The sacrament of confession: how and when should you confess? Rituals in Rus', Russian and Old Russian rituals.

Inga Mayakovskaya

Reading time: 7 minutes

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A wedding is an important event in the life of every Christian family. It is rare when couples get married on their wedding day (in order to immediately “kill two birds with one stone”) - in most cases, couples still approach this issue thoughtfully, realizing the importance of this rite and experiencing a sincere and mutual desire to become a full-fledged family, according to church canons .

How does this ritual take place, and what do you need to know about it?

How to prepare for the sacrament of wedding correctly?

A wedding is not a wedding where they walk for 3 days, fall on their faces in a salad and hit each other with their faces according to tradition. A wedding is a sacrament through which a couple receives a blessing from the Lord to live their whole lives together in sorrow and joy, to be faithful to each other “until the grave”, to give birth and raise children.

Without a wedding, a marriage is considered “incomplete” by the Church. And, of course, it must be appropriate. And we are not talking about organizational issues that are resolved in 1 day, but about spiritual preparation.

A couple who takes their wedding seriously will definitely take into account those requirements that some newlyweds forget about in pursuit of fashionable wedding photos. But spiritual preparation is an important part of a wedding, as the beginning of a new life for a couple - with a clean (in every sense) slate.

Preparation includes a 3-day fast, during which you need to prepare for the ceremony prayerfully, and also abstain from intimate relationships, animal food, bad thoughts, etc. In the morning before the wedding, the husband and wife confess and receive communion together.

Video: Wedding. Step-by-step instruction

Betrothal - how is the wedding ceremony carried out in the Orthodox Church?

Betrothal is a kind of “introductory” part of the sacrament that precedes the wedding. It symbolizes the consummation of a church marriage in the face of the Lord and the consolidation of the mutual promises of a man and a woman.

1. It’s not for nothing that betrothal takes place immediately after the Divine Liturgy – the couple is shown the importance of the sacrament of marriage and the spiritual trepidation with which they should enter into marriage.
2. Betrothal in the temple symbolizes the husband's acceptance of his wife from the Lord himself : the priest brings the couple into the temple, and from that moment their life together, new and pure, begins in the face of God.
3. The beginning of the ritual is censing : the priest blesses the husband and wife 3 times in turn with the words “In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In response to the blessing, everyone makes the sign of the cross (approx. - crosses themselves), after which the priest hands them the already lit candles. This is a symbol of love, fiery and pure, which a husband and wife should now have for each other. In addition, candles are a symbol of the chastity of men and women, as well as God's grace.
4. Cross censing symbolizes the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit next to the couple.
5. Next comes a prayer for the betrothed and for their salvation (souls) , about the blessing for the birth of children, about the fulfillment of those requests of the couple to God that relate to their salvation, about the blessing of the couple for every good deed. After which, everyone present, including the husband and wife, should bow their heads before God in anticipation of the blessing while the priest reads a prayer.
6. After the prayer to Jesus Christ comes the betrothal : the priest puts a ring on the groom, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross 3 times. Next, he puts a ring on the bride, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross three times. It is important to note that the rings (which the groom must give!) symbolize an eternal and indissoluble union at the wedding. Until they are put on, the rings lie on the right side of the holy throne, which symbolizes the power of consecration in the face of the Lord and his blessing.
7. Now the bride and groom must exchange rings three times (note - in the word of the Most Holy Trinity): the groom puts his ring on the bride as a symbol of his love and willingness to help his wife until the end of his days. The bride puts her ring on the groom as a symbol of her love and readiness to accept his help until the end of her days.
8. Next is the priest’s prayer for the Lord’s blessing and betrothal of this couple , and sending them a Guardian Angel to guide them in their new and pure Christian life. The betrothal ceremony ends here.

Video: Russian wedding in the Orthodox Church. Wedding ceremony

The sacrament of a wedding - how does the ceremony take place?

The second part of the sacrament of marriage begins with the bride and groom entering the middle of the temple with candles in their hands, as if carrying the spiritual light of the sacrament. In front of them is a priest with a censer, which symbolizes the importance of following the path of the commandments and offering up their good deeds as incense to the Lord.

The choir welcomes the couple by singing Psalm 127.

• Next, the couple stands on a white towel spread out in front of the lectern. : both, in the face of God and the Church, confirm their free will, as well as the absence in their past (note - on each side!) of promises to marry another person. The priest asks these traditional questions to the bride and groom in turn.
• Confirmation of a voluntary and inviolable desire to marry secures a natural marriage , who is now considered a prisoner. Only after this does the sacrament of marriage begin.
• The wedding ceremony begins with the couple’s declaration of participation in the Kingdom of God and three lengthy prayers – to Jesus Christ and to the Triune God. After which the priest signs (in turn) the bride and groom with a crown in the shape of a cross, “crowning the servant of God...”, and then “crowning the servant of God...”. The groom must kiss the image of the Savior on his crown, the bride must kiss the image of the Mother of God that adorns her crown.
• Now the most important moment of the wedding begins for the bride and groom wearing crowns. , when with the words “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!” the priest, as a link between people and God, blesses the couple three times, reading a prayer three times.
• Blessing of marriage by the Church symbolizes the eternity of the new Christian union, its indissolubility.
• Afterwards there is a reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians by St. apostle paul , and then the Gospel of John about the blessing and sanctification of the marriage union. Then the priest pronounces a petition for the newlyweds and a prayer for peace in the new family, honesty of marriage, integrity of cohabitation and life together according to the commandments until old age.
• After “And grant us, O Master...” everyone reads the prayer “Our Father” (it should be learned in advance if you did not know it by heart before preparing for the wedding). This prayer on the lips of a married couple symbolizes the determination to do the will of the Lord on earth through their family, to be devoted and submissive to the Lord. As a sign of this, the husband and wife bow their heads under their crowns.
• They bring the “cup of fellowship” with the Cahors , and the priest blesses it and serves it as a sign of joy, offering to drink wine three times, first to the head of the new family, and then to his wife. They drink wine in 3 tiny sips as a sign of their inseparable existence from now on.
• Now the priest must join the right hands of the newlyweds and cover them with stole (note - a long ribbon on the priest’s neck) and place your palm on top, as a symbol of the husband receiving his wife from the Church itself, which in Christ united these two forever.
• The couple is traditionally led around the lectern three times : on the first circle they sing “Isaiah, rejoice...”, on the second - the troparion “Holy Martyr”, and on the third Christ is glorified. This walk symbolizes the eternal procession that begins from this day for the couple - hand in hand, with a common cross (the hardships of life) for two.
• Crowns are removed from spouses , and the priest welcomes the new Christian family with solemn words. Then he reads two prayers of petition, during which the husband and wife bow their heads, and after finishing they seal pure mutual love with a chaste kiss.
• Now, according to tradition, married spouses are led to the royal doors : here the head of the family must kiss the icon of the Savior, and his wife - the image of the Mother of God, after which they change places and again kiss the Images (only in reverse). Here they kiss the cross, which the priest offers, and receive from the minister of the Church 2 icons, which can now be kept as a family heirloom and the main amulets of the family, and passed on to future generations.

