Is it possible to take godparents of another faith? Why do future godparents need an interview in a church?
As you know, when accepting Christianity, a person goes through a wonderful ritual -. According to tradition, godmother and father, or one of them, are required for baptism.
What should godparents be like?
The very first sacred act in a person’s life is baptism. Godparents are the most important people after parents who should assist in the spiritual upbringing of the child, become support and support. In fact, they are family members. Their responsibilities are not limited to giving gifts and maintaining communication with his family. Their main function is spiritual development godson, joining the faith and church.
When choosing godparents, you need to remember that the baptism ceremony is carried out once and the child cannot be baptized, therefore, it will not be possible to change godparents. The Church makes an exception only if the godfather has changed his faith or leads a blatantly immoral, unpious lifestyle.
A child may have both godparents or only one, but in this case he must be of the same gender as the godson.
Become godparent for several children is allowed, but the godfather must evaluate his strength, whether he can cope with his main responsibility, whether he has enough time and attention to raise all his children accordingly.
Who is prohibited from becoming a godfather according to the canons of the Orthodox Church?
Can't become godparents people who took monastic vows. There are also age restrictions for godparents. To the boy at the time of taking on responsibilities godfather must be 15 years old, the girl who decides to become a godmother must be 13 years old. Parents, relatives or adoptive parents cannot become godparents for a child. There is a ban on intimate relationships between godparents, so spouses or people planning to get married should not become godparents of the same child.
Since godparents must initiate the godson into the church, they must be baptized. Unbelievers and unbaptized people cannot become godparents.
Non-Orthodox and non-Orthodox people are also prohibited from becoming godparents. An exception can only be if there are no Orthodox Christians in the environment, and a person of a different faith wants to become a godfather, and there is no doubt about his ability to raise a child as a highly moral and spiritually developed person.
It is unacceptable to take mentally ill people and morally fallen people as godparents.
In various sources of esoteric and near-religious orientation one can find a number of other prohibitions. However, it is worth remembering that baptism is a rite that obeys the laws of the Orthodox faith, and church ministers and true believers know it best. However, when baptizing a child, only the parents can decide what information to rely on.
The correct choice of godparents is very important. Let us consider what requirements the Orthodox Church puts forward for this.
Who can be chosen as godparents?
The birth of a child is a physical birth. The sacrament of baptism is considered to be a spiritual birth. The right to accept a child at this moment is entrusted to the adoptive parents - the second (godparents). They take responsibility for the faith of their godson, whom they received from the font. First of all, only Orthodox Christians, deeply religious people, can become godparents. They have to teach the little one the basics of faith and introduce him to the church.
The question of choosing spiritual parents is relevant at all times. Because mom and dad are given the same godparents for life. When choosing church parents, one of the important criteria is what participation they will take in the Christian upbringing of the child. Spiritual mentors must guide the child on the righteous path. They will have to answer for their godson before God.
Therefore, when choosing recipients, you need to rely not only on your own thoughts. It is necessary to adhere to religious commandments. They preach that they can baptize a baby:
- unmarried girls who have no children;
- pregnant women;
- relatives: grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle can also become godparents. Children over 14 years of age are allowed to baptize a sister or brother. It is believed that by this age it matures spiritual world person, he can set an example for his godson;
- godparents of the firstborn;
- the priest who performs the baptismal ceremony;
- godmother. People for whom you became the successor of their child. Baptism of each other's children is allowed;
- family friends.
Recipients must be baptized people and have the same faith as the child. According to tradition, a boy must have a godfather, and a girl must have a godmother. According to church canons, a child can be baptized by one spiritual parent. The main thing is that they are of the same sex as the baby.
Sometimes there is a mismatch of genders. This situation is considered individually. The father makes the decision. It is important that spiritual parents are real members Orthodox Church, were ready to spiritually educate their godson and knew the basics of Orthodoxy.
Mom and dad should understand that they are choosing a spiritual mentor for their child for life. You cannot change or take new godparents. Receivers must have the following qualities:
- strong sense of responsibility;
- conscious love for the godson;
- believed in God.
People with such qualities will be worthy godparents. First of all, the Lord accepts their prayers for their godson.
Who cannot become a godfather
There is a belief that unmarried girl You can't baptize a girl first. Goddaughter will deprive potential happiness in family life godmother. Perhaps she will never marry.
