Ekaterina Morozova

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Have you been chosen as godmother? This is a great honor and a great responsibility. The responsibilities of the godmother are not limited only to the sacrament of baptism and congratulating the godson on the holidays - they will continue throughout life. What are these responsibilities? What do you need to know about the sacrament of baptism? What to buy? How to prepare?

Baptism - the essence and meaning of the rite of baptism

The rite of baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer dies to a sinful carnal life in order to be reborn by the Holy Spirit into spiritual life. Baptism is cleansing man from original sin , which is communicated to him through his birth. Just as a person is born only once, and the Sacrament is performed only once in a person’s life.

How godparents prepare for the baptism ceremony

You should prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism in advance.

• Two or three days before the ceremony, future godparents should repent of your earthly sins and take communion.
• Directly on the day of baptism It is forbidden to have sex and eat food .
• At the baptism of a girl godmother will have to read the prayer “Creed” , at the baptism of a boy he reads it Godfather .

Responsibilities of a godmother. What should a godmother do?

A child cannot choose his godmother himself; his parents make this choice for him. The exception is the older age of the child. The choice is usually determined the closeness of the future godmother to the family , a warm attitude towards the child, the principles of morality that the godmother adheres to.

What are the responsibilities godmother?

• Godmother vouches for the newly baptized child before the Lord.
• Responsible for spiritual education baby.
• Takes part in life and education the baby on a par with biological parents.
• Takes care of the child in a situation where something happens to the biological parents (the godmother can become the guardian in the event of the death of the parents).

Godmother is spiritual guide for her godson and an example of a Christian lifestyle.

The godmother must:

• Pray for the godson and to be a loving and caring godmother.
• Attend church with a child , if his parents do not have such an opportunity due to illness or absence.
• Remember your responsibilities on religious holidays, ordinary holidays and weekdays.
• Take problems in your godson's life seriously and support him during difficult stages of life .
• Be interested and promote a child's spiritual growth .
• Serve example of godly living for the godson.

Features of the baptism ritual

How is the sacrament of child baptism performed?

Requirements for a godmother at a christening

The most important requirement for godparents is be baptized Orthodox who live according to Christian laws. After the ceremony, godparents must promote the spiritual growth of the child and pray for him. If the future godmother has not yet been baptized, then she must be baptized first , and only then – the baby. Biological parents may be completely unbaptized or profess a different faith.

• Godmother must be aware of your responsibility for raising a child. Therefore, it is welcomed when relatives are chosen as godparents - family ties are broken less often than friendly ones.
• The godfather can attend the girl’s baptism in absentia, godmother - only in person . Her duties include receiving the girl from the font.

Godparents We must not forget about the day of baptism . On the day of the Godson's Guardian Angel, you should go to church every year, light a candle and thank God for everything.

What should a godmother wear? Appearance of the godmother at the christening.

The modern church is more loyal to many things, but taking into account its traditions is certainly recommended. Basic requirements for a godmother at baptism:

• Presence of godparents pectoral crosses (consecrated in the church) necessarily.
• It is unacceptable to come to baptism in trousers. Should wear a dress , which will hide the shoulders and legs below the knee.
• On the godmother's head must have a scarf .
• High heels are unnecessary. The baby will have to be held in your arms for a long time.
• Flashy makeup and provocative clothing are prohibited.

What do godparents buy for baptism?

• White christening shirt (dress). It can be simple or with embroidery - it all depends on the choice of the godparents. The shirt (and everything else) can be purchased directly from the church. At baptism, the baby’s old clothes are removed as a sign that he appears clean before the Lord, and the baptismal shirt is put on after the ceremony. Traditionally, this shirt should be worn for eight days, after which it is removed and stored for life. Of course, you cannot baptize another baby in it.
• Pectoral cross with an image of the crucifixion. They buy it directly from the church, already consecrated. It doesn’t matter - gold, silver or simple, on a string. After baptism, many people remove the crosses from their children so that they do not accidentally harm themselves. According to church canons, the cross should not be removed. Therefore, it is better to choose a light cross and a rope (ribbon) so that the baby is comfortable.
• , in which the baby is wrapped after the Sacrament of baptism. It is not washed after the ceremony and is stored as carefully as a shirt.
• Cap(kerchief).
• The best gift from godparents would be cross, icon or silver spoon.

