How to baptize a child? What are the rules for the baptism ceremony? How much does it cost? The editors of the Orthodoxy and Peace portal will answer these and other questions.

Child Baptism

When to baptize - different families solve this issue differently.

Most often they are baptized +/- 40 days after birth. The 40th day is also significant from a religious point of view (in the Old Testament church, on the 40th day a child was brought to the temple, on the 40th day a prayer is read over a woman who has given birth). For 40 days after giving birth, a woman does not participate in the sacraments of the Church: this is also related to the physiology of the postpartum period, and in general it is very reasonable - at this time, all the attention and energy of a woman should be focused on the child and her health.

After this period has expired, you must read it special prayer, which the priest will do before or after baptism. Very young children behave much calmer at baptism and are not afraid when someone else (godparents or priest) takes them in the arms. Well, don’t forget that up to three months, children can more easily tolerate head-dipping, because they retain intrauterine reflexes that help them hold their breath.

In any case, the choice of the moment is up to the parents and depends on the circumstances and the state of the child’s health. If the baby is in intensive care and there are health problems, the baby can be baptized in intensive care. To do this, you can invite a priest or MOTHER CAN BAPTIZE THE CHILD HERSELF.

You can baptize after 40 days.

If the child's life is in danger

If the baby is in intensive care, then you can invite a priest to baptize the child. From the hospital church or from any church - no one will refuse. Just first you need to find out what the baptism procedures are in this hospital.

If strangers are not allowed into the intensive care unit, or if the situation is different - an accident, for example - the mother or father (and the intensive care nurse at the request of the parents, and anyone else in general) can christen the child THEMSELVES. A few drops of water are needed. With these drops, the child must be crossed three times with the words:

Servant of God (NAME) is baptized
In the name of the Father. Amen. (we cross ourselves for the first time and sprinkle some water)
And the Son. Amen. (second time)
And the Holy Spirit. Amen. (third time).

The child is baptized. When he is discharged, the second part of baptism will have to be performed in church - Confirmation - joining the Church. Explain to the priest in advance that you baptized yourself in intensive care. You can baptize your baby at home, having agreed on this with the priest in the church.

Should I baptize in winter?

Of course, in churches they heat the water, the water in the font is warm.

The only thing is that if the temple has one door and the temple itself is small, one of your relatives can stand guard at the entrance so that the door does not suddenly open wide open.

How much to pay? And why pay?

Officially, in churches there is no fee for the Sacraments and services.

Christ also said: “Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). But only the believers fed and watered the apostles, allowed them to spend the night, and in modern realities, the donation for baptism is one of the main sources of income for churches, from which they pay for light, electricity, repairs, fire-fighting work and the priest, who most often has many children. Price list in the temple - this is the approximate donation amount. If there really is no money, they MUST baptize for free. If they refuse, it’s a reason to contact the dean.

Is it necessary to call according to the calendar?

Whoever wants it. Some call it according to the calendar, some in honor of their favorite saint or someone else. Of course, if a girl was born on January 25, then she really wants the name Tatyana, but the parents choose the name for the child themselves - there are no “musts” here.

Where to baptize?

It is unlikely that this question will arise before you if you are already parishioners of some temple. If not, choose a temple to your liking. There is nothing wrong with visiting a few temples. If the employees are unfriendly and rude (this happens, yes), you can look for a temple where they will treat you kindly from the very beginning. Yes. We come to God in church, but there is no sin in choosing a church according to your liking. It’s good if the church has a separate baptismal room. It is usually warm, there are no drafts and there are no strangers.
If there are few churches in your city and they all have large parishes, then be sure to find out in advance how many children usually attend baptism. It may turn out that a dozen babies will be baptized at the same time, each of whom will be accompanied by a whole team of relatives. If you don’t like such a mass gathering, you can agree on an individual baptism.

Baptism photography

If you decide to hire a photographer for the christening, be sure to find out in advance whether he will be allowed to take pictures and use a flash. Some priests have a very negative attitude towards filming the Sacraments and an unpleasant surprise may await you.
As a rule, photography and video shooting are not prohibited anywhere. Photos from a baptism are a great joy for many years for the whole family, so if you can’t take pictures in a church, then you need to look for a church where you can take pictures (but even in Old Believer churches they allow you to take pictures at christenings)
In some cases, a child can be baptized at home. The main thing is to agree on this with the priest.

