Christening girls: rules, signs and congratulations. How to choose a cross for a girl for christening Who gives a cross for a christening to a girl

In the Orthodox Church there are no strict rules regarding who should give the baby a cross for the rite of Baptism. As a rule, parents and godparents agree among themselves who will get such an important event as choosing a pectoral cross. In addition to parents and godparents, grandparents and even just family friends can give a cross to a baby. Usually, when asked who buys a cross for christening for a girl or a boy, the clergy answer this way: “The one who wishes the child well and presents such a gift from the bottom of his heart.”

But still, as practice shows, at the Baptism of a female child, the future godmother chooses a pectoral cross for him, and at the Baptism of a boy, the choice falls on the godfather. For the girl, the influence of the godmother is important, it is possible that she is a close friend of the girl's mother. The godmother is always happy to help raise her beloved goddaughter, and the pectoral cross given after the rite of Baptism will always protect the child from evil people. But the duty of the godmother is not only to choose a cross for the girl. She should also take her to church for communion, tell her how to behave, and congratulate her on all important church holidays. At that moment, when the godmother gives the little girl a cross for christening, she thus begins to show that she takes responsibility for caring for her goddaughter.

How to choose a cross for a girl for christening.

Choosing a cross for a girl for christening, as well as for a boy, is a very important task. It is worth approaching it with all responsibility. As mentioned above, not only parents and godparents, but also family friends can give a cross to a child. You can buy a pectoral cross in the Church or in a jewelry store. If you buy this creed from a jewelry store, then it will be necessary to bless it. First of all, you should pay attention to such two important parameters as size and material. If the budget allows, it is better to buy a cross made of gold. At the same time, check with the seller what other metals and in what ratio are included in the jewelry besides gold. The fact is that some metals, which are found in large quantities in gold, can cause allergic reactions on the skin.

As for the size, it should be small. It is worth buying a small pectoral cross that will not interfere with the baby. It is very important that there are no stones on the product. Small children put everything in their mouths, and if a child accidentally swallows a bitten pebble, it is hard to imagine how it will all end. If you are interested in the price of gold crosses, then

The choice of a cross for christening should be approached with special responsibility. But before you go shopping for a symbol of faith for a baby, you should decide who should give such a gift to the baby. The Church does not oblige any of the participants in the Sacrament of Baptism to buy a pectoral cross for a baby. If you ask such a question to a clergyman, you can hear in response that such a gift should be made from a pure heart, and not because it is necessary. Probably for this reason, the Orthodox tradition does not indicate who exactly should buy a cross for christening.

Parents, godparents, relatives, friends of parents can purchase a symbol of faith for a baby. As a rule, in the process of preparing for Baptism, this does not arise problems. Usually someone volunteers to buy a pectoral cross for a child. Most often, the godmother buys a cross for the christening of a girl, and the godfather buys a boy. Together with the pectoral cross, the godparents can give the child a children's Bible or any other children's church literature. Even if a child cannot read, you can still give him church books. While he is small, his parents can read for him. In addition to books, godparents can give the baby icons. You can buy a gold cross for men, women or children. You will be surprised by the rich assortment and low prices.

How to choose a cross for a child for christening.

When choosing a cross for a child for christening, there are several factors to consider. First of all, it is necessary to determine the type of precious metal. Today, a huge assortment of pectoral crosses made of gold and silver are presented. However, you can also find jewelry made from other precious metals, such as platinum. The cost of silver and gold crosses of the same weight differs significantly. Children are encouraged to buy jewelry made of gold. They are not as fastidious in care as, for example, silver ones. They do not blacken or darken over time. At the same time, gold jewelry in very rare cases can cause allergic reactions. Children's delicate skin often reacts to silver with skin rashes.

The size of a child's cross is of great importance. It must be small. It is desirable that the product does not have sharp corners, and there are no stones. All this can injure delicate baby skin. You can wear a cross on a chain or on a rope. But it is better for babies to wear a pectoral cross on a string. Its length should be such that the child cannot take the cross into his mouth. You can order a chain around your neck in the online store or buy it in the Temple. It is not necessary to dedicate the chain.

The rite of baptism is the most important event in a person's life, the beginning of his spiritual existence. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, the godfather is the godfather at the baptism of the boy. It is he who takes the baby from the hands of the priest, thereby assuming full responsibility for the further church upbringing of the child.

In principle, only a godfather is enough to baptize a boy, although the godmother is also traditionally invited. Since the sacrament is performed, in most cases, at a very early, unconscious age, preferably on the fortieth day after birth, the godfather assumes spiritual responsibility.

