Types of weaving gold chains for women. Types of weaving silver chains

04.03.2020

What is baptism and why is it performed on a person?

Baptism is a sacred act in which a believer in Christ, through triple immersion of the body in water with the invocation of the name of the Holy Trinity, is washed from original sin, as well as from all the sins committed by him before Baptism, spiritually dies to a carnal, sinful life and, being born again, clothed with the grace of God for a holy life, according to the Gospel. The Apostle says: ≪ We were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.≫ (Rom. 6:4).

Without Baptism you cannot enter the Church of Christ and become a partaker of the grace-filled life.

How many times can you be baptized?

Baptism is a spiritual birth, which, like carnal birth, cannot be repeated. Just as at physical birth, the external appearance of a person is laid down once and for all, so Baptism puts an indelible stamp on the soul, which is not erased, even if the person has committed countless sins.

What should a person do who does not know whether he has been baptized and has no one to ask?

If an adult who wishes to be baptized does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child or whether he was baptized by a layman, but it is not known whether it was done correctly, then in this case he should receive Baptism from a priest, warning him of his doubts.

What is needed for Baptism?

To receive Baptism, an adult requires a voluntary and conscious desire to become a Christian, based on strong faith and heartfelt repentance.

How to prepare for Baptism?

The preparation for Holy Baptism is true repentance. Repentance is an essential condition for Baptism to be accepted in a worthy manner, for the salvation of the soul. Such repentance consists of recognizing one’s sins, regretting them, confessing them (in a confidential conversation with a priest, which is held immediately before baptism), leaving a sinful life, and realizing the need for a Redeemer.

Before Baptism, you need to get acquainted with the basics of the Orthodox faith, with the “Symbol of Faith,” with the prayers “Our Father,” “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice ...” and try to learn them. Public conversations for those wishing to be baptized, which are held daily in our church, will also help. It is advisable to read the New Testament, the Law of God and the Catechism. It is important to accept the teachings of Christ with all your heart and mind, and then at the appointed time come to the temple on an empty stomach, having with you a cross, a white shirt and a towel.

When should a child be baptized? What is needed for this?

Church rules have not established a specific time for performing the Sacrament of Infant Baptism. Orthodox Christians usually baptize their children between the eighth and fortieth day of life. Postponing the baptism of children after their fortieth birthday is undesirable; this indicates a lack of faith among parents who deprive their child of the grace of the Church Sacraments.

Are godparents required?

For children under 12-14 years of age, godparents (fathers) are obligatory, because the children themselves cannot consciously profess their faith, and godparents vouch for the faith of those being baptized. According to the rules of the 7th Ecumenical Council (787), from the moment of baptism, a child becomes a relative of the same sex as a recipient. Therefore, for the baptism of an infant, one godfather is required, two are not necessary. Adults can be baptized without godparents.

Where does the custom of having godparents come from?

During the times of persecution of Christians, when Christians gathered in a secret place to celebrate the Liturgy and prayers, a convert was accepted into the community only if he had a guarantor who prepared him for Baptism.

Who can be godfather?

All baptized and churchgoers, except for parents and other close relatives.

Who can't be a godfather?

Godparents cannot be:

1) children (the foster child must be at least 15 years old, the female foster child must be at least 13 years old);

2) people are immoral and insane (mentally ill);

3) non-Orthodox;

4) husband and wife - for one person being baptized;

5) monks and nuns;

6) parents cannot be the guardians of their children.

Can a godfather marry a godfather?

According to the decrees adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church, which in turn are based on the decrees of the VI Ecumenical Council: marriage is impossible between the godfather, the goddaughter and the parents of the person being baptized. All other cases are permissible.

Can his mother be present at the Baptism of a baby while she is a month old?

He can be present, but in this case the ritual of churching the baby will not be performed, which consists of reading prayers relating to the mother and baby and bringing the baby to the throne or the royal doors (depending on gender), as if before the face of the Lord Himself. To be churched means to be introduced into the church assembly, to be numbered among the assembly of the faithful. Such inclusion is accomplished through the Sacrament of Baptism, in which a person is reborn to a new life and becomes a full member of Christian society; churching is a special expression of this inclusion; it can be compared to an official act by which the new rights of a new member of society are secured and by which he is introduced into the possession of these rights.

Can parents be present at the Baptism of their child?

The customs existing in some places of not allowing father and mother to attend Baptism have no ecclesiastical basis. The only requirement is that parents must not participate in the Sacrament of Baptism (that is, they do not hold the baby in their arms, do not receive him from the font - this is done by godparents), and parents can only be present at Baptism.

Who should hold the child at Baptism?

During the entire Sacrament of Baptism, the baby is held in the arms of the godparents. When a boy is baptized, the child is usually held by the godmother before immersion in the font, and by the godfather after that. If a girl is baptized, then first the godfather holds her in his arms, and the godmother receives her from the font.

Isn't it better to postpone Baptism until the time when the child can consciously say that he believes in God?