Godparents

Who can and cannot be a godfather is the most common question. Is it possible for a pregnant/unmarried/unbeliever/childless girl to baptize a girl, etc. - the number of variations is endless.

The answer is simple: the godfather must be a person

- Orthodox and church (HE is responsible for raising a child in the faith);

- not the child’s parent (godparents must replace the parents if something happens);

- a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child (or those who are going to get married);

- A monastic cannot be a godfather.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not at all necessary that there be two godparents. One thing is enough: women for girls and men for boys. .

Conversation before baptism

Now this is a must. For what? To baptize those who believe in Christ, and not those who come because “a child_is_sick_must_be_baptized_otherwise_they_will_jinx_and_we_are_Russian_and_Orthodox."

You have to come to the conversation, this is not an exam. usually the priest talks about Christ, the Gospel, reminds that you need to read the Gospel yourself. This looks like.

Often the need for conversation causes indignation among relatives and many try to “get around” them. Someone, complaining about a lack of time, or even just desire, is looking for priests who can ignore this rule. But first of all, this information is needed by the godparents themselves, because by offering them to become your child’s godparents, you impose a great responsibility on them and it would be nice for them to know about it. If godparents do not want to spend time on this, then this is a reason for you to think about whether the child needs adoptive parents who cannot sacrifice just a couple of their evenings for him.

If the godparents live in another city and can only come on the day of the sacrament, then they can have conversations in any church that is convenient. Upon completion, they will be given a certificate with which they can participate in the sacrament anywhere.

It is very good for godparents, if they don’t already know, to learn - this prayer is read three times during baptism and, it is likely that godparents will be asked to read it.

What to buy?

A child needs a new one for baptism. christening shirt, cross and towel. All this can be bought at any church store and, as a rule, this is the task of the godparents. The baptismal shirt is then stored along with other mementos of the baby. In foreign stores there is a whole line of stunningly beautiful clothes for baptism; you can also use some beautiful set for discharge.

Baptismal name

Find out in advance what name the child will be baptized. If the child’s name is not in the calendar, select one that sounds similar in advance (Alina - Elena, Zhanna - Anna, Alisa - Alexandra) and tell the priest about it. And sometimes names are given strangely. One of my friends Zhanna was baptized Evgeniya. By the way, sometimes there are unexpected names in the calendar, say. Edward - there is such an Orthodox British saint (though then all the temple employees will not believe that there is such a thing Orthodox name). In church records and when performing other Sacraments, you will need to use the name given at baptism. Based on it, it will be determined when the child’s Angel Day is and who his heavenly patron is.

We arrived at the temple, what next?

At the church shop you will be asked to pay a donation for baptism. Before the sacrament, it is better to feed the baby so that he is more comfortable and calm.

Feed in the temple IT IS POSSIBLE, it’s good to wear nursing clothes or have an apron with you. If you need privacy, you can ask one of the temple employees to find a secluded place.
The only thing is that if the baby is feeding for a long time, it is better to have a bottle-sipper-syringe with food with you, so that it does not happen that the baby gets hungry in the middle of the service and you either have to wait half an hour until he eats or he will cry from hunger.

During the sacrament, the child is held in the arms of the godparents, the parents can only watch. The duration of Baptism is usually about an hour.

It is useful to familiarize yourself in advance with what will happen during the service in order to understand the meaning of what is happening. Here .

But mothers are not allowed to be baptized everywhere—it’s better to clarify this question in advance.

Cold water?

The water in the font is WARM. First, hot water is usually poured into it, and before the Sacrament it is diluted with cold water. But the water in the font is warm :)

The temple employees who collect it will make sure that the water is warm - they don’t want the child to freeze just as much as you do. After immersion, it will not be possible to immediately dress the child, and here again it is worth mentioning that it is good to baptize very young children in separate rooms and not in the church itself, where it is cool even in summer. In any case, don’t worry, everything happens quickly and the child will not have time to freeze.

Should a child wear a cross all the time?

