The birth of a child is a great joy for parents. If the family is Orthodox, then relatives have a lot of religious questions, among them: “what is the name of the baby,” “who should I take as godfathers” and “how does the child’s baptism take place”. What you need to know to mom about the last ritual, the material will tell.
Happiness in the Spiritual World
With the birth of the baby, close people try to protect him from all the dangers and life troubles. They buy ecological things, warm clothes, educational toys. Parents surround the little one with boundless love and care. For this, the child daily pleases them with new smiles.
But without the help of the Lord, protecting the baby from the evil and misfortune of the whole world is impossible. In order for the baby to grow up healthy not only in body but also in soul, a child is baptized. What do mom and dad need to know about this rite? The first and most important thing is that in this way parents attach their child to God's world.
Orthodoxy explains this Sacrament as the spiritual birth of a baby. The ceremony is done once in a lifetime. The ritual is carried out through three times lowering the body into water. The Lord, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are called upon. The sins of the parents that have passed with birth are forgiven for the baby. The sacrament means that from now on, man lives according to the laws of the Most High and renounces carnal pleasures. But he will seek happiness in the spiritual world of light and good.
The deep essence of custom
The rite also means that the new Christian will devote his existence to God. A righteous life will give him joy and pleasure. If an adult joins the Orthodox world, who realizes the responsibility that he takes upon himself, then he must sincerely repent of all sins.
Today, parents are trying to quickly carry out the sacrament ritual. Responsible business - the baptism of the baby. What a mom and dad need to know in order for their baby to become a full member of the Church, the priest can tell. He will explain in detail all the subtleties of the ritual. If parents don’t understand the essence of tradition and its role in human life, then perhaps it’s better not to conduct the ceremony at all. After all, Orthodoxy is not a simple formality, but a lifestyle. Parents must, after the Sacrament, raise their child in faith, teach prayers with him, attend a church, receive communion, and confess.
It should be noted that there is no difference for the Church to baptize an elderly person or a baby. In this regard, many priests believe that it is better to conduct the sacrament ritual in adulthood, when the lay person realizes what he is doing.
Rite Day
There are no rules about when to hold a ceremony. Most often, a ritual is performed on a baby 40 days after birth. Although the procedure may occur earlier. However, many note that delaying the Sacrament is not worth it.
Questions also arise regarding the dates when the christening of the child will be held . What does mom need to know about these days? The main mistake parents make is to believe in the myth that the Sacrament cannot be carried out in fasting. This is actually not the case. Usually, the ceremony on such days is more difficult to conduct, because worship at this time is longer than usual. Accordingly, the breaks between the morning and evening liturgy are shorter. Consequently, the confessor simply does not have time to physically allocate time for the ritual. On Saturday and Sunday, services are not so long, therefore, on these days they will be able to hold the Sacrament.
Modest celebration
In any case, you should ask the priest about the rules of the temple in which the service will be performed. In general, if there are no technical obstacles, then baptism can be carried out on any day.
But there is a logical explanation for the talk about the fact that in a post it is undesirable to conduct a ceremony (baptism of a child). What does mother need to know if she has planned a holiday for the day when religion asks to refrain from fatty foods, drinks and fun? The first and most important thing is that it is possible to conduct a ceremony, but you should not arrange a banquet or noisy festivities. If you want to celebrate this event with your family, then the celebration can be moved to another date, which does not contradict Orthodox traditions. And on the day when your baby is christened, you can set a modest table of lean dishes and spend time in simple conversations.
God's temple as a home
Sacrament (baptism of a child) requires a lot of knowledge and details. What does mom need to know about the place where the ritual will be performed? The most correct answer is everything. The fact is that parents who decide to introduce the child to Christianity must be believers and, therefore, constantly attend the temple. Usually a family goes to the same church for years. There are cases when a person is baptized, crowned and buried in the same church.
When a layman often comes to the service, goes to the shrine not only on holidays, but also on Sunday, takes communion and confesses with one priest, the church turns not just into a building with domes, but into a native home. In this case, the parents know all the necessary rules. They must tell the godfathers about the nuances in their temple.
Sometimes fate develops in such a way that you have to baptize a child in an unfamiliar church. What do mom and dad need to know about the priest and the shrine? The main thing is that they meet the Orthodox faith.
Straight Talk
But, besides this, a preliminary conversation should be held with the priest. Today, many churches themselves practice meeting with their parents. In conversation, they learn about the true intentions of people.
Now the sacrament of wedding or baptism is perceived as something ordinary and necessary. In turn, many people do not even understand the essence of rituals. Each rite for them is a peculiar tribute to fashion. Others are forced to hold these ceremonies by older relatives. Because of this, great rituals have lost their festivity.
