Christening is a significant event for parents and baby. According to Orthodox rites, the sacrament is performed on the 8th or 40th day after the birth of the child. Nowadays, you can choose the date yourself. The greatest responsibility during the sacrament rests with the godparents. The main thing for them is to learn the prayer texts and understand their meaning. During the ceremony, the priest reads them in Old Church Slavonic. The lines should be repeated in a half-whisper. First, you should familiarize yourself with what prayer the godparents read at baptism and how the ritual takes place.
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!".
Responsibilities of spiritual mentors in relation to the godson
Unfortunately, in recent years, many parents, having baptized their baby, simply pay tribute to fashion and do not think about how important and obligatory an action they have performed. Godparents also do not understand this, although it is they who bear the greatest responsibility for the child’s soul.
Typically, spiritual parents see their godson once or twice a year and take virtually no part in his upbringing. They believe that it is enough to know what prayers need to be said at a child’s baptism and to give a gift for the next birthday in order to be considered in the eyes of God as having fulfilled one’s duty. However, in fact, this is catastrophically insufficient, because it is the godparents, and not the parents who gave birth to the baby, who must bring him to church. And in the future this is exactly what their souls will be asked for.
It is noteworthy that the prayer at the baptism of children is not the only one that spiritual parents will have to say throughout their lives. Every day they should pray for the baby, asking the Lord for understanding in his upbringing and instruction. Such regular spiritual work will certainly bear fruit and will help on the path to Jesus that the child must go through.
Congratulations to the child on his name day are also encouraged. It is this holiday that godparents should organize and make it the most long-awaited and significant in the baby’s life. In addition, spiritual mentors must provide all possible assistance to parents in order to take their godson to communion or service. The Church believes that the blood mother and father are responsible for the material and physical well-being of their child, but godparents are responsible for his spiritual upbringing.
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.
Prayer "Our Father"
In Orthodoxy, it is believed that the lines were composed by the Lord himself. This is one of the basic prayers that every Christian should know. It is read in the morning, waking up from sleep, and in the evening, going to bed. Also, this is the text that is said before asking God for something.
Before the Sacrament of Baptism, spiritual parents must memorize the text. When the godson gets older, his godparents tell him about the meaning of the lines and teach him to believe.
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.
- The godmother must say the words of prayer when a female child is baptized.
- 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!".
Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents
The prayer of godparents during baptism can be read both at the beginning of the procedure and at the end. It all depends on how the holy father conducts the ritual. If a girl is being baptized, the “Creed” prayer is read by the godmother, and if a boy is being baptized, the godfather reads it at baptism.
The godfather's prayer at baptism has the following content:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. Call me the godfather of your servant (name of your goddaughter or godson). Help your naked child in his spiritual development and do not test his faith with difficult trials. I firmly believe in your power and pledge to observe all the canons of holy Orthodoxy. Thy will be done. Amen".
The godmother's prayer words have the following text:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. With faith in my soul, I pray to you for the health of my godson (goddaughter). Name me godmother and bless me to help my child in difficult days. Do not be angry if your faith weakens and send a guardian angel for my salvation. Thy will be done. Amen".
The Creed prayer is quite difficult to remember, so there are several recommendations to make this process easier:
- understand the meaning of the prayer. When memorizing a prayer, it is important to clearly understand what is being said. Then the words of the prayer will make sense, and it will be much easier to remember;
- You can purchase an audio version. After the godparent can successfully retell the prayer in his own words, you should focus on the correct pronunciation of the words. An audio source can help with this. You should try to read the Creed in tandem with the recording;
- then you can create certain images that will help associate prayer words with certain objects or images;
- at the end, you should repeat the prayer service along with the audio recording several times, then use your figurative memory and repeat it yourself. After just 5 repetitions, the prayer will be memorized. Moreover, this will not be “cramming”, but a real process of memorization. And these prayer words will remain in memory for a long time.
The best article for you, go to: Prayer of the Seven Shot Mother of God - Softening Evil Hearts
Sometimes the holy fathers allow you to read a prayer at baptism. To do this, godparents are given certain books with text or are allowed to use their own materials from home. You can peek at the leaf. and you can fully immerse yourself in reading. But the main thing is to understand the meaning of what is being said.
Baptism is an important moment in the life of any believer. It must be approached responsibly and prepared very carefully. The “Creed” prayer, which the godparents read at baptism, has a special meaning. It should be known by heart and read with understanding and awareness of the importance of this action. These prayer words are aimed at strengthening faith in the Lord, so it should also be read daily by believers, or as often as possible.
The Lord is always with you!
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.
How are baptisms carried out by the Orthodox Church, and who reads the prayers?
It is worth immediately noting that in Orthodoxy there are several types of baptisms. The first is a three-time immersion with the baby’s head, that is, completely, into the font. The second is sprinkling the head with holy water. As a rule, the first option is used as the main one, and the second one is used as a backup. Pouring is an extreme case when the child, for example, is weak or ill, and it is not possible to postpone the christening. In this case, you may not comply with all the conditions.
