Features, rules and requirements for the implementation of the sacrament of baptism of a child.

With the birth of the baby, the world rejoices - the birds sing louder and more cheerfully, the sun shines brighter and lighter, the young parents are filled with joy and gratitude to God for him.

They still have a lot to learn and solve a lot of issues related to the child’s entry into a new environment for him.

One of these issues is church Baptism. When, how and where to conduct it? Why and who to take godparents?

Why are children baptized?

In the Holy Scriptures and the works of the Holy Fathers you will find information that children must be baptized.

This process is equivalent to grafting a branch onto the Tree of Life, or Christ. This is how a person dies to live in sin and is reborn for spiritual development and coming to God.

In addition, the opinion remains that the rite of baptism washes away the sins of Adam from the child, since we are all one and have continuity from our ancestors.

Also, the reasons for the behavior of the rite of Baptism of a child are:

• his serious illness
• prolonged constant crying and restlessness
• death threat

It would be a misconception to think that baptism is necessary for a child to atone for sins. He has not yet committed them; on the contrary, he is at a sinless age.

Many modern parents decide to baptize their children just because everyone else is doing it. That is, they do not believe in God themselves, but adhere to fashion trends. This is not entirely true, although there is no categorical requirement on the part of the Church for the faith of parents. It is never too late for you to turn your gaze to God, to come to confession and spiritual conversation with the priest. Because your child will copy you and ask various questions, including the structure and origin of the world. What will you tell him if you don’t believe yourself?

When is the best time to baptize a newborn?

Turning to scriptures, you will find different recommendations regarding the day of baptism of a child after his birth. The range is impressive - from 8 days to 10 years.

Modern church fathers still say that best time to perform the rite of Baptism - this is the first year of the baby’s life. Many parents try to bring their children on the 40th day after birth.

Preparing for a child's baptism for godparents and parents

The sacrament of Baptism is based on the faith of the parents and those around them, since the baby does not yet have one. Therefore, if you are churchgoers, fast, regularly come to church for services, confession, and communion, then no further special preparatory actions need to be taken.

In cases where faith is more shaky or is not demonstrated at all, you should come to confession and receive communion.

Perhaps the only thing that young parents should do is to choose a temple to perform the sacrament, familiarize themselves with its regulations and agree with the priest on the date and time of baptism. For godparents, faith in God is mandatory, since they take responsibility for the godson before the Lord about his spiritual development.

Godparents should prepare for the ceremony as follows:

• visit the temple for confession and communion
• observe a three-day fast without eating meat, swearing
• learn the Creed prayer
• buy required attributes for baptism
• do not eat on the day of the sacrament

Young parents should take the choice of godparents seriously, since the latter will be responsible for the godson and his formation as a Christian before God.

Make spiritual connections with believers rather than with colleagues/friends who are advantageous from a worldly point of view.

How to dress for a christening in church for the godfather and godfather, parents?

During the rite of Baptism, both the godparents and parents of the baby should be dressed festively, but not provocatively.

So women should:

• cover your head with a scarf
• wear a dress or skirt with covered knees
• wear an outfit or jacket that covers the neckline, back, elbows, shoulders
• remove shiny jewelry
• choose outfits in calm tones

Men come to the temple:

• without headdress
• in trousers and shirt

Baptism of a child, rules for godparents

When you agree to become a godmother/godmother, you take responsibility for your godson and his spiritual development.

In addition to birthday and angel gifts, New Year, God-parents:

• They pray daily for the godson - his health, happiness, God’s guidance throughout his life
• visit temple with godson
• have conversations on spiritual topics with him
• give spiritual books, Bibles for children
• give instructions and suggest the child a possible solution in a difficult situation
• help young parents in raising their godson
• work with him and/or help him do his homework if his parents can’t keep up for good reasons

Who cannot be a child's godfather?

The child cannot have godparents:

• civil couple
• Gentiles
• unrepentant grave sinners
• parents
• a man who is about to marry the child's mother
• minors
• a woman who gave birth less than 40 days ago
• unbaptized people
• monks and nuns
• non-believers
• leading a lifestyle that violates the commandments

Who should buy a cross for a child’s baptism and which one?