Since God gave parents a child who has not only a body, but also a soul, then they should take care not only of his physical growth. The sacrament of Baptism is a spiritual birth, which is the first and irreplaceable step on the path to eternal salvation. In Baptism, the grace of God sanctifies human nature, washing away original sin and giving the gift of eternal life. Only a baptized child is able to fully participate in holy things, be a partaker of the Eucharist, and generally perceive grace, which will protect him from many temptations and vices during the period of growth and maturation. And whoever postpones the Baptism of a child leaves the little soul exposed to the influence of the sinful world. Of course, a small child cannot yet express his faith, but this does not mean that parents should neglect his soul. The wishes of young children on many issues important to them are not always taken into account. For example, some children are afraid and do not want to visit the hospital, but their parents, even against their wishes, treat them. And the Sacraments of the Church, the first of which is Baptism, are spiritual healing and that spiritual nutrition that children need, although they do not yet realize it.

Is it possible to be baptized at 50 - 60 years old?

You can be baptized at any age.

On what days is Baptism not performed?

There are no external restrictions for performing the Sacrament of Baptism - neither in time nor in the place where it is performed. But in some churches the Sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a schedule on certain days, for example, because the priest is busy.

Is only a priest able to perform Baptism?

In exceptional cases, for example, in case of mortal danger for a newborn baby or an adult, when it is impossible to invite a priest or deacon, it is allowed for Baptism to be performed by a lay person - that is, any baptized Orthodox Christian who understands the importance of Baptism.

In case of mortal danger, how can a person be baptized without a priest?

To do this, it is necessary to consciously, with sincere faith, with an understanding of the importance of the matter, accurately and correctly pronounce the formula of the Sacrament of Baptism - the sacramental words: “ The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father (first immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Son (second immersion or sprinkling with water), amen, and the Holy Spirit (third immersion or sprinkling with water), amen.”. If a person baptized in this way remains alive, then the priest must complete the Baptism with the prayers and sacred rites prescribed in the rite, and if he dies, then he can have a funeral service, order memorial services, write his name in church notes

Can a pregnant woman be baptized?

Pregnancy is not an obstacle to the Sacrament of Baptism.

Do I need to bring a birth certificate to Baptism?

To perform the Sacrament of Baptism, a birth certificate is not required; it is only needed to make an entry in the temple archive - who baptized whom and when.

What word does the word “baptism” come from? If from the word “cross,” then why does the Gospel say that John “baptized” with water even before the Savior suffered on the cross?

In all European languages, “baptism” means “baptizo,” that is, immersion in water, washing in water. Initially, this term was not associated with the church Sacrament, denoting any washing with water, immersion in it. The Slavic language, which arose already in the Christian era, emphasizes precisely the Christian meaning of Baptism as co-crucifixion with Christ, dying in Christ and resurrection for a new life of grace. Therefore, when the Gospel speaks of the baptism of John, it means the symbolic immersion of people coming to him into water for the remission of sins; The origin of the name Sacrament from the word “cross” is a philological feature of our language.

About the Creed

Hwhat is the Creed?

A creed is a brief and precise statement of the main truths of the Christian faith. It consists of twelve members (parts). Each of them contains the truth of the Orthodox faith. The 1st member speaks about God the Father, the 2nd-7th members talk about God the Son, the 8th - about God the Holy Spirit, the 9th - about the Church, the 10th - about baptism, the 11th and 12th - about resurrection of the dead and eternal life.

How and why was the Creed composed?

Since apostolic times, Christians have used so-called “articles of faith” to remind themselves of the basic truths of the Christian faith. The Ancient Church had several short creeds. In the 4th century, when false teachings about God the Son and the Holy Spirit appeared, the need arose to supplement and clarify the previous symbols.

At the First Ecumenical Council the first seven members of the Creed were written, at the Second - the remaining five. The First Ecumenical Council took place in the city of Nicaea in 325 to confirm the apostolic teaching about the Son of God against the incorrect teaching of Arius. He believed that the Son of God was created by God the Father and therefore is not the true God. The Second Ecumenical Council took place in Constantinople (Constantinople) in 381 to confirm the apostolic teaching about the Holy Spirit against the false teaching of Macedonius, who rejected the Divine dignity of the Holy Spirit. For the two cities in which these Ecumenical Councils took place, the Creed is called Nicene-Constantinopolitan.

What is the meaning of the Creed?

The meaning of the Creed is the preservation of a single confession of the immutable truths (dogmas) of the faith, and through this the unity of the Church.

The Creed begins with the word “I believe,” so saying it is a profession of faith.

When is the Creed said?

The symbol of faith is pronounced by those receiving baptism (“catechumens”) during the Sacrament of Baptism. At the baptism of an infant, the Creed is pronounced by the recipients. In addition, the Creed is collectively sung by believers in church during the Liturgy and read daily as part of the morning prayer rule. Every Orthodox Christian should know it.

How do we understand “I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible”?

This means believing in one God the Father, in the fact that God contains everything in His power and authority, controls everything, that He created heaven and earth, visible and invisible, that is, the spiritual world to which the Angels belong. These words express the confidence that God exists, that He is one and there is no other besides Him, that everything that exists, both in the visible physical world and in the invisible, spiritual world, that is, the entire vast universe was created by God and nothing can be without God. A person accepts this faith with his heart. Faith is confidence in the real existence of God and trust in Him. God is one, but not lonely, because God is one in essence, but trinity in Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible. The unity of three persons who endlessly love each other.

