Godmother. Responsibilities during baptism, what you should know, do, preparation, prayer, congratulations

Baptism is one of the most important sacred rites at the birth of a baby. According to tradition, it is carried out after the 40th day of the baby’s life. It is believed that after a child is dedicated to higher powers, a guardian angel is assigned to him, and from that moment on he receives God's protection.

After the ritual is completed, the child acquires a godmother and godfather, who bear enormous responsibility before the godson and before God. Since ancient times, it has been believed that the duties of godparents at baptism include not only reading prayers for the health of the child, but in the event of the death of the father and mother, they become the direct guardians of their godson.

It is sometimes believed that bathing babies in water protects them from illness, the “evil eye,” bad luck, or allows them to acquire their Guardian Angel, who will accompany them throughout their lives. This is partly true, but in fact the first task of the sacrament is to join the church, begin the spiritual path, and acquire faith.

Only after christening in the name of the baby can one perform other church rites that allow one to receive God's grace and the help of higher powers.

Baptism is the birth of a person’s spiritual essence; it, like the physical birth of the body, can only happen once in a lifetime.

The role of the godmother

Baptism is a ritual of washing a person in water, literally translated from Greek as “immersion in water.” Moreover, this sacrament is found among many ancient peoples who are in no way connected with Christianity, since water is a symbol of purity, a source of vital energy that frees the body and soul from depravity, sin, and negative thoughts. People believe that Epiphany water protects children from troubles and misfortunes.

The history of the sacrament begins with the Jordan River, flowing in Bethabara, where John the Baptist baptized the 30-year-old Jesus Christ. As the Gospel says, during the ritual, “the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in bodily form, and a voice came from heaven saying: You are My Beloved Son! My Blessing is in You!”

And after Jesus was baptized, many came to the river and were baptized. Immediately after baptism, the Savior went into the desert to retire and spend time in prayer and fasting in order to prepare for the fulfillment of his holy mission given to him by heaven.

The godmother (the responsibilities for the baptism of a boy or a girl are different for her, they are discussed later in the article) is chosen by the parents not for material benefits, but for spiritual values. She must be kind, get along well with all family members, and not lead an immoral lifestyle.

When choosing a godmother, parents must understand that her responsibilities do not only include buying a cross and a kryzhma (a white shirt in which the baptism ceremony is performed), as well as other expensive gifts, she must participate in the spiritual education of her godson/goddaughter. And all this should accompany her throughout her life.

The duties of a godmother are as follows:

• throughout your life, give your love to your godson/goddaughter, help in difficult life situations;
• talk about God, teach your child to pray, and visit church together;
• congratulate you on your birthday and on your angel’s day, and no matter how expensive the gift is, the main thing is to wish health and happiness to your godchild;
• accustom the child to communion and prayers;
• regularly pray for the health of your godson/goddaughter.

If the main task of the parents is to instill in the child the basic rules of hygiene and behavior in society, then the role of the godmother is to teach her pupil the basics of the Christian faith and righteous deeds.

At the same time, she must be a friend and advisor, be able to provide help and support in any situation, thereby helping to correct the difficult situations in which her pupil finds himself.

What should a godmother do?

If a woman has her own children, nephews, younger brothers and sisters, she should not forget about her own godchildren. There are a number of beliefs and signs about why godparents are needed. This is what a godmother must do until the last day of her life:

How to prepare for the ceremony

The godmother (baptismal responsibilities involve many points, including preparation for the ceremony) must prepare for the ritual in advance. First of all, this is the purchase of a cross, a kryzhma and a towel. This is also knowledge of the basic prayers: “Our Father” and “Creed”.

The preparation procedure includes the following aspects:

• interview with a priest;
• fasting, confession and communion;
• knowledge of basic prayers.

In addition, the godmother must be of the Orthodox faith and be baptized, only in this case the sacrament of baptism will be completely correct.

