Who can be godparents. Godparents: who can be a godparent

Being a godmother is a great honor, but also a great responsibility, because she has to become the spiritual mentor of her godson or goddaughter. If close people have given you such an honor, it means that they express special trust in you and hope that you will fulfill this role with dignity.

However, keep in mind that in addition to fulfilling the duties of a godmother during baptism, you will later have to instruct your godson in matters of the Christian faith, take him to communion, and set an example for him.

As for the preparation for baptism, this stage takes several days for the godmother. What does the godmother do during christening? What does she need to know about the rite of this sacrament? We will answer these and some other questions.

According to the church charter, the child's mother, a nun, an unbelieving and unbaptized woman cannot be a godmother. Not only the mother’s friend can act as a godmother, but also one of the relatives, for example, the baby’s grandmother or aunt. However, the adoptive mother cannot perform the duties of a godmother either during or after baptism.

How can a godmother prepare for a baptismal ceremony?

Preparation for baptism for the godmother begins a few days before this ceremony. She, like the godfather, needs to fast for three days and then confess and take communion.

It is also imperative to talk with the priest, who will tell you in detail what the godmother needs to know about this sacrament and what she has to do during the rite of baptism.

As a rule, the duties of a godmother in preparation for baptism include knowing by heart some of the prayers that will need to be read during this ceremony: “Symbol of faith”, “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice”, “King of Heaven”, etc.

They express the essence of faith, help to be cleansed of sin and gain strength to overcome obstacles on the path of life. Although in some parishes the knowledge of these prayers is not required: during the ceremony, the godparents will only need to repeat some phrases after the priest.

The preparation of the godmother for the rite of baptism does not end there. She will need to purchase the things necessary for this ceremony, to know what actions will have to be performed during the ceremony. However, let's talk about everything in order.

What else does a godmother need to know about the rules for baptizing a child? Dress modestly for christening. You can not come to the temple in trousers, and the skirt must be below the knees. Women's head Orthodox church be sure to cover the scarf.

What should the godmother do during baptism? The rite consists of the rite of announcement (reading special prayers over the child), his renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, as well as the confession of the Orthodox faith. The corresponding words for the baby on his behalf are pronounced by the godparents, refusing the unclean spirit and promising to remain faithful to the Lord.

If a girl is baptized, then the godmother should hold her in her arms during the baptism ceremony, if the rite is a boy, then the godfather. Although this can be done by one of the godparents who better familiar with the baby and next to whom the child feels more comfortable.

However, in any case, the godmother should be well acquainted with the child in order to maintain emotional contact with the baby and be able to calm him down if he bursts into tears.

After that, as the child is baptized, immersed in water three times in the font and while reading prayers, the godmother must take him in her arms. To do this, you need a kryzhma - a white towel. According to the signs, drops from the face of the baby should not be wiped off so that his life is happy.

Then a cross is put on the child (if it is not purchased in the church, it will need to be consecrated in advance) and a baptismal outfit - a shirt to the toes for a boy and a dress for a girl. Also, the baby will need a cap or scarf.

Even during the preparation for baptism, the godmother is obliged to choose these things for the child. In the old days, women sewed them themselves, but today you can buy a baptismal outfit and kryzhma in a store or a church shop.

These things after the christening are not washed and are not used for their intended purpose. They are recommended to be kept throughout a person's life, as they serve as amulets, helping him to avoid various troubles and diseases.

What else needs to be done by a godmother when a child is baptized? After the initiation into the font, the godparents and the priest walk around with the baby three times as a sign of spiritual joy from the union of a new member of Christ's church with the Savior for eternal life.

After the ceremony of chrismation, when parts of the child's body are smeared with chrism and prayers are read, the priest washes the chrism with a special sponge moistened with holy water.

Then the priest slightly trims the child's hair from four sides, which are folded onto a wax cake and lowered into the font, which symbolizes obedience to God and sacrifice in gratitude for the beginning of spiritual life.

(The godmother will need a small bag to store the baby's cut hair, which can also be stored with the towel and shirt.)