How to understand “and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, in Whom all things were”?

This means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the same One God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, born before the beginning of time, that is, when there was no time yet. He, like Light from Light, is as inseparable from God the Father as light is from the sun. He is the True God, born of the True God. He was born, and not at all created by God the Father, that is, He is one being with the Father, Consubstantial with Him.

The Son of God is the second Person of the Holy Trinity according to His Divinity. He is called Lord because He is the true God, since the name Lord is one of the names of God. The Son of God is called Jesus, that is, the Savior, this name was given by the Archangel Gabriel himself. The prophets called Him Christ, that is, the Anointed One - this is how kings, high priests and prophets have long been called. Jesus, the Son of God, is so called because all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are immeasurably communicated to His humanity, and thus to Him belong in the highest degree the knowledge of a Prophet, the holiness of a High Priest, and the power of a King. Jesus Christ is called the Only Begotten Son of God because He is the one and only Son of God, born from the being of God the Father, and therefore He is of one being (nature) with God the Father. The Creed says that He was born of the Father, and this depicts the personal property by which He differs from the other Persons of the Holy Trinity. It was said before all ages, so that no one would think that there was a time when He did not exist. The words of Light from Light in some way explain the incomprehensible birth of the Son of God from the Father. God the Father is eternal Light, from Him is born the Son of God, Who is also eternal Light; but God the Father and the Son of God are one eternal Light, indivisible, of one Divine nature. The words of God are true from God are true, taken from the Holy Scriptures: The Son of God came and gave people light and understanding so that they might know the true God and abide in His true Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (see 1 John 5:20). The words begotten, uncreated were added by the holy fathers of the Ecumenical Council to denounce Arius, who wickedly taught that the Son of God was created. The words consubstantial with the Father mean that the Son of God is one and the same Divine being with God the Father.

“In Whom all things were” means that everything that exists was created by Him, as well as by God the Father, the Creator of heaven and earth. God the Father created everything by His Son as His eternal wisdom and His eternal Word. This means that the world was created by One God - the Holy Trinity.

How to understand “for our sake man and for our salvation came down from heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race, appeared on earth, became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human, that is, he took on not only the body, but also the human soul and became a perfect man, without ceasing at the same time to be God - became a God-man.

The Son of God, according to His promise, came to earth to save not just any people, but the entire human race. “He came down from heaven” - as He says about Himself: “No one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man who came down from heaven, who is in heaven” (John 3:13). The Son of God is omnipresent and therefore always abides in heaven and on earth, but on earth He was previously invisible and became visible only when He appeared in the flesh, became incarnate, that is, took upon Himself human flesh, except for sin, and became Man, without ceasing to be God . The Incarnation of Christ was accomplished with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, so that the Holy Virgin, just as she was a Virgin, remained a Virgin after the Nativity of Christ. The Orthodox Church calls the Virgin Mary the Mother of God and honors Her above all created beings, not only people, but also angels, since she is the Mother of the Lord Himself.

The word made man was added so that no one would think that the Son of God took on only flesh or body, but so that in Him they would recognize a perfect Man, consisting of body and soul. Jesus Christ was crucified for all people - by His death on the cross He delivered the human race from sin, curse and death.

How do we understand “who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, who suffered and was buried”?

This means believing that the Lord Jesus Christ during the reign of Pontius Pilate in Judea (that is, at a very specific historical moment) was crucified on the cross for the sins of people for the sake of the salvation of the entire human race. He Himself was sinless. He really suffered, died and was buried. The Savior suffered and died not for His sins, which He did not have, but for the sins of the entire human race, and did not suffer because he could not avoid suffering, but because he voluntarily wanted to suffer.

How do we understand “and he who rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ rose again on the third day after His death, as predicted in Scripture. Jesus Christ, by the power of His Divinity, rose from the dead in the same body in which He was born and died. In the Scriptures of the prophets of the Old Testament, it was clearly predicted about the suffering, death, burial of the Savior and His resurrection, therefore it is said: “according to the Scriptures.” The words “according to Scripture” refer not only to the fifth, but also to the fourth member of the Creed.

Jesus Christ died on Good Friday at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and rose again after midnight on Saturday on the first day of the week, called from that time “Sunday”. But in those days, even part of a day was taken as a whole day, which is why it is said that He was in the tomb for three days.

How do we understand “he who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father”?

This means to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, ascended into heaven with His most pure flesh and sat down at the right hand (on the right side, in honor) of God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven with His humanity (flesh and soul), and with His Divinity He always remained with the Father. The words “sitting on the right hand” (sitting on the right side) must be understood spiritually. They mean that the Lord Jesus Christ has the same power and glory with God the Father.

By His ascension, the Lord united the earthly with the heavenly and showed all people that their fatherland is in heaven, in the Kingdom of God, which is now open to all true believers.

How do we understand “and the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, whose Kingdom will have no end”?

This means believing that Jesus Christ will again (again, again) come to earth to judge all people, both living and dead, who will then be resurrected; and that after this Last Judgment the Kingdom of Christ will come, which will never end. This judgment is called terrible because the conscience of every person will open before everyone, and not only the good and evil deeds that someone has done throughout his life on earth will be revealed, but also all the words spoken, secret desires and thoughts. According to this judgment, the righteous will go into eternal life, and the sinners into eternal torment - because they did evil deeds, which they did not repent of and which they did not atone for with good deeds and correction of life.