Choosing a name for a child in the preparatory stage is also very important. In ancient Rus', it was customary to name children after the saint on whose memory day he was born or the day of baptism was appointed. But this is no longer relevant now and the church does not give any recommendations in this regard. The main thing is that the parents like the name, and it belongs to a saint.

It is also possible to baptize under a different name if the child’s own name is not included in the church list of names.

To perform the sacrament of baptism you will need the following things:

• an illuminated pectoral cross (bought by the godfather), preferably silver;
• christening clothes (white shirt), allowing you to freely expose the baby’s arms, legs and chest;
• kryzhma (white cotton towel or diaper) is required for wiping and wrapping the baby after washing with water;
• an icon of a saint with the child’s name (can be purchased at the church on the day of baptism);
• birth certificate (based on it, a record is made and a baptismal document is issued).

Responsibilities of a godmother
Godmothers must have passports and crosses with them. Their clothes should be light-colored and cover all private parts (shoulders, legs, arms); women cover their heads with scarves.

Interview

After the parents decide on the date of baptism and agree on it with the clergyman, the godmother must undergo an interview with the priest. After the conversation, he will bless her for a sacred mission. As a rule, 1-2 such interviews are scheduled, sometimes the priest can schedule from 3 to 5 interviews.

In some churches, after preparatory conversations, they schedule exams, based on the results of which they issue a certificate or certificate and listen to an Orthodox course.

During such interviews, the priest explains to the godparents how the baptismal ceremony takes place, substantiates its meaning and the essence of the religion as a whole. Godparents must familiarize themselves (if this has not been done previously) with the text of the New Testament, and also memorize the main prayers - these are “Our Father”, “Hail the Virgin Mary”, “Creed”.

Fasting, Confession and Communion

Before the baptismal ceremony, godparents need to visit the temple, listen to the church service, confess and receive communion. Confession and communion means repentance of one's sins. The rules for conducting sacraments are discussed in detail at the interview.

Before confession and communion, a three-day fast is observed. Also, fasting should be observed three days before the baptism ceremony itself.

Fasting consists of limiting ourselves from some of our usual ways of life, that is:

• do not eat food of animal origin;
• abstain from marital relations;
• do not use foul language, do not drink alcoholic beverages and do not go to various entertainment events.

People come to the baptismal ceremony on an empty stomach, which will allow the godmother to take part in the first communion in the child’s life and take communion with him.

What prayers you need to know

For a godmother, like for any other Christian, it is important to know and understand the essence of the “Creed” prayer. It is a description of the main dogmas of Orthodox teaching. By saying this prayer at baptism, godparents, instead of their spiritual pupil, recognize faith in the Creator of our Lord, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

In addition to this prayer, you need to learn the following:

• "Our Father";
• "King of Heaven";
• "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice."

It is important not only to know and read these prayers, but also to understand their main essence and the spiritual meaning that they carry. Only in this way will the baptismal ceremony be completed correctly.

Cloth

The godmother (duties during baptism also include proper appearance) should be at the sacrament in modest clothes in light colors, because this is a bright holiday, especially since such tones look better in photographs and convey a light sacred image. The head must be covered, all intimate parts of the body are covered with clothing (shoulders, legs, décolleté).

Important tips on the appearance of the godmother:

• the head is covered with a scarf, shawl or stole; a headdress combined with a goddaughter’s headdress will look great (if a girl is being baptized);
• the length of the skirt or dress must be below the knees; you cannot choose tight-fitting or low-cut clothing;
• arms up to the elbows should be covered; priests strongly recommend outfits with collars and sleeves below the elbow;
• shoes must be chosen with closed soles, without heels, which will not only avoid leg fatigue, but also correctly perform all the steps with handing over the child (if a girl is baptized, then after the baptismal font and throughout the entire ceremony, her godmother holds her in her arms);
• Make-up should be modest, no bright lipsticks or eye shadows are allowed.

