Baby baptism- one of the main sacraments, symbolizing the acceptance of a person into the bosom of the Christian church. Baptism is a sacrament when, through certain visible sacred actions, the invisible grace of God is communicated to the person participating in them, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, baptism is the spiritual birth of a person, the most important event in his life on earth. In baptism, an Angel is assigned to the child as his guardian, who guards a person throughout his life. Baptism is not entertainment, but a serious matter and the thoughts of all people participating in the ceremony should be pure, transparent and sincere.

Below are answers to questions about the ordinance of baptism that arise for those who are going to baptize children or be baptized themselves. The answers are based on reasoning Priest Dionisy Svechnikov, supplemented by materials from the sites presented in the sources (see the bottom of the answer).

When should children be baptized?

There are no definite rules in this matter. However, the earlier a person is baptized, the better. The Church encourages a child to be baptized either on the eighth day after birth (at this age the baby Jesus was dedicated to his Heavenly Father), or after 40 days (which happens most often today). You can also baptize at other times. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long period unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the prevailing circumstances. Moreover, the baby, more often than not, is in a dream and receives less stress from a large crowd of strangers and surroundings.

Can children be baptized on fast days?

It is possible, but technically not always possible. In some churches, during the days of Great Lent, they baptize only on Saturdays and Sundays. This practice is most likely based on the fact that weekday Lent services are very long, and the intervals between morning and evening services can be small. On Saturdays and Sundays, services are somewhat shorter in time, and priests can devote more time to services. Therefore, when planning the day of baptism, it is better to know in advance about the rules observed in the temple where the child will be baptized. Well, if in general we talk about the days on which you can baptize, then there are no restrictions on this issue. You can baptize children on any day when there are no technical obstacles to this.

How is a name chosen at baptism?

The baptism of a child is always preceded by a given name. In Orthodox families, the names must be Orthodox, given in honor of this or that saint. A complete list of the names of the saints (saints) is usually published in the church calendars published annually. Earlier in Russia, it was customary to call newborns by the names of those saints whose memory falls on the day when baptism is performed on this infant. However, you need to understand that this was more of a custom, but not a requirement. The church always takes into account the wishes of parents about which saint they would like to name their baby after. If the parents have difficulties with this, then the priest himself determines the heavenly patron. In this case, the priest, as a rule, is guided by the sufficient fame of the saint. This is done so that the baby, called by this name, could later easily find out the biography of the person whose name he was named after, find his icon. The day of remembrance of the saint, after whom the person was named at baptism, is the Day of his angel, or the day of his name day.

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child will have a recipient of a different sex than the person being baptized. The main thing is that this is a truly religious person who subsequently conscientiously fulfills his duties to bring up a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the baptized person can have one or, at most, two recipients.

What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and foremost requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godfathers must be church-going people, living a church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith, give spiritual instructions. The great responsibility of the spiritual education of their godchildren is laid on the godparents, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with the renunciation of "Satan and all his works, and all his angel, and all his ministry, and all his pride." Thus, the recipients, being responsible for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.

If the godson is already an adult and himself utters the words of renunciation, then the godparents present at the same time become sureties before the Church in the fidelity of his words. The godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly confession and communion, should give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the peculiarities of the church calendar, about the blessed power of miraculous icons and other shrines. Godfathers should teach those they have received from the font to attend church services, fast, pray and observe other provisions of the church charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson. Obviously, strangers cannot be godparents, for example, some kind-hearted grandmother from the church, whom the parents persuaded to "hold" the baby for baptism. Also, you should not take as godparents just close people or relatives who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were set out above.

Godparents should not become an object of personal benefit for the parents of the baptized person. The desire to become related with a profitable person, for example, with a boss, often guides parents when choosing godparents for a child. At the same time, forgetting about the true purpose of baptism, parents can deprive the child of a real godfather, and impose on him one who subsequently will not at all care about the spiritual upbringing of the child, for which he himself will also answer before God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

Can a woman become a godmother during her period? What if this did happen?

On such days, women should refrain from participating in church ordinances, which include baptism. But if this did happen, then it is necessary to repent of it in confession.

How can future godparents prepare for baptism?

There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special conversations are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. If it is possible to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do so, because it is very useful for future godparents. If the future godparents are sufficiently churched, constantly confess and receive communion, then attending such conversations will be a sufficient measure of preparation for them.

If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churchly, then a good preparation for them will be not only the acquisition of the necessary knowledge about church life, but also the study of Holy Scripture, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as a three-day fast, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions concerning receivers. Usually, the godfather takes upon himself the payment (if any) of the baptism itself and the purchase of a pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl, and also brings the things necessary for baptism. A baptismal kit usually includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet, and a towel.

But these traditions are optional. Often, different regions and even individual churches have their own traditions, the execution of which is strictly monitored by parishioners and even priests, although they do not have any dogmatic and canonical foundations. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which the baptism will take place.

What are christening gifts?

For christening, they usually give: a cross, a kryzhma (a small piece of white cloth in which a child is wrapped after dipping into a font), an icon (a guardian angel, the Mother of God or the saint whose name the baby bears), a measured icon (an icon of the patron saint, which is written to order on a board, the height of which is equal to the height of the child at the time of baptism), clothes for the baby, pillows, blankets, embroidered linen, a children's Bible or prayer book, an incense, a bag for a curl that the priest cut off during baptism, sweets, a silver spoon (possibly with an engraved name child), books, toys, money.

What should godparents give for baptism (godson, godson's parents, priest)?

This question does not lie in the spiritual realm governed by canonical rules and traditions. But I think that the gift should be useful and remind of the day of baptism. Useful gifts on the day of baptism could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops now you can find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so acquiring a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.

Can non-Orthodox Christians or non-Christians become godparents?

It is quite obvious that no, for they will in no way be able to teach their godson the truths of the Orthodox faith. Not being members of the Orthodox Church, they generally cannot take part in church sacraments.

When can a priest refuse to be baptized?

Orthodox Christians believe in God the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The founder of the Christian faith was the Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who does not accept the divinity of Christ and does not believe in the Holy Trinity cannot be an Orthodox Christian. Also, a person who denies the truths of the Orthodox faith cannot become an Orthodox Christian. A priest has the right to refuse a person to be baptized if he is going to accept the sacrament as a magical rite or has some kind of pagan belief regarding baptism itself.

Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?

The spiritual relationship established between recipients in the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. Therefore, spouses cannot become godparents of one child. By doing so, they will question the possibility of the continued existence of their marriage. But alone, they may well be godparents of different children from the same family. Those who intend to marry cannot become godparents. becoming recipients, they will have a spiritual degree of kinship that is higher than the bodily one. They will have to end their relationship and limit themselves to only spiritual kinship.

What if a man and a woman became godparents of one child, and then got married?

