How the interview goes before baptism: stages and common questions

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Among the large number of different church rites, the sacrament of Baptism is of particular importance. Since ancient times, the Orthodox Church has performed this ritual on infants. Therefore, it is very important to choose good guarantors, because the child cannot yet be responsible for himself. According to all the rules, godparents must have a conversation with the priest before the child’s baptism . What kind of conversation this is, how it goes and how long it lasts, will be discussed further.

Who are the catechumens

In the early Christian period, only adults were baptized. Preparation for the Sacrament was very serious and took from 1 to 3 years. Those who wished to accept the Christian faith were publicized, that is, they studied the fundamentals of the teachings of Christ and passed unique exams. All this time they read the Holy Scriptures, went to services, but did not have the right to be there until the end. After the words of the clergyman: “Catechumens, come out!”, the latter left the temple. They were not allowed to attend the Liturgy, Confession, or the Eucharist. Only after full acceptance of the faith were real Christians allowed to participate in other church rituals.

Church regulations require a mandatory interview before a child’s baptism

Interview before a child’s baptism: what does the priest ask?

Large churches with a large flow of parishioners hold public conversations regularly on certain days. Each church has an individual schedule. Several pairs of parents and godparents come to the interview before baptism, and the catechist (a specially trained priest) reads them a sermon about faith, about the Holy Sacraments, gives answers to questions, and also talks about preparation for the church ritual.

If we talk about small churches, then the format of individual meetings predominates in them, where the priest acts as an examiner asking various questions to parents and recipients.

As a rule, the first question asked by the priest is: “Why is baptism necessary?” Be careful, you should not answer it like “To be baptized” or “In order to protect the child from the forces of evil.” Such answers indicate a person’s misunderstanding of the Sacrament.

In Christianity, baptism symbolizes, firstly, cleansing from sins, and, secondly, a new spiritual life that comes to Christ. A baptized layman begins to perceive himself, other people, and his whole life in general in a new way.

Rules for conducting public conversations

Today, the Russian Orthodox Church has made an interview before christening a mandatory requirement. As a rule, conversations are held in the temple where the Sacrament will be performed. There, godparents and parents can attend a Sunday school, which opens its doors on weekends.

Is it necessary to pass

Without a certificate of catechism, which is issued by the catechist based on the exam results, it will not be possible to baptize a child. This is an unbreakable rule for the recipients, since they are the ones who become the spiritual parents of the newborn. Godparents must have a Christian upbringing and be able to behave correctly in order to be a worthy example for a new member of the Church.

Even devout people who regularly visit the temple cannot avoid public conversations. But those who are far from church life must undergo a preliminary interview. After all, in order to follow the righteous path, it is necessary to constantly check with Orthodox teaching. At the same time, there is no need to be afraid to ask the priest any questions you are interested in. At your request, he can recommend religious literature or relevant films to you.

What does the priest ask during an interview?

There is no specific list of questions that the clergyman asks during the conversation. What they will be depends on the catechist himself and his views on this procedure. He may ask about the following facts:

• full names of parents, adoptive children and baby;
• residential address;
• date of birth of the child;
• frequency of church attendance;
• date of the last Eucharist;
• have you undergone the Sacrament of Marriage;
• prayers you know.

Most often, the catechist asks by heart “Our Father,” “Heavenly King,” and “Rejoice, Virgin Mary.”

Author's advice

Preparing for the Pre-Baptism Interview

Before the first meeting, parents and godfathers and mothers should familiarize themselves with the Gospel of John, Mark, and even better, with the entire New Testament. This is necessary so that during the conversation they can discuss the Holy Scriptures with the priest.

Moreover, if during the interview the priest notices that the parents or recipients do not want to delve into Orthodox teaching and demonstrate a disdainful attitude towards Christianity, then they may well be refused baptism. It was already indicated above that there are usually two conversations before the Sacrament. It is on the second that the catechist determines how ready people are to become godparents and accept the Orthodox faith.