An unmarried girl should baptize the boy first. If you believe the signs, this will bring her happiness in her future family.
There is another popular belief. According to him, the goddaughter will borrow the share of a lonely girl. Therefore, it is better for a girl to choose a spiritual mother who is happy and married.
Another sign is that the godson and the godson should not have the same names.
According to church rules, spiritual mentors cannot be:
- married spouses. They are prohibited from being godparents of one child.
- blood parents;
- children who have not yet turned 14 years old;
- atheists and unbaptized people;
- representatives of other religions;
- nuns or monks;
- mentally ill people;
- adoptive parents;
- women during their periods;
- a person who has no desire to be a recipient;
- immoral individuals;
- It is better not to take strangers or strangers as godparents;
- stepfather or stepmother.
If a family has individual questions regarding the reasons for the ban when preparing for the sacrament of baptism, they should contact the priest.
Can a husband and wife be godparents to a child?
Spiritual mentors must not be legally married. This is contrary to the laws of the church. They should not have a physical connection with each other. Be sure to take this into account when choosing them. The ban is also imposed on couples in a civil marriage and on those who are just planning to get married.
After the sacrament, the godfather and godmother become spiritual relatives for each other and for the parents of the baby. Such a relationship is considered to be vicious.
Spouses are prohibited from being godparents for one child. But it is allowed to baptize different children in the same family. For example, a wife can baptize a girl, and a husband can baptize a boy.
It is important to approach the choice of spiritual mentors for your child with all seriousness. You need to have complete confidence in these people. After all, the sacrament of baptism is performed once.
The godfather, or godfather, must be an Orthodox Christian. A godfather cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, or a very good atheist, because the main duty of a godfather is to help the child grow up in the Orthodox faith. The godfather must be a church person, ready to regularly take the godson to church and monitor his Christian upbringing. After baptism has been performed, the godson cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed greatly for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him. Pregnant and unmarried women CAN be godparents of both boys and girls - do not listen to superstitious fears! The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, and a husband and wife cannot be godparents for the same child. other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.
Many of us were baptized in infancy and no longer remember how it happened.
I’m curious, if anyone has experience, in what faith were the children baptized, if, say, the father is local (Catholic) and the child’s mother is Orthodox (Christian)? I asked my father about this question. He said that the father's consent was needed. I’m just curious how the majority of forum members resolved this issue, who won the choice, and whether anyone has children of Catholics or other faiths. She herself would never have agreed to be baptized in the Catholic faith, and, perhaps, in another faith too. This is about the question of my tolerance. For us, the question is not what faith to baptize or whether to baptize. There is no disagreement.
So, my friend is an Orthodox Christian, and my husband is a Catholic. At first she wanted to baptize her children in the Orthodox faith, but now she decided to baptize them in the Catholic faith.
Who can't be a godfather?
In this topic we will tell you who cannot and does not have the right to be your child’s godfather if you baptize him according to the Orthodox faith. Before choosing godparents for your baby, get to know who cannot be a godparent. We recommend that you read, WHICH FROM YOUR RELATIVE CAN BE A GODSON?
WHO CANNOT BE A GODPARENT In no case can people of a faith other than Orthodoxy be godparents; thus, it is prohibited to be a godparent with a Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc. faith.
Also, a person without faith cannot be a godfather, i.e. atheist. After all, by godfather we mean not just a person who stands at the altar during baptism, but a person who will teach his godson Orthodoxy and put him on the path of a true Christian believer. We recommend that you read
What is Baptism as a Sacrament? How does it happen? Why are only boys brought into the altar? They say that before baptizing your child, you should confess and receive communion. Orthodox name name the baby? Why do some churches close the temple during the sacrament of Baptism...? What should come first - faith or Baptism? Can you be baptized to believe? Why do we baptize babies? They still can’t choose their own religion and consciously follow Christ? Does a person have the right to be baptized at any age? At what age is it better to baptize a child? Is it necessary to be baptized again if a person was “baptized by his grandmother at home”? Can parents attend Baptism? When is Baptism performed? What does an adult who wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism need? Is it possible to baptize during Lent? In what case can a priest refuse Baptism to a person?
Baptism is the most significant event in the life of every Orthodox person. And of course, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing godparents. After all, they are second parents and play important role In human life. There are many superstitions about godparents. And many people wonder: who can be a godfather and who cannot. Let's try to answer the most frequently asked questions on this topic.
