Responsibilities of a Godfather
During the baptismal ceremony, the clergyman immerses the child in the font. If a boy is baptized, then the godfather must receive him from the font. He and his godmother dry the baby with a baptismal towel and put on a white shirt. Children under one year old should be held in the arms of the godfather, and those who are older can stand in front of the godfather.
Congratulations to parents on their son's christening
I sincerely congratulate you on the christening of your son. I wish the boy to grow up healthy and strong, brave and smart, cheerful and kind. And to you, parents, I wish you confidence, courage, love, mutual understanding, prosperity and good luck in order to make the life of your beloved boy bright and happy. Let your son be a noble and sensitive person whom God will never leave in trouble.
I sincerely congratulate you on the christening of your son. I wish you and your boy health and great happiness in life, I wish that godparents will always be there in moments of joy and difficulty, I wish that an angel will always protect your son from misfortunes and troubles. Let your boy grow up to be a brave and worthy man!
You baptized your son, An important life moment, Let him grow up very happy, Never know troubles. May your beloved son grow up healthy, and may fate give him Life without grief and anxiety!
Today you dipped your baby into the sacred font, congratulations, mom and dad, may the angel protect the strong one. May the glorious boy be happy, may the Lord protect him, and may the path of goodness, love and faith be open to his son.
Your son is now baptized, protected by God in life. You don’t have to be afraid of the evil eye, appear publicly with it. He has his own angel Besides all earthly love. Congratulations on the most touching event in your life!
Happy holiday to you, mom, dad. You christened the boy. They put a child in the strong hands on a special day. May the Lord protect the beloved child. Let him be healthy, make him happy and laugh loudly.
Today is a difficult day for you, you baptized your son, and the holy cover will protect Him from troubles and sorrow, So that you encounter fewer difficulties! Congratulations on your son's christening, We wish you well with all our hearts, May the Angels protect your home, May they protect you from all adversity and failures!
Congratulations on your son’s christening, mom and dad, May the little angel grow stronger and become the kindest, bravest! Always happy with success, in a wonderful mood, the house is full of enthusiasm, laughter, in the family - harmony, comfort, luck!
We congratulate you on your christening, And we only wish the baby good health, Let him grow up to the joy of his parents, There will be only sweetness in his life. May an angel protect him from all troubles, May his parents have a delicious lunch at home, May your son grow up to be a brave man, May he be handsome, stately, and tall. Let him be happy, rich in smiles, And everyone will be so happy to see him, Let him love and be loved, He is very irreplaceable for loved ones and relatives.
I congratulate you on your christening, Today the boy has reached a milestone, I wish him strong faith and only fulfilled hopes. A dear angel guides him and whispers wise advice. With such support, may it always be easier for him to reach the top.
What to prepare for the godfather for the baptism ceremony
The godfather must buy a pectoral cross for his godson, as well as a chain or cord for it. You will need to take with you an icon of the child’s patron saint. As for clothes for the child, the godmother buys them. If there is no godmother at the christening, the godfather can buy the clothes. To baptize a boy, you need to buy a white shirt, a new towel or a baptismal diaper.
The future godfather must come to the temple a few days before the sacrament to confess and receive communion. On the eve of the sacrament, it is necessary to fast for 3 days. Animal food should be excluded from the diet. It is also required to refrain from visiting places of entertainment, from foul language and intimacy.
On the day of the sacrament, godparents cannot eat food until the ceremony is completed.
During the baptism ceremony of a child, both godparents must wear a cross. Don't dress too provocatively for church. Clothing should be modest and not attract attention. It is forbidden to enter the temple in shorts, a T-shirt and sportswear. In extreme heat, it is better to wear light trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.
What godparents give to their godson in Orthodoxy
The most important gift for a christening is a cross. It doesn't have to be expensive or luxuriously decorated. Of course, most often godparents present a gold or silver gift, but even a simple wooden cross is acceptable. The most important thing is to choose the right form. If a small child is being baptized, the ends of the product should be rounded so that the baby does not get scratched.
A cross for a baby should be small and with rounded corners
Important! A cross not purchased from a church must be consecrated.
Traditionally, a cross for a girl is bought by the godmother, and a cross for a boy is bought by the godfather. Some families break this tradition and, for example, buy an expensive and beautiful product together. A cross can be given either with a chain or with a simple rope or ribbon.
Check that the clasp on the gaitan is strong and small, and that the gaitan itself is the right length
Important! During baptism, it will be more convenient for the priest to have the cross on the gaitan freely placed over the baby’s head. Then the rope can be shortened or replaced.
