Baptism is one of the most important events in the life of an Orthodox person. It is believed that he receives a certain pass to the Kingdom of God. This is the moment of the spiritual birth of a person, when his former sins are forgiven, and the soul is cleansed. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of godparents for the child, since they have an influence on the spiritual life and salvation of the believer. Therefore, the godfather, whose duties and responsibilities are in all of the above, must be worthy.
The role of the godfather in the life of a child
Now let's take a closer look at what role the godfather plays in Orthodoxy, whose duties are not only gifts for the holidays. The most important thing he must do is to help in the spiritual life of his godson. So, let's look at the responsibilities in order:
- Set a good example for him with your life. This means that in the presence of the godson one should not drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, and speak swear words. You have to be noble in your actions.
- Prayers for your godson are obligatory, especially in difficult moments.
- Visiting the temple with the child.
- The spiritual upbringing of the godchild is obligatory (stories about God, teaching the Bible, etc.). If there are problems in life situations, then provide all possible assistance.
- The duties of the godfather also include material support if necessary (if the parents have a difficult situation with money or work).
What do you need to know when choosing godparents?
So, how to choose a godfather, or a godfather? What should be guided? First, you should know that in the spiritual life of a child, the godfather of the same sex is most important (for a boy - a godfather, for a girl - a godmother). However, according to an established tradition, two are chosen as godfathers.
Of course, the decision on who will be the spiritual educator of the child throughout his life is made at the family council. If there are any difficulties in choosing, then consult with the priest or spiritual father. He will certainly suggest a suitable candidate, because this is a rather honorable duty.
It is very important that godparents do not get lost in life, so that they continue to spiritually nourish the child throughout life. Both the godmother and the godfather, whose duties and functions are described above, bear their responsibility before the Lord.
Based on all this, Christians who are over fourteen years of age are suitable for the role of spiritual parents. They take responsibility for the future spiritual life of the baby, praying for him, and then teaching him to live in the Lord.
Who can't be a godmother?
When choosing a godfather or mother, you need to know who cannot be one for your child:
- Those who are going to become spouses in the future or already are such in the present.
- Baby's parents.
- Those who have taken monasticism.
- Unbaptized people or unbelievers in the Lord.
- You can not take as godparents people who have a mental illness.
- Those who profess a different faith.
All this should be considered before a godfather is chosen. His duties are quite extensive, so the person who agreed to be him should be clearly aware of everything.
Necessary items for the ceremony
You should tell in more detail about what items are needed for this ceremony:
- Kryzhma. This is a special towel on which a cross is embroidered or simply depicted. A child is wrapped in it during chrismation, and also when the prohibition prayers are read. Sometimes the name of the baby and the date of his baptism are embroidered on such a towel.
- Baptismal diaper. It's not exactly a necessary attribute, but it should be when it's cold. This diaper wipes the baby after dipping into the font, and then again wrapped in kryzhma.
- Clothes for christening. It can be a christening set (dress) for a girl or a special shirt for a boy. It is desirable that these clothes be purchased as a gift by the child's accomplice.
- It is necessary to have a pectoral cross with you for a future Christian. Usually it is acquired by the godfather. The baptismal obligations for him, of course, are not limited to this acquisition, but they will be described below.
- It is necessary to take an envelope for the cut hair of the baby with you.
- You should also purchase icons for the child and make a donation to the temple (this is an optional condition).
Is there any special preparation for the recipients before the ceremony?
You should also pay attention to the preparation for christening. The most correct step would be to turn to the confessor or priest for advice. However, you should know that it is usually necessary to confess and receive communion before the sacrament. Before that, you need to fast (the priest should tell you about the number of days). You may need additional actions, such as reading prayers, spiritual literature, etc. It is also advisable not to attend noisy parties, various entertainment establishments at this time, and refuse to watch TV. It is desirable to devote all free time to prayer.
If you are in the role of a godfather for the first time, then it is advisable to familiarize yourself with how the sacrament goes, what prayers are read, what order of hymns. This is necessary because when you become a spiritual guide for a little person, you need more than a formal presence. Sincere prayer is needed, which should not stop even after the completion of the sacrament, because this is the essence of the formation of the cross.
