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Baptism is one of the main sacraments in human life. There are cases when this ritual occurs not only in infancy, but also at a more conscious age. At what age baptism is carried out is only the decision of the parents.
It is customary to perform this ritual on the 40th day after the birth of a child. This is due to the postpartum period and the fact that during this time a woman’s energies should be entirely directed towards the baby. A woman cannot visit a temple without a certain prayer, which the priest must read over her. Only after this can she come to the temple.
It is believed that young children behave more calmly at baptism. Older children may be scared. The main thing in this process is the correctness and awareness in the choice of godparents. This process must be approached with all seriousness and responsibility.
- Baptism set for girls
What is needed for the baptism of a child: girls?
Traditionally, to carry out the baptism ceremony, you must have: a cross, a kryzhma, and a baptismal gown. All these attributes must be purchased by godparents.
What does the godfather buy for a girl’s christening? The godfather must buy a cross and pay the costs of the ceremony in the temple. When choosing a cross, you need to ensure that the edges are rounded. Sharp corners can injure your baby. The metal from which the cross will be made is not important. It can be silver, gold or regular metal.
You can buy it both in the church and in the store. It must be remembered that church crosses have already been consecrated, but store-bought ones must be consecrated before the start of the ceremony. Godparents can also offer financial assistance in organizing a feast after the sacrament.
What does the godmother buy for a girl's christening? The godmother buys kryzhma. This is a piece of white cloth into which the child is received after the bath. Nowadays it could be a white towel with a cross. Often the date and name of the child are embroidered on the kryzhma. The godmother also buys a baptismal set. It is advisable to consult with the baby’s mother when choosing a dress and other items of clothing for your goddaughter.
Baptism set for girls
Basically, this set consists of a beautiful baptismal dress or shirt, a lace cap, and booties. There may also be a bib, tights or other accessories. The material from which the set is made should depend on the time of year when the christening ceremony takes place and the age of the child.
It is also considered a good omen if these things are white or light in color and made by the godmother’s hands. It must be remembered that the kryzhma and baptismal set must remain in the house and not be passed on to anyone. The kryzhma is not erased for a year after baptism. Also, if a child is sick, they wrap him in it and he recovers faster.
Rules for girls' christening
According to the rules, the rite of baptism must be approached responsibly.
- For a girl, the godmother is considered the main godmother.
- You need to arrive earlier. As soon as the priest says about the beginning of the ceremony, the godfather must bring the girl into the church.
- Next, the child is anointed with oil, then immersed in the font.
- After this, they put on baptismal clothes and apply a cross.
- Then the girl is brought to lean against the icon of the Mother of God.
- The duties of the godmother when baptizing a girl are to read the prayers: “Our Father”, “Creed”.
- Also, the clergyman will hand the baby into the hands of the godmother after the font.
- The godmother should have experience communicating with the baby, know how to change her clothes and calm her down if she cries.
It would not be a bad idea to come for an interview with the priest before the christening. She should also help the child’s parents in preparing and conducting the christening.
Girl's christening: rules for the godfather
The basic rule for a godfather is to buy a cross for the ceremony. Also financial assistance in paying for the ceremony. It is generally customary to buy a silver cross, as gold is considered a sinful metal. You don’t have to buy the chain right away, but limit yourself to a ribbon. And then choose and buy it later.
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Girl's christening: rules for the godmother
For the godmother, the main thing is to buy a kryzhma, a baptismal set. You can also buy an icon with the name of the saint that the goddaughter bears as a gift to your goddaughter. Also, the main rule is knowledge of the prayers necessary for the ritual. If you do not know the text of the “Creed” prayer by heart, then prepare a piece of paper with the text and take it with you to the temple.
What do godparents give a girl at her christening?
The choice of a gift should not be hasty. It will be good if it combines practicality and feature. After all, the sacrament of baptism is a special holiday and therefore the gift should also be special. You can buy a chain for a cross, books for the baby, a personalized photo album, a set of bed linen.
If your financial situation allows, you can order a photo or video. The parents of the goddaughter will be pleased and the memory will remain for a long time. A cake can be a good gift. It will be a delicious conclusion to the celebration. In addition, you can choose hygiene products for your baby.
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The gift can be either “for growth” or one that the baby will use in the near future. The godmother usually buys an icon for a girl’s christening. This could be an icon with the face of a patron saint. But besides this icon, you can also present such images as: the icon of Xenia of St. Petersburg, the Mother of God, Matrona of Moscow, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It will be especially nice if the godmother embroiders this image with a cross or beads. She will be a good memory for your goddaughter and your contribution to her Christian upbringing.
It must be remembered that this ritual is very responsible and serious in the life of a small child. The choice of godparents must be carefully considered. You should not chase your image and the desire to become closer to influential people. It is worth remembering the main purpose of baptism. In addition, godparents cannot be changed after christening, no matter how much they change. In such situations, you need to pray for him.
It is also important that after christening you need to go to church and take your child with you. It is also necessary to give him communion if possible, and pray. And then all your prayers will be heard.
The Lord is always with you!
From this video you can learn how to choose the date of your child's baptism:
Girl's christening: rules and signs
Who can be the baby's godparents?
- They must be Orthodox Christians
- Pregnant and unmarried women are allowed to be godparents
- Must be churchgoers and take their godson or goddaughter to church
Who can't be godparents?
- Spouses or bride and groom, since marital relations are prohibited between people who are spiritually related
- Minors under 14 years of age
- Unbaptized
- Mother and father of child
- People with psychological problems
- Monks and nuns
- People of other faiths
- Immoral people
Having decided on godparents, it is necessary to remind them of their main tasks after baptism:
- Prayer room
- Doctrinal
- Moral
So, when the issue with the date has been resolved, the place where the ceremony will take place has been chosen and godparents have been selected, many pay attention to the signs at christenings. The rite of christening a girl is generally not very different from the christening of a boy, but still has some differences.
It is generally accepted that the ritual itself carries a certain energetic force and is capable of influencing the child’s condition. Here are some rules and signs:
- There is no need to wipe the baptismal water off your face.
- It is a good sign when a child cries during a christening.
- After the ceremony, the baby will become calmer.
- The baptismal attire must be white. It should not be red.
- The godmother should give a kryzhma, and the father should give a cross.
- The baby needs to be baptized in a cap and then wear it for another 12 weeks.
- If a child screams during baptism, evil spirits come out of him.
- To make the godson’s life easier, it is customary to place a cup of water on the window during the ceremony.
- It is considered a good omen if the christening takes place immediately after the wedding.
- If bells ring before a christening, it will bring happiness.
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Also, during the baptism of a child, a name is chosen that is consonant with the one given by the parents. It is believed that it should not be told to anyone, as it protects the child from damage and the evil eye. In the temple, the priest can offer you a choice of names for the girl’s baptism.
According to Orthodox traditions, a newborn is named after the saint, whose memory is celebrated on the day the child is born or on the day of naming. Often it was the eighth day. Basically, the days of remembrance of saints are written according to the old style, and in order to understand which saint, you need to add 13 to the date. It is with this name that you need to address your saint for intercession before the Lord.