In churches where children are baptized, there is a special baptismal chamber or baptistery. These are special places, premises that are used only for this sacrament. Most of the ritual is carried out in this baptismal chapel. Only at the very end does the clergyman take the child to the church for Churching. At the same time, the boy is carried precisely through the altar. And the girls are brought to the royal gates.
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.
Name
Find out in advance what name the child will be baptized. If the child’s name is not in the calendar, select one that sounds similar in advance (Alina - Elena, Zhanna - Anna, Alisa - Alexandra) and tell the priest about it. And sometimes names are given strangely. One of my friends Zhanna was baptized Eugenia. By the way, sometimes there are unexpected names in the calendar, say. Edward is such an Orthodox British saint (though later all the employees of the temple will not believe that there is such an Orthodox name). In church records and when performing other Sacraments, you will need to use the name given at baptism. Based on it, it will be determined when the child’s Angel Day is and who his heavenly patron is.
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!
Second prayer for godparents: “Prayer to the Mother of God”
Prayer for a child's baptism for godparents
Truly a beautiful prayer to the Most Pure Mother of God. Prayer of praise to the Mother of God, filled with God's grace and blessed among wives, gratitude to her for giving birth to a savior for the human people. This prayer reflects the honor and love of the Christian people for the Holy Most Pure Mother of God, she is the intercessor of people before God, the beloved mother of everyone on earth.
“Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Most Gracious Mary, the Lord is with you!
Among women you are the most blessed.
Blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Because you gave birth to the Savior of our souls.”
Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
Born from a father before all ages:
Light from Light, true God from true God, born,
Not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.
For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation from Heaven,
And who took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man.
Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
And suffered and was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead,
There will be no end to his kingdom.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, who gives life from the Father, who proceeds with the Father and the Son, who is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.
Into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen (truly so)
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.
Clothes for baptism
Many modern people forget that going to church requires a certain form of clothing. Don't put on your best and try to stand out from the crowd. It’s better to save all this for another occasion, but you need to come to the christening in an appropriate outfit for the occasion.
Be sure to bring a comfortable hat that can be securely fastened to your hair. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to hold the baby in your arms while the ceremony lasts. Try to keep makeup to a minimum; lipstick is strictly prohibited. The fact is that during the Sacrament the godparents will have to kiss the cross, and pomaded lips will be inappropriate here.
Women's clothing should be as chaste as possible: a skirt below the knee and a top that covers the chest and shoulders. You can choose any color, but neutral and non-flashy shades are still more welcome.
Also, do not forget about your pectoral cross. Often the clergy even check its presence before the ceremony begins. Therefore, be sure to make sure you have it in advance.
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.
When is the best time to baptize a baby?
Before you begin to study the prayers read at the baptism of a child, you need to accurately determine the date of this event. Of course, parents are free to baptize their child at any age, but priests advise doing this in infancy. Firstly, thanks to the Sacrament, the newborn will receive protection (we already mentioned this earlier). And secondly, it is much easier to perform the ritual with a baby than with a child, for example, two years old. He will constantly spin around and be distracted, so the baptism will be chaotic, which is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, try to contact the church at a time when your baby is still at an unconscious age. In this case, it will be easier for you to raise him in Christ and accustom him to Orthodoxy and observance of its canons from early childhood.
What prayers are read when a child is baptized is, of course, very important, but no less important is the correct choice of the date on which the ceremony will be performed. In ancient times, it was performed on the eighth or fortieth day after the birth of the baby. And these deadlines were not set by chance. The fact is that a week after birth, parents in a solemn atmosphere gave their child a name. This holiday went well with baptism, during which the baby was born again, but according to Orthodox traditions. Often in church he received his middle name in honor of one of the saints.
The fortieth day was also chosen based on certain circumstances. Usually, by this time, women had fully recovered from childbirth, their discharge had stopped, and they could finally attend church for the first time in a long period of time. Therefore, it was customary to schedule baptism on this holiday.
Today, rarely does anyone adhere to such strict rules, but we should not forget that they were invented for a reason and carry a deep meaning. And it is not for us to dispute what our ancestors have successfully put into practice for many centuries.
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.
Who cannot claim to be a godfather?
The Church considers the choice of godparents to be very important in the life of a child, so there is a category of people who will definitely be denied this honorable role. First of all, this applies to the unbaptized and unbelievers; they cannot claim the title of spiritual parents due to their own spiritual poverty and uncertainty.
Minors will also be refused. They themselves are still children and their parents or guardians are responsible for them. Therefore, until they reach adulthood, they cannot take on such responsibility as becoming the spiritual mentor of a newly born baby.
Monks are also prohibited from becoming godparents. Persons who have taken monastic vows renounce worldly life and can no longer have children, even spiritual ones. No clergyman will allow a monk to the Sacrament in the role of godparent.
Neither husband and wife will be able to say a prayer at the baptism of children. Although some clarification is required here. Married people can be chosen as godparents, but in no case for one child. It is noteworthy that spiritual mentors cannot get married after taking responsibility for someone else’s child.
Keep in mind that the church does not regulate how close the blood ties should be between godparents and the newborn. They may be relatives, but this is not necessary. It is worth considering that godparents must have good contact with the baby, because during the ceremony they will be the ones holding him in their arms.
