The modern institution of godparents has become almost formal. Some parents choose godparents from among rich people who would give their godson expensive gifts and provide for him, while forgetting about the real responsibilities of godparents. And others are looking for ideal candidates for godfathers, deeply religious and constantly participating in the Sacraments of the Church, but finding such people is problematic.
Therefore, many people have questions about Baptism: is it possible to baptize a baby without godparents or with one godparent, when no godparents are needed; believing parents themselves are able to raise a child in the faith?
Who can be chosen as godparents?
The birth of a child is a physical birth.
The sacrament of baptism is considered to be a spiritual birth. The right to accept a child at this moment is entrusted to the adoptive parents - the second (godparents). They take responsibility for the faith of their godson, whom they received from the font. First of all, only Orthodox Christians, deeply religious people, can become godparents. They have to teach the little one the basics of faith and introduce him to the church. The question of choosing spiritual parents is relevant at all times. Because mom and dad are given the same godparents for life. When choosing church parents, one of the important criteria is what participation they will take in the Christian upbringing of the child. Spiritual mentors must guide the child on the righteous path. They will have to answer for their godson before God.
Therefore, when choosing recipients, you need to rely not only on your own thoughts. It is necessary to adhere to religious commandments. They preach that they can baptize a baby:
- unmarried girls who have no children;
- pregnant women;
- relatives: grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle can also become godparents. Children over 14 years of age are allowed to baptize a sister or brother. It is believed that by this age a person’s spiritual world matures; he can set an example for his godson;
- godparents of the firstborn;
- the priest who performs the baptismal ceremony;
- godmother. People for whom you became the successor of their child. Baptism of each other's children is allowed;
- family friends.
Recipients must be baptized people and have the same faith as the child. According to tradition, a boy must have a godfather, and a girl must have a godmother. According to church canons, a child can be baptized by one spiritual parent. The main thing is that they are of the same sex as the baby.
Sometimes there is a mismatch of genders. This situation is considered individually. The father makes the decision
It is important that spiritual parents are true members of the Orthodox Church, are ready to spiritually educate their godson and know the basics of Orthodoxy
Mom and dad should understand that they are choosing a spiritual mentor for their child for life. You cannot change or take new godparents. Receivers must have the following qualities:
- strong sense of responsibility;
- conscious love for his godson;
- believed in God.
People with such qualities will be worthy godparents. First of all, the Lord accepts their prayers for their godson.
When choosing a name for your child, use a special church calendar
Recently, it has become popular to name newborns with original and unusual names. At the same time, parents are not always guided by the church calendar to choose the name of the heavenly patron.
Therefore, during baptism, it may happen that the name given at birth will not be on the list of Orthodox saints. Then the baptism ceremony is performed under a different name, and the child will have two names. You can find a suitable name in a special church calendar - the calendar.
If the child's name is not in the list of Orthodox saints, it can be selected in the calendar
However, you should not resort to deliberately assigning a different name at baptism, as this may lead to some confusion in the child’s future life. When tonsured into a monastery, a person in adulthood is able to independently decide on a name change.
The sacrament of baptism is an important step in the beginning of a new existence.
It is important not to forget that baptism itself is not the achievement of an immortal soul and its salvation. Only following God's commandments, comprehending virtues and performing good deeds will help the soul ascend to God. And godparents are the main mentors and guides on this spiritual path.
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When is there no need for godparents?
It is very difficult to answer such a question, since there is always a need for such a spiritual mentor. It is especially necessary for children. Since such a person will always be able to provide the child with moral support, protect and help.
The absence of such mentors is justified only if a person decides to convert to Orthodoxy as an adult and has a conscious faith in God.
Priests often say that even for adults who have finally decided to be baptized, it is very important to have a teacher nearby who is familiar with the Holy Scriptures, church canons, will help a person who has accepted the faith to protect himself from Satan, get closer to God, and teach him to respect religion. But of course there are exceptions, although very rarely
A person who does not need godparents must be fully aware of his actions. He must understand why he is doing this and actually sincerely believe
But of course there are exceptions, although very rarely. A person who does not need godparents must be fully aware of his actions. He must understand why he is doing this and actually sincerely believe.