There is an unspoken rule that the godfather buys the cross for the child for the Baptism ceremony. Some also buy a chain for it, others put it on a simple rope.

There is no consensus on what the cross for baptism should be.

That’s why godfathers buy crosses:

• gold
• silver

In the vastness of the Runet you will find information that crosses for church sacraments are also bought:

• parents
• grandmother and/or grandfather
• aunts, uncles
• godmothers

Baptism rules for a boy

If you need to baptize a boy, then make sure that the godfather is present at the sacrament. He is entrusted with great responsibility for the child; he also receives the baby after the bath.

On the other hand, the church instructs the godmother to bring the male child into the temple for the sacrament.

During the ceremony, the priest brings the baby to the altar and dedicates the child’s soul.

Baptism rules for girls

With the girl's luck, the rules are exactly the opposite of the previous point:

• carried into the temple by her godfather
• the godmother accepts after immersion in water and she is more responsible before God for the spiritual development of her goddaughter

During the sacrament, the priest leads the girl to the icon Mother of God to bless the first life.

Is it possible for a pregnant woman to baptize her child?

The unequivocal answer is yes, you can.

However, there are nuances:

• if the godmother is feeling well and was not in custody before the christening date
• if the child’s parents themselves strive for God and keeping his commandments, they come to church for services, confession, and communion
• if you, as a godmother, want to be responsible specifically for this baby and bear your responsibilities towards him to the fullest

Having answered yes to all or at least the first and last points, feel free to play the offer to become a godmother, even if you yourself are expecting a child.

Is it possible to baptize a child with a different name?

The clear answer is yes.

It often happens that young parents deliberately choose a name for the baptism of their baby that is different from that indicated on the birth certificate. They do this to protect the baby from the unkind words of people who will surround him in the future.

On the other hand, if the child’s name is not of Slavic origin, then the second one will have to be chosen. It can be in tune with the worldly or selected from the lists of saints. So the baby has one more holiday in the year - the day of the Angel, whose name was chosen for baptism.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?

Unfortunately, the sacrament of baptism is impossible without the presence of at least one godparent. Many churches have a requirement that they must be an adult of the same sex as the child, that is:

• for girl-woman
• for a boy - a man

However, there are no strict instructions in this regard in church documents. Therefore, only a godmother can be present for a boy, and only a godfather for a girl.

It is important to comply main point in baptism - to transfer the spiritual education of the baby to another person, and not to the parents.

Is it possible to baptize a child if the mother is unbaptized?

Before performing the sacrament of baptism of a child, be sure to come to the priest for a consultation and ask all the questions that concern you. Including about an unbaptized mother.

In principle, there are no obstacles to refusing the ritual in this case. Especially if the child’s father is a believer and/or godparents.

Still, be prepared that the priest will ask you a question regarding your plans to accept Christ and be baptized.

Is it possible to baptize a child during a leap year?

Of course yes. It is fashionable to baptize a child at any time. The main thing is to visit the temple where you plan to undergo the sacrament in advance, talk to the priest, find out about the internal church routine.

In some churches, for example, baptism is carried out only on Sundays before the morning service.

Are children baptized during Lent and Easter?

Since there are no strict restrictions, the sacrament of baptism of a baby is permissible during Lent and before Easter.

Be sure to come to the temple and talk to the priest about this in advance.

Be prepared for rejection too. It is explained:

• for technical reasons, when services are longer, and in the short period of time between them the priest is busy visiting sick people. That is, he simply will not have time to perform the baptism ceremony
• the fast itself is a time for repentance, rethinking one’s life, limiting physical pleasures, including giving up alcohol. And in our time, few parents refuse it during the feast after the child’s baptism

On what day of the week are children baptized?

It all depends on the temple and its internal routine.

If there is a separate room for performing the sacrament of baptism, there are no restrictions on dates.

When there is a large parish at the temple, daily rituals are also possible.

There are options when the priest baptizes children only once a week on a day off early in the morning.

Therefore, you cannot do without a personal consultation with the priest of the temple where you would like to baptize your child.