How to understand “and in the Holy Spirit, the Life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets”?

This means believing that the third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit, as true the Lord God as the Father and the Son. To believe that the Holy Spirit is the Life-Giving Spirit, He, together with God the Father and God the Son, gives life to creatures, including spiritual life to people: “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3: 5). The Holy Spirit deserves worship and glorification equal to the Father and the Son, therefore Jesus Christ commanded to baptize people (all nations) in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 28:19). The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets and apostles, and all the Holy books were written by His inspiration: “Never was prophecy made by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).

It also talks about the main thing in the Orthodox faith - the mystery of the Holy Trinity: One God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit revealed itself to people in a visible way: at the Baptism of the Lord in the form of a dove, and on the day of Pentecost He descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. A person can become a participant in the Holy Spirit through right faith, church sacraments and fervent prayer: “if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).

“Who proceeds from the Father” - Who proceeds from the Father; “He who is with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified” - Who should be worshiped and Who should be glorified equally with the Father and the Son. “Who spoke the prophets” - who spoke through the prophets.

How to understand “into One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”?

This means believing in the Church founded by Jesus Christ through the Apostles: one, Holy, Catholic (which includes all the faithful, its members). This speaks of the Church of Christ, which Jesus Christ founded on earth for the sanctification of sinful people and their reunification with God. The Church is the totality of all Orthodox Christians, living and dead, united by the faith and love of Christ, the hierarchy and the holy sacraments. Each individual Orthodox Christian is called a member, or part of the Church. When we talk about faith in the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, then the Church means all the people who are faithful to it, who profess the same Orthodox faith, and not the building where they go to pray to God and which is called the temple of God.

The Church is one because “there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

The Church is Holy, because “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (i.e., for all believers - members of the Church) in order to sanctify it (having sanctified every Christian with baptism), cleansing it with the washing of water through the word (i.e., baptismal water and with the sacramental words of baptism), in order to present her to Himself as a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).

The Church is Catholic, or Catholic, or Ecumenical, because it is not limited to any place (space), nor time, nor people, but includes true believers from all places, times and peoples.

The Church is Apostolic because it has continuously and unchangeably preserved since the time of the Apostles both the teaching and the succession of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through consecrated ordination. The True Church is also called Orthodox or True Believer.

How do we understand “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins”?

This means recognizing and openly declaring that for spiritual rebirth and forgiveness of sins one only needs to be baptized once. Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water, with the invocation of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual, holy life. Baptism is one, because it is a spiritual birth, and a person is born once, and therefore is baptized once.

The Creed only mentions Baptism because it is the door to the Church of Christ. Only those who have received Baptism can participate in other church sacraments. A sacrament is such a sacred action through which the real power (grace) of the Holy Spirit is secretly, invisibly given to a person.

How do we understand the “tea of the resurrection of the dead”?

This means expecting with hope and confidence (tea - I expect) that a time will come when the souls of dead people will again unite with their bodies and all the dead will come to life through the action of the omnipotence of God. The resurrection of the dead will follow simultaneously with the Second and Glorious Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the moment of the general resurrection, the bodies of dead people will change; in essence, the bodies will be the same, but in quality they will be different from the current bodies - they will be spiritual - incorruptible and immortal. The bodies of those people who will still be alive at the Second Coming of the Savior will also change. According to the change of man himself, the entire visible world will change - from perishable to imperishable.

How to understand “and the life of the next century. Amen"?

This means expecting that after the resurrection of the dead, the Judgment of Christ will take place, and for the righteous there will come the endless joy of eternal bliss in unity with God. The life of the future century is the life that will happen after the Resurrection of the dead and the General Judgment of Christ. The word "amen" means confirmation - truly so! This is the only way the truth of the Orthodox faith can be expressed and it cannot be changed by anyone.

About naming and names

Are name days and Angel's Day the same thing?

Sometimes name day is called the day of an angel, because the saint and the guardian angel come so close in their service to man that they are even designated by a common name, although they are not identified.

Each person has his own Guardian Angel, he is given by God at Baptism. The Guardian Angel is a disembodied spirit; he has no name. And the saints, in whose honor people are given names, are also people who pleased God with their righteous lives and were glorified by the Church. The day of remembrance of the saint whose name a person bears is a name day. One saint can be the patron saint of many people with the same names.

Angel Day is the day of a person’s Baptism, and Angel Day can also be called the day of remembrance of all the ethereal Heavenly Powers (November 21, new style).

But in the popular consciousness, these holidays have merged together, and on name day people congratulate them on Angel’s Day.

How to choose a name for a baby?

In the Russian Orthodox Church there is a custom to name a baby in honor of saints (according to the calendar). The baby is usually named after the saint, whose memory is celebrated by the Church on the birthday itself, on the eighth day after his birth, or on the day of Epiphany. But you can choose the name of any saint whose memory is celebrated shortly after the baby’s birthday. Sometimes a child is named after a saint who was chosen in advance and prayed to even before the child was born.

How to correctly determine who your saint is?