If something like this happened due to their ignorance of the church canons, then this is half the trouble. It is worse if, knowing about the impossibility of their marriage, they nevertheless decided to get married, and at the wedding they did not say anything to the priest about their spiritual relationship. In any case, this issue can be resolved only by the supreme ecclesiastical authority in the person of the ruling bishop. For this, it is necessary to apply to the diocesan administration with a corresponding petition addressed to the ruling bishop. The marriage will either be invalidated or the spouses will be called to repentance for sin committed in ignorance. There is also a somewhat different situation, when, through ignorance, the spouses became the recipients.

What if, through ignorance, the spouses became godparents?

The resolution of this issue is also under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop. In such a case, it is worth doing the same as in the case of married receivers (godparents), i.e. apply to the diocesan administration with a corresponding petition addressed to the bishop.

Can people living in a civil marriage become godparents?

At first glance, this is a rather difficult question, but from the church point of view, it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called a full-fledged one. And in general it is impossible to call a prodigal cohabitation a family. Indeed, in fact, people living in a so-called civil marriage live in fornication. This is a great misfortune in modern society. People baptized in the Orthodox Church, at least aware of themselves as Christians, for some incomprehensible reason refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are a myriad of excuses on this score.

For God, the desire to "get to know each other better" or "unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary seals" cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a "civil" marriage trample on all Christian concepts of marriage and family. Christian marriage presupposes the responsibility of the spouses for each other. During the marriage, they become a single whole, and not two different people who made a promise from now on to live under the same roof. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, then the other must carry the entire weight of the body on itself. And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for stamping their passports.

What then can we say about such irresponsible people, while wanting to be godparents? What good can they teach the child? Could they, having very shaky moral foundations, be able to give a good example to their godson? Not at all. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded as such) cannot be recipients of the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legalize their relationship before God and the state, then they, moreover, will not be able to be godparents for one child. Despite the seeming complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unequivocally: no.

Can a young man (or girl) become a godfather for his bride (groom)?

In this case, they will have to terminate their relationship and limit themselves only to a spiritual connection, tk. in the sacrament of baptism, one of them will become the recipient - the godparent of the other. Can a son marry his own mother? Or a daughter to marry her own father? Obviously not. Of course, the church canons cannot allow this to happen.

Can relatives become godparents?

Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts may well become godparents with their little relatives. There are no contradictions to this in the church canons. But they shouldn't be married to each other.

Can a foster father (mother) become a godfather for an adopted child?

According to rule 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.

Can the parents of a child become godparents to the children of their godfathers (godfathers of their children)?

Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. Such an action does not in any way violate the spiritual relationship that has been established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of a child, can become the godmother of the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. Other options are possible, however, spouses cannot become godparents of one child.

Can a priest be a godfather (including the one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?

Yes maybe. In general, this question is very urgent. From time to time, priests have to hear a request to become a godfather from people who are completely unfamiliar to me. Parents bring their child to baptism. For some reason, there was no godfather for the child. They begin to ask to become a godfather for the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of the godfather, the priest must fulfill this role. We have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. A priest is the same person as everyone else, and he may well refuse strangers to be godfather to their child. After all, he will have to bear responsibility for the upbringing of his godfather. But how can he do this if he sees this child for the first time and is completely unfamiliar with his parents? And, most likely, he will never see again. This is obviously not possible. But a priest (even if he himself performs the sacrament of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will concelebrate the sacrament of baptism to the priest) may well become recipients of the children of his friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Is it possible to become a godfather "in absentia"?

The very meaning of receptivity presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized person and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. This cannot be done in absentia. In the end, the person whom they are trying to "write in absentia" as godparents may not agree at all to this action and, as a result, the baptized person may be left without a godfather at all.

How many times can a person become a godparent?

In the Orthodox Church, there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during his life. The main thing that a person who agrees to become a godfather should remember is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person will be able to take upon himself the receptivity. This measure is different for each person and, sooner or later, a person may have to abandon the new perception.

Can you refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't it be a sin?

If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well deny the child's parents (or the baptized one himself, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill his immediate duties.

Is it possible to become the godfather of the second child in the family if he already had one with the first?

Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Is it possible for one person to be godfather to several people (for example, twins) during baptism?

There are no canonical prohibitions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are baptized. The receiver will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It will be better if each godson has his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized separately are different people who have the right to their godfather.

At what age can you become a godfather?

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be such when he will be able to realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to the age of majority.

What if, for objective reasons, you have not seen your godson for years?

Objective reasons are the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents moved with the child to another city or country. In this case, it remains only to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him using all available means of communication.

Is it possible to refuse godparents who do not fulfill their duties, have fallen into grave sins or lead an immoral lifestyle?

The Orthodox Church does not know the rite of rejection of the godparents. But parents can find an adult who, not being the actual recipient of the font, would help in the spiritual upbringing of the child. At the same time, one cannot consider him a godfather. But having such a helper is better than depriving the child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend altogether. After all, a moment may come when a child begins to seek spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very useful. And the child, as he grows up, can be taught to pray for the godfather. After all, the child's spiritual connection with the person who received him from the font will not be severed if he takes responsibility for the person who himself has not coped with this responsibility.

Can you baptize without godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized person can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently utter the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully aware of his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without recipients. Such a need, undoubtedly, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child?

According to Canon 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or deny the fact of their baptism. In this case, the person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: "If he is not baptized, the servant (servant) of God is baptized ...".

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?

Sure. The misconceptions on this score have nothing to do with church canons and traditions and are superstition. Participation in church ordinances can only be for the benefit of the expectant mother.

What is needed for baptism?

Before baptism (your own or your child's), you need to learn about the basics of faith in order to responsibly approach the entry into a new life. Those who wish to be baptized and godparents must know by heart the Symbol of Faith and the prayers "Our Father" and "Theotokos, Virgin, rejoice." For adults who want to be baptized, as well as for the parents and godparents of the baby, catechumens are held in churches with the priest. You must attend at least two such talks at the selected temple. At the end of the second conversation or immediately before the sacrament of Baptism, the priest confesses those who are being baptized. Parents and supporters of children under 7 years of age are also encouraged to confess and receive communion.

What to take with you to your baptism?

For baptism, you need to take with you: documents (passport for an adult or a birth certificate for an infant); a clean towel large enough to wipe dry after immersion in water (a diaper can be used for a baby); a new long white baptismal shirt (women can wear a white dress); consecrated Orthodox pectoral cross; several candles; slippers (during the anointing with oil, a person remains barefoot and without socks, slippers will be needed before and after this moment); women need a headdress (scarf or hat).

How is the rite of baptism going?

If an adult starts baptism, then before the beginning of the sacrament, he passes an interview with a priest, during which he brings repentance for his sins. This is not confession in the exact sense of the word, not a sacrament, but part of the preparation for the sacrament of baptism. A person must remember his most serious sins and renounce them.

Before the sacrament of Baptism, the rite of announcing is performed, during which prayers of the prohibition of unclean spirits are pronounced and the person renounces Satan three times (the godfather pronounces the words of renunciation for the infant). Then the priest asks three times: "Are you in harmony with Christ?" - and the person replies: "I combine." Then, the person approaching the baptism reads the Creed (the godfather or godmother reads for the baby).