How is the baptism of a child performed?

• All actors and spectators arrive in advance for baptism in a church/temple. It is advisable to undress the baby and wrap him in a diaper/towel/sheet
• He is brought into the temple by the godparent of the child of the opposite gender
• Prayers and renunciations from Satan are read, when godparents answer the three-time question about refusal instead of the child.
• Then the priest dips the child into the font three times. If you brought your own cross, the priest will lower it into the water before bathing the baby and then put it on the baby’s neck himself.
• The baby is picked up by a godfather of the same sex
• The ritual of anointing the child’s body continues. The priest lubricates his arms, legs, stomach, back, forehead in a cross pattern
• Then the priest and godparents walk around the font three times with the godson in their arms
• Prayers and messages of the Holy Apostles are read
• The priest cuts the child's hair in the form of a cross on the top of the head. They remain in the church as an offering to the Lord and a symbol of the child’s spiritual unity with the Higher powers
• The priest takes the baby in his arms and either carries him to the altar, if the boy is being baptized, or leads him to the icon of the Mother of God, if it is a girl. This means that the child has been churched
• In order for the baptismal ceremony to be completed, be sure to give the baby communion on the day of the sacrament.

How long does it take to baptize a child?

The sacrament of baptism is a rather lengthy event. It can take forty minutes to an hour and a half in time.

Especially consider this point if you take a pregnant woman as your godmother.

How much does it cost to baptize a child in a church?

Jesus commanded that baptism be carried out without payment. However, in those early days, people gave a lot to the church, paid tithes and the like.

Nowadays, monetary contributions have become significantly smaller, so churches are forced to draw up an indicative price list in order to be able to pay for:

• communal payments
• renovation work
• the work of a priest

Although in many churches the priest still answers - how much you can donate.

The estimated cost of the ceremony can cost you from 5 to 100 dollars.

So, we have examined in detail the purpose, rules and requirements for the conduct of child baptism. We became familiar with the content of the ritual, the need to choose a name and godparents.

May God bless you!

Video: How is the sacrament of child baptism performed?

According to Orthodox church rules the child is baptized on the 40th day after birth. However, each family decides for itself in its own way when it is better to baptize a child.

Someone is striving baptize in summer, citing that it is then warm for dipping the baby, someone wants coincide the date of baptism with some other date(for example, when a child turns 6 months or 1 year old). Some people are just guessing a day off when all relatives can attend the baptism. And some of the parents are even in thought, Should a child be baptized in infancy?

Whenever you decide to baptize a child, you will need to take a few simple steps to implement your plan.

How to baptize a child. Step-by-step instruction:

1) Select a church, where would you like to baptize your child.

Know that you can choose any temple you like, no matter where it is located. The main thing is that the temple must be Orthodox.

2) Decide on godparents. The title of godfather is a very honorable and responsible role, because godmothers and the father, after performing the baptismal rite, enter into spiritual unity with your child, and from now on will have to take care of the moral and religious education of your baby. For these reasons, people in the role of godfather and godmother should be close to your family - best friends or one of the relatives.

Features of choosing godparents:

You can become godparents if:

Do you profess the Orthodox faith?

A woman over 13 years old, and a man over 15 years old.

Any relatives except husband and wife can be godfathers and godmothers (there should be no carnal connection between them).

The godmother does not have critical days. If the godmother has critical days, then you cannot baptize during this period. Therefore, it is better to coordinate with your godmother this moment.

The woman who plays the role of godmother should not have just given birth (up to 40 days, after that it is possible).

- The church allows pregnant women to become godmothers. You just need to take into account that she will have to hold the baby in her arms. On later pregnancy is simply harmful for itself. In any case, a pregnant woman must evaluate and calculate her strength.

It could also be only one godfather . He must be same sex with a child (for boys – a man, for girls – a woman). However, not everything is so strict. For example, I personally only have a godfather (as you understand, I am female).

The Church welcomes infant baptism, so if you still haven’t decided on godparents, then You can baptize without godparents. Of course, this is an extreme case, but it is possible if the parents decided so and/or among your environment you do not see worthy people for this important role in your child’s life. Discuss this point with the priest immediately.

