What parents need to know about the christening of a boy and a girl: signs, rules of baptism in the Orthodox Church and recommendations. Best age for baptism. The role of godparents in a child's life

Christianity takes baptism very seriously. It is believed that after this ritual a person is reborn. In other words, this is how spiritual birth occurs. On what days are children baptized in church? In our article you can find the answer to this question. At the same time, we will consider other important features of the ritual. Now let's talk in more detail about this sacrament.

Baptism

How and when to baptize a child? On what days can the sacrament be celebrated? It is generally customary to perform the ritual with newborn babies or infants under one year of age. The sacrament is performed on days established by the church. But it also happens that completely adults come to baptism. This is due to the fact that even during the times of the Soviet Union it was forbidden to baptize children and generally attend church. But there are also those who decided to change their faith and convert to Christianity.

Future spiritual parents must be present at baptism. They are chosen by the mother and father of the child, or by the baptized person himself, if we are talking about a completely adult person. Spiritual parents will be mentors to their godson. They must protect him in the same way as his own parents would do. And in the event of the premature death of mom and dad or another reason why the child remains an orphan, the spiritual father and mother will have to take the upbringing of the godson into their own hands.

Clothes for the sacrament

A special robe is required for the baptism ceremony. This could be a cotton shirt that the child's future godmother should buy. You also need a white diaper, a towel, or, as people call it, kryzhma, in order to wrap or wipe the baptized person. The future spiritual mentor should also bring this.

The godfather must purchase a pectoral cross from the church, which will be used to carry out the ceremony. It is advisable for the baby to be on a ribbon or string for safety reasons. If the cross was not purchased in a church, it must be consecrated before the ceremony. Remember that if baptism takes place in an Orthodox church, a Catholic cross will not be suitable for that ceremony. It is very easy to distinguish them.

Who should be at the ceremony?

Before we talk about what days children are baptized in church, it is necessary to talk about those present at the ceremony. Baptism has long been considered a sacrament. Therefore, only the holy father, child and future godparents can attend it. But today no one adheres to this rule. Therefore, almost all relatives are invited to the child’s baptism and they even order a photographer to capture this event on camera. But some priests still do not approve of this innovation.

It is also advisable, before baptizing a child, for spiritual parents to attend seminars in church, where they will be told about the responsibility assigned to them and how to behave correctly during the ceremony itself. But again, today no one follows this rule either. And future mentors appear only on the day of the ceremony, where a few minutes before the ceremony begins, the priest tells them what they will need to do.

When the ceremony begins, the parents carry the child into the church in their arms. Then they hand it over to one of the godparents. A boy should be held by a girl, and a girl by a man. When the ceremony begins, there should be complete silence in the temple, only the priest reads the prayers. Both parents must repeat them. With these prayers they renounce the devil twice. Afterwards, the priest takes the child and reads the prayers of anointing over him. Then the shearing process occurs. It doesn't matter who it is - a boy or a girl. The priest cuts a cross on the child's head. This ritual symbolizes submission to the Lord and a kind of sacrifice. If a boy is baptized, the priest carries him in his arms to the altar. If it is a girl, then the holy father leans her against the icon of the Mother of God. After these rituals, the child is returned to his spiritual parents, but in reverse.

Age

On what days are children baptized in church and at what age? As we found out earlier in this article, anyone can undergo the sacrament. In this case, age does not matter. Even those over eighteen can undergo the ritual.

But it’s still better to do this as early as possible. It is believed that after a child’s baptism, the devil will not be able to take possession of his soul and set him on the wrong path. The sooner the sacrament is performed, the calmer the baby will sleep and be less sick. Many parents wonder whether it is possible to baptize a child if they themselves are not baptized. Of course it is possible and necessary. And even parents themselves can be baptized if such a desire arises.

If a person decides to be baptized in adulthood, then before that he must undergo catechesis and thus remove his original sin.