After this, the actual baptism begins. During this sacrament, a person immerses himself in consecrated water three times and then puts on a white shirt (a symbol of new life in light and with Christ) and puts on a pectoral cross. The pectoral cross must be worn throughout life, without taking off, and the baptismal shirt must be preserved. Immediately after baptism, the newly baptized chrismation is performed, and then - his first communion.

How long is the baptismal ceremony?

Usually, the entire rite of Baptism lasts about an hour, but it can be longer if there are many who want to be baptized.

It is one of the most important in the days preceding the performance of this great sacrament. The path of spiritual growth that he has to go through largely depends on how successful the choice of the child's parents will be. Therefore, we will try to fully understand this issue, and, if possible, avoid mistakes.

When should a baby be baptized?

The first and most important event in the life of a newborn is the rite of holy baptism. There is no strict rule about how many days after the birth of a baby it should be performed. But taking into account the spiritual significance of the sacrament, it is recommended not to postpone it for a long time without serious reasons, and to try to ensure that the sacrament was performed in the first year of a child's life.

Both in the process of performing the rite, and in the further spiritual life of the newly baptized, an important role is played by the godparents appointed to him, who take upon themselves the responsibility to educate him in the spirit of Orthodoxy. That is why the question of how to choose godparents for a child is of great importance so that in the future they can fully fulfill the mission entrusted to them.

Who cannot be among the godparents?

It should be noted that there are certain restrictions when appointing godparents. This role cannot be played primarily by the parents of the child themselves and, in addition, by persons who are related. Also, church rules prohibit entrusting this to people who are married to each other or intend to enter into it after some time. The reason for this is quite obvious. - these are people who are in a spiritual relationship, and physical intimacy between them is unacceptable.

Continuing the conversation about how godparents are chosen for a child, it must be emphasized that they cannot be all sorts of other religions, including even Christians of other confessions (Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, etc.). And, of course, one should not trust this to people who are generally unbelievers or who declare their faith, but are unbaptized and do not attend church.

As for the age restrictions imposed on potential candidates, girls can be godparents from the age of thirteen, and boys from fifteen. It is believed that, provided that they have a correct and proper religious upbringing at this age, they are already able to realize the responsibility entrusted to them and eventually become their godson.

And finally, persons suffering from mental illness should be excluded from the number of possible candidates, since they cannot be held responsible for their actions, and those who lead an immoral (from the church and human point of view) lifestyle. Monks and nuns cannot be godparents either.

Who should you choose?

However, the question of how godparents are chosen for a child is not limited only to a list of those who are not suitable for this role. Another thing is much more important. You should know who can be chosen as godparents for a child, and in this regard there are no clearly delineated boundaries, but only recommendations based on the life experience of previous generations of Orthodox Christians.

Before you stop your choice on someone, you should first of all think about whether they will pray all their lives for their godson or goddaughter, because this is precisely one of their main responsibilities. This is especially important in the first years after baptism, since the child is still small and cannot himself turn to the Creator in prayers. In addition, it is generally accepted that the prayer of those who received a baby from the holy font has a special grace-filled power and can be heard.

Any relative of the child can become a godson, regardless of a friend of his parents or just someone they know and respect. But at the same time, it is necessary, first of all, to be guided by whether the chosen one will be a good advisor and a good spiritual educator of the child.

In order to understand more fully how godparents are chosen for a child, one should outline the range of responsibilities that are assigned to each of them. This will help to avoid in the future many disappointments and disappointments associated with the haste and thoughtlessness of the decision.

According to the existing tradition, godparents should go to church a day or two before performing the sacrament and confess and receive communion there in order to relieve themselves of the burden of earthly sins that can interfere with the establishment of spiritual unity with the godson. Directly on the day of baptism, they impose a voluntary fast on themselves, excluding both eating and performing marital duties.

During the performance of the sacrament, the "Symbol of Faith" is read, moreover, if the ceremony is performed on a girl, then the godmother reads the prayer, and if over a boy, then the godfather. In this regard, it is important to carefully prepare, learn the text and ask the priest in advance when to read the prayer and how.

It is extremely important to choose the right godparents for the child in relation to the help that is expected from them during the performance of the ceremony itself. And this primarily applies to the godmother. Among other things, she must take care of the gift for the child, and the various things necessary for the sacrament, such as a baptismal shirt, a towel and, of course, a pectoral cross that will be worn on him. By the way, it should be noted that during the performance of the sacrament, her presence is necessary, while the godfather can participate in it only in absentia.

The psychological aspect of choosing a godmother

It is very important to take into account the fact that after bathing in the font the godmother takes the child in her arms, and here it is necessary to take care that this does not cause stress for the baby. It is highly desirable that the candidate for this role has held him in her arms before, and he was familiar with her features. The same can be said about the godfather. In the whole spectrum of issues related to how godparents are chosen for a child, this one occupies one of the main places.

Responsibility for the subsequent spiritual life of the child

According to church teaching, the relationship of a child with those who received him from the holy font is considered even closer than with the real parents who gave him life. They will have to answer for him at the Last Judgment, and therefore their duty is unswerving concern for the spiritual growth of their godson.

This side of their responsibilities to him and to the church includes not only conversations on religious topics that can expand the knowledge of the godson in the field of Orthodoxy, but also the introduction of the child to attend church and participate in divine services. Moreover, in order to achieve the best result, godparents must steadily improve their own spirituality and be a living and convincing example for the child.

Replacing Faith with Ritual

It is very unfortunate that today the true Christian faith is often replaced by so-called ritualism. Leaving aside the foundations of the teachings of Jesus Christ, who preached humanism, sacrifice in the name of one's neighbor and repentance as the acquisition of the Kingdom of God, people hope to receive momentary earthly blessings by performing certain ritual actions.

If the ancient pagans were forgiven for such naivety due to their ignorance, now, when the Lord has given us the Holy Gospel, all that remains is to regret those who, when asked why they baptize a child, without hesitation, answer: "So as not to get sick." And it's all! Not a word that they desire his union in the Spirit of God with the Creator of the Universe and the possibility of inheriting Eternal Life by him.

How to choose godparents for a child if the parents are unbelievers?

In addition, in recent years it has become fashionable, and unbelieving parents often carry them to the holy font, doing this only in order to keep up with others. Despite this, the church welcomes the baptism of a newborn, regardless of the reasons that led his parents, although it wants them to take a more responsible approach to the holy sacrament, which is the spiritual birth of their little man.

That is why the question of how to choose godparents for a child acquires special significance, because it is they who, with their religiosity, can make up for what a real father and mother are not able to give. There can be no general advice in his decision, since in each case it is individual and depends on the environment of relatives and friends in which young parents live. It is among these people that we should look for those who, by their faith, are able to help a child to take the path of spiritual growth.