After the wedding, candles are kept in the icon case at home. And after the death of the last spouse, these candles (according to the old Russian custom) are placed in the coffin, both of them.

The task of witnesses at a wedding ceremony in a church - what do guarantors do?

Witnesses must be believers and baptized - a friend of the groom and a friend of the bride, who after the wedding will become the spiritual mentors of this couple and their prayer guardians.

The task of witnesses:

1. Hold the crowns over the heads of those getting married.
2. Give them wedding rings.
3. Lay a towel in front of the lectern.

However, if witnesses do not know their duties, this is not a problem. The priest will tell the guarantors about them, preferably in advance, so that there are no “overlaps” during the wedding.

It is important to remember that a church marriage cannot be dissolved - the Church does not give divorces. The exception is the death of a spouse or his loss of reason.

And finally - a few words about the wedding meal

A wedding, as stated above, is not a wedding. And the Church warns against possible indecent and irreverent behavior of all those present at the wedding after the sacrament.

Decent Christians dine modestly after a wedding, and do not dance in restaurants. Moreover, at the modest wedding feast there should not be any indecency or intemperance.

This article is very important for those who want to throw off the shackles of baptism. Also described here are two options for debaptizing the first one can be done alone without anyone’s help, but the second option is much more complicated but also more correct. Both variants of decrossing are correct; the choice of current is yours.

People who come to the faith of their ancestors after Christianity, as a rule, are divided into two types. The first is a person who is baptized, but does not strictly observe church rules, for whom manifestations of faith come down to wearing a cross and eating Easter cake. The second is a person who consciously tried to delve into Christianity, was deeply interested in it, went to church, observed fasts and took part in church sacraments. People who nevertheless decide to leave the church and begin to glorify their native Gods must undergo a special rite - baptism.

A person who has returned to the faith of his ancestors needs to move away from Christianity, and this must be done on three levels: physical, intellectual and energetic.

This is very easy to do on a physical level. We must stop going to church, observe church holidays, be baptized, get rid of Christian paraphernalia, etc. If a person has made up his mind, then it will not be difficult for him.

The most serious work must happen on the intellectual level. How the ceremony itself will take place depends on this. Everything needs to be carefully thought out and weighed. If a person has a mess in his head, or he hesitates, then it is better not to rush into the ritual. No matter how wonderfully the ritual is performed, if a person has not consciously broken with Christianity, then it will have no power. Until a person himself understands that baptism is a curse, there is no point in debaptizing. Therefore, the ritual must be performed only when a person is completely ready for it. There's no need to rush. A person should have as much information as possible about what he is giving up, and should know what a terrible intellectual disease Christianity is. Let’s dwell on this for now, and we’ll tell you about the ritual itself a little later.

What is baptism? Let’s not indulge in demagoguery, but turn to the brochure “On the Sacrament of Baptism,” published by the Orthodox publishing house “Blagovest” in 2001:

“...And whoever was baptized received in Christ that wonderful garment that covers everything base and shameful in a person.” Please note that it does not save, but covers.

“...man is naturally born a sinner and guilty before the justice of God.” Well, yes. A person has just been born and is already a sinner. The main task of the church is to awaken a sense of guilt in a person, force him to pray and repent, and keep him in fear. If this succeeds, that’s all, a person becomes a “servant of God”, joins the “flock” of Christ’s sheep, and becomes ideologically controlled. Added to this is the energetic dependence into which a person is placed during the rite of baptism.

And during the baptism process, I ask you to pay attention to some words that the priest says during the ceremony:

“...Let the light of your countenance shine upon your servant...”

“The servant of God is baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...”, etc.

In short, the main purpose of baptism is to have another slave. All this is also clearly illustrated by quotes from the New Testament:

Revelation, ch. 22, art. 3: “...but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve it.”

Epistle of Peter to the Romans, ch. 6, art. 3: “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death”?

We can talk about this topic for a very long time. However, the connection of baptism with the energy of death is obvious. The same brochure says that “if a newborn baby must be baptized, then the priest reads a special prayer over his mother on the fortieth day.” I believe that this is enough to get rid of all this rubbish.

Baptismal ritual: what really happens?

Now we will analyze in detail the rite of baptism and try to understand what happens to a person at the energy level.

Baptism consists of the following actions:

1. Beginning of the ceremony. It includes the catechumen, renunciation of the devil and union with Christ (a set of specific questions and answers, and reading the creed). It makes no sense to describe all these actions in detail. Anyone interested in this can read the relevant literature.

