Is it possible to baptize a child without a godmother? What parents need to know about the christening of a boy and a girl: signs, rules for baptism in the Orthodox Church and recommendations
Church canons and rules require compliance. The sacrament of baptism has been performed for centuries. Parents should preserve church traditions and prepare in advance for the baptism of the baby. The most important is the choice of godparents, people who will take on the responsibility of spiritual education of the godson.
You can baptize a child with one godfather.
According to spiritual rules, a baby can be baptized without one of the godparents. But it is desirable that there were two mentors. There are no special requirements for them:
- Orthodox Christians,
- not necessarily married
- not necessarily planning for the future marriage,
- close relatives or just acquaintances
It is much more important that the desire to engage in the spiritual upbringing of the child is not nominal, but real.
What are the responsibilities of godparents
In order to raise children in the faith, godparents themselves must be spiritual people. Church stalls sell a lot of useful literature, including for little Christians.
Adults can always turn to the clergy for help in educating their godchildren. The church never refuses its parishioners.
When choosing godparents, parents should pay attention to their human qualities and desire for God. The choice may not fall on a relative, most importantly, he must understand that the sacrament of baptism will lead an invisible thread between him and the child, making him a mentor of a little Christian.
If a girl is baptized with one godfather, it is better for a woman to become her spiritual mentor, if the boy is a man.
Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents
In rare cases, the baptism of a baby is allowed completely without godparents. This is allowed if:
- the life of a boy or girl is in danger;
- the priest is ready to take on the responsibility of reading prayers instead of godparents.
If the baby survives, the sacrament is subsequently brought to completion, godparents are invited. The question of the presence or absence of godmothers and fathers is best discussed with representatives of the church where the child will be baptized.
It is desirable that the little Orthodox have both godparents, but the spiritual qualities of these people are much more important.
Often, parents cannot find suitable applicants for the role of godparents, and not everyone can agree to it, because they understand that they will not be able to cope with their duties. Then the idea appears: “is it possible without godparents?”.
Christening without godparents - superstitions and traditions
sacrament of baptism- This is one of the most important rites of Orthodox Christians. Therefore, it must be carried out according to all the rules.
If you follow the ritual, then both biological parents and godparents must be present at the ceremony. It is impossible to say exactly how the church relates to the absence of the latter in a particular case.
Some priests refuse to perform the ritual if these people are not present, while others are ready to write down their names from the words of their parents. In the people it is called "correspondence christening".
"In absentia christening" was practiced until 1917. Everyone could ask the Tsar of Russia to become a godfather and present an approving written response to the priest.
Therefore, if you want to perform this ritual, but for some reason could not find godparents, most likely the priest will refuse, but it’s worth trying to talk.
Baptism without a godfather or mother - the opinion of the church
Despite the fact that this option is more acceptable and common, the church also does not forbid a boy to have only a godmother, and a girl only a godfather. It is also not forbidden by the canons to have two godparents (father and mother).
The main thing that the church focuses on, a person who takes on such responsibility should be limited to only two receivers and he should conscientiously fulfill his duties, educate the child as a worthy person, in the Orthodox faith.
Can relatives or a priest baptize?
If you have not found a girlfriend or friend who could become godparents to your child, then you can turn to your close relatives for help. Grandparents, aunts and uncles can play this important role. This is in no way contrary to the laws of the church.
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The only thing, according to the 53rd rule of the VI Ecumenical Council, is not allowed to baptize a child by adoptive parents. The question concerning the stepfather and stepmother is rather ambiguous. Very often, priests refuse to conduct a ritual if these relatives claim the role of godfather or godmother.
In extreme cases, the priest himself can become a godfather. There are a number of factors that can motivate parents to make such a decision:
- someone believes that there was no worthy among ordinary people;
- someone is sure that the holy father will be able to invest more in the child than the biological parents.
Church laws do not prohibit a clergyman from participating in such a ceremony (and not just conducting it). However, you should not count on this option and put the priest before the fact. After all, he has every right to refuse.
Perhaps this will happen due to the fact that most likely you will never see this person again, you didn’t know him at all before and are not going to communicate further. In this case, the clergyman will not fulfill his role, will not be able to instruct the child, teach him, and because of this he will take sin into his soul. However, both the priest and the deacon can become godparents to the children of their friends, acquaintances and parishioners.
When is there no need for godparents?
It is very difficult to answer such a question, since there is always a need for such a spiritual mentor. It is especially necessary for children. Since such a person will always be able to provide moral support to the baby, protect and help.
The absence of such mentors is justified only if a person has decided to accept Orthodoxy as an adult and having a conscious faith in God.
Priests often say that even for adults who have finally decided to be baptized, it is very important to have a teacher nearby who is familiar with the Holy Scriptures, church canons, will help a person who has accepted the faith to protect themselves from Satan, draw closer to God, and teach them to respect religion.