The godmother's responsibilities also include purchasing special sheets and clothes for the baby. The piece of cloth in which the child is wrapped after baptism is called kryzhma. The kryzhma must be snow-white; in the warm season it is recommended to buy linen; in winter it can be replaced with terry cloth. Kryzhma should be decorated with embroidery and Christian symbols. Of course, it will be better if the godmother embroiders everything herself, but if she doesn’t know how to do needlework, it’s okay. After baptism, the kryzhma must be carefully stored.
The godmother traditionally buys a christening outfit.
The godmother must give a baptismal outfit: a white baptismal long shirt and a white cap. Most often, the outfit is made of cotton fabric and decorated with embroidery, ribbons and beads, but of all this splendor, only a cross is required (it can be on the chest or on the back).
The christening shirt can also be hinged, this is much more convenient for the baby
Ideally, the godmother sews and decorates the clothes herself, but you can also buy ready-made ones; in any case, the baptismal shirt must be blessed in advance in the church. Sometimes the gift is complemented with rompers and booties.
After the christening
Usually, believing parents at christening organize a celebration at home to mark the important event. According to custom, the godfather pays for the table. It should be remembered that if the christening took place during Lent, then the table should be fast; large amounts of alcohol are not welcome in any case . Sometimes invitees wonder what to give a newly-made Christian? The most popular gifts are:
Gospel or other spiritual literature.- Icons of the Lord, the Mother of God, and named saints.
- Spoon and mug made of silver.
- A quality toy or clothing.
- Silver decoration.
- Money.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the approach to the great sacrament of baptism should be thoughtful and reverent. A new Christian comes into the world, and both parents and godparents want to see him as a kind, loving, worthy person and a member of the Church. Making a decision about baptism obliges both of them to do a lot, because now they are responsible for the child not only before the law of the country, but also before God. Well, that’s probably all that young parents need to know when baptizing a child.
Urgent baptism
There are special situations when parents do not have time to prepare for the sacrament and the ceremony must be performed urgently. For example, a baby was born very weak, has serious pathologies that threaten his life, or an older, unbaptized child has fallen ill and is in critical condition. Often in this case, parents want to baptize their child right in the hospital as quickly as possible. Baptism of a child in a hospital has its own characteristics.
Often parents cannot find godparents so quickly, so the priest performing the ceremony becomes the godparent. If a child is in this state, then he cannot be picked up and immersed in the font; the priest will simply wash him a little with blessed water. If the person being baptized is male, after registration he will need to be brought to the church so that the priest will bring him to the altar. For parents, the main actions are the following: negotiate with the priest and bring him to the hospital, choose a name for the person to be baptized, purchase a cross. Otherwise, the procedure itself will take place the same as in the temple.
There are also such emergency circumstances when baptism is required immediately, since, for example, there is a high risk of the child’s quick death, and there is simply no time to invite a priest. In this case, an Orthodox Christian is allowed to baptize him on his own, using either holy water (if available) or ordinary tap water (in ancient times there were cases of people being baptized in the desert with sand). At the same time, prayers are read, the phrase about the baptism of God’s servant such and such is said three times. However, if everything goes well, the child should still be brought to church to complete the ceremony.
Mom and Dad
The parents of a child under seven years of age (infant) must give their consent to baptism, since they are the ones who will be involved in the spiritual education of the child and his inclusion in the church. A child over 7 years old (adolescent) makes this decision himself.
The presence of the mother at the baptism depends on how many days have passed since the birth. Only after 40 days and after reading a cleansing prayer is the young mother allowed to attend the ceremony.
When, after baptism, the priest conducts churching: he brings and places the baby to the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God (the boys are first brought into the altar), then after that he is given either to the godparents or to the father and mother present.
The first communion may be scheduled for some other day, for example, in a week. Parents or mother will need to come with the child to the morning prayer service so that the priest will give the baby communion. Children need to receive Holy Communion as often as possible, preferably every week.
Grandmother and grandfather
Grandparents present at the baptism offer prayers and can help the godparents change the child’s clothes. Being one of the closest relatives, they take part in solving organizational issues. If desired, they can buy additional baptismal accessories, for example, a blanket, blanket, booties, socks, which will be needed during the sacrament and will also be useful to the child in the future.
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Prayers that godparents should know
Recipients must know by heart at least the basic prayers: “Our Father” and “Virgin Mother of God.”
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; For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Virgin Mary, Hail, blessed 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.
During the celebration of the Sacrament, they will have to recite the “Creed” by heart to confirm that the person really is a believer and is ready to take care of the soul of the godson.