Days of the ceremony in the temple

When is the best time to perform the sacrament? On what days are children baptized in church? It is believed that it is best to perform the ritual with a child on the fortieth day from his birth. This has absolutely nothing to do with the baby. It’s just that if it is vital for him that his mother be present at the ceremony with him, then forty days must pass before the woman can enter the temple. After giving birth, a girl is considered dirty during this period, so she must wait until her body cleanses itself.

After the allotted time has passed, the priest reads a prayer of purification over the woman, after which she can enter the temple. But it also happens that a child urgently needs to be baptized. This may be mainly due to the baby’s illness. Then the mother is forbidden to attend the ceremony. The most optimal age for baptism of a baby is considered to be up to six months.

As for religion, it does not matter at all on what days children are baptized in church. But each temple has its own schedule and time allotted for the ceremony. Therefore, before baptizing a child, parents must first go to the church where the sacrament will be held and agree on the time and day with the priest.

So on what day of the week can a child be baptized? As we already found out earlier, the ceremony can be performed on any day of the week, regardless of whether it is a weekend or a weekday.

Where and on what days can a child be baptized?

Children are allowed to be baptized not only in a temple or church. The ceremony can be performed at home or in any other place chosen by the parents. To do this, you need to invite the priest and purchase everything you need in advance. On what day to baptize a child at home also does not matter, as if you did it in a temple. The main thing here is to come to an agreement with the holy father who will conduct the ceremony. He will set a time and day when he can come to your designated place.

Celebration

We found out what day of the week children are baptized and how to carry out the ceremony. Now let's look at how best to celebrate this event.

After the ceremony, usually all those invited go to the baby’s house. This is where the celebrations begin. Parents set a generous table with treats. According to old customs, it is believed that there must be cookies and pies on it. But no matter how this secret rite is celebrated, the main thing is that the baby grows strong and healthy.

Baptism for the Orthodox is the second (but in a certain sense the main) spiritual birth of a person, his purification for subsequent existence, a kind of “pass” to heaven - the Kingdom of God. The newly enlightened person receives remission of previous sins. That is why Baptism, among all the Sacraments, is the first sacrament and is necessary for every person seeking salvation and the meaning of life.

Godparents: Who are godparents?

The sacrament of baptism is a special rite. This is the purification of the soul and the spiritual birth of a person. According to the tradition of the Church, an infant should be baptized on the eighth or fortieth day of life. It is clear that at this age it is impossible to demand from him faith and repentance - the two main conditions for union with God. Therefore, godparents are assigned to them, who undertake to raise their godchildren in the spirit of Orthodoxy. So the choice of godparents should be approached with all responsibility. After all, in theory, they should become a second mother and a second father for your baby.

How to choose godparents?

When choosing a godfather for your baby, find someone you trust completely. These could be your close friends or relatives with whom you constantly maintain good relationships. According to church tradition, if something happens to the parents, godparents are obliged to replace them with a godson.

Only an Orthodox believer who is able to give an account of his faith can be a godfather. Actually, a boy needs only a godfather, and a girl only needs a godmother. But according to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. At your request there can be two, four, six...

According to the laws of the Orthodox Church, godparents cannot be:
parents cannot be godparents of their child;
husband and wife godparents of one infant;
children (according to the decrees of the Holy Synod of 1836-1837, the godfather must be no younger than 15 years old, and the godmother no younger than 13 years old), because they are not yet able to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized, and they themselves do not know enough about the laws of Orthodoxy;
people are immoral and insane: the former because their very way of life does not deserve to be godparents, and the latter because, due to illness, they are unable to vouch for the faith of the person being baptized or teach him the faith;
the non-Orthodox are the successors of the Orthodox.

What are the responsibilities of godparents?

Unfortunately, not every godparent understands why his new “position” is called that way. Visiting your godson and giving gifts on an angel’s or birthday day is, of course, good. However, this is far from the most important thing. Caring for a growing godson involves a lot.