You need to find in the month book (at the end of the Orthodox church calendar) the saint of the same name, and if there are several of them, then choose the one whose memorial day comes first after the birthday or the one you especially reverence. You can also rely on the priest’s choice of name at baptism.

How to determine the name day?

Name day, the day of the namesake, is the day of remembrance of the saint of the same name, closest after your birthday, or the one in whose honor the priest named you when performing the Sacrament of Baptism.

How should you spend your name day?

On this day you need to go to Church, take communion, submit notes about the health and repose of your relatives, and order a prayer service to your patron saint. The best activity on name day is reading the life of your saint and other spiritual books, as well as performing deeds of piety. A festive meal for relatives and friends without any excesses in “eating and drinking” is also not forbidden.

Is it possible to name a child after the father?

It is possible if this name is in the Orthodox monthly book.

What to do if a child has a non-Orthodox name?

If the name under which the child is registered is not in the Orthodox calendar, this does not mean that his name should be changed at Baptism. It is quite possible that, out of ignorance, the parents gave the child an Orthodox name, but in its Western European or local form. In this case, the priest usually translates it into the Church Slavonic form and baptizes under this name, having previously informed it to the parents of the person being baptized or to himself.

Here are examples of such translations: Angela - Angelina; Zhanna - Joanna; Oksana, Aksinya - Ksenia; Agrafena - Agrippina; Polina - Appolinaria; Lukeria - Glyceria; Egor - Georgy; Jan - John; Denis - Dionysius; Svetlana - Fotina or Fotinia; Martha - Martha; Akim - Joachim; Korney - Cornelius; Leon - Leo; Thomas - Thomas.

In the case where it is not possible to establish such a correspondence (for example, names such as Elvira, Diana do not have them), the priest recommends that the parents or the person being baptized choose an Orthodox name (preferably close in sound), which will henceforth be his church name.

What to do if a person with a non-Orthodox name does not remember the name with which he was baptized?

You can raise the archive in the church where the person was baptized. If this is not possible, you need to contact a priest. The priest will read a prayer for naming and name the Orthodox saint.

Is it possible to change the Orthodox name given at birth to another Orthodox name at Baptism? For example, should Vitaly be baptized with the name Vyacheslav?

If at birth the baby was given a name contained in the Orthodox calendar, this name should not be changed to another when naming. Sometimes people who wish to be baptized ask to be given a name that is different from the one given at birth. In most cases, this is not due to the desire to radically change the way of life, as is the case when accepting monasticism, but to a superstitious desire to avoid the influence of sorcerers who know the person’s name.

In churches with a baptistery (baptistery), baptism is carried out in this special room with a holy font, which is a separate building or annex to the church. In most cases, the baptism of a child takes place directly in the temple by immersing it three times in a bowl or pouring holy water over the head. From the point of view of photography, it is better to choose a church where baptism is performed in the main church and choose a weekday so that there are fewer people.

Preparing for the sacrament - what you need to know

You can choose any date for baptism, since the sacrament is allowed to be performed on Great Divine holidays and during periods of fasting. Just take into account the following:

Before baptism, godparents must undergo public conversations, confession and receive communion. Three days before the sacrament, it is necessary to fast: do not eat food of animal origin, do not swear, do not engage in intimate intimacy.

Preparing for a girl's baptism

The main godmother for a girl is her godmother. She takes the baby from the font and holds her in her arms until the end of the ceremony. Her responsibility is to prepare a new white cloth ( ) to dry baby after dipping. In summer it can be a diaper, in winter it can be a terry towel or a warm flannel sheet. For newborns, it is better to choose models with a hood to cover the wet head more tightly and get wet hair wet.

The godmother also needs to buy a white baptismal shirt, which is worn after the font, as a symbol of the purity and sinlessness of the soul. For a girl you can choose. The cut of clothing should be made in such a way as to provide access to the chest, arms and legs for anointing.

The godfather is supposed to buy a pectoral cross. The product can be made of or less precious metals and even wood. You need to pick up a rope or chain for the cross. For newborns with a clasp, it is preferable because it is more pleasant to the body.

Preparing for a boy's baptism

Preparation for the baptism of a boy proceeds in a similar way. and the godmother purchases it, the cross must be bought for the godfather.

After immersing himself in the font, the boy is taken to Kryzhma by his godfather, as the main recipient. After putting on the baptismal robe, the godfather also holds the child in his arms.

In addition, the godfather must be prepared to pay for the baptismal ceremony.

How a child is baptized in church - the main stages of the ceremony

The sacrament of baptism is preceded by the rite of naming.

If the name of the person being baptized is listed in the Saints, then the priest chooses a heavenly patron from the list of saints with the same name.
If the name by which the child is named is not in the Orthodox calendar, then they select one that is consonant with it, for example, Egor - Georgy, Maryana - Mariamne.
When there is no similar name, they give it the name of a saint who is revered on the baby’s birthday.

Announcement

Before the sacrament, the child is completely undressed and kept in only diapers. If it is cool in the temple, then you are allowed to leave some clothes on, exposing your chest, arms and legs.

The sacrament of baptism itself begins with the rite of announcement. The priest lays his hand on the person being baptized and pronounces the words of a prayer in which he asks God to allow the person being baptized to approach His name as the Lord and secure His protection.

