The christening of a girl is a rule for the mother. What parents need to know about the christening of a boy and a girl: signs, rules of baptism in the Orthodox Church and recommendations. How godparents are chosen and their responsibilities

One of the most important events in a child’s life is the christening of a girl. The priest will tell you about the rules for parents and godparents before performing the ceremony. The baptism of a child is a great sacrament, after which the baby receives the protection and protection of God. He has a guardian angel who saves him from misfortunes and troubles.

Many people do not know at what age to baptize their daughter. Priests advise doing this in the first year of life, but there are no restrictions. Both infants and teenagers can be baptized. The only difference in the ceremony is that small children are dipped into the font, while older ones have water poured from it on their heads.

After 40 days from the moment of birth, the mother is already allowed to be present at the ritual. The Church advises not to delay the sacrament, since until it is performed the baby does not have a protector or patron. There are also practical explanations for this: babies easily tolerate immersion in water, react calmly and are not afraid when a stranger picks them up. It is difficult for an older child to withstand the entire duration of the ceremony.

There is a Slavic custom to carry out baptism for 8 or 40 days. On the first date, it was customary to name a newborn, and by the second, the mother could already visit the temple, since the natural purification after the birth of the baby had ended. If a child is born weak and sick, it is advisable to baptize him immediately.

Until the age of seven, the parents make the decision. Children under 14 years of age must consent to the ceremony. Older teenagers are baptized only if they have their own desire. If a child is in the hospital, there is a threat to his life, or there is no way to bring him from home to church, then you should contact the priest and ask to perform the ritual outside the church. As a rule, doctors and clergy do not refuse people in such a situation.

Preparation for the sacrament

Natural parents are not godparents for their child; they themselves choose where to baptize him. They need to agree with the priest about the time, it depends on the church schedule. It is advisable to choose godparents from among the believers: they bear responsibility before the Lord for the spiritual development of the child.

Choosing godparents

Godparents must be chosen for a girl. They meet the following criteria:

profess Orthodoxy;
are not in an official or civil marriage;
are adults.

Pregnant women become godparents, but there are several nuances:

a woman must feel good in order to be able to withstand the entire ceremony;
she wants to take responsibility for this particular girl.

Parents need to know who cannot be godparents. These include:

unrepentant sinners;
young children;
unbaptized and unbelievers;
nuns, monks;
women who have recently given birth, if 40 days have not passed since the birth of the child;
persons leading an immoral lifestyle, violating the commandments;
alcoholics;
Gentiles.

For Orthodox Christians who regularly attend church, no additional preparation is required. For others it is obligatory to confess and receive communion. The priest conducts a conversation before baptism, explains how to behave during the ceremony and what is needed for baptism. Close relatives: sister, grandmother, aunt can also be godparents.

What is needed for the ritual

The godmother is responsible for raising the girl in the Orthodox spirit. Before the sacrament, you will need to visit the church and undergo an interview, during which they talk about God and the rules of the great sacrament. It is important that she can handle the baby as she will have to undress him and put on the baptism kit.

The christening kit includes:

For babies, a kryzhma (large towel) or a baptismal dress for a girl. Godmother buys.
The godfather acquires the cross. It can be put on a string or chain. For small children, it is advisable to choose a cross with rounded outlines without sharp corners to avoid scratches.

The cross and chain are chosen based on their capabilities: from plain metal or from gold, silver. There are no strict requirements on what to buy and for whom, so they can be purchased by parents, grandfather or uncle.

Preparation and rules for godparents:

visit the temple for confession and communion;
observe a short fast (3 days), giving up meat food, bad thoughts and words;
learn the text of the baptismal prayer “Creed”, “Our Father”;
acquire the necessary attributes for baptism;
Do not eat before the sacrament.

Church rules

During the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Church rules for a godmother say that her main task is to read during the ritual of prayer. If you are not able to learn it by heart, you can take a prayer book. Traditionally, he buys a white towel (kryzhma) and a baptismal set. As a gift, he acquires an icon of the saint, whose name was given to the goddaughter during the ceremony. According to church rules for a godfather, he carries the child into the church and holds him in his arms until the time comes to hand him over to the clergyman.