Who should buy a cross

The pectoral cross is not a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of a person's deep faith. The desire to give it to the baby can be called a measure of the seriousness of the intentions of the boy's future spiritual mentor.

Such a purchase is not mandatory, it can be purchased for baptism or by the parents themselves or other close people, for example, grandparents. However, if the godfather makes a gift, then this will become another symbol of his spiritual connection with the baby.

After all, it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive cross, in this case you can rely on the basic principle of Orthodoxy on this issue - every cross is true and its life-giving power.

• This is useful to know:

Cross selection

If you buy a cross for baptism in a church shop, you can be sure that it is consecrated and complies with all the canons. If you choose in jewelry stores, then you need to consecrate in advance or during the ceremony, the priest will definitely ask about it. Traditionally for boys they buy crosses of a simple form, without stones. However, in most cases, the choice depends entirely on personal preferences and wishes.

In order for the symbol of faith to serve for a long time, not to be lost, when buying, you need to pay attention to the workmanship and some important points. The weakest point is the eyelet for the chain and its attachment to the body, so these parts must have sufficient thickness, respectively, strength. You can read more about choosing a pectoral cross in the article or watch the video.

Who can be the boy's godfather

The answer is simple and unequivocal - a man, necessarily baptized, of the Orthodox faith. Everything else depends on the parents, who take on the serious responsibility of choosing a spiritual mentor for their child. After all, this person must guide and help the boy throughout his life in difficult times, especially in matters of faith. Also, the godfather, if necessary, should be ready to replace the parents of the baby.

Therefore, this issue must be approached very seriously and proceed not only from relations with parents, but special attention should be paid to the desire of the future godfather to devote his time to the spiritual upbringing of the boy, the readiness to take care as if he were his own child.

Baptism is the birth of a person in faith. For this spiritual birth and the conduct of the Sacrament, certain material attributes are needed, the main of which is a pectoral cross for the baptism of an infant. In a sense, wearing it is a prayer without words, which helps to overcome all life's difficulties. So, which cross is better to choose for Baptism? How to choose it and who should buy it? Our article will answer these and other important questions.

Adults like to choose a cross (the second name is a vest) and a chain to your taste. But a baby cross is a special category of goods that should be maximally adapted to be worn on the body of a newborn baby. Do not press, do not prick, do not rub, do not cause allergic reactions. One of the most important rules is that the cross should have rounded, smooth edges.

With a question about a chain or a thread, it's easier. Most parents agree that the best option would be a simple cotton cord or string. A metal chain will rub and irritate the skin, it can hurt. The length of the lace should be about 2 times longer than the circumference of the baby's neck. Before putting on, wash the braid in warm water with soapy water 2-3 times to make it softer.

According to church canons, there are no strict rules about which cross to give preference to. The main thing is the comfort for the baby and the peace of mind of the parents. But there are average parameters: the maximum weight is 1.5 grams, the maximum size is 2 cm, the absence of sharp stones that can fall out, sharp patterns, the absence of a rigid fastener on the cord. The following images can be on the cross:

• Image of a crucifix.
• The inscription "Save and save."
• Abbreviation "I. N. Ts. I.", which means "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

What else can be said about the choice? The modern market for Orthodox goods offers a wide range of materials in addition to gold and silver. These are wood, platinum, steel and other precious metals. Orthodox traditions differ from Catholic ones, which means that the cross can be not only 4-pointed. It can have 6 or 8 endings, it doesn't matter. But all this is not the main thing.

MAIN! Remember that the essence of a cross for any person is not in its beauty or value. Whatever material it is made of, no matter what precious stones it is encrusted with, a cross is a visible Christian symbol of faith in God.

How to wear a vest for a baby?

Someone considers the constant wearing of a cross at any age a fundamental issue of faith. " A real Christian, even if he is 2-3 months old, should always wear a cross. This is protection from everything, nothing bad will happen a priori' - such people say.

There is also an opposite point of view. " A cross is a potentially dangerous thing for a baby. It can injure the skin, the worst thing is even suffocate».

Who is right and how to do it right? The only true answer is: you need to act according to faith and personal convictions. If you are of the opinion that it is dangerous for a child to wear a cross at such an early age, after the Sacrament, carefully remove it and store it in a holy corner next to the icons.