Also for the baptism ceremony you will need:

• Baby blanket. For a comfortable baby in the baptismal room and warming the baby after the baptismal bath.
• Small bag, where you can put a lock of the baby’s hair, cut by a priest. You can keep it with your shirt and towel.

It is advisable to make sure in advance that the items are suitable for the baby.

After the baptism ceremony

So, the baby was baptized. You have become a godmother. Of course, according to tradition, this day is a holiday. It can be celebrated in a warm family circle or crowded. But it is worth remembering that christening is, first of all, a celebration of the spiritual birth of a baby. You should prepare for it in advance and thoroughly, thinking through every detail. After all spiritual birthday, which you will now celebrate every year, is much more important than the day of your physical birth.

The very first and most important sacrament in Orthodoxy most often occurs in infancy - baptism. Loving parents with all their hearts wish to enlist the protection of higher luminous forces. Full of special meaning, the ritual becomes a significant event in the life of the family, a real holiday. They begin to prepare for it in advance, trying to take into account the smallest details.

I want everything to match the formal atmosphere, including clothes. With understanding, a baptismal set purchased will emphasize the significance of the moment, will comply with Orthodox canons and will provide the baby with complete comfort and peace of mind during the entire stay in the temple. The Church does not indicate a specific age for baptism, but it is believed that the ceremony should be performed as early as possible, because the baby really needs the help of his guardian angel. Ideally, this should happen within 7-40 days from the moment. For such babies, the baptism kit is chosen by godparents or parents; older children can decide for themselves what exactly they will be baptized with.

What does the baptism kit include?

Typically, a baptism kit will include the following:

1. pectoral cross;
2. baptismal shirt;
3. a towel (or a special diaper) called kryzhma;
4. booties, textile boots;
5. scarf, cap.

Now let's take a closer look at each element that is included in the baptismal set.

The pectoral cross is bought by the future godfather. He chooses the form and execution himself. Today it is customary to buy precious metal crosses of fine artistic work. But supporters of the traditional wooden cross remain. Crosses made of amber and semi-precious minerals are less common. The main requirement is the absence of sharp corners that could scratch the baby. Attach the cross to a chain or special cord. If the cross was bought in a shop at the temple, it was already consecrated. Otherwise, the cross must be consecrated before the ceremony begins.

Baptismal attire is traditionally purchased by the godmother. She should make sure that the fabric of the shirt is soft, preferably natural. After all, these will be the first clothes that the baby wears after ablution. The shirt is chosen to be loose so that it can be easily put on the baby’s wet body. At the same time, the baptismal shirt can be elegant; lace, ruffles, and thematic embroidery are acceptable. It’s great when a mother, sister, grandmother or aunt can sew or knit a christening shirt themselves. But those who are not keen on handicrafts today can easily find a baptism kit in many children's stores or order it from special workshops. Traditionally, the shirt is made snow-white, as a symbol of sinlessness; cream, soft pink, peach or other pastel shades are acceptable; individual elements such as embroidery can have more saturated shades. The main rule is to avoid pretentiousness; in the baptismal ceremony one should give preference to elegant restraint. It is better to baptize a baby wearing a shirt made of the finest linen or cotton.

Kryzhma is usually sold as a set with a baptismal shirt, booties and a cap. It is in Kryzhma that the godparents receive the baby after the font. If baptism is carried out in cool weather, you can opt for a hooded roof and take an extra blanket.

Booties or fabric boots should keep little feet warm after a dip and be a nice addition to an outfit. They should be easy to put on and not chafe your skin. But a cap or scarf will be included in an elegant set - it depends on the gender of the baby.

What is the difference?

The composition of the fabric for sewing baptismal clothes and girls' clothes is exactly the same, the only difference is in the finishing. Some manufacturers produce separate lines. A christening set for a girl will be easily recognizable by the pink tones in the decoration, the abundance of lace details and satin inserts with ribbons. In addition, the “girlish” set will definitely include a headscarf or cap with frills. They are put on immediately after ablution. After all, according to the ritual, women are required to cover their heads in the temple.