Parents are often concerned about the safety of their child wearing a cross. Someone is afraid that the child may be harmed by the rope or ribbon on which the cross hangs. Many people worry that the child might lose the cross or it might be stolen, for example, in the garden. As a rule, the cross is worn on a short ribbon that cannot get tangled anywhere. And for kindergarten You can prepare a special inexpensive cross.

And they say that...

Baptism, like many other things in our lives, is surrounded by many stupid superstitions and prejudices. Older relatives can add worries and worries with stories about bad omens and prohibitions. It is better to clarify any doubtful questions with the priest, not trusting grandmothers, even very experienced ones.

Is it possible to celebrate baptism?

It is quite logical that relatives who will gather for Epiphany will want to continue the celebration at home or in a restaurant. The main thing is that during the holiday they do not forget the reason for which everyone gathered.

After baptism

When the Sacrament is over, you will be given a certificate of baptism, which will indicate when the baptism was performed, by whom, and the day on which the child has a name day will also be written. After baptism, you will definitely need to go to the temple again to give the baby communion. In general, babies should be given communion regularly.

The Sacrament of Baptism takes about 30-40 minutes. It is necessary to decide in advance on the name for the child that will be given to him at Baptism, the choice of a temple and the purchase of baptismal accessories. It is also necessary to first visit the temple where the Sacrament will take place and talk with the priest. With all the preliminary steps, preparation for Baptism will take no more than a week.

At what age is a child baptized?

A child can be baptized at any age.

There is a legend that a child should be baptized on the 40th day from the date of his birth. This is due to the fact that 40 days is mentioned in Old Testament, and it is also believed that until the 40th day the mother cannot be present at the Sacrament due to natural reasons. But you can baptize earlier or later, the main thing is not to delay it for too long, and not to leave the child’s soul without the grace of God.

In which church should a child be baptized?

Everyone decides for themselves in which church it is better to baptize their child. For a small child, it is preferable if the church is located close to home. First of all, you can find out from relatives and close friends where they baptized their children. What they liked and what they didn’t. You should know that the larger the church, the more children will be baptized in it. It may be difficult for little ones to wait an hour and a half for their turn.

You should first visit the chosen temple and find out when you can perform the Sacrament of Baptism. Perhaps you have chosen a specific date and would like to christen it on that day. You can find out all the detailed information in the church. A child can be baptized on any day, but each parish has its own rules and you should know them in advance.

Usually they baptize in the morning after the service.

Is it possible to baptize a child in winter?

There are no obstacles to performing the Sacrament of Baptism in the winter season. The church is warm, the water for baptism is heated. I baptized my second daughter at the end of October in Gerasimo-Boldinsky monastery Smolensk region. We were two families who baptize babies. The children behaved wonderfully, no one cried. In the monastery itself it was warm, even hot, cozy and festive. The eldest daughter was baptized there, but in the summer. There were much more people, about 10 people. However, everything went surprisingly smoothly; the Sacrament of Baptism itself took no more than an hour.

How much does Baptism cost?

IN Orthodox Church There is no official fee. Here it is important to understand that in our country the Church is separated from the State, and, therefore, exists only on the donations of parishioners. Therefore, the amount that they will tell you in the temple is only approximate. You can pay more if your funds allow. If you have a difficult life situation and you cannot pay for Baptism now, any priest is obliged to baptize the child for free. If you are denied entry into a particular church, you can contact the dean or other higher priests.

In Moscow and the Moscow region, a donation for Epiphany is about 2000-5000 rubles. For individual performance of the Sacrament, the amount may be slightly higher. In the regions they make a donation of 1000 rubles, for example, in churches in the Smolensk region they pay 1500-2500 rubles for the baptism of a child.

Why is a conversation with the priest necessary before Baptism?

A preliminary conversation with the priest is necessary so that the parents understand the importance and responsibility of the Sacrament being performed. It is necessary to baptize out of faith, and not because the child is often sick, eats poorly, and is somehow disobedient.

During the conversation, the priest will talk about Holy Scripture, about the life of Jesus. About why a person is baptized. About the role of godparents in a child’s life.

