Godmother for a boy of duty. What godparents should look like. Who can not be taken as godparents to your child
The Sacrament of Baptism is the second birth of a person for life, a birth from water and the Spirit, which the Savior speaks of as a necessary condition in order to
inherit eternal life. If the carnal birth is the coming of a person into the world, then Baptism is his entry and joining to the Church of Christ. And the newly baptized in his spiritual birth is received by the godparents, who vouch for the faith of the new Orthodox Christian they have accepted.
It is more useful for the godfather and godmother to start preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism long before the sacrament itself. First of all, this preparation consists in studying Holy Scripture, the foundations of the Orthodox faith and the main rules of Christian piety.
Formally, the godfather does not have to fast, confess and take communion before the sacrament, however, if you are a believer and are connected with the Church not only by your own baptism, then most likely you adhere to these rules all the time, and it will not be difficult for you to confess and take communion in advance.
After you have agreed to become a godfather, do not postpone the immediate preparation for the sacrament on the back burner. First of all, visit the temple in which it was decided to baptize the baby. The priest who will baptize the baby will conduct an interview with you before Baptism and tell you what you need to buy for the Sacrament. This is a baptismal set consisting of a baptismal cross and a christening shirt. In addition, you will need a sheet or towel in order to wrap and dry the baby after diving into the font. Traditionally, a pectoral cross for a boy buys Godfather, and for the girl - the godmother, who also brings a towel. But if only one godfather buys everything you need, it's okay. In fact, it does not have any special meaning.
The priest, godparents and the child are the main participants in the sacrament. The child's parents only observe the sacrament and pray together with those invited.
The duties of the godfather at Baptism include holding the baby in his arms if the boy is baptized. The godmother at this time stands nearby. If a girl is baptized, then everything happens the other way around. Before the celebration of the sacrament, the priest in white robes goes around the baptismal or temple, reading three prayers. After that, he asks the godfather and the godson to turn their faces to the west and asks the person being baptized a few questions. If the baby being baptized, then the godfather answers these questions for him. In addition, during baptism, the godparents read aloud the "Symbol of Faith" instead of the baby and pronounce vows of renunciation of Satan on his behalf. Try to learn the Creed by heart. It is in any prayer book that you can purchase at any church shop. The godfather perceives the boy from the font, and the godmother perceives the girl. The second godparent helps dry the baby and dress him in a christening gown.
The duties of the godmother and godfather, among other things, include the question of what to give to the godson for christening.
Duties of a godfather after baptism
The duties of the godfather, which he assumes in the Sacrament of Baptism, are very serious, so you must clearly understand what is required of you in the future.
The godfather is obliged to give spiritual education to his godson, to bring to the attention of the child the main canons of the Orthodox faith, to teach the child to resort to the saving sacraments of Confession and Communion, to help parents in raising and caring for the godson, and to bear responsibility for the upbringing and life of the child if something happens to his parents. But of course, main duty godfather is a prayer for a godson.
In charge godparents also includes guardianship of the godson from various temptations and sinful temptations, which are of particular danger in childhood and adolescence. The godfather, knowing the nature, talents and desires of the godson, can help him with the choice of education, future profession and even a wife.
Remember that the fate of your godson will largely depend on how well you fulfill your godfather duties, so a frivolous attitude towards them is simply unacceptable.
Now you understand why you should not mindlessly agree to an invitation to become a godfather, especially if you already have a godson. Think about whether you have the strength, patience, wisdom and love to cope with such a serious duty as the spiritual upbringing of a child.
The godfather must be aware of the responsibility for his duties
Unfortunately, the main duties of the godfather now come down to buying a pectoral cross for the future godson, paying for the sacrament, drinking for the godson's happiness and saying goodbye to him before the unknown date, regularly celebrating his godfatherhood with toys or a bill in an envelope. However, for Orthodox Church The duties of a godfather are not like that at all.