At the same time, the priest asks to read by heart such prayers as “Our Father”, “Creed”, “Virgin Mother of God”, the main biblical commandments, and asks questions about the Gospels. Even at the second interview, he will reveal all the details of the ritual, tell you what needs to be done before and during it.

It’s sad, but many people in the modern world find the ritual of baptism a mere formality or consider it obligatory: everyone does it, so I need to do it too. But in reality, the Sacrament has meaning only for adherents of Christianity, and accordingly, it should be carried out only by them.

Therefore, in order to avoid unusual situations, a public conversation is necessary. And if the parents or successors do not accept the Christian faith and are not ready to help the child/godson in his spiritual development, then the priest will postpone the ceremony, giving them more time to prepare.

Conversation for godparents

Without a certificate of catechesis, as mentioned above, the priest does not have the right to baptize a child. The preliminary interview for recipients consists of two stages.

Without a certificate of catechesis, the priest has no right to baptize a child

First lesson

During the introductory lecture, the priest explains to the godparents their role in the life of the godson. He talks about the duties and responsibilities they will have to the child. The priest notifies the recipients of what is required to carry out the Sacrament of Baptism, and also explains in detail the procedure itself. He asks to prepare a kryzhma, a snow-white simple shirt, a pectoral cross and a towel. Catechumens, in turn, can also ask the priest questions, but it is better to think through a list of them in advance.

The first lesson ends with homework, which the catechist gives to the catechumens:

• learn by heart the ten Old Testament and seven Commandments of Christ;
• undergo the Eucharist with preliminary confession;
• learn by heart “Our Father”, “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary”, “Creed”;
• understand the meaning of the above prayers;
• learn the structure of the New Testament;
• read the Gospel of Mark;
• three days before Baptism, observe strict fasting and take communion before the ceremony itself.

There is no time limit for completing assigned tasks. It will depend on the success of the catechumens, their desires and abilities.

Second lesson

The next meeting with the priest takes place in a month or earlier, as soon as the godparents complete all their homework. Based on the results of this interview, the clergyman makes a decision on the admission of recipients to the Sacrament of Baptism. He asks to read three main prayers from memory, tests knowledge of Holy Scripture, and examines all the Commandments.

If the theoretical knowledge satisfies the catechist, he proceeds to the confession of the catechumens and their subsequent communion. The procedure is aimed at testing the sincerity of the faith of the catechumens. If they refuse to perform a church ritual, the priest has the right to prohibit them from participating in the christening. Then the parents will have to find new recipients, who will also have to undergo public conversations.

The preliminary interview for recipients consists of two stages

Treasured certificate

Catechesis is not an easy process. Very often it lasts about a month, sometimes it is postponed or postponed indefinitely. It often turns out that godparents are not ready to become spiritual parents for a child, and then it is necessary to look for other godparents. However, those who have successfully passed all the examinations approved by the catechist receive an officially certified certificate of catechism. Its authenticity is confirmed by a wet seal and the signature of the responsible person.

If the future godfather or godfather lives in another city, they can undergo a public interview at their place of residence. The document issued to them by the local church is valid throughout Russia.

How mandatory is this stage?

In most modern Orthodox churches, holding public conversations before baptism is considered mandatory, so they do not begin the ceremony without them. Quite often, the blood parents of the child who is planned to be introduced to the Christian faith also take part in these interviews. According to church rules, the child himself must also be present at meetings with the priest if his age has already reached 12 years.

It is important to take into account that the number of public conversations before the baptism of children is not strictly regulated, and they themselves can take place either for a short period of time or for quite a long time. If the godparents are exemplary parishioners, participate in important church rituals and lead a correct lifestyle, one or two meetings with the priest are enough. In other cases, more may be required - from 10 to 16.

There are no strict restrictions for prospective godparents, so they always retain freedom of choice. If one of them is not sure of the truth of his faith and is not ready for the upcoming responsibility, he is allowed to refuse to participate in the ritual. According to church rules, this will not be considered a sin.