More details about what duties the godfather has during the performance of this rite will be described below.
Present
Considering the question of the duties of the godfather at christening, it should be said that on this day it is customary to give gifts, both to the baby and to the godfather. If desired, you can present a gift to parents.
It is appropriate for a child to give both an educational toy and something more important for spiritual life, such as a Bible for children with pictures. By the way, the gift can be agreed in advance with the parents, because something else may turn out to be more important at this moment.
There is one main gift that his godfather should present to the baby. The responsibilities at baptism are not only to hold the baby, but also to show the first example of honoring the Lord. After all, children understand everything from birth at the level of feelings. In addition to reading prayers, a pectoral cross, which is a baptismal one, becomes such a gift. It must be bought and donated by the receiver.
For parents, especially for the mother of the baby, a prayer book will be a good gift, where there will be the necessary prayers for the whole family.
How were christenings celebrated in ancient times?
Before, as now, christening was a very significant event in people's lives. This sacrament was performed necessarily no later than two months of the baby's birth, and sometimes even earlier, on the eighth day. This happened because there used to be a high mortality of babies, so it was very important for relatives to baptize the child before the irreparable happens, so that his soul goes to heaven.
The celebration of the introduction of a little man to the church was made with a large number of guests. This was especially noticeable in large villages. A lot of people gathered for such a holiday, who came with gifts and best wishes to the baby. At the same time, they brought mainly various pastries - kulebyaki, pies, pretzels. In the house where the little man lived, a magnificent table was laid for the guests, and there was practically no alcohol (there could only be red wine in very small quantities).
There were traditional holiday meals. For example, a rooster baked in porridge for a boy or a chicken for a girl. There were also a lot of figured pastries, which symbolized wealth, fertility, longevity.
It was customary to invite a midwife to the table, who received the baby. They could also call the priest, who performed the rite of baptism. During the festival, numerous songs were sung, thus wishing the child all the very best. They saw off all the guests, presenting each with sweets.
How is the baptism? Responsibilities of a godfather
Now let's look at how the ceremony itself goes, what should be done at this time and what duties each of those present has. In our time, this ordinance usually takes place on the fortieth day after birth. Parents or future godparents must go to the chosen church in advance and sign up for the chosen date, as well as agree on the process itself. After all, you can conduct individual christenings or general.
The duties of the godfather at the baptism of a girl are one, a boy is different (although they differ slightly). If the child is not yet a year old and he cannot stand on his own, then he is kept in his arms all the time. The first half of the ceremony (before dipping into the font) the godmothers hold the boys, and the fathers hold the girls. After diving, everything changes. Since the father is the main thing for the boy, it is he who takes the baby into the roof, and the mother takes the girl. And so it goes until the end of the ceremony.
The service itself lasts about forty minutes (more time is required if there are a lot of people). It begins after the celebration of the liturgy. The celebration of the sacrament begins with the laying on of hands on the person being baptized and the reading of a special prayer. After that, one should renounce Satan and his works. Adults are responsible for a child who cannot speak.
The next step in the ceremony will be the blessing of the water in the font. Before immersing the person being baptized into it, he should be anointed with oil (back, chest, ears, forehead, legs and arms.) Only after that does immersion into the font take place. The priest reads prayers at the same time. This action symbolizes dying to the world and resurrection to the Lord. This is how the cleansing happens.
Then the child is handed over to the godfather, he is wrapped in kryzhma (as mentioned above, the boy is handed over to the father, and the girl to the mother). Now the baby is anointed with chrism.
So, now you know the duties of a godfather at the baptism of a boy and a girl. As you can see, they are slightly different.
Baptism at home
In addition to baptism in the temple, it will not be reprehensible to perform this sacrament at home, in the family circle. However, it is better to do it in the right place. This comes from the fact that after the baptism, the boys must be brought to the altar (the girls simply venerate the icons).
After the ceremony is completed, the little man becomes a full member of the church. This can be felt most strongly only in the temple. Therefore, home christening is possible only if the baby is unable to endure the rite in the church. They are also performed when the child is in mortal danger (illness, etc.). If the entire sacrament takes place at home, then the godfather has the same responsibilities for baptism as if the ceremony were performed in the temple.