In the Sacrament, instead of the baby, you renounce the devil, his pride and his ministry, and express your complete readiness to be united to Christ for the baby. Try to raise the baby in such a way that you yourself would not be ashamed of your guarantee in the future.
Remember that there is no duty higher, more sacred and more terrible than those that you impose on yourself by becoming a godfather. Of course, it is difficult to lead others through difficult life path, if you yourself are constantly stumbling, but it is necessary to do this, because you yourself agreed, took up this and now have an endless answer for the one you vouched for.
You might think that such duties and father unable to fulfill. But that is precisely why the Church gave you to help him. You must help each other in the difficult task of raising a child. In addition, you, as a godfather, are obliged to watch even the baby's own parents. Remember, there are so many families in which parents do not care about the spiritual and moral upbringing of the child. How many dads who do not consider it their duty to raise a baby. How many mothers who give their children to nannies, so as not to simply burden their lives and not give up their usual pleasures. It is here that your field for the spiritual activity of the godfather is located. It is here that you should take the floor and remind the father of his family duty to educate and teach his baby, remind the mother, who is weighed down by maternal duties, of her duty.
If it seems to you that these tasks are very difficult and impossible, then think about the consecrated dignity of the title of godfather and the activity that entitles you to be an earthly guardian angel little man; Think about what blessings the Heavenly Father is preparing for those who teach and educate a person in the Love of God.
In addition, for you personally, the activities of the godfather will not be useless. If you understand the need for the spiritual education of your godson, and you yourself are not very strong in this science, then, by all means, study it yourself with your child.
If you yourself do not often attend church, now no, no, and go with your child. If you like to chat or discuss someone's actions, then you will have to think a hundred times before you say something, because the little godson or goddaughter revolves around you. And it is pleasant for you, and it is useful for the child.
Now, if God has led or will lead you to become a godfather for someone, then you will agree to this not headlong, but having thought it over and prepared for everything well, and you will become a true godfather for your godson.
Baptism is one of the most ancient church rites, which has a long history. In accordance with the established traditions, the church charter provides for certain rules for the baptism of boys, the duties of the priest, godmother and other participants in the ceremony during this ceremony are spelled out.
We will talk about how this sacrament of baptism of boys takes place, what you need to know about the features of its commission by the godmother of the child, and much more.
Most often, young children are baptized on the 40th day after birth. This tradition has developed in the Old Testament church, when on the 40th day the child was brought to the temple.
This ceremony in Orthodox churches is carried out on all days of the week (more often on Saturday), at any time of the year, including in winter, because the water in the font is warm, and children do not catch a cold after baptism. Everyone who is not indifferent to the fate of the baby can be present at the performance of the sacrament.
According to church rules established at the baptism of boys, it is not at all necessary that he had two godparents. One is enough: a godmother for girls and a godmother for boys. If you have been invited to be the godmother of the son of your friend or relative, you, along with the godfather, will have to fulfill a number of responsibilities.
The godfather pays for the ceremony in the temple and the purchase of food for the festive table, which is served after the christening. Also, the child will need a pectoral cross, which one of the godparents can give him.
The duties of the godmother regarding the baptism of the boy are that she buys the baby a baptismal outfit - a shirt and a beautiful cap with ribbons and lace. The shirt should be comfortable and easy to put on and take off. It is preferable to use clothes made from natural materials that absorb moisture well and do not irritate the baby's skin.
Also, in order to take the child from the hands of the priest after the font, you will need a white towel - kryzhma.
All these things can be bought in the church shop. In the old days, they were embroidered with their own hands, and if you own this art, you can embroider on these products. According to tradition, after baptism they are no longer used for their intended purpose, but are kept throughout a person’s life as a talisman that protects him from troubles and illnesses.
What should a godmother do during the rite of baptism of a boy?
On the eve of this ceremony, she should fast for several days, and then confess and take communion in the temple.