Can children be godparents?
According to church rules, children from the age of seven already bear full responsibility for their actions. They are no longer allowed to take communion without confession. Therefore, if a child is sufficiently churched, he can become a godfather. But, choosing in godparents of the child, think carefully. The godmother or father must raise their godson in the Orthodox faith, and the child himself is still just learning the basics of Orthodoxy. Still, it is better to choose an adult, accomplished person as godparents.
As you know, when accepting Christianity, a person goes through a wonderful rite - baptism. According to tradition, godmother and father, or one of them, are required for baptism.
What should godparents be like?
The very first sacred act in a person’s life is the sacrament of baptism. Godparents are the most important people after parents who should assist in the spiritual upbringing of the child, become support and support. In fact, they are family members. Their responsibilities are not limited to giving gifts to the godson on the day of the angel and maintaining communication with his family. Their main function is the spiritual development of the godson, initiation into the faith and church.
When choosing godparents, you need to remember that the baptism ceremony is carried out once and the child cannot be baptized, therefore, it will not be possible to change godparents. The Church makes an exception only if the godfather has changed his faith or leads a blatantly immoral, unpious lifestyle.
Spiritual kinship Can relatives be recipients? Godparents for a boy and a girl What is customary to give to a godson Who cannot become a godparent? Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Must one of the recipients be married?
The birth of a baby into the world is a physical birth, but baptism is considered a spiritual birth, and the honorable right to receive a person in his spiritual birth is given to the recipients - new parents who become guarantors for the faith of their godson, received from the font. Hence the conclusion: only Orthodox, sincerely and deeply religious adults who are capable of introducing the one received from the font to the Church and teaching him the fundamentals of faith can become godparents.
So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for spiritual life in which a person can achieve the Kingdom of Heaven.
Archpriest Maxim Kozlov The godfather, or godfather, must be an Orthodox Christian. A godfather cannot be a Catholic, a Muslim, or a very good atheist, because the main duty of a godfather is to help the child grow up in the Orthodox faith.
The godfather must be a church person, ready to regularly take the godson to church and monitor his Christian upbringing.
After baptism has been performed, the godson cannot be changed, but if the godfather has changed greatly for the worse, the godson and his family should pray for him.
Pregnant and unmarried women CAN be godparents of both boys and girls - do not listen to superstitious fears!
The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, and a husband and wife cannot be godparents for the same child. other relatives - grandmothers, aunts and even older brothers and sisters can be godparents.
Who are the “godparents” that a person receives when the sacrament of Baptism is performed on him? Who should you invite to be a godparent, and what should you do if you are invited to be a godparent?
Why does a child need godparents and who can become godparents?
A child, especially a newborn baby, cannot say anything about his faith, cannot answer the priest’s question whether he renounces Satan and unites with Christ, cannot understand the meaning of the Sacrament that is taking place. However, it is impossible to leave him outside the Church before he becomes an adult, since only in the Church there is the grace necessary for his correct growth, for the preservation of his physical and spiritual health. Therefore, the Church performs the Sacrament of Baptism over the baby and itself assumes the obligation to raise him in the Orthodox faith. The church is made up of people. She fulfills her obligation to properly raise a baptized child through those whom she calls godparents or godparents.
The Sacrament of Baptism, questions and answers
Today I would like to tell the reader about the sacrament of Baptism and about godparents. For ease of understanding, I will present the article to the reader in the form of questions most often asked by people about baptism and the answers to them. So first question:
What is baptism? Why is it called a sacrament?
Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, while immersing the body three times in water and invoking the name Holy Trinity– Father and Son and Holy Spirit, dies to a life of sin, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit to Eternal Life. Of course, this action has a basis in Holy Scripture: “Whoever 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; and whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Priest Dionysius Svechnikov answers popular questions about the sacrament of baptism and godparents (source: Orthodoxy and World magazine)
1. 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 prevailing circumstances.
2. Is it possible to baptize children during fasting days?
Of course you can! But technically it doesn’t always work out. In some churches, during the days of Lent, baptisms are performed 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.
What is Baptism as a Sacrament? How does it happen?
Baptism is a Sacrament in which a believer, by immersing his body three times in water with the invocation of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies to a carnal, sinful life and is reborn from the Holy Spirit into a spiritual life. In Baptism a person is cleansed of original sin– the sin of his ancestors, communicated to him through birth. The sacrament of Baptism can be performed on a person only once (just as a person is born only once).
