What does it mean to be a godmother? Godmother

Baptism is one of the important events in life Orthodox man. It is believed that he receives some kind of pass into the Kingdom of God. This is the moment of a person’s spiritual birth, when his previous sins are forgiven and his soul is cleansed. Special attention One should pay attention to the choice of godparents for the child, since they have an influence on the spiritual life and salvation of the believer. That's why Godfather, whose duties and responsibilities include all of the above, must be worthy.

The role of a godfather in a child's life

Now let's take a closer look at what role the godfather plays in Orthodoxy, whose responsibilities include not only gifts for holidays. The most important thing he must do is to provide assistance in the spiritual life of his godson. So, let's look at the responsibilities in order:

Set a worthy example for him with your life. This means that in the presence of a godson you cannot drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or speak swear words. You need to be noble in your actions.
Prayers for your godson are obligatory, especially in difficult moments.
Visiting a temple with your child.
Spiritual education of the godson is mandatory (stories about God, teaching the Bible, etc.). If there are problems in life situations, then provide all possible assistance.
The responsibilities of the godfather also include financial support if necessary (if the parents have a difficult situation with money or work).

What do you need to know to choose godparents?

So, how to choose a godfather or godfather? What should you be guided by? Firstly, you should know that in the spiritual life of a child, the most important thing is a godfather of the same sex (for a boy - a godfather, for a girl - a godmother). However, according to established tradition, two are chosen as godfathers.

Of course, the decision who will be the child’s spiritual educator throughout his life is made at family council. If there are any difficulties when choosing, then consult with your priest or spiritual father. He will probably suggest a suitable candidate, because this is quite an honorable duty.

It is very important that godparents do not get lost in life, that they continue to spiritually care for the child throughout his life. Both the godmother and the godfather, whose duties and functions are described above, have their own responsibilities before the Lord.

Based on all this, Christians who are over fourteen years old are suitable for the role of spiritual parents. They take responsibility for the future spiritual life of the child, praying for him, and then teaching him to live in the Lord.

Who can't be a godfather?

When choosing a godfather or mother, you need to know who cannot be for your child:

Those who are going to become spouses in the future or are already such in the present.
Parents of the baby.
Those who accepted monasticism.
Unbaptized people or non-believers in the Lord.
You cannot take as godparents people who have mental illness.
Those who profess a different faith.

All of this should be taken into account before a godfather is chosen. His responsibilities are quite extensive, so the person who agreed to be him must be clearly aware of everything.

Necessary items for the ceremony

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

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

Is there any special preparation for recipients before the ceremony?

You should also pay attention to preparing for christening. The most correct step would be to contact your confessor or priest for advice. However, you should know that usually before the sacrament it is necessary to confess and receive communion. Before this, you need to fast (the priest should tell you about the number of days). You may need additional actions, such as reading prayers, spiritual literature, etc. It is also advisable not to attend noisy parties, various entertainment venues, or watch TV at this time. All free time It is advisable to devote time to prayer.

If this is your first time in the role of godfather, then it is advisable to familiarize yourself with how the sacrament is performed, what prayers are read, and what the order of chants is. This is necessary because when you become a spiritual educator of a little person, you need more than just a formal presence. Sincere prayer is necessary, which should not stop even after the completion of the sacrament, because this is the essence of becoming a godparent.

More details about what responsibilities the godfather has during this ritual will be discussed below.

Present

Considering the question of the duties of a godfather at a christening, it should be said that on this day it is customary to give gifts, both to the baby and to the godfather. If desired, you can give a gift to your parents.

It is appropriate for a child to give both an educational toy and something more important for spiritual life, such as a Bible for children with pictures. By the way, the gift can be discussed in advance with the parents, because something else may turn out to be more important at this moment.

There is one main gift that his godfather must give the baby. The responsibilities during baptism are not only to hold the baby, but also to show the first example of honoring the Lord. After all, children understand everything from birth at the level of feelings. In addition to reading prayers, such a gift is a pectoral cross, which is baptismal. It must be bought and presented by the recipient.

For parents, especially for the baby’s mother, a prayer book containing the necessary prayers for the whole family would be a good gift.