But of course there are exceptions, although very rarely. A person who does not need godparents must be fully accountable for his actions. He must understand why he is doing this and really sincerely believe.
As you can see, a similar ritual can be performed both in infancy and in adulthood without the participation of godmothers and fathers. However, it is better for parents to still try to find that worthy, intelligent, serious believing adult who can help them raise their child.
What is Baptism? Why is it called a Sacrament? You will find comprehensive answers to all these questions in this article prepared by the editors of Pravmir.
The Sacrament of Baptism: Answers to Readers' Questions
Today I would like to tell the reader about the sacrament of Baptism and the godparents.
For ease of perception, I will offer the reader an article in the form of questions most often asked by people about Baptism and the answers to them. So the first question is:
What is Baptism? Why is it called a Sacrament?
Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is immersed three times in water with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life. Of course, there is a basis for this action in the Holy Scriptures: "He who is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Christ says in the Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for spiritual life, in which a person can reach the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it, in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us, the invisible saving power of God, grace, acts on the person being baptized. Like other sacraments, baptism is established by God. The Lord Jesus Christ himself, sending the apostles to preach the gospel, taught them to baptize people: “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and from now on can proceed to the rest of the sacraments of the Church.
Now that the reader has become acquainted with the Orthodox concept of baptism, it is appropriate to consider one of the most frequently asked questions related to the baptism of children. So:
Baptism of infants: is it possible to baptize infants, because they do not have an independent faith?
Quite right, young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But don't the parents who brought their child to be baptized in the temple of God have it? Will they not instill faith in God in their child from childhood? It is obvious that parents have such a faith, and most likely will instill it in their child. In addition, the child will also have godparents - godparents from the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to raise their godchild in the Orthodox faith. Thus, infants are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child to baptism.
The New Testament baptism was typified by the Old Testament circumcision. In the Old Testament, babies were brought to the temple for circumcision on the eighth day. By this, the child's parents showed their and his faith and belonging to God's chosen people. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: "Baptism is the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unbelievers." Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “They were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; being buried with Him in baptism” (Col. 2:11-12). That is, baptism is a dying and burial for sin and a resurrection for a perfect life with Christ.
These reasons are enough to make the reader realize the importance of infant baptism. After that, the next question would be:
When should children be baptized?
There are no specific rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done earlier or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the circumstances.
An inquisitive reader may have questions regarding the days of baptism. For example, on the eve of multi-day fasts, the question most often heard is:
Is it possible to baptize children on fasting days?
Yes, you certainly may! But technically it doesn't always work. In some churches, during the days of Great Lent, they baptize only on Saturdays and Sundays. This practice is most likely based on the fact that weekday Lenten services are very long, and the intervals between morning and evening services can be short. On Saturdays and Sundays, divine services are somewhat shorter in time, and priests can devote more time to the requirements. Therefore, when planning the day of baptism, it is better to find out in advance about the rules observed in the temple where the child will be baptized. Well, if we talk about the days on which you can baptize, then there are no restrictions on this issue. You can baptize children on any day when there are no technical obstacles to this.
I have already mentioned that every person, if possible, should have godparents - godparents from the baptismal font. Moreover, they should be in children who are baptized according to the faith of their parents and godparents. The question arises:
How many godparents should a child have?
Church rules prescribe to have a godparent for the child of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child has a godfather of a different sex than the baptized person himself. The main thing is that it should be a truly believing person who would subsequently conscientiously fulfill his duties of raising a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, a baptized person can have one or, at most, two godparents.
Having dealt with the number of godparents, the reader will most likely want to know:
What are the requirements for godparents?
The first and main requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godparents must be church-going people, living the church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith, to give spiritual instructions. If they themselves are ignorant of these matters, what will they be able to teach the child? The godparents have a huge responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of their godchildren, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with the renunciation of "Satan, and all his works, and all his angels, and all his ministry, and all his pride." Thus, the godparents, answering for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.
If the godson is already an adult and pronounces the words of renunciation himself, then the godparents present at the same time become guarantors before the Church in the fidelity of his words. Godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly confession and communion, they must give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the features of the church calendar, the grace-filled power of miraculous icons and other shrines. The godparents must accustom those taken from the font to attend church services, fast, pray, and observe other provisions of the church charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson. Obviously, strangers cannot be godparents, for example, some kind-hearted grandmother from the church, whom her parents persuaded to “hold” the baby at baptism.
But also, you should not take as godparents just close people or relatives who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were outlined above.
Godparents should not become an object of personal gain for the parents of the baptized. The desire to intermarry with a profitable person, for example, with a boss, often guides parents when choosing godparents for a child. At the same time, forgetting about the true purpose of baptism, parents can deprive the child of a real godfather, and impose on him one who subsequently will not at all care about the spiritual upbringing of the child, for which he himself will also answer to God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.