As you can see, a similar ritual can be performed both in infancy and in adulthood without the participation of godmothers and fathers. However, it is better for parents to still try to find that worthy, intelligent, serious believing adult who can help them raise their child.
Baptism without a godfather or mother - the opinion of the church
In fact, according to church canons, it is desirable for a boy to have a godfather (man), and for a girl to have a godmother (woman). Therefore, if your son does not have a “second” mother, and your daughter does not have a “second” father, then you will not break any rules.
Despite the fact that this option is more acceptable and widespread, the church also does not prohibit a boy from having only a godmother, and a girl from having only a godfather. The canons also do not prohibit having two godparents (father and mother).
The main thing that the church emphasizes is that the person taking on such responsibility should limit himself to only two successors and he should conscientiously fulfill his duties, raise the child as a worthy person, in the Orthodox faith.
Required attributes for baptism
When preparing for christening, godparents must purchase mandatory paraphernalia. Today it can be bought both in churches and in specialized children's stores, where they sell it complete in a set. However, it is necessary to take into account that such sets are quite expensive, so buying each item separately will be much more profitable.
So what attributes will be needed for the christening of a baby?
- A cross for a baby - this attribute can be made from any material, from plastic to gold. A similar rule applies to the chain. It can be made of precious metal, or it can act as a regular cord. The best option for a cross is a small item that will look harmonious on the baby. The design of the decoration should be safe for the baby. The edges of the cross should be rounded and it is desirable that it does not contain any small decorative elements. The cross must be purchased by the godfather.
- Krizhma - this item can be a diaper or an ordinary large bath towel, which will be used to dry the baby after dipping into the font. After the ceremony, the krizhma should be kept at home. It is used to restore lost energy, for diseases and the evil eye. It is used to wipe the baby after bathing if he is sick or has been negatively affected. Krizhma is acquired by the godmother.
Saint icon
you should purchase an icon with the face of the saint whose name the little one will receive at baptism. You also need to buy candles. They are sold in the church shop.
- Baptismal clothing - clothes for baptism (cap and shirt) are not considered mandatory attributes, but during the sacrament they look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The shirt and cap are made of white fabric and have a holy cross embossed or embroidered on them. The godmother buys the clothes.
- A baptismal certificate is a document that will indicate the name of the child and godparents, the place of baptism and the name of the baby's patron saint.
The appearance of parents and godparents is specified separately. Women must wear dresses or skirts below the knee and must have scarves covering their heads. Trousers or short dresses are not allowed. Men must wear formal clothing. These can be dark trousers or jeans, with a shirt or T-shirt. Breeches or shorts are absolutely not suitable for going to church.
We advise you to study Prayers so as not to be fired from your job.
What should godparents have during a christening?
To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, a priest only needs a cross and a shirt; everything else is a tribute to tradition.
Most often, godparents prepare:
- Orthodox pectoral cross - a symbol of the cross on which Jesus Christ sacrificed himself. The child will wear it from the moment of baptism, so you need to choose a comfortable size and not traumatic. The length of the rope or chain also matters: if it’s long, a child can get entangled.
- White baptismal shirt - the white color symbolizes the Transfiguration: Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor appeared before the disciples in the radiance of white light. The person being baptized is also transformed during the Sacrament, and the white shirt is a visible image of this transformation. She should dress easily.
- A diaper or towel in which the baby is wrapped after immersion, the so-called kryzhma. She is also a symbol of a new, clean life.
These items are kept throughout life as a shrine. There is no need to wash the kryzhma: if a child gets sick, you can cover the baby with it so that it will help him recover faster.
There are no strict rules about who prepares what for baptism. Different localities and parishes have their own traditions, and they may differ from each other. You need to agree in advance who is responsible for what.
The child’s parents can prepare everything they need themselves. Things sewn or knitted will retain the warmth of the hands and love of the one who created them.
What else to consider before Baptism:
- An important question concerns the cost of baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism, like all other Sacraments and rites of the Church, is performed free of charge. As a sign of gratitude, you can donate a certain amount to the temple. You can find out its size at the arrival or determine it yourself.
