Christening of the child

After the birth of a child, parents think about holding christenings. It is clear that this ritual must be prepared in advance, since there are many nuances. You can learn everything from acquaintances who have already baptized their child or in a priest's church. And we will try to be useful to you and provide you with the necessary information on how to properly baptize a child, when it is better to do it and what needs to be cooked for this ritual.

Why is it necessary to baptize a child?

Baptism is one of the important events in the life of an Orthodox person. The fact is that thanks to this mystery, there is an adherence to the faith of Christ, a connection is established between man and God. In addition, baptism means purification from original sin. In the course of the ritual the child is called the Christian name of one of the saints. So the baptized angel has a guardian angel who will protect from unseen dark forces and guide him to the true path.

What time is the child baptized?

"Is it possible to baptize a child right after birth?" - this question often worries young parents. According to church canons, a baptism ceremony can be performed on the 8th day of birth, if the child is weak and strongly ill. But the mother will not be able to be present because it is considered "unclean". After 40 days from the birth of the mother, a special cleansing prayer is read - Prayer of the Fortieth Day. Only after that, mother can attend an important rite. But if the newborn is weak or sick, baptism is also carried out in the first days after birth.

On what days are they baptized? Is it possible to baptize a child during fasting?

The rite of baptism can be held on any day - ordinary, lean or festive.

Sometimes it is necessary to decide where to baptize a child. Your choice can fall on any church, but if you are a parishioner of a certain temple, christen the kid in it. Occasionally the christening takes place at home - if the child is seriously ill.

How to choose godparents?

It should not be random and unfamiliar people, because the godparents will become your child's spiritual instructors and will take an active part in his life, as they will give a godfather a promise to lead a Christian way of life. Note that future godparents should be themselves baptized, not engaged among themselves or unmarried.

Sometimes parents do not find worthy "nominees" for godparents and are interested in whether it is possible to baptize without godparents. Unfortunately, this is impossible, because the baby does not have his own faith, and it is the godparents who are his receptor. It will be enough for one godfather: godmother for the girl and godfather for the boy.

What to cook for christenings?

In advance or in the church shop you can buy candles, a towel. It is important to consider in what clothes the godparents will baptize the child. It should be a new cap and white shirt. It can be decorated with lace or embroidery. The cross, chain and icon are traditionally given by the cross.

Rite

Initially, the rite of the godparents three times deny the child of Satan and all his deeds, then three times confirm the desire to combine with Christ. Then the prayer "Symbol of Faith" is pronounced with the cross. After the water is lit in the font, the priest will anoint the baby with oil (ears, forehead, chest, hands, feet). The baby is stripped and brought to the font. The priest will dip the child in the font three times or sprinkle it with holy water. After that, the child is given to the recipient, who takes it with a towel in his hands (the girl is godmother, the boy is godfather). The baby is put on the baptismal shirt and cross, anointing is performed. Then the baptized child with the godparents bypass the font around three times. Further, the priest bathes the ointment and shears the hair of the baptized child and communes with it. The boy is brought to the altar. Children of both sexes are attached to the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. Clothing, in which the child was baptized, is preserved, since it can serve as a protection during illness.