Absentee baptism of a child. Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents. What godparents need to know

You know, here we are all used to relying on some people invented customs. And no one pays attention to the Bible. You read in the gospels how Christ himself was baptized. Something I don’t remember, anyhow it was said about the godmother. There's no word of it about it.
Also, read the Acts of the Holy Apostles, when everyone was baptized with the Holy Spirit, is there any mention of a godmother or even a father?
The only godfather a Christian should have is Christ.
All other things are not of Christ.
By the way, all this is altered from pagan beliefs. This is not Christian, including godfathers and mothers.
Now, I can even go and be baptized, and there will be no godmother or father.
I was baptized as a child, but consider that I was not baptized either, since no one asked my permission for this. A person in general should be baptized precisely according to his own good will and in consciousness. And when a child is baptized against his will, he still does not understand anything, we can assume that he was not baptized.
God gave each of us the right to choose, but no one asked the child whether he wants to be baptized or not.
The fact that they say that if a child is not baptized, then in the event of death, he, supposedly, will not be attached to God, and will automatically go to hell, this is the same nonsense as the fact that there are green men on Mars, or exist on earth golden valley (eldorado).
Here it is logical to think: how can a child, who has not committed any sin, go to hell? In order to punish, you must have a pretext for this, because they punish for actions, and not just like that.
God's concept of justice is completely different from that of humans.
Therefore, it should be concluded: it is possible to baptize a child, both without a godfather and without a godmother.
Yes, and an interesting fact: I don’t remember from the Bible that a child must have his hair cut with a cross. This is again from paganism.
Indeed, in paganism they worshiped stones and natural phenomena, making invented images from stones and wood. So everything switched to crosses and icons.
God always knows who and what is worth, and will never think bad about a person, if a person had nothing of this in mind. The Lord sees all our hearts, he knows even what we are just going to think about.
Therefore, I will say this: if there is no way to baptize a child with a godmother, you can do this without her.
In general, if in a good way, then let the child grow up and decide for himself whether to be baptized or remain unbaptized.
It is his right to choose.
I would do the same with my child, because I do not believe in pagan nonsense. And the fact that this is nonsense, at least I have no doubts. For me, the Lord Christ is more precious than the blood of pagan ancestors.
One more thing: a child's guardian angel already appears from the beginning of his conception in the womb. Again, the pagan idea of ​​​​the god of defenselessness, that only when some kind of ritual is performed, the guardian angel will appear.

Many children are baptized as infants. By the age of majority, they do not remember anything about their rite of the sacrament. He again turns to the rite of the sacrament of a person when he is asked to become a godparent, or to have to baptize a child, and this is more difficult to do. Parents have the mission of choosing godparents. But there are cases when it is difficult to pick up godparents and the ceremony must be carried out without them or with one godfather. Therefore, the question: “Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?” is very relevant and the priest's response is of great importance.

The rite of the sacrament without two godparents

According to the church charter, traditions, the baby must have a godfather of the same sex as the godson, and the second godfather is chosen by the parents at will. Traditions have fixed for the Orthodox faith to have two godparents for a child.

The rite of the sacrament is performed for children at a young or adult age. At a young age, a baby cannot fully realize his faith and make a promise before the Lord God. Therefore, godparents assume this role. They represent the interests of the baby and say prayers and promises for him before the Lord.

Important! An exception will be when the rite of the sacrament can occur without a single recipient. This includes situations where baptism is needed without delay.

So, if the child is in serious condition and cannot reach the church, in this case there will be no time for godparents and the priest will conduct the baptism in the hospital ward. After the recovery of the child, he can be held a standard rite of the sacrament, with the presence of godparents and observance of all customs and rules. There were cases when lay people became the recipient. They can be healthcare workers or just patients in a hospital.

Attention! There are no strict rules regarding the fact that it is not allowed to baptize children due to the lack of godparents. The child is not guilty that there were no suitable recipients. He has the right to accept the Orthodox faith without godparents!

As for adults, it is easier for them to do without godparents. It is easy to be convinced of this by reading the process of conducting the rite of the Sacrament, where a person who converts to the Orthodox faith must answer the questions of the clergyman and pronounce prayers and oaths. For an adult, outside help of the recipients in the performance of the ceremony is not required.

There is no need to despair of the absence of godparents. Tradition and statutes have fixed the presence of two godparents, but it is forbidden to forbid joining the church. The clergyman himself will act as the godfather.