Public conversations in Lately have become mandatory in many churches. They usually take place where you will baptize the child. Temples have rooms for classes. Sunday school, usually the priest invites parents and godparents there. In most churches, such conversations take place on weekends, usually on Saturdays. But the priest can appoint another time convenient for you and him.

How to choose the right godparents?

Godparents for one child cannot be husband and wife, the parents themselves, or monastics. All other believers can be godparents.

As for the age at which you can become a godfather, there are discrepancies. Some priests say that from the age of majority, others say that from the age of 14 you can become a godfather or mother. It is better to address this question to the priest at a public conversation before the Sacrament.

In Russian Orthodox tradition It is customary to have two godparents for a child: a man and a woman. However, there are no regulations in this regard in the Church. So, you can baptize a child with one godfather: for a boy, a man is traditionally chosen as a godparent, for a girl, a woman is chosen.

With the permission of the priest, they can become recipients unbaptized people, representatives of other religions, and you can also become a godfather in absentia if there are significant reasons for this.

When taking on such responsibility, you should understand that the godfather is the person who is obliged to support the child at turning points in life. It is the godfather who should be next to his godson when he moves away from his parents during adolescence.

Advice to parents: choose a godfather you like. It is good if this person is close to your child and can visit him from time to time. If you offered to become a godfather, and the person refused, you should not beg him. Perhaps the person feels that he is not ready to take on this responsibility. Look for another person.

Literature for parents and godparents:

Hieromonk Macarius (Markish) - ""

Archpriest Valentin Mordasov - ""

Do parents and godparents need to confess and receive communion before performing the Sacrament of Baptism?

No, this is not necessary.

What should godparents purchase for Baptism?

Usually Godfather buys for godson pectoral cross, and also pays the costs of performing the Sacrament of Baptism. Godmother He can also buy a cross for his goddaughter, as well as other necessary things.

The baptism set for a boy includes:

A new baptismal shirt and kryzhma (towel).

If the child is an infant, you can purchase additional socks and a cap. During Baptism, it is better to remove the diaper, if the baby is wearing one. You can put it on after the baby is dipped into the font three times.

Kryzhma, cap, shirt and booties for a boy

Baptism set for girls includes:

Baptismal dress, head scarf and kryzhma (towel).

For a girl, instead of a baptismal shirt, you can purchase a baptismal dress.

Traditionally, blue tones are used in the decoration of baptismal attire for boys, and pink for girls. But the outfit can also be snow-white as a symbol of purity. For girls, the baptismal set can be decorated with ruffles and lace.

The baptismal attire should be made only from natural materials: cotton or linen; silk is most often used for decoration.

To choose the right outfit for Baptism, you need to know the age of the child, at least approximately his height or weight. Buy a christening outfit in the size your child usually wears. For a boy, you can buy a baptismal shirt one size larger than usual, because... it is made of cotton and does not stretch. This will make it easier to put on.

In winter, you should buy a towel with a hood.

A baptismal set can also be purchased at a church, but not always. Small churches won't sell it to you. The parents themselves can purchase such a set, and then the godparents give something else.

It is customary to keep the baptismal attire throughout your life. If necessary, it can be washed.

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, you will need baptismal candles, on which lace elegant napkins are placed so that the wax does not drip onto your hands. You can buy such candles at any church store.

What should you give to godparents for Epiphany?

The gift can be anything. Good book, household items, something necessary for a child. Often godparents present icons of Jesus Christ, Holy Mother of God, the Saint after whom the baby is named, prayer books, Bibles for children, and other spiritual literature.

Measured icons are usually made to order in icon painting workshops

Some people order beautiful measured icons that will become family heirlooms and possibly be passed down from generation to generation. The icon is called a dimensional icon because it is made to the size of the child at the time of his birth. Such a shrine is made to order, depicting a saint - the patron saint of a child. If godparents know the name of the saint in whose honor their godson will be named, they can pre-order a measured icon for a gift. It is done in icon-painting workshops at churches, or you can search for private manufacturers of such icons on the Internet. The average cost of a measured icon in Moscow is 17,000 rubles.

Who is present at the Baptism?