First of all, this is a prayer for him. Learn to turn to God once a day - before going to bed. It's actually not difficult at all. Ask the Lord for health, salvation, help in raising your own children, the well-being of godchildren and relatives. It will be useful to master the path to the temple together with your child and take him to communion on a church holiday. It would be great to play educational games with your baby and read books to him. For example, many adults enjoy reading the children's Bible. It clearly describes all the main events of Sacred History.

In addition, godparents can make life much easier for young mothers who find it difficult to find time to spend with their baby. If everyone, to the best of their ability, spends their free hours communicating with the child, then they themselves will enjoy it.

Appearance of godparents

At the ceremony, the recipients (this is another name for the godfather) must come with pectoral crosses consecrated in the church. In the traditions of the Slavic peoples, women in the temple always had a covered head and a dress below the knees with covered shoulders (little girls may be an exception). You should not wear high-heeled shoes, as the baptism ceremony lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours and most of the time you will have to stand with the child in your arms. As for men, there are no requirements for their clothing, but it is better to refrain from shorts and T-shirts. Such an outfit would look out of place in church.

Don't let the good old ways become a burden for you, because your nice trousers and new fashionable haircut can be shown off in other places. In church, it is better not to attract attention to yourself, focusing on the purpose of your parish.

Preparation for the ceremony

Currently, the ritual is performed mainly in churches. Only in exceptional cases, if, say, a child is very ill, can the sacrament be performed at home or in a hospital. Then a separate clean room must be allocated for the ceremony.

To baptize a child, you must first choose a church. Walk through the temples, listen to your feelings. But keep in mind that baptism does not always take place directly in the church. Most cathedrals have a baptismal chamber (or baptistery) - this is a separate room on the church grounds, specially adapted for this rite. In large churches, baptism usually takes place quite pompously and solemnly. But perhaps someone will like the secluded and calm atmosphere of small churches. Talk to the priest or the novices, they will tell you in detail about how the baptismal ceremony takes place in this church.

How to choose the day of baptism?

There is no church establishment of Baptism on the fortieth day; this is primarily due to the fact that until the fortieth day the Church keeps a woman-parent from entering the temple due to her postpartum infirmities and discharges that she experiences at this time. And the mother’s first entry into the temple after the break is accompanied by the reading of special cleansing prayers, before reading which she should not be present at the services.

But you don’t need to take the day of baptism literally; you can baptize the baby a little later, a little earlier. And now sometimes, at the request of the parents, a child is baptized before the fortieth day, especially when there is at least some danger to the child’s health (baptism in this case is considered as a protective rite).

In ancient times, the celebration of the sacrament was most often timed to coincide with the greatest Christian holidays, for example Easter. But gradually baptism turned into a family holiday. And now, on the contrary, the ritual is carried out almost every day, with the exception of such major church holidays as Christmas, Easter, Trinity. These days, churches are usually overcrowded and priests advise postponing the ceremony. You can come to most temples without an appointment. Usually the sacrament of baptism begins at 10 o'clock, immediately after the service. True, in this case there is a high probability that several other people will be baptized besides you and you will either have to wait, or you will be baptized along with others. It is much more convenient to agree in one or two weeks with the priest who will perform the sacrament on a specific date and time. Then your baby will be baptized first and in splendid isolation. In addition, when choosing the day of baptism, try to ensure that it does not fall on the godmother’s critical days. The fact is that during this period a woman should not venerate shrines: kiss the cross, icons, or better not enter the temple at all.

Preparing godparents for the baptismal ceremony

If you want to follow all the rules, start preparing for the ceremony in advance. Godparents need to go to church to confess, repent of their sins and receive communion. It is advisable (but not necessary) to fast for three to four days before the ceremony. But on the day of baptism, as well as before communion, godparents are not allowed to eat or have sex. At least one of the parents must know the “Creed” prayer by heart. As a rule, when a girl is baptized, the Creed is read by the godmother, and when a boy is baptized, by the father.

