There are special rules for how a child is baptized in Orthodoxy. In many families, the issue of baptizing a child is raised almost immediately after his birth. This is an important sacrament and a great holiday in the life of a little person.
About the meaning of the rite
Baptism is the sacrament of the sacrament that comes from God. In the process of the sacrament of the Church, the grace of the Holy Spirit is transferred to the little person. This is not material and not visible, but real grace, coming from God and consisting in the love of the Most High.
Immersion in a font, in water is a symbol of renunciation of a sinful life, a designation of the irreversible death of this life. The exit from the font is a symbol of resurrection, a symbol of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. It is believed that a person is washed from original sin and he moves towards the miraculous salvation of his soul for the rest of his life.
Only after this sacrament is performed, the child is considered numbered in the Church of Christ, from now on it is the spiritual godparents who should teach him to follow the commandments of the Gospel, to gain access to important church sacraments.
At what age are children baptized
On the video, you can’t see specific rules on how the rite of baptism of a child is carried out in Orthodoxy, but you can look at the process itself. As for the first question that arises before parents - is there a certain age when the sacraments should be performed. In Orthodoxy, it was traditionally customary to baptize a child from 8 to 40 days from the moment of birth. But these are not clearly defined terms and here parents can decide on their own.
Some modern parents are wondering if baptism should be postponed until the child grows up and can decide for himself what faith he wants to live in. But the priests say that if the family is believing and Orthodox, then the child must also be raised in the Orthodox faith and, of course, baptized, so that all the holy sacraments are available to him.
Important! At baptism, the Grace of God cleanses the child and grants this little man eternal life. That is, in fact, baptism is a second birth, after the sacrament of baptism it is already possible to confess and receive communion.
How to prepare
On the eve of how the rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy will be carried out: the rules for the godmother and for the godfather will be regarding preparation. They should go to church more often, be sure to confess and take communion. But the baby also needs to be prepared.
Important! A child's birth certificate is not required for the sacrament of baptism. If the child is over 12 years old, then he must also go through spiritual preparation for the sacrament together with the godparents: fast, confess, talk with the priest.
Godparents must know by heart the "Symbol of Faith" and "Our Father" prayers. In the church where the baptism will take place, on the eve of the baptism, the godparents must confess, take communion.
What to buy for the ceremony
So, the rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy: the rules that give include everything necessary for the sacrament itself. Godparents must together buy a baptism for the child, a festive set. Most often, a godfather buys a cross for a boy, and a godmother for a girl, she also prepares a sheet (towel).
Important! A sheet or towel is required for both the boy and the girl. The child will be wrapped in it after the font.
Important Responsibilities of Godparents:
*Godparents must consciously agree to the proposal and understand what this obligation entails.
*It is the godparents who are responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the child and are responsible for this soul before God, confessing the Creed from a pure heart.
* In the future, spiritual parents should accompany a person throughout his life along the bright path of the Christian faith.
*Before you decide to be a godparent, it is best to contact the priest, consult with him, understand what an important responsibility this is.
About whether it is possible to baptize a child. As for the specific rules for biological parents regarding the rite of baptism of a child in Orthodoxy, they do not exist. This is where the godparents are supposed to be. The child's parents may be present during the sacrament. Some sources write that the mother of the child cannot be in the temple during baptism, but this is not so. If you talk with a priest, it becomes clear that there are simply no strict prohibitions and rules here.