The rite of the sacrament without a recipient

If we turn to church canons, then there are no strict rules regarding the baptism of a child with one godparent. It is realistic to do without a godmother for a boy, and it is worth thinking about the godfather, since he is of the same gender as the child, then he should have an advantage in the ceremony. The same applies to girls, but then the preference is given to the godmother. It would not be right for a girl to do without a godmother.

If there are problems with the choice of one godparent, then it is possible to try to register a child without godparents in absentia. Godparents will not be present at the rite of the sacrament, but the godparents for the child will be recorded. It will be a kind of formality.

Attention! Before deciding to baptize a child without a godparent, you must first go to church and consult with the clergyman, some may not allow the sacrament to be performed.

Although this will be a violation of church rules, since every child and adult can accept the Orthodox faith, despite the current situation.

It is worth paying attention to the baptism of two or more children. In this case, it is not necessary for each baby to select a godparent separately. It will be enough to choose an advantage, a girl cannot be without a godmother, and both girls must have one. And vice versa, if they are boys, then there must be a godfather, and the mother is one for two.

Before baptism, you must first agree on the day of the sacrament, because a child can be baptized during fasting, not always on weekdays. There are only weekends left. You need to carefully consider the choice of godparents for two children, because there are a number of prohibitions, and not everyone can become a godparent. So you can not be receivers:

• the mother or father of the child;
• spouses;
• a person who has a non-Orthodox religion, with the exception of Catholics;
• a person who is far from church life and does not believe in God.

To baptize children without godparents, and with one godfather, church charters are allowed. It is worth coordinating these nuances with the clergyman in advance, because not everyone treats this with understanding.

When a baby is born, his soul and body are defenseless, therefore, the sooner he is baptized, the sooner he will find his own and know faith in God. Until the age of 7, it is customary to assign godparents to babies. But what to do if unforeseen situations arise when such people are simply not around. The question arises: “Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?”

Cases of the ritual without godparents

Our life is a series of events in which it happens that the Christian rite of baptism must be performed regardless of whether there are godparents nearby or not.

1. The child is seriously ill. In this case, anything can happen, the baby can die at any moment or he will have a serious operation. Then the little man should be baptized right in the hospital. This ritual can be performed by anyone. To do this, bring blessed water from the church. If this is not possible, take the usual one. Then, pouring this water on the head, say such or similar words: “The servant (a) of God (s) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". After that, it will be possible to go to church and ask the clergyman to complete the baptism in accordance with all the rules. In the future, you can also choose Orthodox godparents for your child.
2. There are no people of the Orthodox faith nearby who adhere to God's Laws. Sometimes parents cannot entrust their baby to people who are not related to the faith, and it is impossible to appoint godparents from among friends and acquaintances who will not raise a child in Orthodoxy.
3. The godparents are far away. There are situations when a loved one is several kilometers away, but you really want him to become the spiritual mentor of your child. The Church has a different attitude to this situation. Some clergy do not advise choosing godparents who cannot be near the godson. Others think that there is nothing wrong with it. A person, even being far away, can take part in the life of a child and be able to convey to him the basic commandments.

It is best to baptize a child in infancy, then he will be reliably protected from all the evil that exists in this world. In addition, it is the rebirth of the human soul.

Most often, baptism is carried out after the baby is 40 days old, because all this time the mother cannot attend church, and when performing the sacrament, the baby needs to feel protected by her mother's wing. Therefore, as soon as a woman is cleansed from the birth sin, she can immediately take part in baptism.

If the mother trusts the chosen godparents, then baptism can be held on the 8th day after birth without her presence.

Required preparation:

• buy a pectoral cross. If it was bought in a regular jewelry store, then it must first be consecrated;
• buy kryzhma - a towel for wiping the baby. After the sacrament, it must be preserved. It is believed that in case of illness it helps to alleviate the condition of the child. To do this, wipe the crumbs with this towel every day after bathing;
• prepare comfortable clothes for the baby so that it is easy and quick to take off and put on.

The rite of baptism is always the same. But in order for the baby to be calm, you should come to church early, let the child get used to the new place, then he will be less nervous and capricious.

Then you can prepare the baby - undress and wrap in a baptismal towel. Next comes the rite itself. There is no need to worry that you can do something wrong. Father will tell you what to do.