And one more thing: according to the unspoken rule, godparents bear all the costs of baptism. In some churches there are no official prices; it is believed that after the ceremony, godparents and guests make donations as much as they can. These costs are optional and their amount is not specified anywhere. But the custom is, as a rule, respected.

According to church custom, the godmother buys the kryzhma or “rizka”. This is a special fabric, or just a towel, in which the child is wrapped when taken out of the font. In addition, the godmother gives a baptismal shirt and a cap with lace and ribbons (for boys - with blue ones, for girls - with pink ones, respectively). The baptismal shirt is kept for life. According to custom, the towel is not washed after the child’s baptism, but is used if the child is sick.

The godfather, again according to custom, buys a baptismal cross and chain. Some believe that the cross and chain should be gold, some – silver, and some are of the opinion that small children should wear a cross on a ribbon or string.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian needs to know the basic prayers: “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God”, “Creed”. During baptism, the godparents say the “Creed” prayer for the baby. All these prayers are in a short prayer book, which can be purchased at the church store if desired.

What to bring to the temple?

As already mentioned, baptism is birth into a new sinless life. Receiving the newly baptized person from the holy font, the godparents accept an absolutely pure being, without sin. A symbol of such purity is white clothing - kryzhma, which is brought to the temple along with a cross on a chain or thread. Who should buy a cross and who should buy a chain, let the godparents decide for themselves. At the end of the ceremony, the priest will bless them and put them on the baby.

The cover for a small child will be an openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt or a new towel that has not yet been washed.

What happens during the sacrament of baptism?

The priest, godparents and child are the main participants in the sacrament. According to ancient customs, the child’s mother and father should not be present when the sacrament is performed. Although recently the church has been more loyal to this prohibition and allows the father, and sometimes the mother of the baby, after saying a special prayer, to observe the ceremony together with those invited.

Throughout the entire ceremony, the recipients stand next to the priest and one of them holds the person being baptized in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, a priest in white robes walks around the baptismal room or temple and reads three prayers. After which he asks the godparents and godson to turn their faces to the west - symbolically this is the abode of Satan. And, turning to the person being baptized, he asks several questions.

Questions and answers are repeated three times. After this, the godparents must read the “Creed” - this is a brief summary of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, which all Orthodox Christians must know by heart. Then the anointing takes place. Having dipped the brush into a vessel with myrrh, the priest anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, chest, arms and legs of the person being baptized with a cross. And with each anointing he says: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents and the priest repeat: “Amen.”

After anointing, a lock of hair is cut from the head, which remains in the temple as a pledge of dedication and a symbol of sacrifice to God. If a child is being baptized in the cold season or conditions do not allow him to undress (low temperature in the baptism room), free the baby’s arms and legs in advance.

Then the priest takes the child from them and directly performs the rite of baptism - immersing the person being baptized three times in the font. If the baptismal room is warm, then most likely your baby will be dipped naked. But when it is cold in the temple, only the neck, arms and feet are exposed for anointing. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. That is why godparents are also called godparents. It is believed that, having accepted the baby in their arms after the ceremony, parents undertake the obligation to raise their godson in the Orthodox spirit throughout their lives and to be held accountable for this upbringing at the Last Judgment. If they cannot see their godson often, they should at least mention him in their daily prayers.

These articles were created to help you prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism. Please ask questions by email or by phone, we will try to answer them. All information on the site is copyrighted, therefore copying the text without the permission of the author and indicating the source is prohibited.

But every parent also has their own criteria: for example, is this church “prayed” or is it possible to baptize a child here not on the day of general baptism, but individually.

If you are churchgoers and have been going to services systematically for years, the question goes away by itself: of course, you should talk to a priest you know and decide on all the issues that concern you. It’s another matter if the baby’s parents are inexperienced: either believers who rarely visit church, or simply trying to observe the family tradition of baptizing children.