New Christian Church Life
You should know that after baptism, a person's spiritual life only begins. The first acquaintance with church rules begins with the prayer of your mother and godmother. This is how, invisibly, the word of God is instilled in the child. And in the future, when he himself sees everything, you can slowly introduce him to family prayer, explaining its value.
Special mention should be made of baptismal accessories. Kryzhma and special clothing (if you purchased it) should be stored separately and not used in everyday life. A baptismal shirt (dress) can be worn at times of illness of the child (or simply wrapped in it). The icon that was used during the sacrament should be placed near the baby's bed or on the home iconostasis (if any). A candle is used on special occasions and is also kept for life.
The duties of a godfather at baptism are just beginning. In the future, when the child grows up, he will need to go to church with him, take communion and attend services. Of course, this can be done with parents, but it is better if it is a godfather. By the way, you need to take a child to the temple from an early age. It is there, in the bosom of the church, that he will be able to realize all the greatness of God. If he does not understand something, you need to patiently explain difficult points.
This is how habituation and a beneficial effect on the human soul occurs. Church hymns and prayers soothe and strengthen. Difficult questions may arise as you grow up. If godparents or parents cannot give answers to them, then it is better to turn to the priest.
Conclusion
So now you know what a godfather's responsibilities are. They need to be taken seriously from the very beginning, as soon as such an offer is made to you. If necessary, consult with the priest about what you should do for the baby, how to educate in the spiritual life and what kind of support to provide. Be careful, because from now on you and your godson are spiritually bound forever. You will also be responsible for his sins, so education should be treated with particular importance. By the way, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to refuse it.
A young couple gathered to baptize the baby. And then a sea of questions: whom to take as godparents? How to baptize? Where to apply? What is needed for that? The questions were sorted out, the child was christened. And now a new dilemma: who is the godfather of the child's father? And the godmother - the mother of the baby? They became relatives, it is understandable. What are these relatives called? Now we'll find out.
How godparents are chosen
I would like to apologize to readers for this story. It could be called funny if it weren't so sad. The story was published in the book of the priest Yaroslav Shipov. And is true.
A man comes to church. From among the villagers. He needs to talk to his father. They called the priest from the altar, and the visitor right off the bat. And his question is wild: is it possible to rebaptize his son. The priest, of course, would not allow it. Baptized once and for life. But he could not resist and asked: what is the reason for such a decision? To which he received the answer: you can’t drink with the current godparents. The godmother drank herself, and the godfather - tied up.
By no means do we want to say that our dear readers baptize children just for the sake of such gatherings. This is complete absurdity. But let's think about how we choose godparents for our children. What are we guided by?
- First, we trust those people who should become godparents.
- Secondly, we know: if something happens to us, the godparents will not leave the baby, they will take care.
- And thirdly, many godparents help godchildren financially. They buy expensive gifts, walk and entertain. In general, they remove part of the costs from parents.
Well, good people, of course, the chosen godparents.
It's all like that. Just the wrong approach. And before we figure out who the godfather is to the child's parents, let's find out: how to choose godparents.
What should we be guided by
The godfather is the godfather of the child before God. And his task includes responsibility for the spiritual education of his godson.
Spiritual education does not mean helping parents financially and physically. No, no one cancels or forbids this. But the main task is to accustom the godson to the faith, to educate him in the bosom of the church. In other words, the godfather is responsible for the spiritual life of his successor. And it is he who must instill in the godson the love of God.
Therefore, when we choose godparents, we must pay attention to the fact that they are believers. Not just baptized, but familiar with church life from the inside. Otherwise, what can godparents teach a child who do not know a single prayer? And by the way, they have a very big responsibility. They will answer to God for their godchildren.
Duties of Godparents to the Parents of a Godchild
Who is the godfather to the child's father? Kum is the real one. It is believed that from the moment the baby is baptized, the godparents and blood parents are related. Even if they are not related by blood.
This is not entirely true. The godfather does not bear obligations to the parents, except for raising the godchild in the faith. By and large, helping them support a child is not in his competence. Responsible for his spiritual development is another matter. And to feed, water, dress - the task of parents. Godparents and blood parents do not become relatives. Spiritual kinship arises only between the recipient and his ward.