Godparents and spouses often do not know on what days the sacrament of baptism is performed. There are no prohibitions on holidays, fasts or ordinary days of the week in church rules. Exceptions are made only for three great holidays: Christmas, Easter, Trinity. At this time, the priest is unlikely to have free time for the sacrament. Many churches have a set schedule; baptisms are held only on certain days, usually Saturdays. In a conversation with the priest, they clarify how the ceremony takes place and what is needed for it.

Parents and invited guests are welcome to attend the church. These include immediate relatives; photography and video filming are permitted, but it is time to secure the consent of the priest. Sometimes a professional is invited to record all the important moments of the ceremony.

How to dress correctly for a christening

When going to a ritual, you need to know what to baptize with. There are church rules that require festive clothing for everyone present. Allowed:

skirt below the knees;
closed jacket with long sleeves;
a scarf covering the head.

You should not wear trousers, shorts, or a short skirt in church. Clothing must cover the neckline, back and arms. Men can be bareheaded in a shirt and trousers; women must wear a headscarf.

The color and pattern of outfits are not regulated, but for baptism it is advisable to choose something light, because this is a big holiday for the family.

How does the sacrament happen?

During the ritual, everyone must wear crosses. Church laws stipulate the sequence of the ceremony. When a girl is baptized, she is brought (led) into the temple premises by her godfather, and after immersing herself in the font, she is received and dressed by her godmother. The baptism process is long and takes place in several stages:

Bringing a child into the temple by a godfather of the opposite sex.
Reading prohibitory prayers to renounce the child from evil. At this time, the baby is wrapped in a diaper.
Prayers against Satan, during which renunciation of him occurs. The priest asks the question about refusal three times, his godparents are responsible for the small child;
Combination to Christ and reading of the Creed by the godparents.
The receivers take the lit candles in their hands, and three more are placed on the font. The priest blesses the water and oil.
The priest dips the child in a font of cold water three times, after which a cross is put on.
During immersion, cleansing from sins and birth for spiritual life occurs.
The godmother takes the baby in her hands and wraps him in a baptismal towel, then dresses him.
The priest performs chrismation by applying oil to the cross on the child’s legs, arms, back, stomach and forehead.
The godparents and the child follow the priest around the font three times, at which time he reads prayers.
A small strand of hair is cut from the girl’s head and remains in the church, symbolizing the spiritual unity of the child with God.
The priest takes the child in his arms and places it next to the icon of the Mother of God. This means that the sacrament has been completed and the child has been churched.

Christening is a long procedure, taking from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. It also depends on whether one child is baptized or several.

A week after baptism, you must come to church for communion; the clergyman will tell you the exact date.

Choosing a church name

During the ceremony, the child receives a new name. As usual, it is chosen from those that are in tune with the worldly or are included in the lists of saints. If there is no match for the name recorded on the birth certificate, you should seek help from a priest. It will tell you which saint is venerated on the girl’s birthday or baptism; her name will become her second name. Will be used in church ceremonies. Thus, children have another holiday - the day of the heavenly intercessor (saint), whose name was given during baptism. The church name is not disclosed to outsiders so as not to weaken the baby’s protection.

Responsibilities of a godmother

A woman who agrees to become a godmother takes responsibility for the life and spiritual development of the girl. Her responsibilities include:

pray for your goddaughter, ask God for help for her in a difficult situation;
attend church together, confess and receive communion;
take part in spiritual education and development;
be a worthy role model;
talk about God, attend church together;
congratulate you on your birthday, give gifts on Angel's Day;
give instructions, help with advice and practical deeds;
adopt a girl if her parents have died.

Cost of baptism

Not everyone understands why pay for the ceremony, because Jesus commanded not to take money for baptism, so that poor people would not be excommunicated from the church due to lack of funds. But before there was a tradition of giving a tenth of income to the church and donating funds. Now there are fewer contributions, so ministers are forced to draw up a price list in order to be able to pay the costs of maintaining the temple. The cost depends on the chosen church.

There is no single price, so you can find out how much to pay only in the temple that is chosen to perform the sacrament. In churches, boxes are installed for collecting donations; the clergyman may say that there is no fee, but you have the right to put any feasible amount into it. The estimated cost of the ritual is from 1500, there is no upper limit. For him you will need a baptismal set, which includes: a white dress, a kryzhma and a scarf (cap).

