Is it possible to become a godmother twice. Is it allowed to be the godfather of several children at the same time? What are godparents for?

How to baptize a child, what rules to follow.

In the life of every child important people are his parents. After all, parents are the people who give us life, love, care and attention. This fact is undeniable and known to all of us since childhood. However, do not forget about spiritual parents or, as we used to call them, godparents.

The question regarding the choice of godparents and the baptism procedure itself has always been and remains relevant, since both the godfather and the godmother are given to the child alone and for life. Moreover, it is the spiritual parents who are faced with the most important task - to educate the baby in accordance with the generally accepted norms of morality and, of course, faith. Well, today we will talk in detail about all the nuances of the baptism procedure and the choice of godparents, so that you no longer have to worry about this.

What are godparents for?

How many people know why a baby needs God-parents? How many people think about this issue? Unfortunately no.

Most couples, when choosing godparents for their children, think completely about what it would be worth.
It is customary for us to take people we know well as godfathers. Most often these are friends or relatives. Not the last factor when choosing godparents is their financial condition, while you need to pay attention to completely different things.
I must say that to talk about the question: “What are godparents for?” stands after the answer to the question: “Why baptize a child at all?”. Agree, it is quite logical. This is where we'll start.
According to Orthodox beliefs, every person comes into this world with original sin. We are talking about the violation of the same prohibition by Adam and Eve. So this one original sin- a kind of congenital disease, without getting rid of which, the baby will not be able to grow up healthy and happy.
To remove this sin is possible only by accepting faith. Many parents try to christen the baby as soon as possible, but in principle they do not understand why this should be done. Here is the answer for you, children are baptized as soon as possible so that they are with God, and he gave them all sorts of blessings.

Now let's move on to the question of why we need godparents:

As a rule, each person is baptized almost immediately after birth. Due to their age, the baby, and in principle the teenager, cannot objectively assess the importance of this step, as well as cannot follow this faith, because they simply do not know it.
That's why we all need godparents. Godparents perceive babies directly from the font and become full-fledged spiritual parents (godparents, godparents).
Second parents should teach the child to live "by the rules." In this case we are talking not so much about the rules of life in society, but about the foundations of the Orthodox faith. Godparents should guide the baby on the right path, take care of him and love him as his own. own child, and if the godson ever stumbles, lend him a helping hand. Also, the recipients should always pray for their godson and ask the Lord to be favorable to him.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that when choosing godparents for your child, you need to look not at the availability of money and opportunities for them, but at what lifestyle these people lead and whether they are actually believers.

How to choose a godfather and godmother for a child: rules, who can be a godfather, mother and from what age?

When choosing a godfather for a baby, few people think about what it should be like. We are more inclined to evaluate the future recipient according to other criteria: a friend, a relative, responsible or not, lives in this city and will be able to see the child often or not, etc. However, the church puts forward its own rules and they must be followed.

IMPORTANT: Of course, the godfather must be baptized. This condition is mandatory and is not subject to any discussion. After all, how can unbaptized person who does not believe in God and, accordingly, does not understand the commandments by which everyone who came to this earth must live, to teach this to a small child? The answer is obvious.

Moreover, the recipient must be churched. However, in our time, few people even know the meaning of this word. If to speak in simple words, then a person who is not only baptized, but also really believes, lives like a Christian and tries to follow all the foundations of his faith, is considered to be churched.

Regarding age. clear boundaries not here, but the church is inclined to believe that the recipient must be of age. Why is that? The point here is not in 18 years, but in the fact that adults are considered to be old enough and responsible for such a serious step. By the way, this is not about civil adulthood, but about church. Despite this, one can become a godfather earlier, but this issue must be discussed with the priest, who will give permission for this.

The godmother should be chosen in the same way as the godfather:

The spiritual mother must necessarily be a believing Orthodox Christian, respectively, it must be baptized.
It is also necessary to consider how a woman lives. Does she believe in God, does she go to church, can she raise a baby as a believer Orthodox Christian.
In addition to church restrictions, future parents should pay attention to other things. When choosing a godmother for your baby, you must understand that in fact this woman will be the second mother for your child and, accordingly, you must completely trust her.
You should not take unfamiliar or dubious people as godparents for a baby. Godparents should be responsible and trusted people.

Who can not be taken as godparents to your child?

If you are already very concerned about this issue, then we recommend that you consult with a priest, he, like no one else, knows the answers to all your questions. However, speaking in general, the church forbids taking such people as godparents:

Monk or nun. Despite this, the father can become the child's godfather.
Native parents. It would seem, well, who, if not the parents themselves, can give the child the best education and help? But no, parents are strictly forbidden to baptize their babies.
A woman and a man who are married. The Church not only disapproves, but strictly forbids ignoring this rule. Because people who baptize a baby become relatives on a spiritual level and, accordingly, they will not be able to lead a worldly life after that. It is also forbidden to marry already established godfathers - this is considered a huge sin.
It is clear that it is impossible to take as recipients people who suffer from mental disorders and are seriously ill.
And one more rule, which we talked about briefly earlier. The age of the godparents. In addition to coming of age, there are two more age thresholds: a girl must reach 14 years old, and a guy - 15. In principle, you shouldn’t talk much about this condition, because it’s clear that a child cannot raise a child, and therefore take people of such an age as godmothers. category is not possible.

How many times can you be a godfather, godmother? Is it possible to refuse to be a godmother, a godmother?