After that, the priest reads prayers for the child and his godparents, followed by churching. The father carries the baby around the temple. If it is a boy, then he is brought to the altar. At the end of the ceremony, the child is applied to one of the icons of the Savior and to the icon of the Mother of God, and then given to the parents.

In addition to the things necessary for the ceremony, the godmother can give the baby an icon with the image of his patron saint, a "measured icon", a children's Bible, a prayer book or items that do not have a church focus (clothes, shoes, toys, etc.), and also to assist his parents in organizing a festive feast on the occasion of christening.

We have already told what the godmother has to know and do during the rite of baptism of the child. But your mission does not end there. As already mentioned, you will need to take part in the life of the godson and beyond.

You will attend church with your child if the parents are unable to do so due to illness or absence. You will need to contribute to the spiritual growth of the godson, give him advice in difficult situations. life situations. In a word, take care of him along with his parents, because now you are responsible for the new member of the Christian church before God.

Our baby was already a year old when we decided to christen her. For a long time they could not decide on godparents, because they had no idea by what criteria they should be chosen. Everything cleared up after a trip to the priest in the temple, where we were going to baptize Sonechka. Father Alexy suggested who can be godparents and who is not allowed, and I will tell you so that you do not waste time.

Baptism at any age will mark a spiritual birth, becomes the day of the establishment of guardianship of the Guardian Angel over a person. The thoughts and motives of the people taking part in the ceremony must be full of sincerity and purity, therefore the choice of godparents for a child must be conscious and be combined with the rules of the Orthodox Church.

Who is suitable for the role of godparents

• Both real parents and godparents bear responsibility before God at the time of baptism, so the sincere faith of parents in Christ, supported by leading a full-fledged church life, is an important point. It is they who give Orthodox vows instead of a child. In addition, godparents must know the Creed and be ready to engage in the spiritual education of the little man in the future.
• If it is possible to invite only one godfather, it is preferable to choose a person of the same gender as the child (a boy has a man, a girl has a woman), but no one forbids a woman to baptize a boy or a man a girl.
• Pregnancy and the absence of a ring on her finger and a stamp in her passport give women the opportunity to become godmothers to both boys and girls.

Who is not allowed to be a godfather

• Believers who have fallen away from the Orthodox Church, representatives of other faiths, atheists cannot become godparents.
• Actually, the child's parents, unlike other relatives, cannot take on the role of godparents.
• Spouses and a couple about to marry are forbidden to be godparents of one baby.
• Monks and nuns cannot become godparents. In ancient Russia such church rule was not, and they became the godfathers of many princes and representatives of royal dynasties. Many years later, a rule appeared that forbade this action, so that the monks would not be involved in worldly affairs.
• People who have not reached the age of majority themselves still understand little, both in terms of life and spiritual knowledge. In addition, in the event of the death of parents, they will not be able to take responsibility for the baby.
• People wrapped in debauchery.
• It is better for women during menstruation to refrain from baptismal rites.
• You should not take strangers or unfamiliar people as godparents.
• Incompetent people suffering from mental disorders, obvious violators of God's commandments, criminals and people in a state of alcoholic intoxication are not suitable for the role of godparents.

Any of these cases is considered sufficient grounds for refusing to conduct a baptismal ceremony. Of course, who can forbid you not to say something, but is it really worth it? After all, you go to the temple not to deceive the priest, but to connect the fate of your child with two worthy people.

For how many babies can you become a godfather

There is no clear guidance in this regard: the number of baptisms depends directly on the desire of a person. If you want - there will be one, if you want - at least ten. At the same time, one should not forget that the vows made before God are inviolable and provide for responsibility for the spiritual future and moral character of the little Christian. For the commitments made, you will have to answer throughout your life path.

The myth around the church says: the godmother, giving vows for the second child, “removes the cross” from the first. The church strongly disagrees, citing the example of the birth of another child. A mother who has a second child does not abandon the first. A similar situation with the godmother: being at least four times the godmother, she is equally responsible for each of the children. It is quite difficult to devote time to all the godchildren, so think about who the godparents of the child can be, whether the person has enough strength, energy and time, and only after that offer such a responsible post.

