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In the life of every person, certain changes occur from time to time. This is especially true for women: there are certain days of the month during which women are prohibited from visiting the temple. There is also such a period as pregnancy, which is also associated with a large number of different superstitions and signs. Many women ask the question: is it possible for pregnant women to go to church?
Pregnancy and visiting the house of God
There are different opinions about whether pregnant women should go to church. Many arguments do not stand up to any criticism, especially from the Church. Orthodoxy does not recognize any superstitions and will accept them. The Church supports only faith in God. At the same time, belief in superstitions is considered a sin.
Previously, many explained the ban on pregnant women attending church by saying that they tried to protect her from prying eyes. At this time, the only reason why pregnant women cannot go to church can only be the presence of bleeding after childbirth or 40 days after a miscarriage. It should stop after 40 days. Next, a certain rite of introduction into the temple will be performed for the woman.
Other contraindications to visiting church include:
- the reluctance of the pregnant woman herself to visit the temple;
- the physical condition of the pregnant woman, sometimes it happens that the woman is prescribed bed rest and it is difficult for her to stay in church for a long time;
- toxicosis or individual intolerance to odors.
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Another unpleasant sensation is that staying on your feet for a long time can cause swelling. In this case, you should sit down and relax. Also, a confined space and large crowds of people can cause headaches and dizziness. That is why it is worth taking water and antispasmodics with you. Remember that the main task during this period is the baby’s health.
Pregnant women can come to the house of God only to light a candle, confess, receive communion, or receive a blessing. It is not necessary for them to advocate for services.
Often in church you can hear a certain word that refers to a pregnant woman. What do they call a pregnant woman in church? This word is “not idle.” It means that the woman is in a state opposite to celebration. She has always been treated with a certain care and caution, because she carries and protects a new life.
When should an expectant mother refuse baptism?
In order to be baptized, you need to gain faith in Jesus Christ and study the basic issues of Orthodox teaching. In order to avoid the baptism of people who follow fashionable trends or because it is customary, the church has approved mandatory public conversations. The priest tells people the basics of faith, the features of spiritual life, and learns about the reasons that prompted a person to be baptized. All these points are mandatory for pregnant women. Public conversations will help a woman to better understand the sacrament of baptism, its goals and objectives, to assess how much she internally agrees to take responsibility for her life and give up sinful habits.
A pregnant woman should not be baptized if she does not feel the inner desire and need to live according to Christian principles. And if there is a desire, but pregnancy is difficult to bear with many ailments and serious pathologies, then it would be more prudent to participate in the sacrament under more favorable circumstances.
In each church, public conversations take place differently: collectively or individually, one meeting or a series of meetings, etc.
Is it possible for a pregnant woman to get married in church?
Previously, having sex before marriage was considered a huge sin. In the modern world, this is no longer given such great importance. There are all sorts of situations in life, and one of them is when the bride is already pregnant. It’s one thing when newlyweds simply legitimize their relationship, but what to do if they decide to get married?
Many clergy say that it is not only possible, but also necessary. It is with a wedding that you need to begin your married life. The gestational age is absolutely irrelevant. Although the church also recognizes those marriages that were registered in the registry office and does not consider them to be lascivious. The Holy Fathers say that a wedding gives a certain grace to the family and there is no point in delaying this ceremony. Before holding it, you should confess and take communion. In addition, weddings are performed only on baptized people.
Let's summarize
- The Orthodox Church calls pregnant women a non-idle woman. This word means “busy with business” (in this case, this business is bearing a baby, the main female purpose on earth).
- Idleness (voluntary refusal of pregnancy in marriage) is considered a sin for which one must confess.
- Those who are not idle pray to their own icon of the Mother of God.
- When leaving notes in church for a pregnant daughter or friend, it is customary to add “not idle” or “pregnant” to her Christian name.
This is what the prayers of pregnant women sound like for a happy pregnancy and a safe birth (recorded by a priest):
Pregnancy and christening
It happens that for some reason a pregnant woman is not baptized, but expresses a desire for this ceremony to be performed on her. In this case, this must be done. This procedure gives a special gift to a person, helping him to be spiritually born again. There are no prohibitions for a pregnant woman. What to do if you are in a position and you have been offered to become a godmother.
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Can a pregnant woman baptize someone else's child in church? The answer to this question must be given by the pregnant woman herself. The church does not forbid her to take part in this ritual. But she may experience certain inconveniences:
- Long procces,
- staying on your feet for a large amount of time,
- holding a “difficult” baby or toddler in your arms,
- specific smells during the ritual.
Many, in order to avoid these troubles, invite a priest to their home and perform the baptism ceremony there. So only the pregnant woman should make a decision, taking into account all the negative and positive aspects.
