How many times can you be a godmother? Who can be godparents.

How to baptize a child correctly, what rules to follow.

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

The question of 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 face the most responsible task - to bring up 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 baptismal 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 the baby needs godparents? How many people think about this question? Unfortunately no.

• Most couples, when choosing godparents for their children, think about completely different things.
• It is customary for us to take people we know well as godfathers. Most often they 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 start.
• According to Orthodox beliefs, every person comes into this world with original sin. It is about the violation of that very 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 baptize their baby as soon as possible, but in principle they do not understand why it is necessary to do it this way. Here is the answer for you, they baptize children as soon as possible so that they are with God, and he endowed them with all kinds of benefits.

Now we turn to the question, why do we need godparents:

• As a rule, every 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, incidentally, they cannot follow this faith, because they simply do not know it.
• This is why we all need godparents. Godmothers perceive babies directly from the font and become full-fledged spiritual parents (godparents, recipients).
• Second parents should teach the child to live "by the rules." In this case, it is not so much about the rules of life in society as about the foundations of the Orthodox faith. The godparents should instruct the baby on the right path, take care of him and love him like their own child, and in case the godson stumbles, lend him a helping hand. Also, recipients should always pray for their godson and ask the Lord to be supportive of 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 kind of life these people lead and whether they are actually believers.

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

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

IMPORTANT: Of course, the godfather must be baptized. This condition is mandatory and 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 comes to this earth should 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 terms, a person who is not just baptized, but also really believes, lives like a Christian and tries to follow all the foundations of his faith is considered to be church-going.

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

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

• A spiritual mother must necessarily be a believing Orthodox Christian; accordingly, she 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 the baby as a believing Orthodox Christian.
• In addition to church restrictions, parents-to-be 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 the baby. Godparents should be responsible and trusted people.

Who shouldn't be taken as godparents to your child?

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

1. A monk or a nun. Despite this, the priest can become the child's recipient.
2. Native parents. It would seem, well, who else but the parents themselves can give the child the best upbringing 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 does not approve, but strictly forbids ignoring this rule. Because people who baptize a baby become relatives at the spiritual level and, accordingly, they will not be able to lead a worldly life after that. It is also forbidden to marry already held godfathers - this is considered a huge sin.
4. It is clear that people who suffer from mental disorders and are seriously ill cannot be taken as receivers.
5. And one more rule, which we talked about briefly earlier. Age of the godparents. In addition to coming of age, there are two more age thresholds: a girl must reach 14 years old, and a guy - 15. In principle, there is no need to talk a lot about this condition, after all, it is already clear that a child cannot raise a child, and therefore take such age people as godparents. categories are not allowed.

How many times can you be a godfather, godmother? Can you refuse to be a godfather, 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:

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

• The person who was offered to baptize the baby must clearly understand that after the Sacrament of Baptism, he will become a native person for the child, his second parent, and this implies a tremendous responsibility. It's not just to come to a birthday, to wish you a Happy New Year or Saint Nicholas, no, it means to constantly participate in the life of the baby, develop him, help him in all his endeavors. Not ready for such a responsibility? Refuse right away, because this is not considered a sin and something shameful, but to become a receiver and not fulfill your direct responsibilities is a church sin, for which God will certainly ask.

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

In ancient times, a child was baptized by only one recipient. 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 ashamed, they took a person of the same sex as their godparents.

• Now, when baptism occurs at that stage, while the baby is still completely unintelligent, two recipients of different sex can baptize him at once.
• At the request of the parents, either only a man or only a woman can baptize a newborn. For boys, this is a man, for girls, respectively, a woman. The Church does not prohibit such a practice, moreover, from the beginning everything was done that way.
• There are situations when a parent wants to perform 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 should be discussed with the priest, so that later you would not have any surprises.

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

The Church gives a very succinct answer to this question. You can and should, if you were offered it, and you want it. There are no prohibitions to be a godfather / godmother for two children in a family at once, 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 responsibility - go ahead.

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

How many controversies this question raises, and superstitions, by the way, too:

• For some reason, it is generally accepted in our country that a pregnant woman has no right to baptize a baby. However, this claim is completely unfounded. The Church in no way prohibits an expectant mother from becoming a recipient of a newborn, moreover, it is generally accepted that it is even beneficial 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 goes for an unmarried woman. The fact that a woman is not married does not mean in any way that she will not be able to be a good receptive for the baby.

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

Most often, we choose our friends and acquaintances as godfathers, but some people express a desire for their children to be baptized by their relatives.

• The Orthodox faith does not prohibit grandparents from becoming godparents to their grandchildren. Moreover, purely from the point of view of upbringing, this is very good. Grandmother and grandfather lived their lives, have a rich life experience, and grandchildren are sacred for 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 baptismal prohibitions did not apply to the brothers / sisters of the newborn baby. The Church allows 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 worth thinking about is the age of possible godparents. After all, the receivers must be responsible and relatively experienced people.

Can a husband and wife have godparents with one child? Can godparents get married?

The church is very strict on this issue. It is strictly forbidden for a child to be baptized by a married couple. Moreover, future godfathers are also prohibited from marrying 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 father ask before baptism?

Few people know, but before the Sacrament of Baptism itself, future recipients should go to special talks. 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 basics of the Orthodox faith, talks about what responsibilities they will have in relation to the godson.
• Those who do not know the basics of Christianity are advised to read the Holy Scriptures. This will help future spiritual parents better understand faith and, accordingly, understand what is required of them in raising a baby.
• The priest also tells that the recipients must endure a 3-day fast, and then confess their sins and receive the Holy Communion.
• Directly at the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest asks the future godparents about whether they believe in God, whether they renounce the unclean and whether they are ready to be receivers.

Christening 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 should 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 receive communion. It is also worth refraining from any carnal pleasures. And besides all this, you should know the "Symbol of Faith" prayer. You will read this prayer at baptism only if you baptize the girl.