Some of the details of baptism include the following question:
Is it possible for a woman to become a godmother on the days of the monthly cleansing? What to do if it did happen?
On such days, women should refrain from participating in church sacraments, which include baptism. But if this did happen, then it is necessary to repent at confession.
Perhaps someone reading this article will become a godfather in the near future. Realizing the importance of the decision being made, they will be interested in:
How do future godparents prepare for baptism?
There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special talks are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. If there is an opportunity to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do this, because. this is very helpful for future godparents. If the future godparents are sufficiently churched, they constantly confess and take communion, then attending such conversations will be a completely sufficient measure of preparation for them.
If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churched, then a good preparation for them will be not only acquiring the necessary knowledge about church life, but also studying the Holy Scriptures, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as a three-day fast, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions regarding recipients. Usually the godfather takes care of the payment (if any) for the baptism itself and the purchase of a pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl, and also brings the things necessary for baptism. Typically, a christening kit includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet and a towel.
But these traditions are not binding. Often, different regions and even individual churches have their own traditions, the implementation of which is strictly monitored by parishioners and even priests, although they do not have any dogmatic and canonical foundations. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which baptism will take place.
Sometimes one hears a purely technical question related to baptism:
What should godparents give for baptism (godson, godson's parents, priest)?
This question does not lie in the spiritual realm, regulated by canonical rules and traditions. But, it seems that the gift should be useful and remind of the day of baptism. Useful gifts on the day of baptism could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops you can now find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so acquiring a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.
A fairly common question asked by unchurched parents is the question:
Can non-Orthodox Christians or Gentiles become godparents?
It is quite obvious that they are not, because they will not be able to teach their godson the truths of the Orthodox faith. Not being members of the Orthodox Church, they cannot take part in church sacraments at all.
Unfortunately, many parents do not ask about this in advance and, without any remorse, invite non-Orthodox and Gentile godparents to their children. At baptism, of course, no one talks about this. But then, having learned about the inadmissibility of the deed, the parents run to the temple, asking:
What should I do if this happened by mistake? Is baptism valid in this case? Should a child be baptized?
First of all, such situations show the extreme irresponsibility of parents when choosing godparents for their child. Nevertheless, such cases are not uncommon, and they occur among unchurched people who do not live a church life. An unequivocal answer to the question "what to do in this case?" it is impossible to give, because there is nothing of the kind in the church canons. This is not surprising, since canons and rules are written for members of the Orthodox Church, which cannot be said about heterodox and non-believers. Nevertheless, as a fact, baptism took place, and it cannot be called invalid. It is legal and valid, and the baptized one has become a full-fledged Orthodox Christian, because. was baptized by an Orthodox priest in the name of the Holy Trinity. No rebaptism is required; there is no such concept at all in the Orthodox Church. A person is born once physically, he cannot repeat it again. Similarly, only once a person can be born for spiritual life, so there can be only one baptism.
I will allow myself a small digression and tell the reader how once I had to witness one not very pleasant scene. A young married couple brought their newborn son to the temple for baptism. The couple worked in a foreign company and invited one of their colleagues, a foreigner, a Lutheran, to become godfather. True, a girl of the Orthodox faith was supposed to become a godmother. Neither parents nor future godparents were distinguished by special knowledge in the field of Orthodox dogma. The news of the impossibility of having a Lutheran as godfather of their son was received with hostility by the child's parents. They were asked to find another godfather or to baptize the child with one godmother. But this proposal angered the father and mother even more. The stubborn desire to see this particular person as the successor prevailed over the common sense of the parents and the priest had to refuse to baptize the child. So the illiteracy of the parents became an obstacle to the baptism of their child.
Thank God that such situations no longer occurred in my priestly practice. The curious reader may well assume that there may be some obstacles to receiving the sacrament of baptism. And he will be absolutely right. So:
In what case can a priest refuse a person to be baptized?
Orthodox believe in God the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The founder of the Christian faith was the Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who does not accept the divinity of Christ and does not believe in the Holy Trinity cannot be an Orthodox Christian. Also, a person who denies the truths of the Orthodox faith cannot become an Orthodox Christian. The priest has the right to refuse to baptize a person if he is going to accept the sacrament as some kind of magical rite or has some pagan belief regarding baptism itself. But this is a separate issue and I will touch on it later.
A very common question about receivers is the question:
Can spouses or those who are about to get married become godparents?
Yes they can. Contrary to popular belief, there is no canonical prohibition for spouses or those about to get married to be godparents to one child. There is only a canonical rule that prohibits the godfather from marrying the child's mother. The spiritual relationship established between them through the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. But this rule does not affect the possibility of marriage of godparents or the possibility of spouses to become godparents.
Sometimes unchurched parents of children, wanting to choose godparents for their children, ask the following question:
Can people living in a civil marriage become godparents?