How were christenings celebrated in ancient times?

Previously, as now, christenings were a very significant event in people's lives. This sacrament was necessarily performed no later than two months after the baby was born, and sometimes earlier, on the eighth day. This happened because there used to be a high infant mortality rate, so it was very important for loved ones to baptize the child before the irreparable happened, so that his soul would go to heaven.

The celebration of the little man’s joining the church took place with big amount guests. This was especially noticeable in large villages. Many people gathered for such a holiday, who came with gifts and Best wishes baby. At the same time, they brought mainly various pastries - kulebyaki, pies, pretzels. In the house where the little man lived, a sumptuous table was laid for the guests, and there was practically no alcohol (there could only be red wine in very small quantities).

There were traditional holiday dishes. For example, a rooster baked in porridge for a boy or a chicken for a girl. There were also a lot of shaped baked goods, which symbolized wealth, fertility, and longevity.

It was customary to invite the midwife to the table, who would receive the baby. They could also call the priest who performed the baptismal ceremony. During the celebration, numerous songs were sung, thus wishing the child all the best. They saw off all the guests, presenting each with sweets.

How is baptism performed? Responsibilities of a Godfather

Now let's look at how the ceremony itself takes place, what should be done at this time and what responsibilities each of those present has. In our time, this sacrament usually occurs on the fortieth day after birth. Parents or future godparents must go to the chosen temple in advance and sign up for the chosen date, as well as agree on the process itself. After all, you can hold individual christenings or general ones.

The responsibilities of the godfather during the baptism of a girl are the same, and that of a boy are different (although they differ slightly). If the child is not yet a year old and cannot stand on his own, then he is held in his arms all the time. For the first half of the ceremony (before immersion in the font), boys are held by their godmothers, and girls by their fathers. After the dive, everything changes. Since the main thing for a boy is the father, it is he who accepts the child, and the mother accepts the girl. And this continues until the end of the ceremony.

The service itself lasts about forty minutes (more time is required if there are many people). It begins after the celebration of the liturgy. The performance of the sacrament begins with the laying on of hands on the person being baptized and the recitation of a special prayer. After this, you should renounce Satan and his works. Adults are responsible for a child who cannot speak.

The next step in the ritual will be the consecration of the water in the font. Before immersing the person being baptized into it, he should be anointed with oil (back, chest, ears, forehead, legs and arms.) Only after this does immersion into the font occur. The priest reads prayers. This action symbolizes dying to the world and resurrecting to the Lord. This is how a kind of cleansing occurs.

Then the child is handed over to the godfather, he is wrapped in kryzhma (as mentioned above, the boy is handed over to the father, and the girl to the mother). Now the baby is anointed with myrrh.

So, now you know the responsibilities of a godfather when baptizing a boy and a girl. As you can see, they are slightly different.

Baptism at home

In addition to baptism in the temple, it would not be reprehensible to perform this sacrament at home, with your family. However, it is better to do it in the right place. This is based on the fact that after baptism, boys must be brought into the altar (girls simply venerate the icons).

After the ceremony is completed, the little man becomes a full member of the church. This can be felt most strongly only in the temple. Therefore, home christenings are possible only if the baby is unable to withstand the ceremony in church. They are also committed when the child is in mortal danger (illness, etc.). If the whole sacrament takes place in home environment, then the godfather has the same responsibilities for baptism as if the ceremony were performed in a temple.

Church life of new Christians

You should know that after baptism, a person’s spiritual life just begins. The first acquaintance with church rules begins with the prayer of one’s own mother and godmother. This is how, invisibly, the word of God is instilled in the baby. And in the future, when he sees everything for himself, you can slowly introduce him to family prayer, explaining its value.

Special mention should be made about baptismal accessories. Kryzhma and special clothing (if you purchased it) should be stored separately and not used in everyday life. A christening shirt (dress) can be worn when a child is ill (or simply wrapped in it). The icon that was used during the sacrament should be placed near the baby’s crib or on the home iconostasis (if there is one). The candle is used on special occasions and is also kept for life.