2. Blessing of water: the priest blesses the water with a brush with blessed oil. Then “... it’s the turn of the person being baptized. The priest says: “The servant of God (name) will be anointed with the oil of gladness in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The forehead, chest, ears, hands and feet are anointed.” When anointing the forehead and chest, the corresponding energy centers (responsible for clairvoyance and emotions) are prepared to close (disconnected from natural forces).

3. Baptism: “... the priest immerses the person being baptized in water three times, pronouncing the words: “The servant of God is baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen"". Then, after the font, a white baptismal shirt and cross are put on.

4. Confirmation. Miro is a special composition of various aromatic oils, flowers and grape wine. It takes place immediately after baptism, and the person receives the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” (oh, I’ll catch that spirit, oh, I’ll mark it in my ear). Otherwise, these gifts are called (and absolutely rightly) “seals of the gift of the Holy Spirit.” With the help of myrrh (which, by the way, is used to smear the dead), seals are applied in a cross shape to the forehead, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs. With each stroke the priest says: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". The previous two energy centers are finally closed with seals, and unique “filters” are applied to the organs of information perception. If a person was baptized at a conscious age, then, coupled with his mental attitude and energy, these seals prevent the correct perception of information undesirable for the church.

5. Walk around the font three times. Following the priest, the godparents (or the godson himself, if he is an adult) walk around the anti-salt font.

6. Reading the Apostle and the Gospel. There is a reading of the sixth chapter of the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans and the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 16-20.

7. Ablution. The priest washes off the myrrh with a sponge (only physically, energetically they remain) in order to “protect it from desecration” (suddenly the child pees on the legs anointed with the myrrh).

8. Tonsure. Small strands are cut crosswise “at the back of the head, at the forehead, on the right and left sides of the head.” Then the hair is rolled up in a piece of wax and lowered into the font. Thus, the energy center at the back of the head is tied to the Christian egregor.

9. Churching. The priest reads prayers, then “introduces (or brings the baby) into the temple and brings it to the royal doors, saying: “The servant of God is churched in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen;” He will enter Your house and worship Your holy temple. In the middle of the church he will sing your praises.” After this, if a woman (girl) is going to church, she venerates herself to the halves of the royal doors, and “the priest reads the prayer: “Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Master, according to thy word in peace: for as my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation of tongues, and the glory of your people Israel” (no comments needed). The men are led around the altar (the boys are led around). After all this, everyone present kisses the dead Christ on the cross.

10. Conclusion of the christening. Everyone goes home and a drinking party takes place.

This is how baptism happens. Now let's see how to get rid of all this disgusting garbage.

The first ritual is easier

Ritual of "Debaptism"

So: for the anti-rite (precisely “anti” - the opposite) we need an ordinary bathtub, half filled with cool water, if someone does not have the conditions, or a bathtub, there are also rural residents, where many do not have bathtubs, any container suitable for you can dive headlong; sewing needle (sharper, or buy a finger piercing needle at the pharmacy)

It is better to perform the ritual on an empty stomach, like many others.
So, the water has been collected and the sword is ready. We undress and say:
I remove baptism from myself, I break the slave collar, I am not a slave, but the grandson of the Russian gods! (take a small sword, pierce your finger, squeeze out a few drops of blood into the water and continue). - The blood of the Gods - Ancestors flows in my veins, Will return the pristine state to Pure Water! (We sit in the bath). - Water helped to cause baptism,
The water was able to wash it off! (we dive headfirst and stay underwater for 20 seconds and then emerge). - The baptized one has left, the grandson of the Russian Gods has entered nature! Accept, Mother Nature (name), hear, Great Ancient Gods! We leave the bathroom and read
“appeal”, after it we say:
Russian Gods, Glorious Gods, Ancient Gods! Hear me, your grandson, young relative! And may I always be heard by you, as a RELATIVE, in whose veins your blood flows... Let it be so!

Next, we need:
Chalk (or 50 meters of rope);
Ritual sickle (or a regular new knife). If not, draw (or lay out with a rope, whichever is more convenient for you) in a deserted (possibly indoors) place an ENDLESS SPIRAL twisted to the right, the minimum diameter of the outer circle is 3 meters. Cut off with a sickle (on which you first draw lines with chalk or your own blood.) ALL channels stretching from you to the “lenders,” especially the channel going up. Next, you step into the center of the spiral, trying not to step on any of the lines, enter a trance state and say:

ROD, Great Primordial Father of Everything and Everyone, may the Children hear us -
Your creations and incarnations!
Svarog is the parent of the Earth and the Light Svarozhichi,
Lada - Foremother of SVA,
Stribog, ruler of the winds and time,
Fire God - Connecting the earthly and heavenly races,
Light horse,
Makosh - Mother of Fates,
Veles - Owner of Paths, Connector of the Three Worlds,
Perun is a heavenly warrior,
Diva - Dodolushka,
Dazhdbog - Parent of the ancestor Aria,
Alive, Life-giving,
Lelya - blossoming,
Yarila is mighty,
Chur - guardian;

Hear us, Bright RELATIVES, I praise and honor you.
I praise you too, Mother Earth, Zemun Heavenly, Sedun Nizhnyaya!
I also glorify the Dark RELATIVES, for EVERYTHING and everything is a KIND!
Chernobog - the embodiment of Darkness,
Mara - ruler of the Navie World,
Viy - Ruler of the Underground Kingdom,
Morok - Guardian of secret ways,
Fornication - God of animal passion,
Lizard Underground,
The Evil One is a twister!

Just as all of you, reuniting your “Selves” together, awaken and represent the KIND, so do I, your RELATIVE, ADOPT/ADOPT again according to my free will and include me in the NATURE! I ask for protection and patronage from POWERS that are alien to me from now on and hostile... (Look with OTHER vision, if one of the Gods appears, he will be a patron and Mentor... Praise, thank and state the essence of the problem, ask for help).
Next, praise Makosh and ask HER to arrange your Share as it should.