What does the Church advise if the baby does not have godparents?

Try to find at least one of the godparents. A godmother for a girl, and a spiritual mentor for a boy. Children should trust second parents and seek any help.

If, nevertheless, there are no such people, the Church answers the question “Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?” positively. The baby should not be deprived of the sacrament of baptism due to the lack of spiritual mentors. In addition, during baptism, this role is assumed by the priest, who conducts the ritual.

Remember, it is necessary to baptize a child, then his life will be under reliable protection and his guardian angel.

To answer the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents, it is enough to read the following of the sacrament of Baptism, then much will become clear to us. The following is composed for adults, that is, it contains places where the person being baptized says prayers, answers the priest's questions. In the case when we baptize a child, godparents are responsible for him and read prayers. Therefore, it is obvious that the sacrament of the Baptism of a child cannot take place without adults. But an adult is able to profess his faith himself.

Can a child be baptized without one of the godparents?

The question whether a child can be baptized without a godmother can be answered in the same way as the question whether a child can be baptized without a godfather. In the event that it was not possible to find a person capable of taking over or the father, it is possible to perform the sacrament of baptism without one of the parents. In this case, it will be more important for a girl if she has a godmother, for a boy - a godfather.

Can a child be baptized without godparents?

In this case, baptism can be performed only under the following circumstances:

1. The child's life is in danger, he is in serious condition. At such a moment, a priest or any layman can perform baptism, pouring holy water three times on the baby’s head and saying the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". If, after being baptized by a layman, the baby survives and recovers, then you need to turn to the Church and complete the Sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
2. In the event that not a single godfather was found for the child, the priest can take over and say prayers for the child on his own. If the priest is familiar with the baby, then he will be able to take care of him and instruct him in the faith, but if not, then he will commemorate the godson in prayer at every divine service. Not all priests take on such responsibility, therefore, in different churches, the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents is answered differently.

And yet, it is better to try so that your child has two godparents, just like two relatives. After all, in later life he will need to see not only the example of the life of his parents, but also other people who attend the temple and try to live according to God's commandments.

Is it possible to baptize a godfather's child?

You can become a godmother or godfather for any child, unless, of course, it is your own. There is even a pious tradition in Orthodox families to baptize each other's children: it is easier to keep in touch and communicate with godchildren.

Is it possible to baptize a child godfather?

Of course, people who have become godparents for one child can become godparents for another, there are no obstacles to this.

Can a child be baptized at home?

It is desirable that the baby be baptized in the church, because after baptism there is still a prayer for churching: the boy is brought to the altar, the girl is placed on the salt, from where her mother receives her.

There are cases when a child is sick or there is no temple nearby, and it is not possible to take the child far. You can invite a priest to your house, then the priest will read the prayers for churching when the baby is already brought to the temple. Bringing a child to the temple after baptism and taking communion is the duty of godparents and native parents.

Can two children be baptized?

Yes, if a family is baptizing two or more children at the same time, the same people can be asked to be their godparents. It will be even better, because two children have the same natural parents, there will be one godparents.

Is it possible for spouses to baptize a child?

This question cannot be answered in the affirmative. There is such a thing as the spiritual relationship of godparents to each other, it is impossible in the presence of marital relations. Therefore, it is impossible for a husband and wife to baptize a child.

Is it possible for a couple to baptize a child?

Godparents must have a spiritual relationship with each other, so even if the couple lives in a civil marriage and they are not registered as husband and wife, they cannot be godparents of the child.

If young people are not married but intend to get married in the future, they will also not be able to become godparents of one child.

Is it possible for relatives to baptize a child?

A child can be baptized by any relative, except for the relatives of the mother, father and relatives who are spouses, since spouses cannot be godparents.

Is it possible to refuse to baptize a child?

If you have many godchildren and you know that you will not be able to properly take care of the new godson, you are in another city or another country, you do not know much about the child’s family, it is better to refuse to baptize the baby. But if there is a possibility that the child will not be baptized at all because of your refusal, it is better to agree and ask God for help.

Can multiple children be baptized?

If parents baptize several of their children, it is highly desirable that the godparents be the same people. Then the children will have one godparents, just like relatives. It will be easier for the godparents to take care of raising all the children together. It is possible to baptize several children at the same time - not brothers or sisters.

Can a child be baptized twice? Is it possible to baptize a child a second time?

