Godparents: who absolutely should not be godparents to a child

Can there be a godsister?

Choosing godparents for your child is a very important moment in the life of any family.
Indeed, in Orthodoxy, through such sacred rites of Baptism, a parent is assigned to the child for moral and Orthodox education. Therefore, they often want to see a close and dear person as a godmother - the mother’s sister or the baby’s aunt. Let's find out whether it is allowed to take your sister as your spiritual mother? 1 To answer this question, you need to understand what main points parents should rely on when choosing responsible people for a newly made member of the Church. Godparents can be:

  • necessarily Orthodox Christians;
  • preferably church people who will instill in their future godson the correct spiritual education, who are ready to take him to church and stimulate his desire to grow in the Orthodox faith;
  • pregnant women, despite all superstitions;
  • unmarried women.

2 There are several more instructions that you should rely on when choosing godparents. Firstly, choose people who are mature in mind, because they will be responsible for your baby if something happens to the blood parents. Secondly, think about whether the person you choose can become an authority for your child, a good example in life and a spiritual parent. Remember that the responsibilities of godparents do not end with gifts once a year - this is a very important mission, it is this person who must pray for the baby for the rest of his life.

3 To understand whether the parents’ sister (sister, step-mother, cousin) can become a child’s successor, you also need to familiarize yourself with the prohibitions when choosing godparents. Recipients cannot be:

  • Mother and father of the child.
  • People who are related by blood cannot become godparents to one child at the same time.
  • Monks and nuns.
  • Those who profess a different religion are not Orthodoxy. In other words, non-believers.
  • Spouses will not be able to become godfather and mother of one child.
  • People who consider themselves non-believers.
  • Girls under 13 and boys under 15.
  • People who are in a relationship and plan to legalize it. After all, an intimate relationship between godparents is not allowed; after the sacrament, only spiritual kinship binds them.
  • Immoral persons or mentally ill people.
  • A person of the same sex as the child, if it is planned to choose only one recipient for the baby.

This list does not include the parents' sister, so there is no obstacle to taking your sister as godmother to the child. Act based on reasonable arguments, listen to your inner voice, choose with your heart!

4 If you plan to choose the child’s own sister as your spiritual mother, then know that the Church does not interfere with this. All relatives of the child are allowed to baptize a child, except the natural father and mother. Therefore, a sister or daughter of an aunt or uncle can be a godmother. However, again, think about whether, for example, your eldest daughter will be able to take on the responsibility that you are going to assign to her. Is she ready to be around all her life, support spiritually and pray for her godson.

After the Sacrament of Baptism, the godmother can be called a “family member.” Therefore, if you do not want to, then a completely acceptable solution would be to take your sister as your successor; there are no prohibitions in this regard. The main thing is to take into account the above-mentioned human qualities.

Is it possible to baptize a child with your godfathers?

The main thing when choosing a godfather for a baby is the person’s willingness to bear responsibility for him, to take on the responsibilities of raising him, helping his parents, caring for the little soul and guiding her on the right path in life. It is also believed that the godparents take upon themselves the sins of a godson under 17 years of age.

Godparents of the same child cannot be people who are related by blood, for example, a brother and sister; it is also prohibited for a husband and wife to baptize the same child, non-Orthodox people and minors, monastics and, naturally, blood parents.

Can a sister become a godmother?

A sister can become your son’s godmother if she is not considered a teenager by age, but is already an adult. But it doesn’t matter whether there are different fathers or the same one. Apart from the parents themselves and the new husband or wife (stepmother, stepfather), all other relatives can be godparents.

Why does your daughter have to be an adult?

The godmother is practically equivalent to a second mother, only a spiritual one.

How can a minor become responsible for the spiritual upbringing of another if her parents and godparents are responsible for her own upbringing?

And if she is an adult, then there is no problem. The sister will have to learn the creed. Then it must be said that now they treat this with a scolding attitude, but in fact the role of the godmother is not to give gifts on name days, but firstly, to go to the Temple and pray for the godson as for her own son. Also remember him in your home prayers. Write notes to the church in his name regularly. Also, gently promote his spiritual education (if Easter is coming or Lent, then tell him what it is and how, for example), and Christian virtues. And now they reason: if only they could attend the ceremony for show, but they don’t think at all what the real role of godparents is.

You yourself understand that the sister herself must be Orthodox and baptized.