The responsibilities of a godfather at baptism are just beginning. In the future, when the child grows up, he will need to go to church with him, take communion and attend services. Of course, this can be done with parents, but it is better if it is a godfather. By the way, you need to take your child to church from an early age. It is there, in the bosom of the church, that he will be able to realize all the greatness of God. If he doesn’t understand something, you need to patiently explain the difficult moments.

This is how addiction occurs and has a beneficial effect on the human soul. Church chants and prayers calm and strengthen. During growing up there may be difficult questions. If godparents or parents cannot answer them, then it is better to turn to the priest.

Conclusion

So now you know what the responsibilities of a godfather are. They need to be taken seriously from the very beginning, as soon as such an offer is made to you. If necessary, consult with the priest about what you should do for your child, how to educate him in the spiritual life and what support to provide. Be careful, because from now on you and your godson are spiritually connected forever. You will also be responsible for his sins, so upbringing should be treated with special importance. By the way, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to refuse this.

Baptism is one of the important events in the life of an Orthodox person. It is believed that he receives some kind of pass into the Kingdom of God. This is the moment of a person’s spiritual birth, when his previous sins are forgiven and his soul is cleansed. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of godparents for the child, since they have an influence on the spiritual life and salvation of the believer. Therefore, the godfather, whose duties and responsibilities include all of the above, must be worthy.

The role of a godfather in a child's life

Set a worthy example for him with your life. This means that in the presence of a godson you cannot drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or speak swear words. You need to be noble in your actions.
Prayers for your godson are obligatory, especially in difficult moments.
Visiting a temple with your child.
Spiritual education of the godson is mandatory (stories about God, teaching the Bible, etc.). If there are problems in life situations, then provide all possible assistance.
The responsibilities of the godfather also include financial support if necessary (if the parents have a difficult situation with money or work).

What do you need to know to choose godparents?

Of course, the decision about who will be the child’s spiritual educator throughout his life is made at the family council. If there are any difficulties when choosing, then consult with your priest or spiritual father. He will probably suggest a suitable candidate, because this is quite an honorable duty.

Who can't be a godfather?

When choosing a godfather or mother, you need to know who cannot be for your child:

Those who are going to become spouses in the future or are already such in the present.
Parents of the baby.
Those who accepted monasticism.
Unbaptized people or non-believers in the Lord.
You cannot take as godparents people who have mental illness.
Those who profess a different faith.

All of this should be taken into account before a godfather is chosen. His responsibilities are quite extensive, so the person who agreed to be him must be clearly aware of everything.

Necessary items for the ceremony

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

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

Is there any special preparation for recipients before the ceremony?

You should also pay attention to preparing for christening. The most correct step would be to contact your confessor or priest for advice. However, you should know that usually before the sacrament it is necessary to confess and receive communion. Before this, you need to fast (the priest should tell you about the number of days). You may need additional actions, such as reading prayers, spiritual literature, etc. It is also advisable not to attend noisy parties, various entertainment venues, or watch TV at this time. It is advisable to devote all your free time to prayer.

More details about what responsibilities the godfather has during this ritual will be discussed below.

Present

For parents, especially for the baby’s mother, a prayer book containing the necessary prayers for the whole family would be a good gift.

How were christenings celebrated in ancient times?

The celebration of the little man's joining the church was celebrated with a large number of guests. This was especially noticeable in large villages. Many people gathered for such a holiday, who came with gifts and best wishes for the baby. At the same time, they brought mainly various pastries - kulebyaki, pies, pretzels. In the house where the little man lived, a sumptuous table was laid for the guests, and there was practically no alcohol (there could only be red wine in very small quantities).

How is baptism performed? Responsibilities of a Godfather

Then the child is handed over to the godfather, he is wrapped in kryzhma (as mentioned above, the boy is handed over to the father, and the girl to the mother). Now the baby is anointed with myrrh.

So, now you know the responsibilities of a godfather when baptizing a boy and a girl. As you can see, they are slightly different.

Baptism at home

After the ceremony is completed, the little man becomes a full member of the church. This can be felt most strongly only in the temple. Therefore, home christenings are possible only if the baby is unable to withstand the ceremony in church. They are also committed when the child is in mortal danger (illness, etc.). If the whole sacrament takes place in a home environment, then the godfather has the same responsibilities for baptism as if the ceremony was performed in a church.