- Usually the child is given a certificate of Baptism, the names of the child and his adoptive parents are written on it, so their documents may be needed.
- You need to find out whether it is possible to photograph the Baptism process; not all priests allow this.
- The sacrament lasts long enough, the baby will need ordinary care products.
What is the Sacrament of Baptism
There are 7 Sacraments in Orthodoxy:
- Baptism;
- Participle;
- Unction;
- Wedding;
- Repentance;
- Ordination;
- Confirmation.
The laity go through some of them several times during their lives (for example, confession, communion, unction), some they are granted only once or not at all (ordination).
When the Sacrament of Baptism is performed, the birth of a person’s soul occurs from the old life to the renewed one. It is said about this in the Gospel that a person must be born of water and spirit, and thus enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In this case, the person is given a name, which is chosen according to the calendar. The saint whose name was given to a person is his patron in this earthly life and a prayer book for him. You need to pray to this saint all your life.
It should also be remembered that the Sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once!
Some argue that a person can be “rebaptized”, i.e. re-baptize. This is a big misconception. At the Sacrament of Baptism, a person is immersed in consecrated water, while important words are pronounced:
“The servant (or servant) of God (name) is baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Then the Sacrament of Confirmation is performed on the person being baptized. During it, the priest will anoint parts of the person’s body with holy oil. This represents the grace of the Holy Spirit.
It is usually customary to baptize newly born babies, so sometimes it happens that the child gets sick, and his life can suddenly end. And without the Sacrament of Baptism there is little hope that a person will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but, of course, much here depends on the will of God.
It is customary to baptize on the 3rd or fortieth day after birth. But still, you should not tempt God, but it is better to baptize the child immediately after birth. Some baptize the baby on the 40th day, some on the 3rd. There are no special regulations about the age at which a person should be baptized.
The rite of Baptism includes a mandatory condition - renunciation of Satan and his works and confession of faith.
Since baptism was previously performed by adults who had independently chosen the Orthodox faith, who could renounce the devil and his works and profess the Orthodox faith, the course of the ceremony was designed specifically for adults.
But babies cannot utter the words of renunciation themselves, nor can they read the creed. That is why a person is needed who could do this for him.
Such a person is called a godfather. He receives the child from the font, reads the creed for him and denies all the works of Satan.
The godfather is the guarantor for this child before God. He seems to be making a promise that this child, when he grows up, will become a true believer, will keep the commandments of God and avoid sin. This is such a serious role for godparents, so the choice of godparents must be approached seriously.
Many people ask whether it is possible to perform the Sacrament of Baptism without godparents? This question cannot be answered unambiguously.
Opinions are for
Of course, if there is no godfather, then who will pronounce the words of rejection of the devil for the child and read the creed? It would seem that the Sacrament cannot be performed without these conditions being met. But in some cases you can do without godparents.
These are the cases when you can do without godparents:
- The child is not guilty that no suitable adoptive parents were found; he has the right to accept the Orthodox faith without godparents! Child's illness. In cases of mortal danger, you can even baptize the baby yourself, without a priest. In this case, you need to pour water on the child three times, preferably holy water, with the words that are written above. If the child survives, the priest will then perform the Sacrament of Confirmation on him. If not, the baby will still be considered baptized.
- The impossibility of the godmother's presence at Baptism. For example, during critical days a woman cannot attend the Sacrament. And the date had already been agreed upon earlier. If it is impossible to quickly find a replacement godmother, then you can baptize the child without her.
- Urgent departure of the godfather and serious illness. Also, if it was not possible to find a replacement godfather, and the date has already been agreed upon with the priest in advance, then you can baptize without him.
In these cases, the priest who conducts the Sacrament can become the godfather. He himself pronounces the words of renunciation of the evil spirit for the child and reads the symbol of faith for him. If the priest refuses to do this, you can ask another priest. Even the deacon who concelebrates with the priest at baptism can pronounce these words.