Priest Alexander Ilyushenko answers this way: “All relatives and just close people can be present at baptism. Baptism is called a sacrament not because it is performed in secret from everyone, but because in baptism, as in other church sacraments, under the visible image of the performance of established sacred rites, the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit is communicated to the soul of the believer.”

The mother can also be present at her child's Baptism. There are no prohibitions for her today. In the pre-Christian era, there was a ban on visiting the temple for a woman who had just given birth. Only after 40 days could she cross the threshold of the temple and touch the shrines. But today that's the rule ritual purity no longer matters as much as it used to.

What name should a child be baptized under?

If you named your child according to the Saints, then the name at Baptism will be the same. For example, you had a girl on January 25, and you named her Tatyana. At Baptism, she will remain the name Tatiana in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Tatiana, whose memorial day the Orthodox celebrate on January 25.

In the Russian Orthodox Church they baptize only under those names that are contained in the Saints, i.e. there must be an Orthodox saint with the same name. It is impossible to baptize a child with a name that is not there.

When participating in the performance of church Sacraments and submitting notes, the name given at Baptism is always indicated.

What to do if your name is not in the Saints? Here is what priest Dionisy Svechnikov says: “If a person’s name is not Orthodox (not contained in the calendar), then they give him a name in honor of the saint whose memory falls on the day of baptism (if there is no male or female name on this day, then look at the following days), or on the birthday. And sometimes a person asks to be baptized in honor of a particular saint, and this is completely acceptable. Sometimes they choose a name for a person that is simply consonant with his name.”

What to do during Baptism?

Everyone present should dress appropriately. There should be nothing bright, provocative, or distracting the mind and attention of other people. Women should wear modest skirts and cover their heads with a headscarf. It is also necessary to wear a cross on the chest for those who come to the temple of God to perform the Church Sacrament.

Before Baptism, you should buy candles, prepare a towel, a cross for the child - you will give these things to the priest. You should also have a baby towel and baptismal attire ready.

During the Sacrament, the priest will place a cross around your child’s neck. After this, it is never recommended to remove the cross.

Many parents are afraid that the rope on which the cross hangs can harm the baby. If you have such concerns, you can buy a thin chain or. Even if they get tangled, they will easily tear without harming the child.

All children behave differently in church. But, if you are calm and peaceful, set your soul in a solemn mood, then your child, as a rule, will behave well and calmly. If the baby is an infant, you should feed him first so that he does not cry from hunger. If the child is sleeping, do not wake him up ahead of time. The mother can hold him in her arms if he bursts into tears.

Many churches allow photography of the Sacrament of Baptism. But again, this issue should be discussed with the priest in advance. The photographer must be as attentive as possible, not intrusive, and not interfere with the performance of the Sacrament. It is unacceptable to use mobile phones during Communion.

What happens during the Sacrament of Baptism?

During Baptism, the godparents usually stand behind the priest, one of them holding a child in his arms. The priest reads the basic prayers, then asks the godparents and the child to turn their faces to the west and renounce Satan three times.

During Baptism, godparents read two prayers: “Our Father” and “Creed.” Father will also read these prayers and you can quietly repeat the words after him. Some people write the words of their prayers on a piece of paper in advance.

Then the baby is anointed. At each anointing, the priest pronounces the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents repeat after him: “Amen.” Afterwards, a lock of hair is cut from the child’s head as a sign of his dedication to the Warriors of Christ and readiness to serve God. Next comes the main moment of the Sacrament - three times immersion in the Holy Font. In the cold season, the child is not dipped, but only the head, neck and feet are moistened with water. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. Thus, he accepts the responsibility to raise the child in faith and will be responsible for him at the Last Judgment.

What to do after Baptism?

After Baptism, all those present can gather at home in a close family circle and celebrate this solemn event. Relatives can present gifts, say kind words, and read poetry. It would be good if someone himself would write a couple of lines in honor of this important event in the life of a little person.

Dear, beloved, dear,
My beloved goddaughter,
You are the only one in the world,
And the whole world is for you today.
Congratulations on your Epiphany day
And I wish you happiness,
Let your angel protect you
From unhappiness in life and troubles.