Where to baptize a child

First of all, you need to decide what kind of church should be in which you would like to baptize your firstborn. Now not only in Moscow and the Moscow region - throughout Russia, dozens and hundreds of ancient churches have been restored, new ones are being built or built. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to choose.
Someone chooses the church that is closer to home, so as not to tire the baby on a long journey before baptism. But for some, it is the prayerfulness of the place or the beauty of the temple that is important. It is also important for someone to find out how long the ceremony takes place here and whether it is possible to choose the day for it that suits you, not to stand in the general queue, etc. All these questions need to be clarified in advance by talking with the rector of the temple or its priest. You can also ask them by phone by calling the temple.

Do not forget to find out the question of the strictness of the approach to the rite of baptism in the chosen church: do the godparents need fasting and confession with communion before him, do they baptize a baby here with complete immersion in holy water, and not just wet the head, is there a special room for baptism in the church or the ceremony takes place directly in the temple and, of course, can you baptize your baby individually if that is what you want. Take into account the personal impression that the priest himself made on you during the conversation.

Individual baptism

You need to know that individual baptism lasts at least 30-40 minutes, general baptism - and in this case, adults can be among those baptized - can take place within an hour and a half, especially if the maximum permissible number of people registered for the ceremony on that day is fourteen.

If you do not have the opportunity to overpay for individual baptism, but standing in line is also undesirable, try to choose not one of the central churches, but a small church or chapel on the outskirts, where there are always fewer people being baptized. In the almost homely atmosphere of such a church or chapel, baptism for a child will be much easier.

Photo and video recording of the baptism ceremony

Now many parents invite a photographer as a guest on this day in order to capture as a souvenir the very first and very important church ceremony of their baby. Sometimes filming is supposed to be done with a video camera. But in a preliminary conversation with the priest, you need to clarify in advance whether filming is allowed in the temple of your choice and whether you need to pay extra for it. In most churches in Moscow and the Moscow region it is allowed and no additional fee is charged.

List of beautiful ancient churches with miraculous icons

Well, if you are in any case attracted to an ancient, sacred temple, there are a lot of them in Moscow and the region. As an example, let us cite at least a dozen very beautiful ancient churches, in which, in addition to all of the above, there are also miraculous icons.

1. Church "Joy of All Who Sorrow";
2. Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” in Kuntsevo
3. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Starye Cheryomushki
4. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Orekhov-Borisov
5. Temple of the Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University
6. St. Nicholas Church in Aleksin
7. Church of Elijah the Prophet at the Novgorod Compound
8. Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fili
9. Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Khamovniki

In addition, in any church shop today you can purchase a directory that lists literally all the churches in the region - with a description of the history of each of them, with their location and contact numbers.

Svetlana Kostitsyna

You have decided to baptize your child, but you don’t know where to start. How to do it? What is needed for this? Priest Sergius Zvonarev, an employee of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khoroshevo, will help you figure it out.

Read also:

Now almost all parents, regardless of whether they live according to church canons or not, try to baptize their children. Father Sergius, what do you think about this?

Of course, the desire to baptize a baby is welcome in any case. However, I would like to wish parents a more responsible attitude towards the sacrament. Baptism is not a tribute to fashion or tradition, but the spiritual birth of a person for a mysterious life with God, which occurs only once. In the sacrament of Baptism, a person is given the grace of the Holy Spirit, helping him to grow spiritually and strengthen in love for God and his neighbors. By accepting holy Baptism, a person becomes a full member of the Church and can participate in other sacraments.

Faith is an important condition for accepting the sacrament of Baptism. Of course, demanding faith from a baby is pointless. The baptism of children occurs according to the faith of their parents, as well as their godparents.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

There are no strict requirements: baptize the child whenever you see fit. However, given the spiritual importance of this sacrament, one should not delay too much - usually children are baptized in the first year of life.