The Church does not give a clear answer to the question of how many times a child can be baptized, and this is quite logical:

Adoption is a very big responsibility, and the more children you baptize, the greater this responsibility becomes. That is why a person must answer such a question for himself. Ask yourself the question: “Will I be able to give this godson as much attention as he needs?”, “Do I have enough spiritual and physical strength raise another child?”, “Will I have to be “torn” between all the godchildren?”. When you honestly give yourself answers to such questions, then you will understand whether you can christen another baby or whether you will have to refuse.
By the way, many people ask the question: “Is it possible to refuse to be a godmother, a godmother?”. The answer is that it is possible, moreover, even necessary, if you do not want to do this or cannot for some reason of your own.

The person who was offered to baptize the baby must clearly understand that after the Sacrament of baptism he will become a close person for the child, his second parent, and this implies a huge responsibility. It’s not just to come to a birthday party, to congratulate the New Year or St. Nicholas, no, it means to constantly participate in the life of the baby, develop him, help him in all his endeavors. Are you ready for such a responsibility? Refuse right away, because this is not considered a sin and something shameful, but to become a godfather and not fulfill your direct duties is a church sin, for which God will definitely ask.

Is it possible to baptize a child without godparents, godmother, godfather, with one godfather?

AT old times the child was baptized by only one godparent. Boys - a man, girls - a woman. This is due to the fact that once upon a time everyone was baptized as adults and, accordingly, in order not to be embarrassed, they took a person of the same sex with them as godparents.

Now, when baptism takes place at that stage, while the baby is still completely unintelligent, two recipients of different sexes can baptize him at once.
At the request of the parents, only a man or only a woman can baptize a newborn. For boys it's a man, for girls it's a woman. The Church does not forbid such a practice, moreover, initially everything was done that way.
There are situations when parents want to conduct the Sacrament of Baptism without any recipients at all, and this is quite possible. In this case, they baptize without godparents at all. However, initially this nuance needs to be discussed with the priest, so that later you do not have any surprises.

Is it possible to be a godmother, godmother to two or more children in the same family?

The Church gives a very succinct answer to this question. It is possible and necessary, if it is offered to you, and you want it. There are no prohibitions on being a godmother / godmother at once for two children in a family, and this phenomenon is quite common. The main thing, when making such a decision, is to objectively assess your capabilities, and if you are ready for such a responsibility, go ahead.

Can a pregnant, unmarried woman be godmother to someone else's child?

How many disputes this question causes, and superstitions, by the way, too:

For some reason, it is customary for us to believe that a pregnant woman does not have the right to baptize a baby. However, this claim is completely unfounded. The Church does not forbid expectant mother to become a newborn's host, moreover, it is generally accepted that it is even useful for a pregnant woman. Therefore, you should not believe in prejudice, if you are faced with such a situation and do not know how to do the right thing, just contact the church, they will explain everything to you in detail.
The same applies to unmarried women. The fact that a woman is not married does not mean that she cannot be a good mate for a baby.

Can a grandfather, grandmother of a grandson, granddaughter be a godfather and godmother? Can a native, cousin, native, cousin be a godfather, godmother of a sister, brother?

Most often, we choose our friends and acquaintances as godparents, however, some people express a desire for their relatives to baptize their children.

The Orthodox faith does not forbid grandparents to become godparents for their grandchildren. Moreover, purely from the point of view of education, this is very good. Grandparents have lived their lives, have rich life experience, and grandchildren are sacred to them, so someone who, and they will definitely be able to raise a newborn in accordance with all the rules and foundations of Christianity.
The prohibitions on baptism did not affect the brothers / sisters of a newborn baby. The Church permits and approves the baptism of children by their siblings and cousins.

Everyone knows that younger children always want to be like their older brothers and sisters and imitate them in every possible way. In this case, the subject of imitation will have to help his godson in every possible way and show only a positive example.
The only thing to think about is the age of possible godparents. After all, the recipients must be responsible and relatively experienced people.

Can a husband and wife be godparents with the same child? Can godparents get married?

Regarding this issue, the church is very strict. It is strictly forbidden for a married couple to baptize a child. Moreover, future godfathers are also forbidden to marry in the future. In simple words, between people who baptize the same baby there should be only a spiritual connection (godparents), but not an “earthly” one (marriage). It cannot be otherwise in this case.

Conversation before baptism for godparents: what does the priest ask before baptism?

Few people know, but before the Sacrament of Baptism itself, future recipients should go to special conversations. In practice, we can see that sometimes such conversations are not held at all, or they are held, but not the number of times that is necessary.

As a rule, during such conversations, the priest explains to the future godparents the foundations of the Orthodox faith, talks about what duties they will have in relation to the godson.
Those who do not know the basics of Christianity are advised to read the Holy Scriptures. This will help future spiritual parents to better understand the faith and, accordingly, understand what is required of them in raising a child.
The priest also tells that the recipients must endure a 3-day fast, and after that confess their sins and take communion.
Directly at the Sacrament of Baptism itself, the priest asks future godparents about whether they believe in God, whether they renounce the unclean and whether they are ready to be godparents.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: requirements, rules, responsibilities and what you need to know for a godmother?

If you were offered to become the godmother of a child, it is a great honor and responsibility. Therefore, you must know the following rules and requirements for you:

Of course, the main requirement for a woman who will baptize a child is to be baptized and sincerely believe in God.
Further, a few days before the celebration itself, you need to confess and take communion. It is also worth refraining from any carnal pleasures. And besides all this, you should know the prayer "Creed". Read this prayer at baptism you will only if you baptize a girl.