5 STOP: how not to wear a cross?

1. You can not put on a baby a cross if he has not yet been baptized. After all, the cross is a sign of belonging to the Church.
2. A crucifix should not be worn over clothing. In Church tradition, this is only permissible for priests who wear crosses over their cassocks.
3. It is not necessary to wear an attribute of faith for beauty or use the symbol of the cross in the jewelry or clothing of the child (wearing a scarf or scarf with such an image is acceptable).
4. You should not put a cross on a child only for reasons of "protection" from the evil eye, damage and evil spirits. All this is superstition, has nothing to do with Christianity and Orthodoxy.
5. It is forbidden to buy a cross for the baptism of a baby from your hands, resell or give a personal vest to other people (even relatives).

The correct attitude of parents towards a baby cross can be formulated in one sentence: it is a symbol of the spiritual birth of a baby, which invisibly keeps his soul.

Where to buy baby christening cross?

According to the established tradition, godparents buy a cross for the baptism of a baby. Godfather to a boy, godmother to a girl. But this is only an established tradition; in practice, such a purchase can be made by parents or one of the relatives. The question is where to go for such an important and meaningful purchase?

You can do this in a jewelry store or the church shop of the Temple. As a rule, jewelry stores provide a larger assortment of goods from various materials. Bought a cross in a jewelry store? It must be brought to the Temple in advance for consecration. Those crosses that can be purchased in a candle shop have already been consecrated by the priest.

What else do you need to bring to church?

Complete sets for the baptism of children are sold in the Temple in a candle shop. It includes everything that is needed in the Sacrament of Baptism. But all attributes can be purchased separately. The standard set includes the following items:

The most important thing to take to church is your faith that the Sacrament of Baptism and wearing a pectoral cross is a manifestation of God's blessing in our lives.

What to do if the “creed” from baptism is lost/broken?

It is believed that the baptismal vest should accompany any person throughout his life. In practice, this does not work out, at least for the reason that the children's cross is very small. Often the cross is lost or broken - but this is not a problem, not a sign that the baptism has become invalid, or a bad fate awaits the child.

A broken cross can be replaced with a new one (necessarily consecrated). The old one should be kept in a box next to the icons. It is also worth doing with the lost chain - replace it with a new one. The situation is similar with the issue of age. When the child grows up and he needs a larger cross on a chain, give him such a gift. And save the old small cross for the baptism of the baby.

If you are worried about the situation with the loss or breakage of the vest, tell this situation to the confessor or priest in any Temple. He listens and tells you what to do. Turning to a priest for advice in many situations, including in matters of raising a child, will help keep the family together and overcome difficulties.

On many sites and forums they write that supposedly a cross for baptizing a baby will save him from trouble, evil spirits, lies, slander and everything bad. Blood and godparents should always remember: it is not the cross itself that saves from all evil in the world, but faith in Orthodox teaching, faith in God.

All questions about the cross and the Sacrament of Baptism can be asked to the priest in the Temple, where you plan to baptize the baby. Baptism, as a rule, precedes a cycle of conversations about Orthodoxy, the role of godparents in a child's life. It is at these conversations that it is best to ask the priest questions that interest you.

Every parent wants to grow up healthy and happy. Constantly caring about the physical health of the baby, about the timeliness of vaccinations, it is necessary to remember the importance of spiritual health, about the immortal soul of the child. The christening of a boy or girl is the beginning of their spiritual journey.

The sacrament of baptism is a significant event in the life of a newborn and his parents. Indeed, thanks to this rite, the little man receives God's grace and acquires a Guardian Angel for life. Therefore, preparation for christening should not be done from the bay, it should be done in advance - thoroughly and carefully. About the christening of a boy, the rules for conducting this ceremony will be discussed in the article.

Who can be godparents?

This question is not idle. Godparents are not just people who will hold the baby at the font during the ritual, celebrate this event and forget about it. They should be considered as the spiritual leaders of the godson. And in life it can happen that a disaster happens to the father and mother of the child, then the godparents should be ready to fully replace them in the matter of education.

That is why the choice of those who should baptize a boy or a girl must be approached with great seriousness. It is best if they are close relatives or friends. But they must be worthy of this choice.

Orthodox baptism does not allow as recipients:

• atheists
• people who are not themselves baptized,
• Gentiles (Muslims, Buddhists, etc.),
• members of various sects
• fortune tellers and psychics,
• sinners in essence, which are alcoholics, drug addicts, etc.,
• also godparents cannot be young people under 16, mentally ill, monks-nuns (their participation is not prohibited, but this is somehow not accepted),
• bride and groom,
• spouses (because those who are spiritually related cannot lead a married life),
• the child's parents themselves.

Conversation before baptism

What do you need for a boy's christening?