Child's age

There is no specific framework for determining the age of a baby, but the church gives some recommendations on this matter. Ministers say that it is better to baptize a baby on the 8th day after his physical birth or after 40 days, when the mother is allowed to be in the temple.

It is believed that for 40 days after giving birth, a woman is in physiological impurity and is not allowed to enter the temple.

There are also certain events that require the sacrament to be performed immediately after birth. This is usually a threat to the life or health of the baby. At the same time, even restrictions such as periods of fasting or church holidays are excluded.

From my own experience, I can say that it is better to choose a period when the weather is warm outside, this will eliminate the risk of possible development of colds. It is also worth waiting for some time so that the child grows up a little and is more ready for such “stress”. Many people schedule christenings when the child is between 2 and 6 months old.

What is needed for the Sacrament: valuable gifts

The main gift that is given to a girl at christening is, first of all, a pectoral cross. His godfather buys him.

If a cross is purchased at a church shop or in a church, then there is no need to consecrate it. But if it was bought in a store, then it needs to be blessed, and this should be done on the day of christening. Before the ceremony begins, it must be given to the priest, he will consecrate it and put it on the child at the right moment.

Another of the main christening gifts for a girl is special elegant clothes. The choice of clothing for a baby's Baptism is more varied than in the case of a boy. Instead of a baptismal shirt for a girl, they usually choose a dress and put a cap or scarf on her head. You can buy these items separately or as a single baptismal set.

Baptism items must be white. This color symbolizes innocence and purity. But still, a small number of patterns in the form of embroidery or ribbons are allowed on them to emphasize the elegance and solemnity of the little fashionista’s clothes.

Another important addition to baptismal items is kryzhma

- a special large towel or diaper in which the child is wrapped after he is bathed in the font. Traditionally, kryzhma is given by the godmother.

All things associated with the christening of a girl, in particular the kryzhma, are imbued with special holiness. They are not washed after the ceremony, they are simply dried. These things need to be preserved for the rest of your life. According to some beliefs, the kryzhma should be placed at the head of the child’s bed so that it is not visible. This will ensure sound, healthy sleep and protection from evil intentions.

Responsibilities during the sacrament

The sacrament of baptism implies the renunciation of Satan and his actions by the baby, but instead of him, these actions are performed by his godparents. They make vows to the Lord, thereby vouching for the faith of the baptized person. That is why the duties of godparents include teaching the godson/goddaughter to a spiritual and righteous life.

Before the ritual begins, the godmother prepares a towel, kryzhma and baptismal clothes purchased in advance:

• for the godson it is a baptismal shirt;
• for the goddaughter - a cap (or scarf) and a baptismal dress.

Today you can purchase the entire baptismal set, which contains all the components, and decorated in one color composition. They can be simple, or trimmed with ruffles, lace or embroidery. Purchasing a ready-made set is much more convenient than choosing all the elements separately.

Responsibilities of the godmother at the baptism of a girl and at the baptism of a boy:

To avoid possible hysterics and whims of children, it is advisable to spend as much time as possible with your godchildren in advance. This way they will gradually get used to the hands of others, and at the same time feel the care of their second parents.

How to become a godmother

What does it take to become a godmother? Firstly, know the basics of the Orthodox faith and participate in the Sacraments of the Church. Seriously approach the issue of the responsibilities of a godmother, study all the information about the role of a godmother in the life of a child. And at the same time lead a virtuous, Christian life, worthy of imitation for the younger generation.

Becoming a godmother is an honorable duty. If you are confident in your abilities, then there may be several godchildren. But everyone will need to be held accountable before God. The successor can be a close family friend, relative, or just a good acquaintance whom parents entrust with the spiritual upbringing of their child.

Responsibilities after baptism

The godmother (duties during baptism consist of observing all established church rules during the sacrament) after the ceremony assumes a number of functions:

• constant prayers for your pupil;
• submitting notes for church services regarding the child’s health;
• mention in morning and evening prayers;
• teaching an already grown child to piety, mercy and kindness;
• visiting temples together and reading prayers.

