Child baptism: what you need to know and buy before the sacrament

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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How is the baptism ceremony performed?

How do they baptize? When to wear a baptismal gown? Immediately or after the font? I will be godmother, and a month later we plan to baptize my youngest. Share your experience. 16.5.2003, MMADAMM

• IMHO, in the Orthodox Church a baptismal gown is not needed. You need a shirt that is easy to put on (new). After all, the child is completely immersed in water, and the ritual is not interrupted. Snusmumrik
• What then should the child wear before the bath??? As far as I know and remember, before immersion they read a prayer for quite a long time and exorcise evil spirits (my vague memories of the baptism of my eldest, and the baptism of my goddaughter. But that was sooooo long ago and without baptismal dresses and shirts... MMADAMM
• In a diaper or a towel, already undressed. Probably, if baptism is individual, you can become more sophisticated there. We are also going to baptize a girl. We have her as Lena, so we baptize her on June 3rd, St. Helen’s Day, and in the Church of St. Helena. We'll make a special trip to the village; the church is small and cozy. Thank you for raising the question, although I will also be enlightened on this matter! Snusmumrik
• I can only answer about the dress - after the font. mammik
• Look at Orthodox websites - the whole sacrament is described there in great detail and can even be done by a priest. It also describes how godparents should behave. They put on a new white shirt or dress after dipping into the font three times, after which they put on a cross; if you buy a cross not in a church, then you need to consecrate it in advance. You also need a white towel when you receive your baby after the bath. They also tell godparents that it is advisable to fast for at least three days before the sacrament. Don’t forget that mothers are not allowed to attend the sacrament, only at the very end, but you can take a video in many churches, they allow it for a small surcharge, and after the sacrament is completed, they issue a certificate of the child’s name, date, etc. It seems to me better to look for a quiet temple associated with the child's name. “The Sacrament of Baptism” “Baptism and Confirmation” “Page of the Orthodox Mother” Yelle
• We had a wonderful baptism. On Trinity Sunday we went with our 1.5 month old daughter to visit the Pyukhti Monastery. The novice granny pestered: such a holiday! It’s time to baptize the baby, 1.5 m. and not baptized, and she agreed with the priest herself and fed her holiday porridge afterwards. At the same time, my husband was baptized. There was no baptismal dress, no godparents, not even a towel. But there was a feeling of the Greatness of what happened, a miracle... Leeni

The meaning of the ritual

Almost every person who comes into worldly life eventually comprehends spiritual life. Faith in God helps a person throughout his life. The essence of the baptismal ritual is to become closer to the Lord, receive his blessing and join the church. People call the church rite of baptism the second birth of a person.

The most important attribute in the ritual is water, since it is capable of washing away all sins from a person and resurrecting Christ. Therefore, after the ceremony, a person can attend church, confess or receive communion.

Previously, the baptism ceremony was carried out only for adults. Then people believed that a person should consciously approach the choice - to be baptized or not. Now such responsibility lies with the parents. If you wish, you can wait for the child to choose whether to be baptized or not. But the sooner people submit to the rite of baptism, the sooner the Lord will protect them. Therefore, parents today are concerned about the question of how the rite of Orthodox baptism takes place.

Have you undergone baptism?

Not really

How long does the baptism ceremony take?

We decided to baptize our son tomorrow. How long does all this last? Here they told me it would take at least 2 hours... And everything starts right in the morning at 11 o’clock, in short, until our very morning sleep - there will be some whims. And then my mother told me that they wouldn’t let me hold my son there - they say, the godparents will hold him and no one else! This is true? 14.7.2003, Lynac