At first glance, this is a rather complicated issue, but from the ecclesiastical point of view, it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called complete. And in general it is impossible to call prodigal cohabitation a family. After all, in fact, people living in the so-called civil marriage live in fornication. This is a big problem in modern society. People baptized in the Orthodox Church, at least conscious of themselves as Christians, for some incomprehensible reasons, refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are countless answers to be heard. But, unfortunately, these people simply do not want to understand that they are looking for any excuses for themselves.
For God, the desire to “get to know each other better” or “unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary stamps” cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a “civil” marriage trample on all Christian concepts about marriage and family. Christian marriage implies the responsibility of spouses for each other. During the marriage, they become one, and not two different people who made a promise to live under the same roof from now on. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other leg bear the full weight of the body? And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for putting a stamp in their passport.
What then can be said about such irresponsible people, who at the same time want to be godparents? What good can they teach a child? Can they, having very shaky moral foundations, be able to set a good example for their godson? Not at all. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded in this way) cannot be recipients from the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legitimize their relationship before God and the state, then they, moreover, will not be able to be godparents to one child. Despite the apparent complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unambiguously: no.
The topic of gender relations is always very acute in all areas of human life. It goes without saying that this translates into various issues that are directly related to baptism. Here is one of them:
Can a young man (or girl) become a godfather for his bride (groom)?
In this case, they will have to terminate their relationship and limit themselves to only a spiritual connection, because. in the sacrament of baptism, one of them will become the godparent of the other. Can a son marry his own mother? Or a daughter to marry her own father? It is quite obvious that it is not. Of course, church canons cannot allow such a thing to happen.
Much more often than others there are questions about the possible perception of close relatives. So:
Can relatives become godparents?
Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts may well become godparents to their little relatives. There is no contradiction to this in church canons.
Can an adoptive father (mother) become a godfather to an adopted child?
According to Canon 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.
Based on the fact that spiritual kinship is established between godparents and parents, an inquisitive reader may ask the following question:
Can the parents of a child become godparents of their godfathers (their godchildren)?
Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. Such an action in no way violates the spiritual kinship established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of the child can become the godmother of the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. There are other options, but, in any case, the spouses cannot become the recipients of one child.
Sometimes people ask this question:
Can a priest be a godfather (including one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?
Yes maybe. In general, this question is very urgent. From time to time I have to hear a request to become a godfather from people completely unfamiliar to me. Parents bring their child to be baptized. For some reason, there was no godfather for the child. They begin to ask to become a godfather to the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of a godfather, the priest must fulfill this role. You have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. A priest is the same person as everyone else, and he may well refuse strangers to be godparents to their child. After all, he will have to bear the responsibility for raising his godchild. But how can he do this if he sees this child for the first time and is completely unfamiliar with his parents? And will most likely never see it again. Obviously this is not possible. But a priest (even if he himself will perform the sacrament of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will concelebrate with the priest for the sacrament of baptism) may well become godparents for the children of their friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical barriers to this.
Continuing the theme of reception, one cannot help but recall such a phenomenon as the desire of parents due to some, sometimes completely incomprehensible, reasons to “take a godfather in absentia”.
Is it possible to take a godfather "in absentia"?
The very meaning of reception presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. This cannot be done in absentia. In the end, the person whom they are trying to “record in absentia” as godparents may not agree to this action at all, and, as a result, the person being baptized may be left without a godfather at all.
Sometimes from parishioners you have to hear questions about the following:
How many times can a person become a godfather?
In the Orthodox Church there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during a lifetime. The main thing that a person who agrees to become a recipient should remember is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person will be able to take on the reception. For each person, this measure is different and, sooner or later, a person may have to give up a new perception.
Is it possible to refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?
If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has fundamental fears that he will not be able to conscientiously fulfill the duties of a godparent, then he may well refuse the parents of the child (or the baptized person himself, if it is an adult) to become their child's godfather. There is no sin in this. It will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, having taken responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child, not fulfilling his immediate duties.
Continuing this topic, here are a few more questions that people usually ask about the number of possible godchildren.
Can I become a godfather to the second child in the family, if I already had one with the first?
Yes, you can. There are no canonical barriers to this.
Is it possible for one person during baptism to be the recipient of several people (for example, twins)?
There are no canonical restrictions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are being baptized. The recipient will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It would be better if each godson had his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized individually are different people who have the right to their godfather.
Probably, many will be interested in the following question:
At what age can you become a foster child?
Underage children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be such that he can realize the full burden of the responsibility taken upon himself, and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as a godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to adulthood.
The relationship between the child's parents and godparents also plays an important role in the upbringing of children. It is good when parents and godparents have spiritual unity and direct all their efforts towards the proper spiritual upbringing of their child. But human relationships are not always cloudless, and sometimes one has to hear such a question:
What to do if you quarreled with the parents of your godson and for this reason you cannot see him?