Your duties to the baby as a godmother:

The godmother takes responsibility for the upbringing of the child
Must teach him to live in accordance with Christian rules and principles
Must pray for him before God and help the baby in everything
Also, the godmother should take the child to church, do not forget about the day of his birth and baptism
And, of course, should be a good example for him.

What else does a godmother need to know besides this? You can add, perhaps, only responsibilities regarding organizational issues:

It is generally accepted that it is the spiritual mother who should bring the child a kryzhma (a special baptismal towel) and a baptismal set, which, as a rule, consists of a shirt, hat and socks, or panties, sweater, hat and socks.
It is important to know that the kryzhma must be new, it is in this towel that the priest will put the newly baptized child. This attribute is a kind of protection for the child and can later be used as a talisman.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: requirements, rules, responsibilities and what you need to know for a godfather?

It is also important for future godfathers to know certain rules and duties associated with the rite of baptism of the baby:

Just like with mom, the godfather must be an Orthodox Christian and be baptized.
The main duty of the spiritual father is to be a worthy example, this is most important if the child who is being baptized is a boy. He must see before him a worthy example of male behavior. Also, the godfather should take the godson to church and teach him to live in peace with all the people around him.
It is accepted that the future recipient should buy the baby a cross and a chain or a thread on which the cross can be worn. Also, it will not be superfluous to purchase a baptismal icon. It is the godfather who must pay all the expenses for baptism, if any.
It is better to solve all these worries and troubles in advance, so that later you do not have to do everything at the last moment.

Baptism of a boy and a girl: what should a godmother do at christening?

It is immediately necessary to clarify that the future godmother must be present at the christening of the girl, but the godfather may be present in absentia.

Directly at the christening itself, it is the godmother who will perceive the goddaughter after immersion in the font. To keep the baby initially, most likely, will be the godfather.
After the child is given to the godmother, she must dress the girl in a new outfit.
Further, the recipient holds the baby while the priest reads prayers, and then when he performs chrismation.
Sometimes priests ask to read a prayer, but most often they do it themselves.

Everything will be the same with the boy, however, after dipping him into the font, he will be handed over to the godfather. Also, when a boy is baptized, he must be brought down the altar (after 40 days from birth).

Christening of a boy and a girl: what should the godfather do at the christening?

The duties of a godfather are not much different from those of a godmother:

A spiritual dad can also hold a baby.
After the priest receives answers to all the traditionally asked questions, the recipient may be asked to say a special prayer. But again, most likely it will be done by the priest himself.
The godfather helps to undress the child before immersing in water, and then to dress. If the child who is being baptized is a girl, then after this ceremony she will be handed over to the godmother, if it is a boy, then the godfather will hold it.

Is it possible to change godparents, godfather, godmother to a child, boy, girl ?

All people come into this world only once, exactly the same number of times it is allowed to be baptized.

The Church forbids changing godparents, moreover, in fact there is no such possibility, because there is no such rite.
That is why attention has been repeatedly drawn to the fact that baptizing a child is a huge responsibility, which after that you cannot simply take and refuse.
Godparents do not change under any circumstances. Even if over time you stopped communicating with godfathers, even if they left and cannot often see the baby, they still remain his godparents and are responsible for him.

How many godparents should a child have, can there be two godmothers and two godfathers?

We have already discussed this issue a little earlier:

Nowadays, two people are most often taken as godparents: the godfather and the godmother. However, you can do it differently.
You can only take godfather or godmother as godmother. At the same time, it is worth remembering that for a newborn baby, the presence of a successor is more important, but for a boy, it is still a successor.
If for some reason you don’t want to take godparents at all, well, or you just don’t have anyone to take, then you can baptize a child without godparents at all.

Moreover, you can ask the priest to become your baby's godfather, but you must take into account the fact that it is unlikely that a person distant from your family will be able to pay due attention to the child.
Can there be 2 godmothers or 2 godfathers - a rhetorical question. This must be clarified directly in the church in which you want to baptize the child and with the priest who will conduct the ceremony. Such cases are known, but different churches, no matter how strange it may sound, may give you a different answer.

Can a Muslim be a godfather to an Orthodox Christian?

The answer to this question is very obvious. Of course not. After all, how can a Muslim teach a child the Orthodox faith? No way. The only thing a Muslim can do is to stand in the church during the sacrament of baptism, if it is performed on his relative.

As you can see, the issue of baptism and the choice of godparents is very relevant and is being actively discussed. There are many rules and prejudices that in our time, for some reason, are on the same level as church customs, which is why if you don’t know what to do in this or that situation, contact the church, they will explain in detail all the points you are interested in.

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Ancient Apostolic tradition gave rise to the custom of baptism. A person who accepts the faith of the Lord must have godparents. The Orthodox Church requires that the recipients be believers so that they can give an account of their actions and teach the faith of their godchildren, making a vow before the Almighty at the ceremony.

At the sacrament, you need to know the Symbols of Faith, be able to competently answer the questions of the priest, unite in spiritual kinship with the Lord, having renounced Satan in your thoughts. In our country, there are few people who would not know that there is a rite of Baptism, even fewer of those who did not take part in it at least once in their lives.

Secular people do not always fully understand the essence of what it means to be baptized and to be godparents, so they set the mass, find out the details of the future action. One of important issues, which is of interest to future sponsors, is: "How many times can you be a godmother?".