Also, the godmother will need to know by heart certain prayers (“Creed”, etc.). They are read before baptism, during the rite of pronouncement, when the priest utters prohibition prayers directed against Satan.
The words are heard: “Drive out of him every evil and unclean spirit that is hidden and nestling in his heart…”. Godparents read answering prayers on behalf of the child, refusing an unclean spirit and promising to remain faithful to the Lord.
Then the priest blesses the water, takes the baby in his arms and dips him into the font three times, reciting prayers. After that, the baby is put on a cross and his face, chest, arms and legs are smeared with the sacred world, reading the appropriate prayers.
Finally, the godparents encircle the child around the font three times, which symbolizes the upcoming eternal life in Christ. The priest washes off the myrrh and wipes the child with a towel, and then cuts the strands of the child's hair as a sign of dedication.
As for the rules for the baptism of boys, they are practically the same as for girls, with the difference that girls are not brought into the altar during this sacrament. At the end of the ceremony, the child is applied to one of the icons of the Savior, as well as to the icon of the Mother of God.
The duties of the godmother when performing the rite of baptism of a boy are to hold the child in her arms during this sacrament until immersed in the font. Then the godfather performs all ritual actions, the godmother should only help him if necessary.
During this ceremony, she must maintain emotional contact with the child, and be able to calm the baby if he bursts into tears.
The whole ceremony lasts from half an hour to an hour and a half (depending on how many children are baptized that day in the church). In order not to get tired, the godmother should not wear high-heeled shoes. In addition, her clothes should be modest: trousers, dresses with a deep neckline and cutouts, short skirts are not suitable for this.
According to tradition, a woman's head in Orthodox church must cover the scarf. Also on the godmother, as well as on the rest of those present at this ceremony, a pectoral cross should be worn.
What else does a godmother need to know when a boy is baptized? During this sacrament, he is given a Christian name. Previously, children were baptized, choosing their names according to the Saints. This can be done in our days, but only at the request of the parents.
Also, according to the Orthodox rules adopted during the baptism of boys, you can choose a consonant name for the child (for example, Robert - Rodion). Sometimes they give the name of a saint whose day of commemoration falls on the day of baptism (for example, January 14 - Basil the Great).
The terms of reference of the godmother performed during the christening of the boy may include the coordination of this and other organizational issues. So that a good memory of this event remains, you can arrange a photo or video filming at the christening.
If you decide to hire a photographer, find out in advance if you can shoot inside the temple with a flash. As a rule, there is no prohibition on taking pictures in churches, but there are still restrictions in some parishes.
After the ceremony in the church, the child's parents cover festive table, and the godmother can help them with this.
Do not arrange on this day sumptuous feast with alcoholic drinks, because baptism is a church holiday. It is better to organize a small holiday only for close people. Ritual dishes can be served at the table - porridge, pancakes, pies, as well as sweets - so that the boy's life is sweet.
What else should the godmother remember in connection with the baptism of the boy? Now she assumes spiritual responsibility for the baby, and will have to take part in his life along with blood relatives.
The godparents, who are responsible for the new church member before God, will have to instruct the godson in the faith: talk with him on religious topics, take him to communion, and also set an example of behavior and give him advice in various life situations.
Baptism - the essence and meaning of the rite of baptism
The rite of baptism is a Sacrament in which the believer dies to sinful carnal life in order to be reborn from the Holy Spirit into spiritual life. Baptism is the cleansing of a person from original sin which is communicated to him through his birth. Just as a person is born only once, and the Sacrament is performed only once in a person's life.
How do godparents prepare for the rite of baptism
Two or three days before the ceremony, future godparents must repent of their earthly sins and take communion.
It is forbidden to have sex and eat food directly on the day of baptism.
At the christening of a girl godmother will have to read the “Symbol of Faith” prayer; at the baptism of the boy, the godfather reads it.
Responsibilities of a Godmother. What should a godmother do?