3) Select the date for the sacrament of baptism. Don't be afraid to baptize in winter– churches are heated (just in case, check this point in your region). Perhaps it is even better to baptize in winter, since there are fewer people who want to be baptized and it is even more convenient, because... Due to heating it is warmer than in summer.

You can be baptized during Lent and on church holidays. You just need to take into account that on great holidays there are especially large numbers of parishioners, but a calm atmosphere and minimal amount people in the temple during the sacrament of baptism.

4) Decide whether your child’s baptism will be individual or general - This point needs to be discussed in advance with the priest.

Individual baptism lasts about 30 minutes (without preparation - get everyone present, undress (if it’s winter), go to the toilet, check the warmth of the water in the font).

The duration of general baptism depends on the number of people being baptized (both adults and children). But a general baptism lasts a maximum of 1.5 hours (when 14 people are baptized), but, obviously, the time difference is significant.

Advice: if you don’t want to overpay for individual baptism, but you don’t want there to be so many people being baptized, then choose not the central temple, but a small church. For a child, the baptism process will be much easier in a cozy environment.

5) To agree on the date of baptism, you need talk to the priest. Both mom and dad, relatives and godparents can talk. At the first meeting, they give a reminder about what you need to have at the baptism ceremony and what the godfather and godmother need to know.

Call the church and find out when it is most convenient to meet with the priest to indicate your intentions. Since a lot on the day of christening depends on the priest (it is he who sets the atmosphere and duration of the entire sacrament), it is important that you like him as a person.

Advice . Many churches allow photography of the sacrament. Check with the priest on what conditions photography can be carried out (in some churches they charge a fee for this). Where we were baptized, taking photographs with your camera was free.

6) Godparents will need to have a conversation with a catechist. There is no need to be afraid of unknown words. A catechist is a person in the church who is responsible for leading a conversation about the fundamentals of the faith. He will have to make sure that the godmother and father are ready for such a responsible role for them, and, of course, are aware of the basic concepts of the Orthodox religion.

7) Preparations for the christening are prepared by the godparents.

Godparents before christening:

A week before the christening, they must go to church, confess and receive communion. With a stretch, they may be allowed not to receive communion if you received communion at least once in the last 3 months before the child’s christening.

Before the christening, fast for 3 days (on the conscience of the godparents).

The day before baptism and communion, do not lead sex life and abstain from food.

The godmother gives the child a baptismal shirt, a cap (for girls only) and a towel, and the godfather gives a cross. This must be purchased in advance.

Learn and, if possible, know by heart the “Creed” prayer. It is important to at least read it properly (from the sheet). If the godparents are not able to recite it by heart, then in the church there is a beautiful tablet on which the text is written: the godparents will be allowed to read the prayer from it.

8) Christening day. Features of baptism.

All people invited to the christening gather in church by the set time (it is better to arrive 15-30 minutes earlier so as not to delay the process).

- The sacrament is paid for on the day of baptism. Traditionally, godparents must pay for the christening, but in this day and age, this is by agreement between the parents-grandparents-godparents.

- A baptismal passport for the child is filled out. Filled out by a woman from a church shop; I provided the data myself (my own mother).

The Saint (and name day) is selected and agreed upon with the priest. Name day should traditionally be the first on Christmastide, following the birthday of the person being baptized. But you can ask a specific saint as a patron for your child.

If your child has a name that is not in the Christmastide, then parents have the right to choose any other name and baptize the child with a different name.

The mother (or the person who bathes the baby at home) is asked check the temperature of the water in the font. Then the priest comes and the sacrament of baptism is performed.

- The main role in the sacrament of baptism is played by the priest and godparents. The godparents simply have to do whatever the priest says. By and large, the whole process birth mother does not participate in the baptism process(For example, I myself photographed my daughter’s baptism).

- celebration of a child's christening. Whether this will be a traditional Russian feast at home or in a restaurant is up to you to decide. You can modestly make or collect a small (for example, tasty) gift for those invited, distribute it at the end of the baptism, and go home. After all, your child probably doesn't need a feast.