Your responsibilities to your baby as a godmother:

• The godmother takes responsibility for raising the child
• Should teach him to live in accordance with Christian rules and foundations
• I 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 his birthday and baptism
• And, of course, should be a good example to 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, a hat and socks, or of pants, a jacket, a cap and socks.
• It is important to know that the kryzhma must be new, it is in this towel that the newly-baptized child will be put by the father. This attribute is a kind of protection for the child and can then be used as a talisman.

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

It is also important for future godparents to know certain rules and responsibilities associated with the baptism of a baby:

• Just like with mom, the godfather must be an Orthodox Christian and be baptized.
• The main duty of a spiritual dad is to be a worthy example, it is most important if the child to be baptized is a boy. He must see before him a worthy example of 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 must buy a cross and a chain for the baby 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 baptismal expenses, 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.

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

Immediately it is necessary to clarify that the future godmother must be present at the girl's christening, but the godfather can be present in absentia.

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

• With the boy, everything will be the same, but after dipping him into the font, he will be handed over to the hands of the godfather. Also, when a boy is baptized, he must be brought behind the altar (after 40 days from birth).

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

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

• A spiritual dad can also hold a toddler.
• After the priest has received answers to all the traditionally asked questions, the recipient may be asked to say a special prayer. But again, most likely the father himself will do it.
• The godfather helps to undress the child before immersion in some water, and then dress. If the child who is baptized is a girl, then after this ceremony she will be transferred to the arms of the godmother, but if the boy, then the godfather will hold her.

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

All people come to this world only once, exactly the same number of times they are 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 afterwards cannot be simply taken and abandoned.
• Godparents do not change under any circumstances. Even if over time you stopped communicating with the 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: the godfather and the godmother. However, you can do it differently.
• You can only take a godfather or a godmother as a godfather. At the same time, it is worth remembering that for a newborn baby, it is more important to have a recipient, but for a boy, it is still a recipient.
• If for some reason you do not want to take godparents at all, well, or you simply have no one to take, then you can baptize the child without any supporters at all.

• Moreover, you can ask the father to become your baby's godfather, but you should take into account the fact that it is unlikely that a person who is distant from your family will be able to pay due attention to the child.
• Whether there can be 2 godmothers or 2 godfathers is 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 different answers.

Can a Muslim be an Orthodox godfather?

The answer to this question is quite obvious. Of course not. After all, how can a Muslim teach a child the Orthodox faith? No way. The only thing a Muslim can do is to stand in 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 actively discussed. There are many rules and prejudices that in our time for some reason stand on the same level with church customs, which is why if you do not know how to act correctly in a given situation - contact the church, there they will explain in detail all the points of interest to you.

Video: On Baptism of Infants and the Modern Way of Life

Why godfathers cannot become husband and wife and how many times can one be a godfather

Priest Dionisy Svechnikov

What is baptism?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is immersed in water three times with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies for a sinful life and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life.
This is a new birth for the spiritual life in which a person can attain the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it, in an incomprehensible way for us, the invisible saving power of God - grace - acts on the baptized one.
Is it possible to baptize babies, because they do not have a conscious faith?
- But don't her parents, who brought their child to the baptism in the temple of God, have her? Will they not instill in their child faith in God from childhood? In addition, the child will have godparents - recipients of the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to educate their godfather in the Orthodox faith. Thus, babies are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child for baptism.
When should children be baptized?
- There are no definite rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done sooner or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the prevailing circumstances.
How many godparents should a child have?
- Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child will have a recipient of a different sex than the person being baptized.
What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and foremost requirement is undoubted Orthodox faith. After all, they will have to teach their godson the basics of the Orthodox faith, give spiritual instructions. The great responsibility of the spiritual education of their godchildren is laid on the godparents, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God.
How can future godparents prepare for baptism?
- There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special conversations are held, where a person is explained all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. A good preparation will be the study of the Holy Scriptures, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as a three-day fast, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism.
Usually, the godfather takes upon himself the payment (if any) of the baptism itself and the acquisition of a pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl, and also brings the things necessary for baptism. A baptismal kit usually includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet, and a towel. But these traditions are optional.
Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?

The spiritual relationship established between recipients in the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. Therefore, spouses cannot become godparents of one child. By doing so, they will question the possibility of the continued existence of their marriage. But alone, they may well be godparents of different children from the same family. Those who intend to marry cannot become godparents. becoming recipients, they will have a spiritual degree of kinship that is higher than the bodily one. They will have to end their relationship and limit themselves only to spiritual kinship.

Can people living in a civil marriage become recipients?
- According to church canons, people leading an immoral life ("civil" marriage should be regarded in this way) cannot be recipients of the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legalize their relationship before God and the state, then they will all the more not be able to be godparents with one child. Despite the seeming complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unequivocally: no.
Can a foster father (mother) become a godfather for an adopted child?
- According to the 53rd rule of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.
How many times can a person become a godfather?
- In the Orthodox Church there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during his life. After all, this is a great responsibility for which you will have to answer before God. Its measure determines how many times a person will be able to take upon himself the receptivity. This measure is different for each person and, sooner or later, a person may have to abandon the new receptivity.
Can you refuse to become a godfather?
- If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has serious fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well deny the child's parents (or the baptized one himself, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this.
When there is no need for godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized person can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently utter the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully aware of his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without recipients. Such a need, undoubtedly, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child?

According to Canon 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or deny the fact of their baptism. In this case, a person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: "If he is not baptized, the servant (servant) of God is baptized ...".

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?
- Of course. Such a delusion has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also a superstition. Participation in church ordinances can only be for the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. Babies were born strong and healthy.

