In the Christian church there are seven basic sacraments, through which a person connects with the church and God. And many parents have a question: how to prepare for the baptism of a child? First, select the church in which you would like to conduct the rite. Secondly, choose the godparents and mother, an obligatory condition - these people should not be married. Third, choose a spiritual name for your child, and finally get all the things you need for baptism - the baptismal set :
- cross;
- clean towel or diaper;
- the christening shirt;
- Icon with the face of that saint, whose name the child will receive after the sacrament.
Basic signs related to baptism
In addition, it is necessary to know and take into account the people's signs for the baptism of a child:
- On the day of the christening there should be no quarrels in the house.
- The godmother should not be pregnant.
- There should be an odd number of guests in the church, but it is better that only you and godparents are present at the time of the sacrament.
In addition, observing all the signs for the child's baptism, be sure to keep the candles, a towel, an icon and a baptismal shirt after the sacrament.
Choosing a spiritual name
The name of the child's baptism should be Orthodox. If you called your baby a beautiful but not an Orthodox name, then you must make the child's baptism by another name. According to church canons, the baptismal name must correspond to the name of the Orthodox saint, on whose day the baptism itself passes. It should be remembered that after this the saint, whose name was called the baby, becomes his patron and protector from all life's troubles. In addition, each spiritual name bears in itself a certain image, behind which the fate of man, his spiritual essence, will be hidden. Therefore, the choice of a saint, after whom the child is given a second name, must be approached with all responsibility.
Conversation before the child's baptism
Another important point that parents should know before committing the sacrament of baptism is an obligatory conversation before the child's baptism with the priest, without this you may not be allowed to rite. In these conversations, parents are asked how often they go to services, receive communion, talk about the very procedure of baptism and about faith in general. In other words, the conversation before the child's baptism is a mandatory preparatory procedure before the performance of the sacrament itself.
How does the rite of baptism take place?
And, of course, it is very interesting for all parents, and especially mothers, to know how the child's baptism takes place, and whether mother will be allowed to go to church, during the ritual? If baptism occurs after 40 days after the birth, the mother may well be in the church during the sacrament. At the beginning of the rite, before the child is dipped in the font, keep his godparents - the boys are kept by godmothers, and the girls are godparents. After the same bath, the girls are handed over to the godmothers, and the boys give themselves to the godfathers. To complete the baptism, the boys are brought in for the altar,
Basic traditions of baptism
At the child's baptism, the traditions of the Orthodox Church oblige the godparents to give certain gifts to their godson: thus, the godmother buys a carpet - a towel for the baptism of the child, a baptismal shirt and a bonnet with lace. The godfather also buys a chain and a cross, but the church does not have specific requirements for the materials from which they will be made. A cross with a chain can be either gold or silver, and someone prefers that the infant wears a cross on a special ribbon. In addition to the gift, the godfather also pays for the rite itself and then covers the festive table.