The baptism of an infant is performed according to the faith of the recipients, who have the sacred duty to teach the children true faith, help them become worthy members of the Church of Christ.
The baptismal kit for your baby should be the one that is recommended to you in the church where you will be baptizing him. They can easily tell you what you need. Mainly it is a baptismal cross and a baptismal shirt. The baptism of one baby lasts about forty minutes.
This sacrament consists of Announcements(reading special prayers over those preparing for baptism - “prohibitions”), renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, that is, union with Him, and confession of the Orthodox faith. Here the godparents must pronounce the appropriate words for the baby.
Immediately after the end of the Announcement, the follow-up begins Baptism. The most noticeable and important point- immersing the baby three times in the font with the words pronounced: “The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, amen. And the Son, amen. And the Holy Spirit, amen." At this time, the godfather (of the same sex as the person being baptized), taking a towel in his hands, prepares to receive his godfather from the font. The one who has received Baptism then dresses in new white clothes and puts a cross on him.
Immediately after this, another Sacrament is performed - Confirmation, in which the person being baptized, when the parts of the body are anointed with the consecrated Myrrh, in the name of the Holy Spirit, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening him in spiritual life. After this, the priest and godparents with the newly baptized person walk around the font three times as a sign of the spiritual joy of union with Christ for eternal life V Heavenly Kingdom. Then an excerpt from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is read, dedicated to the topic of baptism, and an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew - about the sending of the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ to the worldwide preaching of the faith with the command to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, the priest washes the myrrh from the body of the baptized person with a special sponge dipped in holy water, saying the words: “Thou art justified. You have become enlightened. You are sanctified. You have washed yourself in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. You were baptized. You have become enlightened. You have been anointed with chrism. You have been sanctified in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.”
Next, the priest cuts the hair of the newly baptized in a cross shape (on four sides) with the words: “The servant of God (name) is tonsured in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” puts the hair on a wax cake and lowers it into the font. tonsure symbolizes submission to God and at the same time marks the small sacrifice that the newly baptized person brings to God in thanksgiving for the beginning of a new, spiritual life. After making petitions for godparents and the newly baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism ends.
This is usually immediately followed by churching, denoting the first offering to the temple. The baby, taken by the priest in his arms, is carried through the temple, brought to the Royal Doors and brought into the altar (boys only), after which he is given to his parents. Churching symbolizes the dedication of the baby to God according to the Old Testament model. After baptism, the baby should be given communion.
Why are only boys brought into the altar?
In principle, boys should not be included there either, this is just a tradition.
Sixth Ecumenical Council defined: Let no one belonging to the ranks of the laity be allowed to enter the sacred altar... (rule 69). The famous canonist Bishop. gives the following comment to this resolution: “In view of the mystery of the bloodless sacrifice offered at the altar, it was forbidden, from the earliest times of the church, to enter the altar to anyone who did not belong to the clergy. “The altar is reserved for sacred persons only.”
They say that before baptizing your child, you should confess and receive communion.
Even without regard to the Baptism of a child, Orthodox Christians are called by the Church to regularly begin the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have not done this before, then it would be good to take the first step towards a full church life before the Baptism of your own baby.
This is not a formal requirement, but a natural internal norm - because, introducing a child to church life through the sacrament of Baptism, introducing him into the fence of the Church - why should we ourselves remain outside it? For an adult who has not repented for many years, or has never in his life, and has not begun to accept the Holy Mysteries of Christ, is at this moment a very conditional Christian. Only by motivating himself to life in the sacraments of the Church does he actualize his Christianity.
What is the Orthodox name for a baby?
The right to choose a child's name belongs to his parents. Lists of names of saints - calendars - can help you in choosing a name. In the calendar, names are arranged in calendar order.
There is no unambiguous church tradition for choosing names - often parents choose a name for the baby from the list of those saints who are glorified on the very day of the child’s birth, or on the eighth day, when the rite of naming is performed, or during the period of forty days (when the Sacrament of Baptism is usually performed). It is wise to choose a name from a list of names church calendar of those that are close enough after the child’s birthday. But, however, this is not some kind of obligatory church institution, and if there is some deep desire to name a child in honor of this or that saint, or some kind of vow on the part of the parents, or something else, then this is not an obstacle at all .