Misconceptions about godparents
Who is the godmother to the child's father? Kuma. What you need to know about the delusions, one way or another connected with godfathers?
- An unmarried girl cannot baptize a girl. Allegedly, she gives her happiness. All this is nonsense. Of course, when a godfather has a husband and children, she is more experienced in everyday life. And he knows how to raise children. But she can be completely unscrupulous in faith. Just as an unmarried girl can be a believer, and instill in her goddaughter love for God.
- The same nonsense with an unmarried guy. It is impossible for him to baptize a boy, he gives up his fate. Don't believe. This is bullshit.
- Pregnant women are not allowed to become godparents. Either the child is born dead, or the godson dies. It was hard to think of anything more stupid. The only point is that it will be difficult for a woman preparing to become a mother to allocate time for the spiritual education of her godson. Only because of this it is more appropriate to refuse the title of godmother.
- If a child cries during baptism, God does not accept him. Where this nonsense came from is unknown. But you can still face this savagery. Aunts and grandmothers, who are at the christening, begin to gasp and lament. Like, a baby we have a bad time crying excitedly. This is not a bad baby, this is a problem for aunts and grandmothers. The child is just scared, hot, mom is not around. Here he is crying.
- If you didn’t enter into an intimate relationship with a godfather, life is over. Yes, there is an opinion that godparents are simply obliged to sleep with each other. It is unacceptable. Godparents do not have the right to enter into an intimate relationship with each other, the parents of the godson and with the godson himself. This is a great sin, for which they are excommunicated from the church.
How to prepare for christening?
Who is the godfather of a daughter to a blood father? This we found out - godfather. Now let's talk about how godfathers prepare for christening.
The following duties fall on the shoulders of the godparents:
- purchase of a cross, baptismal shirt;
- christening fees;
- expenses for candles and other paraphernalia.
Parents are responsible for the festive table. Is it necessary to give gifts to godparents? And should godparents give gifts to their ward and his parents? This is at the discretion of each of them. Do you have the ability and desire? Why not give a gift.
Before the christening, the future godparents take a course of obligatory lectures. Now this condition has been introduced in almost all churches. You will have to listen to at least three lectures.
How to book a christening
Qom is the one who is the father of the godson to the godfather. And he negotiates with the priest about the christening of the baby.
How to do it? Come to the temple, preferably on Sunday. Defend the service. No time? Then come to the end of the service. Ask for a candle box to call the priest. And say that you want to become a godfather, you need to baptize the child.
The priest will tell you everything else: when to come to the catechumens, how to behave at baptism, what prayers to learn before christening.
It is important
Who is the godfather of the child's father and mother, we found out. What to do with the godmother? Imagine the situation: a course of lectures was listened to, the day of christening was appointed. Father is waiting, the guests have gathered. And the future godmother's critical days have come.
At this time, a woman cannot enter the temple and proceed to any sacraments. They include baptism. Therefore, in order to avoid embarrassment, look in advance at the women's calendar. And ask for a christening appointment after a week of indisposition has passed. According to church rules, a woman is considered unclean for a week.
And one more thing: come to the christening in a skirt or dress. Be sure to wear a headscarf. Godfathers come in trousers. Frivolous outfits, such as shorts, are prohibited. Shoulders and arms must be covered, so T-shirts - "wrestlers" are canceled.
Conclusion
So we talked about who the godfather is to the father of the child. Remember: godparents and blood parents are godfathers. The godfather is godfather. Godmother, respectively, godmother.
The material dealt with the main misconceptions associated with godparents. It also tells how to prepare for christening, what are the actions of godparents and what obligations they have to the parents of their successor.
The sacrament of baptism is a great event in the life of every person, and especially for a child. All the obligations that the sponsors take on before God are very serious and responsible. That's why (this is very important) godparents, duties who are in the understanding of this responsibility, must convey to their godfather all the knowledge about the saving Sacraments of the Church, such as Confession and Communion, and also convey knowledge about the meaning of worship. The duties of godparents also include the transfer of knowledge about the meaning of the church calendar, about the miracles of church icons and other shrines.
