Baptism is one of the most important Sacraments in a person's life. And not only now. This has always been the case in Russia. A special place was occupied by the ceremony in the royal families.
The very birth of a child in the royal family was a significant event, especially if a boy was born. After all, this meant that there was an heir to the throne. From that moment on, the life of the royal baby became the subject of special attention and care. In this regard, Baptism was perceived not just as a ceremony, but also as a sign of everyday life, and such phrases as "godfather" and "godmother" were not an empty phrase. Godparents were chosen from among eminent and noble people. The ceremony became an opportunity to establish close business ties with the "necessary" people.
The baptism of the royal heir is a procedure worked out for centuries. Naturally, the whole family and noble relatives gathered for such an important ceremony. Of course, the ceremony was performed with pomp and importance. The dignified infant was laid on a brocade pillow and covered with a gilded mantle. A baptismal shirt was also sewn to match. This has survived to this day, belonging to the last heir - Tsarevich Alexei.
It is noteworthy that there is documentary evidence of the rite, recorded by the brushes of court artists. A notable moment of christening in Russia was that the child's mother was not present in the church - she was expecting the return of the guests and the baby to the palace. But the elder brothers and sisters of the hero of the occasion took an active part in the ceremony. Often they became one of the godparents. By the way, the eminent person had several godparents.
After the church ceremony, the whole family and distinguished guests were invited to a magnificent festive dinner.
In whatever family the Baptism ceremony took place, this is definitely an event that deserves special attention and registration.
