The baptism of a child is one of the central and most important rites in the Christian religion. This sacrament brings a new person into the bosom of the church and transfers it under the protection of his guardian angel. When are children baptized? In Orthodoxy, it is customary to baptize a child on the 40th day from the day of birth. Sometimes this period can be as little as 8 days — usually on the 8th day a naming of the child took place, and a baptismal ceremony was performed along with the naming . However, most often such a rush arose in cases where the child was born weak or painful in order to have time to participate in church sacraments and thus try to save or protect. Sometimes they decided to baptize such children immediately after birth, and any Orthodox person could do this in the absence of a priest, and after recovery a rite of anointing and bathing was performed.
However, it is right when children are baptized on the 40th day. It is believed that by this day the woman is completely cleansed after childbirth, and the mother can enter the temple with the baby. In general, Orthodox priests say that it is desirable to baptize children until they reach 7 years of age (with the consent of the parents). And when children between the ages of 7 and 14 are baptized, not only parental blessing is required, but also the consent of the child himself. And after 14, only the desire of the child is enough to perform the baptismal rite.
The second important issue in the
sacrament of baptism is the choice of the godfather. Now the choice of godparents is most often dictated by the sympathy of the parents, because being godmother is an honorable duty. This means that parents trust the most precious person - the soul of their child. And the issue of choosing godparents must be approached very seriously. Is it possible to baptize a child to a person who professes a different faith? This is extremely undesirable, because according to the Christian tradition, the godfather should introduce his pupil to the issues of faith, congratulate him on
church holidays and engage in his spiritual education. Of course, it is better if this is done by one person with the parents and child of religion. Also incapable, mentally unhealthy people cannot become godparents.
Can a child be baptized without a godmother or vice versa? This is another issue that often arises during baptism. In principle, according to the priests, for the rite of baptism, one godparent is enough - the same sex as the baby who is going to be baptized. However, now most often parents are trying to pick up a pair of godmothers of different sexes. In general, this is understandable, because the child’s parents also have two, why should the spiritual teacher be alone. But it should be remembered that simultaneously married people, as well as the parents of this child, cannot be godparents.
The duties of the godfather include the adoption of a baby in a special towel-kryzhma after the rite of bathing, and it is the godfather who puts the cross on the child. Accordingly, usually a cross on a chain is the first gift from godparents to their ward. But the duties of the godfather are not limited to this. When children are baptized, people voluntarily assume responsibilities for their godchildren - now they must pray daily for their baptized children, monitor their life and spiritual development. According to tradition, the godchildren visit their godparents at Christmas, but this does not mean that such visits should not be made during the year. It should be remembered that baptism is a responsibility, but it is also great happiness to be spiritual parents for a small person.