Your child has become a Christian, entered the fold of the Orthodox Church, and now his future path depends only on you and his godparents. If you want to raise a believer, live a righteous life yourself, keep the commandments of Christ. A child can only be raised by personal example and kind conversations. Godparents, whenever possible, should talk to their godchildren, explain Christian truths to them, visit churches, confess and receive communion. If possible, travel to holy places. Now there is a very large selection of beautiful Christian literature for children. There are books even for the little ones.

These articles were created to help you prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism. Please ask questions about e-mail or by phone we will try to answer them. All information on the site is copyrighted, therefore copying the text without the permission of the author and indicating the source is prohibited.

But every parent also has their own criteria: for example, is this church “prayed” or is it possible to baptize a child here not on the day of general baptism, but individually.

If you are churchgoers and have been going to services systematically for years, the question goes away by itself: of course, you should talk to a priest you know and decide on all the issues that concern you. It’s another matter if the baby’s parents are inexperienced: either believers who rarely visit church, or simply trying to observe the family tradition of baptizing children.

Where to baptize a child

First of all, you need to decide what kind of church should be in which you would like to baptize your firstborn. Now not only in Moscow and the Moscow region - throughout Russia, dozens and hundreds of ancient churches have been restored, new ones are being built or built. Therefore, everyone has the opportunity to choose.
Someone chooses the church that is closer to home, so as not to tire the baby on a long journey before baptism. But for some, it is the prayerfulness of the place or the beauty of the temple that is important. It is also important for someone to find out how long the ceremony takes place here and whether it is possible to choose the day for it that suits you, not to stand in the general queue, etc. All these questions need to be clarified in advance by talking with the rector of the temple or its priest. You can also ask them by phone by calling the temple.

Do not forget to find out the question of the strictness of the approach to the rite of baptism in the chosen church: do the godparents need fasting and confession with communion before him, do they baptize a baby here with complete immersion in holy water, and not just wet the head, is there a special room for baptism in the church or the ceremony takes place directly in the temple and, of course, can you baptize your baby individually if that is what you want. Take into account the personal impression that the priest himself made on you during the conversation.

Individual baptism

You need to know that individual baptism lasts at least 30-40 minutes, general baptism - and in this case, adults can be among those baptized - can take place within an hour and a half, especially if the maximum permissible number of people registered for the ceremony on that day is fourteen.

If you do not have the opportunity to overpay for an individual baptism, but standing in line is also undesirable, try to choose more than one of central temples, but a small church or chapel on the outskirts, where there are always fewer people being baptized. In the almost homely environment of such a church or chapel, baptism for a child will be much easier.

Photo and video recording of the baptism ceremony

Now many parents invite a photographer as a guest on this day in order to capture the very first and very important day as a souvenir. church ceremony your little one. Sometimes filming is supposed to be done with a video camera. But in a preliminary conversation with the priest, you need to clarify in advance whether filming is allowed in the temple of your choice and whether you need to pay extra for it. In most churches in Moscow and the Moscow region it is allowed and no additional fee is charged.

List of beautiful ancient churches with miraculous icons

Well, if you are in any case attracted to an ancient, sacred temple, there are a lot of them in Moscow and the region. As an example, let's give at least a dozen very beautiful ancient churches, in which, in addition to everything listed, there are also miraculous icons.

1. Church "Joy of All Who Sorrow";
2. Temple of the Icon Mother of God"Znamenie" in Kuntsevo
3. Temple Life-Giving Trinity in Starye Cheryomushki
4. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Orekhov-Borisov
5. Temple of the Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University
6. St. Nicholas Church in Aleksin
7. Church of Elijah the Prophet at the Novgorod Compound
8. Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fili
9. Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Khamovniki

In addition, in any church shop today you can purchase a directory that lists literally all the churches in the region - with a description of the history of each of them, with their location and contact numbers.

Svetlana Kostitsyna

What is baptism, why is it really needed, what is the essence of baptizing a child? What are the rules for baptizing a child in the church, how is the baptismal ceremony performed? What needs to be done before baptism and after baptism? Do you need godparents and how to choose a godparent? These and many other questions confront parents who are about to baptize their child. In this material you will find answers to the most common questions about the baptism of a child.