Church life of new Christians

This is how addiction occurs and has a beneficial effect on the human soul. Church chants and prayers calm and strengthen. As you grow older, difficult questions can arise. If godparents or parents cannot answer them, then it is better to turn to the priest.

Conclusion

As a rule, in the eyes of the godson, the godfather or godmother is a special person. Many times I have heard with what love and tenderness people pronounce the word “godfather”, as if they were touching something hidden in their lives. The recipients themselves are most often proud of this “status”. But do we really know how to live up to the title of godparents, do we have an idea of the obligations that we have undertaken? And in general, what does it mean to be a godfather?

During the sacrament of Baptism, I, as a godmother, vouched before the Church for the faith of the person being baptized. This means that now I must cultivate this faith in my godson. If you think about it, you just give up. Why did I think I could handle it? After all, I am responsible not even for the life of this little man, but for his salvation. And just as a mother feels the baby’s need for her care, so I must feel the urgent need for my help on his path to God. The Church has entrusted me with the care of the human soul, and now I fulfill it with all my perplexities, weaknesses, stupidities, groping, stumbling and limping. But my two godchildren have only such a godmother. So, this is not the time to doubt, it means I have no right to fail?!

After reading specialized literature, you can at least find out in general terms what godparents there are responsibilities that help them raise godchildren in Orthodox faith. But in the practical performance of these duties, questions still arise that require clarification. It is best in such cases to contact a priest. I asked the cleric of the Saratov church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quench My Sorrows,” Hieromonk Dorotheus (Baranov), to answer my questions.

— The very first and main help of a godparent to his godson is, of course, prayer. What should this prayer be, what should we ask God for?

— If the godfather is a church person, then he does not need any special prayers, because he regularly prays for his neighbors at the Divine Liturgy, submits notes about health so that the Church can pray for them collectively, and remembers his godchildren at home prayer in the morning and evening. Thus, everything depends on the degree of churchgoing of the godfather. The intensity of the recipient’s church life is reflected in the life of his ward, even if they are separated by a long distance. After all, the spiritual relationship that arises in the Sacrament between the godfather and the baptized is as close as the relationship in the flesh.

— The godfather must take care to administer the Holy Mysteries to the godson as often as possible. What to do if parents prohibit it?

— The question is complex. Of course, spiritual responsibility lies with the godfather, but he shares this responsibility with his parents. In a material sense, the child is completely dependent on them, and this situation cannot be changed. It is necessary, of course, to exhort parents: not to persuade, but to convince. After all, reluctance to give communion to a child always has specific reasons. From the most banal - lack of time - to such a serious reason as lack of faith. If the matter really is a matter of unbelief, then for the godfather this is a field for unobtrusive preaching when communicating with parents. After all, one day they decided to baptize their baby, and this means that at least in the most rudimentary state, faith is present in their hearts.

Of course, everything is much simpler when the child’s parents themselves regularly attend services, pray at home, live church life, and resort to the sacraments of the Church. Then their son or daughter organically perceives Christian traditions, the very concept of the existence of God.

—What if parents are far from the life of the Church? After all, it is not enough that my goddaughter simply hears the name of God in the mouths of her relatives, knows the holidays of Christmas and Easter; It’s not enough that I give icons and books, and that her wonderful grandmother sometimes brings the girl to church for Communion. She is growing up, and her knowledge of God and the Orthodox faith should become more and more conscious and deep. What and how should I, godmother, do for this? How to talk to a child about God?

— Giving books is very important. Especially if direct communication is limited. Nowadays there are many children's books that talk about Christian values through some situations; There are wonderful children's prayer books, colorful and well illustrated. I would recommend linking book gifts to church holidays, with the memory of some especially revered saints, with name days, so that the child already enters the sacred life of the Church through the event. I understood that he receives gifts for Christmas not because January 7 has arrived, but because we want to do something nice for our loved ones on the Savior’s birthday. And, of course, it is no less important to instill a love of reading from childhood. We need to make it clear to the child that the main thing in a book is not the pictures - it exists to be read.