A child cannot choose a godmother himself, this choice is made for him by his parents. The exception is the older age of the child. The choice is usually determined by the proximity of the future godmother to the family, a warm attitude towards the child, and the principles of morality that the godmother adheres to.
What are the duties of a godmother?
1.) The godmother vouches for the newly baptized child before the Lord.
2.) Responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the child.
3.) Takes part in the life and upbringing of the baby along with the biological parents.
4.) Takes care of the child in a situation where something happens to the biological parents (the godmother can become a guardian in the event of the death of the parents).
5.) A godmother is a spiritual mentor to her godson and an example of the Christian way of life.
The godmother must:
Pray for your godson and be a loving and caring godmother.
Attend church with a child if his parents are unable to do so due to illness or absence.
Be mindful of your duties on religious holidays, regular holidays, and weekdays.
Take seriously the problems in the life of the godson and support him through difficult stages of life.
To be interested in and contribute to the spiritual growth of the child.
To serve as an example of a godly life for the godson.
Features of the rite of baptism
The biological mother of the child is not allowed to attend the christening. A young mother is considered “not clean” after childbirth, and cannot be in the temple until the cleansing prayer, which is read by the priest on the fortieth day after birth. Therefore, it is the godmother who holds the baby in her arms. Including undressing, dressing, soothing, etc.
For the rite of baptism in many churches it is customary to collect donations. But even in the absence of funds, they cannot refuse to conduct the rite of baptism.
Baptism in the temple is not a mandatory rule. You can invite a priest home if the baby is sick. After recovery, it should be brought to the temple for churching.
If the name of the baby is present in the Saints, then it remains unchanged at Baptism. In other cases, the child is given the name of the Saint on whose day the ceremony is performed.
Spouses, as well as the biological parents of the child, cannot become godparents, because the Sacrament of Baptism presupposes the emergence of spiritual relations between godparents.
Considering that carnal relations between spiritual relatives are not allowed, marriages between, for example, the godfather and the mother of the godson are also prohibited.
How is the sacrament of baptism of a child?
The rite of Baptism lasts about an hour. It consists of the Announcement (reading of special prayers over the child), his renunciation of Satan and union with Christ, as well as the confession of the Orthodox faith. The corresponding words for the baby are pronounced by the godparents.
At the end of the announcement, the Baptism begins - the child is immersed in the font (three times) and the traditional words are pronounced.
The godmother (if the newly baptized is a girl), takes a towel and accepts the godson from the font.
What the godmother should doThe baby is dressed in white clothes and put on a cross.
Miro is washed from the baby's body by a priest with a special sponge moistened with holy water.
Then the baby's hair is cut from four sides, which are folded on a wax cake and lowered into the font on it (a symbol of obedience to God and sacrifice in gratitude for the beginning of spiritual life).
Prayers are said for the newly baptized and his godparents, followed by churching.
The priest carries the baby around the temple, if it is a boy, he is brought to the altar, after which he is given to his parents.
After baptism - communion.
Requirements for a godmother at a christening
The most important requirement for godparents is to be baptized Orthodox, who live according to Christian laws. After the ceremony, godparents should contribute to the spiritual growth of the child and pray for him. If the future godmother has not yet been baptized, then she must be baptized first, and only then - the baby. Biological parents can be generally unbaptized or profess a different faith.
The godmother must be aware of her responsibility for the upbringing of the child. Therefore, it is welcomed when relatives are chosen as godparents - family ties are torn less often than friendly ones.
The godfather can be present at the baptism of the girl in absentia, the godmother - only in person. Her duties include taking the girl out of the font.
Godparents should not forget about the day of baptism. On the day of the Guardian Angel, the godson should go to the temple every year, light a candle and thank God for everything.
What should the godmother wear? The appearance of the godmother at the christening.