Conversation with parents before baptism

The main characters during the Sacrament are the recipients and the child, and therefore the Church’s requirements for biological parents are not so strict. The priest also conducts a preliminary conversation with them, but asks less complex questions. First of all, he fills out the personal information:

• date of christening;
• exact time;
• the name by which the baby will be baptized.

The priest also conducts a preliminary conversation with the child’s parents.
Then the priest asks:

• do you attend church regularly;
• how often do you pray;
• When was the last time you took communion?

The interview ends with a story about the Sacrament itself: its meaning and sequence of stages. The priest also explains to parents how they should behave after their child converts to the Christian faith:

• attend religious services with your child;
• offer prayers for him;
• educate according to the Laws of God;
• regularly initiate a new member of the Church.

Father reminds us that after baptism the Savior becomes the baby’s mentor. However, parents, like godparents, are also responsible for the spiritual development of the child, raising him in the Orthodox faith.

Parents and godparents are responsible for the spiritual development of the child

Today, not everyone understands why public conversations are needed before baptism. The answer, as always, is simple: in order to raise your child spiritually, to instill in him Christian values, you need to have a good understanding of this issue yourself. The announcement, like nothing else, helps those of little faith to obtain the missing knowledge, and pious people to once again remind themselves of it.

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Additional points

Sometimes various non-standard situations arise: for example, the parents and recipients of a newborn before the Sacrament are in different cities without the opportunity to meet. Since an interview before baptism is now mandatory, godparents will need to go through it where they are.

After completing the conversation, the clergyman will provide them with a special certificate. They will bring him to the temple, where the baptism will take place, and give him to the priest.

You may not receive a certificate of passing the interview immediately, but after you clearly demonstrate to the priest the basic Christian prayers, answer a number of questions he asks.

Finally, watch the topical video:

What questions does the priest ask?

In small churches, public conversations are often conducted in the form of a dialogue based on the priest’s questions and the layman’s answers. This approach is also effective because it helps the priest to correctly determine the level of readiness of a person for the upcoming ceremony and accepting responsibility for the soul of the child entrusted to him.

Conducting an interview, the priest asks:

• what is baptism;
• why is it necessary to be baptized;
• Who are the godfather and mother?

If a person gives answers that have little to do with Christian concepts, he is considered unprepared for the sacrament. In this case, the priest holds several more meetings with him. If, when communicating with a layman, his formal attitude to the ritual and his reluctance to delve into the meaning of Christ’s teachings become clear, the priest has the right to refuse baptism and may recommend that the relatives of the child’s mother and father find another godfather.

After the public conversations are successfully completed, the priest, together with the blood parents, determines the date and time of the baptismal ceremony, specifies the name that will be given to the baby, and other important points. All adults preparing to participate in the ritual are once again reminded that they are responsible for the soul of the child until adulthood, must in every possible way protect the young Christian from the influence of evil and make many efforts for his continuous spiritual development.

Purpose of catechesis

Jesus Christ does not speak about the purpose of catechesis, but He indicates: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Catechesis also teaches how to believe correctly, explaining the objects of faith. “The meaning of catechetical work is to introduce the catechumen to the Kingdom of God through change in Christ and the Holy Spirit” (2). Catechesis through rational tools leads precisely to meaningful faith and represents an auxiliary means on the path to God, which lasts throughout life. Consequently, catechesis in the broadest sense can only end with the death of a person. If the ultimate goal of each of us is to come to the Almighty, then this path will be partially determined by catechesis.

