person, rushes, as if into an embrasure, towards his godson, he can move mountains. Possible good is also good. We are not able to discourage a foolish man from drinking half a liter, to reason with a lost daughter, or to sing “put up, put up, put up” to two frowning halves. But we have the power to take a boy who is tired of affection to our dacha for a day, enroll him in Sunday school and take the trouble to take him there and pray. The feat of prayer is at the forefront of the godparents of all times and peoples.

The priests well understand the severity of the feat of their successors and do not give their blessing to recruit a lot of children for their children, good and different.

But I know a man who has more than fifty godchildren. These boys and girls are right from there, from childhood loneliness, childhood sadness. From a big childhood misfortune.

This man’s name is Alexander Gennadievich Petrynin, he lives in Khabarovsk, directs the Children’s Rehabilitation Center, or more simply, an orphanage. As a director, he does a lot, gets funds for classroom equipment, selects personnel from conscientious, unselfish people, rescues his charges from the police, collects them in basements.

Like a godfather, he takes them to church, talks about God, prepares them for Communion, and prays. He prays a lot, a lot. In Optina Pustyn, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, in the Diveyevo Monastery, in dozens of churches throughout Russia, long notes written by him about the health of numerous godchildren are read. He gets very tired, this man, sometimes he almost falls from fatigue. But he has no other choice, he is a godfather, and his godchildren are a special people. His heart is a rare heart, and the priest, understanding this, blesses him for such asceticism. A teacher from God, those who know him in action say about him. Godfather from God - can you say so? No, probably all godparents are from God, but he knows how to suffer like a godfather, knows how to love like a godfather, and knows how to save. Like a godfather.

For us, whose godchildren, like the children of Lieutenant Schmidt, are scattered throughout cities and towns, his service to children is an example of true Christian service. I think that many of us will not reach its heights, but if we are to make life from anyone, then it will be from those who understand their title of “successor” as a serious and not an accidental matter in life.
You can, of course, say: I am a weak person, a busy person, not much of a church member, and the best thing I can do in order not to sin is to refuse the offer to be a godfather altogether. It’s more honest and simpler, right? Easier - yes. But more honestly...
Few of us, especially when the time has imperceptibly approached to stop and look back, can say to ourselves - I am a good father, a good mother, I do not owe anything to my own child. We owe everyone, and the godless time in which our requests, our projects, our passions grew, is the result of our debts to each other. We won't give them back anymore. The children have grown up and are doing without our truths and our discoveries of America. The parents have grown old. But conscience, the voice of God, itches and itches.

Conscience requires an outburst, and not in words, but in deeds. Couldn't bearing the responsibilities of the cross be such a thing?
It’s a pity that there are few examples of the feat of the cross among us. The word "godfather" has almost disappeared from our vocabulary. And the recent wedding of my childhood friend’s daughter was a big and unexpected gift for me. Or rather, not even a wedding, which in itself is a great joy, but a feast, the wedding itself. And that's why. We sat down, poured the wine, and waited for the toast. Everyone is somehow embarrassed, the bride’s parents let the groom’s parents pass ahead with the speeches, and they do the opposite. And then a tall and handsome man stood up. He stood up somehow very businesslike. He raised his glass:

- I want to say, as the godfather of the bride...

Everyone became quiet. Everyone listened to the words about how the young people should live long, in harmony, with many children, and most importantly, with the Lord.
“Thank you, godfather,” said the charming Yulka, and from under her luxurious foaming veil she gave her godfather a grateful look.

Thank you godfather, I thought too. Thank you for carrying love for your spiritual daughter from the baptismal candle to the wedding candle. Thank you for reminding us all of what we had completely forgotten about. But we have time to remember. How much - the Lord knows. Therefore, we must hurry.

The baptism of a person is one of the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, symbolizing its acceptance by the Christian Church. From this moment a person’s path to faith and God begins. Therefore, the Sacrament implies enormous responsibility for godparents, who must adhere to the rules of baptism, so as not to cause unintentional harm to the newborn.

Rules for preparing a child for baptism for the godfather

According to the rules for baptizing a child, having agreed to become the godfather (father), a man takes on a number of responsibilities, including preparation for the ceremony. Before baptizing a child, the godfather must study the Holy Scriptures, the rules of Christian piety and the fundamentals of Orthodoxy. It is important for the recipient to begin preparing for the upcoming event by visiting the church where the baby is planned to be baptized. There the priest will hold a conversation and tell the rules of preparation for the Sacrament of baptism of a child for the godfather.