Some useful information about baptism

1. After the performance of the Epiphany Sacrament, personnel changes it is impossible to do: the godfather and the godmother of the child are the same and for life, even if the person has disappeared or left the church.
2. The presence of godparents at the church baptism is obligatory. Extreme cases involve the performance of the Sacrament without godparents.

Summing up

You should not choose for the role of the godman who has no idea about church traditions. His main duty is to teach the basics of religion to a small Christian, and what will he teach who knows nothing himself?

It is reckless to accept responsibility for raising a child in the traditions of the Orthodox faith, whose father and mother are not churched and are not going to change the order of things, also not attaching importance to the spiritual upbringing of the child and teaching him the basics of religion.

When accepting an invitation to become the godfather or mother of a baby whose parents support the idea of ​​Orthodox baptism of their child and are ready to join the church, before making their own vows, it is worth taking promises from them to follow the Commandments, pray every day for the child, attend services and churches, try to take communion daily . Advise parents to attend Sunday school classes or kakhetization classes in advance to understand how serious their desire to enter the Orthodox Church is, whether they consider the Sacrament of Baptism as a tradition of the past, some kind of magical rite.

How to baptize a child, what rules to follow.

In the life of every child, the most important people are his parents. After all, parents are the people who give us life, love, care and attention. This fact is undeniable and known to all of us since childhood. However, do not forget about spiritual parents or, as we used to call them, godparents.

The question regarding the choice of godparents and the baptism procedure itself has always been and remains relevant, since both the godfather and the godmother are given to the child alone and for life. Moreover, it is the spiritual parents who are faced with the most important task - to educate the baby in accordance with the generally accepted norms of morality and, of course, faith. Well, today we will talk in detail about all the nuances of the baptism procedure and the choice of godparents, so that you no longer have to worry about this.

What are godparents for?

How many people know why a baby needs godparents? How many people think about this issue? Unfortunately no.

• Most couples, when choosing godparents for their children, think completely about what it would be worth.
• It is customary for us to take people we know well as godfathers. Most often these are friends or relatives. Not the last factor when choosing godparents is their financial condition, while you need to pay attention to completely different things.
• I must say that to talk about the question: “What are godparents for?” stands after the answer to the question: “Why baptize a child at all?”. Agree, it is quite logical. This is where we'll start.
• According to Orthodox beliefs, every person comes into this world with original sin. We are talking about the violation of the same prohibition by Adam and Eve. So this original sin is a kind of congenital disease, without getting rid of which, the baby will not be able to grow up healthy and happy.
• To remove this sin is possible only by accepting faith. Many parents try to christen the baby as soon as possible, but in principle they do not understand why this should be done. Here is the answer for you, children are baptized as soon as possible so that they are with God, and he gave them all sorts of blessings.

Now let's move on to the question of why we need godparents:

• As a rule, each person is baptized almost immediately after birth. Due to their age, the baby, and in principle the teenager, cannot objectively assess the importance of this step, as well as cannot follow this faith, because they simply do not know it.
• That's why we all need godparents. Godparents perceive babies directly from the font and become full-fledged spiritual parents (godparents, godparents).
• Second parents should teach the child to live "by the rules." In this case we are talking not so much about the rules of life in society, but about the foundations of the Orthodox faith. The godparents should guide the baby on the true path, take care of him and love him like his own child, and if the godson ever stumbles, give him a helping hand. Also, the recipients should always pray for their godson and ask the Lord to be favorable to him.
• Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that when choosing godparents for your child, you need to look not at the availability of money and opportunities for them, but at what lifestyle these people lead and whether they are actually believers.

How to choose a godfather and godmother for a child: rules, who can be a godfather, mother and from what age?

When choosing a godfather for a baby, few people think about what it should be like. We are more inclined to evaluate the future recipient according to other criteria: friend, relative, responsible or not, lives in this city and can often see the child or not, etc. However, the church puts forward its own rules and they must be followed.

IMPORTANT: Of course, the godfather must be baptized. This condition is mandatory and is not subject to any discussion. After all, how can an unbaptized person who does not believe in God and, accordingly, does not understand the commandments by which everyone who came to this earth must live, teach this to a small child? The answer is obvious.