The rite of baptism according to church canons

According to the clergy, the Russian Orthodox Church does not limit a person in his desire to baptize, therefore there are no clear limits in this matter. It is believed that godmother becomes closer in spiritual kinship than the one that gave life. She should become a real example for the goddaughter or godson, she should protect her godchild and help him not to stray from the true path. Indeed, during the ceremony, the godmother pronounces the words of renunciation of Satan for herself and for her named son or daughter, therefore, according to the Orthodox Church, she bears full responsibility for the child. Another thing is when a woman is asked to be a godmother several times. The question arises by itself: “Can the godmother bear so much responsibility?”

Before you take on the role of a godmother, it is better to talk with the ministers in the temple so that they explain in more detail the essence of your duties, the main covenants of God, etc. For many people who "live in the world", the concept of baptism is limited to buying a cross in the church and a towel in which the child is wrapped after the font. And from a church point of view, the godmother must herself observe God's laws and teach them to your successor.

Relatives of the godson can also be godparents. It is unacceptable for both godparents to be spouses or have intimate relationship together.

To be a godmother twice - to remove the cross from the first godson?

The church also refutes the popular belief that, having visited the godmother for the second time, the cross is removed from the first godson. These rumors Orthodox priests they do not support, comparing the rite of baptism with the birth of a second child: a woman, having become a mother for the second time, does not abandon her firstborn and bears responsibility for him all her life.

The decision to baptize is yours...

Before you ask yourself whether it is possible to be a godmother several times, think about the fact that you, like no one else, will be responsible to God for your godchildren, you will have more responsibilities (and this, of course, is not about Easter cakes and eggs). Ask yourself: “Am I able to live according to the Sacred Laws of the Orthodox Faith?”, “Can I teach my godchildren righteousness and piety, and introduce them to the basics of the Orthodox Church?”, “Will I be able to pray for them until the end of my life and be held accountable for their deeds at God's Judgment?" These questions are not taken out of thin air, they are asked in the church at the interview when you have expressed a desire to become a godmother.

How many times to be a godmother, of course, you decide. The main thing is that the desire should come from the heart, and also not be spontaneous and thoughtless. No wonder they say that godparents are more connected with their spiritual children than with the parents who gave them physical life...

They say that if you baptize a second child, then the cross is removed from the first - these are all rumors, let's talk all the same about how many times you can be a godmother.

You can become a godmother several times, more precisely, as much as your heart desires. The main thing at the same time is to remember your duties to the godson, which you take on during the sacrament of baptism. Being a spiritual mother and having two or three godchildren (goddaughters), it is necessary to take an active part in their spiritual development, pray for them and not stop communicating with them.

The church refutes the rumors that the first child, becoming a godchild for the second time, is no longer considered a godson, as follows. First, the sacrament of baptism has already been performed and is valid. Such a concept as the rebaptism of a child, in Orthodox Church does not exist, it is the same as being physically born a second time. Secondly, if a woman gave birth to a second child, then it turns out that the first one must be taken away from her, otherwise how to understand the words "the cross is removed from the first child."
Interested in the answer to the question “How many times can you be a godmother?”, Answer yourself at the same time, do you know your duties well. If not, please read them carefully. Otherwise, why baptize a second or third time?

Responsibilities of Godparents

By accepting a child from the hands of a priest, godparents, for life, take responsibility for his Orthodox education. Precisely for this, at one time, on the Last Judgment, they will have to bear the answer.

When the godson reaches a conscious age, the godmother, like the father, is obliged to teach him the basics Orthodox faith. The child must be familiar with Holy Scripture, know the commandments and basic prayers, attend church services.

In turn, his godparents should pray, until the end of their life on earth, for their godson. In addition, teach him faith and piety, introduce him to church sacraments.
I hope all of the above answers the question of how many times you can be a godmother. The main thing then is not to forget why you decided to become a godmother for the umpteenth time. Remember the faith of your godchildren, this is your faith. Being present at the sacrament of baptism, the recipients must offer God their love, their heart and their faith for the godson. And if the child grew up, and he does not have such qualities, it means that his godparents did not have them initially either. This is explained by the fact that the relationship between godparents and their spiritual children is more eternal and stronger than with parents in the flesh.

The custom of having godparents belongs to ancient Apostolic Tradition. Future godparents should be Orthodox believers, those who can give an account of their beliefs. At the time of the child's baptism, the recipients must know the Creed, as it will be necessary to read it at the sacrament. In addition, they must be prepared to give clear answers to the priest's questions, including renouncing Satan and spiritually uniting with Christ.

Godparents: Who Can Become a Godparent? What do godmothers and godfathers need to know? How many godchildren can you have? Answers in the article!

Briefly:

The godfather, or godfather, must be Orthodox Christian. A godfather cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, or a very good atheist, because main duty godfather - to help the child grow up in the Orthodox faith.
The godfather must be church man, ready to regularly take the godson to the temple and monitor his Christian upbringing.
After the baptism is done, godfather cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed a lot for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him.
pregnant and unmarried women MAY to be godparents for both boys and girls - do not listen to superstitious fears!
Godparents cannot be the father and mother of the child, as well as a husband and wife cannot be godparents for one child. other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.

Many of us were baptized as infants and no longer remember what happened. And then one day we are invited to become a godmother or godfather, or maybe even happier - our own child is born. Then we think again about what the Sacrament of Baptism is, whether we can become godparents for someone and how we can choose godparents for our child.

Replies Prot. Maxim Kozlov to questions about the duties of godparents from the site “Tatiana's Day“.

- I was invited to become a godfather. What will I have to do?

– Being a godfather is both an honor and a responsibility.

The godmother and father, participating in the Sacrament, take responsibility for the little member of the Church, so they must be Orthodox people. Godfather, of course, should become a person who also has some experience church life and help parents raise the baby in faith, piety and purity.