Parents prepare for the Baptism of their baby in advance, because it is necessary to take into account so many nuances. One of the points that interests moms and dads is the question of what day of the week is best to baptize a child. When choosing when to perform the sacrament of baptism, several factors should be taken into account. This will allow you to prepare for the ceremony and make the event as comfortable as possible.

On what day of the week can a child be baptized?

According to tradition, the ceremony is performed after the 40th day of the baby’s birth. This is due to the fact that after giving birth, mothers are not allowed to enter the temple for a certain time. But it is allowed to baptize a newborn starting from the 8th day of life.

There are no restrictions regarding the choice of time for the Sacrament. Parents can choose a date that is convenient for them. But in each case, it is necessary to focus on the rules of the church in which the ceremony is planned to be held. You need to find out about them in advance. The ministers will always tell you on what day of the week children are baptized in this particular church. After all, each of them has its own routines and rules that should be followed and respected. Some temples have a specific time allotted for this.

Some mothers and fathers decide to time the ceremony to coincide with the day of remembrance of the Saint whose name the little one bears. This date can be found in church calendar. Also, sometimes they want the sacrament to coincide with a church holiday, but then they will have to be prepared for a large number people who will attend the services.

When deciding on the date of the event, you should choose it in such a way that it does not fall on the expected menstruation of the mother or godmother. After all, during this period women should not visit the temple.

It doesn’t matter what day of the week the parents baptize the baby. The main thing is that they prepare responsibly for the event, and also raise the little one in Orthodox traditions. The issue of choice is also important, because they must also take care of the spiritual education of the little one.

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

Interview before Baptism

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

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

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

Communion and fasting before the Sacrament

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

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

Preparation for the rite of Baptism

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

On what days can a baby be baptized?

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

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

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

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

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

Godparents need to prepare the necessary baptismal supplies in advance:

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

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

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

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

Rules and responsibilities of parents and godparents

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

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

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

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

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

Grandmother and grandfather

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

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

In order for a newborn baby to follow the right path and be given God's grace, parents consciously baptize the baby. Many young mothers and fathers wonder what days are best to baptize their baby. There is no clear restriction on this matter; special importance is attached to the sacrament itself. Before starting to plan the expected date of baptism, it is important for parents to know why the baptism ceremony is performed.

Even before the baby is born, parents decide that they will perform the baptism ceremony. It has long been believed that only after baptism does the baby gain given name, joins God.

Baptism is a special spiritual sacrament. Sometimes true miracles happen. According to church representatives, at the moment of baptism of a new person, the gates to Heaven open. They sincerely believe that the sacrament of baptism can wash away all sins from a child, making him pure before the creator. Many parents see this great way protecting your child from various misfortunes. Parents should spend time choosing godparents for their baby who are ready to engage in the spiritual education of the baby.

A child can undergo confirmation at any age. To baptize a child under 7 years of age is solely the decision of the parents, but in the period from 7 to 14 years of age this sacrament is performed only with the consent of the children. Teenagers come to baptism consciously.

The Orthodox Church does not place any restrictions on the timing of the sacrament of baptism. It is not forbidden to baptize babies during strict fasts. The ceremony is associated with internal regulations specific Orthodox church. As a rule, baptism ceremonies are held on Saturdays. It is important for parents to remember that during major church holidays the priest will not have time to perform the sacrament.

Baptized persons are recognized by the church, and candles are lit for their health. This is another reason why parents choose to baptize their infant on time.

When to baptize a newborn according to the church calendar?

The optimal period for baptism is the time when the mother’s birth discharge runs out, when the baby is 40 days old. Previously, it was believed that it was necessary to carry out the sacrament of baptism on the 8th day from the moment the baby was born, if the umbilical wound had healed.

There are such difficult situations, when parents baptize their baby without waiting for 40 days from the moment of his birth. This is associated with complications during childbirth, traumatic birth, and poor health of the child. If parents do not have the opportunity to visit the church, a priest is invited to conduct the ceremony. At some critical moments, the mother can independently sprinkle the child with holy water and read a prayer.