And we need to talk about God most in simple words. That He is everywhere, that He is the Creator. And most importantly, the child must feel that the person who tells him about God believes in Him. Finding an informal approach to a child’s heart is a great art, a lot of work. Of course, often even parents do not always succeed. In any case, the adult must be vigilant: if the child does not perceive what he is told, if his attention is scattered, he must translate his story into a form more accessible to his understanding. And if you managed to capture the child’s attention, contact has occurred, then you can begin to build a conversation on a more serious level. And if the godfather has the opportunity to make his contribution to mental and then spiritual education, thank God!

— What if time is lost and contact with the child is not found? In addition, it often happens that communication is completely lost and nothing is known about the fate of the godson. How can the recipient rehabilitate himself?

- Here, unfortunately, we will have to talk about the sad, because, most likely, nothing. If the godson has already become an adult, then at least let him know that he has a godfather and that you are ready to establish a relationship with him. When the godson is still small, you need to seek contact with the parents. They need to feel your readiness to come to the rescue at any moment. And let their godfather be just a good, reliable family friend. This is already a lot.

But if there is no contact at all, then, as we have already said, you just need to pray. These words “just pray” are often used in passing. Lack of faith in the power of prayer is one of the most big problems modern Christian. When a person has faith in the power of prayer, then he will be calm in his soul, realizing that he did everything possible in this situation, when even contact was lost. There will definitely be benefits from such prayer.

— So it turns out that prayer is, after all, the most important thing for the recipient, which cannot be deviated from under any circumstances?

- Undoubtedly. Often we pray for someone else more fervently than for ourselves, especially if he is in difficult circumstances. Anthony the Great saw that the whole world was entangled in a network of sin. And what can we, Christians, oppose to this? There are family and spiritual ties between us, and we must create our own “protection system,” which consists of prayer for each other.

...And praying for each other is an expression of our love. In the book “On the Responsibilities of a Godmother” by the Blago publishing house, I read that given the current shortage of love in the world, it is extremely important to make the godson feel that he is loved. This will give joy and light to a child’s soul. At the same time, you need to teach him to love himself. After all, as the Apostle John the Theologian said: He who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). And my main task, as a godmother, is to do everything so that in the life of the little person whom the Church has entrusted to my care, his main meeting takes place - a meeting with God.

When agreeing to become a godmother, a woman must understand that she will have to take responsibility for raising her godson/goddaughter in the spirit of Orthodoxy, setting an example of a pious life. Therefore, the proposal should be taken seriously, assessing the possibility of implementing the assigned mission.

How to prepare a future godmother for the baptismal ceremony

The future godmother must be baptized in Orthodoxy, know the basics of the Christian faith, observe church laws, and also undergo certain preparation for the sacrament.

How to pass an interview

After setting the date for the christening and agreeing on it with the priest, the godmother and godfather must attend public conversations and receive the priest’s blessing for a bright mission. Usually one or two such interviews are scheduled, in some cases three to five. Some churches, after listening to preparatory lectures and passing exams, issue certificates or certificates of completion of public discourses.

During the classes, the priest talks about the rite of Baptism itself, and also explains the meaning of the Orthodox faith in general. Godparents, at a minimum, need to familiarize themselves (if this has not been done previously) with the text of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament and learn the basic Orthodox prayers.

Fasting, Confession and Communion

During the preparation period, recipients must attend a church service, confess (repent of their sins) and receive communion. Three days before the sacrament of baptism, observe fasting: do not eat food of animal origin, abstain from marital relations, foul language and entertainment. On the day of baptism, you must come to church on an empty stomach. Such preparation will allow the godmother to participate in the first communion of her godson/goddaughter and take communion with him/her.

What prayers you need to know

Mandatory for the godmother, like any Christian believer, is knowledge and understanding of prayer, which is summary basic dogmas of the Orthodox faith. By saying this prayer, the godparents, instead of the baptized person, acknowledge faith in the creator of heaven and earth, the Lord God, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

It is also necessary to learn the prayers “Our Father,” “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary,” and “Heavenly King.”