During the performance of the Sacrament over the baby, the godfather (of the same gender as the child) will hold him in his arms, pronounce on his behalf the Creed and vows of renunciation of Satan and union with Christ. Read more about the procedure for performing Baptism.

The main thing in which the godfather can and should help and in which he undertakes is not only to be present at Baptism, but also then to help those received from the font grow, strengthen in church life, and in no case limit your Christianity to the fact of Baptism alone. According to the teachings of the Church, for how we have taken care of the fulfillment of these duties, we will be asked the same on the day of the last judgment, as well as for the upbringing of our own children. Therefore, of course, the responsibility is very, very big.

- And what to give to the godson?

- Of course, you can give your godson a cross and a chain, no matter what they are made of; the main thing is that the cross should be of the traditional form adopted in the Orthodox Church.

In the old days, there was a traditional church gift for christening - this is a silver spoon, which was called a "gift for a tooth", it was the first spoon that was used when feeding a child, when he started eating from a spoon.

How do I choose godparents for my child?

– Firstly, the godparents must be baptized, churched Orthodox Christians.

The main thing is that the criterion for your choice of a godfather or godmother should be whether this person can subsequently help you in a good, Christian upbringing received from the font, and not only in practical circumstances. And, of course, the degree of our acquaintance and simply the friendliness of our relationship should be an important criterion. Think about whether the godparents you choose will be the child's church educators or not.

Is it possible for a person to have only one godparent?

- Yes it is possible. It is only important that the godparent be of the same gender as the godson.

- If one of the godparents cannot be present at the Sacrament of Baptism, is it possible to perform the ceremony without him, but write him down as a godparent?

- Until 1917, there was a practice of absentee godfathers, but it was applied only to members of the imperial family, when they, as a sign of royal or grand ducal mercy, agreed to be considered godparents of one or another baby. If it's a similar situation, do it, and if not, it's probably best to go with common practice.

- Who can't be a godfather?

- Of course, non-Christians - atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and so on, cannot be godparents, no matter how close friends of the child's parents and no matter how pleasant people they are in communication.

An exceptional situation - if there are no close people close to Orthodoxy, and you are sure of the good morals of a non-Orthodox Christian - then the practice of our Church allows one of the godparents to be a representative of another Christian confession: Catholic or Protestant.

According to the wise tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, a husband and wife cannot be godparents of the same child. Therefore, it is worth considering if you and the person with whom you want to start a family are invited to become sponsors.

- And which of the relatives can be a godfather?

– An aunt or an uncle, a grandmother or a grandfather can become the godparents of their little relatives. It should only be remembered that a husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child. However, it is worth thinking about this: our close relatives will still take care of the child, help us raise him. Are we cheating in this case little man love and care, because he could have one or two adult Orthodox friends to whom he could turn throughout his life. This is especially important at a time when the child is looking for authority outside the family. The godfather at this time, in no way opposing himself to his parents, could become the person whom the teenager trusts, from whom he asks for advice even about what he does not dare to tell his relatives.

Is it possible to refuse godparents? Or cross a child with a purpose normal upbringing in faith?

- In any case, a child cannot be re-baptized, because the Sacrament of Baptism is performed once, and no sins of either godparents, or his relatives, or even the person himself can cancel all those grace-filled gifts that are given to a person in the Sacrament of Baptism.

As for communication with godparents, then, of course, betrayal of faith, that is, falling into one or another heterodox confession - Catholicism, Protestantism, especially falling into one or another non-Christian religion, godlessness, a blatantly impious way of life - in fact, they say that that a man has failed in his duty as a godfather. The spiritual union, concluded in this sense in the Sacrament of Baptism, can be considered terminated by the godmother or godmother, and you can ask another churched pious person to take a blessing from his confessor to bear the care of the godfather or godmother for this or that child.

- I was invited to be the godmother of a girl, but everyone tells me that the boy must be baptized first. Is it so?

– The superstitious idea that a girl should have a boy as her first godson and that a baby girl taken from the font will become an obstacle to her subsequent marriage has no Christian roots and is an absolute fabrication that an Orthodox Christian should not be guided by in any way.

- They say that one of the godparents must be married and have children. Is it so?

– On the one hand, the opinion that one of the godparents must be married and have children is a superstition, just like the idea that a girl who takes a girl from the font will either not marry herself, or it will impose on her fate some imprint.

On the other hand, in this opinion one can also see a certain kind of sobriety, if one does not approach it with a superstitious interpretation. Of course, it would be reasonable if godmothers to the baby people (or at least one of the godparents) will be selected who have sufficient life experience, who themselves already have the skill of raising children in faith and piety, who have something to share with the physical parents of the baby. And it would be highly desirable to look for such a godfather.

Can a pregnant woman be a godmother?

– Church statutes do not prevent a pregnant woman from being a godmother. The only thing I urge you to think about is whether you have the strength and determination to share the love for own child with love for the adopted baby, will you have time for caring for him, for advice to the parents of the baby, in order to sometimes pray warmly for him, bring him to the temple, somehow be a good older friend. If you are more or less confident in yourself and circumstances allow, then nothing prevents you from becoming a godmother, and in all other cases, it may be better to measure seven times before cutting off once.