Child baptism ceremony

The essence of child baptism

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the convert is immersed three times in a font of blessed water with the invocation of the name Holy Trinity– Father and Son and Holy Spirit. The essence of child baptism is that the little person “dies” to a life of sin and is reborn to life with God through a mysterious ceremony.

The Bible says:

Anyone who is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God

In. 3:5

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned

Mk. 16:16

This rite was established by the Lord Jesus Christ himself when He was baptized by John the Baptist (known as the Baptist) in the waters of the Jordan River.

Baptism is necessary for a person to save his soul. This is a new birth for spiritual life in which a person can achieve Kingdom of Heaven. Through baptism, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible power of God - grace - acts on a person. Jesus Christ, sending the apostles to preach the gospel, taught them to baptize people:

Go and 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 can begin other church sacraments. If parents wish their child a worthy, moral life - with God, the Creator of the world and the Source of all that is good and bright - this path should begin with baptism.

Some believe that a child should be baptized by his own choice at a conscious age. But that's not true. If parents want to raise a moral child, strong in spirit personality on Christian values, then baptism is necessary at a very early age, since it washes away the seal original sin and allows the baby to participate in the sacraments, without which spiritual development It just won't happen.

Another popular myth is that the need for baptism is to bestow health through the sacrament. A similar approach generally applies to all church sacraments, when people are convinced that unction or communion - it doesn’t matter - is aimed at solving pressing, earthly issues of a person, such as healing from illnesses or receiving material goods. Baptism is the child’s entry into the Church, the community of people Orthodox faith. His health will depend, not least of all, on the lifestyle of his parents and their prayers for him, as well as on observing the most simple principles proper care of the baby.

Child baptism in church

Church rules state that after his birth the ceremony is performed according to existing custom on the 40th day. But depending on the circumstances, this can be done earlier or later. For example, after birth a child is weak and sick, God forbid - near death. Baptism gives you a chance to pray to God for the child and to give him communion immediately after the completion of the sacrament.

For baptism, you must select the temple in which the ceremony will be held, first select godparents, pass the public conversation(at which the church minister will tell you about all the rules), the child needs to choose a name at baptism, although it may coincide with the one given at birth.

Parents and godparents need to prayerfully prepare for this event, and also know the basic orthodox prayers, which will be announced in advance by the priest. The following attributes must be prepared for the sacrament of baptism: pectoral cross, baptismal clothing, towel, candles, icon heavenly patron baptized This entire “set” can be purchased at the temple.

How to choose a temple for child baptism

Anyone can become a temple for the sacrament of baptism Orthodox church The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate or another canonical Local Orthodox Church, either located directly next to the family’s place of residence, or chosen at will.

Archpriest

VSEVOLOD CHAPLIN

Rector of the Church of St. Theodore Studite at the Nikitsky Gate, Moscow

Priest

ANTON RUSAKEVICH

Rector of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Gorodomlya Island

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Exists great amount articles written on the topic of infant baptism, what traditions exist and how this sacrament should be performed correctly. However, it is worth noting that no one considered this option as a rite of baptism for an adult, because it is then that a person takes a very serious step, not following fashion trends, but instead adhering to his convictions, thereby acting deliberately.

In this article you can familiarize yourself with how the baptism of an adult occurs, what rules exist, what is needed to carry it out, how this ceremony is carried out and much more.

Let's figure out what baptism is. This ceremony is a kind of sacrament where a believer, with a call addressed to the Lord, the Son and the Holy Spirit, immerses his body in water three times, while he kind of dies to a carnal and sinful life in order to be spiritually reborn from the Holy Spirit.

The sacrament of baptism for an adult implies deliverance from original sin, that is, the sinful act of one’s forefathers who endowed him at birth.

The Orthodox custom itself can be carried out on a person only once, which is correlated with birth, because a person is born only once.

However, such a ritual is extremely inappropriate in the case when a person, through it, is trying to find some earthly blessings, gain luck, or even thereby want to resolve family troubles. Therefore, one of the most significant conditions for the fulfillment of the sacrament is the unshakable desire to live one’s life according to Christian customs.