How to choose godparents for a child? There are no brothers on my side

Why can’t a grandmother be a godmother? And grandpa too? My daughter and niece were baptized at home, they called a priest they knew, my daughter had a grandmother (on the paternal side) as a godmother, and my niece had a grandfather (on the maternal side), if they had found out at work, nothing would have happened to me, and my husband might have been reprimanded or expelled from the party, so we baptized at home, now they are mothers themselves, go to church, everything is fine, and their grandchildren have already been baptized

Author, you are in vain basing your choice on the personal opinion of someone close or not. You would first talk to the candidates and find out whether they even want to be godparents and how much your concepts of the duties of a godfather coincide. Or will you simply say: Marus, we decided to make you godmother?? IMHO, godparents need to choose the one who wants it

Who can be godparents and who can't

If the godmother and godfather are spouses, they are prohibited from participating in the sacrament of baptism of one child. Moreover, a man and woman cannot baptize the same child if they are just planning to get married. If they do become godparents of one baby, they will have to give up close relationships in favor of raising a godson.

Baptism is the most significant event in the life of every Orthodox person. And of course, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing godparents. After all, they are second parents and play an important role in a person’s life. There are many superstitions about godparents. And many people wonder: who can be a godfather and who cannot. Let's try to answer the most frequently asked questions on this topic.

Can a husband and wife be godparents to a child?

Spiritual mentors must not be legally married. This is contrary to the laws of the church. They should not have a physical connection with each other. Be sure to take this into account when choosing them. The ban is also imposed on couples in a civil marriage and on those who are just planning to get married.

After the sacrament, the godfather and godmother become spiritual relatives for each other and for the parents of the baby. Such a relationship is considered to be vicious.

Spouses are prohibited from being godparents for one child. But it is allowed to baptize different children in the same family. For example, a wife can baptize a girl, and a husband can baptize a boy.

It is important to approach the choice of spiritual mentors for your child with all seriousness. You need to have complete confidence in these people. After all, the sacrament of baptism is performed once.

Is it possible to make a brother or sister godparents?

I think so, and that's even better. My friend follows all the canons, observes all fasts, she is a very religious person. I always consulted her on religious issues. Here's how she explains it to me: In Christianity (Orthodoxy), blood relatives are not the basis of religious relations, of course, there is a clause that blood relatives cannot marry and give birth to children, but it is much more important if the brother and sister godparents are going to get married. This is absolutely impossible to do, therefore in modern times it is even recommended to take godparents so that your child and the children of his godparents do not have the opportunity to enter into any relationship, since in essence they are in a brotherly (sisterly) relationship.

Yes, godparents may well be siblings. In a way, that's not even a bad thing. Since these are the closest people and the likelihood that the life paths of the godson and his godparents will diverge is much less than when strangers (friends, acquaintances, acquaintances) are made godparents.

Is it possible for siblings to baptize one child?

When choosing a godfather for your baby, find someone you trust completely. These could be your close friends or relatives with whom you constantly maintain good relationships. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, godparents are obliged to replace them with a godson.

Only an Orthodox believer who is able to give an account of his faith can be a godfather. Actually, a boy needs only a godfather, and a girl only needs a godmother. But according to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited.

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Godparents: who can be a godparent

This is truly a difficult cross to bear. And, probably, you need to think carefully before placing it on yourself. Will I be able to? Do I have enough health, patience, and spiritual experience to become a recipient of a person entering life? And parents should take a good look at relatives and friends - candidates for the honorary post. Which of them will be able to become a truly kind assistant in education, who will be able to bestow your child with true Christian gifts - prayer, the ability to forgive, the ability to love God. And plush bunnies the size of elephants may be nice, but they are not at all necessary.

We know very little. And it’s not just a problem, but something that we don’t really want to know. After all, if they wanted to, then before going to the temple as a godfather, they would have looked there the day before and asked the priest what this step “threatens” us, how best to prepare for it. Godfather is a godfather in Slavic. Why? After immersion in the font, the priest transfers the baby from his own hands to the hands of the godfather. And he accepts, takes it into his own hands. The meaning of this action is very deep. By acceptance, the godfather takes upon himself the honorable, and most importantly, responsible mission of leading the godson along the path of ascension to the Heavenly inheritance. That's where! After all, baptism is the spiritual birth of a person. Remember in the Gospel of John: “Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Can a sibling be a godmother?

That's the whole question, in principle. I just had doubts. My sister is the godmother of my child, and I am going to become the godmother of her baby. So it is possible? My aunt just said that in those days it was impossible to do this(

What a time. Everyone is indignant. My sister is due to give birth in a week, she wants to take my husband as godparents. The christening will take place in early summer. She hasn’t given birth yet and is already ordering us a gold chain for the child, the cross says the godparents bought it on the other side! I have two children and I should tell my godparents what they need to buy for my children - but this has never happened!