• All together lasted two and a half hours, the godfather was holding the child - he almost died! I stood nearby, holding her hand, and at first she was sleeping. You get up early so that the child falls asleep and starts sleeping... i.e. Dress him nicely right away so you don’t have to change clothes, you can keep him in a blanket if he’s sleepy. Ours was 7 months old - it’s hard to hold in your arms for a long time. Ask the priest, so that it doesn’t take too long, some read everything very quickly and fit it into 40 minutes, while others do such terrible things... Don’t forget to wear a handkerchief for yourself - cover your head, and maybe take a cookie with you for the baby - it’s all the more pleasant to procrastinate than shouting. Marzhenka
• I was asked to wait outside. After 5 minutes, my husband ran out and dragged me there - Masha had NEVER screamed like that before. I took her and she sat in my arms. Father didn’t say anything. It lasted about 40 minutes (but there were few people). Cockroach (1.3)
• They gave it to me after I was baptized. But in general, everything happened informally and very quickly in a small village church, and the priest was understanding, but I don’t know how it is in the city. Tanya
• Actually, the godmother has a baby in her arms. But when I was a godmother, my goddaughter cried a lot, I couldn’t calm her down, and the priest allowed my mother to take the girl in her arms. Vesta
• Yes. Mom is standing nearby. As a free application, sometimes she is not even allowed into the ceremony itself, only then into the service. Our christening lasted 2 hours because 3 children were baptized at once. Ours was 5 months old, the others were 1.5 months old. The girls were sleeping, and Sashka was screaming..... Then he apparently had terrible stress, he didn’t eat or drink anything and slept for 5 hours, and then he hung around all night. But you are already big, so it should be easier to pass. Flamingo
• We were actually baptized at home. Everything lasted about an hour. First the godfather held the daughter, and then the godmother. And before that, some kind of prayer was read over me. I was in the room where they were baptized. Coccinella (SLok)
• Have you already chosen a specific church? You need to go on a weekday, arrange a time (so that you are alone), talk to the priest. The times vary in different churches. If there are many children, then baptism lasts longer. And if the child is alone, we were told that it will take about 15 minutes. But the mother cannot seem to be in the room where the child is being baptized. We are also going to be baptized next week. Maxi
• The godparents keep the boy there - the mother, the girl - the father. Mom is not allowed into church at all, only then, when they have already baptized, they call, give the child in her arms and read prayers. MARGO (son 2.4 and son 1.2)
• When I baptized: moms and dads were not allowed into the room at all only by godparents, since it’s a boy, then the godfather should basically do everything Olga and Artemka

Gifts from relatives

Epiphany is an old family holiday, so both close and distant relatives are invited to its celebration. In this case, each relative gives a gift corresponding to the event. Relatives can give:

• A baptismal set made of silver, consisting of a spoon, a striuchitsa (a stick with which a cross is applied to a child’s forehead), a water ionizer and a comb. In the future, the set can be passed on to heirs and will become a family heirloom.
• It is customary to give a child a silver spoon. This spoon is then used for feeding. There is a sign that it helps the first teeth to erupt. You can make an engraving to commemorate your baptism. This gift will last a lifetime. In addition to a spoon, they give a plate or saucer, a cup and other cutlery.
• Close relatives can give jewelry made of precious metals: chain, pendant, earrings. The girl will be happy to wear them when she grows up.
• You can donate money: either in an envelope, or by opening a bank account in the name of the parents or girl. By the time she reaches adulthood, the account can accumulate a significant amount that will be useful to the girl in the future.
• For a young family you can always find a gift that will be useful in everyday life. You can give a yogurt maker, an air ionizer, a bottle sterilizer, or some household appliances.

To make the gift useful, it is better to ask the parents what the child needs most. This could be a piece of furniture, for example, a crib or high chair.

What is needed to baptize a child?

Girls, if it’s not difficult, tell me dark about christening: how it happens, how long it lasts, what you need to have with you, etc. Why did they scare me today that parents are not allowed to be present at baptism?! I’m terrified - Without me, Nyukha will burst into tears, and there will be so much screaming: 27.6.2002, Lukoye