Subtleties and rules of christening
Useful information about the sacrament of Baptism in the Orthodox Church:
- the baptismal robe is given to the priest before the ceremony;
- During the sacrament, the priest will put a cross on the child’s neck. It hangs on a string, but it can be replaced with a chain or a special cord;
- the mother needs to feed the baby before the sacrament so that he does not have time to get hungry before the bath, but not right before the church doors;
- two-year-old and older children are first brought to the temple, told about the sacrament and introduced to the priest;
- godparents must be personally present at the sacrament. It is impossible to baptize a child with imaginary godparents who are located in another place;
- You can become godparents several times. You can also baptize two children from the same family;
- for twins, you can choose one common pair of godparents or each child separately;
- christening should be arranged so that this day does not coincide with the days of monthly cleansing for any of the women present.
Before Baptism, you need to agree with the priest who will become the godparents. Sometimes the choice of the relatives of the father and mother becomes an obstacle to the ceremony. The traditions of the Orthodox Church must be respected and the canons observed. You should not invite a person of a different faith or a non-believer to be godparents just out of respect for him.
The sacrament of Baptism is a tribute to God and gratitude for the gift of children. A person who denies His existence, or performs rituals that contradict Christian teachings, cannot be the spiritual guarantor and mentor of a child in Christ.
Who shouldn't be a godfather?
The adopter of an Orthodox child cannot be:
- People who do not belong to any faith or people of another faith are not Orthodox.
- People who do not believe in the existence of God are atheists.
- People who belong to other branches of Christianity, for example, Catholicism, Protestantism, etc.
- Lyuli, who were excommunicated from the church.
- People who have been convicted of serious crimes against morality, for example, rape or pedophilia.
- A husband and wife cannot be godparents of the same child.
- The child's parents cannot become his godparents.
- Children who have not yet reached the age of 14 years.
- People who are unable to control their actions and actions, for example, are mentally ill people.
- People leading an immoral lifestyle, for example, pimps, people who traffic people, sell drugs, etc.
- Representatives of the clergy, for example, are monks and nuns, but it is worth noting that a priest can baptize his own child.
- People who know nothing about the Orthodox faith.
Who can be a godparent for a boy or girl?
The main criterion when choosing recipients is their belonging to Orthodoxy, as well as their church membership - the desire to live in accordance with Christian truths, fight sin, and correct themselves.
The mission of the adoptive parents is to testify before God for their ward about faith, renunciation of Satan, a promise to build their lives according to the commandments of God, and to help their godson or goddaughter fulfill all these promises in the future life.
Spiritual work continues throughout the life of godparents and their godchildren. Prayer for godchildren must be supported by real deeds: take the child to communion, read spiritual literature with him, learn a prayer, explain the foundations of the Orthodox faith.
A clergyman can become a godparent, but as a rule, they have many responsibilities and will have little free time for full communication with the godson.
Age of majority is an optional but desirable condition
The responsibility that godparents take on in the face of God involves understanding the importance of the role of the godparent and understanding what spiritual mentoring is
What is the responsibility of godparents
To raise children in faith, godparents themselves must be spiritual people. A lot of useful literature is sold on church shelves, including for little Christians.
Adults can always turn to clergy for help in raising their godchildren. The church never refuses its parishioners.
When choosing godparents, parents should pay attention to their human qualities and desire for God. The choice may not fall on a relative; the main thing is that he must understand that the sacrament of baptism will draw an invisible thread between him and the child, making him the mentor of a little Christian.
If a girl is baptized under the same godfather, it is better that her spiritual mentor be a woman, if the boy is a man.
Preparation for the sacrament
Natural parents are not godparents for their child; they themselves choose where to baptize him. They need to agree with the priest about the time, it depends on the church schedule. It is advisable to choose godparents from among the believers: they bear responsibility before the Lord for the spiritual development of the child.
Choosing godparents
Godparents must be chosen for a girl. They meet the following criteria:
- profess Orthodoxy;
- are not in an official or civil marriage;
- are adults.
Pregnant women become godparents, but there are several nuances:
- a woman must feel good in order to be able to withstand the entire ceremony;
- she wants to take responsibility for this particular girl.
Parents need to know who cannot be godparents. These include:
- unrepentant sinners;
- young children;
- unbaptized and unbelievers;
- nuns, monks;
- women who have recently given birth, if 40 days have not passed since the birth of the child;
- persons leading an immoral lifestyle, violating the commandments;
- alcoholics;
- Gentiles.