According to tradition, the recipient purchases a pectoral cross for the baby and takes upon himself the entire financial part associated with the ceremony. According to the rules of baptism, godparents prepare for their godson. Typically, this is a silver spoon or an icon.

Priests often note that the rules for baptizing a child do not provide for the godfather’s obligation to fast, confess and receive communion before the Sacrament; however, as a believer, the recipient should not neglect these canons.

Rules for a godfather during a child's baptism

The rules of Baptism oblige the godfather to hold the boy in his arms, while the godmother simply stands nearby. And vice versa, if a girl is baptized. Before performing the ceremony, the priest walks around the temple, reading prayers, then invites the godfather and godson to turn their faces to the west and answer some questions. Due to his age, a newborn cannot do this, so his godfather is responsible for him. Also, instead of the crumbs, the godparents read and on behalf of the godson renounce Satan and pronounce vows. If a boy is being baptized, then the godfather receives him from the font, and if a girl is being baptized, the godfather helps the godmother dry the baby and put on her baptismal attire.

Being a godfather to a child is not only an honor, but also very responsible. The future fate of the godson depends on how the godfather follows the rules of Baptism and fulfills his duties, so it is simply unacceptable to neglect them.

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Christening is a great sacrament, a responsible and important step in the life of both the child and his parents. This means the acceptance of the newborn by the church, and in its guise by the Lord himself. This procedure is one of the oldest and has a centuries-old history. The tradition itself, although it has changed to this day, has still retained all the most basic rules and canons.

You can find out how a boy’s christening takes place in our article. Baptism prepares a little person for life through spirituality and faith, and to those who know and understand this, the Almighty bestows his eternal grace.

In Christian culture, there are a number of rules for the baptism of a boy and a girl, as well as the duties of godparents, which must be strictly fulfilled.

Basic church laws when baptizing a boy:

a few days before the christening, it is very desirable that the godparents undergo a rite of purification and confess;

• everyone who takes part in the ritual must come to the temple in advance, be peaceful and calm;
• the parents of the child in church during the sacrament should not be present in the church;
• the boy is brought into the temple by his godmother as soon as the priest gives her a sign;
• the child does not have to be dressed, you can wrap him in white cloth;
• godparents clearly repeat all the prayers after the priest, thus renouncing everything sinful and accepting God’s commandments for fulfillment;
• the boy is turned to the west, anointed with oil and immersed in the font (the arrival of the Holy Spirit);
• then they put on the baptismal set and place it on the chest (protection from sin);
• then there is a passage around the font (a Christian symbol of eternity);
• at the end, the priest himself carries the boy to the altar, where the completion of the sacrament takes place;
• After the christening, everyone present goes to the orphanage for the celebration.

If twin boys undergo the baptism ceremony, then their godparents must be different, but they can be baptized on the same day.

There are also questions that the baby’s parents, in particular the mother, need to know. Basically, the church does not allow her presence in the temple during the ceremony, but if the desire is strong enough, this is possible if the following conditions are met:

• the priest must read a special prayer both before and after the sacrament;
• mother undergo a confession ritual (if she has not done this in the near future);
• the mother must fast for several days immediately before the christening.

On average, the entire ceremony takes from 30 minutes to an hour. The main thing is that everything goes right, this is very important for the boy, and for the godparents, and for his parents, because from now on they are one spiritual family, blessed by the Almighty.

Baby boy christening set

This set is also a very important component of the sacrament. Therefore, adults need to approach their choice with all seriousness and responsibility. It includes:

• the most important element is the kryzhma (a white diaper, often openwork with embroidered initials of the baby or an Orthodox cross);
• baptismal shirt (simple or elegant with trim);
• white blanket.

It is not necessary to purchase a cap and socks for a boy. The set itself is a relic that should be kept in the house for many years; it cannot be used in everyday life. But it is worth remembering that kryzhma is endowed with healing properties, so if a child suddenly gets sick, then this baptismal cloth can help him recover.

There is also a belief: if parents want the next boy born into this family to be friends with his brother, then he too will be baptized in this baptismal shirt.

Boy's christening, rules for godmother

There is a certain set of rules for each of the godparents, which must be strictly followed, because the whole future life of the baby depends on it.

• Rules for a godmother:
• must not be pregnant;
• have no mental illness;
• conduct a confession before the ceremony;
• not be married to a godfather and not be his close relative;
• not to be a nun;
• be of age.

What does the godmother buy for a boy’s christening:

• the fabric in which the baby is wrapped (kryzhma);
• baptismal set (shirt, blanket, maybe a cap);
• silk scarf for the priest.

