Believing parents often come to the temple with their children. This is understandable, because they want to introduce the younger generation to the Christian faith. But the difficulty lies in the fact that due to his age, it is difficult for a child to understand many prayers, rituals and, in general, the meaning of what is happening. Therefore, sometimes you can see a child languishing with boredom or even worse - running, screaming or chewing a baby who interferes with the parishioners and the priest. Fortunately, this does not happen often. So how do you teach your child how to behave in church?
Instructions
Step 1
In the church, as in life in general, the personal example of the parents is of decisive importance in raising a child. Therefore, pay attention to your own behavior in the temple. When you come to church, let go of worldly concerns. If possible, leave at home or disconnect your mobile phone. Seeing acquaintances, do not speak loudly and, moreover, do not try to discuss other people or any events. Do not hustle in line for candles and do not push your way forward when the service is in progress. If this is done by someone else, do not grumble, hiss and swear - do not forget that you came to communicate with God, and not with your own kind.
Step 2
Also pay attention to your clothes. Men should not enter the temple in T-shirts and shorts, and women in trousers and without a headdress (headscarf). You should not dress up, put on high heels on your feet, and paint yourself into the temple.
Step 3
It is important that when you bring your child to church, you already know everything you need to know: how to be baptized, how to kiss an icon, where to put candles, which prayers to read. If your actions are meaningful, you can always explain them to your child.
Step 4
The correct behavior in the temple should be taught to a child at home. Explain that you cannot interfere with other people. Tell us what to do and how to do it. And in the church, you can quietly suggest what actions to take during the service. Do not speak loudly to your child or try to teach him during the service.
Step 5
Before bringing or bringing a child to the temple, consider what he is able to understand and do. Remember that children under one year old are usually brought to church for Communion. If a child bursts into tears, they take him out immediately.
Step 6
Children under three years old, as a rule, can calmly stay in the temple for about half an hour, and even then if they are considering something. It makes sense to bring them on the most solemn occasions, to those parts of the service that are filled with action - when priests come out of the altar, bells ring, songs are sung, etc. After the anointing with oil, you can already lead the child home. It is also a convenient time to attend a service with a small child - a quarter of an hour before communion at the Liturgy. During a pause, it is convenient to come up and light candles, kiss the icons, and then, after standing for a while at the service, you can go home. Try not to stand in front of the worshipers in the temple, because if the child is capricious, it will be difficult to get him out of the temple.
Step 7
An older child can be brought into service for a longer period, up to an hour. So that he does not get bored, you can entrust him with some business, for example, fix candles on the candlesticks, sing along during chants. Sometimes you can go out with him on the street, because what matters is not how long he is in the temple, but what moral lessons he will take from there. With a seven-year-old child, you can already stand in the middle or in front so that he can see the service well.
Step 8
A child over seven years old can attend Sunday school, where the essence of the divine service and various activities in the temple will be explained to him. Here he can make new friends and learn to pray meaningfully and help in the service.
Step 9
Try to get the child to go to the temple as if it were a holiday. He should not be forced to attend services and, moreover, in no case should he be allowed to go to church as a punishment. If he misbehaves, it is better to take him out of the temple and make it clear that exclusion from the service is the punishment.
Step 10
It is very good if the temple hosts activities for teenagers - circles, newspaper and magazine issues, hiking, summer camps, etc. In this case, his participation in the church will be interesting, meaningful and natural, which will be reflected in his behavior in the church.
