How to choose the right godparents for your child. Who in no case should be taken as godparents! Would have known sooner... What to wear for the christening of a child godmother

Baptism is the spiritual birth of a person. This is one of the most important events in the life of everyone, and so it is considered according to the church worldview. Baptism is a rather serious process, it must be approached with all responsibility. The thoughts of the people participating in this sacrament must be sincere and pure. Therefore, the question of who can be godparents is one of the most important in the rite of baptism. During the rite of baptism, a child or an adult receives a guardian angel as spiritual protection, who guards him throughout his life.

Who can be godparents and who can't?

As you know, the responsibility for the baptism of a child rests with both the real parents and the godparents. The conscious faith of a person in the existence of God is a necessary condition for the performance of the rite. Since it is the godparents who pronounce all the baptismal vows for the baby. The duties of godparents can be assumed, first of all, by Orthodox people and believers who take their spiritual life with all seriousness. A desirable condition for choosing a recipient is gender matching, that is, a boy must be baptized by a man, a girl by a woman.

Who can be godparents? This question becomes the main one before the Sacrament! As a rule, both a man and a woman become godparents. Ch
that they are not related to each other. There are situations when a woman becomes a godfather for a boy, a man for a girl, there will be nothing contradictory and reprehensible in this. It is important that the godparent be a truly believing person, who can be fully entrusted with the responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child.

Who can't be godparents?

1. Minor children who themselves do not yet have serious knowledge of the clergy. And who, in the event of the untimely death of both parents of the godson, will not be able to assume all their duties;

2. People of other religious denominations;

3. Spouses or a couple who are going to legitimize their relationship;

4. People leading a depraved lifestyle;

5. Women during menstruation;

6. Complete strangers who were persuaded by their parents, so to speak, at the very last moment.

In any of these cases, the priest has the right to refuse to perform the rite of baptism. Of course, you can keep silent about the true information, but is it worth it? After all, the act of baptism is performed with your child and his future directly depends on this.

How many times can you become a godparent?

There are no strict restrictions on the number of times of reception, therefore this issue is decided by the desire of the godfather himself. The only thing that The godfather must understand that each time he assumes the duties of a godfather, he takes on a great responsibility. You have to answer to God. It is worth remembering that the godfather is an example for the godson. In addition, he will have to help and protect his godson throughout his life.

There is a rumor that to become a godmother for the second time means to remove the cross from the firstborn. This is a big misconception. The Church categorically denies this rumor, comparing repeated participation in baptism with the birth of a second child. It is logical that a mother who has given birth to a second child will not abandon the first. It is the same with the godmother - having become the godmother for the second time, she in no case refuses the first-born and bears the same responsibility for him as for the second. The best solution is to take care in advance about who can be godparents for your baby.

Ever since ancient Russia, a tradition has appeared in our country to baptize children, while not giving them the opportunity to choose another faith.

Thus, in Russia, the majority of citizens adhere to the Orthodox faith.

In order to baptize a child, it is necessary to choose godparents. And the Orthodox Church strictly sets the requirements for who can be godparents, so it is important to know and follow these rules.

The sacrament itself is performed directly in the church. There are no age restrictions for entering Orthodoxy, so this rite can be performed by a person at any age.

But according to Russian customs, parents of newborns try to baptize their children in the first year of life. Thus, they provide their baby under the protection of the Almighty.

The godparents must be present during the baptismal ceremony. They are considered to be people who are in spiritual closeness with the godson. They should be the mentors of the child in the future.

At the same time, it is considered that it is not at all necessary that there are two parents. One is enough, but at the same time, for boys, there must be a godfather, and for girls, a godmother.

The presence of natural parents in the church is not necessary, but if the child is small, then it will be much calmer for him to be close to his relatives in an unfamiliar place.

During the process of baptism, the godparent must hold the child and stay with him at all times. If the baby is small, then he is completely dipped in holy water.

If a person is already an adult, then he simply has to dip his head three times in holy water. After bathing the child, the godparent must pick up, dry and put on new clothes.

Before choosing godparents for your child, as well as agreeing to become a godfather for someone, it is important to understand the very essence of this ceremony and your further duties towards the godson.