How to store baptismal items

There are no rules in the Bible for the use of things left after a christening, but clergy recommend that parents keep the kryzhma and baptismal cross. They can be put in a chest of drawers and stored with the child’s clothes so that they are not in front of strangers. If he gets sick or behaves restlessly, they cover him with kryzhma.

What not to do with a baptism towel:

wash;
throwing away;
used to baptize other people.

There is an opinion that a baptismal shirt is a healing amulet that is applied to a sore spot for a speedy recovery. Not all parents know whether a child should wear a cross all the time. This is desirable, but if the need arises, it is temporarily removed. This thing should not be thrown away, because it is the best amulet. Even if they bought a new cross and chain, they keep the old one.

Folk signs and traditions of celebration

After the holy sacrament, a christening celebration takes place in the family circle. It is customary to use it to prepare dishes from cereals and vegetables, poultry, pastries, and pies. Godparents and guests usually ask parents in advance what to give the girl. There are no special rules for choosing an item, but the following are considered a good present:

saint icon;
a silver spoon or a set of them;
children's clothing, toys;
Bible.

It is believed that love relationships between godfathers are a great sin; there are many other folk signs:

you cannot show the newborn to anyone before baptism, because at this time he is weak and defenseless, he is easy to jinx;
during christening, the child appears before God, so he is dressed smartly;
An odd number of guests present at a christening is considered a bad sign;
During the ceremony, the candle must be held firmly in your hands, covering it with your second palm so that it does not fall or go out;
After the christening, they immediately go home, without turning anywhere along the road, otherwise the child’s guardian angel will weaken.

Main traditions :

choose believers and reliable people as godparents;
do not argue with the priest over the choice of name;
do not purchase a gold cross for newborns;
after the christening, the child is brought into the house by the godmother;
baptize the child as early as possible;
don't have drunken parties;
invite the minimum possible number of people.

An Orthodox Christian becomes a godfather any number of times; there are no limiting rules. Christening is the second most important holiday for a person after his birthday. The ritual belongs to one of the seven Orthodox church sacraments. After it, original sin is removed and God’s grace and protection descends on the baptized person. It cleanses and gives eternal life, meaning spiritual birth.

You might also like:

Rituals and ceremonies for the Day of Peter and Fevronia
Rituals for Ivan Kupala: to attract love and get married

Baptism is one of the main sacraments of Orthodoxy. This rite consists of accepting the Christian faith. It is designed to protect a person from the influence of dark forces and direct his life in a bright spiritual direction. There is an opinion regarding the correctness of accepting Christianity already at an adult, meaningful age. However, Orthodox priests claim the opposite. Being baptized in infancy, a person early finds a guardian angel, is cleansed of original sin and is forever accepted into the holy church monastery.

The Orthodox Church recommends that infants be baptized on the 8th or 40th day after their birth. Newborn children with a dangerous illness should be baptized as soon as possible. Before the christening, you need to decide on the choice of an Orthodox name for the baby. A saint bearing the same name becomes his intercessor before higher powers. An Orthodox name should be known to a limited number of people; this will make a person invulnerable to evil and ill-wishers.

Child baptism in church

Many people are interested in what days and how a child is baptized in the church. The rules are almost the same in every Orthodox church. You can choose any day of the week for christening. The exception is major church holidays, when due to heavy workload the priest will not be able to perform the ceremony.

Preparation for the sacrament

Preparation for the sacrament involves the purchase of a baptismal kit, preliminary conversations with a clergyman and the choice of godfather and mother. The baptismal set includes a shirt (diaper), a pectoral cross and an icon depicting the patron saint. For female infants, a hat or scarf is added. The baptismal shirt (kryzhma) is considered a miraculous amulet and must be kept throughout the life of its owner.
With its help, traditional healers remove curses and help in the treatment of serious diseases.

Kryzhma for baptism

You can buy kryzhma or sew it yourself. This can be done by both the mother and the future godmother. Preference is given to the white color of the fabric as a symbol of purity and purity.

Traditionally, the godfather buys the pectoral cross. It should be made of inexpensive metal. It is allowed to have a cross made of silver, as this metal is capable of purifying and driving away evil spirits. But gold is not considered pure, so gold crosses are undesirable. You can purchase such a cross in the future, not forgetting to consecrate it. After the sacrament is performed, the pectoral cross is supposed to be worn constantly as a symbol of faith.