Is it possible to baptize a child if his parents are unbaptized, of a different faith, or baptized not in Orthodoxy (for example, Catholics, Armenians or Baptists)?

It is possible and necessary. The religion of the parents in this case is not a determining factor.

Are there regulations regarding the baptism of more than one person at the same time? Is it possible for children and parents, brothers and sisters to be baptized together?

Nothing prevents the baptism of several people at the same time: in our time, 20-30 people are often baptized at the same time. Relatives can also be baptized together. I think that it is a great spiritual joy when close people receive holy Baptism together.

Most married couples who want to baptize their baby are not married in church. Can they baptize their child?

Calling on Orthodox people to enter into a church marriage, the Church, at the same time, recognizes a marriage registered in the registry office as legal. If the child's parents are not married, this does not in any way prevent his baptism.

Father Sergius, you know that, unfortunately, there are many single-parent families and children born out of wedlock. What to do in such cases?

The presence of only one parent in the family is not an obstacle to the baptism of a child, nor are other conditions of his birth.

The question of choosing a name is perhaps one of the most exciting. Despite the fact that, in principle, a child can be baptized with any name, in the Russian Orthodox Church it is customary to baptize children with the name of one of the saints, who is mentioned in the Saints (list of names of saints). If the name given at birth is not in the Saints, then, as a rule, a consonant name of one of the saints of God is given (for example, Karina - Ekaterina, Inga - Inna, Robert - Rodion), or the name of a saint whose memory falls on the date birth of a child (for example, January 14 - Basil the Great, October 8 - St. Sergius of Radonezh, July 24 - Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga). With this name a person receives Baptism and can participate in the sacraments. This name is written in memorial notes.

How to choose a church where a child will be baptized and is it possible to baptize a child at home?

The choice of the temple where baptism will take place is more important for the parents than for the baby itself. If you are parishioners of a specific church, then it is better to baptize there.

Baptisms at home, as a rule, are performed only under some special circumstances that prevent people from coming to church, for example, in the case of a child’s serious illness.

On what days is baptism performed? Is it possible to baptize a child during Lent?

Baptism can be performed on absolutely any day - Lenten, ordinary or holiday. But each church has its own schedule, so when choosing the day of christening, you must consult with the priest.

Who can be invited to become godparents? What responsibilities does this impose on them?

Orthodox Christians who are not married to each other and who do not plan a further marriage can become godparents, since godparents are spiritually related to each other.

The role of godparents is great. They are the ones who make the promise to raise the child in faith. The participation of godparents in the spiritual education of children should be real, not nominal. Today there are all possibilities for this. The clergy are always ready to discuss issues of spiritual education of children; church shops have religious children's literature telling about God, faith, and the Church.

In order to teach godchildren the basics of faith, godparents themselves must understand and be able to explain what and in Whom they believe.

A godfather can be either a distant or close relative of the person being baptized - an uncle or aunt, brother or sister, grandmother or grandfather, or just a good friend of the child’s parents. When choosing a godfather, of course, you need to be guided by how good a spiritual educator and adviser he can become for your child.

What is needed for baptism? How should you prepare for it?

In those churches where it is customary to hold catechetical (that is, educational) conversations, godparents need to visit them in advance. To baptize a baby, you need to have a baptismal shirt, a cross, a towel, and several candles. All this can be prepared in advance yourself, or purchased at the church store. According to tradition, a pectoral cross and an icon of his heavenly patron are given to the baby by the godparents. Before baptizing a child, it is advisable for Orthodox Christians to confess and receive communion, since on the day of baptism, their baby will receive communion with them for the first time.

Who can be present in church during a baptism?

Anyone who cares about this spiritual event in the life of the family and who prayerfully wants to share the joy of the Holy Sacrament can be present.

How should a christening be celebrated?