When choosing a name, you can familiarize yourself not only with what this or that name means, but also with the life of the saint in whose honor you want to name your baby: what kind of saint he is, where and when he lived, what was his way of life, on what days is his memory celebrated?
Cm. .
Why do some churches close the church during the sacrament of Baptism (without doing this during other sacraments) or ask people who call themselves Orthodox not to enter it?
Because during the Baptism of an adult, it is not very pleasant for the person being baptized or the one being baptized if strangers look at him, who is sufficiently exposed physically, and observe the greatest sacrament, with the curious gaze of those who have no prayerful relationship with it. It seems that a prudent Orthodox person will not simply go as a spectator to someone else’s Baptism if he was not invited there. And if he lacks tact, then the church ministers act prudently by removing the curious from the church while the sacrament of Baptism is being performed.
What should come first - faith or Baptism? Can you be baptized to believe?
Baptism is a Sacrament, that is, a special action of God, in which, with the response of the desire of the person himself (certainly the person himself), he dies to a sinful and passionate life and is born into a new one - life in Christ Jesus.
On the other hand, deep faith is what a baptized and churched person should strive for throughout his life. All people are sinners, and one must strive to acquire faith in such a way that it is combined with deeds. Faith, among other things, is an effort of will. In the Gospel, one person who met the Savior exclaimed: “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief." () This man already believed in the Lord, but he wanted to believe even more, stronger, more decisively.
It will be easier to strengthen your faith if you live the church life and not look at it from the outside.
Why do we baptize babies? They still can’t choose their own religion and consciously follow Christ?
A person is saved not on his own, not as an individual who unilaterally decides how to be and act in this life, but as a member of the Church, a community in which everyone is responsible for each other. Therefore, an adult can vouch for the baby and say: I will try to make sure that he grows up kind. Orthodox Christian. And while he cannot answer for himself, his godfather and godmother pledge their faith for him.
Does a person have the right to be baptized at any age?
Baptism is possible for a person of any age on any day of the year.
At what age is it better to baptize a child?
A person can be baptized at any time from his first breath to his very last breath. In ancient times, there was a custom to baptize a child on the eighth day of birth, but this was not a mandatory rule.
It is most convenient to baptize a child during the first months of birth. At this time, the baby still does not distinguish his mother from the “strange aunt” who will hold him in her arms during Baptism, and the “bearded uncle” who will always come up to him and “do something with him” is not scary for him.
Older children already perceive reality quite consciously, they see that they are surrounded by people unfamiliar to them, and that their mother is either not there at all or for some reason she does not come to them, and may experience anxiety about this.
Is it necessary to be baptized again if a person was “baptized by his grandmother at home”?
Baptism is the only Sacrament of the Church that, in case of emergency, can be performed by a layman. During the years of persecution, cases of such baptism were not uncommon - there were few churches and priests.
In addition, in earlier times, midwives sometimes baptized newborn babies if their lives were in danger: for example, if the child received a birth injury. This baptism is usually called "immersion." If a child died after such baptism, he was buried as a Christian; if he survived, he was brought to the temple and the priest supplemented the baptism performed by the layman with the necessary prayers and sacred rites.
Thus, in any case, a person baptized by a layman must “complete” his baptism in the temple. However, in earlier times, midwives were specially trained in how to perform baptism correctly; in the Soviet years, it is often completely unknown who baptized and how, whether this person was trained, whether he knew what and how to do. Therefore, for the sake of confidence in the actual performance of the Sacrament, priests most often baptize such “immersed” as if there was a doubt about whether they were baptized or not.
Can parents attend Baptism?
They may well not just be present, but pray together with the priest and godparents for their baby. There are no obstacles to this.
When is Baptism performed?
Baptism can take place at any time. However, in churches the procedure for performing Baptism is established differently depending on the internal routine, opportunities and circumstances. Therefore, you should worry in advance about finding out about the procedure for performing Baptism in the church in which you want to baptize your child.
What does an adult who wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism need?
For an adult, the basis for Baptism is the presence of a sincere Orthodox faith.
The purpose of Baptism is union with God. Therefore, the one who comes to the baptismal font needs to decide for himself very important questions: does he need it and is he ready for it? Baptism is inappropriate if a person uses it to seek some earthly blessings, success, or hopes to solve his family problems. Therefore, another important condition for Baptism is a strong desire to live as a Christian.