Boy's christening, rules for godfather

• confess before the sacrament of baptism;
• not be married to the godmother, not be her closest relative;
• have no problems with the law or mental illness;
• not to be a minister of the church (monk);
• reach adulthood.

What does a godfather buy for a boy’s christening:

• purchasing a cross for a child;
• buying a gift;
• fulfillment of all financial obligations.

Responsibilities of godparents at the baptism of a boy

• be sure to be an example for inheritance;
• regularly prays for his godson;
• to guide the boy on the true path according to God’s commandments;
• always keep in touch with him (even if they live far from him);
• be present at the baby's first communion;
• in the event of illness or death of parents, take full responsibility for raising the child.

But the most important thing is that the godparents understand the importance of their rank, and the boy knows that there are always people next to him who will help, advise, and support. Godparents are spiritual educators, and their role in the life of a godson cannot be overestimated.

Responsibilities of the godfather at the baptism of a boy

Another quite important responsibility of a godfather is buying a gift for his godson. And its implementation must be treated with special understanding. According to tradition, the godfather must present a silver spoon at the christening.

It must be said that products made from this noble metal are the most common gifts for baptismal rites. This is a symbol of prosperity and fullness of life. A Bible can be a wonderful gift. Reading it will help in shaping the boy’s spiritual world.

Also often with engraving. This thing becomes very personal for a child and goes with him along the path of life, protecting him from all kinds of adversity.

In addition, the godfather can give:

• silver or gold jewelry;
• personalized photo album;
• clothes;
• thematic religious and fiction books;
• various toys.

Boy baptism names

Choosing a name for christenings is a very important issue when preparing for them and quite a big problem, since sometimes there are different opinions, which are not always possible to reconcile. But most often parents turn to the priest.

If the boy’s name is Orthodox, then you don’t have to change it, but still many try to do this, because in this way they want to protect the baby from everything bad. The name is selected mainly according to the calendar, taking into account the day (or period) in which the child was born, and the name can be either in tune with the worldly or completely different from it.

What is needed for a boy's baptism

Baptism of a child is the great mission of man on Earth. What is needed for the baptism of a child or a boy - the main thing is that you need to be especially careful and prepared. Godparents should read as much spiritual literature as possible in order to be able to help their godson in any life situation.

And what is important, the godfather as a man must develop and shape the best masculine qualities, such as: courage, endurance, self-control, willpower and spirit. After all, the role of godparents does not end immediately after the baptismal ceremony; this is a long journey of development for a little person, and there can be no room for error.

Therefore, when preparing to become godparents, you need to weigh the pros and cons many times, try to understand yourself, study religious literature, be educated in the field of spirituality, and most importantly, be a true example for the child.

Life prepares challenges for everyone, but not everyone can cope with them. And often times come when it is not parents, close relatives or friends who can help, but godparents, because their spiritual level and knowledge of life are quite high.

They are like “faithful companions” who walk with a person through life, and when necessary, lead him to God through communion, confession, and prayer. And it is thanks to them that from early childhood the child feels boundless confidence, care and grace of the Almighty.

The Lord is always with you!

Watch also the video about the sacrament of baptism:

Baptism is a sacrament without which it is impossible to begin church life. Those people who want their children to be involved in the Orthodox faith as early as possible baptize them in infancy. In this case, the presence of godparents is a prerequisite. Not everyone knows what requirements are placed on them, and even fewer people have any idea what godparents should do. The further quality of the child’s spiritual life largely depends on correctly performed actions.

General requirements for godparents

Before the godparent understands what to do at a christening, it is necessary to highlight the general requirements for godparents; their second name is godparents.

Requirements:

• These people must be believers. Representatives of other religions or those who deny God cannot become godparents. This requirement is due to the fact that their main task is to vouch for the faith of the godchildren in the future, when they will be able to understand the meaning of the sacrament that took place. The best situation is when godparents have a thorough understanding of Orthodoxy, not only theoretically, but also practically, that is, they attend divine services and participate in church sacraments.
• Parents do not have the right to be children's adoptive parents; other degrees of kinship are permissible. If there is both a godfather and a godmother, then they should not be married to each other.
• There are no clear age limits for godparents; most often people over 14 years old are allowed. The main thing is that they understand the full degree of responsibility that is entrusted to them, because they cannot subsequently abandon their responsibilities. Likewise, parents of godchildren cannot look for replacements for them. The connection between godchildren and their godchildren is lifelong, so the latter must feel a great responsibility to their godchildren, their mom and dad, and to God.
• It is desirable that there be friendly relations between the family of the child being baptized and his godfather; the godfather must be in close proximity to the godson in order to be able to see him.