About godparents

Natalia Sukhinina

“Recently, I got into a conversation with a woman on the train, or rather, we even argued with her. She argued that godparents, like biological father and mother, are obliged to educate their godson. But I do not agree: a mother is a mother, to whom she will allow to interfere in the upbringing of a child. I also once had a godson in my youth, but our paths diverged a long time ago, I don’t know where he lives now. And she, this woman, says that now I will have to answer for him. Responsible for someone else's child? Something is unbelievable…”

(From a letter from a reader)

It so happened, and my life paths turned in a completely different direction from my godparents. Where they are now, how they live, and whether they are alive at all, I don’t know. Even their names could not be retained by memory, they baptized me long ago, in infancy. I asked my parents, but they don’t remember themselves, they shrug their shoulders, they say that people lived in the neighborhood at that time, and they were invited to be godparents.

And where are they now, what to call them, to magnify, do you remember?

To be honest, for me this circumstance has never been a flaw, I grew up and grew up, without godparents. No, she was cunning, it was once, envied. A school friend got married and received as a wedding gift as thin as a cobweb, gold chain. The godmother gave it, she boasted to us, who could not even dream of such chains. That's when I envied it. If I had a godmother, maybe I would ...
Now, of course, having lived and thought, I am very sorry about my random “father and mother”, who don’t even keep in mind that I remember them now in these lines. I remember without reproach, with regret. And, of course, in a dispute between my reader and a fellow traveler in the train, I am completely on the side of the fellow traveler. She's right. To hold us responsible for the godchildren and goddaughters scattered from their parental nests, because they are not random people in our lives, but our children, spiritual children, godparents.

Who doesn't know this picture?

Dressed up people stand aside in the temple. The center of attention is a baby in lush lace, he is passed from hand to hand, they go outside with him, they distract him so that he does not cry. Waiting for christening. They look at the clock, nervous.

Godmother and father can be recognized immediately. They are somehow especially concentrated and important. They rush to get a wallet to pay for the upcoming christening, give some orders, rustle bags of christening clothes and fresh diapers. The little man does not understand anything, goggles his eyes at the wall frescoes, at the lights of the chandelier, at the “persons accompanying him”, among which the face of the godfather is one of many. But the father invites - it's time. They fussed, got excited, the godparents are trying their best to maintain importance - it doesn’t work, because for them, like for their godson, today’s exit is God's temple- a significant event.
- When last time Have you been to church? - the priest will ask. They shrug their shoulders in embarrassment. He may not ask, of course. But even if he doesn’t ask, it’s still easy to determine from awkwardness and tension that godparents are not church people, and only the event in which they were invited to participate brought them under the vaults of the church. Father will ask questions:

- Do you carry a cross?

Do you read prayers?

- Do you read the Gospel?

Do you honor church holidays?

And the godparents will begin to mutter something indistinct, to lower their eyes guiltily. The priest will certainly conscience, remind of the duty of godfathers and mothers, in general, of Christian duty. Hastily and willingly they will nod their godparents, humbly accept the denunciation of sin, and whether from excitement, or from embarrassment, or from the seriousness of the moment, few will remember and let into their hearts the main father’s thought: we are all responsible for our godchildren, and now, and forever. And whoever remembers is likely to misunderstand. And from time to time, mindful of his duty, he will begin to invest in the well-being of the godson a feasible contribution.

The first deposit immediately after baptism: an envelope with a crisp solid banknote - for a tooth. Then for birthdays, as the child grows - a chic set of children's dowry, an expensive toy, a fashionable satchel, a bicycle, a branded suit, and so on up to the gold, to the envy of the poor, chains for the wedding.

We know very little. And it’s not a problem, but something that we don’t really want to know. After all, if they wanted to, then before going to the church as a godfather, they would have looked there the day before and asked the priest what this step “threatens” us with, how it is more worthy to prepare for it.
Godfather - in Slavic godfather. Why? After immersion in the font, the priest passes the baby from his hands into the hands of the godfather. And he accepts, takes it into his own hands. The meaning of this action is very deep. By perception, the godfather takes upon himself the honorable, and most importantly, responsible mission to lead the godson along the path of ascent to the Heavenly heritage. That's where! After all, baptism is the spiritual birth of a person. Remember, in the Gospel of John: "Whoever is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God."

In serious words - "guardians of faith and piety" - the Church calls the recipients. But to keep, you need to know. So only the believer Orthodox person maybe the godfather, and not the one who, together with the baby being baptized, first got into the temple. Godparents should know at least the basic prayers “Our Father”, “Virgin Mary”, “May God rise again ...”, they must know the “Symbol of Faith”, read the Gospel, the Psalter. And, of course, to wear a cross, to be able to be baptized.
One priest said: they came to baptize the child, but the godfather did not have a cross. Father to him: put on a cross, but he can’t, unbaptized. It's just a joke, but it's the real truth.

Faith and repentance are the two main conditions for union with God. But one cannot demand faith and repentance from a baby in lace, so the godparents are called, having faith and repentance, to pass them on, to teach them to their godparents. That is why, instead of babies, they pronounce the words of the "Creed" and the words of renunciation of Satan.

Do you deny Satan and all his works? the priest asks.

“I deny it,” the recipient answers instead of the baby.

The priest is wearing a bright festive robe as a sign of the beginning of a new life, which means spiritual purity. He walks around the font, censes it, all those standing next to the lit candles. Candles are burning in the hands of the recipients. Very soon, the priest will lower the baby three times into the font and, wet, wrinkled, not at all understanding where he is and why, a servant of God, will be handed over to the godparents. And he will be dressed in white clothes. At this time, a very beautiful troparion is sung: “Give me a light robe, put on light, like a robe ...” Accept your child, godparents. From now on, your life will be filled with a special meaning, you have taken on the feat of spiritual parenthood, and for how you carry it, you now have to answer to God.