How to dress correctly

The appearance of the godmother in the temple should be modest and neat. But you should not choose gloomy clothes, since baptism is Holy holiday. The best solution There will be pastel colors: milky, beige, lavender. In addition, light-colored clothing looks more formal in photographs.

A woman in the temple must have her head covered. Choose a beautiful shawl or stole. For a girl’s christening, it would be appropriate for the godmother to choose a headdress that harmoniously matches the goddaughter’s cap or scarf.
A dress or skirt must be below the knee length. Tight-fitting models and models with deep necklines are not allowed - the godmother needs to bow and accept the child from the priest after churching, kneeling (most often this is done by the mother, but sometimes by the godmother)
Arms, shoulders and décolleté should be covered. It is better to give preference to dresses and blouses with a collar and sleeves no higher than the elbow.
Shoes should be closed and with low heels. This will avoid leg fatigue after the ceremony. The girl is received from the font and then held in her arms by her godmother.
The use of bright decorative cosmetics is not encouraged.

Is it possible to be a godmother on critical days?

It is necessary to agree with the child’s parents on the date of baptism so that it does not coincide with the days of her monthly cleansing, since during this period the woman is not allowed to participate in church sacraments. If your period comes unexpectedly, then you cannot hide this fact; it is better to ask the baby’s parents to reschedule the baptism.

If it is not possible to change the date, you need to talk with the priest and discuss the possibility of participating in baptism.

In most cases, priests are allowed to be present in the church and simply observe the ceremony, while the godmother is indicated on the baptismal certificate.
In some churches, the godmother is allowed to participate in the ritual with the stipulation that she is not allowed to accept the child from the baptismal font, hold him in her arms or venerate the icons. It is allowed to pronounce traditional vows and pray.

What are the responsibilities of a godmother during the sacrament?

At the baptism of a girl

The responsibilities of the godmother during the baptism of a girl are greater, since she is considered the main recipient. She will have to take her goddaughter from the font and hold her in her arms until the end of the sacrament.

The godmother will also need to undress the child for immersion in the font and then dress him in a baptismal shirt. Some churches have changing tables, but with a general baptism of several children, you will have to do everything in weight. In this case, it is good to have experience communicating with small children and be able to calm a crying baby.

At the baptism of a boy

The godfather takes the boy from the font and holds him in his arms throughout the ceremony. The priest may ask the godmother to read the “Creed” prayer.

Responsibilities of the godmother after baptism

The very first thing a godmother needs to do after baptism is to constantly pray for her godson/goddaughter at church services, submit health notes, and mention her in morning and evening prayers said at home.

An already grown-up child needs to be taught piety, mercy, kindness by example, and together with his parents, begin to accustom him to regular visits to church, reading Orthodox literature, and introduce church calendar. The responsibility also includes teaching the child to pray, adhere to fasts, and resort to saving sacraments - confession and communion.

The godmother must remember the date of the christening and every year congratulate the godson/goddaughter on Angel Day, take the child to church on this day, light candles for health. It is better to prepare gifts for this holiday with a spiritual meaning.

Not only in childhood, but also in adult life, the godmother should take part in the fate of the godson/goddaughter, guiding him on the right path, helping kind words, advice, support in various life situations.

Photos provided

According to the custom of the Russian Orthodox Church, for the baptism of a child, one godfather of the same sex is enough, for a girl - a godmother, for a boy - a godfather. But at the request of the parents, there can be two godparents. The godfather of the same sex as the child will be the recipient of the font, and the responsibilities of the godparents will be divided in half.

When choosing a godfather for your son, you should think seriously: what kind of man do you want your child to be in the future, what masculine character traits will he develop over time, and in general, what does the words “be a Christian” mean to you? A godfather can provide invaluable assistance in raising a son. It is important to remember that the godfather and godson must trust each other and be friends. Experienced priests advise choosing as godparents those who successfully raise their own children.

A good godfather has a lot to learn, and he himself knows how and loves to teach. Remember that the godfather is called to help in the Christian upbringing of the child, and not just to be a support for the family in different situations. Ideally, the godfather should be an example for the whole family - in faith, honesty, kindness. Another important circumstance is that it is desirable that the godfather is not new to the church; he should well understand the meaning of church life, know and love the services in the church.