Responsibilities of godparents - how to do it right and what to do?
As soon as the child plunges into the font, from that moment on, the responsibility passes to the recipients. Now the "second" parents will have to attend church and worship with the baby, teach 
keep the church rules. But the main thing is to pray for your godson both in joy and in sorrow. Always be there for you in difficult times. What are the main responsibilities of godparents at baptism? Even from the font, they must convey to them or help them find a new life path. The godfather must buy a cross. The chain, as a rule, is not bought, since according to customs, the baby wears a cross on a string or ribbon. Just like every conscious believer, the recipients need to know the following prayers: "Our Father", "Symbol of Faith", "Our Lady of the Virgin"!
Parents, as well as the godson, must be ready for the sacrament of baptism. Recipients must know the basics of Orthodox teaching, as well as be pious about the rules of Christian piety. Such important events as Fasting, Confession and Communion for godparents are not strictly obligatory, but the believer must adhere to them. All this must be correctly conveyed to the godson. If he is a baby, then love for the church will be instilled from a conscious age. A very good sign will be the reading of the prayer of the Creed by one of the recipients. For the godson, the prayer is read by gender: for the girl - the godmother, for the boy - the father.
Before Baptism, it is advisable to confess, because it is important that not only thoughts are pure, but also the soul. There must be consecrated crosses on the body. Those invited must bring donations to the church. This is not necessary, but you should not neglect the customs.
Godparents should be aware of such responsibilities!
From this day on, the godchildren must protect the godson from all sorts of temptations and temptations. This is the most dangerous for children and adolescents. In the future, the godparent can help with choosing a profession. important 
will be advice when choosing a life partner. The Russian Church teaches that it is the chosen godparents who prepare the wedding for the godson. It is worth noting that even in case of physical suffering, godparents should provide assistance and this is done first of all, and brothers, sisters, grandparents help only later! A spiritual connection is stronger than a physical one!
The duties of godparents for a girl are no different from those for a boy. However, girls are given a little more attention, as they are taught humility and faith, which leads directly to submission. For a girl, the chosen godmother is the second closest person, because she can replace the physical mother. It is the responsibility of the mother to buy a kryzhma or rizka - this is a special towel in which the baby is wrapped after the font.
If godparents treat their duties lightly, then this becomes a grave sin of the soul. This is what will pass on the fate of the chosen godson. Do not become a godchild, if you cannot take such a big responsibility on yourself, you should not accept an invitation to a second godson. Physical parents should also not take rejection as a snub or insult. After all godparents duties must perform fully and with a pure soul.
Note that all people must be churched, otherwise: how can a godson go to church with a godfather? All major 
the positions that should be instilled in the godchild are love, humility, condescension, patience and continuous work in the spiritual upbringing of your baby - all this is the main duties of godparents! All this is also the main proof of the truth of Orthodoxy for the godson and for the godparents.
You can find out in advance how to behave correctly in the temple during the Sacrament of Baptism. Most importantly, you need to buy the right baptismal kit. If it is bought by one of the parents, then this will not be considered a mistake. Only the meaning of the reception itself is important, it is important to be present during the performance of the Sacrament. Of course, both parents must give their consent. Without godparents, baptism is performed only in special cases, for example, if the child's life could be in serious danger.
More about godparents
The sacrament of baptism relates a person to the One Apostolic Church. Orthodox teaching has its own specific doctrinal principles, from which it is impossible to deviate. That is why only people of the same faith can become guarantors of the godson. Recipients assume the responsibility to educate only the Orthodox faith. A person with other religions simply cannot do this.
As soon as the baptism takes place, the parents and the baby will become spiritually closer, become related. This is mandatory, godparents fulfill their duties to the fullest. And such spiritual kinship belongs to the first degree and is fully recognized by the church and its canons!
It is worth noting that such kinship becomes stronger than biological. Between themselves, these two concepts become practically incompatible. An important point is that parents who have adopted a child cannot become godparents for him. This is explained by the fact that they will acquire the closest relationship between themselves and will not be able to continue marital cohabitation.
”, published by the publishing house of the Sretensky Monastery, provides in an accessible form the initial knowledge necessary for those who are preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism or are just starting to live an Orthodox life. The book presents the main provisions of our faith, tells about the Sacraments, the commandments of God and about prayer.