Can an aunt be a godmother to a nephew?

Certainly! My children's godparents are their own aunts. My son has my husband’s sister, and my daughter has my sister. Our godparents are friends, but they are very good. In general, it seems to me that relatives should be considered first and foremost as godparents. But that's just my opinion.

I am the godfather of my older sister’s daughter, and as far as I remember, when my niece was baptized, this did not cause any objection from the priest who performed the baptism, so you can safely involve your brothers and sisters in this.

Is it possible to baptize a child with your godmother?

The choice of the baby’s godparents is also very important, because the godparents will have to share the responsibility and labor of raising the baby. Therefore, many people have various questions regarding the correct choice of godparents for a child.

So, one of the most common questions is: is it possible to baptize a child with your godfather (your godfather)? To tell the truth, the opinions of many clergy differ here: some claim that it is strictly forbidden to baptize the children of their godfathers, while others insist that this is possible.

Who to take as godparents? Can a grandmother be a godmother to her granddaughter?

Expanding deeper into the seemingly simple topic “Can a grandmother be godmother to her granddaughter”, it is worth noting the main thing - in such a sacred action as Baptism, a person’s body is immersed three times in water with the words invoking the name of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit . This thereby washes a person from original sin and from all other sins committed before baptism. Symbolically, this means that by the grace of the Holy Spirit a person is spiritually reborn and becomes a member of the Church and the Blessed Kingdom of Christ.

And in general, I wonder who can be taken as godparents? It must be said that godparents are needed for a person under 14 years of age; after these years, the need for them automatically disappears, and he himself can come to church and be baptized without guarantees.

Kyiv Mommies and more - a forum for mothers, current and future parents

But when you’re on your period, it’s also forbidden to enter. This is like those same 40 days when lochia or menstruation occurs. Those. the woman is “not pure.” Therefore, even when you really want to, such as Easter, Vodokhreshchenya, etc., you still have to send relatives ((

so let mom go to church and find out, or some friend or husband... the priest should know everything. I definitely need to find out, after all, my brothers and sisters... why can’t you go to church? (if it’s not a secret)... I would definitely find out everything myself.

Family ties - terms and definitions

Sometimes you can get confused in the intricacies of the carpet called family ties. Nowadays, the kinship terms adopted by our ancestors are no longer used, such as stry - paternal uncle or vui - maternal uncle. Also, the terms sister, sister - nephew by sister, or son - niece by brother are not widely used. Although these words are a thing of the past, our language stock is replenished with completely new, from a historical point of view, terms. Let's look at the most frequently used terms in order.

Is it possible to take a sister as a godparent?

If the godmother and godfather are spouses, they are prohibited from participating in the sacrament of baptism of one child. Moreover, a man and woman cannot baptize the same child if they are just planning to get married. If they do become godparents of one baby, they will have to give up close relationships in favor of raising a godson.

If a husband and wife unknowingly become the adoptive parents of the same child, the spouses need to contact the ruling bishop. As a rule, there are two ways out of this situation: recognition of the marriage as invalid, or the spouses will be given penance for a sin committed out of ignorance.

Is it possible for siblings to baptize one child?

In the sacrament of baptism, the newly baptized person is clothed in a baptismal shirt (Greek anavolium

- “cloak”) has an important spiritual meaning. Before the sacrament begins, the clothes in which the baby was brought are removed from the catechumen. This means that the “old man” is symbolically stripped from him. Before the Fall, our ancestors Adam and Eve were dressed in the primordial vestments of purity, light and glory. Having been deprived of them by the transgression of the Divine commandment, they became “naked” (Gen. 3:7). To cover their nakedness, they made clothes from fig leaves. Baptism returns to a person the purity and innocence lost by his forefathers. Therefore, the one received from the holy font is clothed in clothes as white as light, which symbolizes the new clothing of the soul “in the image of divine light and angelic purity” (St. Simeon of Thessalonica). When laying it on, the troparion of the 8th tone is sung: “Give me a robe of light, dress in light like a robe, O most merciful Christ our God” (cf. Ps. 103:2).

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After baptism in ancient times, the baptismal shirt was not removed for eight days. In Christianity, the number “8” marks the future century. He who is reborn in the holy font by water and the Spirit must keep the garment of his soul spotless and undefiled. After anavolia, they were removed and carefully stored. In the background of the State Museum of A.S. Pushkin keeps a baptismal shirt, which, according to legend, belonged to the great poet.