Spiritual kinship is a strong connection between two souls for life. By finding a worthy godfather for your child, you will give him a priceless gift that he will appreciate when he becomes an adult.

What does a godfather need to prepare for the rite of Baptism?

The godfather chooses in advance and buys a pectoral cross, a chain for it, or a lace for the baby for the future godson. Also, it’s worth taking care of purchasing a baptismal icon of the Guardian Angel ahead of time. It is also customary to give for Baptism an icon of the patron saint of the child in whose honor the name was given in baptism. It can be purchased, by agreement, by the child’s parents or godparents.

Godparents can order a measured icon for a child on Epiphany Day - an icon of the patron saint, the length of which is equal to the height of the child at birth. A measured icon is a valuable gift and a special blessing from godparents at a christening.

Traditionally, baptismal clothes - a shirt and diaper with a cross - are bought by the godmother. In the case when the boy has one godfather, the baptismal accessories can be chosen together with the baby’s own mother - the mother always knows best what would be better suited to kid. To baptize a boy, you will need a white shirt and a baptismal diaper or a large, white, new towel, in which the godson is received from the font. As a gift to the godson's family, you can present any icons. If there are no icons in the apartment of the young parents, then it will be very good if the godfather gives them the main holy images that should be in the home of every believer - icons of the Savior and the Mother of God.

The godfather's job is to give the child a Children's Bible. This can be done on the day of Epiphany or during the first year of the baby’s life, on any holiday. A good gift at the christening there will be any spiritual literature for family reading, as well as a prayer book with prayers for children, in a good quality leather binding, gift edition.

When preparing for Baptism, you will need to talk with the priest and find out what else is needed to perform the ceremony in the church - how many candles are needed, what icons can be placed on the lectern, etc. All this is worth finding out in advance so as not to fuss and waste time in solemn day. The godfather's responsibilities also include paying for the baptismal ceremony in the temple.

What should godfathers do during the sacrament of baptism?

During the baptismal ceremony, the godfather holds the child in his arms, if it is an infant, starting from about two years old, children stand independently, in front of the godfather, while reading prayers.

After the vows of negation from evil forces that the godfather gives for the child, the prayer Creed is read. This prayer is read by heart by the godfather, as a sign of confession of faith and guarantee for the baby.

Before immersion in the font, the godfather frees the child from diapers, or helps the baby take off his clothes, and hands him over to the priest for immersion. The godfather receives the child from the font into the white baptismal cloth, in the old days called “rizka” or “kryzhma”. The priest, with the help of his godfather, dresses the newly baptized person in a white baptismal shirt. At the end of the sacrament, the godfather with the child in his arms walks around the lectern three times, the Gospel is read, and the ceremony of cutting hair is performed as a sign of the godson’s surrender to the will of God.

Personal christening preparation for the godfather

According to the rules of the Russian Orthodox Church, the child's godparents and parents must attend a mandatory course of public conversations before baptism. Each church has its own procedure for conducting public conversations. You can find out about this from the candle maker when you sign up for baptism.

Baptism is a great sacrament Orthodox Church. One should prepare for it by fasting, confession and communion in order to participate in the sacrament with a renewed and pure soul. You can receive communion at Sunday service, on the eve of baptism. In many churches, it is customary to baptize children on Sundays, after the Liturgy.

If you are participating in the sacrament of Baptism for the first time, you need to get acquainted with the order of the sacrament - what sacred rites and prayers are performed and in what order, what the godfather has to do during the ritual. You can talk about this with the priest during public conversations or in person, in church.

Responsibilities of a Godfather

The main thing is to set an example of decent masculine behavior. To do this, you need to communicate with your godson more often when he grows up, talk about different topics. Christian upbringing assumes that godparents will periodically go to church with the child, accessible language explain the essence of what is happening in the church, ensure that the godson regularly confesses and receives communion.

You need to be ready to help advise parents in any difficult situation, and, if necessary, financially. When the child becomes a schoolchild, his godparents enroll him in Sunday school.

In old Russia there was a custom according to which it was the godparents who made the choice educational institution for the child, and then helped in arranging his personal life.

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