As a general rule, at baptism a godfather is required for a boy and a godmother for a girl, but there is a tradition according to which parents invite both godparents for the child, and they jointly perform their duties. One person can become a godfather an unlimited number of times during his life. At the same time, it is better for her to find out what the godmother should do in advance and think about whether she can approach this responsibly, and if the answer is negative, refuse the offer to become a godmother. The same goes for the godfather.

Responsibilities of a godfather before baptism

The responsibilities of godparents arise from the moment they are invited by the parents of the child they want to baptize. The godmother and father must understand whether they have enough knowledge about the Orthodox faith in order not only to participate in baptism and understand everything, but in order to further explain to the godson the meaning of the Orthodox faith. The question of what a godmother should do if there are significant gaps in knowledge is simple - they need to be filled, you definitely need to read the Bible or at least the New Testament.

Answering the question of what godparents do before baptism, it should be noted that they must undergo public conversations in the church where the sacrament of baptism is scheduled to take place. Their number and content are established by the leadership of the temple or by the priest who will baptize the child. The future godfather or godmother can ask him all the questions they have. Perhaps the priest will limit himself to interviews with future recipients. The presence of parents at conversations and interviews is not strictly mandatory, but is encouraged, because they should have an idea of ​​the level of training of the godparents.

Many godparents are preoccupied with buying gifts for godchildren. They consider this their duty, but it is not written down anywhere. In some cases, the problem of what to do for a godfather who wants to somehow participate in the preparation for baptism is easily resolved - he buys a cross and a rope or chain for his godson; they can be purchased at a jewelry store or directly at a church store. The younger the child, the simpler the cross and chain/rope should be, because he can accidentally ruin them while playing.

The question arises of what to do before baptizing a child as a godmother. She can buy a christening shirt alone or together with the child’s mother. If she is a skilled needlewoman, then she may well sew it herself or make a memorable embroidery on it. Previously, the problem of what the godmother should do before the sacrament was solved simply - she brought a white cloth to the temple, which was called “rizka”. Now you can also buy a special cloth or a baptismal set, a towel, the main thing is that the newly baptized person will have them for life.

It is advisable for godparents to prepare for christening by going through confession and communion. This will help cleanse their souls before this great sacrament.

Responsibilities of a godfather during baptism

In order to understand what godparents do during baptism , you should familiarize yourself with the order of the sacrament. It becomes clear that they hold the child in their arms during almost the entire sacrament.

The sacrament of baptism consists of several parts:

• When answering the question of what a godfather should do at a christening, you need to dwell on one of the parts - the announcement; the godfather listens carefully to the priest who reads special prayers - prohibitory ones. At certain moments, the recipient must utter phrases regarding renunciation of Satan, union with Christ, must answer the clergyman’s questions and say the Creed prayer. By this, godparents testify to the confession of the Orthodox faith by their godchildren.

• The child is immersed in the font three times, accompanied by a special prayer rule. Actually, this is baptism, what the godmother does in this case is easy to understand - she keeps a large towel ready, in which she wraps the girl when the priest takes her out of the font. The godfather does the same in relation to the godson. They must also put a cross and a baptismal shirt on the newly baptized person.
• The priest smears the child’s body with the consecrated Myrrh (special composition). They ask the question: what should a godmother do at a christening after anointing. She must take her goddaughter in her arms, together with the priest they go around the font three times, then wash off the Miro. The same thing happens with the godfather and his godson.

• Hair is cut on four sides, which shows submission to God, the priest prays for the newly baptized child and his godfather. If there are two godparents and it is a boy’s christening, what does the godmother do, the question does not arise - she also prays for the boy at this moment.
• The final stage - the clergyman brings the child to the temple icons, the boy is brought into the altar, then the children are returned to the godparents.

There is no mandatory rule about what godparents do after the sacrament, but many godparents want to please their godchildren and buy them gifts. You can stop at the measured icon of the saint with whose name the child is baptized. Also a good gift is a children's Bible, which godparents can study together with their godchildren.

Responsibilities of a godfather after baptism

They can be divided into three groups:

• One of the main actions that a godfather needs to do is pray, but not all godparents cope with this. You can pray not only in church, including submitting notes, but also at home. There are special prayers for godchildren. When the child grows up, you need to explain to him the meaning of prayers, teach him the simplest prayers.
• To explain what the godfather should do, it is necessary to turn to the doctrinal function - he must not only theoretically talk about Orthodoxy, but also introduce the godson into spiritual life practically - attend church, participate in the sacraments. Godparents should show the benefits of this by their example.