A question spawned by superstition

Sometimes one hears a rather strange question about how to choose godparents for a child and, in general, is it possible to perform this sacrament in a year that has February 29 in its calendar? This question is strange, first of all, because, according to the clergy themselves, in the Orthodox Church there is no such thing as a leap year, and therefore, there are no restrictions associated with it, be it weddings, christenings or other sacraments. The popular belief that he brings misfortune is the fruit of superstition and empty speculation. Believers, however, should have in themselves only the fear of God and hope in His mercy, and not the fear of any signs.

Godparents: Who Can Become a Godfather? What does a godmother and godfather need to know? How many godchildren can you have? Answers in the article!

Briefly:

• Godfather, or successor, should be Orthodox Christian. The godfather cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, or a very good atheist, because main duty godfather - to help the child grow up in the Orthodox faith.
• Godfather must be a church man who are ready to regularly take their godson to church and monitor his Christian upbringing.
• After being baptized, godfather cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed a lot for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him.
• Pregnant and unmarried women CAN be godparents of both boys and girls - don't listen to superstitious fears!
• Godparents there can be no father and mother of the child, as well as a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child. other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.

Many of us were baptized in infancy and no longer remember how it happened. And then one day we are invited to become a godmother or godfather, or maybe even more joyful - we have our own child. Then we once again think about what the Sacrament of Baptism is, whether we can become someone's godparents and how we can choose recipients for our child.

Answers by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov to questions about the duties of godfathers from the site "Tatiana's Day".

- I was invited to become a godfather. What am I supposed to do?

- Being a godfather is both honorable and responsible.

The godmother and father, participating in the Sacrament, take responsibility for the little member of the Church, so they must be Orthodox people. Of course, a person should become a godparent who, moreover, has some experience of church life and will help parents raise a baby in faith, piety and purity.

During the performance of the Sacrament over the infant, the godfather (of the same sex as the child) will hold him in his arms, recite the Creed and the vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ on his behalf. Read more about the procedure for performing Baptism.

The main thing in which the godfather can and should help and in what he undertakes an obligation is not only to be present at Baptism, but also then to help the one received from the font to grow, strengthen in church life, and in no case limit your Christianity only to the fact of Baptism. According to the teachings of the Church, the way we took care of the fulfillment of these responsibilities, we will be asked on the day of the last judgment, as well as for the upbringing of our own children. Therefore, of course, the responsibility is very, very large.

- And what to give to the godson?

- Of course, you can give your godson a cross and a chain, no matter what they are made of; the main thing is that the cross should be in the traditional form adopted in the Orthodox Church.

In the old days, there was a traditional church christening gift - a silver spoon, which was called a "tooth gift", it was the first spoon that was used when feeding a child, when he began to eat from a spoon.

- How can I choose godparents for my child?

- Firstly, godparents must be baptized, churched Orthodox Christians.

The main thing is that the criterion for your choice of godfather or godmother is whether this person will subsequently be able to help you in a good, Christian upbringing perceived from the font, and not only in practical circumstances. And, of course, an important criterion should be the degree of our acquaintance and simply the affection of our relationship. Think about whether your chosen godfathers will be the church educators of the child or not.

- Is it possible for a person to have only one godparent?

- Yes it is possible. It is only important that the godparent is of the same gender as the godson.

- If one of the godparents cannot attend the Sacrament of Baptism, is it possible to carry out the ceremony without him, but write him down as a godparent?

- Until 1917, the practice of absentee godparents existed, but it was applied only to persons of the imperial family, when, as a sign of royal or grand-ducal favor, they agreed to be considered godparents of this or that infant. If we are talking about a similar situation, do so, and if not, then perhaps it is better to proceed from generally accepted practice.

- Who can't be godfather?

- Of course, non-Christians - atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and so on - cannot be godparents, no matter how close friends of the child's parents and no matter how pleasant people they are in communication.

An exceptional situation - if there are no close people close to Orthodoxy, and you are sure of the good morals of a heterodox Christian - then the practice of our Church allows one of the godparents to be a representative of another Christian confession: Catholic or Protestant.

According to the wise tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, a husband and wife cannot be godparents of the same child. Therefore, it is worth considering if you and the person with whom you want to start a family are invited to become recipients.

- And which of the relatives can be godfather?

- An aunt or uncle, grandmother or grandfather can become the recipients of their little relatives. It should only be remembered that a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child. However, it is worth thinking about this: our close relatives will still take care of the child, help us raise him. In this case, do we not deprive the little person of love and care, because he could have one or two more adult Orthodox friends, whom he could turn to throughout his life. This is especially important at a time when the child is looking for authority outside the family. The godfather at this time, in no way opposing himself to his parents, could become the person whom the teenager trusts, from whom he asks for advice even about what he does not dare to tell his loved ones.

- Is it possible to refuse godparents? Or to baptize the child for the purpose of normal education in the faith?

- In any case, a child cannot be re-baptized, for the Sacrament of Baptism is performed once, and no sins of either the godparents, or his own parents, or even the person himself cancel all those gifts of grace that were given to a person in the Sacrament of Baptism.

As for communication with godparents, then, of course, betrayal of faith, that is, falling away into certain heterodox confessions - Catholicism, Protestantism, especially falling away into certain non-Christian religions, godlessness, a blatantly impious way of life - in fact, they say that that a person has not coped with his duty as godfather. The spiritual union, concluded in this sense in the Sacrament of Baptism, can be considered terminated by the godmother or godfather, and you can ask another churchly pious person to take a blessing from his confessor to bear the care of the godfather or godmother about this or that child.

- I was invited to be the girl's godmother, but everyone tells me that the boy must be baptized first. Is it so?

- The superstitious idea that a girl should have a boy as her first godson and that a baby girl taken from the font will become an obstacle to her subsequent marriage has no Christian roots and is an absolute invention, which an Orthodox Christian woman should not be guided by in any way.

- They say that one of the godparents must be married and have children. Is it so?

- On the one hand, the opinion that one of the godparents must necessarily be married and have children is a superstition, just like the idea that a girl who has taken a girl from the font will either not marry herself, or it will impose on her fate some kind of imprint.

On the other hand, in this opinion you can see a certain kind of sobriety, if you do not approach it with a superstitious interpretation. Of course, it would be reasonable if people (or at least one of the godparents) who have sufficient life experience, who themselves already have the skill of raising children in faith and piety, who have something to share with the physical parents of the baby, are chosen as the godparents of the baby. And it would be highly desirable to look for such a godfather.

- Can a pregnant woman be a godmother?

- Church statutes do not prevent a pregnant woman from being a godmother. The only thing I urge you to think about is: will you have the strength and determination to share the love for your own child with the love for the perceived baby, will you have time to take care of him, for advice to the baby's parents, in order to sometimes warmly pray for him , bring to the temple, somehow be a kind elder friend. If you are more or less confident in yourself and circumstances allow, then nothing prevents you from becoming a godmother, and in all other cases, it may be better to measure seven times before cutting off once.

