When planning to baptize a child, parents should understand that baptism is not a tradition, not a ceremony, it is a great sacrament. Through baptism, a person unites with God and receives a Guardian Angel to help. This event must be approached with responsibility and everything necessary must be prepared.
It is necessary
- - cross;
- - ribbon or rope for a cross;
- - baptismal shirt or dress, cap (for a girl);
- - a white sheet or large towel.
Instructions
Step 1
Take your choice of godparents seriously. After all, they will become the spiritual parents of your baby. Future godparents should be people of the Orthodox faith, lead a Christian life. After baptism, a great responsibility is placed on godparents. They should take part in the upbringing of your child, pray for him.
Step 2
You must arrange in advance to be baptized in the temple. To do this, contact the priest. With him you can discuss the questions that interest you, find out the day and time of baptism. Also, clarify the question of filming and photographing baptism.
Step 3
Prepare everything you need in advance. You can buy a cross at the church shop. If you want to buy it in a jewelry store, then after buying it, give the cross to the priest for consecration. For the cross, pick up a ribbon or string that is not too thin. The chain can be put on the child when he grows up a little. Some godparents, if possible, cover the cost of performing the ordinance. The godfather can give the baby a cross, and the godmother usually gives a shirt and a diaper.
Step 4
For infant baptism, prepare a white shirt for the baby to wear after baptism. Also, for baptism, you need a white sheet, a large towel or diaper. They will be needed to wrap the baby after immersion in the font. According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, white clothes are a symbol of the purification of the soul and the beginning of a new life. Church shops and some children's stores sell a special baby baptism kit, which includes a white diaper, a shirt, and a bonnet. Christening gowns may be sold separately for girls.
Step 5
You can invite relatives and friends to baptism. But you should not call a large number of people, since in some churches, baptism is carried out in a small room, and everyone may simply not fit. Parents are allowed to attend the baptism. Mom can go to the temple on the 40th day after giving birth. Before that, she must receive a prayer of permission from a priest.
Step 6
Before baptism, godparents need to go to the "candle box" and fill in their data for a baptismal certificate. It is also necessary to purchase two candles that the godparents will hold during baptism.
Step 7
At the beginning of the baptism, the godparents with the baby stand in front of the priest. The priest reads prayers, lights the water in the baptismal bowl. Then he anoints the baby with oil. The kid is undressed and lowered into the font three times. The godparents receive the child and dress him in baptismal clothes. The priest puts a cross on the kid. After baptism, the sacrament of chrismation is performed. After that, the priest and godparents with the baby walk around the baptismal font three times. After reading the prayer, the priest washes the ointment with a sponge and cuts the child's hair crosswise. This is where the baptism ends.