The modern church is more loyal to many things, but it is certainly recommended to take into account its traditions. Basic requirements for a godmother at baptism:
1. It is mandatory for godparents to have pectoral crosses (consecrated in the church).
2. It is unacceptable to come to christening in trousers. You should wear a dress that will hide your shoulders and legs below the knee.
3. There must be a scarf on the head of the godmother.
4. High heels are superfluous. The child will have to be held in your arms for a long time.
5. Flashy makeup and provocative clothing are prohibited.
What do godparents buy for baptism?
White baptismal shirt (dress). It can be simple or embroidered - it all depends on the choice of the godparents. The shirt (and everything else) can be purchased directly from the church. Old clothes are removed from the baby at baptism as a sign that he appears clean before the Lord, and the baptismal shirt is put on after the ceremony. Traditionally, this shirt should be worn for eight days, after which it is removed and stored for life. Of course, you cannot baptize another baby in it.
- Pectoral cross with the image of the crucifix. It is bought directly in the church, already consecrated. It doesn't matter - gold, silver or simple, on a string. Many after baptism remove crosses from children so that they do not accidentally hurt themselves. According to church canons, the cross should not be removed. Therefore, it is better to choose a light cross and a rope (ribbon) so that the baby is comfortable.
- The towel in which the baby is wrapped after the sacrament of baptism. It is not washed after the ceremony and is also carefully stored, like a shirt.
- Cap (kerchief).
- The best gift from the godparents will be a cross, a scapular or a silver spoon.
Also for the rite of baptism you will need:
- Baby blanket. For comfortable swaddling the baby in the baptismal and warming the baby after the font.
- A small bag where you can put a lock of the baby's hair, cut by the priest. It can be saved with a shirt and a towel.
It is advisable to make sure in advance that things will fit the baby.
After the rite of baptism
So the baby was christened. You have become a godmother. Of course, according to tradition, this day is a holiday. It can be celebrated in a warm family circle or crowded. But it is worth remembering that christening is, first of all, a celebration of the spiritual birth of a baby. It should be prepared in advance and thoroughly, having thought through every detail. After all, the day of spiritual birth, which you will now celebrate every year, is much more important than the day physical birth.
As a rule, in the eyes of the godson, the godfather or godmother is a special person. Many times I have heard with what love and tenderness people pronounce the word "godfather", as if they are touching something sacred in their lives. The recipients themselves are most often proud of this “status”. But do we really know how to correspond to the title of godparents, do we have an idea about the obligations that we have assumed? And what does it mean to be a godfather?
After reading the specialized literature, you can at least in in general terms find out what responsibilities godparents have to help them educate godchildren in Orthodox faith. But in the practical performance of these duties, questions still arise that require clarification. It is best to contact a priest in such cases. I asked the cleric of the Saratov church in honor of the icon to answer my questions Mother of God Satisfy My Sorrows by Hieromonk Dorotheus (Baranov).
- The very first and main help of the godparent to his godson consists, of course, in prayer. What should this prayer be, what should we ask God for?
- If the godfather is a church person, then he does not need any special prayers, because he regularly prays for his neighbors at the Divine Liturgy, submits notes on health so that the Church can pray for them in a conciliar way, commemorates his godchildren at home prayer in the morning and evening. Thus, everything depends on the degree of churching of the godfather. The saturation of the church life of the recipient is reflected in the life of his ward, even if they are separated by a long distance. After all, the spiritual relationship that arises in the Sacrament between the cross and the baptized is as close as the relationship according to the flesh.
- The godfather should take care to commune the godchild of the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. But what if the parents forbid it?
— The question is difficult. Of course, the spiritual responsibility lies with the godfather, but he shares this responsibility with his parents. In the material sense, the child is completely dependent on them, and this situation cannot be changed. It is necessary, of course, to exhort parents: not to persuade, but to convince. After all, the unwillingness to take communion of a child always has specific reasons. From the most banal - lack of time - to such a serious reason as disbelief. If the matter is really in unbelief, then for the godfather this is a field for unobtrusive preaching when communicating with parents. After all, one day they decided to baptize their baby, and this means that even in the most rudimentary state, faith is present in their hearts.