About godparents

Natalia Sukhinina

“Recently I got into a conversation with a woman on the train, or rather, we even argued with her. She argued that godparents, like mother and father, are obliged to bring up their godson. But I do not agree: the mother is a mother, whom she will allow to interfere in the upbringing of the child. I, too, once had a godson in his youth, but our paths ran away long ago, I don't know where he lives now. And she, this woman, says that now I will have to answer for him. To answer for someone else's child? Something I can't believe ... "

(From a letter from a reader)

It so happened, and my life paths veered in a completely different direction from my godparents. Where they are now, how they live, and whether they are even alive at all, I do not know. Even their names could not be kept in memory, they baptized me long ago, in infancy. I asked my parents, but they themselves do not remember, they shrug their shoulders, they say that people lived in the neighborhood at that time, and they were invited to be godparents.

And where are they now, how to call them, dignify, do you remember?

Honestly, for me this circumstance has never been a flaw, I grew and grew, without godparents. No, I cheated, it was once, I was jealous. A school friend got married and received a golden chain as thin as a spider's web as a wedding present. The godmother gave it, she boasted to us, who could not even dream of such chains. That's when I was jealous. If I had a godmother, maybe I would ...
Now, of course, after living and thinking, I regret very much about my occasional "father and mother" who do not even remember that I remember them now in these lines. I remember without reproach, with regret. And, of course, in the dispute between my reader and my fellow traveler on the train, I am completely on the side of my fellow traveler. She is right. To hold us accountable for the godchildren and godchildren scattered from their parents' nests, because they are not random people in our life, but our children, spiritual children, godfathers.

Who doesn't know this picture?

Dressed people stand to the side in the temple. The center of attention is a baby in lush lace, he is passed from hand to hand, goes out with him, distracted so that he does not cry. They are waiting for christening. They look at their watch, get nervous.

Godmother and father can be recognized immediately. They are somehow especially focused and important. They are in a hurry to get their wallet to pay for the upcoming christening, give some orders, rustle with bags of baptismal clothes and fresh diapers. The little man does not understand anything, goggles at the wall frescoes, at the chandelier lights, at the "persons accompanying him", among which the face of the godfather is one of many. But father invites - it's time. They fussed, worried, the godparents do their best to maintain importance - it does not work, because for them, as well as for their godson, today's exit to God's temple is a significant event.
“When was the last time you were in church?” The priest will ask. They will shrug their shoulders in embarrassment. He may not ask, of course. But even if he does not ask, all the same, by the awkwardness and tension, one can easily determine that the godparents are not church people, and only the event in which they were invited to participate brought them under the arches of the church. Father will ask questions:

- Do you wear a cross?

- Do you read prayers?

- Do you read the Gospel?

- Do you honor the church holidays?

And the godparents will begin to mutter something indistinct, to lower their eyes guiltily. The priest will certainly conscience, remind about the duty of godfathers and mothers, in general about the Christian duty. Hastily and willingly, the godparents will nod their heads, accept humbly conviction of sin, and either from excitement, or from embarrassment, or from the seriousness of the moment, few will remember and let the main father's thought into their hearts: we are all responsible for our godchildren, and now, and ever. And whoever remembers is likely to misunderstand. And from time to time, mindful of his duty, he will begin to invest in the welfare of the godson as much as possible.

The first contribution immediately after the baptism: an envelope with a crispy solid bill - by a tooth. Then, for birthdays, as the child grows, a chic set of children's dowry, an expensive toy, a fashionable satchel, a bicycle, a branded suit, and so on up to gold, to the envy of the poor, wedding chains.

We know very little. And it’s not that bad, but that we don’t really want to know. After all, if we wanted to, before going to church as a godfather, we would have looked there the day before and asked the priest what this step “threatens” us, how worthy to prepare for it.
The godfather is a Slavic recipient. Why? After immersion in the font, the priest hands the baby into the hands of the godfather. And he accepts, takes it into his own hands. The meaning of this action is very deep. With this perception, the godfather takes upon himself the honorable, and most importantly, responsible mission of leading the godson along the path of ascent to the Heavenly heritage. 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."

In serious words - “keepers of faith and piety” - the Church calls the recipients. But in order to store, you need to know. Therefore, only a believing Orthodox person can be a godfather, and not one who, together with the baptized baby, first got to the church. The godparents must know at least the basic prayers "Our Father", "Theotokos Virgin", "May God rise ...", they must know the "Symbol of Faith", read the Gospel, the Psalter. And, of course, wear a cross, be able to be baptized.
One father told me: they came to baptize the child, but the godfather without a cross. Father to him: put on the cross, but he - I can't, unbaptized. It’s just an anecdote, but it’s true.

Faith and repentance are two basic conditions for union with God. But one cannot demand faith and repentance from a baby in lace, so the godparents are called, having faith and repentance, to pass them on, to teach them to their successors. That is why they say instead of babies the words of the "Creed" and the words of denial of Satan.

- Do you deny Satan and all his works? The priest asks.

- I deny, - replies the receiver instead of the baby.

The priest is wearing a light festive robe as a sign of the beginning of a new life, which means spiritual purity. He walks around the font, censes it, everyone standing next to the lighted candles. Candles are burning in the hands of the recipients. Very soon, the priest will drop the baby into the baptismal font three times, and the wet, wrinkled, at all not understanding where he is and why, the servant of God, will hand him over to the godparents. And he will be dressed in white clothes. At this time, a very beautiful troparion is sung: "Give me a robe with light, dress with light, like a robe ..." Accept your child, recipients. From now on, your life will be filled with a special meaning, you have taken upon yourself the feat of spiritual parenting, and for the way you carry it, you will now hold an answer to God.

At the First Ecumenical Council, a rule was adopted according to which women become receivers for girls, men for boys. Simply put, a girl only needs a godmother, a boy only needs a godfather. But life, as often happens, has made its own corrections here too. According to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. Of course, you can't spoil the porridge with butter. But here, too, it is necessary to know quite certain rules. For example, a husband and wife cannot be godparents to one child, just as the parents of a child cannot be godparents to him at the same time. Godparents cannot marry their godchildren.

… Behind the baby's baptism. He has a great life ahead, in which we have a place equal to the father and mother who gave birth to him. Ahead is our work, our constant striving to prepare the godson for the ascent to spiritual heights. Where to begin? Yes, from the smallest. At first, especially if the child is the first, parents are thrown off their feet from the worries that have fallen on them. They, as they say, are not up to anything. Now is the time to lend a helping hand to them.

Carrying the baby to Communion, making sure that icons hang over his cradle, giving notes for him in the church, ordering prayer services, and constantly, like his own blood children, remember in home prayers. Of course, you don’t have to do this edifying, they say, you are mired in vanity, but I’m all spiritual - I think about the high, I strive for the high, I nourish your child so that you can do it without me ... In general, the spiritual education of a child is possible only in if the godfather is his own person in the house, welcome, tactful. It is not necessary, of course, to shift all the worries onto yourself. The responsibilities of spiritual education are not removed from the parents, but to help, support, replace somewhere, if necessary, it is necessary, without this, one cannot justify oneself before the Lord.