The answer suggests itself: to make peace with the parents of the godson. For what can a child be taught by people who have a spiritual relationship and at the same time are at enmity with each other? It is worth thinking not about personal ambitions, but about raising a child and, having gained patience and humility, try to establish relations with the godson's parents. The same can be said for the parents of the child.
But a quarrel is not always the reason that the godfather cannot see the godson for a long time.
What to do if, due to objective reasons, you do not see your godson for years?
I think that the objective reasons are the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents moved with the child to another city, country. In this case, it remains only to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him using all available means of communication.
Unfortunately, some godparents, having christened the baby, completely forget about their immediate duties. Sometimes the reason for this is not only the recipient's elementary ignorance of his duties, but his falling into grave sins that make their own spiritual life very difficult. Then the parents of the child involuntarily raise a completely legitimate question:
Is it possible to refuse godparents who do not fulfill their duties, who have fallen into serious sins or lead an immoral lifestyle?
The Orthodox Church does not know the order of refusal of godparents. But parents can find an adult who, not being the actual recipient from the font, would help in the spiritual upbringing of the child. At the same time, one cannot consider him a godfather.
But having such an assistant is better than depriving the child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend altogether. After all, a moment may come when the child begins to seek spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very helpful. And a child, as they grow older, can be taught to pray for the godfather. After all, the spiritual connection of a child with a person who took him from the font will not be broken if he takes responsibility for a person who himself has not coped with this responsibility. It happens that children surpass their parents and mentors in prayer and piety.
Prayer for a sinner or a stray will be a manifestation of love for this person. After all, it is not for nothing that the Apostle James says in his epistle to Christians: “Pray for one another that you may be healed; the fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). But all these actions must be coordinated with your confessor and receive a blessing on them.
And here is another interesting question that people periodically ask:
When is there no need for godparents?
There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because. he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently pronounce the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully accountable for his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without godparents. Such a need, of course, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.
Godless time has left its mark on the destinies of many people. The result of this was that some people, after long years of unbelief, finally gained faith in God, but when they came to the temple, they did not know whether they had been baptized in childhood by believing relatives. A logical question arises:
Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized in childhood?
According to Canon 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or deny the fact of their baptism. In this case, a person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: “If not baptized, the servant (slave) of God is baptized ...”.
Something I'm all about children and about children. Among the readers, perhaps, there are also such people who have not yet been honored with the saving sacrament of baptism, but with all their hearts strive for it. So:
What does a person who is preparing to become an Orthodox Christian need to know? How can he prepare for the sacrament of baptism?
A person's knowledge of faith begins with the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, a person who wants to be baptized, first of all, needs to read the Gospel. After reading the Gospel, a person may have a number of questions that require a competent answer. Such answers can be obtained at the so-called catechumens, which are held in many temples. At such conversations, the fundamentals of the Orthodox faith are explained to those who wish to be baptized. If there are no such conversations at the temple in which the person is going to be baptized, then you can ask all the questions of interest to the priest in the temple. It will also be useful to read some books that explain Christian dogmas, such as the Law of God. It will be good if, before accepting the sacrament of baptism, a person memorizes the Creed, which briefly outlines the Orthodox dogma about God and the Church. This prayer will be read at baptism, and it would be great if the person being baptized himself confessed his faith. Direct preparation begins a few days before baptism. These days are special, so you should not scatter your attention on other, even very important, problems. It is worth devoting this time to spiritual and moral reflections, avoiding fuss, empty talk, participation in various entertainments. It must be remembered that baptism, like the other sacraments, is great and holy. It must be approached with the greatest awe and reverence. It is advisable to observe a fast for 2-3 days, living in marriage on the eve of the night to refrain from marital relations. You need to be extremely clean and tidy for baptism. You can wear new fancy clothes. Women should not wear make-up, as they always do when visiting a temple.
There are many superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism, which I would also like to touch on in this article. One of the most common superstitions is:
Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if a girl is baptized first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give her happiness ...
This statement is also a superstition that has no basis either in the Holy Scriptures or in church canons and traditions. And happiness, if it is deserved before God, will not go anywhere from a person.
Another odd thought I've heard over and over again:
Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would this affect her own child or godson in some way?
Yes, you certainly may. Such a delusion has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also superstition. Participation in church sacraments can only be to the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. Babies were born strong and healthy.
A lot of superstitions are associated with the so-called crossing. Moreover, the reasons for such a crazy action are sometimes indicated very bizarre and even funny. But most of these justifications are pagan and occult in origin. Here, for example, is one of the most common superstitions of occult origin:
Is it true that in order to remove the damage induced on a person, it is necessary to re-baptize, and keep the new name a secret so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, because. conjure precisely in the name?