On the first Ecumenical Council the rule was adopted that women become the gossips for girls, men for boys. Simply put, a girl only needs a godmother, a boy only needs a godfather. But life, as it often happens, has made its own adjustments here. According to the ancient Russian tradition, both are invited. It, of course, will not spoil the porridge with butter. But even here it is necessary to know quite certain rules. For example, a husband and wife cannot be godparents to one child, just as the parents of a child cannot be godparents at the same time. Godparents cannot marry their godchildren.

... Behind the baptism of the baby. Ahead of him big life in which we have a place equal to the father and mother who gave birth to him. Ahead is our work, our constant striving to prepare the godson for the ascent to spiritual heights. Where to begin? Yes, from the smallest. At first, especially if the child is the first, parents are knocked down from the worries that have fallen on them. They are, as they say, nothing. Now is the time to lend them a helping hand.

Carry the baby to Communion, make sure that icons hang over his cradle, give notes for him in the temple, order prayers, constantly, like your own blood children, commemorate in prayers at home. Of course, you don’t have to do it instructively, they say, you are mired in fuss, but I’m all spiritual - I think about the high, I aspire to the high, I feed your child, so that you do without me ... In general, the spiritual upbringing of the baby is possible only in if the godfather in the house is his own person, desirable, tactful. It is not necessary, of course, to shift all the worries onto yourself. The duties of spiritual education are not removed from parents, but to help, support, replace somewhere, if necessary, this is mandatory, without this one cannot be justified before the Lord.

This is a really difficult cross. And, perhaps, you need to think carefully before you lay it on yourself. Can I? Will I have enough health, patience, spiritual experience to become a recipient of a person entering into life? And parents should take a good look at relatives and friends - candidates for an honorary post. Who among them can become a truly good helper in education, who will be able to give your child true Christian gifts - prayer, the ability to forgive, the ability to love God. And plush bunnies the size of elephants may be nice, but not at all necessary.

If there is trouble in the house, then there are other criteria. How many unfortunate, restless children suffer from drunken fathers, unlucky mothers. And how many simply unfriendly, embittered people live under one roof and make children suffer cruelly. As old as the world, such stories are banal. But if a person who stood with a lit candle in front of the baptismal font fits into this plot, if he, this person, rushes, as if into an embrasure, towards his godson, he can turn mountains. Doing good is also good. It is not in our power to drive away a fool-man from half a liter, to reason with a lost daughter or to sing “make peace, make peace, make peace” to two frowning halves. But it is in our power to take away to our dacha for a day at the dacha a boy weary of affection, enroll him in Sunday school and take the trouble to take him there, and to pray. Prayer feat is at the forefront of godparents of all times and peoples.

The priests are well aware of the severity of the feat of the recipients and do not bless to recruit a lot of children for their children, good and different.

But I know a man who has more than fifty godchildren. These boys and girls are just from there, from childhood loneliness, childish sadness. From a big child's misfortune.

This man's name is Alexander Gennadyevich Petrynin, he lives in Khabarovsk, directs the Children's Rehabilitation Center, or, more simply, in an orphanage. As a director, he does a lot, digging through funds for equipping classes, selecting personnel from conscientious, unselfish people, rescuing his wards from the police, collecting them in the basements.

Like a godfather, he takes them to church, tells them about God, prepares them for Communion, and prays. Pray a lot, a lot. In Optina Hermitage, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, in the Diveevsky Monastery, in dozens of churches throughout Russia, long notes written by him about the health of numerous godchildren are read. He is very tired, this man, sometimes he almost collapses from fatigue. But he has no other choice, he is a godfather, and his godchildren are a special people. His heart is a rare heart, and the priest, realizing this, blesses him for such asceticism. A teacher from God, those who know him in business say about him. Godfather from God - is it possible to say so? No, probably all godparents are from God, but he knows how to suffer like a godfather, knows how to love like a godfather, and knows how to save. Like a godfather.

For us, whose godchildren, like the children of Lieutenant Schmidt, are scattered over cities and towns, his ministry to children is an example of a real Christian ministry. I think that many of us cannot reach his heights, but if we do life with someone, then just with those who understand their title of “grandparent” as a serious, and not an accidental matter in life.
You can, of course, say: I am a weak, busy person, not so hot what a church person is, and the best thing I can do in order not to sin is to refuse the offer to be a godfather altogether. It's more honest and easier, right? Easier - yes. But more honest...
Few of us, especially when the time has imperceptibly come to stop, look around, can say to ourselves - I good father, good mother, I owe nothing to my own child. We are indebted to everyone, and the godless time in which our requests, our projects, our passions grew, is the result of our debts to each other. We won't give them away. Children have grown up and do without our truths and our discoveries of America. The parents got old. But conscience - the voice of God - itches and itches.

Conscience requires a splash, and not in words, but in deeds. Can it not be such a thing to carry the duties of the cross?
It is a pity that there are few examples of the feat of the cross among us. The word "godfather" has almost disappeared from our vocabulary. And a great and unexpected gift for me was the recent wedding of my daughter child friend. Or rather, not even a wedding, which in itself great joy, and a feast, the wedding itself. And that's why. Sat down, poured wine, waiting for a toast. Everyone is somehow embarrassed, the parents of the bride skip ahead with the speeches of the groom's parents, they are vice versa. And then he stood tall and handsome man. He got up in a very businesslike way. He raised his glass:

“I mean, as the godfather of the bride…”

Everyone quieted down. Everyone listened to the words about young people living long, together, having many children, and most importantly, with the Lord.
“Thank you, godfather,” said the charming Yulia, and from under the luxurious foaming veil she gave her godfather a grateful look.