• We (the parents) were not present - this is the rule; the child has godparents. The baptism took about 2 hours. It was necessary: ​​a diaper, a baptismal shirt, a cross, a cap, a diaper (or a towel, wipe it), candles, everyone present should have crosses. The very moment of plunging into the font cannot be filmed - it is a sacrament. Happy baptism! Irra
• We were baptized not long ago, on Trinity Sunday, June 23, so I’ll tell you according to recent steps... I’ll try not to be too long. Although we live on the periphery, maybe it’s not like that with you... They don’t baptize in a church, but a house near it - it’s dark and smells damp... We took with us: a baptism kit - sold everywhere, there’s one for our age, too, in it : shirt, diaper, towel, cap (we didn’t need it). First, strip the children down to diapers and a blouse, ours, of course, screamed - he was afraid of the darkness, the priest began to sing (during this prayer he illuminates baptismal shirts and crosses - there is no need to buy them, they are there)... The children are held by their godparents, we were right there , and when the priest turned away, they took Sanka and her husband in turn and gave him something to drink, i.e. They tried their best to calm him down. Then the child is undressed, doused with water in the font, hands, feet, ears, etc. are smeared with something. They put on a shirt and keep him in a diaper, then they sing something again, then they cut their hair - ours protested very much - and they put on crosses. Then they dress the children and go to church - we walked across the street, the children looked like they had just finished bathing. But no one got sick - and there they read a prayer again, the boys are taken somewhere behind the altar, but the girls are not, right there under the icons the priest simply holds them... Then they light candles for health and that’s it... That’s how it was with us. Egorova Yulia
• Christenings last about 2 hours... The mother is not allowed to attend the christening; after the christening ceremony, a prayer of permission must be read over her. Until then, they are not allowed into the church, or advice: come up to the christening a couple of days in advance, let the priest read it over you... You are required to wear a baptismal shirt, a cross on a string, and a towel. The christening is paid for by Godfather BARBI
• As far as I know, parents are now allowed in... At least all my friends were present. And the procedure itself depends on which church you will be baptized in, whether you will be alone, etc. Irina Zh

What to give a girl at her christening from her godmother

There are some things that are traditionally given by the godmother. However, parents or other relatives can already buy them in advance. But this is not a reason to buy the same thing or to refuse to buy a gift altogether.

What a godmother must give

Kryzhma

- this is the item that, according to custom, is bought by the godmother. If the parents have already bought a baptismal shirt, then the godmother can buy a diaper. After all, after the bath, a naked baby needs to be wrapped in something, wiped off, and only then put on the kryzhma. If a girl is baptized in cold weather, then you can also give her a blanket: it certainly won’t be superfluous in the household.

DIY birthday gift for your goddaughter

You can make a kryzhma, a blanket, and a diaper with your own hands. That is, an ordinary object can be embroidered with christening symbols, or the child’s name can be embroidered. You can also give your baby angels, but what you make them from depends on your inclinations. You can sculpt them from clay and bake them in an oven, then this gift can be stored for a long time.

Diaper cake for goddaughter

If a girl is in infancy, then waterproof diapers are a daily necessity for her. There are several options for making an impromptu cake using ribbon and diapers. And although it has nothing to do with the baptism of the baby, it is still a very necessary thing, and, moreover, presented in an unusual way.

Decorations for a little princess for christening

A girl can be baptized not even in the first year of her life, and then she will be happy with any decoration. If these are earrings, then you can even choose them from jewelry metal. Firstly, they are less likely to be lost than chains or rings, and secondly, gold and silver very rarely cause allergies. In general, these metals are considered beneficial to humans.

If parents think that jewelry should be saved and given to the child later, then they should not be offended. Perhaps they want to save them until the little princess reaches a more conscious age, when she will be able to appreciate this gift and treat it with care.

Is it possible to baptize a child in autumn or winter?

I was going to baptize my son at the end of October. Yes, I was wondering if it would be cold for him there. Excuse me, the dark one, but I have absolutely no idea and can’t imagine how this whole ritual happens. Are they dipped somewhere or something? And what is the temperature in all these church rooms? What other pitfalls does this sacred procedure conceal? And also, tell me, is it true that the mother must be baptized? Otherwise I don’t have this property and I wouldn’t want to... 9/18/2002, Vegetable