Renunciation of the devil and union with Christ

According to church tradition, instead of a baby, the recipients renounce the devil and are united with Christ.

First, the priest asks the godparents and the person being baptized to turn to the west, with their backs to the altar (symbolically, this side is considered the abode of Satan) and utter words of renunciation of the devil and his evil deeds, then blow and spit as a sign of contempt for the unclean. Afterwards, the priest says to turn to the east, to the side of the Lord, and give consent to union with Christ. This stage ends with the reading of a prayer, which the godparents need to know by heart and understand its meaning.

Baptism itself

Next, the priest consecrates the oil and water in the font. Before immersing the baby in the font, he anoints the chest, ears, arms, and legs with oil to strengthen the child for the fight against the devil, which an Orthodox Christian will have to wage throughout his life.

The culmination of the sacrament comes:

The priest immerses the child in water three times with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) (Name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen,” which symbolizes death to sin and rebirth to a new righteous life.
The recipient receives the newly baptized person from the font to Kryzhma.
The child is thoroughly dried and dressed in a white baptismal shirt, as a symbol of the purity of the soul.
The father puts a cross on the baby’s chest.

Confirmation

Immediately after baptism, the sacrament of Confirmation follows, endowing the newly baptized with the grace-filled power of the Holy Spirit:

With a brush dipped in sacred fragrant oil, the priest applies crosses to the face and other parts of the body, pronouncing the words “Seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen".
Then the priest with the recipients and the newly baptized walk around the font three times, after which the priest washes and wipes the myrrh from the child’s body, saying: “You were baptized, enlightened, anointed, sanctified, washed, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
The rite of baptism ends with a cross-shaped tonsure of hair from the child’s head as a sign of service to God with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) (Name) is tonsured in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The priest cuts small locks of hair from four sides of the head, rolls them into a ball of wax, which he then lowers into the font.

In conclusion, a prayer is read for the recipient and the newly baptized, mentioning the name of the child’s heavenly patron, a special litany and dismissal.

After the 40th day of birth, the rite of churching is performed over a baptized child. The priest lifts the baby three times and makes the sign of the cross for him in the vestibule of the temple, in the middle of the temple and at the Royal Doors with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) is baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

The priest brings the girl to the Royal Doors and places her next to the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, and with this the churching ends.
The boy, as a potential clergyman, is brought into the altar through the northern door by the priest, walks around the throne, past the high place, then places it on the image of the Savior and hands it over to his parents or successors.

Participle

Sometimes the sacrament takes place immediately after baptism, but most often the priest invites the parents to come with the child on another day, for example, in a week. On the appointed day, mother and baby are allowed to come closer to the end of the morning service, which is followed by Communion, where the baby is given communion with wine (the Blood of Christ).

How long does the baptism ceremony last?

The duration of the ceremony depends on the number of baptized people. An individual sacrament takes about 40 minutes, a group one - up to 1 hour.

Features of baptism of children of different ages

The baptism of a child aged 7 to 14 years (adolescent) is carried out in the same way as for adults. He also needs to go through public conversations, learn prayers, prepare for the ritual: attend a service in the temple, undergo a three-day fast (in the absence of medical contraindications).

Consent to the sacrament must be given by both the child himself and his parents. Children over 14 years of age can independently decide to be baptized. Parental consent is not required for this.

According to church canons, children under 12 years of age need adoptive parents to be baptized. In the case of infants, godparents pronounce vows instead of godchildren; in the case of older children, they vouch for their words before the Lord.

The rite of baptism of youths in some churches can be carried out by complete immersion, in others - through pouring over the head (when the size of the bowl is insufficient). In the case of immersion in the font, the child is allowed to immerse in underwear. It is recommended for a teenage girl to wear a T-shirt. Afterwards, the child is dried and dressed in baptismal clothes, in which he remains until the end of the ceremony.

A set of baptismal accessories for a teenager includes:

towel (kryzhma);
shirt or chemise;
headscarf (for girls);
pectoral cross;
slippers.

Video: how the sacrament of baptism of a child takes place

In some churches, it is possible to capture the bright sacrament on video only with the blessing of the priest, so this issue must be agreed upon in advance.

“...Do you have a baby?

Don't give time for the damage to worsen,

let him be sanctified in infancy and consecrated to the Spirit from youth.”
(St. Gregory the Theologian)

Child Baptism Rite. Baptism is one of the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, during which a person prepares for communion with Christ’s Church and is reborn from the sins of a past life and original sin into a new spiritual life.

Since ancient times in Rus', the joy of a person’s birth into the earthly world is combined with the joy of his birth for the Heavenly Fatherland. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, a child of an earthly family becomes a child of the Church and inherits the promise of Eternal Life. For many centuries, almost immediately after birth, the baby was baptized. There were, of course, circumstances when the deceased was buried without a funeral service, or when an Orthodox person lived in an unwed marriage, but there were no unbaptized people in Russian families.

A child is a blessing from God, and Orthodox parents must understand that on the day of the Last Judgment they will be answerable to God for the new soul entrusted to them.