You can’t just attend the ceremony, and then forget about the responsibility to the child, which is entrusted by faith.

Baptism itself is called the second birth of a person. At this moment, his spiritual world is born. Since faith implies that after death the life of the soul does not end, then being in the human body, it should not accumulate sins in itself.

That is why the church imposes the following duties on godparents:

The problem of many families in the modern world is that their children go through the rite of baptism, but in fact they do not see the embodiment of Christian ideas in the family.

If the family is not attached to the faith, and even more so if the basic commandments are violated, it will be much more difficult for the child to perceive life in accordance with these commandments.

Most churches now do not perform the rite of baptism until the godparents have completed special courses.

This measure was created so that people realize the full responsibility of this step and be able to refuse before they enter into their duties to the Almighty.

After completing the courses, people become really ready for the sacrament, and they understand what they must do after baptism throughout their lives.

Knowing all the duties assigned to the godparents, you need to choose those people who are most suitable for their performance.

But it is also important to consider certain points:

1. The religion of the godparents themselves.
2. Family connection with the future godson.
3. The relationship between the godparents themselves.
4. Special periods for women.
5. The age of the godparents.

To take into account these features, you need to know who cannot be godparents according to church laws.:

Also, the question often arises about whether it is possible to be pregnant at the sacrament of baptism? The Church does not forbid entry to women who carry a child under their hearts, and also does not put a ban on becoming a godmother.

Knowing all these features, as well as your close circle of friends and relatives, it can be quite difficult to choose someone.

Very often it turns out that among the possible options for godparents are the same people for many relatives and friends.

Therefore, it turns out that the same person is often offered to become a godfather several times with different children.

And there are two main questions:

That is why the godparent courses now organized by many churches are important. Because, despite the fact that in 2020 it is becoming more and more fashionable to baptize a child, as well as appoint influential godparents to him, the most important thing is forgotten, this is the essence of baptism itself.

The financial status of the appointed godparent is not so important, but his lifestyle, which must comply with biblical covenants.

The godparent should be a spiritual mentor and with all his example show his godson how to live and what spiritual principles must be observed in any situation.

It is also important to know that you cannot change the godparents after the rite of baptism.. The chosen parents become them for life. Sometimes it also happens that after baptism, the godparent greatly changed his lifestyle for the worse.

But in this case, the godson himself and his parents should pray for the godparent's deliverance from sins and try to put him on the right path.

No one has the right to refuse such a godparent. Rebaptism is not possible. Therefore, it is very important to choose reliable godparents for your children.

However, in cases where the godparent renounced Orthodoxy, adopted a different faith, or became an atheist, then such a sacred union will be considered terminated.

Similarly, one can regard those cases when the godparent descended to the most forbidden sins, which are prohibited by the Testaments.

In this case, it is understood that this person does not want to live according to the precepts of the Bible, and also does not want to be an example for his godson.

In this case, the natural parents can ask other pious people to take care of the spiritual way of life of their child. This situation must be reported to the holy father before the rite itself is performed.

Many godparents like to pamper their godchildren with expensive gifts in order to win their favor and bring them closer spiritually.

But you need to understand that this is not the purpose of godparents. Not according to the size of the wallet, parents should choose godparents.

The best gifts that the church mentions are:

This is what godparents' gifts to their godchildren should look like. But besides this, the church does not prohibit giving other gifts that will delight the child. But still, the main emphasis should be placed on the spiritual education of the godson.

It is also believed that the most important date for giving is the name day of the godson's guardian angel. During the sacrament of baptism, a person who accepts Orthodoxy receives a middle name.

It may coincide with his real name, if this name is in the Orthodox book of names. And if the name is missing, then the child will be assigned a different name from this book.

Each such name has a name day. If the selected name has several dates during the year when name days are celebrated, the date closest to the Orthodox person's birthday is selected. It is on this date that godparents should bestow gifts on their godson.

Knowing all the nuances of the sacrament, as well as the requirements of the church for godparents, it is important to take a very responsible approach to choosing a godparent.

It is better to make him a responsible relative than an influential family friend.. Because financial values ​​in this case are not as important as spiritual ones.