Also, the godmother should tell the pupil about the importance of Christian rituals, fasting, confession and communion.

After christening, the godmother becomes a second mother, she helps with kind words, support, advice, thereby guiding you on the true path and helping you cope with difficult situations in life.

Also, every year on his birthday, angel’s day and christening day, she congratulates the pupil, gives him some gifts, and it doesn’t matter whether they are expensive or not, the main thing is that love and attention are given along with them.

Is it possible to baptize a girl first?

If you were offered to become a godmother, most likely you remembered the sign and wondered whether it was possible to baptize the girl first. As for men, that is, godfathers, no superstitions “stuck” to them, which is not surprising - it is women who tend to believe signs and act depending on whether something can be done according to folk wisdom or not. There are many customs and mysterious signs associated with baptism and religion in general. By the way, when you become a godfather, you must take care of the child, instruct him and, of course, give gifts. Now let's figure out whether it is possible to baptize a girl first and what the risks are.

It is believed that a girl cannot be baptized first if the godmother is not married and has not given birth - supposedly, she will never get married, because the girl-goddaughter will “take away” her happiness. Another version says that, on the contrary, a girl can take over the fate of her godmother, so you need to choose those who are happily married and generally satisfied with their fate. Very often there are girls who believe that if their first godson is a boy, then their own family life will be very happy. Such persons refuse to baptize the girl first if they are offered, which can seriously offend the child’s parents.

On the other hand, it is stupid to believe in omens and popular rumors and refuse such an honor as becoming a godmother to a child. Baptism is a sacred rite, and superstitions are invented by people in an attempt to justify their own failures or because they have nothing better to do. Not a single church minister will ever tell you that you cannot baptize a girl first, because the church and superstitions have nothing in common, especially the Lord God and omens. Therefore, do not refuse a request to baptize a girl for fear of not finding happiness. Baptism itself carries exclusively positive energy, and nothing bad can happen to you.

Interestingly, in Northern and Western England the question “can a girl be baptized first?” arises for a completely different reason. There is a belief that if a boy and a girl are baptized at the same time and the girl is baptized first, she will “take” all the hair from the boy’s face, who, in turn, will have a face without hair - a mustache and beard - all his life. Doesn't this seem stupid to you? The sign about the loss of family happiness has as much meaning as the bearded girl from the English superstition.

What do you think? Would you baptize the girl first? Who was your first godson?

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Is it possible to baptize on critical days?

The date of christening is agreed upon by the parents not only with the priest, but also with the godmother, because this date cannot coincide with the period of the woman’s monthly purification. On critical days, women are prohibited from entering the temple; they are not allowed to participate in any sacraments or rituals.

If suddenly these days come unexpectedly, then you cannot hide this fact; it is better to explain the situation to the parents and reschedule the christening date.

In the event that it is not possible to reschedule the date of the sacrament, this issue is discussed with the priest. Sometimes the godmother is allowed to be present at the ceremony and simply observe it, but it is strictly forbidden to receive the child after the font and kiss the icons.

Prayers and traditional vows may be said. Such a rite is considered completed, and the woman at baptism is included in the certificate as a godmother, while she is also assigned all the responsibilities provided for by the sacrament and church charter.

Recommendations for choosing gifts

According to tradition, the godparents buy their godchildren a pectoral cross, a shirt and a kryzhma for the sacrament. Other baptismal gifts may include:

• icon – often ordered specifically according to the size of the baby’s height;
• books of spiritual content;
• Gospel;
• collections of prayers.

Many additionally present things that do not have religious significance, but serve as gifts for the acquired spiritual child. The godfather often orders video recording of the ceremony and pays for the festive table. Children are given children's silverware - spoons, cups. Girls can be presented with jewelry “for growth.”

Responsibility for godchildren remains with the godchildren for life. They are responsible for education in Orthodox traditions. Choosing worthy godparents will help the child find good friends and mentors not only in matters of faith, but also in life.