In general, the spiritual life of a child begins long before baptism and even before birth. All expectant mothers make sure that their food contains more vitamins and try to exclude foods that are favorite but harmful to the baby. And it is right. However, while waiting for a miracle, an Orthodox mother is concerned not only with the physical health of the child, but also with his soul, so she attends services more often than usual, confesses and receives communion.

Orthodox Christians usually give a newborn the name of the saint on whose day he was born, or one of the saints whose memory is celebrated on one of the following days, so after the baby is born, be sure to look at the church calendar. If a child is given a non-Orthodox name, then at Baptism he will be given a second Orthodox name. However, try to avoid such a split, because there are a great many beautiful and unusual names in the Orthodox calendar, and behind each is an extraordinary saint. Read the lives of the saints - so many names will immediately become desirable to you!

If the name is chosen, then it’s time to take care of the godparents. Godparents undertake to instruct the godson in the fundamentals of faith and church life, pray for him and take an active part in his upbringing. In addition, godparents bear part of the responsibility for the actions of their ward, and the spiritual relationship of the godson with the godparents does not end with the end of earthly life, but continues in Eternity. Unfortunately, very often parents, for reasons of friendship, respect, or even some self-interest, do not hesitate to choose people who are completely far from the Church, or even non-believers, as successors to their child. Even absentee godparents have appeared, when the recipient is not present during the Baptism ceremony, but is only considered a godparent. This attitude speaks of a complete misunderstanding and indifference to the essence of Baptism.

When a name and godparent have been chosen, it is time to baptize. You should not delay Baptism. Through him, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ, which means the Church prays for him.

Rules for baptizing a child

Both you and your chosen godparents must seriously prepare for the rite of Baptism of a child, so try to remember a few important

1. In order to sign up for the Sacrament of Baptism, you need to come to the chosen temple and contact a shop or priest.

2. Before Baptism, the priest conducts a conversation with the baby’s parents and future godparents. Discuss with him in advance all the questions that you have about the Sacrament. He will explain to you how the rite of Baptism of a child takes place, what you need to bring with you to the Sacrament, what exactly the godparents will have to do, and together you will agree on the date of the event.

3. According to established tradition, babies can be baptized from the first day of life.

4. The rite of Baptism of a child in the Church can be performed on any day of the year, that is, neither fasting nor church holidays are an obstacle to this.

5. For Baptism, you must bring with you a consecrated Orthodox cross (to be sure, buy it in a church shop, not in a store), a new baptismal shirt, a clean large towel in which you will wrap the baby after the font, and candles. Do not forget that everyone present at the Sacrament must wear a cross on their body.

6. At Baptism, the baby is given the name of the Orthodox saint with whom he bears the same name. If there are several days in a year in memory of saints with a similar name, then the closest one is chosen, that is, the one that first follows the child’s birthday. And if the name by which the baby is named is not in the calendar at all, then an Orthodox name that is similar in sound is chosen.

7. It is advisable for future godparents and all relatives and friends to refrain from entertainment and fast three days before the baby’s Baptism. Only a nursing mother is exempt from fasting for the entire period of breastfeeding.

8. You can become godparents (godparents) from the age of 18.

9. Godparents must be baptized Orthodox Christians. And if the person chosen as a recipient was himself recently baptized, then he can become a godfather only one year after his own Baptism.

10. The custom of choosing two godparents for a child at once, both father and mother, does not contradict the rules in any way. However, if only one recipient is chosen, then he must be of the same sex as the person being baptized. Situations where a child has only one godparent of the opposite sex are acceptable, but in extreme circumstances.

Child baptism ceremony (godparent)

According to church rules, a man must become a successor for a boy. It is the godfather who receives the boy from the font, and the godmother and the other parents help him dry and dress the baby. In addition, at the end of the sacrament, the godfather, accompanied by a priest, brings the boy to the altar, bows to the throne with him, carries him through the mountainous place and brings him to the icon.

For a girl, accordingly, a woman should become a recipient, that is, she is the one who performs the main responsibilities during Baptism. Only, unlike boys, girls are not brought to the altar.

11. Marriages between adoptive children and the natural parents of an infant, between godparents and godchildren, and between a godfather and godmother of the same child are impossible. In addition, adoptive parents cannot become godparents for their adopted child.

12. You can become godparents any number of times if you feel strong enough to properly fulfill the duties of a godparent.

13. In exceptional cases, if it is impossible to find godparents, or the rite of Baptism of a child is performed at a critical moment in his life, Baptism can be performed without godparents.

14. If one of the parents or both are of other faiths, then a child can be baptized in Orthodoxy only on the condition that there are believing Orthodox godparents, and the physical parents will not object to raising the child in the Orthodox faith.

How does the baptism of a child take place in Orthodoxy?

Before the Sacrament of Baptism begins, the priest will explain and show you where the godparents should be located with the baby being baptized.

The rite of baptism of a child in the Church begins with naming prayers, with which the priest assigns his Orthodox name to the baby. It is from this time that each of us has a heavenly patron, so at the end of the sacrament, try to present your child with an icon with the image of his saint.