Video: Godparents. The duties of a godfather. Baptism in the church

Interview before baptism

The main purpose of categorical conversations is to convey the essence of the Orthodox faith and convince those who wish to accept Baptism or become a recipient of its truth.

The organization of such interviews depends on the rules established in the temple. Meetings can be regular - held on certain days for parents and future godparents, for example, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In some churches, such talks are purely individual and are scheduled at an agreed time. There are temples that, after listening to lectures, practice exams and issue an appropriate certificate. The duration of such a course can be up to 7 days.

The interview does not have to take place in the temple where the baptism is planned. Out-of-town godparents can listen to the catechumens in the church closest to them.

Communion and fasting before the Sacrament

A day or two before baptism, both parents and beneficiaries need to visit the temple, confess and take communion in order to be cleansed of sins before the bright event.

It is necessary to fast before the sacrament of the cross for three days, refraining from foul language, pleasures and amusements. On the day of baptism, the recipients are forbidden to eat until the end of the rite, since very often after the rite communion takes place immediately, and the godparents are given the opportunity to take communion with the godson.

Preparation for the rite of Baptism

At what age should a child be baptized The Orthodox Church calls for babies to be baptized as early as possible, so that grace descends on the child as soon as possible, and he finds his Guardian Angel. Most often, the date of christening is chosen on the 40th day from birth. There are several preconditions for this: up to 40 days, a woman in labor is not allowed to attend church sacraments, after which a cleansing prayer is read over her, allowing participation in baptism; in babies of the first months of life, intrauterine reflexes do not completely fade away, so they easily tolerate dipping under water; newborns behave more calmly when strangers (godparents, priest) take them in their arms.

What days can a baby be baptized

Baptism of children is carried out on any day, including festive and Lenten. On weekends, services are usually longer and the number of parishioners is larger, so it is better to arrange a baptism on a weekday. On the days of major holidays, when divine services are special in content and duration, Baptism may not be held at all, it all depends on the particular church. It is also worth considering that in fasting, treats at the celebration of christening should be fast.

It is good to choose a day when the church is calmer and there are few people, but it is better to agree with the priest on an individual sacrament, discussing the main nuances of organizing the ceremony:

• the date of the ceremony is agreed;
• the list of necessary christening accessories is announced;
• the name of the child, whom he will be named at baptism, is specified.

Is it possible to baptize on critical days On the days of the monthly cleansing, women are forbidden to participate in church sacraments, so the date of baptism should be chosen when the godmother and the mother of the child will not have their period. If the critical days suddenly come earlier or later and fall just at the christening, then the priest must be informed about this. The priest may recommend rescheduling the sacrament, and if this is not possible, then give certain recommendations. Most likely, the godmother will simply be present in the temple, not taking a full part in the ceremony, that is, she will not be able to take the child from the font and hold him in her arms, as well as kiss the icons. Prayers are allowed.

What you need to take to church for the baptism of a girl: a list

Godparents need to prepare the necessary baptismal supplies in advance:

• A pectoral cross on a string or chain - the godfather must buy. If purchased in a jewelry store, then the priest must be warned before the beginning of the sacrament so that he can consecrate the product. In the church shop, all the crosses have already been consecrated.
• - a white cloth (diaper, towel) to take from the font, the godmother buys or sews. In the cold season, you may additionally need a blanket or blanket to wrap the child before the font and warm after.
• or dress - clothes after the font, the godmother buys. The cut of the shirt should be free and give access to the breast, arms, legs for the priest to anoint. The fabric should be natural and pleasant to the body, absorb moisture well.
• . Its presence for a baby girl (up to 7 years old) is not necessary, but parents themselves prefer to wear caps for newborn children, even boys. But for one-year-old babies and girls, lace scarves and bandages are picked up from the year - they beautifully complement the image. It is advisable to buy a product that is in harmony with the dress. In ready-made sets, all baptismal accessories are made in the same style, so this outfit would be preferable.
• Icon by name. If the image of the heavenly patron was not available, then you can purchase an icon of the Virgin or revered saints - Nicholas the Pleasant, Panteleimon the Healer, Matrona of Moscow.
• Church candles for the sacrament.