To be honest, hearing such statements, I want to laugh heartily. But, unfortunately, it's not funny. What kind of pagan denseness does an Orthodox person need to reach in order to decide that baptism is a kind of magical ritual, a kind of antidote for corruption. An antidote for some vague substance that no one even knows the definition of. What is this ghostly corruption? It is unlikely that anyone who is so afraid of her will be able to clearly answer this question. This is not surprising. Instead of looking for God in life and fulfilling His commandments, the "church" people with enviable zeal are looking for the mother of all evils in everything - damage. And where does it come from?
I will allow myself a small lyrical digression. A man is walking down the street, stumbled. All - jinxed! We urgently need to run to the temple to put a candle so that everything is fine and the evil eye passes. While walking to the temple, he stumbled again. Looks like they not only jinxed it, but also caused damage! Ooh, wicked! Well, nothing, now I will come to the temple, I will pray, I will buy candles, I will stick all the candlesticks, I will fight the corruption with all my might. The man ran to the temple, on the porch he again stumbled and fell. Everyone - lie down and die! Damage to death, a family curse, well, and there is some kind of disgusting thing there, I forgot the name, but also something very terrible. Cocktail "three in one"! Against this, candles and prayer will not help, this is a serious matter, an ancient voodoo spell! There is only one way out - to be baptized again, and only with a new name, so that when these same voodoo slanders on the old name are whispered and needles are stuck into dolls, all their spells fly by. They will not know the new name. And all witchcraft is done in the name, didn’t you know? What fun it will be when they whisper and conjure intensely there, and everything will fly by! Bang, bang and - by! Oh, it's good when there is baptism - a cure for all diseases!
This is how superstitions associated with re-baptism appear. But much more often, the sources of these superstitions are the figures of the occult sciences, i.e. fortunetellers, psychics, healers and other "gifted by God" personalities. These tireless "generators" of newfangled occult terminology use all sorts of tricks to seduce a person. Birth curses, and crowns of celibacy, and karmic knots of fate, translations, love spells with lapels and other occult nonsense are used. And all that needs to be done to get rid of all this is to cross yourself. And there was no damage. And laughter and sin! But many peck at these near-church tricks of "mothers Glafir" and "fathers Tikhonov", and run to the temple for re-baptism. It’s good if they tell them where they have such an ardent desire to cross themselves, and they will be denied this blasphemy, having previously explained what trips to the occultists are fraught with. And some do not even say that they have already been baptized and are baptized again. There are also those who are baptized several times, because. previous baptisms "didn't help". And they won't help! Greater blasphemy over the sacrament is difficult to imagine. After all, the Lord knows the heart of a person, knows about all his thoughts.
It is worth saying a few words about the name, which is so advised to change "good people." A person is given a name on the eighth day from birth, but since many do not know about this, basically a prayer for naming is read by a priest immediately before baptism. Surely everyone knows that the name is given to a person in honor of one of the saints. And it is this saint who is our patron and intercessor for us before God. And, of course, it seems that every Christian should call on his saint as often as possible and ask for his prayers before the throne of the Almighty. But what actually happens? Not only does a person neglect his name, but he also neglects his saint, in whose honor he is named. And instead of calling for help from his heavenly patron, his saint, at the moment of trouble or danger, he visits fortune-tellers and psychics. The “reward” for this will be appropriate.
There is another superstition related directly to the sacrament of baptism itself. Almost immediately after baptism, the rite of hair cutting follows. At the same time, the recipient is given a piece of wax, in which it is supposed to roll the cut hair. This wax receiver must throw into the water. This is where the fun begins. Not sure where the question comes from:
Is it true that if wax with cut hair sinks at baptism, then the life of the person being baptized will be short?
No, this is a superstition. According to the laws of physics, wax cannot sink in water at all. But if you throw it from a height with sufficient force, then at the first moment it will really go under water. Fortunately, if the superstitious godfather does not see this moment and "fortune telling on baptismal wax" will give a positive result. But, as soon as the godfather notices the moment the wax is immersed in water, lamentations immediately begin, and the newly-made Christian is almost buried alive. After that, it is sometimes difficult to get out of a state of terrible depression the parents of a child who are told about the “sign of God” seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.
Summing up, I would like to note that baptism is a great sacrament, and the approach to it should be reverent and deliberate. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live their former sinful lives. Having been baptized, a person must remember that now he is an Orthodox Christian, a warrior of Christ, a member of the Church. It owes a lot. First of all, to love. Love for God and neighbor. So let each of us, regardless of when he was baptized, fulfill these commandments. Then we can hope that the Lord will lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven. That Kingdom, the path to which the sacrament of Baptism opens for us.
There are times when young parents try to find the answer to their question: "Is it possible without godparents?" Everything in life does not always go smoothly, and sometimes it becomes necessary to urgently baptize a child. In such cases, the chosen godparents may be very far away, or they simply do not exist.
How is it necessary in the church?