Such questions are rare, but still asked in the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism itself is performed on a person only once. After all, the meaning of this sacrament is the acceptance by a person of the Orthodox faith and recognition of him as a member of the Church. But there are several cases where such a question may arise:

1. If the children do not know whether they have been baptized or not. This happens if the child has lost his birth parents, or it is likely that the child was secretly baptized by one of the relatives. In this case, it is imperative to inform the priest about this, then the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a different order. The priest pronounces the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized (if not baptized (a)) in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen".
2. If the child was urgently baptized by a lay person. Such baptism is performed if there was a danger to the life of the child, but later he recovered. Then you need to come to the Church and complete the sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
3. If the child was baptized in another faith. The Orthodox Church recognizes the sacrament of Baptism in other confessions as valid in cases where the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a similar order and if the institution of the priesthood and apostolic succession in the ordination of priests have been preserved in this confession. Only Catholicism and the Old Believers can be attributed to such confessions (but only the direction where the priesthood has been preserved). After baptism in the Catholic faith, it is necessary to complete the sacrament of Baptism with chrismation, since in the Catholic Church chrismation is performed separately from baptism at a later age (about 15 years).

Can a sick child be baptized?

If a child is seriously ill, then baptism is necessary, it can be performed even in a hospital or at home. If the life of the baby is in danger, then, in extreme cases, he can even be christened by a layman.

Is it possible to baptize a child in absentia?

Baptism, like any sacrament, is a sacred ceremony in which the believer, under a visible image, communicates the invisible grace of God. The celebration of the sacrament of Baptism presupposes the physical presence of the person being baptized, the priest, and the godparents. The Sacrament is not just a prayer, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible in absentia.

Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting?

There are no days in the Orthodox Church when a child cannot be baptized. Baptism of a child can be performed on any day, agreed with the priest and godparents. Usually the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child in fasting arises due to the fact that the sacrament of wedding in the Church is not performed in fasting. Lent is a time for repentance and abstaining from quick food and marital intimacy, so there are restrictions on weddings, but not baptisms. Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting? Of course, yes, and on any day of fasting, and on holidays, and on the eve of fasting days and holidays.

Is it possible to baptize a child on Saturday?

In all churches, urban and rural, Sunday worship is performed. Therefore, most often baptism is performed on Saturday: after baptism, you can participate in worship and take communion of the child the next day on Sunday.

Is it possible to baptize a child for Baptism?

In the Ancient Church, due to the spread of a large number of heresies, baptism was preceded by a long period of instruction in the faith, which lasted up to 3 years. And catechumens (learners) were baptized at the Baptism of the Lord (then this holiday was called the Enlightenment) and on Holy Saturday before Easter. The celebration of Baptism these days was a great feast in the Church. If you decide to baptize a child on Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord), then not only will you not violate the canons of the Church, but you will also follow the ancient Christian tradition.

Is it possible to baptize a child with menstruation?

The days of a woman's cleansing in the Church are called uncleanness, and many restrictions are associated with these days for women in the Old Testament. Today it is not fitting for a woman in uncleanness to touch shrines (icons, the cross), to receive the sacraments. Therefore, when choosing a day for the baptism of a child, it is advisable to take this circumstance into account. Nevertheless, baptism is performed on a child, and not on his godmother or mother, a woman in uncleanness, if necessary, can attend the sacrament, but should not touch the shrines.

Can a child be baptized under a different name?

There is a belief that the baby should be baptized under a different name, and no one should know his name in baptism, otherwise the child's energy will be spoiled. All these are rumors that have nothing to do with Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. A child can be baptized by another name, but this is most often done if the child's real name is not in the list of names of Orthodox saints

Believing Orthodox people know about the seven Christian sacraments, one of which is baptism. The teaching says that every Orthodox needs to be baptized in order to save his soul and gain the Kingdom of Heaven after physical death. God's grace descends on those who are baptized, but there are also difficulties - everyone who takes the rite becomes a warrior of God's army, the forces of evil fall upon him. To avoid adversity, you need to wear a pectoral cross.

The day of baptism is very important for the believer - it is, as it were, the day of his second birth. This event must be approached with all responsibility. Let's talk about what the baby needs to complete the sacrament, what to buy and take with you, what godparents should do, how to celebrate this holiday at home.If the godparents (godparents) take on some of the concerns for organizing the ceremony, this will be correct. Preparation for the holiday is carried out by all its participants, especially the relatives of the baby.