What you need to buy for a boy's baptism: a list

The list of things for the christening of a boy is practically the same. Godparents and parents will need to bring with them:

• Pectoral cross -, or.
• - terry or cotton (according to the season).
• or a ready-made baptismal set without a headdress. For newborn boys, the presence of a cap is allowed.
• Nominal icon or image of the Savior.
• Church candles.
• The second small towel so that the priest can dry his hands. After that, it remains for the needs of the church.
• Water bottle, pacifier.
• Spare clothes.
• Birth certificate, passports of mom and dad.

Rules and obligations of parents and godparents

All those invited to the temple for the sacrament must wear pectoral crosses, and also know their duties.

Godfather and godmother The godmother should take the girl from the font and keep in her arms throughout the sacrament, the godfather should take the boy. Godparents also have to dress the baby in baptismal clothes, so it’s good when they have experience with newborns. The recipients, instead of the baptized, renounce the unclean and his deeds and take a vow of fidelity to the Lord, thereby promising God to help the newly-baptized Christian believe and live according to the laws of the church. Mom and dad Parents of a child under seven years of age (infant) must give their consent to baptism, since it is they who will have to deal with the spiritual education of the baby and his initiation into the church. A child over 7 years old (boy) makes such a decision himself.

The presence of the mother at baptism depends on how many days have passed since the birth. Only after 40 days have passed and after reading the cleansing prayer, the young mother is allowed to attend the ceremony.

When, after baptism, the priest conducts churching: he brings and attaches the baby to the icons of the Savior and the Virgin (the boys are first brought into the altar), then after that he is given either to the godparents or to the father and mother present.

The first communion may be scheduled for some other day, for example, in a week. Parents or mother will need to come with the child to the morning prayer service so that the priest can commune the baby. Children should be given communion as often as possible, preferably every week.

Grandmother and grandfather

Grandparents present at the baptism offer prayers, they can help the godparents to change the child's clothes. Being one of the closest relatives, they take part in solving organizational issues. If desired, they can buy additional christening accessories, such as a blanket, blanket, booties, socks, which will be needed during the sacrament, and will also be useful to the child in the future.

What prayers you need to know for the baptism of a child The main prayer uttered by the person being baptized or his sponsors is. It must be known by heart, in extreme cases, confidently read from a sheet, understanding the meaning. This prayer consists of 12 statements and briefly describes the essence of the Orthodox faith. The godparents also say the prayer words of the godfather and godmother, in which they ask for the naming of their godparents and blessings for this sacred mission. It is customary to know the prayers well known to all Orthodox believers and “Virgin Mary, rejoice.”

A responsible step for parents is the baptism of their baby. The sacrament that brings the child to God, converting him to Christianity. It is very important to let him into a righteous life, but how? The answer is simple - with good believing mentors, who are the godparents. Even when the baby is in the womb, a woman ponders such questions. How to baptize your child? How to find worthy spiritual recipients for your baby? How to choose the right godparents for your child? We'll talk about this today.

About the sacrament of baptism...

How is the sacrament? The rite of baptism is a sacrament in the process of which the Lord's reverence (grace) descends to the baptized, giving him Eternal Life. Many perceive this rite as commonplace or as a tribute to the past, as a tradition that has come down to us through the centuries, while not understanding the full depth of the second spiritual rebirth.

The person being baptized, no matter how old he is, receives an Orthodox name during the ceremony. You can find out the meaning of this name from the articles and. Also, a person receives his guardian angel. How does this happen? According to Holy Scripture, a guardian angel appears behind the right shoulder after the sacrament of Orthodox baptism. This guardian angel accompanies, protects, protects a person throughout his life. It is this fact that for many is the impetus to perform a ceremony on their offspring in infancy.

An interesting fact is that godparents must be with a child who is under 18 years old. After this age, a person independently decides on the need for recipients for himself. The Church does not forbid to undergo the rite of Orthodox baptism without spiritual parents after 18 years.