Godparents often wonder what is better to buy for the cross: a chain or a cord? In church shops they sell ropes - gaitanchiki, specially designed for wearing it. They are safe and easy to use and are especially suitable for young children.

Relatives and godparents should first visit the priest and ask him all the necessary questions about the upcoming ceremony. He will tell you in detail what is needed to properly participate in it. To take photos or videos, you must obtain his approval and blessing. On the day of christening, you must have the baby's birth certificate with you. Based on this, a baptismal certificate will be issued.

Choosing godparents

The choice of godparents should not be made for mercantile reasons. Priests advise inviting believers for this, who in the future are able to become spiritual parents and mentors for the godson, and, if necessary, replace his father and mother. They must necessarily belong to the Orthodox faith.

Future godparents are invited to the temple for a conversation with the priest. The priest will tell them how the child is baptized, explain their role in the ceremony and in the spiritual life of the future godson. Church rules strictly define the category of persons who cannot be godparents:

the child's parents;
atheists and representatives of other religions;
temple staff;
minors;
persons who are married to each other.

Women are forbidden to be present in the holy monastery during menstrual periods. Before the sacrament, godparents are required to observe a three-day fast, confess and receive communion.

Baptism of children in church

Church rules previously prohibited parents of children from being with them during the ceremony. Today, the procedure for the ceremony has changed somewhat and an Orthodox priest can baptize a baby in their presence.

All participants in the ceremony need to pay attention to their appearance. It must meet church requirements. In clothes, subdued colors are preferred. All those present should be wearing crosses and holding baptismal candles.

Women are not supposed to wear short, revealing dresses or skirts. The head is covered with a scarf or scarf. Flashy jewelry and bright makeup are excluded. Female children must also have their heads covered. Men are allowed into the temple without a headdress.

Christenings of children of both sexes follow the same rules. The first sacred act is the laying of the hand of the priest on the baby. Such a gesture symbolizes gaining the protection of God. The godparents answer some of the priest’s questions on behalf of the godson, then the priest anoints the child with church oil (oil).

After the anointing, the godparents with the baby in their arms must go to the font. The priest sanctifies the water and immerses the baby in it three times. If a boy is being baptized, then the godmother brings him to the font, and if a girl is baptized, then the godfather brings him to the font. After washing, you need to put on a baptismal shirt and cover your head. The priest performs the rite of anointing, which happens only once in a lifetime.

Rules for baptism in the church

Then a small strand of hair is cut from the child's head. The baby is carried around the font 3 times. This means that he accepted the Orthodox faith and united with it forever. The entire ceremony is accompanied by constant reading of prayers.

Upon returning from the holy monastery, all those invited gather at the festive table. During the celebration, children are given gifts and warm, sincere wishes.

Duration and cost of the ceremony

The duration and cost of the ceremony vary. Many parents are interested in how long it takes to baptize a child in a church. This largely depends on the priest. Most often, the ritual takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The main material expenses fall on the shoulders of the blood father and mother, although there was once a custom to pay everything in full to the godfather. The cost of baptism in a church is indicated in the price list with prices for church services. It can be found in the icon shop. You can find out how much it costs to baptize a child in a church from its workers. Traditionally, the amount ranges from 600 to 2000 rubles.

Everyone decides for himself whether to believe in omens or not. There are beliefs associated with christenings. Our wise ancestors advised us to do the following:

do not inform strangers about the date of the upcoming christening;
allow only an even number of guests into the temple;
before the christening, count all the money in the house - this will ensure the child a comfortable life;
on the day of christening, as well as on church holidays, do not perform any work;
do not open the doors of the house to anyone until all participants in the ritual return from the temple;
do not take a pregnant woman as a godparent;
on a holiday, do not make noise or quarrel in the house;
After the feast, the last of the guests should be the godmother and father.

Orthodox priests teach that the mere fact of baptism is not enough to enter the Heavenly Kingdom. Further life in Christ and participation in all church sacraments is important. The Church calls on parents of baptized children to live in its bosom and set a worthy example to the growing generation.

Rules for baptizing a child in church: video

The organizational aspects of most holidays, loved and celebrated by people, can be entrusted to professionals who will take on this with joy. But not the Baptism of a child. This is a holiday when parents must take full part in the preparation, or rather, do everything themselves. Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church; it is the first and very important rite in the life of a new person. Communion with the Lord, with the church, with religion.