Boys are offered sets in light blue with blue or silver trim. A bonnet or cap is worn only by the youngest; older boys can remain bareheaded. The baptismal set for a boy is sewn with less lavish decoration; often the matter is limited to discreet embroidery or decorative braid.

Some parents, wanting to throw a magnificent celebration, buy or order luxurious dresses for their daughters or real tuxedos for their sons. But such secular outfits are unlikely to be appropriate in church; they are best left for family celebrations. Moreover, it is quite difficult to take them off and put them on, which is very inconvenient during the ceremony.

What to consider when choosing

Be sure to pay attention to the material. The baptismal shirt and kryzhma are selected from natural fabrics - thin cotton, linen fiber, knitwear, light flannel or terry cloth. This outfit will not cause irritation, providing the baby with comfort and peace of mind during the ceremony.

The baptism kit must take into account the age of the person being baptized. What is suitable for babies under one year old is completely inappropriate for preschool or school-age children.

They purchase baptismal attire in children's stores, online sites, and church supply stores. If you are not completely satisfied with the ready-made set, you can always create your own set by purchasing individual items. For those who attach special importance to the sacrament of baptism, we can even recommend ordering an individual set in special workshops at the temple. Usually they offer models for every taste: extremely simple and luxuriously elegant.

Special clothes, special attitude

After the ceremony, the baptismal attire is not washed. It is carefully kept, sometimes for the rest of one’s life, as it is considered a real amulet. It is not for nothing that the mother’s kryzhma is subsequently covered with a very ill baby. This beautiful towel with embroidered symbols of baptism is kept along with baptismal candles from the church and a certificate of the sacrament performed. In some families, baptismal clothing is passed down through generations. This strengthens the spiritual protection of each subsequent generation.

Baptismal set for the first sacrament was last modified: April 29th, 2016 by Gulya

Christening is a fateful event for every child and parents. This is the acquisition of spiritual peace, integrity of spirit, God's reliable protection of a person. In addition, the baby has second parents who are always ready to provide help and assistance. The responsibilities of a godmother are especially valuable in later life.

Godmother

Before agreeing to baptize a child, a woman must accept the great responsibility placed on her shoulders. It is important to understand what it means to be a godfather, and not to superficially follow the traditions of Orthodoxy. It is imperative to choose a suitable candidate with faith in your heart and full responsibility. This could be a relative or friend, not necessarily married, but a believer and an exemplary one. If she is not baptized, it is important to be baptized before the fateful day for the baby and be sure to receive communion.

Responsibilities of a Godmother

You should not conduct an interview or casting for the role of second parents. You just need to draw a conclusion about the attitude of the applicants towards God, the people around them and all living things. If the baby’s mother thinks that godparents should only buy a cross and a kryzhma, and then participate in the church sacrament, and that’s where participation in the fate of the new person ends, then she is very mistaken. Spiritual education and development of a child is what a godmother should be able to do throughout her life. In this case we are talking about the following responsibilities of godparents:

1. Be with the child all the time, help in difficult situations.
2. Teach prayers and simply talk about God, his role in the life of every person, and attend church together.
3. Every year, congratulate you on your birthday and give gifts on Angel’s Day.
4. Take communion regularly, involve your godson/goddaughter in the ritual.

How many times can you be a godfather?

Every Orthodox person can take part in this church rite, an unlimited number of times, if the child’s parents request it. A truthful and informed decision is welcome. Another important question that worries us before the sacrament is who can be godparents, according to church scripture? All believing relatives and friends can take on responsibilities, for example, an older brother, sister, girlfriend, friend, grandfather, grandmother, even stepfather. Cannot be godparents:

• non-believers;
• church ministers;
• people of other faiths;
• unbaptized;
• mentally unstable people;
• biological parents.

Baptism of a child - rules for the godmother

The baptismal towel and clothes are made or purchased by the future godmother, and this is an obligatory stage of preparation for the upcoming sacrament. In addition, a woman must first receive communion and confession; on the day of christening, she must have a cross on her chest. There are other rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church, which are important to include in the ritual.