Some literature, published with the blessing of the Orthodox Church, helps to learn in the church. For example, let's take a set of rules about It clearly states that the presence of the father is mandatory for the performance of the ceremony. For himself, a child is not able to promise to be an obedient Christian and be faithful only to his Lord.
Little children are baptized according to the faith of their parents and godparents. If the parents and recipients of the Orthodox faith, then it is they who are responsible for the upbringing of a Christian. On behalf of the newborn, adults renounce evil thoughts and deeds before the Lord Jesus Christ.
Exceptions to the rules
If baptism must be performed immediately, there are some exceptions to the rules that allow the ceremony to be performed without godparents. The category of such exceptions includes the situation when the child is very sick, and doctors cannot exclude the threat of a fatal outcome. In such cases, the Church allows the baby to be baptized without the participation of sponsors. When the child recovers, you can always choose godparents for him.
Baptism can be performed by any hospital worker, seeing the grave condition of the baby. He also has the right to take the place of the godparent. To do this, it is necessary to take water (consecrated if possible) and pour it on the infant's head, each time saying the formula of baptism.
The text of the baptismal formula is as follows: "The servant of God (the servant of God) is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!" In situations where the ceremony was performed by a person who is not related to a particular religion (a layman), there is a need to visit the church and ask the priest to complete the baptism in a proper way.
Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents, according to various clergymen?
Life examples show that different clergymen, related to the same religion, give different answers to the question: without godparents?" Some of them allow the possibility of recording godparents, referring to the words of the mother or father of the child (absentee baptism). Others believe that the godfather and mother, who did not take part in the baptism, according to Orthodox canons, are not such before the Lord God.
Therefore, if there is a desire or a direct need to urgently conduct a ceremony, it is necessary to consult with a spiritual mentor (father) and get an answer from him to the question: "Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents?" By the way, it will be mentioned that the rector himself can become the godfather of your child.
To answer the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents, it is enough to read the following of the sacrament of Baptism, then much will become clear to us. The following is composed for adults, that is, it contains places where the person being baptized says prayers, answers the priest's questions. In the case when we baptize a child, godparents are responsible for him and read prayers. Therefore, it is obvious that the sacrament of the Baptism of a child cannot take place without adults. But an adult is able to profess his faith himself.
Can a child be baptized without one of the godparents?
The question whether a child can be baptized without a godmother can be answered in the same way as the question whether a child can be baptized without a godfather. In the event that it was not possible to find a person capable of taking over or the father, it is possible to perform the sacrament of baptism without one of the parents. In this case, it will be more important for a girl if she has a godmother, for a boy - a godfather.
Can a child be baptized without godparents?
In this case, baptism can be performed only under the following circumstances:
- The child's life is in danger, he is in serious condition. At such a moment, a priest or any layman can perform baptism, pouring holy water three times on the baby’s head and saying the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen". If, after being baptized by a layman, the baby survives and recovers, then you need to turn to the Church and complete the Sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
- In the event that not a single godfather was found for the child, the priest can take over and say prayers for the child on his own. If the priest is familiar with the baby, then he will be able to take care of him and instruct him in the faith, but if not, then he will commemorate the godson in prayer at every divine service. Not all priests take on such responsibility, therefore, in different churches, the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child without godparents is answered differently.
And yet, it’s better to try so that your child has two godparents, just like two relatives. After all, in later life he will need to see not only the example of the life of his parents, but also other people who attend the temple and try to live according to God's commandments.
Is it possible to baptize a godfather's child?
You can become a godmother or godfather for any child, unless, of course, it is your own. There is even a pious tradition in Orthodox families to baptize each other's children: it is easier to keep in touch and communicate with godchildren.
Is it possible to baptize a child godfather?
Of course, people who have become godparents for one child can become godparents for another, there are no obstacles to this.
Can a child be baptized at home?
It is desirable that the baby be baptized in the church, because after baptism there is still a prayer for churching: the boy is brought to the altar, the girl is placed on the salt, from where her mother receives her.
There are cases when a child is sick or there is no temple nearby, and it is not possible to take the child far. You can invite a priest to your house, then the priest will read the prayers for churching when the baby is already brought to the temple. Bringing a child to the temple after baptism and taking communion is the duty of godparents and native parents.
Can two children be baptized?
Yes, if a family is baptizing two or more children at the same time, the same people can be asked to be their godparents. It will be even better, because two children have the same natural parents, there will be one godparents.
Is it possible for spouses to baptize a child?
This question cannot be answered in the affirmative. There is such a thing as the spiritual relationship of godparents to each other, it is impossible in the presence of marital relations. Therefore, it is impossible for a husband and wife to baptize a child.
Is it possible for a couple to baptize a child?
Godparents must have a spiritual relationship with each other, so even if the couple lives in a civil marriage and they are not registered as husband and wife, they cannot be the godparents of the child.