After the Sacrament has been performed, a person must begin a full-fledged church life: regularly go to church, learn about divine services, pray, that is, learn to live in God. If this does not happen, Baptism will have no meaning.
It is necessary to prepare for Baptism: at a minimum, carefully read these public conversations, read at least one of the Gospels, know by heart or close to the text the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.
It would be simply wonderful to prepare for confession: to remember your sins, wrongs and bad inclinations. Many priests do very correctly by confessing the catechumens before Baptism.
Is it possible to baptize during Lent?
Yes, you can. Moreover, in earlier times, fasts served as preparation not only for a specific holiday, but also for joining new members, i.e. to the Baptism of the Catechumens. Thus in ancient Church baptized mainly on the eve of big Church holidays, including during fasting. Traces of this are still preserved in the peculiarities of the services of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, Easter and Pentecost.
In what case can a priest refuse Baptism to a person?
A priest not only can, but must refuse Baptism to a person if he does not believe in God as the Orthodox Church teaches to believe, since faith is an indispensable condition for Baptism.
Among the reasons for refusal of Baptism may be a person’s unpreparedness and a magical attitude towards Baptism. The magical attitude towards Baptism is the desire to use it to protect yourself from the forces of evil, to get rid of “damage” or the “evil eye”, and to receive all kinds of spiritual or material “bonuses”.
People who are drunk or leading an immoral lifestyle will not be baptized until they repent and reform.
What to do if it is known for sure that a person has been baptized, but no one remembers the name with which he was baptized? Baptize a second time?
This situation occurs quite often. There is no need to baptize a person a second time - you can only baptize once. But you can give a person a new name. Any priest has the right to do this simply by confessing a person and giving him communion with a new name.
How many times can you be baptized?
Definitely - once. Baptism is a spiritual birth, and a person can only be born once. The Orthodox Creed says: “I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.” Secondary baptism is unacceptable.
What to do if you don’t know whether you are baptized or not, and there is no one to ask?
You need to be baptized, but at the same time warn the priest that you may be baptized, but you don’t know for sure. The priest will perform Baptism according to a special rite for such cases.
About godparents (successors)
What responsibilities do godfathers and mothers have towards their godchildren?
Godparents have three main responsibilities towards their godchildren:
1. Prayer room. The godfather is obliged to pray for his godson, and also, as he grows up, to teach prayer so that the godson himself can communicate with God and ask Him for help in all his life circumstances.
2. Doctrinal. Teach the godson the basics of the Christian faith.
3. Moral. Using your own example, show your godson human virtues - love, kindness, mercy, and others, so that he grows into a truly good Christian.
How should future godparents prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism?
Godparents are guarantors for their godson. They are entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the spiritual and moral education of their godson. His godparents teach him the basics of the Orthodox faith, prayer and the way of life of a true Christian. Consequently, the godparents themselves must know both the Gospel and church life well, have good prayer practice, and regularly participate in divine services and Church Sacraments.
Have you decided to become a godfather, but do not meet the requirements? Make it a reason to start moving in that direction.
First, listen to public conversations in the temple or on.
Then read either the Gospel of Mark or Luke. Choose for yourself - the first is shorter, the second is clearer. You can also find them in; more precisely, in the New Testament.
Read the text carefully - during Baptism, one of the godparents reads it by heart or from sight. It would also be good if by the time of Baptism you knew it by heart.
After Baptism, deepen and expand your knowledge of Biblical history, pray at home and participate in church services- this way you will gradually acquire the practical skills of a Christian.
Is it possible to become a godfather in absentia without participating in the Baptism of an infant?
The original name for godparents is godparents. They received this name because they “received” the person being baptized from the font; at the same time, the Church, as it were, delegates to them part of its concern for the new Christian and his teaching Christian life and morality, therefore, not only is the presence of godparents required during Baptism and their active participation, but also their conscious desire to take on such responsibility.
Can representatives of other religions become godparents?
Definitely not.
In Baptism, the recipients testify to Orthodox faith, and according to their faith the baby receives the Sacrament. This alone makes it impossible for representatives of other religions to become recipients of Baptism.
In addition, godparents take on the responsibility of raising their godson in Orthodoxy. Representatives of other religions cannot fulfill these duties because for us Christianity is not a theory, but life itself in Christ. This life can only be taught by those who live this way themselves.