Is it true that if at baptism the wax with cut hair drowns, then the life of the baptized person will be short-lived?
- No, it's superstition. According to the laws of physics, wax cannot sink in water at all. But if thrown from a height with sufficient force, then at the first moment he will really go under water. Fortunately, if the superstitious recipient does not see this moment and "fortune-telling on baptismal wax" will give a positive result. But, as soon as the godfather notices the moment the wax is immersed in the water, lamentations immediately begin, and the newly made Christian is almost buried alive. After that, it is sometimes difficult to bring the parents of the child out of the state of terrible depression, who are told about the "sign of God" seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.
Based on materials from the site pravmir.ru

Faith is a kind of science, the canons of which can be understood through a deep study of it. Especially many dilemmas arose during the ritual of the sacrament of baptism. Human prejudice raises many controversial questions. One of these questions is: how many godchildren one person can have.

A bit of history

When Christianity first began to emerge, there were many pagans who were not trained in the basics of the faith. They decided to baptize their heirs and be baptized themselves. They asked Christians to become receivers at baptism. The receivers taught the parents the basics of the Christian faith and taught this to their children. Each godfather understood his duties.

Today, the rite of baptism has become a tribute to tradition, and not just the sacrament of consecration of the church.

Mix of statements

Christianity in our lands spread over a thousand years ago. Along with the emergence of a new religion, unique rituals and traditions appeared. The previous pagan faith was part of the reason for the extraordinary rituals. And the mentality and time left a big imprint on Orthodoxy. Ecclesiastical rituals are overgrown with many gossip and prejudice... The sacrament of baptism is no exception.

Modern people today know little about the laws of the Almighty. A believer has many questions for one reason or another. One of these questions for most people is: how many godchildren can one person have and is it possible to baptize several children.

Religion on these questions does not give an unambiguous answer... But the priests claim that only the person himself can solve this problem. When a child is baptized, a person becomes his second parent (second mother or second father), which means he has a number of obligations to the child. Failure to fulfill them is considered a grave sin.

The mystery of baptism

Before taking responsibility for someone else's child and having a number of obligations to him, a person must find out what is hidden behind this rite and what role the godparents play in it. And only after a person understands this issue, he himself will understand how many godchildren he can have.

The main thing that every person needs to understand is what the ritual provides introduction to the church life of a child... Along with this, all the sins of relatives and friends that were passed on to him with blood are removed from the baby. The baptism ceremony is the new religious birth of a baby. During the sacrament, the child begins to commune with God. Now the responsibility for his fate lies not only with his parents, but also with God, who will protect him from harm and evil.

After the ritual, parents must educate their child in the Orthodox faith. Their godparents help them in this task. If you are ready to take on this responsibility and are a believer, then you can safely baptize as many children as you are asked to do.

Godparents Mission

It is believed that it is an honor to be a godfather. The title "godfather" or "godfather" means that out of all their newly-made parents have chosen you and believe that you will cope with the role of a second parent for their child. They are you are entrusted with the fate of your baby... For this you must justify their hope and faith and not let them down.

The godfather, like a real Orthodox person, will introduce his new child, the godson, to God. This includes the following:

1. Living according to the laws of the Lord.
2. Study of prayers.
3. Hiking to the temple.

Those people who consider the main task of godfathers - friendship with the real parents of their godson, are deeply mistaken. You cannot buy off your godson with a gift for this or that holiday. To the person who will not take care of Orthodox education your godson, you can't be god.

Should not take on additional duties and a person who will not be able to give the godson due attention. Being a parent is a difficult mission. And if the natural parents did not want or could not attract their child to church, then their child will grow up to be an unkind person. This sin will also lie on you.

Refusal is not a misdemeanor

A person who understands full responsibility can safely refuse such duties. But the reason for the refusal to parents should be explained in detail. If you yourself cannot bring this fact to the consciousness of your parents, then you the priest will come to the rescue... He will explain in detail when, how many times and why you can be a godparent, and when not. Is it a sin to refuse? The answer is unequivocal - no. But it is a grave fault to take responsibility for guiding the child on the right path and will not cope with this task.

There are simply no other serious reasons for refusal, which are provided by the church. An exception is a person of another faith. After all, the main task of a church parent is to help the child become a real Orthodox Christian.

Inquiry Office

If it is difficult to find a solution on your own, then you can turn to a priest for help. This applies to both the material side of the ritual and the spiritual.

A person who is poorly oriented in the Holy Scriptures, but believes in prejudice and gossip, correctly and soberly cannot assess the situation. In addition, a person who does not understand the laws of the church does not need to draw conclusions on his own, relying on the opinion of some acquaintances. After all, these people can also confuse the truth and speculation.

But the priest will be able to answer all the questions that interest you correctly and easily. It is his sacred duty to explain to a person in an accessible way why it is worth doing this or that in a given situation. Before giving an answer whether you can be a godparent for several children, the priest will definitely ask about your relationship with your previous godchildren, whether you are a believer.

Religion and people

All major controversies arise from gossip. Very often you can hear that the first godson of a woman should be a boy. But the church claims that it does not matter what gender your godson will be. But there is a little-known truthful concept: for a child only one godfather bears the main responsibility parent (same sex with infant). In other words, the godmother will be accountable for the girl in the next world, and the godfather for the boy. The tradition of matching the opposite sex is folk, not church. One person can baptize a baby.

Nuns and priests

If you do not dare to take responsibility for the baby, and there is no one else to take on this role, then explain to the parents that the child can be christened without other people... Naturally, the church does not recommend doing this due to the fact that if something happens to the parents and the baby is an orphan, then he falls under the guardianship of the godparents.

Godfathers should take the child into their family and raise them as their own. This fact makes you wonder once again whether you can be a godparent for several children.

Parenting details

Godfathers can take a church marriage without any barriers. After all, they are not blood relatives. But in the future, they shouldn't baptize one baby.