Preparing for a significant event is always associated with many questions, worries and troubles. Let's try to figure out what is needed for a child's christening so that everything goes calmly and solemnly, how to properly celebrate christening at home, and who to invite to the child's christening.

What day is christening held?

In Orthodoxy there are no specific dates for the christening of a girl. The rules and signs in this regard are approximately the following:

How do christenings take place?

The rite of baptism carries a special power. Through triple washing with water in the name of the Holy Trinity, the child is given a spiritual beginning for eternal life. A person is born in sin, but during Baptism he becomes one step closer to God and is denied to Satan.

Most often, it is in the church that the christening of a girl is held. The rules and signs are almost the same for a boy.

Questions often arise about who buys a cross for a child’s christening, and what kind of cross to buy for a christening. Now it’s different in every family. Previously, it was considered correct that the godfather bought the cross, regardless of the gender of the child, and the godmother bought the kryzhma. Previously, even the godfather set the table. But now this rarely happens. The Church does not set specific requirements. Parents, godparents, grandparents can buy a cross for a baby, the main thing is that it is consecrated in the church. There are no categorical statements about the material from which the cross is made. Gold, silver, copper, aluminum, any. It is important here to preserve it throughout a person’s life, and to correctly explain to the child what a cross is and why it is so important to be baptized.

How to celebrate a christening at home

After the Sacrament, young parents usually invite guests to their house to celebrate the joyful event. The names of godparents, close relatives and friends. To do this, they set a rich table and decorate the house where the child lives. At the christening of a girl, the rules and signs of the festive dinner are as follows:

The room should be decorated in white and gold tones (gold - warmth and light, white - renewal, beginning).

The tablecloth is only white, and if possible, the dishes are white and gold.

There should be no wine; Cahors or white table wine is allowed.

The festive dinner should include porridge, dough products, vegetables and fruits, herbs, and baked poultry.

Usually such a dinner is held modestly, without loud music and dancing.

Guests are treated to food, give gifts to the hero of the occasion, parents give gifts to godfathers, and read prayers for the child.

Of course, if parents want to throw a big feast, then they can order a cafe or restaurant, invite many guests and make a noisy celebration, but we must take into account that a small child will not take part in such a banquet, and this will greatly tire the baby. The best thing, of course, is to have lunch at home, take a few family photographs for an album as a keepsake, write wishes for the child for the future, and feel the harmony of family and God.

Viewed the page: 1 892

Today I decided to write you the 30 most important rules and will accept a girl and a boy for christening. For quite a long time I collected this list from old Russian books and second-hand books from tsarist times, of which I already had a decent library. I have already published it online before, but it was reprinted and, in my opinion, they greatly distorted the meaning of what was said - but every detail is important here. Below I present it in its original, correct form:

Christening of a girl, boy, rules and signs

30 rules and will accept a girl and a boy for christening:

