Some parents are concerned about the following delicate problem: is it possible to baptize a child a second time? And there are more and more of them.
This question will probably seem strange to many. Why rebaptize a child if he has already been given a name, there are godparents. Maybe it's just them? If they do not fulfill their duties to God and the godson, it is easier to change them. This is partly true. Plus a superstition: since baptism did not have the effect that was expected of it, the child is often sick, his family is in need, and is constantly solving some problems, should he be baptized a second time with a different name? Moreover, this name should not be disclosed to anyone. Troubles will be directed at the old name, but with the new person everything will go smoothly. The clergy and the Bible will help answer such a difficult question.
It's impossible to be born twice
Priests compare the sacrament of baptism with the birth of a person. Is it possible to be physically born twice? No. In the same way, it is impossible to be born spiritually twice. Consequently, a true Christian cannot afford to be baptized a second time. Of course, he can deceive the priest, and it is impossible to verify the veracity of his words, but is it possible to start a new life with sin?
Some will decide that they can turn not to an Orthodox priest, but, for example, to a minister of one of the denominations. But, without thoroughly understanding this issue, they find one of the pseudo-Christian religious organizations. The Church equates them to occultists - people who have given themselves the right to solve other people's problems with the help of black magic. Occultism is considered a sin in Orthodoxy.
The meaning of the Sacrament
In the sacrament of Baptism, the spiritual birth of a person occurs. The Holy Spirit washes away sins from him and gives him the grace necessary for salvation (the power that transforms a person). The baptism of a newborn is also significant because it lays the foundation for the spiritual development of the child. Baptism is also called communion with Christ and birth into the Church.
We can highlight the most important and significant moments of the sacrament of Baptism. These include, for example, the threefold renunciation of the baptized person from Satan and service to sin. Also, a person must publicly declare his desire to join Christ three times. After this, consciously, with an understanding of the meaning, read the Creed. It sets out the main dogmas of the Orthodox Church. By reciting the Creed, the person being baptized publicly declares faith in these dogmas. In this way he confirms his commitment to Orthodoxy.
If a child is baptized, then the godparents do it all for him. Next, the clergyman sanctifies the water into which the person being baptized is plunged three times. The priest reads special prayers at this time. The baptized person is also anointed with holy oil and part of his hair is cut off. Confirmation means putting on a person the seal of the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies and transforms a person. This is a separate sacrament that complements Baptism. Cutting one's hair symbolizes a person's dedication to Christ and acceptance of His will.
It is very important that a person is baptized consciously and with sincere faith. So as not to perceive the sacrament as some kind of traditional rite or magical ritual. Therefore, if necessary, on the eve of the sacrament, public conversations are held with those wishing to be baptized or with future godparents. Their goal is to initiate a person into the foundations of Orthodoxy and talk about the meaning of Baptism.
Who to choose as godparents
When baptizing a child, it is imperative to choose godparents. Their role in a person’s subsequent life is spiritual mentoring over their godson. It is advisable for the girl to have a godmother and for the boy to have a godfather. It’s even better if the child has both, but this point is not mandatory.
Sometimes the question of baptizing a child with other godparents arises from the fact that the existing spiritual parents are not coping with their responsibilities. They do not participate in any way in the life of their godson or are spiritually illiterate. Therefore, real parents must approach the choice of godparents responsibly and entrust the spiritual support of their child to those who understand this role and assume responsibilities. If you are unlucky with godparents, it will still be impossible to baptize the child.
Priest Alexander Ermolin
Lately, many “parishioners” have been asking the same question: is it possible to be baptized with a second name? And these, as a rule, are not Rustems and Timurs, who one way or another need to be baptized with a different name (after all, there are no such names in the calendar), but quite ordinary Ivans and Marias. There are also variations of the question: is it possible to be baptized again or change the name given in Baptism. The reason for this phenomenon is very simple: on the Internet, advice from various “white magicians” and other occultists about fighting corruption by... crossing is now very common.
Bad advice
Let's start with examples. Here are some “helpful tips” that are given on the Internet for those who want to be baptized themselves or to baptize a child. You cannot baptize a child immediately after the funeral service in the church, you cannot wipe up water that spilled onto the floor during Baptism, you must invite an even number of guests to Baptism. We read these and many other tips both on a variety of esoteric sites and on quite decent sites for young parents.