Another interesting question for many is: is it possible to baptize several children in one family to one person. The answer is simple - your business. Lean on can you handle this mission... But if you are asked for this task again, then you are a good godfather to their previous children.

The main tasks of godparents are:

1. To be a child's teacher in life.
2. An adviser in all matters and undertakings.
3. A loyal and devoted friend.

If the godson is sick, then it is necessary to pray for his health and to involve his whole family in this ritual. It is worth asking the Lord for the house of the adopted daughter or son. Together with the baby, you should receive communion and attend the service in the church. Necessary help him live by faith in the church, to talk about the existence of the saints, in the future to take care of his heirs.

Every godson should be given attention not only on holidays.

An individual baby requires certain words, his own special approach. If you can help your godchildren in a difficult situation and in general in life, then the Lord will certainly thank you. He will send you good luck and happiness.

What is Baptism? Why is it called the Sacrament? You will find exhaustive answers to all these questions in this article, prepared by the editors of Pravmir.

The Sacrament of Baptism: Answers to Readers' Questions

Today I would like to tell the reader about the sacrament of Baptism and about the godparents.

For ease of perception, I will offer the reader an article in the form of questions most often asked by people about Baptism and the answers to them. So first question:

What is Baptism? Why is it called the Sacrament?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is immersed in water three times with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies for a sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life. Of course, there is a basis for this action in the Holy Scriptures: “He who is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3, 5). Christ says in the Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned ”(Mark 16:16).

So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for the spiritual life in which a person can attain the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it the invisible saving power of God - grace - acts on the baptized person in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us. Like other sacraments, baptism is ordained by God. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, sending the apostles to the gospel sermon, taught them to baptize people: “Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28, 19). Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and from now on can proceed to the rest of the church sacraments.

Now that the reader is familiar with the Orthodox concept of baptism, it is appropriate to consider one of the most frequently asked questions related to the baptism of children. So:

Infant Baptism: Is It Possible To Baptize Infants Because They Do Not Have An Independent Faith?

Quite right, young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But do not her parents, who brought their child for baptism to the temple of God, have her? Will they not instill in their child faith in God from childhood? Obviously, parents have this kind of faith and are more likely to instill it in their child. In addition, the child will have godparents - recipients of the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to educate their godfather in the Orthodox faith. Thus, babies are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child for baptism.

The prototype of the New Testament baptism was the Old Testament circumcision. In the Old Testament, infants were brought to the temple for circumcision on the eighth day. By this, the parents of the child showed their and his faith and belonging to the chosen people of God. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: "Baptism is the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unbelievers." Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “Circumcised by circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; being buried with Him in baptism ”(Col. 2: 11-12). That is, baptism is dying and burial to sin and resurrection for a perfect life with Christ.

These reasons are enough for the reader to understand the importance of infant baptism. After that, the following question will be quite natural:

When should children be baptized?

There are no definite rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done sooner or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the prevailing circumstances.

The curious reader may have questions regarding the days of baptism. For example, on the eve of multi-day fasting, the most frequently heard question is:

Can children be baptized on fast days?

Of course! But technically, it doesn't always work out. In some churches, during the days of Great Lent, they baptize only on Saturdays and Sundays. This practice is most likely based on the fact that weekday Lenten services are very long, and the intervals between morning and evening services can be small. On Saturdays and Sundays, services are somewhat shorter in time, and priests can devote more time to services. Therefore, when planning the day of baptism, it is better to know in advance about the rules observed in the temple where the child will be baptized. Well, if in general we talk about the days on which you can baptize, then there are no restrictions on this issue. You can baptize children on any day when there are no technical obstacles to this.

I have already mentioned that every person, if possible, should have godparents - receivers from the baptismal font. Moreover, children who are baptized according to the faith of their parents and receivers should have them. The question arises:

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child will have a recipient of a different sex than the person being baptized. The main thing is that this is a truly religious person who subsequently conscientiously fulfills his duties to bring up a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the baptized person can have one or, at most, two recipients.

Having dealt with the number of godparents, the reader will most likely want to know:

What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and foremost requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godfathers must be church-going people, living a church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith, give spiritual instructions. If they themselves are ignorant in these matters, then what can they teach the child? The great responsibility of the spiritual education of their godchildren is laid on the godparents, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with the renunciation of "Satan and all his works, and all his angel, and all his ministry, and all his pride." Thus, the recipients, being responsible for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.

If the godson is already an adult and himself utters the words of renunciation, then the godparents present at the same time become sureties before the Church in the fidelity of his words. The godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly confession and communion, should give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the peculiarities of the church calendar, about the blessed power of miraculous icons and other shrines. Godfathers should teach those they have received from the font to attend church services, fast, pray and observe other provisions of the church charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson. Obviously, strangers cannot be godparents, for example, some compassionate grandmother from the church, whom the parents persuaded to "hold" the baby for baptism.

But it is also not worth taking as godparents simply close people or relatives who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were set out above.

Godparents should not become an object of personal benefit for the parents of the baptized person. The desire to become related with a profitable person, for example, with a boss, often guides parents when choosing godparents for a child. At the same time, forgetting about the true purpose of baptism, parents can deprive the child of a real godfather, and impose on him one who subsequently will not at all care about the spiritual upbringing of the child, for which he himself will also answer before God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

Some of the details of baptism include the following question:

Can a woman become a godmother on the days of a month's cleansing? What if this did happen?

On such days, women should refrain from participating in church ordinances, which include baptism. But if this did happen, then it is necessary to repent of it in confession.

Perhaps someone reading this article will become godfather himself in the near future. Realizing the importance of the decision, they will be interested in:

How can future godparents prepare for baptism?

There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special conversations are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. If it is possible to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do so, because it is very useful for future godparents. If the future godparents are sufficiently churched, constantly confess and receive communion, then attending such conversations will be a sufficient measure of preparation for them.