It is believed that wearing a pectoral cross protects a person from the forces of evil, and also strengthens his spirit and directs him to the true path. At the same time, the appearance or cost of the material of the cross does not matter - if only the cross was Orthodox, and not pagan

When is the best time to baptize a baby?

According to custom, the baby is baptized on the 8th or 40th day after birth. There are circumstances that can affect the term for the baptism of an infant: if the baby is sick, the disease poses a threat to life, you can christen him earlier. Orthodoxy says that after christening, a guardian angel appears in a person, who is always behind his right shoulder. He will protect the baby and can save him. It is believed that the more prayers are addressed to the angel, the stronger it will be.

Some prefer to wait until the little man grows up and becomes stronger. The reverse side of the medal is that while the child is nursing, he sleeps in the arms of his godmother and calmly endures the sacrament. The older he gets, the harder it is for him to stand quietly in the service. At 2 years old, the baby spins, wants to run, go outside. This creates difficulties for the priest and godparents, because the action can last more than an hour. Bathing in a font is also easier than a baby.

The first thing mom and dad do before the sacrament is choose a spiritual name for the baby. In our country, a tradition has developed to call a baby in the world not by the name that is given to him at baptism in the church - this is a custom justified in Orthodoxy, since it is believed that only a mother and father, a priest and godparents can know the church name.

Then the little man will be more protected from life's adversities. In the church, you can arrange for the baby to be named after the saint on whose day the baby's date of birth falls.

Recommendations for preparing for the rite of baptism of a small child

How to organize a child's christening? It is necessary to visit the temple in which the procedure will take place. In the church shop you can ask questions that interest you. The church clerk in the shop will offer you to read a brochure on baptism, which describes all the rules. The date of birth of your baby will be recorded, they will also ask for the desired church name of the baby, the names of his godparents. A voluntary payment is made for the ceremony in the form of a donation, which goes to the needs of the temple. How much should you pay? The size of the donation may vary from church to church.

Before the sacrament of baptism, the godparents must be sent for an interview with the priest. If mom and dad of the baby come along with them and take part in the conversation, this will only be a plus. The priest will tell you how the baptism of a young child is performed, what you need to take with you. He will definitely ask during the conversation whether the mother and father and the child's successors are baptized. If not, then the unbaptized should be baptized before the sacrament is performed on the baby. The priest during the conversation will give recommendations to the relatives of the baby, appoint the day and time when the child will be baptized. On this day, you should come in advance in order to have time to orient yourself in the situation, to prepare. Many parents invite a photographer to the christening of their child, take photos and videos. You need to know that in order to record video and take pictures, you need to ask permission and blessings from the priest.

The priest, with whom a preliminary conversation is necessarily held, will be able to tell more about the sacrament and instruct the godparents. The parents of the child can also attend.

Who to choose as godparents?

Usually people of the same sex with the baby become godparents: for girls - a woman, for boys - a man. You can invite two godparents of different sexes. Then the baby will have a spiritual father and mother.

The question of who is worthy to be the godfather of your baby is very important. Godparents become the second parents of the baby. Think about who treats the little man better, who is ready to bear responsibility for him, give him a spiritual example, and pray for him? Most often, relatives and friends of the family become the recipients.

It is best if a person who is deeply religious, who knows and observes church traditions and laws, becomes a godfather. This person should often be at your home, since he is responsible for the upbringing of the little man, primarily spiritual. He will be with your baby for the rest of his life.

You can choose as a godfather a sister or brother of mom and dad, a close friend or family friend, grandma or grandpa of the baby.

The recipients must be baptized themselves - this must be done in advance. Parents need to understand that the issue of choosing godparents must be approached very seriously.

Who cannot become a godfather?

The laws of baptism in the Orthodox Church are such that they cannot become a godfather:

1. atheists or non-believers;
2. monks and nuns;
3. mentally ill people;
4. children under 15;
5. drug addicts and alcoholics;
6. promiscuous women and men;
7. spouses or sexually close people;
8. baby's parents.

Brother and sister cannot be godparents to each other. If you are baptizing twins, you must not do it on the same day. Godparents for twins may well be the same.