The role of godparents in the sacrament

Spiritual mentors are those people who are entrusted with the responsible mission of spiritually guiding a child to the true path. Coming to Orthodoxy, the church, God, a person makes a vow to keep the commandments, church canons. But how can a baby do it? How else could he swear an oath? How can this be, because he does not yet realize the depth of the ongoing mystery. Therefore, it is the duty of godparents to make such vows for the baby. These vows throughout life oblige spiritual mentors to be responsible for the actions of their godson before God, as well as their own conscience. Accordingly, it is not easy to choose people who can be entrusted with such responsibility.

What should the godfather do during the ceremony?

How to stand? How to say? How to hold a baby? There are many more questions from people who have been chosen as spiritual mentors.

The recipients hold candles, renounce the devil three times. During the sacrament, the spiritual mother initially holds the baptized in her arms, and then (after the font) the godfather. They should recite the Creed Prayer. Usually the priest gives it to read, but it is written in Old Church Slavonic, so it is rather difficult to read. Better prepare ahead of time. How? Learn it or at least read it a few times.
Undressing, dressing the baby is also their responsibility. As for the nuances of the ceremony, the holy father always tells what and how to do, say. It is imperative that people who come to the church to baptize a child must have a pectoral cross.

Responsibilities of Spirit Guides

The assigned "position" of a godparent obliges a person to replenish the spiritual life of the godson, and not just give gifts for the holidays.

The role of godparents is very great, because they are entrusted with:

• prays every day for the salvation of the soul of his godson
• tell the godson about the Kingdom of God, teach to pray
• teach him, by your own example, virtue, mercy
• teach the godson to love God, to go to church

How to choose godparents for your child?

Now, understanding what the role of godparents is, let's try to figure out how to choose godparents? How not to make a mistake? How to trust a child to other people?

It is better to choose deeply religious people as godparents for the baby. After all, their main duty is to guide the child for whom they have taken responsibility in life, as well as to teach spirituality, accustom them to the church. Therefore, for relatives of mom and dad, these people should not be strangers. They must fully trust them, because after the ceremony they will become the second spiritual parents of the baby.

Who is the right person to choose for the role of godparents? How to do it?

There is a lot of conflicting information on the Internet, who can be a successor, how to choose him. We turned to the holy scripture, here is what it says:

1. There is no record in the Bible that relatives (brothers, sisters, uncles or aunts) do not have the right to baptize an infant. Accordingly, they can be safely chosen for the role of godparents.

2. Since God is one, then godparents should be chosen from Orthodox deeply religious people who do not profess other religions.

3. According to church laws, up to 18 years of age, godparents are responsible for a person’s spirituality; accordingly, before this age, he cannot yet become a mentor for another baby. Therefore, godparents must be chosen as adults. But right there, by decree of the Holy Synod, such requirements are crossed out. It says that a male who has reached 15 years of age can become a godfather, and a female child who has reached 13 years of age can become a godmother. The question is debatable, the answer to it is best obtained from the church, from the holy father, who will conduct the sacrament over your baby.

4. During the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, Godparents are not mentioned in Holy Scripture. But it is said that Jesus asked for baptism from John the Baptist, although he insisted "I need to be baptized by you." Based on this, an Orthodox minister who conducts the rite of baptism can be taken as a godfather to the baptized.

5. The future mentor must be baptized, have an Orthodox name "by which God recognizes him." Therefore, before choosing godparents, ask if the "candidates" are baptized.

Who should not be chosen as spiritual guides?

Like everywhere else, the church has its own unspoken rules. Before choosing godparents, you need to familiarize yourself with them.

1. Holy Scripture says that a couple who baptizes one child becomes spiritual relatives between whom there can be no intimacy, therefore a married couple or people about to get married do not have the right to baptize one baby.

2. Atheists or people professing other religions cannot be chosen as godparents.

3. People with an unworthy lifestyle, as well as the mentally ill (who do not know what they are doing) cannot be chosen as spiritual mentors for the baby.

4. Blood father, mother cannot be re-enlisted as mentors of the child. They cannot baptize their child.

How many godparents are allowed?

Holy Scripture says that the baby should have his own godfather of the same sex as the one being baptized. In other words, the Orthodox Church allows only one spiritual mentor:

• for a girl - a woman
• for a boy - a man

As an exception, death baptism can be carried out when a baby is baptized with one godfather of a different sex.