And now more complex

Rite of unbaptism

This rite is not canonical, and its performance depends on specific people. The most important thing is to grasp the essence of the ritual and it is not necessary to follow this description in all details, it is important to grasp the idea itself. Nature itself and its Spirits will do the rest, and the gods of Rus' will help. This ritual is practiced in the Path of Rule community.

It is necessary to make a fire (it is best to do this before the ceremony, so that there is somewhere to throw a shirt and a cross) and outline it in a circle with salt. Summon Chur, bring the demand through fire to our ancestors - the Slavic Gods. After this, open the circle and get out of it. Place a bowl of drink in a circle near the entrance.

So, the baptism goes as follows:

If a person still has a baptismal shirt or cross, they need to be put on before being baptized. If the shirt is small, then you can simply hold it in your hand during the ceremony. If you have neither one nor the other, you can simply wear an old unnecessary shirt. Not far away, away from the main circle, a person sits on his knees. The one who baptizes him asks questions, and the person answers them:

1. Do you renounce the church? I renounce.

2. Do you renounce the Christian Trinity? I renounce.

3. And do you renounce Jehovah? I renounce.

4. And do you renounce Christ? I renounce.

5. And do you renounce the holy spirit? I renounce.

6. And do you renounce the mother of Christ? I renounce.

7. Will you no longer put a death-bearing cross on yourself? I won't.

8. Will you no longer kneel before the gods of the seas? I won't get up.

9. Are you firm in your decision? Hard

After this, a circle is drawn clockwise around it with either a knife or an ax. The circle closes and after that the process itself begins, which must take place in a certain sequence.

First, with the help of a knife or an ax, the person’s connections with the Christian egregor are cut off. It is necessary to imagine and feel these connections. They are best visualized as threads, ropes or webs attached to a person. These threads must be cut from the person with a knife.

After the connections have been cut off, it is necessary to open the person’s “fontanelle” (the energy center at the top of the head). With your right hand you need to heal those places from which the hair was removed during tonsure (mentally, salt through your right hand and send a ray of light to these places). Then a canal is “cut off” from the fontanel with a knife, with which it is attached to the egregor like an umbilical cord.

Next, you need to remove the seals that are placed on a person at baptism. The seals are on the forehead, eyes, lips, ears, chest, arms and legs. They must be removed from the human energy field. It’s better to visualize it as if peeling the skin from an apple. It is better to perform this action also with a knife (an ax is inconvenient).

Then the person’s shirt is torn off with a knife, and the chain on the cross (if there is one) is broken. The cross and shirt are thrown into the fire. When the shirt starts to burn, use a stick to pull it out of the fire, take it away and trample it thoroughly.

The next step is to remove the anointing from the body. A knife is used to remove the anointing from the forehead, chest, ears, hands and feet.

After this, the baptist asks:

“Have you denied Christ?” - I renounced.

“Are you ready to appear before our dear Nature and the Russian Gods?” - Ready.

When a person is cleansed, he must be introduced to the elements: fire, air, water, earth. This happens as follows: 1) Fire. A firebrand is taken and carried around the person in salt with the words: “Fire, take him under your protection and protection and give him strength.” 2) Earth. Either salt or cereal (buckwheat or millet) is taken, salting is done, and the person is sprinkled with the words: “Mother Earth, take him under your protection and protection and give him strength.” 3) Water. The same. 4) Air. It’s the same thing, only the air is pumped onto the person by hand. You can blow on the back of a person's head.

Now you need to start working with the pagan egregor. This should involve (very preferably) two people. The right palms are placed above the top of the head of the person being crossed (one above the other) and during the salting movement, either SVA or ROD is protractedly proclaimed (nine times).

The circle opens and the person is ready to accept the name. It's better to do it right away. The name must mean either the inner essence of a person or what he strives for. The name should not be "show off". If a person cannot do more than five push-ups, and at the same time takes the name “Lyutobor”, then this cannot be called anything other than insanity. It is best to agree on your name with community members.

Adopting a name

A person stands at the entrance to the main circle facing the fire, with members of the community standing behind him. The right hands are extended towards the person being named, and the leader of the ceremony says: “We give you the name (….)! May the Gods of the Russians take you under their protection and patronage under the name (….)! Let it be so"! The person named takes the cup, approaches the fire, and introduces himself to the Gods. Asks for their protection, asks for their strength. Then he sacrifices a drink to his Ancestors (under whose protection he is now) and drinks a little himself. At the exit from the circle, the community exclaims: “Glory to (name)! Glory to the Gods of the Russians! The ceremony is over. May your life be bright and joyful, and good luck on your path to the Light!

I went through all this myself.

Reading time: 10 minutes

One of the most important events in the life of a believer is the sacrament, during which he is accepted into the faith and the church. The baptism of a child, both a boy and a girl, is carried out according to certain rules of the church. The sacrament is carried out according to a ritual that has not changed for several centuries. Parents and godparents must prepare carefully and in advance for this significant event.

What is child baptism

The rite of baptism of a child is an important step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and church. Christenings have a long history, but the basic rules and canons have been preserved to this day. The holy baptism of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition; the rite rids the baby of sins (hereditary or personal) and birth occurs for a holy, spiritual life.

Choosing a name

If the name with which the baby is registered on the birth certificate is not in the calendar, then you should decide on choosing another one. They select names for the child’s baptism that are consonant with the world, for example, Zhanna - Anna, Sergei - Sergius. When there is no such correspondence in the church calendar, the name of the saint is used, who is honored immediately after the birth of the baby. When choosing a name, it is better to seek help from a clergyman rather than doing it yourself. In church rituals, the name given during the sacrament is used. It is necessary to know him in order to honor the heavenly intercessor.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

The Church recommends scheduling a baby's christening as early as possible. Catholics and Orthodox Christians schedule the baptism of a child in the first months from the date of birth, although a person of any age is allowed to perform the ceremony. Some people postpone baptism until a person can independently decide on his choice of religion. Often the date for the sacrament is set on the 40th day of the baby’s life. The choice of the date of baptism, which establishes when to baptize a child, has several reasonable explanations:

• newborns up to 3 months can easily tolerate head diving;
• babies behave calmer and are not afraid when strangers pick them up;
• The mother of the baby is allowed to enter the church after 40 days from the date of birth.