If twins grow up in a family, then they need to be baptized on different days, but another pair of godparents is not needed for this - just find two reliable and pious people

Reminder for godparents

• Appearance. The recipients of the baby should come to church with their crosses around their necks. If this is a woman, she puts on a knee-length skirt and a jacket with sleeves in the temple. A headdress is required for the godmother. The rules of being in a church also apply to a man’s clothes: you can’t bare your knees and shoulders, that is, even in hot weather, you will have to give up shorts with a T-shirt. The man is in the temple with his head uncovered.
• Purchases and payment. People often ask who should buy a cross for a child's baptism? Who pays for the procedure? There is a certain procedure for the baptism of a newborn child and preparation for it.
  1. He assumes that the godfather buys a cross for the godson, and also pays for the baptism. The godmother buys a cross for her goddaughter. It is best to choose a cross made of ordinary metal or silver. It is not customary to use the golden cross at the ceremony. When choosing a cross, pay attention to the fact that it cannot injure the baby, let the cross have oval edges.
  2. In addition to the godmother's cross, you must buy a towel, a christening shirt and a sheet in advance. She also buys kryzhma - the material in which the baby is baptized. Caring mothers keep the matter for many years, as it helps to cure the child from the disease. A sick little man is wrapped in kryzhma, and he will begin to recover. It should be kept in a place hidden from prying eyes, since it is believed that through it you can damage the baby.
• Training. People appointed by spiritual parents are obliged to prepare for the rite of baptism of a small child themselves. The preparation includes a strict fast, starting a few days before the event, the rejection of entertainment and comfort. On the eve, it’s not bad to take communion in the temple, before which you go to confession. You must bring your child's birth certificate with you to church. You can watch a video from the baptism in advance in order to roughly understand the sequence of events.
• Prayer. Recipients are required to learn the "Symbol of Faith" prayer. This prayer is read three times by the priest during the sacrament of the baptism of the child, she may be asked to read by heart and the godfather.

The nuances of christening

• A little man can be baptized on any day of the week - on holidays and weekdays, on fasting and on a normal day, but most often christenings take place on Saturday.
• The recipients are supposed to pick up the child from their parents in advance and go with him to church on the appointed day and time. The parents follow them. There is a sign that the godfather should chew a clove of garlic and breathe in the face of the baby. In this way, evil forces are driven away from the baby.
• Only the closest people are present at the ceremony in the temple - the parents of the boy or girl who receives the sacrament, maybe grandparents. The rest can come to the house of the baptized after the ceremony and celebrate this event at the festive table.
• Infant baptism does not always take place in the church itself. Sometimes the priest conducts the ceremony in a specially designated room.
• If necessary, parents can arrange a ceremony at home or in the hospital. To do this, you need to agree with the priest and pay all his expenses for organizing the sacrament.
• The priest reads prayers and anoints the newborn. Then he cuts a strand of hair from his head, as if offering a sacrifice to God. Then the baby is lowered into the font three times, the priest says: “Here is the cross, my daughter (my son), carry it.” Together with the father, the godfather (aya) says: “Amen.”
• The parents of the child also come to church, observing Orthodox customs. They dress as is customary in the temple. During the ceremony, a mother can pray for her child. Such prayers will surely be heard.
• In the evening, relatives and friends come to the holiday with gifts. Their choice depends on wealth and imagination: toys or clothes, baby care items or the icon of the saint - the patron saint of the baby.

Traditionally, baptism takes place in the temple premises, however, in some circumstances, parents may request an offsite ceremony - for example, at home or in the delivery room.

Features of christening boys and girls

The christening of a girl and a boy differ little. During the ceremony, the godfather carries the male baby behind the altar, but the godmother does not carry the female child there. The christening of a newborn girl suggests the presence of a headdress, that is, they put a scarf on her. When a little boy is christened, he is in the temple without a headdress.

If both godparents participate in the ceremony, then at first the godmother holds the boy’s child, and after bathing in the font, the godfather takes him in his arms and carries him to the altar. The girl is held in her arms only by the godmother. This is the main difference in the rite over children of the opposite sex.

If the order of baptism of a small child is observed, the natural and spiritual parents of the child will prepare for christening, the child will grow up healthy and cheerful. When he grows up, he will become a highly spiritual person striving for a righteous life.

Clinical and perinatal psychologist, graduated from the Moscow Institute of Perinatal and Reproductive Psychology and Volgograd State Medical University with a degree in clinical psychology