When to baptize a newborn, preparation for the sacrament of baptism, solving organizational issues

Optimal timing – do they exist?

Church ministers have a clear opinion on the question - at what age is it allowed to baptize a newborn? - No. There are also strict requirements in this regard. You may be given a variety of deadlines:

from the fortieth day after the birth of the baby;
in the first six months of the baby’s life;
up to one year of age;
up to 7 years;
without restrictions, at any age.

If parents decide not to baptize a newborn, but give him the right to grow up and make an informed choice on his own - to be baptized or not - the priest will not condemn them either, since people undergo the ceremony as adults.

Is it possible to baptize a newborn in the first days? Or on what day is baptism allowed? Since ancient times, newborn children have been baptized on the eighth day of birth; it is on this day that the naming ceremony is performed on them. Or it was the fortieth day after childbirth, when a special cleansing prayer is read over the mother of the newborn. Baptism was also allowed from the first day of the baby’s life.

Today, words are increasingly being heard that immediately after birth the child and his mother are too weak to withstand the sacrament. A prudent answer to the question of inexperienced mothers, after how many days to baptize a newborn, is no less than 40. It is believed that this is the average time a woman needs to recover after childbirth.

You can baptize a child even in winter, if it is warm inside the church and the water in the font is heated.

Ritual

The baptism ceremony takes on average 30-40 minutes.
Depending on the number of people being baptized, the time may be increased. During the ritual, the main thing is to listen and do what the priest says. If the baby is crying, there is no need to calm him down, all actions must be performed exactly after the priest. The ceremony for girls is slightly different from the baptism ceremony for boys. The difference is that after the main ceremony the boys are carried through the golden gate, where girls are not allowed to enter. At the end of the ceremony, the parents are given a certificate that contains the name of the baptized person, the names of the godparents and the name of the temple where the ceremony took place. The document must be saved. A certificate may be required when traveling abroad for permanent residence in certain countries, for example, Greece, or when a child decides to enter a seminary. After completing the ritual, the child should be taken to communion as often as possible. This will help protect your baby and strengthen his faith from a young age. Until the age of 7, communion does not imply confession. Parents must also receive communion and confession. Only in this case can your family be called Orthodox. Godparents can also take a child to communion.

Special cases

Sometimes parents rush to baptize their child early. For example, if he was born weak, sick or premature, he is in intensive care. What time is it allowed to baptize a newborn in this case? No age restrictions. The priest is invited to the hospital from the church, or called from the hospital church, if there is one, and performs the sacrament in the hospital.

Another question: when to baptize a newborn child, depending on church holidays? The sacrament of baptism can be performed on any day:

during fasting;
any day of the week;
for Easter;
on church holidays.

True, the priest will be busy on major Orthodox holidays, and the church will be full of people, which is not always good for a child.

Baptism of a child at a conscious age

There are both positive and negative aspects to baptizing a child at a more conscious age. On the one hand, he can be explained what Baptism is and why it happens. On the other hand, it is stressful for the child, which can be accompanied by whims up to a complete refusal to participate in Baptism.

Therefore, parents need to prepare their child for the Sacrament in advance and explain what will happen. It is advisable to bring the baby to the temple and introduce him to the priest who will baptize (if possible). It is necessary for the child to get used to the environment and have a positive experience of being in church. Then he will not perceive Baptism as something terrible.

Hieromonk Dimitry Pershin says: “The Lord calls to Himself, and does not force. Maybe it’s really worth bringing the child to the temple in advance, showing everything, talking to him, and praying with him. So that he does not perceive the sacrament as a punishment. At the same time, you can talk about Christ and His sacraments in such a way that the child himself will come running to be baptized. The fact is that from the age of two, or even earlier, a person can very sensitively remember the events of his life and give an account: was this a joyful event, free, according to the desire of the heart, or was it some kind of violence against him.”

How to choose a name and godparents for baptism?

It is generally accepted to give a name at baptism in accordance with the calendar of saints: the baby receives the name of the saint on the day of the ceremony. But this is optional. Moreover, the name may not appear in the calendar (Milena, Alisa, Alina). In this case, parents choose a name at will or in consonance with the worldly name of the child (Alina - Elena). This church name is used throughout a person’s life to perform various rituals and during prayers. It determines which saint the child will have as his heavenly patron, as well as Angel Day.

Deciding who will be the baby’s godparents is no less important than how many months to baptize him. How to choose them?

When choosing, comply with the following requirements:

godparents must be Orthodox, attend church (be church people);
they cannot be husband and wife or those who are planning to start a family;
the godmother must be over 13 years old, the father over 15;
Monks are not chosen for this role;
The newborn's own parents do not become godparents, since they will have to replace the natural parents when necessary.