There is no need to rush when choosing godparents. After all, through them God will transfer his grace to the child, and if they turn out to be insufficiently pious, then this grace will not reach and the child will be left without God’s protection.
If the godmother is currently pregnant, then you need to either wait until she successfully gives birth, or choose another godmother. Also, neither you nor she should go to the temple if you are having your period.
You cannot enter the temple of God without a cross. If you don’t wear a cross in everyday life, then you should wear one for a christening, and if you don’t have one, buy one.
The dress code in the temple is special. Father will be very unhappy if you come to the sacrament in trousers. It is better to wear a long, soft skirt or a not very tight dress. Clothes without black flowers (you are not going to mourn). Of course, without powder or lipstick on your face. Also, don't forget to wear a scarf on your head.
The ideal is a baptism where only you and your husband, a child and two godparents are present. No guests. They are often left outside the church threshold. But if they still can’t wait to watch the baptismal ceremony, then make sure that there is an odd number of you in total (priest does not count).
Before going to the sacrament, open all your wallets, count all the money down to the ruble and write it down on a piece of paper. This will save your girl or boy from financial problems in the future.
This important day has arrived, you have done everything right - you should not assume that everything is over and you can go about your normal business. On this day you can’t sew or even pick up threads, you can’t do laundry, women can’t cook, and men can’t do physical labor. You will do all this tomorrow, and today give yourself a day off.
Baptism is a sacrament and this sacrament must be observed. Let only the closest people know about the day for which the christening is scheduled.
While the baby is not at home, no one new should enter it in his absence. At the end of the ceremony, the baby is taken home and left alone under someone's supervision.
On this day you cannot shout or swear.
You will still have the shirt you wore when you were baptized after the ceremony - it’s worth saving it. Also save the candles and diaper. According to established custom, when a child grows up and leaves his father’s house, all these items are given to him. These are very powerful things through which you can influence him - treat serious illnesses, remove damage. He must take care of them and at the end of his life they will be placed in his coffin.
The priest always asks one of the godparents to read the “Creed” prayer. If no one knows it by heart, then it’s worth taking a piece of paper with a prayer with you.
When the baptism ceremony begins, regardless of whether you baptize a boy or a girl, let the godfather enter the baptismal room first, and then the godmother. This will help protect your child from illness and improve health.
In order for the baby to grow healthy and eat a lot, it is necessary to give the godmother a spoon. Let her hide it in her clothes and go through the christening ceremony with her. Afterwards, the mother, then the father, and grandmother need to stand in it for Sunday services (3 services in total). After this, you can feed the baby with it so that he is always healthy and strong.
Rain on the day of christening is a very good sign - God washes both you and the baby, which means his soul will be pure.
During baptism, a special candle is lit. Make sure that it stands firmly and will not fall during the ceremony - otherwise it will lead to disaster.
Also in the temple during this ritual it is forbidden to let others light your candle - let them light it from the lamp.
A girl or a boy needs to buy a new cross, and not take one he inherited from someone. New life - new cross. Some people do this if there is an old cross left over from deceased relatives, but this is not correct.
Any things left after the christening (sheet, candles, shirt, etc.) cannot be given to anyone other than the child. They will be useful to you if he gets sick.
When you purchase a cross for your child, you should not take change. Give without change or donate the rest to the temple.
Quite often, several children are baptized at once, sometimes even 3-4. So, it is very advisable to agree that the ceremony will be performed for you personally - after all, this is a sacrament, and not a queue for gifts. If you offer the priest some money for the temple, he will definitely agree.
Quite often grandmothers “work” in the temple and practice black magic. Due to old age and poor health, they try to steal years from children in order to rejuvenate. So you need to make sure that neither during the ceremony nor immediately after you they start washing the floor. Otherwise, they will take over his years and health. If you notice a bucket and a prepared mop, ask to reschedule the ceremony.
Also, upon leaving the baptismal center, they may start asking you for alms. Do not give it under any circumstances, otherwise you will pay with your baby’s health.
If a child cries during the ceremony, this is a good sign. The Lord puts His protection on him and he is afraid of the changes happening to him.
When you leave the church, do not rush to leave immediately. Sit down, make sure no one is looking and pass the baby over the fence, this way you will protect him from vain blasphemy and accusations in the future.
On the way home, you should not stop anywhere, and even stop to go to the store - go straight home. Otherwise, the Guardian Angel will not be as strong as we would like. When you arrive, put him in his crib to rest, and sit down at the festive table. On this day it is worth putting more sweets on the table so that the baby’s life is sweet. Natural products are very suitable.
The more variety there is on the table that day, the better. But warn your guests in advance that everything they put on their plate must be eaten down to a crumb, otherwise the child will face failure.
It is also customary to eat meat pies on this day. But you shouldn’t eat pancakes at all.
As for meat, preference should be given to chicken and beef. People do not eat pork on this day.
To protect a girl or boy from alcohol addiction, the godfather and godmother should not be allowed to drink on this day.

Today you can hear that some people don’t believe in omens - they say superstitions are everything, they don’t work, they’re a relic of the past, and so on. I want to give you my authoritative opinion on this matter magical community - people who master magic at a level comparable to academicians and doctors of science:

If the signs didn’t work, they simply wouldn’t survive to this day! How after a few years of university we forget most of the subjects taught simply because they were NOT USEFUL! Likewise, the signs of our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers would have been forgotten long ago if they were not vitally important. This means that the signs are still effective and efficient.

Do you have any questions about christenings or other omens? Ask them in the comments and I will definitely answer you. Author of the article: psychic, parapsychologist and magician Boris Shabrin.

May your child always be healthy, strong and happy.

