Requirements for godparents and their responsibilities to spiritual children

Main obligations

In Orthodoxy, godparents are considered no less significant than real ones - they are responsible for the spiritual life of children, their path to Christ. During the ritual, the recipients make vows to God on behalf of the child, and in the future they are obliged to ensure that the person fulfills these promises, instruct him and teach him faith.

Obligations for a godson include:

1. While he is small, he cannot consciously read prayers for a child himself. Further training in prayers, introduction to church life.
2. Moral education throughout life - instructions, advice, help in good deeds, explanation of sins and misdeeds.
3. Teaching the basics of faith, Orthodox education. Godparents are chosen from churchgoers, active Orthodox Christians, ritual observants, and knowledgeable of Scripture.

In the Russian tradition, godparents have the responsibility to monitor the life of the child, support him and protect him. If the parents die and the baby is left without care, duty dictates to accept the child into your family.

The task of the godparents is to constantly instruct the child, introduce him into the fold of the church, and explain the canons of Orthodoxy. Receivers help in solving important life problems - choosing an occupation, profession, life partner. Christianity presupposes one recipient, corresponding in gender to the child. But in Russia, since the 15th century, a tradition has been established of giving the baby godmothers and fathers.

For the godmother

For girls, a godmother is required, since the canon requires that the spiritual parent be of the same sex as the child. After the completion of the sacrament, the child is connected with the recipient by bonds of spiritual kinship. The godmother is obliged to guide the newly acquired spiritual daughter through life, protect her from temptations, educate her by personal example, and help her learn prayers.

A pious woman who participates in the life of the parish and who has a lot to learn from is suitable for the role of godmother. The female recipient buys the girl a baptismal shirt, a cross, and a towel; after the ceremony, she takes the baby from the font and holds her in her arms until the end of the sacrament.

For the godfather

Boys are spiritually supported through life by a male godfather. They share grievances with him, ask for intercession in difficult issues. The godfather educates in matters of religion and faith, helps resolve street or school conflicts.

Immediately after Baptism, he takes the boy in his arms and remains with him until the ceremony is completed. A tradition has developed that a male recipient acquires a cross, pays for the sacrament and makes a donation to the temple and priest.

Necessary items for the ceremony

You should talk in more detail about what items are needed for this ritual:

• Kryzhma. This is a special towel on which a cross is embroidered or simply depicted. A child is wrapped in it during anointing, as well as when prayers of prohibition are read. Sometimes the baby's name and the date of his baptism are embroidered on such a towel.
• Baptismal swaddling cloth. This is not an entirely necessary attribute, but it should be there when it’s cold. This diaper is used to wipe the baby after dipping into the font, and then wrap it again in the kryzhma.
• Clothes for baptism. This could be a christening set (dress) for a girl or a special shirt for a boy. It is advisable that these clothes be purchased as a gift by the baby’s successor.
• It is necessary to have a pectoral cross with you for a future Christian. Usually it is acquired by the godfather. Responsibilities at baptism for him, of course, are not limited only to this acquisition, but they will be written about them below.
• It is necessary to take with you an envelope for the baby's cut hair.
• You should also purchase icons for the child and make a donation to the temple (this is an optional condition).

Requirements for choosing godparents

A thoughtless approach to choosing godparents often leads to the fact that the child is left without spiritual support in life. Friends and acquaintances who happen to be godsons may forget about their responsibilities and not care about the good of the godson. The Church prescribes the following rules when choosing spiritual mentors for your children:

1. Only Orthodox people, firm in the faith, who visit the temple regularly. Atheists, representatives of other religions or branches of Christianity cannot become godparents.
2. A reliable, responsible person who is able to take upon himself the spiritual enlightenment of a child.
3. Biological mother and father, as well as spouses, cannot become godparents. Any other unmarried relatives can be chosen.
4. People from among the monks are not taken as godparents.
5. The chosen recipient must be present at the ceremony, otherwise the priest conducting the ceremony becomes the godfather.
6. The choice of godparents must be made responsibly; the godparent cannot be replaced if he has died or had a quarrel with him. The child will no longer have another godfather; he is given at baptism for life.
7. The lower age of godparents is not strictly regulated, but it must be an adult who is aware of responsibility (at least 14 years old).