These are all restrictions. Godparents can be married, single, divorced, pregnant women, or close relatives.

Choosing godparents is a responsible matter. They are obliged to be his mentors in matters of faith, to be responsible for raising their godson in the Orthodox faith. It is not customary to refuse the honorary role of godparents.

What happens during the Sacrament of Baptism?

During Baptism, the godparents usually stand behind the priest, one of them holding a child in his arms. The priest reads the basic prayers, then asks the godparents and the child to turn their faces to the west and renounce Satan three times.

During Baptism, godparents read two prayers: “Our Father” and “Creed.” Father will also read these prayers and you can quietly repeat the words after him. Some people write the words of their prayers on a piece of paper in advance.

Print the text of prayers for Epiphany with accents

Then the baby is anointed. At each anointing, the priest pronounces the words: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The godparents repeat after him: “Amen.” Afterwards, a lock of hair is cut from the child’s head as a sign of his dedication to the Warriors of Christ and readiness to serve God. Next comes the main moment of the Sacrament - three times immersion in the Holy Font. In the cold season, the child is not dipped, but only the head, neck and feet are moistened with water. Then one of the godparents takes the baby from the hands of the priest. Thus, he accepts the responsibility to raise the child in faith and will be responsible for him at the Last Judgment.

What will it take to baptize a child?

Everything that is needed for baptism is bought by the baby’s godparents in a church shop (or other place) and is pre-blessed in the church. What do babies buy for christening?

Cross – aluminum or silver. Copper ones can cause allergies, and gold ones are considered a luxury item, and therefore are not recommended by clergy. By the way, crosses that are family heirlooms and are passed on from generation to generation are allowed.

Kryzhma (special baptismal diaper or white towel);

Baptismal clothes. For a boy, this is a shirt and socks in light colors; for a girl, a scarf or cap is added to the head.

An icon of the saint whose name is given to the person being baptized.

After baptism, these things are kept as a memory. Mommy's cream is used to wrap the baby when he is sick. The child wears the cross constantly, without taking it off.

Preparation for the ceremony

Before the sacrament of baptism takes place, parents need to resolve several organizational issues. Firstly, you need to go to church and get advice from the priest on how and when you can baptize a child. After explaining all the nuances of the ritual, the priest will assign you a day and time when you can baptize your newborn.

What should the cross be like?

Today, many are trying to buy a gold cross with a chain for their godson or goddaughter. If you want to purchase a cross made of precious metals, clergy advise choosing silver. This is due to the fact that gold is considered a bad metal; it gives rise to greed and greed. However, such expenses are not required. Especially if the baby is still very small, you can get by with a church cross, which is sold in a candle shop. Whatever cross you choose, it must be consecrated before the baptismal ceremony.

Baptismal shirt and kryzhma

According to tradition, the color of the baptismal shirt and towel should be white. White color represents purity and joy. For boys you can buy a white shirt with a blue border, and for girls with a pink one.

Today there is a huge selection of baptismal clothing in stores; the main condition for a suit is comfort. Make sure that the shirt is easy to put on and take off.

The towel can be purchased in any light color. It also needs to be consecrated and preserved after the ceremony. According to popular belief, if you wrap a baptismal cap during a child’s illness, a miracle will happen and the child will recover.

Godparents

According to Orthodox laws, godparents are obliged to support the godson and educate him about the laws of God and the Orthodox faith. It is on the shoulders of the godparents that the responsibility for the Orthodox upbringing of the child falls. For this reason, the choice of godparents must be taken very seriously.

What to wear for parents

Christening is considered a great Orthodox holiday. For this reason, you need to wear formal attire to the temple. A man is allowed to wear trousers and shirts of any color. The style is strict.

Women are advised to wear light-colored dresses. The length of the skirt is below the knee, the neckline and shoulders are covered. A woman must have a light scarf on her head. Pants on a woman in the temple are unacceptable!

Is it possible for parents to baptize the child of a godfather or godfather?

Regarding godfathers, this is possible, but priests still do not welcome this.

You cannot baptize a child:

blood parents;
those who are not baptized themselves or are baptized in another faith (non-believers);
husband and wife - since after baptism they become spiritual relatives, and it looks like spiritual “incest”.

Previously, we published what date is Orthodox Christmas 2021, when is Epiphany 2021, Tatiana’s Day and Christmastide - in the material Orthodox calendar for January 2021: all the holidays when you can’t work.
Author: Diana Belovodskaya