We advise you to study the Relics of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky in Moscow 2021: schedule, schedule
For Orthodox Christians who regularly attend church, no additional preparation is required. For others it is obligatory to confess and receive communion. The priest conducts a conversation before baptism, explains how to behave during the ceremony and what is needed for baptism. Close relatives: sister, grandmother, aunt can also be godparents.
What is needed for the ritual
The godmother is responsible for raising the girl in the Orthodox spirit. Before the sacrament, you will need to visit the church and undergo an interview during which they talk about God and the rules of the great sacrament.
It is important that she can handle the baby as she will have to undress him and put on the christening set
The christening kit includes:
- For babies, a kryzhma (large towel) or a baptismal dress for a girl. Godmother buys.
- The godfather acquires the cross. It can be put on a string or chain. For small children, it is advisable to choose a cross with rounded outlines without sharp corners to avoid scratches.
The cross and chain are chosen based on their capabilities: from plain metal or from gold, silver. There are no strict requirements on what to buy and for whom, so they can be purchased by parents, grandfather or uncle.
Preparation and rules for godparents:
- visit the temple for confession and communion;
- observe a short fast (3 days), giving up meat food, bad thoughts and words;
- learn the text of the baptismal prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”;
- acquire the necessary attributes for baptism;
- Do not eat before the sacrament.
Church rules
During the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Church rules for a godmother say that her main task is to read during the ritual of prayer. If you are not able to learn it by heart, you can take a prayer book. Traditionally, he buys a white towel (kryzhma) and a baptismal set. As a gift, he acquires an icon of the saint, whose name was given to the goddaughter during the ceremony. According to church rules for a godfather, he carries the child into the church and holds him in his arms until the time comes to hand him over to the clergyman.
Godparents and spouses often do not know on what days the sacrament of baptism is performed. There are no prohibitions on holidays, fasts or ordinary days of the week in church rules. Exceptions are made only for three great holidays: Christmas, Easter, Trinity. At this time, the priest is unlikely to have free time for the sacrament. Many churches have a set schedule; baptisms are held only on certain days, usually Saturdays. In a conversation with the priest, they clarify how the ceremony takes place and what is needed for it.
Parents and invited guests are welcome to attend the church. These include immediate relatives; photography and video filming are permitted, but it is time to secure the consent of the priest. Sometimes a professional is invited to record all the important moments of the ceremony.
When should a baby be baptized?
The Orthodox Church does not set the age of baptism for children. In each family, this issue is resolved independently, based on the characteristics of the way of life, the health of the child, and so on.
For centuries, a tradition has been established to baptize infants no earlier than 40 days from their birth. There is an explanation for this. His parents brought Jesus Christ to the Temple for dedication to God on the fortieth day, according to the custom of the ancient Jews.
During the same period, a woman after childbirth goes through a period of cleansing. After reading a special prayer, she can visit the temple and fully participate in the life of the Church and its Sacraments, including being present at the baptism of her child.
If the baby is weak and sick, you can wait until he grows up and gets stronger. The church prays for “mother and child,” so God’s help will not leave both of them, but the child’s full participation in church life will be possible only after baptism.
If the life of a newborn is in danger of death, then it is better to baptize him as early as possible in order to be able to pray for health or remember him during the Liturgy. Regular communion, which is possible only for a Christian, will strengthen the child’s physical and spiritual strength.
When the family decides to baptize their child, you still shouldn’t put off the most important event in his life for too long. There is another argument in favor of this decision: a baby at the age of 1-2 months is not yet attached to his mother and family, he is not frightened by strangers and extraneous sounds. Throughout the entire Sacrament, the godparents will hold the baby in their arms; an older child may resist this.
The rules state:
Clearly, life shows us that there is one religion, but different priests explain the question of the possibility of baptizing a child without godmothers and fathers in the same way. Some priests allow godparents to be recorded from the words of the baby’s mother and father. This can figuratively be called absentee christening. Other priests are confident that, according to the canons of the church, godparents who are not present at the Sacrament of Baptism cannot be considered such before God.
