How to baptize a person with his back to you

The third week of Lent is the Worship of the Cross. On Sunday, at the all-night vigil, the Life-Giving Cross is brought into the center of the temple, which the believers worship throughout the week.

Why does the cross accompany a person throughout his life? And what cannot be disowned in any way, explains Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).

– Vladyka, how and what can you baptize in everyday life?

The sign of the cross is not just part of a religious ceremony. First of all, it is an effective spiritual weapon. Making the sign of the cross requires a deep, thoughtful and reverent attitude from us. The Patericon, Patericon and Lives of Saints contain many examples testifying to the spiritual power that the image of the Cross possesses.

– The first Christians made the mark of a cross on their forehead, chest and shoulders with one finger. Why are we baptized in three? When was this tradition established?

– St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, Blessed Jerome of Stridon, Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus, church historian Sozomen, St. Gregory the Dvoeslov, St. John Moschos, and in the first quarter of the 8th century, St. Andrew of Crete spoke about the sign of the cross with one finger. According to the conclusions of most modern researchers, marking the forehead (or face) with a cross arose during the time of the apostles and their successors.

In the 9th century, single-fingered fingers gradually began to be replaced by two-fingered fingers, which was due to the widespread spread in the Middle East and Egypt of the heresy of Monophysitism, which took advantage of the hitherto used form of finger formation - single-fingered fingers to promote its teachings, since it saw in single-fingered fingers a symbolic expression of its teaching about the one nature in Christ. Then the Orthodox, contrary to the Monophysites, began to use two fingers in the sign of the cross as a symbolic expression of the Orthodox teaching about two natures in Christ.

Around the 12th century, in the Greek-speaking Local Orthodox Churches (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Cyprus), two fingers were replaced by three fingers. The reason for this was seen as follows: since by the 12th century the struggle with the Monophysites had already ended, the double-fingered gesture lost its demonstrative and polemical character, but it made Orthodox Christians related to the Nestorians, who also used the double-fingered one. Wanting to make a change in the external form of their worship of God, the Orthodox Greeks began to sign themselves with the three-fingered sign of the cross, thereby emphasizing the veneration of the Most Holy Trinity. In Rus', triplicate was approved in the 17th century, during the reforms of Patriarch Nikon.

– If conditions allow, then it is better to take off your gloves before making the sign of the cross.

– How to treat crosses on clothes: on the soles of shoes, bags, scarves... The cross and skull today are one of the most common images on world brands.

Therefore, it is very sad to use the image of the Cross in an inappropriate form, as fashionable decorations or abstract symbolic images. It is necessary to be very careful about symbols that are similar to the image of a cross, but have nothing to do with Christianity.

At the same time, you should not treat any graphic image with the intersection of two lines as a Cross. The intersection of two crossbars, or the intersection of two roads, an ornament or some geometric figure in the form of a cross are not objects of veneration. The Cross of Christ has a clear canonical image, which is a sacred sign and shrine for us. Everything else is not like that.

Why and how are they baptized? How to properly cross another person?

Everyone, even a person far from religion, knows that the sign of the cross is not performed in exactly the same way in Orthodox and Catholic denominations.
Believers who attend church services, of course, know that Orthodox Christians cross from right to left, and Catholics vice versa. However, many believers have difficulty in how to correctly cross another person. Indeed, if you make the habitual movement of the sign of the cross over someone, and not over yourself, then the order of the shoulders will be disrupted. Is it important? And how to call a blessing on another person correctly, without violating the canons? Why do you need to be baptized? Such questions are relevant for many people who, for some reason, do not dare to ask them to the clergyman in the temple.

Why are Patriarch Kirill and President Putin baptized differently?

It’s strange, according to the official version, in Russia there are supposedly almost 80 percent of believers, and none of them, including the highest hierarchs of the Church, know the foundations of their faith.

We are talking about how these same believers are baptized.

It’s good that the all-seeing eye of a photo and video camera records everything impartially. And it has already filmed so much that sometimes it’s time to assemble another Orthodox cathedral. For what? But in order to finally decide: do Orthodox Christians cross themselves with THREE fingers or still TWO?

If you look at Patriarch Kirill, he always crosses himself with two fingers.