The need for catechesis for all those entering the Church

The above shows the importance of catechesis for a person entering the Church or being a member of Her by baptism. In the Church, a person does not complement his old experience, but acquires a new, completely different one. The church is something different, not what it was before. Otherwise, we will be forced to talk about the proportionality of the previous experience with the one received, while leveling out the new experience acquired. Let us remember: the missionaries, in the process of catechesis, supplemented, rather than supplemented, with Christianity those who wished to come to the Church, regardless of the knowledge they received about the Christian faith, whether they were a pagan, a non-believer, or a sectarian. It is also important that those who enter the Church do not compare the truth of Orthodoxy with the truth of the doctrine of which he was a supporter. Since “the soul, according to the teacher of the Church Tertullian, is by nature Christian,” the purer it is, the more true teaching it desires. In other words, he does not try the teaching on himself, but changes himself according to the best teaching. So, whoever enters the Church, no matter what baggage he comes with, needs catechesis.

Decline of catechesis

There are several reasons for the decline of catechesis. Mass baptisms for political reasons made thorough catechesis impossible. “Some were attracted by miracles, others by social privileges, and others by imperial threats and handouts. The emperors themselves, having adopted Christianity, expected from the new God, first of all, help in military campaigns” (4). Emperor Constantine, with his late baptism, introduced the practice of late baptism, or even baptism on his deathbed, which also excluded catechesis. Infant baptism also did not imply catechesis (5). The missionary work of Byzantium and the enlightenment of entire nations, often accompanied by miracles (6), convinced of the truth of the faith and excluded lengthy preparation for baptism. The decline in education and literacy (or lack thereof among the barbarians) made catechesis impossible. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (IV century) advised reading the Creed (easily remembered by those listening to it at the Liturgy) in order to learn faith. Church catechesis was absent in Christian families. The reasons for the decline of catechesis have not disappeared, and catechesis itself as a form of preaching goes back to the Middle Ages.

Responsibilities of a godfather during baptism

The duties of a godfather are written down in the church book. And in order to understand what godparents should do during baptism, you should familiarize yourself with the order of the sacrament. Afterwards, it becomes clear that they hold the child in their arms during almost the entire sacrament.

The sacrament of baptism consists of several parts:

• When answering the question of what a godfather should do at a christening, you need to dwell on one of the parts - the announcement; the godfather carefully listens to the priest who reads special prayers - prohibitory ones. At certain moments, the recipient must utter phrases regarding renunciation of Satan, union with Christ, must answer the clergyman’s questions and say the Creed prayer. By this, godparents testify to the confession of the Orthodox faith by their godchildren.

• Baptism in infancy involves immersing the child in the font three times, accompanied by a special prayer rule. Actually, this is baptism, what the godmother does in this case is easy to understand - she keeps a large towel ready, in which she wraps the girl when the priest takes her out of the font. The godfather does the same in relation to the godson. They must also put a cross and a baptismal shirt on the newly baptized person.
• The priest smears the child’s body with the consecrated Myrrh (special composition). They ask the question: what should a godmother do at a christening after anointing. She must take her goddaughter in her arms, together with the priest they go around the font three times, then wash off the Miro. The same thing happens with the godfather and his godson.

• Hair is cut on four sides, which shows submission to God,
• Hair is cut on four sides, which shows submission to God, the priest prays for the newly baptized child and his godfather. If there are two godparents and this is the christening of a boy, what does the godmother do, the question does not arise - she also prays for the boy at this moment.
• The final stage - the clergyman brings the child to the temple icons, the boy is brought into the altar, then the children are returned to the godparents.

There is no mandatory rule about what godparents do after baptism, but many godparents want to please their godchildren and buy them gifts. You can stop at the measured icon of the saint with whose name the child is baptized. Also a good gift is a children's Bible, which godparents can study together with their godchildren.

Who is prohibited from becoming godparents?

There is a category of laity who are prohibited from participating in the sacred sacrament of baptism and, accordingly, in public conversations before this ritual. These include mentally unbalanced people, parishioners with imposed penance - a temporary restriction associated with committed sins and depriving them of the opportunity to unhindered entry into a Christian church.

It is not recommended to baptize a child to his close relatives - grandparents, older brothers or sisters, etc. Persons who are each other's legal spouses, as well as monks, cannot become godparents of a young Christian.