If young people are not married but intend to get married in the future, they will also not be able to become godparents of one child.
Is it possible for relatives to baptize a child?
A child can be baptized by any relative, except for the relatives of the mother, father and relatives who are spouses, since spouses cannot be godparents.
Is it possible to refuse to baptize a child?
If you have many godchildren and you know that you will not be able to properly take care of the new godchild, you are in another city or another country, you do not know much about the child’s family, it is better to refuse to baptize the baby. But if there is a possibility that the child will not be baptized at all because of your refusal, it is better to agree and ask God for help.
Can multiple children be baptized?
If parents baptize several of their children, it is highly desirable that the godparents be the same people. Then the children will have one godparents, just like relatives. It will be easier for the godparents to take care of raising all the children together. It is possible to baptize several children at the same time - not brothers or sisters.
Can a child be baptized twice? Is it possible to baptize a child a second time?
Such questions are rare, but still asked in the Church. The Sacrament of Baptism itself is performed on a person only once. After all, the meaning of this sacrament is the acceptance by a person of the Orthodox faith and recognition of him as a member of the Church. But there are several cases where such a question may arise:
- If the children do not know whether they have been baptized or not. This happens if the child has lost his birth parents, or it is likely that the child was secretly baptized by one of the relatives. In this case, it is imperative to inform the priest about this, then the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a different order. The priest pronounces the words: “The servant (a) of God (I) (name) is baptized (if not baptized (a)) in the name of the Father. Amen. And the Son. Amen. And the Holy Spirit. Amen".
- If the child was urgently baptized by a lay person. Such baptism is performed if there was a danger to the life of the child, but later he recovered. Then you need to come to the Church and complete the sacrament of Baptism with Chrismation.
- If the child was baptized in another faith. The Orthodox Church recognizes the sacrament of Baptism in other confessions as valid in cases where the sacrament of Baptism is performed according to a similar order and if the institution of the priesthood and apostolic succession in the ordination of priests have been preserved in this confession. Only Catholicism and the Old Believers can be attributed to such confessions (but only the direction where the priesthood has been preserved). After baptism in the Catholic faith, it is necessary to complete the sacrament of Baptism with chrismation, since in the Catholic Church chrismation is performed separately from baptism at a later age (about 15 years).
Can a sick child be baptized?
If a child is seriously ill, then baptism is necessary, it can be performed even in a hospital or at home. If the life of the baby is in danger, then, in extreme cases, he can even be christened by a layman.
Is it possible to baptize a child in absentia?
Baptism, like any sacrament, is a sacred ceremony in which the believer, under a visible image, communicates the invisible grace of God. The celebration of the sacrament of Baptism presupposes the physical presence of the person being baptized, the priest, and the godparents. The Sacrament is not just a prayer, the performance of the Sacrament is impossible in absentia.
Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting?
There are no days in the Orthodox Church when a child cannot be baptized. Baptism of a child can be performed on any day, agreed with the priest and godparents. Usually the question of whether it is possible to baptize a child in fasting arises due to the fact that the sacrament of wedding in the Church is not performed in fasting. Lent is a time for repentance and abstaining from quick food and marital intimacy, so there are restrictions on weddings, but not baptisms. Is it possible to baptize a child in fasting? Of course, yes, and on any day of fasting, and on holidays, and on the eve of fasting days and holidays.
Is it possible to baptize a child on Saturday?
In all churches, urban and rural, Sunday worship is performed. Therefore, most often baptism is performed on Saturday: after baptism, you can participate in worship and take communion of the child the next day on Sunday.
Is it possible to baptize a child for Baptism?
In the Ancient Church, due to the spread of a large number of heresies, baptism was preceded by a long period of instruction in the faith, which lasted up to 3 years. And catechumens (learners) were baptized at the Baptism of the Lord (then this holiday was called the Enlightenment) and on Holy Saturday before Easter. The celebration of Baptism these days was a great feast in the Church. If you decide to baptize a child on Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord), then not only will you not violate the canons of the Church, but you will also follow the ancient Christian tradition.
Is it possible to baptize a child with menstruation?
The days of a woman's cleansing in the Church are called uncleanness, and many restrictions are associated with these days for women in the Old Testament. Today it is not fitting for a woman in uncleanness to touch shrines (icons, the cross), to receive the sacraments. Therefore, when choosing a day for the baptism of a child, it is advisable to take this circumstance into account. Nevertheless, baptism is performed on a child, and not on his godmother or mother, a woman in uncleanliness, if necessary, can attend the sacrament, but should not touch the shrines.
Can a child be baptized under a different name?
There is a belief that the baby should be baptized under a different name, and no one should know his name in baptism, otherwise the child's energy will be spoiled. All these are rumors that have nothing to do with Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. A child can be baptized by another name, but this is most often done if the child's real name is not in the list of names of Orthodox saints