• We baptized in winter, the heating was turned on in the baptismal font, water was added to the font from a Tefal kettle, so it was warm. I am not baptized, I was present at the ceremony. True, we did not ask whether it is possible to be an unbaptized mother or not. Nobody said anything. Among the pitfalls of the ceremony I can name the duration - 2 hours, stuffiness due to the small room. The godmother must hold the child in her arms all this time. tanich
• Different churches have different temperatures inside and may conduct the ceremony differently. A lot depends on the number of people. We were baptized in the summer, but the church is wooden and they don’t have a separate baptismal sanctuary, so it was already hot there, so it won’t be very cold there in the fall. They don’t necessarily dip into cold water; we were dipped into quite warm water. In general, for the most part, all the children behave well during the ceremony. Eugin
• My husband and I are not baptized, the main thing is that our godparents are baptized. We were baptized at 4 months, the end of May - it was hot. I screamed like crazy for 2 hours - I was scared of an unfamiliar place and darkness. So the sooner the better. Flamingo
• We were baptized at 4 months, in February. It was very disgustingly cold outside, but in the church it was very warm - about 25. You need to prepare a baptismal set with a cross in advance. Our procedure lasted about 2 hours. Masik was put into the font, then dressed in a shirt. Ours stood it very steadfastly and never expressed dissatisfaction. Mom (that is, me) was allowed in, and the priest read a prayer over me. But I'm baptized. Madeline

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• We baptized Sasha when she was already over a year old. I waited for the warm season. Still, no matter what they say that children cannot catch a cold during baptism, my grandmother, a pediatric emergency nurse, gave me examples of both colds and severe infections. That's why we baptized in June. We agreed on individual baptism. That is, only me, the godparents, the priest and Sasha, naturally, were present. Warm water is poured into the font. It happens (according to rumors) that only the legs are dipped, but Sasha’s whole body was put there. The temperature was spartan after all. But this depends on the temple. You will find out in advance. Choose a location. Eura
• If you don’t want to be baptized yourself, then why bother with a child? Bigi
• Why then baptize a child if you don’t want to? What's the secret meaning in this? Bullfinches
• I don’t want myself, and not him, because I myself am an unbeliever, but my husband believes, and I agree that it will be better for the child. And my faith is my business, why should a child suffer? Vegetable
• How are you going to instill faith in a child if you don’t believe yourself? Maultasch
• I'm not going to instill it in him. When he grows up, he will understand this issue himself. Besides, there are already a lot of people in the family who can help him with this, and maybe by that time I will already be mature... Vegetable
• So maybe, when he grows up and understands things, then he will be baptized (if he needs it). And you are with him, if you are mature. Otherwise, he’ll suddenly grow up and figure it out and, say, don’t quite agree with your current decision to baptize him. Maultasch
• Maybe so, but I’m not the only person in the family who now makes decisions regarding the child. Besides, I think it will be easier for him in life, and my views have nothing to do with it. Vegetable
• We were baptized on October 14 at 3.5 months. My son even coughed a little, but it was too late to stop it, because... the godparents were traveling from another city. Everything went great. After baptism, the cough went away on its own. Parents and godparents must be baptized, all those present must wear crosses, parents are not present at baptism. We were invited only when the priest read a cleansing prayer over me (after giving birth, a woman is considered dirty for 40 days). Irra

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.

What should a boy wear for baptism?

We want to baptize Nikitos in April. We haven't been to church yet. I can’t decide whether to buy a baptismal dress (for a boy - 8 m.), or just dress him up in a new suit 4.4.2002, Fekla

• We were baptized very young, but I think the shirt is better. It is believed that when a child gets sick or has some problem, it is better to put this shirt on him. Ours still fits us. And a smart suit, I think, is better over a shirt. Ira
• We baptized Nikitos in July. Boys only need a shirt and a diaper; we had white ones with embroidery. Those. without a cap. Clothes don't matter after that, we're special. We didn't buy anything new. But it seems to me... wait until the summer... Margot
• We were just in a suit. Igor was 3 months old. Only, if it’s a suit, it shouldn’t be shorts, but pants. You need bare feet there, so it’s easier to take off your socks and roll up your pants legs so you don’t get cold. Lulu
• Probably better for the boy to have a suit! So new and white. Or white and blue - looks very good too! Tanyechka
• A suit may be uncomfortable; a shirt is better. The icon shop sells sets - a shirt and a sheet. Great ones, with embroidery. And for boys - strict, respectable, and for girls - more ornate, with lace and ruffles. Zoyka
• And we were without a shirt. It was autumn, and I was just afraid that he would freeze. He was wearing a warm top, but with a zippered chest (so you could smear it with water) Lulu

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Is the mother allowed to attend the child's baptism?