And if you look at Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, they cross themselves with three fingers.

It turns out that the patriarch and the president have different faiths? Or different versions of the same faith?

When is the sign of the cross performed?

This prayer movement is appropriate in any life situation. Intuitively, believers cross themselves when they are very frightened or when faced with something incomprehensible, when they receive any significant news or when they learn shocking information. They sign themselves with the sign of the cross in many other life situations.

But in addition to the circumstances when the prayer movement is performed on a whim, there are also those in which it is customary to make the sign of the cross for yourself or another person. Such situations include primarily:

Of course, it is necessary to overshadow another person with a sign both by giving a blessing and in many other circumstances. We must not forget about this action when starting any important activity or starting a new business.

If it is necessary to cross yourself near an icon, then this is done three times. Twice a person makes the sign of the cross, approaching the image and stopping in front of it. After this, he prays, sets a candle and places it on the frame of the icon. Then he crosses himself a third time, bows and moves away from the image.

Is it possible to marry your children's godparents?

Similar questions were raised in ancient times and apparently caused considerable unrest among those wishing to get married, despite spiritual ties. In this regard, in 680 at the VI Ecumenical Council, the Church made the following resolution: “For affinity in spirit is more important than union in body, and we learned that in some places, some who receive children from holy and saving baptism, after this enter into marriage cohabitation with their widowed mothers, we determine: so that from the present time nothing of the kind will be done. If, according to this rule, those who are doing this are seen to be doing this: such, firstly, let them abstain from this illegal marriage, then let them be subjected to the penance of those who commit fornication.” (53 rule of the VI Ecumenical Council)

This is how the famous interpreter of the canons of Zonara explains this rule: “This rule commands that those who take into marriage cohabitation with women whose children were taken from holy baptism (their godfathers), when they are widowed, retreat from such cohabitation with the dissolution of the illegal marriage , and to be subjected to the penances of those who commit fornication.”

How to be baptized correctly for an Orthodox Christian?

The basis of how to correctly cross another person is based on the same rules that are followed when overshadowing oneself with a sign. This movement is a reflection of the dogmas of religion, so it should be performed by bringing together three fingers. This expresses the unity of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Spirit.

The procedure for performing the sign of the cross is as follows:

Fingers placed on the back of the hand are not at all “superfluous” in the prayer gesture. They symbolize the dual nature of Jesus, the presence of divine and human principles in him.

Why is it correct to cross from right to left?

Among the Orthodox, the sign of the cross with three fingers is performed from right to left, which is explained as follows: on the right shoulder of a Christian is the place of the saved, on the left is the place of the lost. In other words, the right side symbolizes heaven, where angels and saved souls live, and the left side symbolizes hell, where demons reign and where all sinners go. Thus, by first raising his palm to his right shoulder, the Christian asks the Lord to count him among the saved. Afterwards, transferring the three-fingered finger to his left shoulder, he prays to God for deliverance from the fate of the perishing. All this implies a gesture of some kind of protection during prayer or worship and at the same time turning to the Lord Jesus Christ with repentance.

A logical question that may arise for any believer: why do Catholics cross themselves from left to right? In Catholicism, the symbolism of the right and left sides is similar: on the right is heaven, on the left is hell. But here the sign of the cross expresses the movement from sin to salvation, therefore the palm of the believer with fingers folded into three fingers moves from left to right.

How to overshadow another person with a sign?

How to properly cross another person? Orthodoxy gives an unambiguous answer to this question - the sign should lie as if the person had crossed himself.

Accordingly, an important point in this action is the order of alternating shoulders. This is where the difficulty for many people lies in how to correctly cross another person. For example, in a gesture of blessing, the hand, when moving from the stomach, should go not to the right, but to the left, since the person who is making the sign of the cross, as a rule, stands in front of the one who makes it.

Reasons for church reform

Orthodoxy, as we know, came to us from Byzantium, and in the first years after the Baptism of Rus', worship in churches was performed exactly as was customary in Constantinople, but after more than six centuries, significant changes were made to it.

In addition, since during almost this entire period there was no printing, and liturgical books were copied by hand, they not only contained a significant number of errors, but also the meaning of many key phrases was distorted. To rectify the situation, Patriarch Nikon made a simple decision that seemed to have no complications.

Are there differences in the sign overshadowing a person standing with his back and his face?

The only difference in making the sign of the cross over a person facing the person blessing and one who has his back turned is in the direction of movement of the hand.

How to cross another person correctly if he is facing? The relation of the figure of the one who is overshadowed by the sign to the face of the blessing takes the same position as the reflection in the mirror. Accordingly, the movement in the prayer gesture should be directed so that the first shoulder is the right one.

How to correctly cross another person if his back is standing? Just like yourself. Since the person being blessed is not opposite the one performing the sign, that is, does not take a mirror position, the direction of movement of the hand should be familiar. Of course, the brush needs to be turned towards the one who is making the sign of the cross.

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The meaning of the sign of the cross in Orthodoxy

The sign of the cross is an important and special sign in Orthodoxy, a symbol of faith in the Holy Trinity and a reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross for the salvation of people. When applying the symbol, a person runs his hand from his forehead to the lower abdomen, then brings his hand to his right shoulder, then to his left. At the same time, the person being baptized has three fingers folded, symbolizing faith in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

By crossing oneself, a person inflicts divine protection on himself and expresses faith in God, his son Jesus Christ. The sign of the cross is applied slowly; parents often rebaptize young children themselves. After applying the sign of the cross, one should bow, so a person trusts in God’s mercy for his sinful existence.

Why are Christ or any saint depicted with two fingers on icons?

The human soul after death. how to properly see off and remember the dead

In Orthodox iconography, the hand folded into the sign of the cross is a common element. During the polemics of the 2nd half of the 17th – early 20th centuries on the issue of double fingers, both its supporters and its opponents often referred to certain early Christian and Byzantine iconographic images. To a very large extent, the widespread use of ancient Christian images for the purpose of apology for double fingers was caused by the fact that in later practice, which persisted in Rus' until the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, both when making the sign of the cross and during the priestly (or episcopal) blessing, the same double finger was used , therefore, any images of the Lord Jesus Christ or saints with a raised hand and a finger formation similar to two fingers were perceived as unambiguous evidence of two fingers (i.e., in other words, as images of a blessing using two fingers; it should be noted that the actual sign of the cross in iconography rarely occurs). However, along with two fingers, in the iconography of the Lord Jesus Christ and saints, other forms of finger formation are often found - simply an open palm, an outstretched index finger, etc. an oratorical gesture (when all fingers, except the thumb and ring finger, are extended, and these two are folded together), which, as many scientists think, goes back to the ancient tradition; The appearance of double fingers in iconography was often associated with the mentioned oratorical gesture. However, this approach to the double-fingered sign in iconography, when it is identified with the folding of two fingers during blessing (and especially the sign of the cross), is incorrect. Double-fingeredness in the iconography of the Lord Jesus Christ (and then the saints) is associated with the so-called. a gesture of greatness, which consisted of raising the hand with the index and middle fingers extended and joined together and the rest bent (i.e., outwardly coinciding with two fingers), which dates back to the pre-Christian Roman tradition, where it was depicted as a sign of triumph. Thus, one of the earliest images of Christ with a gesture of greatness (erroneously identified by polemicists with two fingers) in the plot of “The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem” on the sarcophagus of Adelphia; The symbolism of the gesture does not consist in Christ’s two-fingered blessing of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but in the fact that He is depicted entering the Holy City as the Victor and true King. Later, the gesture of grandeur, like other Roman attributes (throne, claves, etc.), becomes a common element in images of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that there are many types of images of the Lord Jesus Christ in which the mentioned gesture symbolizes blessing.

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In what situations is it appropriate to use it?

Man is a child of the Lord from birth. The divine essence is contained in the soul of every person. But this does not mean that it is necessary to be baptized all the time; applying the sign of the cross for no reason may look inappropriate. Situations when an Orthodox believer can make the sign of the cross:

Drawing the holy cross is a symbol of faith in the Lord. Believers should not be ashamed of rebaptism, because this holy action contains God’s grace and carries protection and a reminder of the Lord’s commandments. But at the same time, one should not allow oneself to be “ostentatious”, wave one’s arms violently and pray loudly. These actions are inappropriate; putting a cross on a person’s body is a spiritual sacrament that should not be rushed. The visible evidence of faith must be righteous and not harmful to a person’s soul.

Historical excursion

Photo: Pravoslavie.ru

As Basil the Great noted, the tradition of baptism became one of the traditions received by believers from the apostles. Moreover, it reached believers through custom, and not Holy Scripture. In all the places where Christ's disciples appeared, preaching his teachings, their followers began to be baptized after them.

At the same time, initially, different territories developed their own customs of making the sign of the cross. For example, on the territory of modern Western Europe with the entire palm, and on the African continent with only one finger (thumb or index finger, emphasizing that they recognize only one and only Lord).

The tradition of baptism in different ways between representatives of Orthodoxy and Catholicism took shape in the 11th century. It was directly connected with the church schism that occurred then. Since then, services, the appearance of religious buildings, the vestments of priests, and other traditions and rituals have become different. What remained constant was the commitment to Jesus. Despite individual approaches to conducting services, the Eucharistic canons are preserved.

How to be baptized correctly as an Orthodox Christian?

If a person’s soul is open to the Lord, then performing a religious action correctly will not be difficult for a believer. Features of applying the sign of the cross in the Orthodox tradition:

The application of the cross ends with a bow to the Lord, thus the person admits his sinfulness in relation to Heaven and asks for protection and God's blessing.

On a note. In the Catholic faith, the cross is applied from left to right, and the entire palm is used.

At the end of the ceremony, the bow is done up to the waist or all the way to the ground. When bowing to the ground, you must kneel; this is usually done within the walls of a temple or church. You can apply the Orthodox cross mentally, with an open heart and soul; the canons of the church do not prohibit this.

Can two friends be godparents of each other's children?

This is quite normal and the church does not prohibit such a situation. Godparents for a child cannot only be their biological parents. It is also not permissible for the godparents of one person to be married.

Yes, this is quite possible - if both friends are Orthodox Christians. The Church does not prohibit such “mutual nepotism”; I even know of several such cases when friends baptized each other’s children and became “second mothers” for them.

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How to cross another person?

There is no greater protection for a child than the crosshairs from parents who pray for their children every day. Such a sign of God must be applied correctly. The cross on the body of the person being crossed should look as if he had crossed himself. That is, the movement of the hand in this case changes its direction, three fingers are placed first on the left side of the forearm, and then lead to the right. The person being baptized must stand face to face with the person making the sign of the cross.

Children are most susceptible to negative energy from outside, so it is recommended to carry out the baptism ceremony for a baby already on the fortieth day after birth.

If a child begins to experience prolonged periods of illness, screams and whims for no reason, insomnia, or, conversely, loss of strength, then the child needs help, because he does not yet know how to conduct religious rituals on his own. First of all, a frightened child must be calmed down and his face washed with holy water after reading a prayer. Then the sign of the cross is applied to the baby, so the child receives protection from demonic works and negative energy.

Is it possible to refuse to be a godfather or godmother? Who can be godparents

In such a situation, a logical question arises: “Who should be chosen as a godfather and is it possible to refuse to be a godfather?” We need to look for the answer not in faith or church, it is found within ourselves

It is very important to sensibly assess the capabilities of future godparents: will they be able to give the child what you cannot give, will they love him as if they were their own, and will they not lead him astray?

godparents of a different, non-Christian faith - Buddhists, atheists, Catholics, Muslims, etc., even if they are the closest friends of the family;
if parents who are related by marriage or family relationships want to baptize a child;
mentally ill people are not allowed to participate in the ceremony;
if the parents were not baptized;
if there is no desire to become a receiver;
biological parents cannot baptize their own child;
minors;
It is forbidden for stepmothers and stepfathers to baptize their stepdaughters and stepsons;
if a woman has her period, entry into the church is prohibited;
monks and priests.

What else is important to know?

Let's consider cases when it is still appropriate and correct to use the sign of the cross:

The Orthodox cross is the main protection of people from sinful deeds and the works of the devil. Crucified on the cross, Jesus Christ atoned for human sins and took away from demons the opportunity to fully influence a person, protecting believers with them as a shield. Evil forces are afraid of the holy cross, which takes away their unclean power. Orthodox writings describe cases where poisoned food crossed with the holy cross lost its ability to harm the health of believers.

The tradition of drawing a cross has been known in Orthodoxy since time immemorial. Believers should not be embarrassed to apply the sign of the cross to themselves in society, but the church also allows the mental application of the cross to a person. After all, a person can express love and devotion to the Lord with his heart; it is important that at this blessed moment the person’s soul is open, and the person’s thoughts are honest and good.

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When not to be baptized

You need to sign yourself with the sign of the cross only for the purpose, with a full understanding of what is happening. You cannot perform several processes at the same time and remain conscious. Therefore, you should not cross yourself if you are driving a car or just have your hands full. If you have a great desire or need to apply a cross, it is better to do this at the end of the matter.

Often a person makes an unacceptable mistake - he is baptized automatically, simply because it is customary. From the point of view of the church, this is a sin, since the ritual is performed carelessly, on the go. For piercing to be beneficial, the soul, heart, mind and physical body must be one. Just as you cannot cut vegetables with a sharp knife while watching TV, so it is impossible to turn to God as a secondary matter. Also, you should not use the imposition of a cross to link words or out of habit, in passing.

Church canons of the sign of the cross

The sign of the cross is an important part of communication with the Almighty. A careless movement done in a hurry is disrespect for the Creator, it insults Him

In order not to accidentally open the door to evil forces, the church teaches us to approach ringing as an important ritual that should be carried out according to all Orthodox canons

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How to properly baptize another person in the back

The third week of Lent is the Worship of the Cross. On Sunday, at the all-night vigil, the Life-Giving Cross is brought into the center of the temple, which the believers worship throughout the week.

Why does the cross accompany a person throughout his life? And what cannot be disowned in any way, explains Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich).

– Vladyka, how and what can you baptize in everyday life?

– The first Christians made the mark of a cross on their forehead, chest and shoulders with one finger. Why are we baptized in three? When was this tradition established?

– If conditions allow, then it is better to take off your gloves before making the sign of the cross.

– How to treat crosses on clothes: on the soles of shoes, bags, scarves... The cross and skull today are one of the most common images on world brands.

– What to do if you find a cross?

– Kiss it and wear it with reverence. One often hears that one should not pick up, much less wear, a pectoral cross lost by someone, since all the misfortunes of the person who lost it will be transferred to the one who puts it on. This is nothing more than a prejudice. On the contrary, it is the duty of every Orthodox person to raise the cross from the ground so that it is not trampled upon or desecrated. If a person is embarrassed to wear this cross or give it to another, then he should take it to church and give it to the priest.

– In what cases can you exchange crosses?

– Since pagan times, many superstitions and prejudices have been associated with the cross. They arise either due to ignorance or due to incorrect interpretation of the canons of the Church. It is believed that one should not give a cross as a gift, as it brings misfortune to the one to whom it is given. In light of the meaning of the cross for Orthodox people, the last statement cannot be considered other than a blasphemy against the Cross of Christ. Although it’s really not worth giving your pectoral cross if the donor himself is left without a cross. At the same time, there are situations when the donation of a cross is, if not obligatory, then at least traditional. For example, in Rus', according to tradition, the godfather gave a cross to a boy, and the godmother to a girl. There is nothing reprehensible in giving a cross to a relative, friend or girlfriend, if the gift is made from a pure heart. It symbolizes the desire for salvation in Eternal Life in Christ.

In addition, in ancient times in Rus' there was a custom of fraternization, in which it was customary to exchange pectoral crosses with a brother-in-law. The exchange of crosses symbolized the readiness of the godbrother or sister to help carry the cross to his brother-in-law. Among the people, kinship through the gods was often placed above blood kinship.

– Can you mentally baptize another person? And in what cases?

There is no need to be ashamed of the sign of the cross. If we want to cross someone, then there is nothing wrong with that. The main thing is that we are moved by a feeling of love for man and deep faith in the power of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

– A feeling of reverence for sacred things is an important aspect of Christian life. A temple is a special place of God’s gracious presence, where saving Sacraments are performed, where believers gather for prayer. It is quite natural to express signs of respect for the House of God, and, of course, Christians cross themselves and bow to the temple every time they pass or drive nearby.

– Is it possible to enter the temple and participate in the Sacraments without a cross?

– If you lose a cross, is this some kind of sign? Could something bad happen?

However, many believers have difficulty in how to correctly cross another person. Indeed, if you make the habitual movement of the sign of the cross over someone, and not over yourself, then the order of the shoulders will be disrupted. Is it important? And how to call a blessing on another person correctly, without violating the canons? Why do you need to be baptized? Such questions are relevant for many people who, for some reason, do not dare to ask them to the clergyman in the temple.

Is it possible to be baptized in a public place?

There is no clear answer to this question. Some Orthodox Christians believe that this should not be done in public, while others, on the contrary, do not hesitate to perform the ritual of rebaptism whenever they want. But God looks at the human heart and knows the thoughts of his creation. We need to remember this. Therefore, if a person is baptized in a public place simply to show his righteousness and piety, then he cannot avoid God’s punishment. If, for example, he is praying silently and he has a strong desire to cross himself as a sign that the prayer is over, he should not suppress this urge. The Holy Spirit is drawn to this. A Christian should not be ashamed of his faith; on the contrary, he should tell everyone about how good God is and what miracles He works in the lives of ordinary people who believe in Him. The ritual of rebaptism must be performed correctly in any place - even in the subway, even in a store. You also need to be baptized correctly in a cemetery. Namely, three times before entering his territory and three times after visiting him. Why is this being done? It is believed that the procedure of rebaptism in a cemetery “asks” God for the deceased person to hear everything that the person who visited him will tell him. This is a request for hearing.

You also need to be baptized when you drive past a Church or Temple. This is how a person shows his faith and shows respect for the ministers. Some believers believe that rebaptism must be performed at a crossroads because it is a special place. But it is special more for people who practice black magic. The priests do not say that believers should perform such a ritual at the crossroads of two roads.

When is the sign of the cross performed?

How to overshadow another person with a sign?

How to properly cross another person? Orthodoxy gives an unambiguous answer to this question - the sign should lie as if the person had crossed himself.

The crowds lied to God

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- Father Michael, I listened to your public conversations (that is, conversations in which Christian doctrine is communicated to those entering the Church before performing the sacrament of Baptism) and was shocked. At the very beginning, you repeated the same phrase in different ways: “There is no need to be baptized.” Well, this is somehow strange to hear from a clergyman...

– Yes, I immediately ask: “What prompted you to Baptism? You answered yourself: why am I being baptized, why is this necessary? There is no need to be baptized without an answer to this question. It won't be good. Baptism is a special covenant with God, a special relationship with Him, which can have various consequences for a person: either peace and prosperity, or... completely the opposite.

You can clearly see the state of our society - the decline of morals, the violation of morality, physical, intellectual, and spiritual degradation, rampant crime, etc. This is even more terrible from the point of view that now 70% of our population are Christians. And, excuse me, all of them managed to be baptized in the last ten to twelve years, during which this wild fall of man occurred.

Scary statistics, right? Crowds came to Christ - and lied. The crowds lied to God! We get what we deserve, and everything that happens around us is very logical: even lying to a person is not good, let alone lying to God! It's clear how it should end.

- Why is this happening?

– From my experience, conversations with people going to baptism, I can state that the vast majority have little idea why this is necessary and what to do next. Moreover, the purposes for which people receive baptism are often the opposite of why this sacrament was given to a person in the first place. The majority do not go for what they need to look for in the Church.

– I wonder what they usually answer your question?

- “To have better health”, “...Well, to improve financial matters”, “In general, some life has become difficult”, “Something is not working out with someone”, “The child needs to be baptized so that he does not get sick,” God forbid, they will jinx it...", etc. and so on. There is no need to go to Baptism with this. For what? Such questions should be resolved in a different order: do you want health? – go to the clinic, look for a good doctor; do you want money? - we need to work better; Damage, the evil eye - this is also not from the realm of religion. It is very rare that you get the right answer.