Chapter II. Divine service of the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation


Prayer request before the sacrament

The godmother and father are responsible for preparing for baptism. The baby’s natural mother is not allowed to attend the sacrament until a cleansing prayer is read over her, which the clergy specially offer so that a woman who has been delivered from pregnancy will be cleansed of her sins and can cross the church threshold.

To know what to do during the sacrament of baptism, visit the temple in advance. Church employees will tell you how to properly prepare for this event.

You must understand what is required of you and what the prayer for the baptism of a child sounds like to the godparents. If up to this point you have not often been to church, be sure to attend a service, confess your sins and take communion. Light the candles and pray. Venerate the icons of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Not everyone can easily memorize church texts in Old Church Slavonic. Purchase a special “Prayer Book” at the church store - a collection in which church texts are translated and published in Russian. Before the ceremony, godparents must read special prayers. It's better to learn them by heart.

Familiarize yourself with church texts in advance. It is important that you do not just mechanically pronounce memorized words, but understand what to ask your heavenly patrons for. A prayer coming from a sincere heart will definitely be heard. The Father of God will not leave your appeal unanswered. If you have questions regarding the sacrament of baptism, do not be afraid to ask them to the clergy in the temple.

It is better to know what is required of you during the ritual than to be in the dark and make a mistake.

The godmother and father read the following texts the night before baptism.

Godfather's Prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, be Your littleness on my godson (goddaughter) (name), keep him (her) under Your roof, cover him (her) from all evil lust, drive away from him (her) every enemy and adversary, open to him ( her) ears and eyes of the heart, grant tenderness and humility to his (her) heart. Amen!".

Godmother's Prayer:

“Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my godson (my) (name), and enlighten him (her) with the light of reason of Your Holy Gospel and guide him (her) on the path of Your commandments and teach him (her). Savior, do Thy will, for Thou art our God, and to Thee we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!".

Parents are also allowed to put in a word about the health of their children. Before baptism they can recite the following prayer:

“God, our merciful and heavenly Father! Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray to You and whom we entrust to Your care and protection. Put strong faith in them, teach them to revere You and deign them to deeply love You, our Creator and Savior.

Guide them, God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything for the glory of Your name. Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians and useful people. Give them mental and physical health and success in their work.

Deliver them from the cunning machinations of the devil, from numerous temptations, from evil passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.

For the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the saints, lead them to the quiet haven of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they, along with all the righteous, will always thank You with Your only begotten Son and Your life-giving Spirit. Amen!".

Troparion of the Baptism of the Lord

The sacrament of the consecration of water is performed twice - on January 18, on Epiphany Eve (the day of the Vespers of the Epiphany), and on January 19 in the morning. On the first of the important days, the water is blessed in the evening, after the church service. On the night of January 18-19, you can read the following prayer:

“In the Jordan, baptized to You, Lord, Trinitarian worship appeared: Your parents’ voice testified to You, naming Your beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove announced to Your words the statement: Appear, O Christ God, and the world of enlightenment, glory to You. Amen".

Prayer at baptism

It is necessary to find out what prayer is read at baptism in advance. This will help you prepare and not be confused when it comes time for you to pray for the well-being of your godchildren. The sacrament of baptism is performed in the temple. During the ritual of prayer, the priest speaks, and the godparents repeat after him. It is worth learning the prayer word by heart.

This way you will be less nervous and focus on the importance of the moment.

The first prayer that the godparents read during the service is the main prayer address for all Orthodox believers - “Our Father.” With his help, the godparents turn to the Lord, asking him for intercession for their pupil, so that God would take care of him as if he were his own son, forgiving all mistakes and sins, giving him strength to overcome everyday difficulties.

Jesus Christ himself gave prayer to Orthodox believers. This is the most sincere request of a praying person seeking God’s help.

“Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen!".

The second prayer of the godmother and father at baptism is “Rejoice, Virgin Mary.”

The Mother of God is the intercessor of humanity before the Lord God; she tirelessly prays to her son for the forgiveness of sinners and help for those in need. The Heavenly Queen is revered in the Orthodox Church above all angels, saints and healers. The prayer that heavenly parents offer, asking to bless their godchildren, sounds like a joyful greeting and glorification of the Mother of God.

The text was compiled by the Archangel Gabriel to greet the Queen of All, who gave the world the Savior.

“Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, full of grace Mary, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls. Amen!".

At the end of the sacrament, the godmother is recommended to make this request as often as possible. It is necessary to pray in front of holy images. This can be done both during worship and at home. Don’t forget to purchase the face of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the church shop.