You can set the table, prepare a meal, invite godparents and relatives to celebrate this event. But remember that the christening day should not be marred by abuse. It must be sanctified by love and spiritual joy.

Conversed with Father Sergius: Alexandra Borisova.

Baptism is one of the ancient religious traditions that continues to this day. Many parents baptize their children, thus wanting to protect them from the evil eye and troubles. In this article we will tell you about all the features of the baptism ceremony.

The rite of baptism carries a special sacred meaning for Orthodox people. It is believed that this is how the baby cleanses himself before God, washing away his sins. Therefore, many parents try to baptize their child as soon as the time is right for this.

Where to baptize a child

Baptism of babies is carried out in the temple. In exceptional cases, it is possible to conduct the ceremony outside of it. If there are several temples in your city, you can choose the one you like best, or the one that is located near your home.

All the nuances of baptism are discussed with the priest. He will tell you a list of necessary things and set a date. If you regularly attend church services in a certain temple, it is better to choose it as the place to baptize your child.

How to choose a name for baptism

Choosing a church name for a baby is an important stage of baptism. Of course, you can baptize a baby with any name. However, in the church it is customary to give the baby a second name, consonant with the name of one of the saints.

Church rituals cannot influence the change of a child's name. Baptismal names are used only during church sacraments.

When can a child be baptized?

Many parents ask the question of when to baptize a child immediately after his birth. The Church does not give strict instructions on this matter. However, it is believed that this is best done in the first year of the baby’s life. So he is cleansed from original sin and joins the church.

From a physiological point of view, the time when it is better to baptize a child refers to the first three months of life. At this time, the baby still retains instincts from the moment it was in the womb. The child tolerates immersion in water more easily and behaves more calmly in the arms of other people.

There are no specific days when a child can be baptized. You can do this on any date convenient for you.

Clothes for baptism

Choosing clothes for a baby's baptism requires special attention. The godmother purchases it in advance. A baby's christening shirt should be soft and pleasant to the touch. In such clothes, the baby will be able to feel comfortable and will not become capricious.

Now the clothes for the baptism of a boy and a girl may differ. For boys, choose a set of shirt and pants. Girls are baptized in dresses with or without pants.

When choosing options for what to baptize your child in, make sure that the clothing reveals the baby’s arms and legs. This is necessary for a church ceremony.

Rules for baptism

Baptism of a newborn is a mysterious church rite, which is accompanied by certain rules. They are associated with ancient church traditions. The christening of a child requires special responsibility on the part of the godparents; First of all, rules determine their behavior:

• you need to come to the christening in advance so that the priest can prepare for the ceremony;
• The baby is brought into the church by one of the godfathers: the boy must be held by the godmother, the girl by the godfather;
• during the ceremony, the godparents read a prayer that must be learned in advance;
• the priest dips the baby into the font without clothes, after which the godparents wrap him in white cloth, dry him and dress him in specially prepared clothes.

The christening of a boy and a girl differs in some respects: the rules require that the boy be brought to the altar, and the girl placed next to the icon of the Mother of God.

The rules for baptizing a child in a church may also vary depending on the chosen temple. For example, the question of the presence of the mother at baptism remains controversial. Now in many churches the mother is allowed to attend christenings after a cleansing ceremony has been performed on her.

Parents often ask the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child on a fast or church holiday. There are no prohibited days. You can do this at any time.

How long does baptism last?

The duration of baptism largely depends on the priest. Although the ceremony is carried out according to established canons, the time may vary. It depends on the preparation, mood and behavior of the baby. On average, baptism takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour. You can find out more about how long baptism lasts in the temple you have chosen for this purpose.

What is needed for baptism

In order for the ceremony to take place calmly and correctly, godparents need to know in advance what is needed for the baptism of a child. The standard set includes: a cross (consecrated in the temple), a kryzhma, clothes for changing, two towels, candles. As a rule, the godmother buys the clothes. The choice and purchase of the cross remains with the godfather.