• Moreover, the recipient must be churched. However, in our time, few people even know the meaning of this word. In simple words, a person who is not only baptized, but also really believes, lives like a Christian and tries to follow all the foundations of his faith, is considered to be churched.

• Regarding age. There are no clear boundaries here, but the church is inclined to believe that the beneficiary must be of age. Why is that? The point here is not in 18 years, but in the fact that adults are considered to be old enough and responsible for such a serious step. By the way, this is not about civil adulthood, but about church. Despite this, one can become a godfather earlier, but this issue must be discussed with the priest, who will give permission for this.

The godmother should be chosen in the same way as the godfather:

• The spiritual mother must necessarily be a believing Orthodox Christian, respectively, it must be baptized.
• It is also necessary to consider how a woman lives. Does she believe in God, does she go to church, can she raise a baby as a believer Orthodox Christian.
• In addition to church restrictions, future parents should pay attention to other things. When choosing a godmother for your baby, you must understand that in fact this woman will be the second mother for your child and, accordingly, you must completely trust her.
• You should not take unfamiliar or dubious people as godparents for a baby. Godparents should be responsible and trusted people.

Who can not be taken as godparents to your child?

If you are already very concerned about this issue, then we recommend that you consult with a priest, he, like no one else, knows the answers to all your questions. However, speaking in general, the church forbids taking such people as godparents:

1. Monk or nun. Despite this, the father can become the child's godfather.
2. Native parents. It would seem, well, who, if not the parents themselves, can give the child the best education and help? But no, parents are strictly forbidden to baptize their babies.
3. A woman and a man who are married. The Church not only disapproves, but strictly forbids ignoring this rule. Because people who baptize a baby become relatives on a spiritual level and, accordingly, they will not be able to lead a worldly life after that. It is also forbidden to marry already established godfathers - this is considered a huge sin.
4. It is clear that it is impossible to take as recipients people who suffer from mental disorders and are seriously ill.
5. And one more rule, which we talked about briefly earlier. The age of the godparents. In addition to the age of majority, there are two more age thresholds: a girl must reach 14 years old, and a guy - 15. In principle, about this condition You shouldn’t talk much, because it’s already clear that a child cannot raise a child, and therefore it’s impossible to take people of this age category as godparents.

How many times can you be a godfather, godmother? Is it possible to refuse to be a godmother, a godmother?

The Church does not give a clear answer to the question of how many times a child can be baptized, and this is quite logical:

• Adoption is a very big responsibility, and the more children you baptize, the greater this responsibility becomes. That is why a person must answer such a question for himself. Ask yourself the question: “Will I be able to give this godson as much attention as he needs?”, “Do I have enough spiritual and physical strength raise another child?”, “Will I have to be “torn” between all the godchildren?”. That's when you honestly give yourself answers to such questions, then you will understand whether you can christen another baby or you will have to refuse.
• By the way, many people ask the question: “Is it possible to refuse to be a godmother, a godmother?”. The answer is that it is possible, moreover, even necessary, if you do not want to do this or cannot for some reason of your own.

• The person who was offered to baptize the baby must clearly understand that after the Sacrament of baptism he will become a close person for the child, his second parent, and this implies a huge responsibility. It’s not just to come to a birthday party, to congratulate the New Year or St. Nicholas, no, it means to constantly participate in the life of the baby, develop him, help him in all his endeavors. Are you ready for such a responsibility? Refuse right away, because this is not considered a sin and something shameful, but to become a godfather and not fulfill your direct duties is a church sin, for which God will definitely ask.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents, godmother, godfather, with one godfather?

In ancient times, only one godparent baptized a child. Boys - a man, girls - a woman. This is due to the fact that once upon a time everyone was baptized as adults and, accordingly, in order not to be embarrassed, they took a person of the same sex with them as godparents.

• Now, when baptism takes place at that stage, while the baby is still completely unintelligent, two recipients of different sexes can baptize him at once.
• At the request of the parents, only a man or only a woman can baptize a newborn. For boys it's a man, for girls it's a woman. The Church does not forbid such a practice, moreover, initially everything was done that way.
• There are situations when parents want to conduct the Sacrament of Baptism without any recipients at all, and this is quite possible. In this case, they baptize without godparents at all. However, initially this nuance needs to be discussed with the priest, so that later you do not have any surprises.