What prayers should a godmother know?

Firstly, under no circumstances should you refuse such good news that you will soon become a godmother. This is the most joyful news. This means that people are not only confident that you will cope with your mission, but they also trust you with their child - the most valuable thing in the whole world. Thus, it is the responsibility of every godmother to know the following important prayers:

  • "To the King of Heaven";
  • “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”;
  • "Our Father".

All three sacred texts must be known by heart. You should read in order, slowly, without rushing. The first thing you need to say is an appeal to the Holy Spirit, which fills the soul with energy and life-giving force. Then, it is important to turn to the Mother of all living beings on earth - the Mother of God.

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The appeal to the Virgin Mary should be repeated 150 times. This is not as much as it seems at first glance, since the prayer is very small and is said quite quickly. All three prayers invisibly cleanse a person’s thoughts and actions from sins, fill them with strength and protect. A pectoral cross worn on a person at baptism further strengthens the connection between the godmother, her prayer and the child.

“The Symbol of Faith” is another special appeal to the Lord God, which the godmother should also know. Subsequently, grown children are obliged to learn it and read it at every opportunity.

Prayer "Creed"

The most powerful prayer that is offered during the baptismal ceremony is the “Creed.” This church text sets out the basic tenets of the Orthodox faith.

The prayer describes what views a person should hold if he honors God's word.

The prayer at the baptism of a child, “The Creed,” is the most important petition that godparents offer for their godchildren. This church text exists in different religions and is read before the start of any divine liturgy.

The prayer request consists of 12 equal parts and begins with the same statement: “I believe!” These dogmas were drawn up in 325 and 326 at a sacred council held in Byzantium (the ancestor of the Orthodox faith). Before you pray, you need to understand what the prayer text is about:

  • The first prayer speaks of God's power - the Lord is the creator of everything on Earth - by reading a prayer that sings of his kindness and mercy, the believer recognizes divine power in the world;
  • 2-7 prayers tell about the son of God, Jesus Christ, who accepted death for the salvation of humanity - the heavenly father resurrected him, giving him eternal life for the suffering he experienced, since then the son of God has been helping all those who suffer, healing ailments and protecting him from troubles and misfortunes;
  • The 8th prayer service glorifies the Holy Spirit, who, by the grace of God, appears to people, prophesying quick accomplishments for them;
  • The 9th prayer service glorifies the united Orthodox Church;
  • The 10th prayer service is dedicated to the sacrament of baptism, telling about its sacred meaning - having once accepted the Orthodox faith, a person must remain faithful to it until the end of his life; changing one’s religion is a great sin;
  • 11 and 12 prayers tell about life after death - a believer, having completed his earthly journey, will be resurrected and continue to live in heaven, the Orthodox Church believes in the immortality of the soul, if a believer leads a righteous life, he will certainly gain eternal life.

The “Creed” prayer should be concluded with the word “Amen!”, crossing yourself three times. This appeal must be read during the ceremony of baptism of children.

  1. The godmother must say the words of prayer when a female child is baptized.
  2. If the sacrament of baptism is performed on a boy, the “Creed” is pronounced by the godfather.

You won’t be able to remember the “I Believe” prayer for baptism the first time. To make this process easier for yourself, use the following tips. Try to understand what the prayer is saying. It will be much easier for you if you pronounce all the words meaningfully. Start reading a prayer at home a few days before baptism. You can purchase an audio version of the church text.

This will make your attempts to remember it easier. Try to attach the words of the prayer to certain mental images, which will help you pronounce the words easily and with confidence.

Some clergy, during a ceremony held in a church, bringing the word of God to people, allow the godmother and father to say a prayer, reading it with the help of a “Prayer Book”.

Prayer "Creed":

“I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. 2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. 3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. 4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. 5. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. 6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. 8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. 9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. 11. I hope for the resurrection of the dead, 12. and the life of the next century. Amen!".

Passing the ritual

On the day of baptism, you must come to church early. The godmother must have her head covered and wear a skirt or dress that covers her knees, chest and arms. Clothes should not be brightly colored.

Godparents should purchase a pectoral cross consecrated in the temple, which the baby will wear after the ceremony.

You need to take a few things with you: church candles, a new towel and a change of clothes for babies who are completely immersed in the baptismal font.

When the time comes for the godparents to join the service and begin to read the prayer of faith at baptism, the priest will give a special sign.

The day after the sacrament is performed, the godparents will need to attend a service in the church and give the child communion.