This text contains the basic basics of the Orthodox faith, what the Orthodox are invited to believe:
- In God the Father, Creator of the whole world;
- In the Son of God Jesus Christ, Who Came to Earth for the Salvation of People, Born of Mary and the Holy Spirit, Endured Crucifixion, Died on the Cross, Resurrected on the Third Day, then Ascended into Heaven, Sitting on the Right Side of God the Father, then About to Descend Again to earth for the purpose of judging all living and dead people;
- In the Holy Spirit, Proceeding from the Father, glorified with the Father and the Son, speaking through the mouth of the prophets;
- To the Holy One Church;
- In one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins (at the Sacrament of Baptism a person is forgiven all previous sins);
- To the eternal life to come.
I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible. (I believe) in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, through whom all things were created; For us people and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human; Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and buried; And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures (prophetic). And ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; And again he will come with glory to judge the living and the dead, a kingdom that will have no end. (I believe) also in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified equally with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. (I believe) in the One, Holy, Catholic (Ecumenical) and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the next century. Truly so.
After baptism, you will need to go to church again to give the baby communion. They will also have to repeat after the priest the words of renunciation of evil spirits. They must be pronounced clearly, loudly, without embarrassment or grinning. They will also be asked to blow and spit on him (the devil), facing west, away from the altar.
This personifies the complete and final renunciation of the former sinful life and bad habits, previous falls, and the fulfillment of the will of Satan. This renunciation is pronounced three times.
Having renounced the work of Satan, the recipient turns his face to the east, to the altar and pronounces the words that he is ready to serve God all his life, that he believes in Christ as God. Then the recipient is required to utter words that he has united with Christ in his soul. This is also said three times as a sign of final assurance.
You shouldn’t laugh or be embarrassed while pronouncing these important words, because this is a very important stage for a person’s soul. He renounces his former life and embarks on a new, righteous path.
In general, preparations before this Sacrament must be approached with all seriousness, because the further fate of the godson depends on the recipient. Baptism should not be viewed as a fun pastime, after which there will be a feast.
Interesting gift ideas for children
The giver wants his gift to be noticeable, unique, and useful.
Diaper cake
An original gift for a child will be a “cake” made from diapers. Depending on the size of the “cake,” you can pack from 30 to 50 diapers. To make a gift, in addition to diapers, they use a tray, elastic bands, ribbons, and bows. The technology is simple: diapers are rolled into a tube and secured with an elastic band.
Then place the folded diapers on a tray, securing them with a common rubber band and removing those that were on the diapers. For two- and three-story structures, a cardboard tube is placed in the center, onto which subsequent “layers” are strung. The elastic bands are covered with ribbons, the top is decorated with bows and small toys. Packed in gift wrap.
Decorations
It is appropriate to give a girl jewelry, including those made of precious metals and stones. But when choosing jewelry, you must remember that stones have magical powers: they can become talismans for a child or harm him. You should not give earrings, rings, necklaces made of pearls or opal. They attract tears and failures.
Sapphire, diamond, ruby, garnet bring health and success. Since ancient times, turquoise has been revered as a stone of happiness in the East. The talisman is selected according to the child’s date of birth: the sum of the digits of the days in the month, the serial number of the month in the year and the year are determined. The resulting amount is divided into numbers and added again. The resulting result is compared with the gradation. Sometimes they are guided only by the date of the month. For example, for a girl born on the 6th, 15th or 24th, jewelry with garnet, sapphire, and agate will be a talisman.
Synthetic stones do not have this property, so you can purchase jewelry based on your own taste.
Icon
For Baptism, it is recommended to give a child a personalized icon (the name of the saint is the same as the name of the convert). If there is no specific saint on this date, then the image for the gift is chosen according to the time period during which the veneration of the Mother of God, an icon and some saint occurs. The choice of icon of the Mother of God recommended by the Orthodox Church by date of birth:
- from January 21 to February 21 - Vladimirskaya, or St. Athanasius;
- from February 22 to March 22 – Iverskaya, St. Alexy;
- from March 23 to April 22 – Kazanskaya, St. George the Confessor;
- from April 23 to May 22 – Iverskaya, St. Tamara;
- from November 24 to December 21 – Tikhvinskaya, St. Nikolai.
In June-July, they choose the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon as a gift, in July-August – “The Protection of the Virgin Mary”, from August 24 to September 23 – the “Burning Bush” icon.
The images of Saints Sergius of Radonezh (September-October), Apostle Paul (October-November), Seraphim of Sarov (December-January) will be personalized icons for the newly baptized child. Icons purchased outside of the church must be blessed before donation.
Where to perform the sacrament
Having decided on the godparents, you need to decide where the sacrament will be held. It does not matter which temple or church is chosen. The main thing is to be Orthodox. The next step will be a conversation with the priest, who will repeat the algorithm of actions and the needs of the christening. When choosing a temple, you can give preference to options that have a separate baptismal sanctuary. Usually they are free from drafts and strangers. It is important that there are not many babies in one day. As an option, they agree on individual baptism.