“Most likely, you will be refused to perform the ritual if you reveal the whole truth. So you have to lie"
But the most outstanding advice is the following: “If you take a different name for yourself at Baptism, it will become much more difficult to damage you, since the “address has changed.” We read further: “The vast majority of church priests do not approve of the idea of re-baptism and will most likely refuse to perform the ritual if you reveal the whole truth to them. So you will have to lie and say that Baptism will be held for the first time. And immediately call only the new name that you have chosen! If they ask you for an official document (such as a passport) to verify your name, just go to another church.”
That is, in order to be baptized with a different name, you need to lie! And lie in the temple. Let's evaluate this advice from the point of view of Orthodoxy: a person is trying to isolate himself from damage by performing a magical act. And in order for the ritual to really “work”, they advise you to commit a sin, they advise you to lie in the temple. As we know, the evil one needs one sacrifice - human sin. And this sacrifice must be made to the evil one.
All this is reminiscent of advice on how to “correctly” guess at Christmas time: you need to steal a candle in a temple, etc. That is, in order for the evil one to answer your questions, you need to commit the sin of theft. Well, or any other sin. The main thing is sin. The main thing is to make a sacrifice to the devil.
The Church is against Baptism with a “middle name” simply because it does not believe in corruption. We, Orthodox people, believe that the Lord sends us only what is necessary in our lives. Yes, often these are some kind of trials and tribulations, but they are needed for our salvation.
“If a person is not with Christ, if he does not live the church life, then he becomes an enemy of Christ”
If an Orthodox Christian lives a normal spiritual life, if he regularly receives communion, confesses, fasts, etc., then no damage will take him. The Gospel contains the following words of the Savior: “Whoever is not with Me is against Me; and whoever does not gather with Me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). That is, you cannot be “average”, neither good nor bad. If a person is not with Christ, if he does not live the church life, then he becomes an enemy of Christ. If a modern person does not fill his life with God, does not put Him at the forefront, then the evil one comes into his life and settles in it with pleasure. And if there is no spiritual experience, no life with Christ and in Christ, then a person begins to “defend” himself from the evil one with all kinds of magical actions. He fights damage and hangs a pendant or amulet, and then goes to such extremes as Baptism with a second name.
Fighting damage with “magical methods” is the same as pouring gasoline on a fire or treating diabetes with sugar.
Change name
Another sad variation of the fight against corruption and attracting good luck is the desire to change your name. The Orthodox tradition is characterized by the understanding that the saint in whose honor a person is named is an example to follow in spiritual life. Baptized in honor of a missionary - one must try to preach; baptized in honor of a reverend - show humility and abstinence in one’s life. But superstition distorts this too. Some people believe that if you were baptized in honor of a martyr, it means you will suffer all your life. If you want to avoid this torment, change your name. Please note: do not change life, but change the name itself. Follow the path of least resistance - this call is extremely strange for a Christian, to whom the words of the Savior are addressed: “Enter at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go in through it” (Matthew 7:13) .
Orthodoxy knows only one way to change a name - monastic tonsure. But this is a method only for those who really want to change their lives.
I have already written in more detail about choosing a name for Baptism and will not repeat myself.
Cross again
There is another, completely terrible manifestation of the “fight against corruption” - attempts to be baptized again. The logic of these “useful tips” is the same: if the name was damaged at Baptism, then you need to change it. The best way is through a second Baptism. Let me remind you of one interesting expression: “the devil is God’s monkey.” That is, the devil, as it were, parodies everything that the Lord does. In the traditional Orthodox understanding, Baptism is the beginning of a new life, the second birth of a person from “water and the Holy Spirit.” The devil's parody of Baptism - the second baptism - sets itself one goal: to solve some everyday problems. “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
A Christian is baptized into the death of Christ in order to suffer with Him in life and then be resurrected. The Lord Himself calls upon His disciples to take upon themselves His yoke: “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Please note: We believe in Baptism as a call to follow Christ in a difficult but sure way. And the “second baptism” is an attempt to be baptized in order to solve earthly problems. That is, the real satanic way.