The question arises: can representatives of other Christian denominations, for example Catholics or Lutherans, then become godparents? The answer is negative - they cannot for the same reasons. Only Orthodox Christians can become recipients of Baptism.
What things should you bring with you to Baptism and which godparent should do it?
For Baptism you will need a baptismal set. As a rule, this is a pectoral cross with a chain or ribbon, several candles, and a baptismal shirt. The cross can also be purchased in regular stores, but then you should ask a priest to consecrate it.
You will need a towel or diaper to wrap and dry your baby after the bath.
According to an unwritten tradition, a godfather buys a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl. Although this rule does not have to be followed.
How many godfathers and mothers should a person have?
One. As a rule, they are the same gender as the child, that is, for a boy - godfather, and for a girl - godmother.
The opportunity to have both a godfather and a godfather for a child godmother is a pious custom.
It is not customary to have more than two receivers.
How to choose godparents for a child?
The main criterion for choosing a godfather or godmother should be whether this person will subsequently be able to help in the Christian education of the person received from the font. The degree of acquaintance and simply the friendliness of the relationship are also important, but this is not the main thing.
In former times, concern for expanding the circle of people who would seriously help the newborn child made it undesirable to invite close relatives as godparents. It was believed that they, due to natural kinship, would help the child. For this reason, natural grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts rarely became recipients. However, this is not prohibited, and is now becoming more and more common.
Can a pregnant woman become a godmother?
Maybe. Pregnancy is not an obstacle to adoption. In addition, if a pregnant woman herself wants to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, then she can do so.
Who can't be a godfather?
Minors; Gentiles; mentally ill; completely ignorant of the faith; persons in a state of intoxication; A married couple cannot be godparents for the same child.
What should godparents give to their godson?
This question lies in the realm of human customs and does not concern spiritual life, regulated Church rules and canons. In other words, this is a personal matter for the godparents. You don't have to give anything at all.
However, it seems that the gift, if it does take place, should be useful and remind of Baptism. It could be the Bible or New Testament, a pectoral cross or an icon of the saint after whom the child is named. There are many options.
If godparents do not fulfill their duties, is it possible to take other godparents and what needs to be done for this?
In the literal sense of the word - it is impossible. Only the one who received the child from the font will be the godfather. However, in a sense, this can be done.
Let's draw a parallel with an ordinary birth: let's say a father and mother, having given birth to their baby, abandon him, do not fulfill their parental responsibilities and do not care for him. In this case, someone can adopt the child and raise him as his own. This person will become, although adopted, a parent in the true sense of the word.
The same is true in spiritual birth. If the real godparents do not fulfill their duties, and there is a person who can and wants to take on their function, then he should receive a blessing for this from the priest and after that begin to take full care of the child. And you can also call him “godfather”.
In this case, the child cannot be baptized a second time.
Can a young man become godfather to his bride?
Definitely not. A spiritual relationship arises between the godparent and godson, which excludes the possibility of marriage.
How many times can a person become a godfather?
As many as he deems possible.
Being a godparent is a lot of responsibility. Some may dare to take on such responsibility once or twice, some five or six, and some perhaps ten. Everyone determines this measure for themselves.
Can a person refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?
Maybe. If he feels that he is not ready to bear responsibility for the child, then it will be more honest to the parents and to the child and to himself to say so directly than to formally become a godfather and not fulfill his duties.
Is it possible to become a godfather to two or three children from the same family?
Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.
Mikhail Artemenko, cleric of the St. Vladimir Church in the village of Razumnoye, told Belgorodskaya Pravda about this.
Understand your own faith
- Father Michael, what is baptism?
Baptism is the spiritual birth of a person, if such a parallel can be drawn. This is one of the seven sacraments of the church, in which a person is dedicated to God, the very first and most important sacrament, after which a person receives the right to call himself a Christian. Because he is baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- How is this sacrament performed?
The main and integral thing in the sacrament is faith. Without faith, we do not have the opportunity or right to baptize a person. If this is an adult who is baptized himself, he has his own faith in Christ, in the fact that He was crucified and resurrected, and believes as the Holy Orthodox Church believes. If this is a small child, then he must have believing godparents. Because they are the ones who will promise for the child to be faithful to God. Baptism itself involves a dialogue, when the priest asks questions and the godfather answers them.