Is it possible to be a godmother, godmother to two or more children in the same family?

The Church gives a very succinct answer to this question. It is possible and necessary, if it is offered to you, and you want it. There are no prohibitions on being a godmother / godmother at once for two children in a family, and this phenomenon is quite common. The main thing, when making such a decision, is to objectively assess your capabilities, and if you are ready for such a responsibility, go ahead.

Can a pregnant, unmarried woman be godmother to someone else's child?

How many disputes this question causes, and superstitions, by the way, too:

• For some reason, it is customary for us to believe that a pregnant woman does not have the right to baptize a baby. However, this claim is completely unfounded. The Church does not forbid expectant mother to become a newborn's host, moreover, it is generally accepted that it is even useful for a pregnant woman. Therefore, you should not believe in prejudices, if you are faced with such a situation and do not know how to do the right thing, just contact the church, they will explain everything to you in detail.
• The same applies to unmarried women. The fact that a woman is not married does not mean that she cannot be a good mate for a baby.

Can a grandfather, grandmother of a grandson, granddaughter be a godfather and godmother? Can a native, cousin, native, cousin be a godfather, godmother of a sister, brother?

Most often, we choose our friends and acquaintances as godparents, but some people express a desire for their relatives to baptize their children.

• The Orthodox faith does not forbid grandparents to become godparents for their grandchildren. Moreover, purely from the point of view of education, this is very good. Grandparents have lived their lives, have rich life experience, and grandchildren are sacred to them, so someone who, and they will definitely be able to raise a newborn in accordance with all the rules and foundations of Christianity.
• The prohibitions on baptism did not affect the brothers / sisters of a newborn baby. The Church permits and approves the baptism of children by their siblings and cousins.

• Everyone knows that younger children always want to be like their older brothers and sisters and imitate them in every possible way. In this case, the subject of imitation will have to help his godson in every possible way and show only a positive example.
• The only thing to think about is the age of possible godparents. After all, the recipients must be responsible and relatively experienced people.

Can a husband and wife be godparents with the same child? Can godparents get married?

Regarding this issue, the church is very strict. It is strictly forbidden for a married couple to baptize a child. Moreover, future godfathers are also forbidden to marry in the future. In simple words, between people who baptize the same baby there should be only a spiritual connection (godparents), but not an “earthly” one (marriage). It cannot be otherwise in this case.

Conversation before baptism for godparents: what does the priest ask before baptism?

Few people know, but before the Sacrament of Baptism itself, future recipients should go to special conversations. In practice, we can see that sometimes such conversations are not held at all, or they are held, but not the number of times that is necessary.

• As a rule, during such conversations, the priest explains to the future godparents the foundations of the Orthodox faith, talks about what duties they will have in relation to the godson.
• Those who do not know the basics of Christianity are advised to read Holy Bible. This will help future spiritual parents to better understand the faith and, accordingly, understand what is required of them in raising a child.
• The priest also tells that the recipients must endure a 3-day fast, and after that confess their sins and take communion.
• Directly at the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest asks future godparents about whether they believe in God, whether they renounce the unclean and whether they are ready to be godparents.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: requirements, rules, responsibilities and what you need to know for a godmother?

If you were offered to become the godmother of a child, it is a great honor and responsibility. Therefore, you must know the following rules and requirements for you:

• Of course, the main requirement for a woman who will baptize a child is to be baptized and sincerely believe in God.
• Further, a few days before the celebration itself, you need to confess and take communion. It is also worth refraining from any carnal pleasures. And besides all this, you should know the prayer "Creed". You will read this prayer at baptism only if you baptize a girl.

Your duties to the baby as a godmother:

• The godmother takes responsibility for the upbringing of the child
• Must teach him to live in accordance with Christian rules and principles
• Must pray for him before God and help the baby in everything
• Also, the godmother should take the child to church, do not forget about the day of his birth and baptism
• And, of course, should be a good example for him.