It is customary to take a couple, father, mother (godparents) for an infant. It is also not forbidden to involve several couples in the sacrament, here is the choice of the parents.
In addition to the question of how to choose godparents, they often ask how, when and why to baptize a child? Answers can be found in articles and. Having received the maximum amount of information, parents are able to take a different look at the sacrament itself, change their attitude towards it.

On worldly superstitions: breaking age-old myths

Our ancestors, and we ourselves, are quite superstitious. Even with such a pure, holy deed as the sacrament of baptism, we have our own myths. Here are some of them:

1. A woman must necessarily baptize the first boy, since the first goddaughter girl will become an obstacle to marriage. There is no Orthodox ground for this assertion. Perhaps, in the old days, such a "go-ahead" worked to beautifully refuse the assigned spiritual role.

2. It is impossible for the name of the baby to coincide with the name of one of the godparents, since fate is moving. The church has no such thing as destiny. Each person lives according to his conscience, according to the commandments of the Lord, and the expression "such a fate" is not accepted, since everyone builds his own life on his own.

4. Be sure one of the godparents must be a family, also have children, so as not to doom the child to loneliness. Again, a tradition from the past, based on the fact that family godparents have already taken place, and if necessary, they will always help the godson.

Revealing the essence of the problem - how to choose godparents? We can say the following: listen to your heart, pray, go to church. God will help you make the right choice.

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Baptism is one of the main sacraments in a person's life. There are cases when this rite occurs not only in infancy, but also at a more conscious age. At what age to baptize is only the decision of the parents.

It is customary to perform this ritual on the 40th day after the birth of the child. This is due to the postpartum period and the fact that at this time the forces of a woman should be entirely directed to the baby. A woman cannot visit the temple without a certain prayer, which the priest must read over her. Only after that she can come to the temple.

It is believed that small children behave more calmly at baptism. Older children may be scared. The main thing in this process is the correctness and awareness in the choice of godparents. This process must be approached with all seriousness and responsibility.

Who can be the godparents of a baby?

• They must be Orthodox Christians
• Pregnant and unmarried women are allowed to be godparents
• Must be churched and take the godson or goddaughter to church

Who cannot be godparents?

• Spouses or bride and groom, since marital relations are prohibited between people who are spiritually related
• Minors under 14 years of age
• Unbaptized
• Mother and father of a child
• People with psychological problems
• Monks and nuns
• People of a different faith
• immoral people

Having decided on the godparents, it is necessary to remind them of their main tasks after baptism:

• Prayer
• Doctrine
• Preacher

So, when the issue with the date is resolved, the place where the ceremony will take place and the godparents are selected, many pay attention to the signs on the christening. The rite of baptism of a girl is basically not very different from the christening of a boy, but still has some differences.

1. You don't need to wipe the water of baptism off your face.
2. It is a good omen when a child cries during a christening.
3. After the ceremony, the baby will become calmer.
4. The baptismal dress must be white. It shouldn't be red.
5. The godmother should give a kryzhma, and the father - a cross.
6. The baby needs to be baptized in a hat and then worn for another 12 weeks.
7. If a child screams during baptism, evil spirits come out of him.
8. For the easy life of the godson, it is customary during the ceremony to put water in a cup on the window.
9. It is considered a good omen if the christening takes place immediately after the wedding.
10. If bells ring before christening, it will bring happiness.

Also, during the baptism of the child, a name is chosen that is consonant with the one that was named by the parents. It is believed that it should not be told to anyone, as it protects the child from damage and the evil eye. In the temple, the priest can offer you a choice of names for the baptism of the girl.

According to Orthodox traditions, a newborn is named after a saint whose memory is celebrated on the day the child is born or on the day the name is given. Often it was the eighth day. Basically, the days of remembrance of the saints are written in the old style, and in order to understand which saint, you need to add 13 to the date. It is with this name that you need to address your saint for intercession before the Lord.

Rules for christening a girl

According to the need to approach responsibly.