Of course, everything is much simpler when the child's parents themselves regularly attend services, pray at home, live the life of the Church, and resort to the sacraments of the Church. Then their son or daughter organically perceive Christian traditions, the very concept of the existence of God.
—And if the parents are far from the life of the Church? After all, it is not enough that my goddaughter simply hears the name of God in the mouths of her relatives, knows the holidays of Christmas and Easter; it is not enough that I donate icons and books, and her wonderful grandmother sometimes brings the girl to church for Communion. She grows up, and her knowledge about God, about the Orthodox faith should become more and more conscious, deep. What and how should I, the godmother, do for this? How to talk to a child about God?
Giving books is very important. Especially if direct communication is limited. Now there are many children's books that talk about Christian values through some situations; there are wonderful children's prayer books, colorful, well illustrated. I would advise linking book gifts with church holidays, with the memory of some especially revered saints, with name days, so that the child is already included in sacred life Churches through the event. He understood that he received gifts for the Christmas holiday not because it was January 7th, but because we want to please our loved ones on the Savior's birthday. And, of course, it is equally important to instill a love of reading from childhood. It is necessary to make it clear to the child that the main thing in the book is not pictures - it exists in order to read it.
And you need to talk about God most in simple words. About the fact that He is everywhere, that He is the Creator. And most importantly, the child must feel that the person who tells him about God believes in Him himself. Finding an informal approach to a child's heart is a great art, a lot of work. Of course, often even parents do not always succeed. In any case, an adult should be vigilant: if the child does not perceive what is being said to him, if his attention is scattered, he must translate his story into a form more accessible to his understanding. And if you managed to capture the attention of the child, contact occurred, then you can start building a conversation on a more serious level. And if the godfather has the opportunity to contribute to spiritual, and then to spiritual education, thank God!
- And if time is lost and contact with the child is not found? In addition, it often happens that in general the connection is lost and nothing is known about the fate of the godson. How can the recipient rehabilitate himself?
- Here, unfortunately, we will have to talk about sad things, because, most likely, nothing. If the godson has already become an adult, then let him at least know that he has a godfather and that you are ready to establish a relationship with him. When the godson is still small, then you need to look for contact with your parents. They need to feel your readiness to help at any moment. And let the godfather be just good for them, trusted friend families. It's already a lot.
But if there is no contact at all, then, as we have already said, you just need to pray. These words "just pray" are often used in passing. Lack of faith in the power of prayer is one of the most big problems modern Christian. When a person has faith in the power of prayer, then in his soul he will be calm, realizing that he did everything possible in this situation, when even contact is lost. There will definitely be benefits from such a prayer.
- That is, it turns out that after all, prayer is the most important thing for the recipient, from which one cannot deviate under any circumstances?
- Undoubtedly. Often we pray more fervently for another than for ourselves, especially if he is in difficult circumstances. Anthony the Great saw that the whole world was entangled in the net of sin. What can we Christians say about this? There are family and spiritual ties between us, and we must create our own “protection system”, which consists of praying for each other.
…And also prayer for each other is an expression of our love. In the book “On the Duties of a Godmother” published by the Blago publishing house, I read that with the modern shortage of love in the world, it is extremely important to let the godson feel that he is loved. It will give joy and light to the child's soul. At the same time, you need to teach him to love himself. After all, as the Apostle John the Theologian said: He who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). And my main task, as a godmother, is to do everything so that in the life of the little man whom the Church has entrusted to me for care, his main meeting takes place - a meeting with God.
During Baptism, a big role and responsibility is assigned to the godmother. After all, her duties are not limited to the Sacrament of Baptism alone and congratulations to the godson on worldly and church holidays - they will last throughout her life.