What else does a godmother need to know besides this? You can add, perhaps, only responsibilities regarding organizational issues:

• It is generally accepted that it is the spiritual mother who should bring the child a kryzhma (a special baptismal towel) and a baptismal set, which, as a rule, consists of a shirt, hat and socks, or panties, sweater, hat and socks.
• It is important to know that the kryzhma must be new, it is in this towel that the priest will put the newly baptized child. This attribute is a kind of protection for the child and can later be used as a talisman.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: requirements, rules, responsibilities and what you need to know for a godfather?

It is also important for future godfathers to know certain rules and obligations associated with the rite of baptism of a baby:

• Just like with mom, the godfather must be an Orthodox Christian and be baptized.
• The main duty of the spiritual father is to be a worthy example, this is most important if the child who is being baptized is a boy. He must see before him a worthy example male behavior. Also, the godfather should take the godson to church and teach him to live in peace with all the people around him.
• It is accepted that the future recipient should buy the baby a cross and a chain or a thread on which the cross can be worn. Also, it will not be superfluous to purchase a baptismal icon. It is the godfather who must pay all the expenses for baptism, if any.
• It is better to solve all these worries and troubles in advance, so that later you do not have to do everything at the last moment.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: what should a godmother do at christening?

It is immediately necessary to clarify that the future godmother must be present at the christening of the girl, but the godfather may be present in absentia.

• Directly at the christening itself, it is the godmother who will perceive the goddaughter after immersion in the font. To keep the baby initially, most likely, will be the godfather.
• After the child is given to the godmother, she must dress the girl in a new outfit.
• Further, the recipient holds the baby while the priest reads prayers, and then when he performs chrismation.
• Sometimes priests ask to read a prayer, but most often they do it themselves.

• Everything will be the same with the boy, however, after dipping him into the font, he will be handed over to the godfather. Also, when a boy is baptized, he must be brought down the altar (after 40 days from birth).

Christening of a boy and a girl: what should the godfather do at the christening?

The duties of a godfather are not much different from those of a godmother:

• A spiritual dad can also hold a baby.
• After the priest receives answers to all the traditionally asked questions, the recipient may be asked to say a special prayer. But again, most likely it will be done by the priest himself.
• The godfather helps to undress the child before immersing in water, and then to dress. If the child who is being baptized is a girl, then after this ceremony she will be handed over to the godmother, if it is a boy, then the godfather will hold it.

Is it possible to change godparents, godfather, godmother to a child, boy, girl ?

All people come into this world only once, exactly the same number of times it is allowed to be baptized.

• The Church forbids changing godparents, moreover, in fact there is no such possibility, because there is no such rite.
• That is why attention has been repeatedly drawn to the fact that baptizing a child is a huge responsibility, which after that you cannot simply take and refuse.
• Godparents do not change under any circumstances. Even if over time you stopped communicating with godfathers, even if they left and cannot often see the baby, they still remain his godparents and are responsible for him.

How many godparents should a child have, can there be two godmothers and two godfathers?

We have already discussed this issue a little earlier:

• Nowadays, two people are most often taken as godparents: godfather and godmother. However, you can do it differently.
• You can only take godfather or godmother as godmother. At the same time, it is worth remembering that for a newborn baby, the presence of a successor is more important, but for a boy, it is still a successor.
• If for some reason you don’t want to take godparents at all, well, or you just don’t have anyone to take, then you can baptize a child without godparents at all.

• Moreover, you can ask the priest to become your baby's godfather, but you must take into account the fact that it is unlikely that a person distant from your family will be able to pay due attention to the child.
• Can there be 2 godmothers or 2 godfathers - a rhetorical question. This must be clarified directly in the church in which you want to baptize the child and with the priest who will conduct the ceremony. Such cases are known, but different churches, no matter how strange it may sound, may give you a different answer.

Can a Muslim be a godfather to an Orthodox Christian?

The answer to this question is very obvious. Of course not. After all, how can a Muslim teach a child Orthodox faith? No way. The only thing a Muslim can do is to stand in the church during the sacrament of baptism, if it is performed on his relative.