Thank you godfather, I thought. Thank you for carrying the love for your spiritual daughter from the baptismal candle to the wedding. Thank you for reminding us all of something we had completely forgotten about. But we have time to remember. How many - the Lord knows. Therefore, we must hurry.

The baptism of a child is one of the most important and bright events in the life of both the baby and his parents. It is unacceptable to treat this ceremony lightly, since christening is an unusual holiday. On this day, the child acquires not only the named parents, but also a guardian angel who will be with him all his life.

It is not surprising that many seek to baptize their child immediately after birth. But it is impossible to hurry in such a matter, it is necessary to carefully prepare for every moment of the christening, thinking over and realizing all the little things. Many people are interested in the question - is it possible to be godfather to several children. There are discussions about this, but it is better to look for an answer from the ministers of the church themselves.

Young parents most often call their close friends for the role of godparents. But sometimes it happens that potential godparents of mom or dad already have several godchildren. How to be in this situation?

On the one hand, traditions say that it is impossible to refuse to be baptized, since you can invite trouble on yourself. On the other hand, would it be right to agree to take responsibility for one more person?

After all, baptism is not just church rite, after which you can go to a banquet, forgetting about your main duties. To make the right decision, you need to carefully prepare and study the instructions of the spiritual fathers, who give valuable advice.

There is a superstition that one cannot become a godfather twice, since during the second ceremony the cross is removed from the first godson. This is nothing more than human opinion, which should not be relied upon when making a decision.

The clergy assure: nothing can cancel a properly conducted sacrament. Whether or not to agree to become a godfather for the second or third time is a personal matter for everyone. But in this case, you need to remember the responsibility before God, which the recipients take on. To have a godson means to have one more child, who always needs help in everything.

Spiritual parents should participate in the life of the baby not only materially, but also spiritually. Therefore, when choosing godparents, biological parents should be guided by the spiritual education of their friends and acquaintances.

When asked if it is possible to be godfather to several children, the church unequivocally answers yes. Therefore, if you have a desire to have another godson and participate in his spiritual upbringing, feel free to agree. But remember: you agreed to this role - you will have to make efforts to educate the child, and not just invite him to visit and give him gifts once a year.

Who should not be called godparents?

The choice of godparents is a responsible task. Often young mom and dad are not familiar with
church laws and invite people to baptize their child who, according to the laws of the church, should not do this.

That is why before the christening it is necessary to communicate with the priest and consult on a number of issues.

Who cannot baptize a child?

- Gentiles. People who profess a different faith simply cannot be responsible for raising a baby according to Orthodox laws.
- Young couples or spouses. People who are in a church or civil marriage.
- The parents themselves. Biological mom and dad cannot baptize a son or daughter, since they are already assigned a special meaning in his life.
- Atheists. The very idea that an unbelieving person can become a godfather is ridiculous and absurd. After all, the primary task of the godfather is spiritual education Chad, his introduction to christianity and familiarization with God's laws.
- Strangers, strangers. Rarely, but still, there are situations when the parents of the baby, due to some circumstances, cannot find potential godparents among their acquaintances. In this case, they are asked to hold the baby in their arms during the christening completely strangers. Such a phenomenon is highly undesirable and is not approved by the church, although it does not fall under a direct ban.

Questions before christening

Questions such as how many times you can be a godmother and how many godchildren a godparent can have are absolutely normal for a person who is preparing to take on such responsibility.

It is important to know! What is it for and what is it: the rules of the sacrament

Everyone sane person, who was offered such a role, thinks about what he will have to do after the christening, what is his participation in the life of the godson in the future and how to behave in church? Excitement before a responsible event is a common phenomenon. No need to worry about what you do something wrong, because next to you will always be spiritual mentor, which will tell you how to behave and in what sequence to perform the required actions.

Frequent questions asked by young parents before christening to a church minister:

Is it possible to be godfather an underage person?
Is it possible to be the godfather of several children?
Can a pregnant girl be baptized?
What is the best age to baptize a baby?
How many godparents should there be and how many times can one person become a godparent?

It is believed that a person who has not reached the age of majority cannot baptize a baby, since he does not realize all his responsibility in this process. It is definitely possible to baptize several children. But you should agree to this only if a person is sure that he will have enough time and energy to make a significant contribution to the upbringing of each godson.

Most often, young parents spend christening on the eighth day after birth. It is believed that the sooner a guardian angel is assigned to a new person, the better. But such an opportunity is not always available, because the church is not against christening at a later age. In some cases, the rite of baptism is carried out when a teenager is already entering a conscious age.

From the moment of christening, the baby has an invisible protector who will always protect him from all troubles. Often the name of an angel is directly related to the name of a person, since in the church they name a new servant of God in honor of a saint who patronizes a birthday or christening day.

According to church canons, each person can even have one godmother (godmother or father). It is not necessary to invite a couple to the christening. But if the parents have a desire to intermarry with a large number of people, then you can arrange the sacrament of baptism with the involvement of even two or three couples.

Important! Having several godparents is not forbidden by the church, but before the sacrament, everyone who decides to become a godfather should listen to a brief parting word from the priest regarding further participation in the life of the godson.

Useful video: Rules for baptizing a child

Conclusion

Each person can become a godfather an unlimited number of times. The main thing in this matter is to remember that at God's Judgment everyone will have to be responsible for the upbringing of their godchildren in the same way as for the upbringing of their own children.