Child christening - rules and signs

If the baptism of an infant is carried out according to all the rules, preparation for the sacrament should begin in advance. For future godparents, the church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of christening, repenting and receiving communion. It is also recommended to fast for 3-4 days, although this condition is not mandatory. On the morning of the ceremony, godparents should not eat or have sex the day before.

On what days are children baptized in church?

You can carry out the sacrament of baptism of a child on any day, be it a holiday, an ordinary day, or a fast day. In church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates for the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are crowded and it will be difficult to conduct the sacrament. Some churches have their own schedule related to internal regulations. When choosing the day on which the baptism of children will be scheduled, it is better to consult with a priest.

Rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church

When you decide to baptize a child, it is important not only to choose a temple and purchase baptismal supplies, but also to familiarize yourself with the conditions defined by the church that parents and guests must follow. Church rules state that everyone must wear crosses. Women should wear closed dresses and cover their heads with a scarf. The baptism process lasts at least half an hour, the baby will be held in your arms, so it is better to avoid uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Men will need a dark suit, but not black. Although the church does not set strict rules regarding the appearance of men, it is not necessary to arrive at the place where the sacraments are performed wearing shorts and a T-shirt. On the eve of the solemn event, the parents, as well as godmothers and fathers, must confess. A few days before the sacrament takes place, you should fast.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy child

When a boy is christened, the godfather is always involved in the ceremony. Traditionally, he takes on all financial obligations, buys a cross for the ceremony and a gift. The custom of paying for the ritual is not always entrusted to the godfather; depending on the financial situation, the child’s natural parents can make a donation to the church. It is up to the godmother to buy a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, a blanket, and sometimes a cap. She is also responsible for buying kryzhma and a silk scarf for the clergy.

Girl christening

At the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Its main task is to read the “Creed” prayer during the ceremony. If it is difficult to memorize a text, you can take a hint with words. Traditionally, a woman gives a baptismal set and buys a kryzhma (white towel) for her godchildren. As a gift, you can present an icon of the saint whose name the goddaughter bears. The godfather must buy a cross, and also helps the girl’s parents financially by paying for the ceremony.

Choosing godparents

One of the main tasks of parents is to choose the right godparents (fathers) from Orthodox Christians for their newborn. These are not just those people who give gifts to a child on holidays, but also engage in spiritual education, teach the rules of Christian life and the basics of Orthodox doctrine. According to the church charter, one godparent is required: for a girl - a woman, for a boy - a man, but often both the godmother and the godfather are invited for the baptism procedure. Both recipients must be Orthodox Christians.

Receivers cannot be changed, so parents must carefully choose mentors for their baby. Often the child’s relatives are invited to this responsible “position”. Grandmothers, uncles, older sisters and any other people close to the family can become godparents. If you choose adoptees from the family, the godson will communicate with them more often, for example, at family events. In addition to the conditions set by the church, it is worth paying attention to the following qualities of potential godparents:

• reliability;
• responsibility;
• high moral and ethical values.

Who has no right to be a godfather

According to the norms of church law, sometimes a person cannot become a godfather or godmother. The high responsibility that is imposed on the recipients determines the circle of people who cannot lay claim to such an honorable role. The following cannot become godparents:

• spouses or bride and groom for one child;
• parents for their baby;
• monks and nuns;
• non-Orthodox, unbaptized;
• immoral or insane;
• children (boys under 15, girls under 13).

The sacrament of baptism - rules for godparents

Responsibility for raising their godchildren in the Orthodox spirit is assigned to their godchildren. Preparing for this most important stage in a child’s life plays a huge role, although it does not require much effort. Previously, recipients need to undergo a special interview by visiting the church. The godmother helps the parents prepare some items for the child's baptism. It is important that she knows how to handle the child, that she can take off his clothes and put on the baptismal set.

The godmother plays the most important role when the sacrament is performed on a girl. In cases where male infants are baptized, the godfather bears great responsibility. He takes the baby after immersing himself in the holy font, when the baby is wrapped in kryzhma. The godfather can also participate in the purchase of a baptismal set or cross. All material expenses are secondary; the main condition for a child’s baptism is the sincere faith of the relatives and godparents.

What you need to know

Godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of spiritual education of the godson, teaching him the basics of the Christian faith. If the recipients are not sufficiently informed, then they should fill in the gaps, study the relevant literature, and talk with priests. Before the sacrament, it is better to learn about the rules of the ceremony. It is important to clarify at what stage the godmother takes the baby, and when the baby is held by the godfather, at what point the child is wrapped in kryzhma, and when the baptismal shirt is put on him.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

To receive the sacrament of baptism, a person (or recipients, if the ceremony is performed on a child) needs to know two fundamental prayers for all Christians: “Our Father”, “Creed”. It is better to know their text by heart and understand the meaning. In the modern church, they are tolerant of the fact that recipients do not remember prayers. It is allowed to read them according to the prayer book.

Responsibilities of godparents

The role of godparents does not end after the sacrament of baptism; they need to pay a lot of attention to the spiritual education of the godson. Through personal example, the recipients must demonstrate human virtues to the child and teach him the basics of the Christian faith. With Christian upbringing, children need to learn to resort to the sacraments of confession, communion, and become familiar with the dates of church holidays. Godparents give knowledge about the gracious power of the icon of the Mother of God and other shrines.