As you can see, the issue of baptism and the choice of godparents is very relevant and is being actively discussed. There are many rules and prejudices that in our time, for some reason, are on the same level as church customs, which is why if you don’t know what to do in this or that situation, contact the church, they will explain in detail all the points you are interested in.

Video: About infant baptism and modern lifestyle

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• Rules for the godmother:
• must not be pregnant;
• not have mental illness;
• conduct a confession before the ceremony;
• not be married to the godfather and not be his close relative;
• not be a nun;
• be of age.

What does a godmother buy for a boy's christening:

• the fabric in which the baby is wrapped (kryzhma);
• baptismal set (shirt, blanket, cap);
• a silk scarf for a priest.

Christening of a boy, rules for a godfather

• confess before the sacrament of baptism;
• not to be married to the godmother, not to be her closest relative;
• not have problems with the law and mental illness;
• not be a minister of the church (monk);
• reach adulthood.

What does the godfather buy for the boy's christening:

• purchase of a cross for a child;
• buying a gift
• fulfillment of all financial obligations.

Duties of godparents at the baptism of a boy

• must be an example for inheritance;
• regularly prays for his godson;
• instruct the boy on the true path according to God's commandments;
• always keep in touch with him (even if they live far from him);
• be present at the first communion of the baby;
• in the event of illness or death of the parents, take full responsibility for the upbringing of the child.

But the most important thing is that the godparents understand the importance of their rank, and the boy knows that there are always people next to him who will help, prompt, support. Godparents are spiritual educators, and their role in the life of a godson cannot be overestimated.

Responsibilities of a godfather at the baptism of a boy

Another fairly important duty of the godfather is to buy a gift for his godson. And its implementation must be treated with special understanding. According to tradition, the godfather should give a silver spoon for christening.

It must be said that it is products from this noble metal are the most common gifts for the rite of baptism. It is a symbol of prosperity and fullness of life. The Bible can be a wonderful gift. Reading it will help in shaping the spiritual world of the boy.

Also often engraved. This thing for the child becomes very personal and passes with him along the path of life, protecting him from all sorts of adversities.

In addition, the godfather can give:

• silver or gold jewelry;
• personal photo album;
• clothes;
• thematic religious and artistic books;
• various toys.

Names for a boy's christening

Choosing a name for christening is a very important issue in preparing for them and a rather big problem, since sometimes there are different opinions here, which are not always possible to agree on. But most often parents turn to the priest.

If the boy’s name is Orthodox, then you don’t have to change it, but still many try to do it, because in this way they want to protect the baby from everything bad. The name is selected mainly according to the holy calendar, taking into account the day (or period) in which the child was born, while the name can be either consonant with the mundane or completely different from it.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy

The baptism of a child is the great mission of man on Earth. What is needed for the baptism of a child, a boy - the main thing is that you need to be especially attentive and prepared. Godparents should read as much spiritual literature as possible in order to be able to help their godson in any life situation.

And what is important, the godfather, as a man, must develop and form the best masculine qualities, such as: courage, endurance, self-control, willpower and spirit. After all, the role of godparents does not end immediately after the rite of baptism, it is a long way to become little man and there is no room for error here.

Therefore, when preparing to become godparents, you need to weigh the pros and cons many times, try to understand yourself, study religious literature, be educated in the field of spirituality, and most importantly, be a real example for the child.

Life prepares trials for everyone, but not everyone can cope with them. And often there come moments when it is not parents, close relatives or friends who can help, but godparents, because their spiritual level and knowledge of life are quite high.

They are like “faithful companions” who go with a person through life, and when necessary, they lead to God with the help of communion, confession, and prayer. And it is thanks to them that from early childhood the child feels the boundless confidence, care and grace of the Almighty.

The Lord is always with you!

See also a video about the sacrament of baptism:

Since ancient Russia In our country, a tradition has emerged 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. BUT Orthodox Church strictly establishes 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 he will be much calmer in unfamiliar place stay close to your family.

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, being in human body, she should not accumulate sins in herself.

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

The problem for many families modern world lies in the fact 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 accustomed 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 2019 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 be the same as his real name, if that name is in Orthodox book 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 birthday is selected Orthodox person. 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