If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churchly, then a good preparation for them will be not only the acquisition of the necessary knowledge about church life, but also the study of Holy Scripture, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as a three-day fast, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions concerning the recipients. Usually, the godfather takes upon himself the payment (if any) of the baptism itself and the acquisition of a pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl, and also brings the things necessary for baptism. A baptismal kit usually includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet, and a towel.

But these traditions are optional. Often, different regions and even individual churches have their own traditions, the implementation of which is strictly monitored by parishioners and even priests, although they do not have any dogmatic and canonical foundations. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which the baptism will take place.

Sometimes you hear a purely technical question related to baptism:

What should godparents give for baptism (godson, godson's parents, priest)?

This question does not lie in the spiritual realm governed by canonical rules and traditions. But I think that the gift should be useful and remind of the day of baptism. Useful gifts on the day of baptism could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops now you can find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so acquiring a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.

A fairly common question asked by unchurched parents is the question:

Can non-Orthodox Christians or non-Christians become godparents?

It is quite obvious that no, for they will in no way be able to teach their godson the truths of the Orthodox faith. Not being members of the Orthodox Church, they generally cannot take part in church sacraments.

Unfortunately, many parents do not ask about this in advance and without any qualms of conscience invite non-Orthodox and non-believers to be godparents to their children. At baptism, of course, no one talks about this. But then, having learned about the inadmissibility of the deed, the parents run to the temple, asking:

What if it happened by mistake? Is baptism valid in this case? Do I need to baptize the child?

First of all, such situations show the extreme irresponsibility of parents when choosing godparents for their child. Nevertheless, such cases are not uncommon, and they are found among unchurched people who do not live a church life. An unambiguous answer to the question "what to do in this case?" it is impossible to give, because there is nothing like this in church canons. This is not surprising, since canons and rules are written for members of the Orthodox Church, which cannot be said about heterodox and gentiles. Nevertheless, as a fact, the baptism took place, and it cannot be called invalid. It is legal and valid, and the baptized person became a full-fledged Orthodox Christian, tk. was baptized by an Orthodox priest in the name of the Holy Trinity. No re-baptism is required, there is no such concept at all in the Orthodox Church. A person is born physically once, he cannot repeat it again. Likewise, only once a person can be born for the spiritual life, therefore there can be only one baptism.

I will allow myself a small digression and tell the reader how I once had to witness one not very pleasant scene. A young married couple brought their newborn son to the temple for baptism. The spouses worked for a foreign company and invited one of their colleagues, a foreigner, by the Lutheran faith, to become the godfather. True, a girl of the Orthodox faith was supposed to become the godmother. Neither parents, nor future godparents were distinguished by special knowledge in the field of the Orthodox faith. The parents of the child were hostile to the news of the impossibility of having a Lutheran as godfather of their son. They were asked to find another godfather or baptize the child with one godmother. But this proposal angered the father and mother even more. The persistent desire to see this particular person as the recipient prevailed over the common sense of the parents and the priest had to refuse to baptize the child. Thus, the illiteracy of the parents became an obstacle to the baptism of their child.

Thank God that such situations have never been encountered in my priestly practice. The curious reader may well assume that there may be some obstacles to receiving the ordinance of baptism. And he will be absolutely right. So:

When can a priest refuse to be baptized?

Orthodox Christians believe in God the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The founder of the Christian faith was the Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who does not accept the divinity of Christ and does not believe in the Holy Trinity cannot be an Orthodox Christian. Also, a person who denies the truths of the Orthodox faith cannot become an Orthodox Christian. A priest has the right to refuse a person to be baptized if he is going to accept the sacrament as a magical rite or has some kind of pagan belief regarding baptism itself. But this is a separate issue and I will touch on it later.

A very common question about receivers is the question:

Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?

Yes they can. Contrary to popular belief, there is no canonical prohibition for spouses or those intending to marry to be godparents with one child. There is only a canonical rule that prohibits the godfather from marrying the child's own mother. The spiritual relationship established between them through the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. But this rule does not in any way affect the possibility of marriage of godparents or the possibility of spouses becoming godparents.

Sometimes unchurched parents of children, wanting to choose godparents for their children, ask the following question:

Can people living in a civil marriage become recipients?

At first glance, this is a rather difficult question, but from the church point of view, it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called a full-fledged one. And in general it is impossible to call a prodigal cohabitation a family. Indeed, in fact, people living in a so-called civil marriage live in fornication. This is a great misfortune in modern society. People baptized in the Orthodox Church, at least aware of themselves as Christians, for some incomprehensible reason refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are a myriad of excuses. But, unfortunately, these people simply do not want to understand that they are looking for any excuses for themselves.

For God, the desire to "get to know each other better" or "unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary seals" cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a "civil" marriage trample on all Christian concepts of marriage and family. Christian marriage presupposes the responsibility of the spouses for each other. During the marriage, they become one, and not two different people who have made a promise from now on to live under the same roof. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other bear the entire weight of the body on itself? And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for stamping their passports.

What then can we say about such irresponsible people, while wanting to be godparents? What good can they teach the child? Could they, having very shaky moral foundations, be able to give a good example to their godson? Not at all. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded as such) cannot be recipients of the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legalize their relationship before God and the state, then they, moreover, will not be able to be godparents with one child. Despite the seeming complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unequivocally: no.

The topic of gender relations is always very acute in all areas of human life. It goes without saying that this translates into various issues directly related to baptism. Here is one of them:

Can a young man (or girl) become a godfather for his bride (groom)?

In this case, they will have to terminate their relationship and limit themselves only to a spiritual connection, tk. in the sacrament of baptism, one of them will become the recipient - the godparent of the other. Can a son marry his own mother? Or a daughter to marry her own father? Obviously not. Of course, the church canons cannot allow this to happen.