First of all, you should know who buys a cross for a boy's christening. And the godfather does it. He must buy a pectoral cross, with which the child will not part until the last days of his life, wearing it under his clothes.

For such a solemn ritual, special baptismal clothing for the boy is also necessary. How to baptize a boy? It can be a baptismal shirt or a special suit for a boy's christening. Usually the baby's godmother buys clothes for christening. The outfit for this occasion should be pleasant and soft to the touch, that is, such that the hero of the occasion feels comfortable in it, then the child will not be capricious.

There is a very good tradition: if the child is not the first in the family, then he should be dressed in a baptismal outfit in which his older brother or sister was baptized. Then the children will be friendly and sincerely attached to each other.

Baby boy christening clothes list:

• For the sacrament of baptism is necessary christening shirt- a universal outfit that is suitable for both a boy's christening and a girl's christening. Traditionally, it is white. Such a shirt can be sewn on your own without any problems, but now the widest selection of clothes for this occasion is offered in different designs and different styles. You just need to remember that the outfit in which boys (and girls) are baptized should be easily removed and put on, be quite loose, do not reap, do not crush, do not rub. Let it be better with a large allowance. It is worth paying attention to the fabric - no synthetics! The body of the baby in clothes made of natural fabric will breathe freely.
• Do not interfere socks or booties to match the main shirt (they are removed during the ritual).
• The girl needs scarf or cap. The boy is not required to cover his head in church.
• Often tied to the chest of a child bib. From a purely practical point of view, this is a very important item: during the anointing of the baby with oil, he will not allow the baptismal clothes to get dirty.
• There is also such an important item from those that are needed for christening, which is called kryzhma. This is a brand new white diaper (or towel) in which the child is wrapped after taking him out of the font. This is perhaps the main attribute in baptism. Often, a memorable date of christening and the name of a new Christian are embroidered in its corner. After the ceremony, the kryzhma is not erased for a year. It is believed that in the days of a child’s illness or during restless sleep, she can give healing and soothe if she covers the patient with it.

Clothes for the christening of a boy (photo)

When is the best time to baptize a child?

Most often, parents themselves decide this issue. But if you listen to the recommendations of the Church, then it is better to do it as early as possible. This is justified by the fact that the rite of baptism cleanses the boy from original sin and includes him in the members of the Church with the descent of God's grace on him.

Most often, a baby is decided to be baptized after 40 days of age. In religion since the Old Testament, 40 is a symbolic number, but in our time it has more to do with female physiology, due to the postpartum period. As for the baby himself, it is at this age that children are not yet afraid of strangers and will behave at such a crucial moment much calmer than those that are older.

It is worth remembering such a moment that children up to three months of age are not afraid if they are dipped into water with their heads, because they still retained intrauterine development reflexesallowing you to hold your breath.

What days are babies baptized? It can be absolutely any day - a holiday or a day off, fasting or ordinary, which you agree in advance with the priest of the parish whose church you are visiting. After all, each temple has its own schedule. If, for some reason, a free day in the nearest temple does not suit you, you can go to another temple or even several.

It is not bad if there is a separate room on the territory or in the building of the temple where baptism is performed. It is specially adapted for such events, it is heated, it is not visited by strangers.

If this is a matter of principle for you, then you can find out how many more children will be baptized on the day you have chosen. In case it is crowded, it is possible to arrange for the baptism to take place on an individual basis.

It is permissible to conduct the ceremony at home, although this, of course, is much less solemn.

How is the boy's christening going?

The very sacrament of baptism, of course, is exactly the same for both boys and girls, with the performance of all necessary actions. There are only a few points where there are differences.

1. The baptism of a boy allows only the presence of a godfather, and there may not be a godmother, while a girl has the opposite. But this is not a categorical requirement: maybe only a godmother.
2. The question often arises: when both the godfather and the godmother are available, then who is holding the boy at baptism? During the entire ceremony - until the baby is dipped into the font (or - which is also permissible - before pouring consecrated water on him), the baptized is held by the godmother, and after that he is taken - perceived - by the godfather. That is why the godparents are also called the old Slavic word "successors".
3. At the end of the ceremony, the priest brings the boy to the altar - as evidence that he is the future head of the family, which is the domestic Church. And only men have the right to serve in the altar.
4. And if a girl, like a woman in a church in general, needs to cover her head, then a boy does not need a cap.

The godparents, who have learned the rules for baptizing a boy, should become a role model for the grown-up godson, constantly pray for him, teach him faith and the fight against evil. The godchild, accordingly, should feel their interest in his spiritual world and care for himself.

Rite of Baptism