The godparents teach the godchildren to attend services, pray, observe fasting and other provisions of the church charter. Of the many tasks assigned to godparents, the most important is daily prayer for their godson. Throughout your life, you should maintain a warm and trusting relationship with your godson, be with him in sorrow and joy.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The sacred sacrament is carried out according to a specific plan and in an established order, which does not change for many years. The baptism of a child is called a spiritual birth, the main participants in the process are the priest, godparents and the newborn. According to ancient customs, the baby’s natural parents should not be present during the ceremony, but today they treat this with loyalty and allow mom and dad to attend the sacrament. The procedure can be divided into the following stages:

1. The rite of announcement. At that stage, over those preparing for baptism, the priest three times reads prohibitory prayers against evil and the baby’s renunciation of it. The baby is wrapped only in diapers, his chest and face should be free.
2. Prohibition on unclean spirits. Turning to the west, the priest reads prayers against Satan three times.
3. The renunciation of the recipients. The priest asks questions, and the recipients are responsible for the baby.
4. Confession of fidelity to the son of God. The godparents and the baby turn to the east and again answer the priest’s questions. At the end of the rite of confession of allegiance, the recipients read the prayer “Creed.”
5. Blessing of water. The priest dresses in white robes and performs the ceremony. The receivers each take a candle in their hands, and 3 more are lit on the eastern side of the font. After reading the prayer and asking for illumination of the water, the priest baptizes the water three times and blows on it.
6. Blessing of the oil. This stage of baptism is carried out similarly to the illumination of water. The priest blows into the vessel with oil three times, makes the sign of the cross over it, and reads a prayer. The holy oil is anointed with the water of the baptismal font.
7. Immersion of the baby in the font three times. The priest baptizes the child by immersing him in water three times. The procedure is accompanied by special prayers. After the baby is dipped into the font three times, the priest hands the baby over to his receivers. The godfather takes the boy's child, the godmother takes the girl. The baby is wrapped in a baptismal towel or kryzhma.
8. Dressing the baby in baptismal clothes. The baptism ceremony continues with the putting on of baptismal shirts on the newly baptized, and the baby is also given a cross.
9. Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest anoints the baby’s forehead, eyes, cheeks, chest, arms and legs while saying a prayer. The boy is carried around the altar three times, the priest helps the girls to venerate the icon of the Mother of God. The process is accompanied by a prayer of churching.
10. Hair cutting ritual. The priest cuts some hair from the newborn's head. At the end of the sacrament, this hair remains in the church as a symbol of the first sacrifice to God.

Celebration of christening

The holy sacrament of baby baptism ends with a family celebration. The ceremonial table should include dishes made from dough and cereals. Guests are often treated to pancakes, pies and other pastries. It is traditional to serve poultry; clay dishes are used for baking it. An indispensable treat should be vegetables and herbs, symbolizing spring and the beginning of a new life. Godparents and guests present the baby with a gift. There are no special requirements for choosing a gift. You can give anything: from an icon of a saint to a set of silver spoons.

What to do with baptismal items

How to be baptized is described in detail in the Bible, but there are no recommendations for the use of baptismal paraphernalia. Because of this, there are many opinions and advice. Priests can recommend several options for storing kryzhma to parents:

• put it in a corner of the chest of drawers and take it out in extreme cases (if the baby is sick or is acting restless);
• place the kryzhma near the crib, hiding it from public view, so that it protects the baby.

When the baby does not wear the cross all the time, it can be stored along with the kryzhma in the chest of drawers. While opinions may differ regarding the use of kryzhma, there are actions that absolutely cannot be carried out with it. The baptism towel cannot be washed, thrown away, or baptized another person in it. The baptismal shirt is put into a box or a special bag and kept for life. There is an opinion that it has healing powers; the shirt can be applied to the sore spot of the person who has been baptized in it.

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Baptism is a kind of spiritual cleansing of a person, which is performed only once in a lifetime. A person who is going to be baptized must know the basics of Orthodoxy, as well as the most important prayers. As for infants, they cannot yet learn the Orthodox faith, but their godparents can vouch for them. It is the godparents who, during the ceremony, undertake before God to raise their godson according to Orthodox canons. They must be people leading a pious lifestyle, and even in the event of misfortune, if suddenly their godson is left without parents, they must replace them for him.

The question arises whether it is worth baptizing infants, because they still cannot independently understand what is happening. The fact is that baptized children can venerate icons and receive communion regularly, thus having protection and an Orthodox upbringing from birth. After a secret ceremony in honor of the little one, you can submit notes about health, order magpies and mention his name in prayers.

Before the ceremony, you need to take care of purchasing an Orthodox cross. It is usually purchased from the temple as it is properly made and sanctified. But, if you need a cross made of gold, but there is no way to buy it in the temple. In this case, you need to purchase it at a jewelry store and show it to the clergyman before the ceremony. In Orthodox practice, there should be two godparents: a woman and a man, but only one is required. For a boy to be baptized, it is obligatory for a man to participate in the baptism, and for a girl, a woman.

Preparing a mother for her baby's Baptism

On the eve of the day of the ceremony, it is necessary to discuss in advance with the Priest the issue of the presence of the mother in the baptismal room. It is believed that a woman is purified only on the fortieth day after giving birth, so if the Baptism of the baby is planned earlier, the mother will not be present.

If forty days have passed since the birth of the baby, and the mother wants to be present, she needs to inform the Priest about this the day before the ceremony so that he can read a special cleansing prayer, after which she will be allowed into the baptismal room.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The duration of this sacrament is an hour and a half. Before it begins, candles are lit in the temple and the Priest reads special prayers. To carry out Baptism, the baby is undressed, and he is in the arms of his godparents. The girl should be held in her arms by her godfather, and the boy should be held by her godmother. In winter, the baby will most likely be left dressed. But the legs and arms must remain open.

After all the necessary prayers have been read, the Priest will ask the godparents to face the western side of the temple and answer important questions. Then they recite a special prayer.
Next, the Priest will bless the water, oil and anoint the chest, ears, legs and arms of the crumbs.