When I have to baptize an adult, most often I perform the sacrament of Baptism without godparents. Because godparents, or godparents, are necessarily needed only for children. When an adult is baptized, he himself can say that he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and wants to receive Holy Baptism in order to save his soul. He himself can answer the questions of the priest and promise fidelity to Christ. Of course, it is good when there is an Orthodox church person next to an adult who is being baptized, who can become his godparent and help him take his first steps in the church, who will teach him the basics of faith. But I repeat, for an adult, the presence of godparents is not necessary.
Why are receivers needed at all? Godparents are those people who, at the young age of their godchildren, give them the vows of Holy Baptism, a promise of fidelity to God. They renounce Satan for their spiritual children, unite with Christ and confess their faith, reading the Creed for them. We baptize most people in infancy, that is, at the age when the child does not yet have a conscious faith, cannot answer how he believes. His godparents do it for him. We baptize children according to the faith of the recipients and according to the faith of the parents as the closest people. Therefore, both have a huge responsibility. Godparents are not just friends of the family, they are not some kind of “wedding generals” who stand at the sacrament with the “Honorary Witness” ribbon, as happens at weddings. No, godparents are very responsible persons, they become guarantors before God for the souls of their godchildren. At the moment of baptism, together with their parents, in front of the Cross and the Gospel, lying on the lectern, they make a promise to God Himself. What promise? That they will make every effort so that the newly baptized baby grows up as a believer, an Orthodox person. Their duty now is to pray for their spiritual children, teach them prayers, instruct them in the Orthodox faith and take them to the church to take communion, and then, after seven years, to confess. So that when their godson enters perfect years, he already knows how to pray to God, he knows what we believe in and why we go to church. Of course, the greatest responsibility for the Christian upbringing of children lies with the parents, but godparents can also greatly influence their godchildren, become their spiritual teachers and mentors.
Many parents formally approach the Baptism of their children and just as formally choose godparents.
Now a little about the sad. Most modern godparents are very ill-prepared. To the greatest regret, many parents approach the sacrament of Baptism of their children in a completely formal way and just as formally choose godparents. After all, the godfather should not just be a good person, with whom we are pleased to communicate, our friend or relative - he must be an Orthodox person, church-going and knowing his faith. How can we teach someone the basics of faith if we ourselves do not even know the very basics, have not read the Gospel, do not know the prayers? After all, in any field, if a person knows some business well, for example, knows how to drive a car, work on a computer, solve mathematical problems, make repairs, he can teach this to others, pass on his knowledge. And if he himself knows nothing in this area, whom can he teach?
If you are godparents and feel a lack of knowledge in the spiritual field (and none of us can say that he has fully studied the Orthodox faith, for this is an inexhaustible storehouse of spiritual wisdom), you need to fill this gap. You need to educate yourself. Believe me, there is nothing complicated about this, especially now, when no one forbids us to read any spiritual literature and when books, brochures, CDs that tell about the Orthodox faith are sold in all churches and bookstores. The Lord reveals himself to everyone who turns to Him, at any age. My grandfather was baptized at the age of 70 and then he mastered the basics of the Orthodox faith so well that he could even teach and instruct others.
It is necessary to start spiritual education from the most basic, basic books, such as The Law of God, First Steps in an Orthodox Church, and others. Be sure to read the Gospel; you can start with the "Gospel of Mark", it is the shortest, only 16 chapters, and was written specifically for novice Christians from pagans.
The godfather must live according to the commandments of God, pray to God and take communion
The recipient is obliged to know the Creed and read it at baptism, in this prayer the Orthodox dogma is briefly stated, and the godfather must know what he believes. And of course, the godfather must live according to the commandments of God, pray to God and take communion. According to church canons, a child is entitled to one godfather, of the same sex as the one being baptized, but our Russian tradition assumes two godparents - a man and a woman. They must not be married to each other. Godparents then cannot marry their godchildren or marry them. The father and mother of a child cannot be godparents, but other relatives: grandparents, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters may well become godparents. Receivers, preparing for the sacrament of Baptism, must confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