Sites for girls

We want to baptize our little son, but we cannot find believing godparents. Why can’t natural parents be godparents? Can the baby's older sister be godmother? Ksenia Dear Ksenia! Talk to the priest of the temple where you will baptize the baby, perhaps he will suggest you good godparents from the same parish. Church canons prohibit the baby's parents from being godparents; the older sister can be godmother. But the first demand for raising a child in faith is from the parents. Before baptism, it is good if the parents confess and receive communion, and in the future they regularly begin the sacraments. God help, priest Alexander Ilyashenko

I found out that as a child I became the goddaughter of my mother’s friend. Mom does not maintain a relationship with this woman. Tell me, is there anything I can do for her now? Elena Hello, Elena! It is quite strange that at such an early age you became a godmother. However, if this bothers you and you feel that you must at least partially fulfill your duty, then pray for your goddaughter - may the All-Merciful Lord guide her on the path of righteousness! Peace and blessings of God be upon you! Priest Alexy Kolosov

Twins Health

The meeting will be on May 26. The address is Lensovetovsky territory, football field opposite No. 16. The animation starts at 10.30 and ends at 12.00. As always, the animator Maria Workshop of Children's Holidays "Thing" will be with us this year in the form of a Lol doll.

Approximate plan of the event: 10-25 Children's animation 11-15 Performance of the TT group. Rhythmic gymnastics, Kalinka dance 11-20 Parade of twins 11.30 Performance of the TT group. Brakedance. 11-40 Conducting a drawing from the “Territory of Talents” 11-50 Show of soap bubbles 12-00 End of animation.

Baptismal relationship

There is also such a concept as sisters of the cross, but in your case this definition does not apply, because sisters of the cross are sisters of the cross, named sisters, brothers-in-arms, sisters. In other words, women who exchanged pectoral crosses in relation to each other. However, there is other information that contradicts the above:

“According to modern Lipetsk materials, the godchildren of the same godparents in relation to each other, as well as the natural children of godparents in relation to the godchildren of their parents, are considered cross brothers or cross sisters: “The father and mother of the godparents accepted the godchild and accepted her - so we are sisters cross with her. And I also have Christ’s sisters and brothers - these are the children of my godparents” (A.P. Volkova).”

Relatives. Who, to whom and by whom is due. (short guide).

Good day, dear readers.
Let's talk about relatives

. We must admit that now families are not as large as they used to be, when 3-5 children could not surprise anyone. Now it is quite enough to know who the grandchildren, nephews, grandmothers, grandfathers, and cousins ​​are. And everyone else is simply called relatives. But unlike other languages, Russian is a rather rich language; it has its own name for everything. It is not easy to thoroughly understand who is related to whom among relatives, and if the relatives of one of the spouses are added, then it will take time to remember.

We'll try to figure it out with you.

Let's start with who is a “relative”

?

Relative

- a person who has common ancestors with someone, that is, related to him by kinship.

If you open the “Big Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language”

edited by
S.A. Kuznetsova, we see that “ kinship
is a relationship between individuals, based on descent from a common ancestor or resulting from marriage, organizing social groups and roles.”

This has been more or less sorted out. Let's go directly to the relatives, who is related to whom:

Mother in law

- husband's mother

Sister-in-law

- husband's sister

sister-in-law

- wife's sister

Brother-in-law

- sister-in-law's husband

Son-in-law

- daughter's husband, sister's husband, sister-in-law's husband

Daughter-in-law

- son's wife in relation to father

Daughter-in-law

- a brother’s wife, a son’s wife for his mother, one brother’s wife in relation to another brother’s wife; also used instead of daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law

Matchmaker

- the father of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other

Matchmaking

- the mother of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other

Grandfather

(grandfather) - the father of the father or mother.

Grandmother

(grandmother) - mother of father or mother

great uncle

- father's or mother's uncle.

Great-aunt

- father's or mother's aunt

Grandson

(granddaughter) - son (daughter) of a daughter or son in relation to a grandfather or grandmother. Accordingly, a cousin’s grandson (granddaughter) is the son (daughter) of a nephew or niece

Nephew

(niece) - son (daughter) of a brother or sister (siblings, cousins, second cousins). Accordingly, the child of a cousin (sister) is a cousin nephew, a second cousin (sister) is a second cousin nephew

Great-nephew

(niece) - grandson (granddaughter) of a brother or sister

Uncle

(uncle, uncle) - brother of father or mother, husband of aunt

Aunt

(aunt, auntie) - sister of father or mother in relation to nephews. Uncle's wife in relation to his nephews

Cousin

- related by grandfather or grandmother to the children of their sons and daughters

Second cousin

- son of a great uncle or great aunt

Cousin

- daughter of an uncle or aunt

Second cousin

- daughter of a great uncle or great aunt.