Much more often than others, there are questions about the possible susceptibility of close relatives. So:

Can relatives become godparents?

Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts may well become godparents with their little relatives. There are no contradictions to this in the church canons.

Can a foster father (mother) become a godfather for an adopted child?

According to rule 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.

Proceeding from the fact that a spiritual relationship is established between godparents and godparents, an inquisitive reader may ask the following question:

Can the parents of the child become the recipients of the children of their godfathers (godfathers of their children)?

Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. Such an action does not in any way violate the spiritual relationship that has been established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of a child, can become the godmother of the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. Other options are possible, but, in any case, spouses cannot become recipients of one child.

Sometimes people ask this question:

Can a priest be a godfather (including the one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?

Yes maybe. In general, this question is very urgent. From time to time I have to hear a request to become a godfather from people who are completely unfamiliar to me. Parents bring their child to baptism. For some reason, there was no godfather for the child. They begin to ask to become a godfather for the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of the godfather, the priest must fulfill this role. We have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. A priest is the same person as everyone else, and he may well refuse strangers to be godfather to their child. After all, he will have to bear responsibility for the upbringing of his godfather. But how can he do this if he sees this child for the first time and is completely unfamiliar with his parents? And, most likely, he will never see again. This is obviously not possible. But a priest (even if he himself performs the ordinance of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will concelebrate the sacrament of baptism to the priest) may well become recipients of the children of his friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Continuing the theme of receptivity, one cannot but recall such a phenomenon as the desire of parents, due to some, sometimes completely incomprehensible, reasons "to take the godfather in absentia."

Is it possible to take the godfather "in absentia"?

The very meaning of receptivity presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized person and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. This cannot be done in absentia. In the end, the person whom they are trying to "write in absentia" as godparents may not agree at all to this action and, as a result, the baptized person may be left without a godfather at all.

Sometimes parishioners ask questions about this:

How many times can a person become a godfather?

In the Orthodox Church, there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during his life. The main thing that a person who agrees to become a receiver must remember is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person will be able to take upon himself the receptivity. This measure is different for each person and, sooner or later, a person may have to abandon the new receptivity.

Can you refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't it be a sin?

If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well deny the child's parents (or the baptized one himself, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill his immediate duties.

Continuing this topic, I will give a few more questions that people usually ask about the number of possible godchildren.

Can you become godfather to the second child in the family if you already had one with the first?

Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Is it possible for one person during baptism to be the recipient of several people (for example, twins)?

There are no canonical prohibitions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are baptized. The receiver will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It will be better if each godson has his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized separately are different people who have the right to their godfather.

Probably, many will be interested in the following question:

At what age can you become a recipient?

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be that when he will be able to realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to the age of majority.

The relationship between the child's parents and godparents also plays an important role in the upbringing of children. It is good when parents and godparents have spiritual unity and direct all their efforts to the proper spiritual education of their child. But human relations are not always cloudless, and sometimes one hears this question:

What to do if you quarreled with the godson's parents and for this reason you cannot see him?

The answer suggests itself: to make peace with the parents of the godson. For what can a child be taught by people who have a spiritual relationship and are at the same time at enmity with each other? It is worth thinking not about personal ambitions, but about raising a child and, having gained patience and humility, try to improve relations with the parents of the godson. The same can be said for the parents of the child.

But a quarrel is not always the reason that the godfather cannot see the godson for a long time.

What if, for objective reasons, you have not seen your godson for years?

I think that the objective reasons are the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents moved with their child to another city or country. In this case, it remains only to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him using all available means of communication.

Unfortunately, some godparents, having baptized the baby, completely forget about their immediate duties. Sometimes the reason for this is not only an elementary ignorance of the recipient about his duties, but his falling into grave sins, which make their own spiritual life very difficult. Then the parents of the child involuntarily have a completely legitimate question:

Is it possible to refuse godparents who do not fulfill their duties, have fallen into grave sins or lead an immoral lifestyle?

The Orthodox Church does not know the rite of rejection of the godparents. But parents can find an adult who, not being the actual recipient of the font, would help in the spiritual upbringing of the child. At the same time, he cannot be considered godfather.

But having such a helper is better than depriving the child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend altogether. After all, a moment may come when a child begins to seek spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very useful. And the child, as he grows up, can be taught to pray for the godfather. After all, the child's spiritual connection with the person who received him from the font will not be severed if he takes responsibility for the person who himself has not coped with this responsibility. It happens that children surpass their parents and mentors in prayer and piety.

Prayer for a sinner or a deluded person will be a manifestation of love for that person. After all, it is not for nothing that the Apostle James says in his epistle to Christians: “Pray for one another in order to be healed, the intensified prayer of the righteous can do much” (James 5:16). But all these actions must be coordinated with your confessor and receive a blessing for them.

And here's another interesting question that people periodically ask:

When there is no need for godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized person can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently utter the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully aware of his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without recipients. Such a need, undoubtedly, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

The godless time left its mark on the destinies of many people. The result of this was that some people, after long years of unbelief, finally gained faith in God, but when they came to the temple, they did not know if they had been baptized in childhood by believing relatives. A logical question arises:

Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child?

According to Canon 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or deny the fact of their baptism. In this case, the person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: "If he is not baptized, the servant (servant) of God is baptized ...".

Something I'm all about children and about children. Among the readers, perhaps, there are people who have not yet been honored with the saving sacrament of baptism, but with all their souls strive for it. So:

What does a person who is preparing to become an Orthodox Christian need to know? How can he prepare for the ordinance of baptism?