Girl's christening - rules for the godmother

It is important for a girl to have a spiritual mother, since she is the first one, after the child’s mother and father, to be responsible for him. It is one thing to baptize a baby, and quite another to become a support, support, and spiritual mentor in life for a growing person. The responsibilities of the godmother at the baptism of a girl are as follows:

1. Before the sacrament begins, read the prayers for the child by heart, among them the “Creed.”
2. Wear a modest long dress for the christening and tie a scarf around your head.
3. Take your goddaughter in your arms after immersion in the font, dress her in white clothes.
4. Hold your goddaughter in your arms while passing around the font behind the priests, while reading prayers, and the procession of anointing.

Boy's christening - rules for godmother

During the christening of a boy, an important role is played not only by the godmother, but also by the father, who in the future will provide him with spiritual support in everything. The main responsibilities of the godmother during the baptism of a boy are identical, as during the church ceremony of a girl. The only difference is this: after immersion in the font, the baby is picked up by the godfather; The priest also carries baptized boys behind the altar.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

During the procession, the priest leaves a reminder of what the godparents should do: say out loud three times the prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”, “Hail to the Virgin Mary”, “Heavenly King”, answer honestly several traditional questions about faith. Each prayer for godparents at baptism gives a powerful energy charge and helps the child receive grace.

What do you give a girl at christening?

What should the godmother do after the completion of the sacrament? Buy and present your godson or goddaughter with a memorable gift. This is where the problem arises with choosing a suitable present. So what does the godmother give to a girl’s christening?

• silver or gold cross;
• icon of God;
• personal icon of the Guardian Angel;
• silver spoon.

What does the godmother buy for a boy's christening?

For future men, there are also certain requirements for gifts. This one needs to know what is needed for a boy’s christening, so as not to be taken by surprise during the sacrament. Here's what a second mom should do:

• buy a white vest, blanket, towel;
• present a Bible, a personal icon as a gift;
• make another memorable present.

What should a godmother do?

If a woman has her own children, nephews, younger brothers and sisters, she should not forget about her own godchildren. There are a number of beliefs and signs about why godparents are needed. This is what a godmother must do until the last day of her life:

1. Pray for your godson every day, ask God for a bright path for him.
2. Attend church with him, take communion, confess.
3. Participate in spiritual formation, growth and development.
4. Become a role model in his mind.
5. Take full responsibility for the baby if the blood parents die.

Video: what godparents need to know before baptism

Father buys. This attribute can be purchased in advance, but then the cross must be given to the priest so that he can consecrate it. You can also make a purchase at the church store.

In turn, the godmother purchases a kryzhma and a baptismal shirt or dress for the boy. You can also buy a ready-made baptismal set. In addition to the diaper and clothes, it will also include a cap. You should pay special attention to the material from which the kryzhma is made. It should absorb moisture well enough to prevent hypothermia in the child.

Baptismal dress for a girl: traditions and signs

The clothes in which the child was baptized cannot be lent or sold to anyone. His family keeps these clothes as a keepsake. According to Christian tradition, the dress the girl wore that day can then be worn by her sister for baptism. People believe that this will have a beneficial effect on strengthening relations between them.

There are other signs. According to popular beliefs, baptismal clothing has two unique properties - to protect its owner (or its owner) throughout life and to cure serious illnesses. Therefore, the baptismal set should be kept as a family heirloom and hidden away from prying eyes.

What should a girl's christening dress be like?

The Church does not have any special requirements for baptismal clothing. However, there are some generally accepted criteria. Firstly, the clothes should be quite long - a few centimeters below the legs. Secondly, it should be a light shade, or better yet snow-white, symbolizing cleansing from sin.

Give preference to natural and soft fabrics with even seams and a comfortable neckline. In addition, a girl's christening dress should be comfortable and have a minimum number of strings so that it can be easily removed for immersion in the font. As for the cap, it will need to be removed during the sacrament.

Remember that clothes for baptism should not restrict movement. Choose a loose-fitting dress for girls made from natural soft fabrics. Let it be decorated with satin ribbons and lace, but do not overdo it with the decor of the clothes. Although the dress is purchased for a celebration, too much jewelry can give the dress a ridiculous and pretentious look, and this looks out of place in church.

Clothing for baptism can be and/or decorated. Sewing will take a small amount of time, but it is better to prepare for the special event in advance. It’s good if the godmother does this work.