After the naming prayers, the priest reads prohibitory prayers, which prohibit demonic dark forces from acting on the person being baptized. From this moment begins the phase of direct participation of the godparents and the baptized in the sacrament being performed. At this stage, the priest may ask one of the godparents to read the Creed aloud, so the godparents need to memorize it in advance. If none of those present know the Creed by heart, then the priest himself can read it. However, ideally, every Orthodox Christian should not only know the Creed by heart, but also be able to explain its content.

After this, the priest sanctifies the water for baptism and reads special prayers in which he asks God to send the grace of the Holy Spirit onto the water and the one who is to receive the great Sacrament. The time of Baptism is coming.

The priest will invite you to completely undress the baby, and then anoint his forehead, chest, ears, arms and legs with oil, symbolizing the Grace of God. After this, he will lead you to a font of holy water, into which he will carefully dip the baby three times. The godfather or godmother (depending on the gender of the child) receives the baby from the font, and the other parents help them dry and dress the child in the baptismal shirt. At the same time, a cross is put on the baby.

After this, the priest and godparents with the baby in their arms make a small religious procession around the font three times in the direction against the movement of the sun. Then the priest reads a passage from the Holy Scriptures and prays for the godparents and the person being baptized.

Following this, the Sacrament of Confirmation is performed. The priest anoints the baby with holy oil in a cross shape, but this time it is not oil, but holy Myrrh (a special aromatic oil consecrated by the Patriarch). Through this Sacrament, the baby is given the gracious Gifts of the Holy Spirit to reveal the image and likeness of God in himself. The Sacrament of Confirmation is so important that, like baptism, it is accepted by a person only once in a lifetime.

Immediately after Baptism and Confirmation, the baby makes the first sacrifice of thanksgiving to God in his new baptized life. And this sacrifice is none other than the locks of his hair, the decoration that crowns the most amazing part of our body. The priest symbolically cuts off several curls from the baby’s head in a cross shape.

Usually, on the day of the baby’s baptism, the rite of churching is also performed, allowing a new member of the Church of Christ to enter the temple. It is slightly different for boys and girls. The godfather, accompanied by a priest, brings the boy into the altar, worships the Throne with him, carries him through the mountainous place and brings him to the icon. Girls are not brought into the altar, but are worshiped in front of the iconostasis - the priest takes the baby in his arms and makes the sign of the cross for them at the entrance to the temple, at the entrance and in front of the royal doors. The child’s churching ends with prayer and kissing the cross. The sacrament ends with the baby’s parents making three prostrations before the pulpit and the priest. If there is such an opportunity, then on the same day or the next after baptism, try to give the child Holy Communion.

For Orthodox Christians, the baptism of children is one of the most powerful rites. It is believed that after this the baby receives protection from the evil eye and diseases, and you can show it to others. After the christening, candles are lit and church prayers are read for the baby’s health. Parents treat baptism with special trepidation. It is important to know how to organize a child’s christening and the rules for preparing for the ceremony.

The Church explains in great detail why a child should be baptized. Through the rite of baptism, the baby is introduced to spiritual life and accepted into the faith. Immersion in water is symbolic, because it is a symbol of life. This is how the baby receives protection from the evil one, temptations, sins, illnesses and misfortunes. It is believed that the Lord takes the baby under his care and gives him a guardian angel. This is following the example of the son of God Jesus Christ, who was baptized in the Jordan River. And, although the sacrament among Orthodox Christians of different churches has some procedural differences, its significance is the same for all believers.

The essence of the sacrament

The baptismal ceremony is carried out in a temple or in a special baptismal room with a font. The sacrament lasts about an hour. The priest reads prayers, performs anointing, and dips the child three times in consecrated water. After the tonsure is performed, the baby is given a cross. The priest brings the boys to the altar, and the girls brings them to the icon of the Mother of God. The baptized person receives a second, church name, which is recommended to be kept secret from outsiders. The baby is given a baptismal certificate. The very next day, parents and the baby are invited to receive communion.

Ten Key Questions

Given the importance of the procedure, parents try to get all the clarification on the topic in advance. Here are ten key questions about baptism and their answers.

List of necessary things

A separate question: how can parents prepare for the sacrament and what is needed to baptize a child? First, about the formalities. You should come to the church in advance to sign up for the ceremony and discuss with the priest how the child will be baptized, ask for blessings for taking photos and videos if you want to capture the holiday. At the same time, the cost of baptism, the list of necessary documents and attributes are clarified. Basically, the passports of mom and dad are required, as well as the baby’s birth certificate. What else is on the list of things needed for baptism?

Rules for parents

There are rules for baptizing a child for parents and godparents. The dress code during baptism is a particularly important point. Both parents and guests must wear crosses. Women are required to cover their heads and wear closed, long dresses. Men's clothing is a formal suit, dark, but not black.

Mother and father's relatives are advised to confess on the eve of the sacrament and adhere to fasting. Godparents should be chosen according to their liking, and not for selfish reasons. They can only be close people who are over 12 years old and must be baptized. Spouses should not become godparents. If twins are baptized, each should have their own godparents. You cannot refuse the offer to become a godfather.

It is customary to celebrate the christening of a child with family. After the ceremony, the family gathers at the festive table. It is better to do this in the house where the baby is growing up, and it is good to invite other older children. This way they will get an idea of how a child is baptized - the greatest of the Orthodox sacraments - and will enrich their spiritual world.

Star news