After a person completes the ritual, he must begin to live a full life Orthodox life, that is, learn to live in the Lord, learn about worship, read prayer and regularly attend church. If this does not happen, then the sacrament will simply lose all meaning.

It is imperative to prepare for this kind of procession, to remember all your sins, addictions, wrongs, and it is also worth learning by heart and confessing to a clergyman before baptism.

Adult baptism: rules and some customs

• This kind of procession is available to absolutely every person, of different ages and on any day convenient for him.
• It follows from this that it is possible to carry out the rite of baptism over a believer at any time, even from the first breath at birth until death.
• However, it must be remembered that in each church the sacrament can occur differently and a certain order for its implementation can also be established, which will largely depend on the circumstances that arise, church routine and opportunities.
• Based on this, it is best to find out in advance how the ceremony will take place in the cathedral you have chosen.

What is needed for an adult's baptism

The main reason for performing the sacrament for a mature person is the presence of an Orthodox Christian Christian faith sincere and pure, coming from the whole soul. The purpose of baptism is unity with the Lord. That is why those who come to the baptismal font must decide for themselves whether they need it and how ready they are to accept faith.

Baptism of an adult: what men and women need for the ceremony

A mature person who wishes to undergo the rite of baptism must first of all have faith in the Almighty, as well as familiarize himself with and share the Orthodox teachings given in the Gospel.

Before proceeding to the sacrament, one must go through a special preparation called catechesis, which usually consists of several conversations with a clergyman, where a person can hear about the duties of a Christian, the Orthodox faith, and the person who comes will be able to get answers to all the questions that have arisen. And only then can you begin the ritual.

As for the baptism itself, a person will definitely need a baptismal shirt, open slippers, a cross, but towels may also come in handy. However, it is best to find out the exact list of necessary things in the church where you are going to perform the sacrament.

Now let's move on to the issue of baptism of adult women and what its features should be known:

• Representatives of the fair sex must take into account that wet fabric during the ceremony may well be visible; in order to avoid awkward situations, it is recommended to wear a regular swimsuit underneath, and you can also take a change of underwear with you. Do not forget that the person being baptized must have her ankles bare throughout almost the entire ceremony.
• Regarding the cross, there are no special recommendations; an ordinary cross, which is freely sold in church shops in the church itself, may well be suitable. It’s okay if you purchased a pectoral cross somewhere else, since the priest will be able to consecrate it right during the ceremony. The main thing to remember is that under no circumstances should you buy a gold cross, because the gold itself is Orthodox religion It is considered a sinful metal and it is best to prefer silver.
• It is also important to buy one or more candles (for those accompanying you) before the sacrament begins.

Adult baptism: rules and how the sacrament is performed

• The first stage of the sacred rite is the naming of a person, thanks to which he receives his Saint acting as a heavenly patron, whose name was chosen for him;
• The next stage is performed as a sign of receiving blessing and protection by laying on the hand of the clergyman, and it represents God's hand, and the Lord himself, from the moment the sacrament is performed, will begin to provide not only protection, but will also take under his special protection the believer who turns to him;
• After which a prayer service is said, where the Temple, in the person of the servant of the Lord, forbids unclean spirits and the devil, in the terrible and mighty name of the Almighty, from arranging intrigues for the newly baptized, and also helps to drive them away;
• Immediately after all evil spirits have been driven out in the name of the Lord, the hour comes when the believer himself must renounce it;
• Before baptizing an adult, you first need to consecrate the oil and water, and then the clergyman begins to anoint the water with oil and only then the person being baptized. Then the person plunges three times into blessed water with prayer speeches from the priest;
• At the moment of saying the prayer, the believer is illuminated by the grace emanating from the Holy Spirit, thanks to which his entire spiritual and physical nature will change, that is, the person himself will undergo a stage of rebirth, but in a different capacity. This is precisely why this custom received the name “second birth”, because all those sins that an Orthodox person had are completely forgiven by the Almighty. A kind of mentor is assigned to him, capable of protecting human soul, he will become a Guardian Angel for the believer.

Do not forget that the Orthodox will carry the grace received during the sacrament throughout his life, squandering it with stupid and unnecessary actions or, on the contrary, increasing it with righteous deeds.

The Lord is always with you!

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