After hospital baptism, it is appropriate to carry out the ceremony in church when the parents have such an opportunity. Usually baptism is carried out on the 40th birthday of the baby; days of fasting are not taken into account here. The sacrament is not performed on major church holidays due to workload church priests. Before going to church to baptize a child, it is advisable for parents to familiarize themselves with the basic requirements of baptism.

Basic rules of the baptism ceremony

According to the rules Orthodox Church, during the sacrament of baptism, representatives of other religions are not present. This situation is clarified from those invited in advance. A temple is a place where one goes with a pure heart and thoughts. If there are any conflicts in the family, then everything needs to be settled in advance.

After the ceremony, the parents set the table for the godparents to celebrate this bright event. They give the child a present so that he remembers this day. The sacrament of baptism is carried out for one child or combined with relatives, this will not diminish its strength.

On what days of the week is it better to undergo the sacrament of baptism?

This ritual is performed on any day of the week, all this is discussed with the priest. Fathers most often plan to baptize children in the first half of the week. The sacrament is not held on Sunday due to the church being overloaded. As a rule, children are baptized on Saturday.

The rite of baptism requires careful preparation from parents. Takes place in separate room. At this time, the godparents read prayers, and the baby is anointed with myrrh and dipped in holy water. The procedure takes from 40 minutes to 1 hour. After the ceremony, held in a separate room, the baby is solemnly brought into the church. The priest carries boys through the altar; girls do not pass through this place.

These are the basic rules and features of Confirmation. Each parent must take into account the specified timing of baptism and adhere to the norms of behavior in the temple.

Favorable days for the sacrament of baptism

People are superstitious, so they readily believe that there are favorable days for infant baptism and days when the sacrament cannot be performed. Here is the list auspicious days for baptism by month:

• January 9, 11, 12 and 20;
• February 7, 9, 21 and 27;
• April 4, 11, 18, 22 and 28;
• May 2, 6, 10, 12, 16 and 24;
• June 3, 8, 12, 18, 22, 24 and 28;
• July 4, 7, 21 and 29;
• August 2, 4, 16, 22, 26 and 28;
• September 14, 16 and 28;
• October 3, 9 and 18;
• November 2, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 18;
• December 24 or 27.

Parents can find out exactly why they can be baptized in these and not in others by consulting with the priest. Only they can decide whether to believe these superstitious things or not.

Christenings by day of the week

Epiphany on Monday

If parents believe in folk signs associated with the sacrament of baptism, then it is better for them to abandon the idea of ​​carrying out the procedure on this day of the week. As you know, it is undesirable to start all important things on Monday, otherwise they will not be successful.

Baptism is one of the important and crucial moments in the life of a baby. It is for this reason that many priests do not recommend performing the ceremony on this day of the week.

Sacrament of Baptism on Tuesday

Tuesday is considered a more favorable day for new beginnings. But again, baptism is not recommended on this day. Priests advise choosing a more favorable day for the procedure, without choosing Tuesday.

Wednesday

Despite this, it is not recommended to perform the sacrament of baptism on this day. This day is unfavorable for such important days.

Sacrament on Thursday

According to folk superstitions and signs, Thursday is the optimal day for performing the sacrament of baptism. It is generally accepted that people born on Thursday have good luck in life. Bad ones negative events pass them by.

Friday

This day of the week is considered not the most fortunate for the sacrament. Many superstitions say that on Friday a person encounters many obstacles and failures on his way. You should not start something new on this day, since any business is doomed to failure.

Saturday is the ideal day of the week for the sacrament

On weekends, baptism is allowed in many churches. Saturday is a suitable day for celebrating important days in the life of every Christian. It is generally believed that a child baptized on Saturday will be lucky and happy.

The sacrament of baptism on Sunday

The sacrament of baptism is also allowed on Sunday. A baby baptized on Sunday will be very lucky and will be protected by his patrons.

You might also like:

The harm and benefits of anal sex for the body
Eye exercises to improve vision for myopia and farsightedness
Aromatherapy: essential oils for a bath
Cleaning windows quickly and without streaks with your own hands
How to choose a sink high pressure for a car in 2018?
Washing dishes with mustard powder