Therefore, if you want to baptize your baby, but the people you have chosen, for certain reasons, do not have the opportunity to attend the Sacrament of Baptism, and you do not want to choose others, or, in extreme cases, there is no one to call, then you definitely need to talk to the priest personally and clarify what to do in this situation. By the way, the priest himself can be a godparent.
How to choose godparents for your baby?
The main thing is that they must be baptized people, religious Christians belonging to the Orthodox Church
It is important that the condition for your choice of godparents is whether the chosen person will be able to help you in the future with good deeds, raise your child according to Christian customs, and also help in practical circumstances
And of course, important conditions should be the degree of your acquaintance with the prospective godparents and simply a good relationship between you. Think carefully about whether the godparents you choose can serve as church mentors for your child.
If one godfather is not present at the Sacrament of Baptism, is it possible to carry out the ceremony without his participation, while registering him as a godparent?
Before 1917, there was such a thing as “absentee godparents,” but it was practiced only in relation to the imperial families if, as a sign of their mercy, they agreed to be the godparents of a baby. If we are talking about a similar situation, only, of course, in the modern version, then you can do this, but if not, then it is better to proceed from the norms of practice that are common to all.
Is it possible to refuse godparents if the child has already been baptized? And is it possible to baptize a child in order to properly raise him in the Christian faith?
In no case should a child be rebaptized, since the Sacrament of Baptism occurs once, and the sins of godparents, biological parents, and even the baptized person himself do not cancel all the gifts that are given to the child in the Sacrament of Baptism.
As for a person’s communication with his godparents, of course, betrayal of faith, that is, a transition to another religion or a fall into atheism, as well as a non-Christian lifestyle, confirm that the person failed to fulfill the responsibility of a godfather.
Church canons and rules require compliance. The sacrament of baptism has been performed for centuries. Parents must preserve church traditions and prepare in advance for the baptism of their child. The most important thing is the choice of godparents, people who will take on the responsibility of spiritual education of the godson.
You can baptize a child with one godfather.
We advise you to study Prayers to preserve pregnancy
According to spiritual rules, a baby can be baptized without one of the godparents. But it is desirable to have two mentors. There are no special requirements for them:
- Orthodox Christians,
- not necessarily married,
- not necessarily planning a marriage in the future,
- close relatives or just acquaintances
It is much more important that the desire to engage in the spiritual education of a child is not nominal, but real.
Can relatives or a priest baptize?
If you have not found a girlfriend or boyfriend who could become godparents to your child, then you can turn to your close relatives for help.
Grandparents, aunts and uncles can fill this important role. This in no way contradicts the laws of the church. The only thing is, according to Rule 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, adoptive parents are not allowed to baptize a child. The question regarding stepfather and stepmother is very ambiguous.
Very often, priests refuse to perform the ritual if these relatives apply for the role of godfather or godmother. In extreme cases, the priest himself can become godfather. Various facts can push parents to make such a decision:
- someone believes that no one worthy was found among ordinary people;
- someone is sure that the holy father will be able to invest more in the child than the biological parents.
Church laws do not prohibit a clergyman from participating in such a ceremony (and not just conducting it). However, you should not count on this option and confront the priest with a fact. After all, he has every right to refuse.
Perhaps this will happen due to the fact that most likely you will never see this person again, you have never known him before and you are not going to communicate further. In this case, the clergyman will not fulfill his role, will not be able to instruct the child, teach him, and because of this he will take sin on his soul. However, both a priest and a deacon can become godparents to the children of their friends, acquaintances and parishioners.
Is the mother allowed to attend the child's baptism?