The godmother should help parents prepare for the Sacrament and the celebration of christening, that is, the duties of the godmother at baptism begin long before the rite itself is performed.
Preparation for Baptism
Godmother can only be an Orthodox Christian who has accepted Holy Baptism. If the future godmother has not yet been baptized, then she is baptized first, and only then the baby. Before performing the sacrament, the godmother must:
- 2-3 days before the ceremony, repent of your earthly sins and take communion.
- It is forbidden to eat and have sex on the day of baptism.
- The godmother must necessarily know the “Symbol of Faith” and “Our Father”. During the baptism of the girl, the godmother will have to read the “Symbol of Faith” at a certain moment of the Sacrament (when the boy is baptized, this is done by the godfather).
The godmother must take care of the gift to the godson and other things that are necessary for the ceremony:
- White christening gown- it can be plain cotton or with openwork embroidery (the choice of godparents). Traditionally, the shirt is put on the baby immediately after the ceremony and he must wear it for eight days, after which it is removed and stored for life.
- Pectoral cross. It can be bought by the godmother (or godfather) herself or by both godparents together. It does not matter what the cross will be (gold, silver or simple) - it must be with a crucifix and the child must not remove it after the sacrament.
- Towel- desirable large sizes, because the godson will be wrapped in it after Baptism. It cannot be washed after the ceremony and the godson must carefully keep it all his life.
A baptismal shirt and a cross can be purchased directly at the church. If the cross was not purchased in a church, it will need to be consecrated in advance.
In addition to these obligatory things, the godmother must ensure that the parents of the child take with them:
- A cap (or scarf) so that the child's head can be covered.
- Baby blanket to warm the child after the font and swaddle him in time.
- A small bag where you can put a strand of a child’s hair cut during Baptism (it can also be stored with a towel and shirt).
And of course, don't forget the gift. Traditional gifts on the day of Epiphany are a cross, a small icon with the name of the Guardian Angel, a silver spoon.
Rite of Baptism
When going to church, make sure that your appearance conformed to the traditions and requirements of the church:
- Availability pectoral cross the godmother must be obligatory;
- Pants are not allowed for christening. Please wear a dress or skirt that covers your shoulders and legs below the knee.
- There must be a scarf on the head of the godmother;
- Don't put on high heels- it will look indecent in the church, and you will have to stand with the child in your arms for a long time;
- Provocative clothing and makeup are prohibited in the church.
If a girl is baptized, then holding her in her arms during Baptism is the duty of the godmother. She must take the baby after immersion in the font in a towel and dress the child. When a boy is baptized, these procedures should be done by the godfather, but the godmother should always be nearby and help him during the ceremony.
It is good if the child has the experience of communicating with his godmother before Baptism - this will help him more easily cope with stress during the ceremony. The godmother needs to be prepared to be able to calm (perhaps shake) the baby.
The rite of Baptism usually lasts about an hour, after which, according to tradition, everyone is invited to a festive feast. It is the duty of the godmother to help organize this holiday in advance, help parents in holding the holiday, or take care of the baby while the parents are busy with holiday preparations.
Remember that from now on, you must share all the worries and troubles about the godson with your parents and help them in everything.
Duties of a godmother after baptism
The godmother is responsible for her godson before the Lord and is responsible for his spiritual and Christian upbringing:
- Takes part in the life and process of raising a baby along with biological parents;
- Pray for the godson and take care of him;
- Attends church together with the godson, if the parents do not have such an opportunity;
- On the days of religious holidays, on the day of the Angel and others holidays remembers and observes his duty to his godson;
- Attentively and seriously treats the problems in the life of the godson and supports him at difficult stages;
- Contribute and participate in spiritual growth child;
- Serves as an example of a pious life for the godson;
- Takes care of the child if something happens to the biological parents (in the event of the death of the parents, he becomes the guardian).
The duties of a godmother continue throughout her life and one should try to fulfill them with clear conscience, since she is responsible for her godson before God.