I can not understand. Either they say that they don’t let my mother into church, when Masik is baptized, or they say that they let her. Help me to understand. And if they don’t let you in, then why? 4.11.2002, MASYA

• If more than 40 days have passed, the mother came to church, received the prayer of the 40th day, confessed, took communion, then they have no right to not let her in. Thomasina
• They are allowed in much more often, IMHO! In all the temples I know - no problems! There are no canonical prohibitions on this, there are only echoes of traditional ones. Like, at this time the mother is still in uncleanness (due to lochia), etc. IN ANY case, before the mother participates in the sacrament after childbirth, a PRAYER OF PERMISSION is needed. Inanna
• In fact, the sacrament of baptism implies that until a certain moment (I don’t remember exactly) there is no one in the church except godparents. But lately, very often, priests allow parents and guests to be present throughout the baptism. Previously, it was not possible to take photos or videos. Now they allow it. You just need to check with the specific church in advance. Talk to the priest. Panther
• More often than not they are not allowed. But my baby burst into tears so miserably that for part of the christening procedure I held him in my arms so that he would calm down at least a little. It all depends on the priest and the church. The place where we baptized does not have a special room. NNN
• I was not allowed to attend the baptism itself, i.e. to the baptismal I stood in the church itself. And then after baptism they call the mother: they read a prayer over her to remove the sin of childbearing and give her the baby. They called me when everyone left the baptismal room and stood in front of the altar gate. I held Artyom, the priest covered us with his cassock, read a prayer, took Artyom and carried him outside the gate (only boys are taken there, girls are simply brought to the icons near the gate), then he brought him to the icons and gave him to me. Thus ended the baptism. Juliet
• A woman is considered “Dirty” on certain days of the month and for 40 days after giving birth. This is why they repeatedly say that Mary is holy because she “gave birth without sin.” And among Muslims, women are not allowed into the temple at all. My friend, a purebred and believing Tatar, was actually married, or whatever they call this ceremony, on a rug in the kitchen…. Kasyasya
• Don't misinform people, please! Women are ALLOWED in the mosque. It’s just that there are separate rooms for them: women in one place, men in another! They don’t want to host a soup with flies... My Tatar friend, by the way, went to the mosque with her husband to “get married.” Inanna
• Original sin. Because Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of knowledge, the Lord punished the first people and told Eve - you will give birth to your children in suffering. Therefore, people are born in a sinful way, and not in the way our forefathers, Adam and Eve, were created. Apparently, if they had not eaten from the tree, people would have been born in a different way, unknown to us. Bigi
• The mother is allowed into the church, she is not allowed into the baptismal hall (it is believed that she is “dirty” after giving birth), but when the baptism process is completed, the mother is MUST INVITE to come in so that she can “receive prayer” and then receive communion, after which the woman becomes “clean” . So your presence at the second stage of baptism is mandatory Kasya
• During baptism, the child should be held by the godmother (father), and if the mother is nearby, the baby will ask to see his mother and be capricious. Lija
• Depends on the priest who baptizes. One of the convincing versions of why they are not allowed is an indication that the child does not belong to the mother, but to God. Olga Ovodova
• Previously, when people were baptized in the first 40 days after birth, they might not have allowed it. Now, if more than 40 days have passed since birth, they should be allowed in. Natasha V.

What icon to give to a girl for christening

At christenings people often give icons depicting the saint whose name the girl is named after. You can also present an image depicting Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary. Usually in the temple where a child is baptized, there is a main icon. For example, this is the Church of Cosmas and Damian. This means that the girl can also be given an icon with these saints - in memory of the temple.

Many children are given Saint Panteleimon as a gift, as they believe that it brings health and protection from disease. For a little girl, if she is often sick, it is quite appropriate to present this icon.

If you want to be thoughtful about choosing a shrine for a gift to your goddaughter, then consult your priest, and he will tell you the most correct option. In addition, you can learn a lot about this icon and its meaning from the priest. Then, when presenting this gift, you can tell the parents what it will mean for the girl.