Therefore, the priests are talking. In conversations, important topics are raised that parents did not even think about when planning a child’s baptism. What do mom and dad need to know to pass the "test"? At least the main dogmas, commandments. Of course, at least two prayers should be recited by heart: “Our Father” and “I Believe.”
Religious rules and folk myths
Sometimes it emerges from a conversation that parents in religious matters are as incompetent as their child. Then the priest agrees to perform the ritual only on condition that the unreasonable mom and dad get better. After all, people who do not understand the basics of their faith will not be able to give the necessary knowledge to the child. Accordingly, the Sacrament will be nothing more than a formality.
In addition, other issues are raised, for example, the theme of godparents. In a one-on-one conversation with the priest, one can understand where the border of religious rules and popular superstitions is.
There are many nuances that prohibit one or another person from even looking at the baptism of a child. What you need to know to godmother and dad, who were invited to become godfathers, is that they will not be able to fulfill their mission if they profess a different religion. No matter how requested in this case the priest’s parents, he will not agree to hold the sacrament with the Gentiles. The fact is that such people will not be able to teach the kid Orthodox traditions. If they keep silent about this nuance, then sin will fall on everyone who was in conspiracy.
First pair mission
In the event that such a situation occurred due to ignorance, no one will cross the child. Such a ritual is performed only once in a lifetime. But the baby can still communicate with the recipients.
There is another topic that is often raised before baptizing a child. What do godmother and dad need to know if they are participating in the Sacrament for the first time? Often people say that a woman should be the first to pick up a boy, and a man should take a girl. Otherwise, adults convey to the child all their happiness. Orthodox people should not rely on such superstitions. Moreover, in fact, everything is reversed. From a religious point of view, only a person from the first couple (the floor must be the same with the godson) is perceived by heaven as a real perceiver. That is, only the first godfather is the named mother for the girl, and godfather is for the boy. These people have the greatest responsibility for the fate of the child.
Family and spiritual connection
Priests who are not closely acquainted with the family will not be able to clearly trace the implementation of all the rules. Therefore, this mission rests with the godfathers. All recipients are responsible for the baptism of the baby. What does godmother need to know? That she cannot complete such a mission if her husband or groom is standing next to her. The fact is that in this way people are combined with a spiritual connection. In fact, they become relatives. And such an alliance is much higher than marriage. If young people baptized one child, and then fell in love and decided to get married, then this is possible. But all the information should be honestly told to the priest.
People living in a civil marriage can also become recipients. From a religious point of view, such persons sin because they do not legitimize their relationship. But they are not a family before the Lord. On the other hand, what can people who spread fornication teach a child?
Big responsibility
Cousins of parents can be not only friends, but also any relatives. It doesn’t matter if the person is old or young, the main thing is that the person you choose is a good layman, aware of her responsibility.
The baptism of a child does not do without unforeseen situations. What do godmothers need to know about baptism? She should not participate in the ritual during menstruation. On such days, a woman should refrain from the Sacraments. If menstruation falls on this day, you need to honestly tell the priest. He will offer the best option. The tolerant father will never be angry, but will praise for honesty.
But before they call someone into the recipients for their child, parents should think things through. Godmothers and fathers should be people who will take part in the education of your crumbs, take the baby to church and teach prayers with him.
Purity of soul
Usually a woman cannot go to the temple when a child is baptized. What does mom need to know about baptism if she is at home or nearby at that time? One can read scripture in the mind. But the ban on the presence of the mother during the ritual applies only to the first 40 days. Further, the priest can read a special prayer over a woman, and then she is allowed to look at the rite.
After the parents decide on the venue of the Sacrament and settle all the formalities, care should be taken to clean their own souls. The ritual that will be held on your baby is very important. On this day, everyone - mom, dad and recipients - will receive new responsibilities. Under their protection will be absolutely pure and sinless Orthodox man. Before you begin an important mission, you should carefully prepare.
general information
Before the ritual, several days should be devoted to spiritual reflection. People involved in the process should remember that they are preparing not only for the holiday, but also for a responsible mission. It is best to fast and refrain from sex a few days before baptism. It is also worth confessing and taking communion the day before.
Dressing for the ceremony should be modest, but in new bright things. Women are better off not painting. You need to bring kryzhma (white cloth), a cross and a chain. These attributes are bought by the receivers.
The ritual itself lasts 30-40 minutes. Each of the godfathers must know by heart the “Creed”.
A great event in the life of parents is the baptism of a child. What mom needs to know (photos partially reflect the ritual) - everything is described in the text. The main thing is that thoughts and intentions on this festive day should be clean.