- At what age can a child be baptized?
From anyone. Starting from the first day until the last hours and minutes of life, you can baptize a person. The most important thing, I repeat, is faith. Baptism is not a guarantee of a calm and easy life: let’s baptize a child, they say, and everything will be fine. If you treat baptism as just a tradition, then it is better to first understand your own faith.
– It turns out that his parents should look after the baby?
Both the parents themselves and the godparents. If the parents are believers, then they will baptize the child, this goes without saying. And the child will see his parents and imitate them. But if the parents themselves do not have faith and if no one will pray for such a child and tell him about faith, then what is the point of his baptism? I can tell you from my own experience. When I come to students or high school students, 80–90 % say that they are baptized, but only a few know about the basics of faith.
If we choose a certain way of life, we agree to conform to it. The simplest question to ask those parents who baptize a child is: why? If I can say: “I baptize him so that he will be a Christian and I want to teach him this, and tell him who the Lord Jesus Christ is,” then this is a completely different conversation.
Spiritual kinship
- Who can be godfather? Is it necessary to take only adults as godparents?
Baptism imposes a certain responsibility, and the godparent must experience this responsibility and understand what he is responsible for. And to come to this responsibility, you need a certain age. Only a person who has walked this path himself can convey to a child the experience of prayer, participation in the sacraments, and spiritual life. The godparent does not have to be 18 years old. It happens that even at 15 years old a person does not understand anything, but there are also very responsible people at 13 years old.
-Is it true that one godfather is enough for the sacrament?
If we take the rite of baptism, then one recipient is mentioned there. But the Russian tradition has developed that there are two godparents, and this is, in principle, justified.
-Can I ask to become a godfather?
You can ask anyone. But baptism implies a certain participation in the upbringing and life of the godson: in addition to the relationship between priest and parishioner, people also form other, closer, more trusting ones. Accordingly, if parents see a priest for the first time and he sees them for the first time, then he will most likely refuse to be godfather for their child. Because you need to know the one you are baptizing.
-Can grandparents become godparents?
Godparents can be grandparents, brothers, sisters. The only thing that is written in the canons of the Orthodox Church is that godfathers and mothers do not have the opportunity to become husband and wife, because spiritual kinship is higher than physical. Also, a husband and wife cannot become godparents for one child. All exceptional cases occur at the discretion of the ruling bishop.
- ToleranceTimo, so that one of the godparents belongs to a different faith?
We said that baptism is the teaching of faith. A person of a different faith cannot teach the Orthodox faith, so this is not permissible.
Pray as for your own children
- What are the responsibilities of the receiver?
The most important duty of godparents is to be Orthodox believers. The second responsibility is to teach the child faith. But we understand perfectly well that children do not always see their godparents often, so it is necessary to coordinate with their parents the issues of raising a child in the faith. And the most important thing is to pray for your successor as for your own children.
- Sometimes it seems that for most godparents their duties are limited to giving birthday gifts...
This means that initially people position such relationships. After all, who is looking for godparents for their child? Parents. Ideally, the godfather should teach and be there when the child learns the basics of faith.
How should a godparent prepare for baptism? Is it true that he must undergo an interview at the temple and provide a certificate about this?
Yes, godparents must undergo an interview. It exists to explain to godparents why baptism is needed, what kind of life they will have after it and what responsibilities they have.
- What order is currently established for future godparents?
In every church in the city, for those who will baptize a child, a time has been appointed for the interview, a separate day, and a priest who will conduct the conversation. If you are going to baptize a child in another city, then come to the nearby temple and tell about it. They will talk to you about baptism and give you a document stating that you passed the interview. You will go with her to the ceremony. I can say that paper is not required everywhere. Usually they count on a trusting relationship with a person.
-Who can be present at baptism?
Anyone: grandmothers, grandfathers, friends, acquaintances - that is, close and dear people.
Main and secondary
- How can an adult prepare for his own baptism? Does he need godparents?
Not needed if he is an adult. But this is also a different interview format to understand what a person believes in, why he wants to be baptized, and why he was not baptized earlier. Before being baptized, it is necessary to read the Gospel to understand whether I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or not, and to look into my own soul.
- What should you take with you to baptism?
This is a purely technical question pectoral cross, christening shirt and towel.
How do you feel about the fact that a sacrament is turned into big celebration with photo and video shooting? Is this acceptable?