Prayer "Our Father"

The prayer for godparents at baptism “Our Father” was left by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, which means its power and meaning are designated personally by God. It’s not for nothing that people say: you should know this as “Our Father,” that is, every Christian must know this prayer.

Godparents should also tell what meaning it carries for a believer, and teach it to the godson from a very young age, so that he absorbs spiritual knowledge. Prayer at baptism will facilitate this.

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.

Prayers for children before baptism

In addition to knowledge of the texts of prayers, preparation for baptism and knowledge of the rite of this sacrament are required. It is necessary to listen carefully to the priest and participate in the process with concentration.

In order not to be distracted, the prayer of the godmother at baptism will help to gather internally and adequately baptize the baby. It is advisable for godparents to get to know each other in advance and discuss organizational issues with the parents.

A prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents is a guideline for the spiritual development of the godson. It doesn’t matter how many gifts and sweets the godparents bring. It is important how much time they devote to the spiritual education of the child.

The meaning of the godmother's prayer

Since from an early age the child does not know how to pray and does not really know what it is, the godmother must turn to God for him. This direct responsibility lasts until the godson matures and begins to independently turn to the Lord. But even after the child’s first prayers with God, you should not stop asking the Almighty for all the child’s blessings.

A spiritual parent must always instruct his child so that he understands that not only his own father and mother are responsible for him, but also those who were chosen at baptism. The main meaning of the godmother’s prayer for her godson is a request from higher powers that everything will be fine, and that a person will have only good thoughts in his head.

The role of prayer and features of the sacrament

The christening prayer serves as a blessing. The priest introduces you to the peculiarities of the sacrament, and you also need to ask him any questions you may have before baptism.

In order not to disturb the order or do something wrong out of ignorance, the Sacrament of Baptism is not a tribute to fashion, it must be a conscious decision made according to the faith of the parents.

Godparents must be piously dressed. Have crosses on yourself. Prepare baptismal clothes and a cross for the child.

His own mother can be present at the christening only with the blessing of the priest, so if there is no such permission, do not give in to curiosity; by performing obedience and humility, the glory of the Orthodox faith is preserved.

Text with accents in Church Slavonic

“I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.

For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human.

She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.

And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

I drink the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the next century. Amen."

Interpretation

We have already said that the Creed consists of 12 members (parts, verses). Each verse tells us what we believe.

Our God is the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Holy Trinity are one and not separate. The first person is God the Father, who is the Creator of the whole world: visible and invisible.

The second person of the Holy Trinity is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was born by God the Father and has one essence with Him.

In order to save us from sin, so that we have the opportunity to inherit eternal life, God the Father sends his Son to Earth, who is born there from the Most Pure Virgin Mary by the invasion of the Holy Spirit. Having incarnated as a man, He had two natures: Divine and human.

He took upon himself our sins in order to save us, was crucified, suffered and died on the Cross.

On the third day He rose again.

After His Ascension into Heaven, He sat down to the right of the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven.

We believe that Jesus Christ will come to Earth again when the End of the World comes, but in all his Glory. And he will judge everyone: the living and the dead. He will reign forever.

The third person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit. He comes from God the Father, gives life to all living things and speaks to people through the mouth of the holy Prophets.

The Church is one: Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

To inherit eternal life, a person must accept the Sacrament of Baptism. By plunging three times into Holy water, a person renounces everything sinful and makes a vow to serve the Lord.

We believe that on the last day all the dead will be resurrected, their bodies will be united with their souls, and after the “Last Judgment”, everyone will go to the place where they deserve: to the Kingdom of Heaven and will abide forever with the Lord, or to hell and will abide in eternal torment.

We all believe and hope to go to the Paradise abode and live with the Lord in Eternal joy. Amen - everything said is the truth, so be it!

Strong prayers before swimming in an ice hole

Don't forget to bring a swimsuit or shirt for water procedures, a towel and non-slip slippers. A thermos with a hot drink (tea, fruit juice) is also useful. No one has canceled everyday care of one’s own body.

Before plunging into the invigorating water, you should read the “Our Father” or say the following words:

O Most Merciful God, Father, Son and Holy Soul
, worshiped and glorified in the inseparable Trinity, look kindly upon Thy servant (name), who is overcome by illness;
forgive him all his sins; give him healing from his illness; restore his health and bodily strength; Give him a long and prosperous life, Your peaceful and premium blessings, so that together with us he brings grateful prayers to You, the All-Bountiful God and my Creator. Most Holy Theotokos, through Your omnipotent intercession, help me to beg Your Son, my God, for the healing of God’s servant (name). All saints and angels of the Lord, pray to God for His sick servant (name). Amen.