Then, the Priest will take the baby in his arms and plunge his head into the water three times. In this case, the baby should be turned to face the eastern part of the temple. And only after this, the baby is given into the hands of his godparents. When receiving a godson, the godfather holds a kryzma in his hands - a special cloth for baptism. After the child has dried, he can be dressed in baptismal clothes and put on a cross.

Clothes should be white, this indicates that he has a pure soul, which he must preserve, and the cross is considered a sign of faith in the Lord. Parents must take care to preserve the baptismal robe and kryzhma.

After the rite of Baptism, the rite of Confirmation will be performed, during which the Priest anoints the baby with specially consecrated oil (chrism), as if outlining the image of a cross on the forehead, nostrils, eyes, ears, lips, arms and legs.

Then, the Priest goes around the font with candles three times and wipes the myrrh remaining on the baby’s body. Afterwards, the prayer required for cutting the hair is read and the Priest cuts the baby’s hair in a cross shape. They are then rolled with wax and placed in the font.

At the end of all the rituals, the priest reads a prayer for the baby and godparents, blessing everyone to leave the temple. If the baby is 40 days old at the time of Baptism, then Churching also takes place. A priest with a child in his hands marks them with a cross at the entrance to the temple, in the center of the temple and near the Royal Gate. If a baby is baptized - a boy, then the Priest with the child in his arms enters the altar. If a girl is baptized, she is not brought into the altar, since she cannot become a clergyman in the future. After which, the child, both male and female, is applied to the icons of the Mother of God and the Savior. It is then given to one of the parents. After which the child must be given communion.

Communion in Orthodox churches occurs at the end of the morning liturgy. If parents bring a baby to the temple at the time of communion, then they line up among the communicants. In the temple, parents and babies are usually allowed to go first. Usually, communicants are given bread and wine, but if the communicant is small, then he is given wine. It is always necessary to give communion to babies, at least once a month, then the baby will get sick less and feel great.

What things are needed for baptism?:

1. A small Orthodox cross (you can choose any one you like, but it is better to purchase it in a church where it will already be illuminated);
2. Christening gown or christening shirt;
3. Baptismal kryzhma - the cloth into which the godparents receive the baby during Baptism;
4. Icon;
5. Diaper;
6. Towel;
7. Candles.

Parents should not forget immediately after the ceremony about the cross they bought; the child must wear it constantly, throughout his life. Therefore, take care in advance about where the cross will hang on your baby’s body. The best option would be a satin rope, since a chain or rope can rub the baby’s delicate skin. When the child grows up, you can put a chain on him.

The baby needs to be fed on a schedule, so the mother should take care of feeding times so that he is not hungry during Baptism.

If you want to capture this important moment in life, find out in advance whether it is possible to take photos or videos during the ceremony, and if the Priest gives his consent, then agree with the photographer in advance.

How godparents are chosen and their responsibilities

Currently, young parents choose godparents for their baby, without particularly thinking about the responsibility that will be entrusted to them after the ceremony. Therefore, it often turns out that the child saw his godfather or godmother once or twice in his life.

When choosing godparents, you should take into account that they are close to your family and are on good and friendly terms. Godparents must themselves be baptized. It is necessary that the godparents wear a cross at the time of the ceremony. The baby's relatives can also be godparents: grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. But these people cannot be insane, leading an antisocial lifestyle, and coming to the temple for the ceremony while intoxicated. Also, the parents of the baby who is going to be baptized, as well as a man and woman who are married or those who are going to get married, cannot become godparents. Monks and nuns, as well as minors, cannot be godparents.

If the baby’s parents are not baptized, then there will be no obstacles to the baptism of their child. The most important thing is that their godparents be baptized. The main responsibility of the godparents after the ceremony will be the proper upbringing of the child, facilitating the child’s visit to church, receiving communion and explaining the Orthodox canons to him.

How to choose a baptism day and name

Usually, up to forty days from birth, infants who are weak or sick and whose lives are in danger are baptized. In such cases, as a rule, the ceremony is carried out in a hospital or at home. If everything is fine with the child, he grows and develops as expected, he can be baptized already on the fortieth day after birth. Before baptizing a child, you must choose a temple where this sacrament will take place and talk with the Priest about the day. The ritual can be performed on any day; there are no prohibitions on this matter; it can be performed during Lent and on great Orthodox holidays.

As for the name, it is chosen by the parents even before baptism. Parents name the baby as their heart tells them, it can come from the name of the saint on whose day the baby was born, or the name of the saint whose memorial day was on the eighth day from the baby’s birth. You can name your child any name you like, but it is natural to use common sense so that in the future the child can live comfortably with this name.

If the parents chose a name for the child, but there is no saint with that name in Orthodox history, then the child can be baptized under the name of the saint on whose day he was born, and in the future in life it will be he who will be his patron.

This sacrament must be taken seriously. A properly performed ritual will help protect the baby for life.

Useful video about the sacrament of baptism

Before the engagement, the priest will take your rings to consecrate them, candles and icons.

You will be placed in the middle of the church in front of a lectern on which the cross and the Gospel lie, facing the altar. According to custom, the groom stands on the right and the bride on the left. After the priest crosses you three times, he will light your candles at the same time from one large candle. Having crossed the groom with a lighted candle (the groom must cross himself), the priest will give him his candle. Now he will cross the bride, who at this time will also have to cross herself, with the second candle, and give the candle to her. Candles should be held in the left hand, while the candle is taken with the hand through a handkerchief. These candles serve as a sign of your future marital love, which God blesses.

After this, the priest will ask you to stand on a towel spread on the floor in front of the lectern.

Then the priest will read a series of prayers in which he will ask God to bless your betrothal, send you all kinds of blessings and mercies in your married life, unite and keep you in peace and like-mindedness.