That's the kind of relationship.

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Godparents vouch before God

If some circumstances do not allow you to confidently accept such responsibility, if there is no sincere love in your heart for the intended godson, it is better to refuse the honorary offer to become a godfather.

Two years ago, my relatives asked me to become a godmother. Now they demand gifts from me, tell me where and what I need to buy, without asking what my current financial situation is, what I can or cannot buy. What should I do?

They can. My youngest daughter actually has a godmother - my eldest daughter, that is, her sister. True, there is a big age difference between them. The priest said. that the main thing is that the godfather and mother are not married and subsequently do not get married.

The following persons cannot be godparents. 1. Monks and nuns. 2. Parents for their own children. 3. Persons who are married to each other (or the bride and groom) cannot baptize one baby, because with a spiritual relationship, married life is unacceptable. In this case, spouses are allowed to be the adoptive parents of different children of the same parents, but at different times. 4. Non-believers. 5. Unbaptized. 6. Minors. 7. Mentally abnormal (mentally ill) people. 8. Persons who came to the temple drunk.

Property

Spouses

  • Spouses
    are married persons.
  • Husband
    (
    spouse
    ) is a man in relation to the woman married to him.
  • Wife
    (
    spouse
    ) is a woman in relation to the man married to her.

Parents of spouses

  • Father-in-law
    is the father of the husband.
  • Mother-in-law
    is the husband's mother.
  • Father-in-law
    is the wife's father.
  • Mother-in-law
    is the mother of the wife.
  • Matchmaker
    is the father of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other spouse, that is, the father-in-law of a son or the father-in-law of a daughter.
  • Matchmaker
    is the mother of one of the spouses in relation to the parents of the other spouse, that is, the mother-in-law of a son or the mother-in-law of a daughter.

Brothers and sisters of spouses

  • Brother-in-law
    - husband's brother (
    Eastern European dialects
    -
    Schwager
    ).
  • Sister-in-law
    is the husband's sister.
  • in-law
    - wife's brother (
    Eastern European dialects
    -
    Schwager
    ).
  • Shurich (obsolete)
    - son of brother-in-law.
  • Sister-in-law
    (
    obsolete sister-in-law
    ) is the wife’s sister.

Spouse of a close relative

  • Son-in-law
    is the husband of a daughter, sister.
    In other words, a son
    -in-law is a man in relation to his wife’s family: her parents (father-in-law and mother-in-law), her sisters (sisters-in-law), her brothers (brothers-in-law) and the latter’s wives (daughters-in-law).
  • Primak
    (
    priymak
    ,
    vdomnik
    ,
    vlazen
    ,
    prizyachenny
    ,
    vabiy
    ) is a son-in-law adopted into the wife’s family by his father-in-law or mother-in-law in a house for one household.
  • Daughter
    law (Dahl's etymology:
    son
    - son's wife - now considered erroneous) - the wife of a son in relation to his parents (father-in-law and mother-in-law)
  • Daughter-in-law
    is the wife of a son, brother, brother-in-law, brother-in-law.
    In other words a daughter-in-law
    is a woman in relation to her husband’s family: his mother (mother-in-law), brothers (brothers-in-law) and sisters (sisters-in-law), brothers’ wives (yatrovkas, consorts) and sisters’ husbands (sons-in-law).
  • Yatrovka
    (
    yatrov
    ,
    bratova
    ) - the wife of a brother, brother-in-law, brother-in-law.
    In other words a Yatrovka
    is a woman in relation to her husband’s family: his brothers (brothers-in-law) and his sisters (sisters-in-law), brothers’ wives (Yatrovkas) and sisters’ husbands (sons-in-law).
    Yatrovki
    (daughters-in-law) are women whose husbands are brothers.
  • A woman who has an intercourse
    is a woman in relation to her brother-in-law's wife (a woman who has an intercourse).
    In other words, cohabitants
    are women whose husbands are brothers.
  • Brother-in-law
    - sister-in-law's husband = wife's sister's husband.
    In other words, brothers-in-law
    are men whose wives are sisters.
  • Uyka
    ,
    vuyka (obsolete)
    - uy’s wife, that is, the wife of a maternal uncle, the wife of a mother’s brother.
  • Bro
    - cousin's wife.
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