A person's knowledge of faith begins with the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, a person who wants to be baptized first of all needs to read the Gospel. After reading the Gospel, a person may have a number of questions that require a competent answer. Such answers can be obtained at the so-called catechumens, which are held in many temples. At such conversations, those who wish to be baptized are explained the basics of the Orthodox faith. If such conversations are not conducted at the temple in which a person is going to be baptized, then you can ask all the questions of interest to the priest in the temple. It will also be useful to read some books that explain Christian dogmas, for example, the Law of God. It will be good if, before accepting the sacrament of baptism, a person memorizes the Symbol of Faith, in which the Orthodox doctrine about God and the Church is briefly set forth. This prayer will be read at baptism, and it would be great if the baptized person himself confessed his faith. The immediate preparation begins a few days before baptism. These days are special, so you should not scatter your attention to other, even very important, problems. It is worth devoting this time to spiritual and moral reflections, avoiding fuss, empty conversations, participation in various amusements. It must be remembered that baptism, like other sacraments, is great and holy. It must be approached with the greatest awe and awe. It is advisable to observe fasting for 2-3 days, those living in marriage the night before to refrain from marital relations. You need to be extremely clean and tidy for baptism. You can put on new smart clothes. Women should not wear make-up, as always, when visiting the temple.

There are many superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism, which I would also like to touch upon in this article. One of the most common superstitions is:

Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if a girl is baptized first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give her her happiness ...

This statement is also a superstition that has no basis either in Holy Scripture or in church canons and traditions. And happiness, if it is deserved before God, will not disappear from a person.

Another bizarre thought that I have heard on numerous occasions:

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would it somehow affect her own child or godson?

Of course. Such a delusion has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also a superstition. Participation in church ordinances can only be for the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. Babies were born strong and healthy.

A lot of superstitions are associated with the so-called rebaptism. Moreover, the reasons for such a crazy action are sometimes very bizarre and even funny. But most of these rationales are pagan and occult in origin. For example, here is one of the most common superstitions of occult origin:

Is it true, is it that in order to remove the damage directed at a person, it is necessary to cross again, and keep the new name secret so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, tk. do they conjure it in the name?

Honestly, hearing such statements, I want to laugh heartily. But, unfortunately, there is no laughing matter. What kind of pagan obscurity an Orthodox person has to reach in order to decide that baptism is a kind of magic ritual, a kind of antidote to corruption. An antidote to a certain indefinite substance, the definition of which no one even knows. What is this ghostly corruption? It is unlikely that someone from those who are so afraid of her will be able to clearly answer this question. This is not surprising. Instead of looking for God in life and fulfilling His commandments, the "church" people with enviable zeal are looking for the mother of all evil in everything - corruption. And where does it come from?

I will allow myself a small lyrical digression. A man is walking down the street, stumbled. All - jinxed! We urgently need to run to the church to light a candle so that everything is fine and the evil eye will pass. While walking to the temple, I stumbled again. Looks like they not only jinxed, but also put some damage! Wow, infidels! Well, nothing, now I will come to the church, I will pray, I will buy candles, I will stick all the candlesticks, I will fight the corruption in full. The man ran to the church, stumbled on the porch again and fell. All - lie down and die! Damage to death, ancestral curse, well, and there is also some disgusting thing, I forgot the name, but also something very scary. Three-in-one cocktail! Against this, candles and prayer will not help, this is a serious matter, an ancient voodoo spell! There is only one way out - to be baptized anew, and only with a new name, so that when these same voodoo slander on the old name were whispered and needles were stuck into the dolls, all their spells would fly by. They will not know the new name. And all the witchcraft is done in the name, didn't you know? What fun it will be when they whisper and conjure intensely there, and everything will fly by! Bam, bam and - by! Eh, it's good when there is baptism - a cure for all diseases!

This is approximately how superstitions associated with rebaptism appear. But much more often the sources of these superstitions are the workers of the occult sciences, i.e. fortune-tellers, psychics, healers and other "gifted by God" personalities. These indefatigable "generators" of newfangled occult terminology go to all sorts of tricks to seduce a person. Family curses, and celibacy crowns, and karmic knots of destinies, transfers, love spells with lapels and other occult nonsense are used. And the only thing that needs to be done to get rid of all this is to cross. And the damage was gone. And laughter and sin! But many fall for these near-church tricks of the "mothers Glafir" and "fathers Tikhonov" and run to the church for a second baptism. It is good if they say where they got such an ardent desire to be baptized, and they will be denied this blasphemy, having previously explained what trips to occultists are fraught with. And some do not even say that they have already been baptized and are being baptized again. There are also those who are baptized several times, because previous baptisms "did not help." And they won't help! It is difficult to imagine greater blasphemy over the sacrament. After all, the Lord knows the heart of a person, knows about all his thoughts.

It is worth saying a few words about the name, which is so advised to change "kind people". A person's name is named on the eighth day from birth, but since many do not know about this, basically the prayer for naming the name is read by the priest immediately before baptism. Surely everyone knows that the name is given to a person in honor of one of the saints. And it is this saint who is our patron and intercessor for us before God. And, of course, it seems that every Christian should call on his saint as often as possible and ask his prayers before the throne of the Almighty. And what actually happens? Not only does a person neglect his name, but he also neglects his saint, after whom he is named. And instead of calling on his heavenly patron, his saint, at the moment of trouble or danger, he visits fortune-tellers and psychics. A “reward” for this will be followed by a corresponding one.

There is another superstition directly related to the sacrament of baptism itself. Almost immediately after baptism, the ceremony of cutting hair follows. In this case, the recipient is given a piece of wax, in which it is supposed to roll the cut hair. This wax is to be thrown into the water by the receptacle. This is where the fun begins. It is not known where the question arises from:

Is it true that if at baptism the wax with cut hair drowns, then the life of the baptized person will be short-lived?

No, this is superstition. According to the laws of physics, wax cannot sink in water at all. But if thrown from a height with sufficient force, then at the first moment he will really go under water. Fortunately, if the superstitious recipient does not see this moment and "fortune-telling on baptismal wax" will give a positive result. But, as soon as the godfather notices the moment the wax is immersed in water, lamentations immediately begin, and the newly-made Christian is almost buried alive. After that, it is sometimes difficult to bring the parents of the child out of the state of terrible depression, who are told about the "sign of God" seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.