Is it possible to be a godmother?
Questions like: “A close friend gave birth and called her godmother, but I am forced to refuse, being pregnant, because of bad omens, often appear on forums. If necessary?" According to the priest, no. The sacrament of baptism is a huge responsibility and grace, and if a woman feels the desire, the need to take on the responsibilities of spiritual upbringing of the baby, she should do so.
And even if old people say that it is not recommended for a pregnant woman to go to the baptism of her child, it is not recommended to listen to them and not listen to the call of the heart. Interestingly, according to clergy, those in the most advantageous position are those who are on their last terms. Their baby in the womb can already sense sounds. Hearing how his mother plays with someone else's baby, he will feel spiritual unity with her.
Of course, this will bring them closer, will allow the first-time mother to quickly awaken the maternal instinct, if it has not yet awakened, and in any case has a beneficial effect on both. The only negative point that can be here are the rules that apply to people going to baptism and planning to become godparents.
They even apply to pregnant women and include attendance at long services. And again, stuffiness, huge crowds of people, foreign odors can cause the development of headaches and back pain, swelling, migraines, and toxicosis. Weigh the pros and cons carefully when going to a christening. After all, no matter how close a person is, in an interesting situation it is very important to take into account the interests of your unborn child and not cause harm.
Being a godmother is an honor, but sometimes it’s not easy. Don't forget about this when deciding to do a good deed. In the end, after the ceremony, you will need to help your godson develop spiritually and find his way in life. Will the godmother, who by that time will become a young mother, have enough time and energy for this?
The church's opinion on pregnant women at funerals
In the life of every person, both pleasant and upsetting moments can occur. Sometimes one life appears, and we say goodbye to another. Many people say that when we lose a loved one, the Lord gives us something more valuable in return. Opinions about the presence of pregnant women at funerals vary. Not only the need for presence must be taken into account, but also the moral and mental state of the pregnant woman.
Since this event is not particularly pleasant, it can cause harm. The clergy say that pregnancy is not a contraindication for attending a funeral. They say that the Lord's Blessing is bestowed on those who do not forget their deceased ancestors and relatives. You should go to such an event out of good intentions, and not under duress.
The same applies to the attitude towards the presence of pregnant women in the church and in the cemetery. Many “knowledgeable” grandmothers say that attending funerals and cemeteries can negatively affect a pregnant woman, as well as her child. The clergy say that all this has no confirmation.
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They say that a person should decide for himself whether to go to a cemetery or not. If such a trip causes negative emotions and worries for the expectant mother, then she should refuse it. A pregnant woman should receive as much positivity as possible, since the condition of the child depends on her emotional state.
There is a saying that pregnancy is not a disease, but a state of mind and body. Before making any decision to visit a particular place, you should listen to your feelings. If in doubt, postpone the trip or event. After all, first of all, you should think about the health of your baby.
The Lord is always with you!
Requirements for future godparents
Being godparents is a huge responsibility before God. When agreeing to an offer to become a child’s foster child, you need to know what the main requirements the church places on candidates and evaluate your compliance with them:
- Only baptized adults living in a registered marriage or living alone can become godparents;
- the chosen people must be churchgoers and live a spiritual life;
- Godparents are obliged to pray for their godchildren, teach them the basics of faith and prayers.
In church practice, the child’s relatives are allowed to act as godparents: grandparents, uncles, aunts, older brothers, sisters and other relatives. External optional rules include purchasing a gift for a godson. Usually, this is a gold or silver cross, an icon, spiritual literature and a prayer book for the little ones. The christening kit is usually prepared by the parents.
For a child’s baptism, you must prepare a baptismal shirt, a towel and candles.
Before accepting an invitation to become a godfather, you need to carefully weigh the full extent of the responsibility. If you have doubts or your conscience does not allow you to agree, you must politely refuse. Unfortunately, it happens that godparents move away from God and neglect their responsibilities towards the godparent. In such a situation, there is no need to provoke a conflict; the church recommends praying for careless people and placing hope in God’s help.
Pregnancy is God's blessing, a great gift. The expectant mother herself must make every effort to bear and give birth to a strong child. The clergy recommend that non-idle women take more care of their spiritual life: pray more often, take up the sacraments. There are no church restrictions on visiting the temple or services, except for periods of female cleansing. A pregnant woman can also become a godmother and be baptized herself, if her health allows.
Hello! My name is Elena. I am 41 years old. I have a higher pedagogical education, specializing in philology. She worked in a newspaper editorial office as a project manager-coordinator, with a wide range of responsibilities. I am actively engaged in self-education in the field of medicine, psychology, and pedagogy. I love to write. I am married and have three children.