And in conclusion, let me remind you of one moment from the lives of the ancient saints. Many martyrs of the first centuries, when asked about their name, said that their name was Christian, and this name was the most important thing in their life for them. So important that they went to death for him, and certainly did not try to replace him for the sake of obtaining earthly goods.
Orthodoxy.fm
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What issues need to be resolved before a child is baptized?
The decision to baptize a child should not be made spontaneously. It is necessary to carefully prepare for this sacrament.
- If parents decide that their child will be Orthodox while the mother is pregnant, then they perform the ceremony on the 40th day after the birth of the baby. Before this, the child cannot be shown to anyone.
- If the baby is unwell, the baptism ceremony can be carried out in two stages. The first at the appointed time, and the second - Confirmation - after his recovery or improvement of his condition.
- It doesn't matter what time of year to baptize a child.
- The church has no right to take money for baptism. Parents give them as a donation if they have the opportunity. If they refuse to baptize a child, you need to file a complaint with the dean.
- The baptism ceremony can be ordered at any Temple. Many choose one that has a special room for the sacrament.
- It is better to perform the sacrament in the absence of other children, but this is not necessary.
- Photo and video shooting must be agreed upon in advance.
- Spiritual parents cannot be of a faith other than Orthodox and should not be husband and wife. Monastics cannot be either.
- Parents are not allowed to baptize their own child.
- Those chosen as godparents must come to church the day before for a conversation.
- When baptizing a child, the name must be chosen according to the calendar in advance.
- The child will be less capricious during the ceremony if he is fed.
- The cross worn on the baby should not fall over the head. It's better not to take it off. It doesn't have to be gold. Gold carries negative energy.
- The godparents prepare clothes for the ceremony for the baby.
- A baptized child must be given communion.
Parents are strongly encouraged to adhere to these rules and observe God's laws in life.
Is it possible to be baptized a second time?
In the prayer “Creed”, pronounced during the ceremony, there are words about a single baptism for the remission of sins. These words mean the power of the sacrament, which is performed for a person once in a lifetime. It is impossible to perform this ritual two or more times, and there are no compelling reasons for this. If a person has committed sins in his life, led an unrighteous life, the ritual of confession will help him forgive his sins.
During confession, in case of sincere repentance, a person receives forgiveness from God and is cleansed of sins. Therefore, if a person feels that at some point he has fallen away from the faith, he should confess and receive communion. The rite of confession itself performs in this case the function of a second baptism.
Signs associated with baptism
- It is not advisable to postpone baptism from the appointed day to another; this is considered a bad omen.
- The white clothes in which the baby was baptized cannot be washed. It must be worn on him during illness.
- A pregnant godmother is an unlucky godson and her own child.
- If the baby screams during the ceremony, that's good. It is believed that the release of evil spirits occurs, and subsequently he will grow calm.
- The baby's face is not wiped after immersion.
- At the festive meal in honor of the christening, the godparents must taste every single dish on the table. This will help the child not to know the need.
- Godparents can have several godchildren. But it is advisable that for the first time a woman should baptize a boy, and a man should baptize a girl. For children, this is fortunate in love.
- There is no point in objecting to the priest who chose the name for baptism.
- Do not reveal the secret of the child’s name at baptism.
- The godparents stand throughout the ceremony.
- The color red on a baby's clothing is prohibited.
- Before baptism, the child is seen only by those closest to him.
- The request to be a spiritual parent is not refused.
- You cannot be baptized a second time.
Second baptism is a sin
Is it possible to re-baptize a child? It is forbidden. How can you not hide the fact of your first baptism from the Father in another church? New godparents will commit the same fall from grace if they agree to have the child rebaptized in another church.
Only a spiritual mentor can take on the responsibilities of careless or departed godparents.
Is it possible to be baptized a second time with a different name? Is this question still open for anyone? It is impossible, even if you are already an adult, and your first baptism occurred in your infancy. The reasons are the same as stated above. And if you need help in solving life problems, you need to go to a psychologist or find a confessor, and not look for a charlatan who will remove non-existent damage, or be fooled by the absurd idea of a second baptism.
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