I can not understand. Either they say that they don’t let my mother into church, when Masik is baptized, or they say that they let her. Help me to understand. And if they don’t let you in, then why? 4.11.2002, MASYA
- If more than 40 days have passed, the mother came to church, received the prayer of the 40th day, confessed, took communion, then they have no right not to let her in. Thomasina
- They are allowed in much more often, IMHO! In all the churches I know, there are no problems! There are no canonical prohibitions on this, there are only echoes of traditional ones. Like, at this time the mother is still in uncleanness (due to lochia), etc. IN ANY case, before the mother participates in the sacrament after childbirth, a PRAYER OF PERMISSION is needed. Inanna
- In fact, the sacrament of baptism implies that until a certain moment (I don’t remember exactly) there is no one in the church except godparents. But lately, very often, priests allow parents and guests to be present throughout the baptism. Previously, it was not possible to take photos or videos. Now they allow it. You just need to check with the specific church in advance. Talk to the priest. Panther
- More often than not they are not allowed. But my baby burst into tears so miserably that for part of the christening procedure I held him in my arms so that he would calm down at least a little. It all depends on the priest and the church. The place where we baptized does not have a special room. NNN
- I was not allowed to attend the baptism itself, i.e. to the baptismal I stood in the church itself. And then after baptism they call the mother: they read a prayer over her to remove the sin of childbearing and give her the baby. They called me when everyone left the baptismal room and stood in front of the altar gate. I held Artyom, the priest covered us with his cassock, read a prayer, took Artyom and carried him outside the gate (only boys are taken there, girls are simply brought to the icons near the gate), then he brought him to the icons and gave him to me. Thus ended the baptism. Juliet
- A woman is considered “Dirty” on certain days of the month and for 40 days after giving birth. This is why they repeatedly say that Mary is holy because she “gave birth without sin.” And among Muslims, women are not allowed into the temple at all. My friend, a purebred and believing Tatar, was actually married, or whatever they call this ceremony, on a rug in the kitchen... Kasya
- Don't misinform the people, please! Women are ALLOWED in the mosque. It’s just that there are separate rooms for them: women in one place, men in another! They don’t want to host a soup with flies...My Tatar friend, by the way, went to the mosque with her husband to “get married.” Inanna
- Original sin. Because Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of knowledge, the Lord punished the first people and told Eve - you will give birth to your children in suffering. Therefore, people are born in a sinful way, and not in the way our forefathers, Adam and Eve, were created. Apparently, if they had not eaten from the tree, people would have been born in a different way, unknown to us. Bigs
- The mother is allowed into the church, she is not allowed into the baptismal hall (it is believed that she is “dirty” after giving birth), but when the baptism process is completed, the mother is MUST INVITE to come in so that she can “receive prayer” and then receive communion, after which the woman becomes “clean” .So your presence at the second stage of baptism is mandatoryKasya
- During baptism, the child should be held by the godmother (father), and if the mother is nearby, the baby will ask his mother and be capricious. Lija
- Depends on the priest who baptizes. One of the convincing versions of why they are not allowed in is an indication that the child belongs not to the mother, but to God. Olga Ovodova
- Previously, when people were baptized in the first 40 days after birth, they might not have allowed it. Now, if more than 40 days have passed since birth, they should be allowed in. Natasha V.
conclusions
Of course, you have the right to baptize a child without godparents, but the final decision depends on the priest.
It is important to find someone who agrees with you and takes your situation into account. Sometimes baptism can be carried out in absentia, that is, the church takes the child’s parents at their word and writes down the desired names of godparents on the baptismal certificate. Before baptizing your child, we recommend that you go to church, talk, consult with the priest and learn all the subtleties and nuances of this procedure. Without godparents, some people consider the sacrament of baptism incomplete, but the final decision depends on you. By consulting with a priest, you will rid yourself of stupid doubts and prejudices, weigh the pros and cons and make the right decision for yourself and for the child. Of course, godparents should be people who understand the seriousness of their act and the responsibility for the life of their future godson.
What to give to a godson or goddaughter?
A christening gift should have a spiritual meaning, be useful for the further upbringing of the child in Orthodox traditions and remind of the day of spiritual birth.
It can be:
- cross;
- icon;
- christening shirt and towel;
- Gospel and other spiritual literature;
- A silver spoon is a baby’s first spoon, a “tooth gift.”
Many interesting gifts are sold in church shops. It's not about the cost, but about the spiritual value of the item.
Can a pregnant woman be a godmother?
There are no obstacles for a woman to become a godmother.
It is necessary to evaluate whether she has enough love, kindness and opportunities for two children: her unborn one and the adopted one. Not only spiritual and prayerful help is required from godparents, but also effective help, requiring strength and time.