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

If the house is in trouble, then there are other criteria. How many unfortunate, restless children suffer from drunken fathers, unlucky mothers. And how many simply unfriendly, embittered people live under one roof and make children suffer cruelly. Such plots are as old as the world and banal. But if a person who stood with a lit candle in front of the Epiphany font fits into this plot, if he, this person, rushes, as if into an embrasure, towards his godson, he can move mountains. Good that can be done is also good. It is not in our power to ward off a half-liter of a foolish man, to reason with a lost daughter, or to sing "make up, make up, make up" to two frowning halves. But it is in our power to take a weary little boy to our dacha for a day, enroll him in Sunday school and take the trouble to take him there, and - to pray. Prayer feat at the forefront of godparents of all times and peoples.

The priests understand well the severity of the heroic deed of the recipients and do not bless to recruit a lot of children, good and different, for their children.

But I know a man who has more than fifty godchildren. These boys and girls are just from there, from childhood loneliness, childish sorrow. From a great child's misfortune.

The name of this person is Alexander Gennadievich Petrynin, he lives in Khabarovsk, directs the Children's Rehabilitation Center, or, more simply, in an orphanage. As a director, he does a lot, pushes funds for equipment of classes, selects personnel from conscientious, unselfish people, rescues his wards from the police, collects them in the basements.

Like a godfather, he takes them to church, talks about God, prepares them for Communion and prays. Prays a lot, a lot. In Optina Pustyn, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, in the Diveyevo monastery, in dozens of churches throughout Russia, long notes written by him about the health of numerous godchildren are read. He is very tired, this person, sometimes he almost collapses from fatigue. But he has no other choice, he is a godfather, and his godchildren are a special people. His heart is a rare heart, and Father, realizing this, blesses him for such asceticism. A teacher from God, those who know him in business say about him. Godfather from God - can I say so? No, probably all godparents are from God, but he knows how to suffer like a godfather, knows how to love like a godfather, and knows how to save. Like a godfather.

For us, whose godchildren, like the children of Lieutenant Schmidt, are scattered throughout the cities and towns, his ministry to children is an example of a true Christian ministry. I think many of us will not reach his heights, but if we do life with someone, then just with those who understand their title of "recipient", as a serious, and not accidental business in life.
You can, of course, say: I am a weak person, busy, not so hot in the church, and the best thing I can do in order not to sin is to refuse the offer to be a godfather altogether. It's more honest and simpler, right? Easier - yes. But more honest ...
Few of us, especially when the time has imperceptibly come to stop, look around, can say to ourselves - I am a good father, a good mother, I owe nothing to my own child. We owe everyone, and the godless time in which our requests, our projects, our passions grew, is the result of our debts to each other. We will not give them back. Children have grown up and do without our truths and our discoveries of America. Parents have grown old. But conscience - the voice of God - itching and itching.

Conscience requires a splash, and not in words, but in deeds. Can't it be such a thing to carry out the duties of the cross?
It is a pity that there are few examples of the feat of the cross among us. The word "godfather" has almost disappeared from our vocabulary. And a big and unexpected gift for me was the recent wedding of the daughter of my childhood friend. Or rather, not even a wedding, which is a great joy in itself, but a feast, the wedding itself. And that's why. We sat down, poured wine, waiting for the toast. Everyone is somehow embarrassed, the bride's parents let the groom's parents go ahead with the speeches, they are the other way around. And then a tall and handsome man stood up. He got up somehow very businesslike. Raised a glass:

- I want to say, as the godfather of the bride ...

Everyone was quiet. Everyone listened to the words that the young should live for a long time, amicably, with many children, and most importantly, with the Lord.
- Thank you, godfather, - said the charming Yulka and from under the luxurious foaming veil gave the godfather a grateful glance.

Thank you godfather, I thought too. Thank you for bringing love to your spiritual daughter from the baptismal candle to the wedding candle. Thank you for reminding us all of what we have completely forgotten about. But we have time to remember. How much - the Lord knows. Therefore, we must hurry.

Baptism- this is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is submerged three times in water with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies for a sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life. Of course, there is a basis for this action in the Holy Scriptures: "Whowill not be born of water and the Spirit, cannot enter the Kingdom of God "(John 3, 5)... Christ says in the Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned " (Mk. 16, 16).

The prototype of the New Testament baptism was the Old Testament circumcision. In the Old Testament, infants were brought to the temple for circumcision on the eighth day. By this, the parents of the child showed their and his faith and belonging to God's chosen people. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: "Baptism is the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unbelievers."... Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “Circumcised by circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; were buried with Him in baptism " (Col. 2, 11-12)... That is, baptism is dying and burial to sin and resurrection for a perfect life with Christ.

Usually babies are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done sooner or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the prevailing circumstances.

Each person, if possible, should have godparents - receivers from the baptismal font. A person who agrees to become a receiver is a great responsibility for which one will have to answer before God. The very meaning of receptivity presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized person and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. Unfortunately, some godparents, having christened a baby, completely forget about their immediate duties. Sometimes the reason for this is not only an elementary ignorance of the recipient about his duties, but his falling into grave sins, which make their own spiritual life very difficult.

Below is the information, which will allow the parents of the baptized person, godparents and the baptized person himself (if he is already an adult) to learn about some of the features of the Sacrament of Baptism directly in our Temple.

Please do not forget in advance discuss with the priest all questions that you have about the Sacrament of Baptism and the answers to which are not presented here.

What are the duties of godparents?

Since ancient times, in the Orthodox Church, there has been a custom when babies are baptized to have recipients, that is, people experienced in the faith who are able to share with their parents the responsibility for the Christian upbringing of the baby. They become the spiritual parents of the child and the spiritual relatives of his parents in the flesh.

The godmother and father, participating in the Sacrament, take responsibility for the little member of the Church, so they must be Orthodox people. Godfather, of course, should become a person who has some experiences of church life and will be able to help parents raise a baby in faith and Christian piety, help him to enter the path of church life, and will bring him to church to participate in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion.

During the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism over the infant, the godfather will hold him in his arms, pronounce the Creed and the vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ on his behalf. The main obligation that the godfather assumes is not only to be present at Baptism, but also to help the person received from the font to grow, strengthen in church life, and in no case limit his Christianity only to fact. Baptism in childhood. According to the teachings of the Church, for the way the godparents took care of the fulfillment of their duties, they will be asked on the day of the last judgment as well as for the upbringing of their own children. Therefore, of course, the responsibility of godparents is very great.

If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well deny the child's parents (or the baptized one himself, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill his immediate duties.

At what age can a child be baptized?
According to the established tradition, babies are baptized from the first day of life .

When can you perform the Sacrament of Baptism?
- Baptism takes place at any period (day) of the year;
- periods of Fasting are not an obstacle to Baptism;
- Orthodox holidays are not an obstacle to Baptism;
- to perform the Baptism, you must first register.