Summing up, I would like to note that baptism is a great sacrament, and the approach to it should be reverent and deliberate. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live the same sinful life. Having been baptized, a person must remember that now he is an Orthodox Christian, a warrior of Christ, a member of the Church. This requires a lot. First of all, to love. Love for God and neighbors. So let each of us, regardless of when he was baptized, fulfill these commandments. Then we can hope that the Lord will lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven. That Kingdom, the way into which the sacrament of Baptism opens to us.

The baptism of a child is one of the most important and brightest events in the life of both the baby and his parents. It is unacceptable to treat this rite lightly, since christening is an unusual holiday. On this day, the child acquires not only the named parents, but also a guardian angel who will be with him all his life.

It is not surprising that many seek to baptize their child immediately after birth. But you cannot rush in such a matter, you need to carefully prepare for each moment of the christening, pondering and realizing all the little things. Many people are interested in the question - is it possible to be a godfather for several children. There are discussions about this, but it is better to look for an answer from the ministers of the church themselves.

For the role of recipients, young parents most often call their close friends. But sometimes it happens that potential godmothers or dads already have several godchildren. How to be in this situation?

On the one hand, traditions say that you cannot refuse to be baptized, as you can incur misfortune on yourself. On the other hand, is it right to agree to take responsibility for another person?

After all, baptism is not just a church rite, after which you can go to a banquet, forgetting about your main responsibilities. To make the right decision, you need to carefully prepare and study the instructions of the spiritual fathers, which provide valuable advice.

There is a superstition that one cannot become a godfather twice, since during a repeated rite the cross is removed from the first godson. This is nothing more than a human opinion, which is not worth relying on when making a decision.

The priests assure: nothing can cancel a correctly performed sacrament. To agree to become a godfather for the second or third time or not is everyone's personal business. But in this case, one must remember about the responsibility before God, which the recipients take upon themselves. To have a godson means to have another child, whom you always need to help in everything.

Spiritual parents should participate in the child's life not only financially, but also spiritually. Therefore, when choosing godparents, biological parents should focus on the spiritual education of their friends and acquaintances.

When asked whether it is possible to be godfather for several children, the church unequivocally answers - yes. Therefore, if you have a desire to have another godson and participate in his spiritual education, feel free to agree. But remember: if you agreed to this role, you will have to make efforts to educate the child, and not just invite him to visit once a year and give him presents.

Who shouldn't be called godparents?

Choosing godparents is a responsible task. Often young mum and dad are not familiar with
church laws and invite people to baptize their child, who, according to the laws of the church, should not do this.

That is why, before the christening, it is imperative to communicate with the priest and consult on a number of issues.

Who cannot baptize a child?

• • Gentiles. People professing a different faith simply cannot be responsible for raising a baby according to Orthodox laws.
  • Young couples or spouses. People who are in a church or civil marriage.
  • The parents themselves. Biological mom and dad cannot baptize a son or daughter, since they have a special meaning in his life.
  • Atheists. The very idea that an unbeliever can become a godfather is ridiculous and absurd. After all, the primary task of the godfather is the spiritual education of the child, his introduction into the Christian world and familiarization with God's laws.
  • Strangers, strangers. Rarely, but still there are situations when the parents of the baby, due to some circumstances, cannot find potential godparents among their acquaintances. In this case, they ask to hold the baby in their arms during the christening of complete strangers. Such a phenomenon is extremely undesirable and is not approved by the church, although it does not fall under an outright ban.

Questions before christening

Questions such as how many times you can be a godmother and how many godchildren a recipient can have are absolutely normal for a person who is preparing to take on such responsibility.

It's important to know! What is it for and what it is: the rules of the sacrament

Every sane person who was offered such a role thinks about what he will have to do after the christening, what is his participation in the life of the godson in the future, and how to behave in the church? Excitement before a responsible event is a familiar phenomenon. There is no need to worry that you will do something wrong, because there will always be a spiritual mentor next to you who will tell you how to behave and in what sequence to perform the prescribed actions.

Frequently asked questions young parents ask a church minister before christening:

• Can a minor be a godfather?
• Is it possible to be a godfather for several children?
• Can a pregnant girl be baptized?
• What is the best age to baptize a baby?
• How many godparents should there be and how many times can one person become a recipient?

It is believed that a person who has not reached the age of majority cannot baptize a baby, since he does not realize all his responsibility in this process. It is definitely possible to baptize several children. But one should agree to this only if the person is confident, then he will have enough time and energy to make a significant contribution to the upbringing of each godson.

Most often, young parents hold christenings on the eighth day after birth. It is believed that the sooner a guardian angel is assigned to a new person, the better. But such an opportunity is not always there, because the church is not against christening even at a later age. In some cases, the rite of baptism is carried out when the adolescent is already entering a conscious age.

From the moment of christening, the baby has an invisible protector who will always protect him from all troubles. Often the name of an angel is directly related to the name of a person, since in the church a new servant of God is named in honor of the saint who patronizes the birthday or day of christening.

According to church canons, each person can even have one recipient (godmother or father). It is not necessary to invite a couple to a christening. But if the parents have a desire to intermarry with a large number of people, then it is possible to arrange the sacrament of baptism with the involvement of even two or three couples.

Important! It is not forbidden by the church to have several recipients, but before the sacrament, everyone who has decided to become a godfather should listen to a short parting word from the priest about further participation in the life of the godson.

Useful video: The rules for baptizing a child

Conclusion

Each person can become a godfather an unlimited number of times. The main thing in this matter is to remember that at God's Judgment everyone will have to be responsible for the upbringing of their godchildren, as well as for the upbringing of their own children.