The birth of a new person is a great mystery of nature and a unique event in the life of parents. Therefore, it is quite natural that a mother and father want to protect their newborn baby from the hardships and dangers of the outside world. They strive to baptize the child as quickly as possible, entrusting the Lord with the care of his soul and fate.

However, before deciding to conduct the ceremony, you should learn about the rules and signs that accompany it. Most of them are of a general nature.

The ceremony is usually scheduled 39 days after birth.
The name for baptism is most often chosen to be consonant with the one that the child was named upon registration at the registry office. Another option involves naming it in honor of a saint who is remembered on his birthday or on the day of the ceremony.
Only baptized and believing Orthodox Christians who are not in a marital relationship can become godparents of a baby.

Rules for a girl's christening

There are some differences regarding the baptism of a girl that parents and godparents should keep in mind.

The main successor for a girl is considered to be the godmother, who takes the baby in her arms and wraps her in kryzhma (a special diaper or towel) after all the relevant church rituals: anointing, immersion in the font and the laying of the cross.
Before baptism begins, the child is held in the arms of his godfather, who carries him into the temple even before the ceremony.
In preparation for baptism, the godfather's responsibilities include purchasing a cross and paying for the ceremony itself. When choosing a cross, it is worth considering that its edges should be rounded so that the thing cannot accidentally injure the baby. The material doesn't matter. It can be an inexpensive alloy or gold, but silver is usually chosen. If it was bought in a store and not in a church shop, then the cross should be consecrated in advance.
Before the christening, the godmother should take care of the kryzhma and the baptismal set for the child. They must certainly be white or light in color. The set and kryzhma can be purchased ready-made in the store, or you can sew, knit or embroider with your own hands, investing your soul and love for the baby as a gift.
In addition to the pectoral cross, the list of things necessary for baptism includes a special diaper or towel (kryzhma) with the image of an Orthodox cross. In addition, the baby’s name and the date of baptism are often embroidered on the kryzhma. The fabric is not washed for a year after the ceremony, wrapping the child in it during illness so that he recovers faster.
A baptismal set will also be required for the ceremony, including an elegant dress or shirt, an embroidered or lace cap, and elegant booties. If desired, this list of clothing can be expanded. The material from which things are made and their design should take into account the time of year and weather conditions, as well as the age of the child.

Signs for the baptism ceremony

It is believed that baptism gives a person special protection from evil and strengthens his body and spirit. That is why the people have developed certain signs associated with this sacrament, special to each person.

Many children scream loudly during the ceremony. However, this should not worry loved ones. After all, a baby’s crying is a sign that at that moment everything bad is leaving him.
In order for the child to receive the grace that has descended on him as best as possible, never wipe the water from his face after immersing himself in the font.
It is best if the girl’s christening outfit is snow-white. After all, it is this color that emphasizes the purity and innocence of a newborn. If you want to baptize a child in a colored robe, then do not allow the presence of red shades and elements.
In order for a strong connection to be established between the child and his godparents, they must certainly give the girl traditional gifts: the godmother - a kryzhma, and the godfather - a pectoral cross.
For an easy start in life, the baby is given a baptismal cap for 12 weeks after baptism, and during the ceremony a vessel with water is placed on the windowsill.
Our ancestors believed that a particularly happy life awaited a baby whose baptism would take place immediately after the wedding, and before it began, church bells would ring.

Traditional christening gifts

Baptism is a special day, about which not only spiritual, but also material memory should be preserved. That is why it is customary to give gifts to the baby, which will not only be useful in the first year of life, but will also remind an adult of the wonderful sacrament.

The most suitable gifts would be thematic offerings, for example, an icon with the image of the patron saint or a chain of precious metal paired with a cross. In addition to the icon with the face of the patron saint, the image of the Mother of God, Matrona of Moscow, Our Lady of Kazan, Xenia of St. Petersburg or another female intercessor is suitable for a girl. It would be great if the godmother embroiders it with her own hands, putting her kindest thoughts and wishes into the gift.
A video or photograph of the ceremony would be an excellent memorable gift for parents and the baby herself. The forever captured moment of baptism will allow the family, and subsequently the child, to experience special moments again and again.
It’s not bad if the approach to the gift is purely practical. For example, an exclusive custom-made cake will make the end of the holiday especially memorable. Children's clothes and cosmetics, as well as books and toys will be an excellent help for a not very wealthy family.