To register for the Sacrament of Baptism, you need:

- come to our Temple and go to the church shop to select the date and time of Epiphany.
- In our Temple, Baptism is performed on Sundays (by appointment).

The procedure for preparing for Baptism:
- Before the Baptism, the priest conducts public talks with the baptized person (if he is an adult) or with parents and prospective godparents (for a baby).
- It is desirable:
future godparents learn / know the "Symbol of Faith" (during Baptism this prayer is read aloud by the godparents three times);
if possible, read the Holy Gospel, as well as confess and take communion before the sacrament of Baptism.

Some features of the Sacrament of Baptism for adults:
- if possible - observe fasting for 2-3 days before the Sacrament of Baptism;
- it is desirable - on the very day of Epiphany in the morning not to eat, drink or smoke;
- those living in marriage on the eve of the night to refrain from conjugal intercourse;
- to appear at the Sacrament of Baptism, you need to be clean and tidy, without makeup and jewelry;
- for women - the Sacrament of Baptism is carried out at the end of a month's cleansing.

What you need to prepare with you for Epiphany:
- Orthodox cross (if in doubt, it is better to show it to the priest in advance);
- baptismal gown (new);
- a large towel (to wrap the child after the font);
- replaceable footwear (for adults, to get out of the hot tub);
- candles;
- all baptized people present at the baptism must have a pectoral cross.

What is the name given to a child at Baptism?
- An Orthodox Christian is given the name of an Orthodox Saint who will become his heavenly patron;
- in the month, the day of remembrance of that Saint is selected, with whom the baptized one has the same name (given by the parents);
- if there are several days of commemoration of Saints with a similar name in a year, then that day of remembrance is chosen, which follows the first after the birthday of the person to be baptized;
- if the name given to the person to be baptized is not in the calendar, then at baptism the name that is closest in sound is chosen;
- give a name in Baptism excellent from the passport name, if a person is baptized in honor of some especially revered saint in the family;
- the names "Mary" and "Jesus" - in the Orthodox Church it is not customary to give names in honor of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. The reason is a deep reverence for Their holiness. The name Jesus is given in honor of St. righteous Joshua. Orthodox Christians bear the name Maria common in Russia in memory of the saints of God: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Egypt and others.

When is the Name Day celebrated?
Name days are celebrated on the Day of Church veneration (day of remembrance) of the Saint, whose name a person is named at Baptism.
Memorial Day of the Saint is chosen after the birthday of the baptized person, and not before. Those. a person celebrates the name day after his birthday, and not before.

When is Angel Day celebrated?
Angel Day is the date of the sacrament of Baptism.
It is during Baptism that a person receives his Guardian Angel, who will be by his side all the days of his life.

At what age can you become godparents (recipients)?
According to the existing rules, a person can become a recipient / recipient at the age of 18.

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be such when he will be able to realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to the age of majority.

Mandatory requirements for godparents:
- godparents must themselves be baptized into Orthodoxy;
- if a person who was chosen to be a godparent has recently received Baptism, then he can become a Recipient only after 1 year, after his own Baptism.

Unacceptable options for family ties between spiritual relatives:
- According to the 53rd Canon of the VI Ecumenical Council, neither in the present nor in the future - marriages between :
godparents and their godchildren
(godchildren);
godparents and natural parents
godchildren;
godmother and godfather of the same
godson.
- According to the 53rd rule of the VI Ecumenical Council, unacceptable for the adoptive father / adoptive mother to become godparents to their adopted child.

Some acceptable options for family ties between spiritual relatives:
- husband and wife can be godparents of different children in the same family;
- brother and sister, father and daughter, mother and son can be godparents of the same godson;
- several children from the same family may have the same godparents;
- a brother / sister can be a godfather / godmother to a sibling / sister;
- grandparents, uncles and aunts - unmarried- can become godparents of the same grandson, nephew;
- the relationship between godfathers (godfather / godfather are the godparents of one baptized person in relation to each other, as well as in relation to the parents of the baptized person):
the married parents of the baptized person can be / become godparents in relation to the children of their godmothers (but not for the same child);
- one person can become the godparent of several people from the same family.

How many times can you become godparents?
You can become godparents any number of times, if at the same time you are able (feel the strength in yourself) to properly fulfill the duties of a godparent: to participate in the religious education of your godchildren, to educate them in the spirit of Orthodoxy and piety.

How many godparents can one baptized have?
- Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized, i.e. for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman;
- the tradition of choosing both godparents for the child at once: father and mother, does not contradict the canons in any way;
- a situation when the baptized person has only one godparent opposite about sex with the baptized - permissible, but in exceptional x cases.

Can one person at the time of Baptism be the recipient of several people (for example, twins)?
There are no canonical prohibitions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are baptized. The receiver will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It will be better if each godson has his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized separately are different people who have the right to their godfather.

Can relatives become godparents?
The child's father and mother cannot be godparents. Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts, older brothers and sisters may well become godparents of their little relatives. There are no contradictions to this in the church canons.

Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?
The spiritual relationship established between recipients in the Sacrament of Baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. Therefore, spouses cannot become godparents of one child. By doing so, they will question the possibility of the continued existence of their marriage. But alone, they may well be godparents of different children from the same family. Those who intend to marry cannot become godparents. becoming recipients, they will have a spiritual degree of kinship that is higher than the bodily one. They will have to end their relationship and limit themselves to only spiritual kinship.

Is it possible to baptize without godparents?
In extreme circumstances, if it is impossible to find recipients, or Baptism is performed at a critical moment for a person's life, it can be performed without godparents.

Is it possible to baptize a child in the Orthodox Church if one or both parents are unbaptized or of a different faith?
It is possible, if the parents do not mind raising their child in the Orthodox Faith and there are believing Orthodox godparents.

Can I be baptized again?
The sacrament of baptism is a spiritual birth. It happens only once in a lifetime. Rebaptism for an Orthodox Christian is impossible under any circumstances.

Can you refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't it be a sin?
If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or seriously fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well refuse the child's parents (or an adult being baptized) to become a godfather for their child. There is no sin in this. It will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill these duties.

What to do after baptism with a baptismal gown and towel?
Because of the particles of the holy peace that remain on the baptismal robes and swaddling clothes, they are kept as a shrine. The baby is dressed in a baptismal gown and brought to Communion.
You can put a shirt on your baby if he is very sick and pray for his recovery. A towel, if the child was not wrapped in it after chrismation, but simply wiped off the baptized person after the baptismal font, can continue to be used for its intended purpose.

These are superstitious statements that are not related to the Orthodox faith:
- the girl should not be the girl's godmother for the first time;
- An unmarried godmother gives up her happiness if she baptizes the girl first, not the boy;
- a pregnant woman cannot become a godmother;
- if at baptism the wax with the hair of the baptized person drowns, the life of the baptized person will be short-lived.

Prayers of the godparents for their godchildren

The very first and most important help of a godparent to his godson consists, of course, in prayer. It is important to regularly pray for the godchildren at the Divine Liturgy, to submit notes of health so that the Church can pray for them in conciliarity, to commemorate their godchildren at home prayer in the morning and evening.