• For a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient.
• You need to arrive earlier. As soon as the priest says about the beginning of the ceremony, the godfather must bring the girl to the church.
• Next, the child is anointed with oil, then immersed in the font.
• After that, they put on baptismal clothes and put on a cross.
• Then the girl is brought to lean against the icon of the Mother of God.
• The duties of the godmother at the baptism of a girl are to read the prayers:, "The Symbol of Faith."
• Also, the clergyman will give the baby into the hands of the godmother after the font.
• The godmother should have experience with the baby, know how to change her clothes and calm her down if she cries.

It will not be superfluous to come to an interview with a priest before the christening. She should also help the parents of the child in the preparation and conduct of the christening.

Christening girls: rules for the godfather

The basic rule for a godfather is to buy a cross for the ceremony. Also financial assistance in paying for the ceremony. It is generally accepted to buy a silver cross, since gold is considered a sinful metal. The chain can not be bought immediately, but limited to a ribbon. And later choose and buy it.

Christening girls: rules for the godmother

For the godmother, the main thing is the purchase of a kryzhma, a baptismal set. You can also buy as a gift to the goddaughter an icon with the name of the saint, which is worn by the goddaughter. Also, the main rule is the knowledge of the prayers necessary for the ceremony. If you do not know by heart the text of the “Symbol of Faith” prayer, then prepare a piece of paper with the text and take it with you to the temple.

What is needed for the baptism of a child: girls?

Traditionally, for the rite of baptism, you must have: a cross, a kryzhma, a baptismal dress. All these attributes must be purchased by the godparents.

What does the godfather buy for the girl's christening? The godfather must buy a cross and pay the costs of the ceremony in the temple. When choosing a cross, you need to pay attention to the fact that the edges are rounded. Sharp corners can hurt the baby. The metal from which the cross will be made is not important. It can be silver, gold or ordinary metal.

You can buy it both in the church and in the store. It must be remembered that church crosses have already been consecrated, and store ones must be consecrated before the ceremony begins. Godparents can also offer financial assistance in organizing a feast after the sacrament.

What does a godmother buy for a girl's christening? The godmother buys kryzhma. This is a piece of white cloth in which the child is taken after the font. At present, it may be a white towel with a cross. Often the date and the name of the child are embroidered on the roof. The godmother also buys a baptismal set. It is advisable to consult with the mother of the baby when choosing a dress and other items of clothing for the goddaughter.

Christening set for a girl

Basically, this set consists of a beautiful baptismal dress or shirt, lace cap, booties. There may also be a bib, tights or other accessories. The material from which the kit is made should depend on the time of year when the christening ceremony takes place and the age of the child.

It is also considered a good omen if these things are white or light in color and are made by the hands of the godmother. It must be remembered that the kryzhma and the baptismal set must remain in the house and not be transferred to anyone. Kryzhma is not erased a year after baptism. Also, if the child is sick, then he is wrapped in it and he recovers faster.

What do godparents give to a girl for christening?

The choice of a gift should not be hasty. It will be good if it combines practicality and feature. After all, the sacrament of baptism is a special holiday and therefore the gift should also be special. You can buy a chain for a cross, books for a baby, a personalized photo album, a set of bed linen.

If the material condition allows, then you can order a photo or video filming. It will be pleasant for the parents of the goddaughter and the memory will remain for a long time. A cake can be a good gift. It will be a delicious conclusion to the celebration. In addition, you can choose hygiene products for the baby.

A gift can be both “for growth”, and one that the baby will use in the near future. The godmother usually buys the icon for the christening of a girl. This may be an icon with the face of the patron saint. But besides this icon, you can also present such faces as: the Mother of God, the Matrona of Moscow, Nicholas the Wonderworker. It will be especially nice if the godmother embroiders this image with a cross or beads. She will be a good memory for your goddaughter and your contribution to her Christian upbringing.

It must be remembered that this rite is very responsible and serious in the life of a small child. The choice of godparents should be well thought out. Do not chase after the image and the desire to become closer to influential people. It is worth remembering the main task of baptism. In addition, godparents after christening cannot be changed, no matter how he changes. In such situations, you need to pray for him.

It is also important that after the baptism you need to go to the temple and take the child with you. It is also necessary to commune him if possible, pray. And then all your prayers will be answered.

The Lord is always with you!

From this video you can learn how to choose a date for the baptism of a child: