The very first sacrament in the life of every Christian is baptism. It is at this moment, and not at the hour of biological birth, that the baby is born spiritually. After the ceremony, a child receives a guardian angel who will protect, help and support him throughout his life. Therefore, it is important to approach this process with all responsibility and deep spiritual meaning. Each stage of the sacrament is of great importance for the future life of the baby.
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Rules for girls' christening
In Orthodoxy, baptism primarily means the spiritual birth of a child and ensures the salvation of his soul after biological death. This sacrament is the first of seven in the Christian tradition. The main rule in its implementation is the presence of godparents. They play a very important role in the baby’s life, so their choice must be approached with all responsibility.
Since the godfather and mother are responsible for the spiritual development of the baby, they must be deeply religious people and well versed in religious canons. Before the sacrament itself, they are supposed to attend the service, confess, and also receive communion. It would not be a bad idea to attend an introductory conversation with a priest in order to refresh your knowledge of the canons of Orthodoxy and to better understand the full extent of responsibility that subsequently falls on godparents.
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Both future spiritual mentors must be baptized in the same faith as the child and have a cross on their body at the time of the ceremony. Three days before the sacrament, they must fast and devote themselves to spiritual affairs. During the day you are supposed to give up alcoholic beverages and sexual intercourse. Traditionally, the godparents carry the child to the temple without the help of parents, taking with them the baby’s birth certificate.
The godmother should be dressed appropriately. The length of the skirt should be below the knee, and the sleeves should cover the shoulders. A woman cannot enter the temple with her head uncovered. Despite the more loyal attitude of the church towards the male sex, the godfather cannot come to church in short pants and a T-shirt.
During the ritual, a strand of hair is cut from the girl's head, which is a symbolic sacrifice to God. Subsequently, the child is plunged into the font three times and a cross is placed around his neck. During the christening, the clergyman reads a traditional speech, as well as three Christian prayers. The final stage is the main prayer of the godparents - the Creed.
Having two spiritual mentors is desirable, but not required. Only one parent is allowed. In the case of the christening of a girl, the mother. She must hold the baby throughout the ceremony.
krizma
There are also certain rules when choosing a godmother. To conduct the ceremony itself, she must know by heart at least two basic prayers: the Creed and the Our Father. Like the godfather, the mother must be baptized in the same faith and wear a cross on her body. She is the one who buys the necessary clothes for baptism. Of course, in the old days, women prepared outfits for their goddaughters with their own hands, but nowadays it is possible to buy a ready-made set. An excellent option would be to embroider the date of baptism and the girl’s name on the kryzhma.
The rules for the christening of a girl are not very strict and are quite feasible, provided that the full depth of the spiritual meaning of the sacrament is clearly understood. Every little thing plays a very symbolic role, so it is important to take a responsible approach to the process of preparing for the ceremony.
Not everyone can become a godparent. The main rules are:
- reaching adulthood,
- legal capacity
- lack of closely related ties between future spiritual mentors,
- as well as the presence of high moral principles.
Usually, the girl’s name, if it is Orthodox, is not changed during the ceremony. However, parents often choose to give a different spiritual name to their child at baptism, based on the period of birth and the saint who is revered at that time. It has become a good practice to consult with a clergyman regarding the choice of a name; the priest can help in this difficult matter, and it is not recommended to argue with him.
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It is optimal for the pectoral cross to be made of noble metal. For a baby, silver is best.
- Firstly, it will not cause discomfort with constant wear,
- and secondly, this metal has excellent bactericidal properties, which will additionally protect the baby from all kinds of diseases.
The main Christian attribute must be new and pre-sanctified. If you buy a cross in a church shop, then it will already be consecrated. But if purchased at a jewelry store, the priest must first prepare it before the ceremony.
We are going to baptize a child: what to consider before the ceremony
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If you do not know anything about God or the rite of baptism, you can say that this is an oversight of your parents or godparents. Church rules, dogmas and canons explain in sufficient detail why and why children should be baptized, when it is optimal to do this and what is needed for the baptism of children in the church. It makes sense first of all to attend explanatory conversations that priests regularly conduct. You can find out when and how to get to such events by going to the very church where you are going to baptize your offspring.
Important
Many parents worry and worry whether the priest will baptize the baby if the parents themselves have not undergone this ceremony, but are just planning to. There are no restrictions on this basis among the Orthodox church canons. The main thing is that the chosen godparents profess the Orthodox faith, and also be highly moral and spiritual people.
Before you figure out what is needed to baptize a child into a church, you should understand that the ceremony is designed to introduce the new little person to spiritual life, to accept the faith of his ancestors. During the sacrament, the baby is immersed in water several times, which represents his death to sin and birth to a new promise. It is believed that it is during baptism, along with a new church name, that the All-Good Lord himself gives the baby his own guardian angel, to whom he can subsequently pray for his happiness and well-being. Each church or parish may have some procedural differences, but the meaning of the rite is the same for all believers, without exception.
When and where is baptism performed?
There are no special instructions on when exactly the sacrament of baptism should be performed, and the choice of the date and age of the baby largely depends on the date of his birth, as well as family circumstances, which cannot be ignored. In the church, baptisms are held on almost any day, even when believers are fasting. True, Lenten services can become an obstacle, since they take quite a lot of time, but then parents are invited to perform the ritual on the weekend, that is, on Saturday or Sunday.
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- The Church advises holding the sacrament on the fortieth day of a little man’s life, due to the enormous significance of this number from a religious point of view.
- Tiny babies, under the age of three months, survive immersion in water much easier, because intrauterine reflexes have not yet been completely forgotten by them.
- Children are less frightened during the ritual than older children, when the priest, who seems like a big and scary stranger with a beard, takes them in his arms.
- The rite of baptism can be performed at absolutely any age, both in infancy and adulthood, but only once.
When figuring out what is needed to baptize a child in a church, you should decide in advance in which church the sacrament will be held. You can simply give yourself an impromptu tour of all the available churches, and then choose the one to which your heart lies. It’s great if the temple has a separate room for baptism, then you can carry out the ceremony away from prying eyes. True, this does not mean that several dozen people will not gather for the ritual on one day, especially if we are talking about large cities. If you want your baby to be christened individually, you will have to agree on a date and time separately.
Choosing the right godparents
Many modern people do not know or understand at all what criteria should be used to choose godparents, so they try to invite buddies, friends, influential people or simply priests to this role. This is a really important issue that needs to be looked into in detail.
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- Godparents can only be people baptized in the Orthodox faith who understand and respect the foundations of Orthodoxy. They will bear responsibility for instilling spiritual values in the child, explaining and supporting him in difficult times, and introducing him to the true faith.
- Godparents cannot be husband and wife, and also do not have the right to marry in the future, since they become spiritual sister and brother.
- Applicants for this status must be mentally balanced, adults.
- You cannot take strangers, sectarians, or clergy as godparents if you have not previously known each other or do not intend to communicate in the future. Godparents should always be nearby to be able to provide the necessary spiritual assistance.
- According to tradition, people prefer to take a couple as godparents. However, when this is not possible, you can get by with one person. For girls it is preferable to take a girl, and for boys - a man.
Godparents undergo a special interview before the child’s baptism to find out what they need to know and acquire. All expenses usually fall on their shoulders; these people must ensure that everything is completely ready before the christening. Godfathers need to memorize the “Creed” prayer, as well as confess and receive communion according to the ritual.
Baptism age
The Orthodox tradition presupposes the baptism of the baby at a very early age, since after this sacrament the child can acquire the grace of the Lord, and he finds an intercessor angel. Most often, the eighth or fortieth day from birth is chosen for this purpose. If the baby was born very sickly, then baptism is allowed even in the first day of life. Because it is believed that this will help protect the baby and give her Divine protection.
It is recommended that the girl be baptized on the fortieth day, since until this moment the woman in labor cannot be allowed to participate in church events. The clergyman must read a cleansing prayer over the mother before she takes part in the ritual.
In addition, newborn children tolerate contact with unfamiliar people much better. This applies not only to the godmother, who will have to hold the girl in her arms throughout the entire ceremony, but also to the priest, who is completely unfamiliar to the baby. If the girl will be immersed in the font, then it is better to carry out baptism in the first months of life, while the intrauterine reflexes have not yet completely died out.
What is needed for a girl's baptism?
The baptism of a girl cannot be done without a cross, a kryzhma and a baptismal gown. Of course, this list can be expanded depending on the financial capabilities of the family and the personal wishes of the parents. Often a personalized icon, a baptismal blanket and an amulet are also purchased. However, this is not mandatory and does not in any way affect the performance of the sacrament itself.
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All the main attributes for the ceremony are purchased by the godparents.
The spiritual father purchases a cross and also pays temple fees. It is important that the edges of the main symbol of the Christian faith are not sharp, but rather rounded at the ends. The baby may get hurt on the cross, which will not bring any joy to either the parents or the goddaughter herself. In addition, the godfather can financially participate in organizing the celebration of this significant event.
The spiritual mother purchases a baptismal set for the baby, also a kryzhma. Usually, when choosing clothes, they consult with the girl’s mother, since she knows her child better and can give practical advice. The girl's initials, as well as the date of birth or christening, are often embroidered on the kryzhma.
Christening as a holiday
Responsibilities for godparents extend not only to the sacrament itself, but also to the feast after it. A properly organized celebration is a guarantee of a happy life for a girl.
- You should not organize noisy parties - the child’s life will be hectic.
- To make life easy for your goddaughter, you should place a cup of water on the window during the celebration.
- The girl will grow up to be a real beauty if she finishes all the food on the plates.
During christenings, you should not serve pancakes and pork, so as not to invite trouble.
- Godparents are prohibited from drinking alcohol.
- The rules for the godmother are very simple: you should take the gingerbread from the festive table and put it on the highest shelf in the house, with the words that her goddaughter will grow tall and happy.
- You should make sure that there are sweets, baked goods, and sweet milk-based porridge on the table.
Girl's christening clothes: dress
In the case of a girl's baptism, it is necessary to purchase a dress or shirt specially designed for this purpose, a cap with lace trim and booties. Sometimes the basic set also includes tights or other accessories. It all depends on the age of the baby and the time of year when the sacrament is performed. The material is not so important, but it should be pleasant to the touch, not cause discomfort to the baby, and also be suitable for the weather.
It is considered a good sign to choose a light shade for baptismal clothing, perhaps even white. The godmother can also make a set with her own hands; this will serve as additional protection for the girl, since such a thing will carry the energy of love and care.
After the sacrament, the kryzhma and baptismal gown are kept at home and under no circumstances are given to anyone. There is a practice of wrapping a child in it at the time of illness. Parishioners claim that this ensures a quick recovery for the baby and makes her calmer. For a year after the sacrament, the kryzhma is not washed.
Signs familiar and unusual
On the day of such a big event, everything matters. You can try to predict the fate of the girl by carefully observing how the christening went, and also attract happiness with some rituals.
Common
- If a child cries during a christening, this is a good omen .
- The baptismal dress and kryzhma should be stored. If you wrap your child in them to sleep in the first days after baptism, he will be calm and peaceful .
- It is not good if the priest drops objects and confuses words during the ceremony.
- It is not customary to widely announce that a family is going to baptize a child. He will be under better protection if unnecessary people do not know when the ceremony will take place.
- After church, it’s better not to go anywhere, but to go straight home. This way the Guardian Angel will remain strong.
Rare and interesting signs
- If a girl is passed over the church fence and brought into the house after baptism through the window, she will be healthy . Bringing it in through the door means, on the contrary, loosening it .
- Getting caught in the rain during a christening is a sign of joy .
- A girl sneezing during a christening is not good .
- It is necessary to count the money on the day of christening so that the child grows up in prosperity .
- When the family has left for church, those remaining at home should not open the door to anyone until the relatives return with the baptized girl, so as not to let trouble in .
- Knitting, sewing, or making preparations on christening day is a bad omen .
- If several people are baptized in a church at the same time and, moreover, they have the same names, this is unfortunate .
Do you need a cake for a girl's christening?
The presence or absence of a cake at the baby’s christening depends only on the personal wishes of the family. The Church does not forbid the celebration of the sacrament after it has taken place. There is nothing wrong with celebrating such a significant event with your loved ones.
However, it is important to remember that the ritual does not cancel fasting, and therefore it is necessary to take this into account. Perhaps you should not schedule the sacrament for the most strict periods of fasting, so as not to have to postpone the celebration indefinitely.
It is best if the cake is prepared by the girl’s mother or grandmother, who will make it with love. Of course, the baby will not be able to appreciate the culinary abilities of his family, but those invited will enjoy the treat with pleasure.
Gift options from other relatives
Epiphany is a great holiday, to which close and distant relatives are often invited. This is an occasion to gather as a large family, congratulate the baby on her first Sacrament, wish her all the best, and present memorable gifts.
What relatives can give:
- Set of silverware. Even if the godmother gives the girl a silver spoon, such a gift will not be superfluous.
- Jewelry. A good option for a christening gift for a girl from her grandmother. You can choose any product: earrings, chain, pendant, bracelet, and optionally apply a commemorative engraving. When the granddaughter grows up, she will happily wear jewelry given by her beloved grandmother.
- Money. Grandfather usually gives an envelope with banknotes at christening so that parents can use them as they wish.
- Useful things in everyday life: bottle sterilizer, air ionizer, yogurt maker, bread maker, multicooker, powerful blender.
Find out in advance from the girl’s parents what they would like to receive. It is better to give a useful gift than to give something that you already have. Why does a baby's mother need two identical mixers or high chairs?