Concern for the child's well-being should be the main argument when choosing godparents, because these people will introduce the child to church and pray for him. Degenerate people, drug addicts, alcoholics, and supporters of the occult are not suitable for the role of recipients.

Important: a worthy and decent person who is part of the family, who can often see the child and participate in his life, is chosen as a godparent.

Choosing a godfather is a complex and responsible question. You should not be guided by profit or prestige and ask bosses or famous people to act in this role. It is unlikely that such people will be permanent and conscientious teachers for children.

You should also not contact relatives and friends who are not distinguished by integrity and morality. Parents must remember that they are not choosing comrades for friendly feasts, but rather mentors in Orthodoxy for their children.

Responsibilities of recipients

Spiritual parents must clearly understand their role in the life of this child. They witnessed the Baptism of a baby, who himself cannot yet understand and be responsible for everything that happens to him. The godmother and godfather, in essence, take the child’s guarantee before God, make vows, and profess the Creed.

Throughout life, they will be full-fledged mentors to their spiritual child, guiding and accompanying them on the path of true, Christian life. These duties are impossible to fulfill if the godfather himself is indifferent to the Faith, so one must constantly study the fundamentals of Orthodoxy, the meaning of the vows, and improve. Before agreeing to become a godfather, talk to the clergyman.

According to the church, it makes no sense to become a spiritual mentor in absentia, because... The concept of godparents is lost. It is with mutual participation at baptism that an invisible thread of spiritual connection is stretched, which leaves its mark. During absentee baptism, there is no connection between the participants in the Sacrament and, in fact, the baby is left without spiritual mentors. Important: Godparents must participate in the spiritual and Christian education of their godson. Believers sincerely believe that they will answer for the fulfillment of their spiritual duties at the judgment of God.

How many times can you be a godfather?

A person who decides to become a godfather must understand that he is acquiring a child for whom he is responsible before God, to whom he must be an example. The Church allows you to have any number of godchildren and does not limit the desire to take children under spiritual care. The role of a father or mother before Christ comes with serious responsibilities. You can't get away with christening gifts alone. Taking the baby from the font, the godfather takes care of moral education, personality formation, and bringing him to church.

Important: you should not be offended if a person refuses to become a child’s godfather. Perhaps he does not feel the strength to bear such responsibility, does not consider himself worthy and capable of instructing in Orthodox education.

Unsuitable candidates

There are several categories of people who cannot be godparents due to some circumstances. If a girl and a guy are going to get married or are already married, you shouldn’t take them. You can only take one person from a married couple.

It is not recommended to ask people who do not believe in God, are members of one of the sects, or profess another faith to be godfathers. You also cannot be a godfather to your own father, a relative with a mental illness or dementia.

If people who live in a monastery or have been ordained are asking to be godparents, then it is necessary to refuse their request so as not to harm the baby in the future.

How to prepare for christening and what you need to know

Many parents want to baptize their child, who are often not zealous Orthodox themselves and are far from knowing church laws. In this case, children especially need a spiritual mentor who will teach him prayers and the Holy Scriptures. A person who decides to become a recipient must understand the responsibility and prepare for the sacrament.

Interview

Godparents are required to know the basics of Orthodoxy and read the Gospel. Before the sacrament, you should meet with the priest who will conduct the ceremony in order to understand your responsibilities and actions. A public conversation is held, the form and duration of which is chosen by the priest. He will recommend which books to read for self-education.

It is important to take the necessary steps to be ready to mentor and teach the godson, and not just prepare for the church sacrament. Sometimes the priest advises parents and godparents to attend Sunday school classes.

Fasting, confession, communion

Usually, before the sacrament, priests recommend that future godparents lead a righteous life - fasting for 3-5 days, reading prayers. Before Baptism, you must come to confession to repent of your sins and take communion.

Cloth

For Epiphany, you should dress in accordance with the general rules recommended for visiting churches:

1. Women are required to cover their hair - a headscarf, scarf or shawl is required.
2. It is not recommended to expose your knees, shoulders, or chest. It is better to wear a dress with a collar and sleeves. Minis and godmother pants should not be worn.
3. It is better to choose shoes of a simple shape, without provocative stilettos.
4. Men - no headwear; shorts and flip-flops should be reserved for the beach.

Ladies are advised to avoid provocative cosmetics and not use lipstick.

Critical days

Church canons instruct women not to touch shrines in churches on critical days. It is better to postpone the celebration of the sacrament for a short period of time so that the chosen recipient can not break the rules and comply with the requirements of Orthodoxy.

Pregnancy

If a pregnant woman feels well and her health will not prevent her from participating in the sacrament, she can be chosen as a godparent. The Orthodox Church does not prevent this. Caring for another child will help a woman prepare for motherhood.

Baptize in infancy or in adulthood?

For years, debates have continued even among believers: is it possible to baptize a baby? Or should I wait until the child grows up and comes to this consciously?

If you are believing parents, full members of the Church, who want to raise your own children in the Christian spirit, then there are no questions for you. You are fully capable of vouching for your children before God.

It’s a different matter if parents baptize their children only because “that’s how everyone does it” or “the child won’t get sick.”

It’s more like some kind of magical-ritual attitude towards the Church: if a child is sick, he needs to be baptized, if he’s sick again, he needs to be given communion. Who thinks that a baptized boy or girl is born to eternal life? That at the Last Judgment he will be judged as a Christian, and not according to his conscience?

Therefore, parents, when answering the question “Is it possible to baptize a baby?”, should not forget about responsibility. Yes, you can be baptized in infancy, but then the responsibility for the spiritual development of the child falls on the birth parents and godparents. But on the other hand, they open up a new world and a door to a new life for this baby. In the Gospel of John, Christ says directly:

unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

Are parents ready to bear such responsibility? Or, perhaps, we also need to prepare ourselves? To do this, it’s worth at least attending catechetical conversations, which are held in many churches nowadays. At such meetings, priests or competent laity will talk about faith, the Church, the meaning of the Sacraments and eternal life.

Rules and prayers at baptism for godparents

During the ceremony, one of the godparents constantly holds the baby in his arms; the parents are only present at the ceremony. The recipients must know the prayers “Our Father” and “Creed” and repeat them after the priest.

On behalf of the godson, the godsons swear to renounce Satan and be faithful to the Lord. Next, the priest anoints the child with oil and blesses the water. Baptism consists of immersion in the font three times or wetting with water if it is cold in the temple.

From the font the child is received by the recipient, who, after the completion of the sacrament, becomes a Christian educator, responsible for ensuring that the baby grows up in the Orthodox faith.

boy

Every day before going to bed, the following prayer is read for the godson:

“Lord Jesus Christ, awaken Your littleness on my godson (name), keep him under Your roof, cover him from all evil lust, drive away from him every enemy and adversary, open his ears and the eyes of his heart, grant tenderness and humility to his heart. Amen".

Girls

Prayer for your goddaughter:

“Save, Lord, and have mercy on my goddaughter (name), and enlighten her with the light of reason of Your Holy Gospel and guide her on the path of Your commandments and teach her. Savior, do Thy will, for Thou art our God, and to Thee we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Recommendations for choosing gifts

According to tradition, the godparents buy their godchildren a pectoral cross, a shirt and a kryzhma for the sacrament. Other baptismal gifts may include:

• icon – often ordered specifically according to the size of the baby’s height;
• books of spiritual content;
• Gospel;
• collections of prayers.

Many additionally present things that do not have religious significance, but serve as gifts for the acquired spiritual child. The godfather often orders video recording of the ceremony and pays for the festive table. Children are given children's silverware - spoons, cups. Girls can be presented with jewelry “for growth.”

Responsibility for godchildren remains with the godchildren for life. They are responsible for education in Orthodox traditions. Choosing worthy godparents will help the child find good friends and mentors not only in matters of faith, but also in life.