Also, be sure to cross yourself and only then plunge into ice water.

If you have too much fear of plunging into icy water, then you shouldn’t do it. In any case, everyone will be rewarded according to their faith, and if your faith is strong enough, then even without diving into the hole you will get what you want.

The origin of the Creed and the difference between the Orthodox text and the Catholic one

The Christian truths spoken of in this Dogma began to be used in the first times of Christianity; they were formulated by the holy Apostles. For three centuries they were used at Baptism.

But in the 4th century, false teachings began to spread, the founder of which was Presbyter Arius, he denied the Divine nature of Jesus Christ. To condemn this heresy, the First Ecumenical Council was convened in 325, which was held in Nicaea. The teachings of Arius were condemned and prohibited, and to confirm the truth, the first 7 dogmas of the Creed were compiled.

  • The Second Ecumenical Council was convened because of the heresy of Macedonius, who taught that the Holy Spirit is not God. This heresy was also prohibited, as a result of which the remaining Articles of the Creed were compiled.
  • At the Third Ecumenical Council in 431, it was decided that the Creed was not subject to correction or addition.
  • The text of the Creed approved at the Ecumenical Councils says:
  • “And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, Who proceeds from the Father.”
  • The symbol of faith approved at the First and Second Ecumenical Councils.

But Catholics, under pressure from Emperor Charles, came up with their own heretical addition to the Dogma, that the Holy Spirit comes not only from the Father, but also from the Son of God. This heresy is also called “filioque”, and contradicts the tradition of the holy Apostles. The “updated version” of the Creed is still read at masses on Saturdays and Sundays.

Prayer for wish fulfillment

Also on the night of Epiphany, prayer aimed at fulfilling desires will be especially effective. You should think in advance about what you dream about and at the right time read these words, thoroughly concentrating on them:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Do not be angry at my heartfelt request, but do not refuse endless mercy. Bless me for the fulfillment of my desire and reject all the damn abysses. May all your plans come true now and forever and forever and ever. Amen".

It’s good to read such a prayer alone with yourself; before doing this, you can light a candle. It is better to write down your innermost desire on paper and carefully hide it, and after fulfilling it, it is preferable to burn the piece of paper.

You shouldn’t hide your innermost dreams from Heaven, especially since such a bright holiday falls once a year.

How to learn prayer

All Orthodox believers who regularly visit the Church of God know the Creed by heart, since it is part of the Divine Liturgy and is sung out loud by all believers. But if a person who is going to become a godfather rarely visits church and does not know the text of the prayer by heart, this is a fixable matter.

First of all, you need to carefully understand the text of the prayer, read it in both Slavic and Russian, and also read the interpretation of it. The main thing is that there are no incomprehensible words left for you.

Then you can listen to the prayer in the recording and play this recording as often as possible.

Tip #1 The best way to remember this prayer has always been and will remain singing it together by all believers at the Liturgy.

And in conclusion, I would like to say that being a godfather or mother is a great responsibility before God. You cannot become a godfather just for the sake of interest or to please someone.

After all, a godfather who does not know what he believes in and does not visit the temple is unlikely to be able to teach faith to his godson and pray for him, which is his main task.

Powerful prayer for financial well-being

These words will be most effective on the day of Holy Epiphany. Text of this prayer

tested by the long years of history of our ancestors:

God!
Behold, I am Your vessel: fill me with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit, without You I am empty of all good, or even more so, full of all sin.
God!
Behold, Thy ship I am: fill me with a load of good deeds.
God!
Behold Your ark: fill it not with the charm of love of money and sweets, but with love for You and for Your animated image - man.

Rules for preparing for the sacrament for godparents

The Christian charter states that the child’s half-parents and monks, unbaptized people, atheists and people of other faiths cannot become godparents. It is also impossible to attract to this post people who are each other’s husband and wife. You need to choose Orthodox people for such a responsible task, with a kind heart and a pious lifestyle.

Material responsibilities for preparing for the ritual are divided as follows:

  • the godmother gives clothes and a cross on a chain or string to the baby for the ceremony;
  • the godfather pays for everything in front of the church and sets the festive table;
  • before the baptism in the church, they arrange a conversation with the candidates for godparents, they are explained how the sacrament will take place, what they will have to do and their responsibilities to the godson for life are told;
  • Before the ceremony, godparents must fast and confess in church; it will be good to receive the sacrament of communion.

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