In addition, a baptismal dress knitted from natural threads will look great. Usually its bottom is decorated with many ruffles and frills. The finished product can be decorated with artificial flowers, embroidery, lace, beads, and openwork. Another great idea is to knit a christening dress for a girl. However, if the sacrament takes place in the summer, it is necessary to approach the choice of material carefully. In hot weather, a girl wearing a dress knitted from thick woolen threads may experience heatstroke.

Baptismal clothing is deeply symbolic: for example, the white color of the baptismal shirt symbolizes the spiritual purity and joy of the newly baptized. After the completed Sacrament of Baptism, his soul is completely transformed, cleansed, filled with Divine light and love. The symbol of all events that happen to a person during the Sacrament is the baptismal shirt. The sacrament of Baptism is an unusually significant holiday in the life of every person. According to ancient Christian tradition, it was necessary to baptize a child on the second day after his birth. Now, of course, this tradition has changed somewhat, but, as before, the sooner this Sacrament is performed, the better. After all, Baptism is not just an Orthodox rite, it is the birth of a child’s soul into eternal life, it is his complete rebirth. After Baptism, all his sins are washed away from the little person, and with a renewed pure soul he begins a new life, illuminated by the light of the presence of Jesus Christ.

Epiphany Day is an exciting day not only and not so much for the child, but for his parents. After all, they are the ones who must ensure that all rituals and traditions are observed. An integral part of the Sacrament of Baptism is christening set for newborn . According to Christian tradition, the godmother should prepare such an outfit. In ancient times, the godmother hand-embroidered the baptismal robe for her godson. Now ready-made kits can be purchased in the store.

As a rule, a baptismal set includes a baptismal shirt (this is the main element in the set), as well as a scarf or cap, a diaper or a towel (kryzhma) to dry the baby before washing in the font.

According to ancient Christian custom, the baptismal shirt was kept in the family as the greatest family heirloom. And in the kryzhma - a towel, which was used to wipe the child after washing in the font; it was customary to bury the person who was baptized in it.

Now in many families the tradition of baptizing all children in the baptismal robe of their first child is being revived, but everyone should have their own kryzhma and should also keep it throughout their lives.

The baptismal shirt has a very ancient and deep history in Europe. This is how the baptismal shirt of Queen Elizabeth I of England, daughter of King Henry VIII, has survived to this day. She was born on September 7, 1533, and received baptism on her third birthday. The shirt was made of the finest silk, decorated with embroidery and lace, and was quite long.

In 1841, Queen Victoria's first child, Vicky, was baptized in England. This silk shirt, decorated with guipure, became a symbol of all of England. To this day, all princes and princesses of England are baptized wearing this shirt.

Wealthy noble people both in Europe and in Russia baptized their children in baptismal shirts made of the finest silk, decorated with guipure, magnificent lace, exquisite hand embroidery, and pearls. The common people used cotton as a material for baptismal attire; they also decorated it with handmade lace, various ornaments, and satin ribbons.

Everything about the outfit was symbolic: the length of the shirt spoke of a person’s longevity, but the beauty of the outfit symbolized a rich and happy life.

Those christening outfits of the princes and princesses of Europe that have survived to this day include long shirts, hats, booties, capes and scarves on which the initials of the crowned heads were embroidered.

The kryzhma was always made to match the baptismal attire, and it also had personalized embroidery, which consisted of the name of the person being baptized or his initials and the date of the celebration. Personalized embroidery made the outfit unique and sophisticated.

In Rus', the baptismal shirt also has a deep history. This is how A.S.’s shirt has been preserved to this day. Pushkin, it is located in the State Museum of A.S. Pushkin in Moscow. The baptismal shirt of Tsarevich Alexy, the son of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II, who was baptized in 1904, has also been preserved.

Children of crowned persons in Rus' were baptized in front of a large crowd of people: boyars, ministers, all ranks of the Duma, and foreign guests were present. According to tradition, the child was baptized on the eighth day. Under Tsar Ivan the Terrible, a whole “baptismal train” was sent to church - guests drove in a line to the church, and the metropolitan or patriarch sprinkled the road with holy water. According to custom, all guests, without exception, gave gifts to the baby, and the king arranged a gala dinner in honor of his Baptism, at which the most exquisite and luxurious dishes were served.