Prayer for children and godchildren, father John (Krestyankin)

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart! You gave me children according to the flesh, they are yours for your soul. You redeemed both mine and their souls with Your invaluable Blood. For the sake of Thy Blood, I beg Thee, my sweetest Savior, with Thy grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names), protect them with Thy Divine fear, keep them from evil inclinations and habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and goodness ... Decorate their lives with all the kind and saving ones, arrange their fate as if you yourself want and save their souls with their own fate! Lord, God of our fathers! Give my children (names) and godchildren (names) a righteous heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes. And do it all! Amen.

Prayer to the Lord God, compiled by the Monk Ambrose of Optina

Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust to You my children, whom You gave me, fulfill my prayer.
I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways that You yourself know. Keep them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing that is contrary to You touch their souls. But give them faith, love and hope for salvation, and may their life's path be holy and blameless before God.
Bless them, Lord, that they strive every minute of their lives to fulfill Your Holy Will, so that You, Lord, could always be with them by Your Holy Spirit.
Lord, teach them to pray to You, so that prayer would be their support, a joy in sorrows and the consolation of their lives, and so that we, their parents, might also be saved by their prayer.
Let Thy angels keep them always.
May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors, and may they fulfill Your commandment of love. And if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You, and You, by Your ineffable mercy, forgive them.
When their earthly life ends, then take them to Your Heavenly Abodes, where let them lead with them the other servants of Your chosen ones.
Through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and Thy saints (all holy families are listed), Lord, have mercy on us, as if you are glorified with Thy Originless Son and with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

On raising children as good Christians: Prayer of parents to the Lord God

God, our gracious and heavenly Father!
Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray to You and whom we deliver to Your care and protection.
Put in them strong faith, teach them to revere You and honor them to love You, our Creator and Savior.
Guide them, God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything to the glory of Your name.
Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians and useful people.
Give them mental and physical health and success in their labors.
Deliver them from the cunning wiles of the devil, from numerous temptations, from bad passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.
For the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the saints, lead them to the quiet harbor of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they, with all the righteous, will always thank You with Your only-begotten Son and Your life-giving Spirit. Amen.

Since ancient times, in the Orthodox Church, there has been a custom when babies are baptized to have recipients, that is, people experienced in the faith who are able to share with their parents the responsibility for the Christian upbringing of the baby. They become the spiritual parents of the child and the spiritual relatives of his parents in the flesh.

The godmother and father, participating in the Sacrament, take responsibility for the little member of the Church, so they must be Orthodox people. Godfather, of course, should become a person who has some experiences of church life and will be able to help parents raise a baby in faith and Christian piety, help him to enter the path of church life, and will bring him to church to participate in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion.

During the performance of the Sacrament of Baptism over the infant, the godfather will hold him in his arms, recite on his behalf the Creed and the vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ. The main obligation that the baptist takes upon himself is not only to be present at Baptism, but in helping those perceived from the font to grow, to strengthen in church life, and in no case to limit their Christianity only to the fact of Baptism in childhood. According to the teachings of the Church, for the way the godparents took care of the fulfillment of their duties, they will be asked on the day of the last judgment as well as for the upbringing of their own children. Therefore, of course, the responsibility of godparents is very great.

If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well deny the child's parents (or the baptized one himself, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill his immediate duties.

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child will have a recipient of a different sex than the person being baptized. The main thing is that this is a truly religious person who subsequently conscientiously fulfills his duties to bring up a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the baptized person can have one or, at most, two recipients.

Can relatives become godparents?

The child's father and mother cannot be godparents. Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts, older brothers and sisters may well become godparents of their little relatives. There are no contradictions to this in the church canons.

Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?

The spiritual relationship established between recipients in the Sacrament of Baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. Therefore, spouses cannot become godparents of one child. By doing so, they will question the possibility of the continued existence of their marriage. But alone, they may well be godparents of different children from the same family. Those who intend to marry cannot become godparents. becoming recipients, they will have a spiritual degree of kinship that is higher than the bodily one. They will have to end their relationship and limit themselves to only spiritual kinship.

At what age can you become a recipient?

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be such when he will be able to realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to the age of majority.

Prayers of the godparents for their godchildren

The very first and most important help of a godparent to his godson consists, of course, in prayer. It is important to regularly pray for the godchildren at the Divine Liturgy, to submit notes of health so that the Church can pray for them in conciliarity, to commemorate their godchildren at home prayer in the morning and evening.

Prayer for children and godchildren, father John (Krestyankin)

Sweetest Jesus! God of my heart! You gave me children according to the flesh, they are yours for your soul. You redeemed both mine and their souls with Your invaluable Blood. For the sake of Thy Blood, I beg Thee, my sweetest Savior, with Thy grace touch the hearts of my children (names) and my godchildren (names), protect them with Thy Divine fear, keep them from evil inclinations and habits, direct them to the bright path of life, truth and goodness ... Decorate their lives with all the kind and saving ones, arrange their fate as if you yourself want and save their souls with their own fate! Lord, God of our fathers! Give my children (names) and godchildren (names) a righteous heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes. And do it all! Amen.

Prayer to the Lord God, compiled by the Monk Ambrose of Optina

Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust to You my children, whom You gave me, fulfill my prayer.
I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways that You yourself know. Keep them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing that is contrary to You touch their souls. But give them faith, love and hope for salvation, and may their life's path be holy and blameless before God.
Bless them, Lord, that they strive every minute of their lives to fulfill Your Holy Will, so that You, Lord, could always be with them by Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, teach them to pray to You, so that prayer would be their support, a joy in sorrows and the consolation of their lives, and so that we, their parents, might also be saved by their prayer.

Let Thy angels keep them always.

May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors, and may they fulfill Your commandment of love. And if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You, and You, according to Your ineffable mercy, forgive them.

When their earthly life ends, then take them to Your Heavenly Abodes, where they may also lead with them the other servants of Your chosen ones.

Through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and Thy saints (all holy families are listed), Lord, have mercy on us, as if you are glorified with Thy Godhead Son and with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

On raising children as good Christians: Prayer of parents to the Lord God

God, our gracious and heavenly Father!

Have mercy on our children (names) and godchildren (names), for whom we humbly pray to You and whom we deliver to Your care and protection.

Put in them strong faith, teach them to revere You and honor them to love You, our Creator and Savior.

Guide them, O God, on the path of truth and goodness, so that they do everything to the glory of Your name.

Teach them to live piously and virtuously, to be good Christians and useful people.

Give them mental and physical health and success in their labors.

Deliver them from the cunning wiles of the devil, from numerous temptations, from bad passions and from all wicked and disorderly people.

For the sake of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the saints, lead them to the quiet harbor of Your eternal Kingdom, so that they, with all the righteous, will always thank You with Your only-begotten Son and Your life-giving Spirit. Amen.