• Moral and educational function: godchildren should learn only good things from their successors - they should tell them what moral standards are, teach them how to apply them in life, and distinguish good from evil. When considering what a godmother should do, it should be noted that she should always be ready to give advice to her goddaughter, the same goes for the godfather and his godson. Previously, they were asked for their blessing on choosing a life path, on choosing a life partner.

Nowadays, many responsibilities are simplified to rare meetings and gift giving. The recipients need to remember the day of the godson's baptism and remind him of this himself if he has forgotten. Weak connections between godparents and godchildren negatively affect not only the spiritual life of the godson, but also, in general, his entire life, when he does not know what to do in a given situation. It is better for godparents to prepare in advance to fulfill their duties in order to make the lives of future godchildren happier.

Content

Christening is a fateful event for every child and parents. This is the acquisition of spiritual peace, integrity of spirit, God's reliable protection of a person. In addition, the baby has second parents who are always ready to provide help and assistance. The responsibilities of a godmother are especially valuable in later life.

Godmother

Before agreeing to baptize a child, a woman must accept the great responsibility placed on her shoulders. It is important to understand what it means to be a godfather, and not to superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in your heart and full responsibility. This could be a relative or friend, not necessarily married, but a believer and an exemplary one. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby and be sure to receive communion.

Responsibilities of a Godmother

You should not conduct an interview or casting for the role of second parents. You just need to draw a conclusion about the attitude of the applicants towards God, the people around them and all living things. If the baby’s mother thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the church sacrament, and that’s where participation in the fate of the new person ends, then she is very mistaken. Spiritual education and development of a child is what a godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case we are talking about the following responsibilities of godparents:

1. Be with the child all the time, help in difficult situations.
2. Teach prayers and simply talk about God, his role in the life of every person, and attend church together.
3. Every year, congratulate you on your birthday and give gifts on Angel’s Day.
4. Take communion regularly, involve your godson/goddaughter in the ritual.

How many times can you be a godfather?

Every Orthodox person can take part in this church rite, an unlimited number of times, if the child’s parents request it. A truthful and informed decision is welcome. Another important question that worries us before the sacrament is who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can take on responsibilities, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be godparents:

• non-believers;
• church ministers;
• people of other faiths;
• unbaptized;
• mentally unstable people;
• biological parents.

Baptism of a child - rules for the godmother

The baptismal towel and clothes are made or purchased by the future godmother, and this is an obligatory stage of preparation for the upcoming sacrament. In addition, a woman must first receive communion and confession; on the day of christening, she must have a cross on her chest. There are other rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church, which are important to include in the ritual.

Girl's christening - rules for the godmother

It is important for a girl to have a spiritual mother, since she is the first one, after the child’s mother and father, to be responsible for him. It is one thing to baptize a baby, and quite another to become a support, support, and spiritual mentor in life for a growing person. The responsibilities of the godmother at the baptism of a girl are as follows:

1. Before the sacrament begins, read the prayers for the child by heart, among them the “Creed.”
2. Wear a modest long dress for the christening and tie a scarf around your head.
3. Take your goddaughter in your arms after immersion in the font, dress her in white clothes.
4. Hold your goddaughter in your arms while walking around the font behind the priests, while reading prayers, and the procession of anointing.

Boy's christening - rules for godmother

During the christening of a boy, an important role is played not only by the godmother, but also by the father, who in the future will provide him with spiritual support in everything. The main responsibilities of the godmother during the baptism of a boy are identical, as during the church ceremony of a girl. The only difference is the following: after immersion in the font, the baby is picked up by the godfather; The priest also carries baptized boys behind the altar.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

During the procession, the priest leaves a reminder of what the godparents should do: say out loud three times the prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”, “Hail to the Virgin Mary”, “Heavenly King”, answer honestly several traditional questions about faith. Each prayer for godparents at baptism gives a powerful energy charge and helps the child receive grace.

What do you give a girl at christening?

What should the godmother do after the completion of the sacrament? Buy and present your godson or goddaughter with a memorable gift. This is where the problem arises with choosing a suitable present. So what does the godmother give to a girl’s christening?

• silver or gold cross;
• icon of God;
• personal icon of the Guardian Angel;
• silver spoon.

What does the godmother buy for a boy's christening?

For future men, there are also certain requirements for gifts. This one needs to know what is needed for a boy’s christening, so as not to be taken by surprise during the sacrament. This is what a second mother should do.