After this, the priest will take a small saucer on which your consecrated rings will lie. Moreover, the groom's ring will lie in front of the bride, and the bride's ring will lie in front of the groom. The priest will explain to you that everyone must touch the ring lying in front of him and move it to the opposite side of the plate. This procedure is repeated three times, and in the end everyone will have the ring that is intended for them. Before the betrothal, the rings are taken out of the altar from the throne. This means that the family being created is blessed by God himself.

After this, the priest will take the rings, cross you with them and give each person his ring in his right hand. Now the priest will turn to the groom and say: “The servant of God (name of the groom) is engaged to the servant of God (name of the bride), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.” After that, he will put a ring on the groom. Turning to the bride, the priest will say: “The servant of God (name of the bride) is engaged to the servant of God (name of the groom), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen” - and will put the ring on the bride.

Having accepted your ring, you need to cross yourself. The bride and groom accept these consecrated rings as a pledge and a sign of the strength and inviolability of their sacred union.

Then the priest will read a prayer for the blessing of the betrothed, and the deacon will read a litany. Remember that when reading prayers in church, you are supposed to cross yourself when pronouncing certain words and phrases, such as “Lord, have mercy!”, “Hallelujah!” If you are not very familiar with the rules of conduct during prayer, look at the choir or deacon and cross yourself when they cross themselves. And those moments of engagement or wedding when the newlyweds must cross themselves, the priest will tell you.

Now the priest will ask questions to the bride and groom. Since the entire service is conducted in Church Slavonic, not everyone can immediately understand the content of the question, especially in such a solemn atmosphere. Therefore, we will give an approximate version of the questions that will definitely be asked to you by the priest. The first question to the groom sounds something like this: “Do you (name of the groom) have a good and spontaneous will and a strong thought to take this (name of the bride) as your wife, which you see here in front of you?” The answer to this question is: “Yes.” The second question that will be asked to the groom is: “Has he been promised to another bride?” The answer is, of course, “no.” The priest will ask the bride the same questions. After this, he will read prayers in which he will turn to God with a request to send His heavenly grace to those entering into marriage.

After this, the most important moment of the sacrament will come - the laying of crowns. Crowns have long been signs of royal power. And the fact that the crowns are put on the heads of the bride and groom means that they are the heads of the family being created. The priest will take the first crown in his hands, cross the groom with it, saying: “The servant of God (name of the groom) is married to the servant of God (name of the bride), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.” The groom must cross himself and place his head under the crown if it is intended to be worn on his head. If there are witnesses present at the wedding, the crown is awarded to the one who stands behind the groom.

Then the priest will take the second crown, cross the bride with it, saying: “The servant of God (name of the bride) is married to the servant of God (name of the groom), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” and will put the crown on her head or will be given to the witness, who will hold it over the bride's head throughout the ceremony. If the crowns are placed on your heads, be careful, as they have an inconvenient shape and can slip off if you move awkwardly.

After this, the priest will read the letter of the Apostle Paul, which talks about the importance of the sacrament of marriage, the mutual responsibilities of husband and wife, and a chapter from the Gospel of John about the presence of Jesus Christ at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. After the prayer, the priest will bless the cup of wine brought. You must take three sips from this cup. The cup will first be presented to the groom, and then to the bride, this will be repeated three times. Remember that the wine must be drunk to the last drop, since this ritual is a symbol of the fact that from now on you will share equally both joy and sorrow.

The priest will take your right hands in his, cover them with the stole and circle you three times around the lectern.

How to choose a wedding day

Firstly, weddings cannot take place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday throughout the year and on the eve of the twelve, temple and great holidays (you can find out more about these days in the church or from the Orthodox calendar).

The rite of church marriage is not performed during fasting.

Great Lent (48 days before Easter).

Petrov (from the second Monday after Trinity to Peter's day).

During Shrovetide week.

During Easter week.

On the days and on the eve of the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11) and the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord (September 27).

A wedding is the “golden gate” to this wonderful world.

Each couple can choose a church to their liking; there are no strict rules here. Some people want to get married in a large, magnificent temple with a huge choir and bells ringing. And for those who love privacy, a modest chapel is quite suitable, where the choir consists of two or three girls, but there is no need to be afraid of a large number of onlookers.

What a wedding could be like

A traditional wedding presupposes the presence of a host with his own prepared program, the organization of a bride price, a rich table, many guests, and walks around the city. The wedding venue can be any restaurant, bar, cafe, banquet hall, even your own apartment. The dishes at such a holiday are very diverse. You can give preference to any cuisine in the world, of course, taking into account the tastes of your guests. The music at your wedding can be very diverse. These can be both melodies of past years and modern music. You can invite musicians whose repertoire includes melodies that suit your taste. Guests can be entertained by the toastmaster, who will offer a variety of competitions and games for guests and newlyweds.

For those who have imbibed a conservative attitude towards life with their mother’s milk, such a festive program will seem like heaven on earth, however, today more and more newlyweds are opting for the exotic, trying to be different from the rest. Beautiful brides change their virgin white outfit to scarlet, blue and even black dresses. Others surprise the guests gathered for the wedding ceremony with the type of transport that takes the newlyweds to the wedding altar. Some people prefer… a parachute to the “bored” limousines and carriages drawn by three horses.

If we talk about the ways of travel for future spouses to the Wedding Palace, then, perhaps, one of the most unusual weddings took place several years ago in the city of Kharkov. Many city residents were surprised by the newlyweds who decided to create a symbiosis of a wedding limousine and a banquet hall from a tram car. The bride's mother, who works as a conductor, helped make her dream come true. It turned out that the usual tram car could even turn into a dance floor, on which numerous guests danced for about two hours, after which the wedding continued more traditionally - in a restaurant.

One American couple celebrated their wedding in the dairy department of the store - it was there that they met several years ago. In a word, a wedding “on the spot”

Sometimes friends of the newlyweds prefer not to let their spouses in on the secrets of the celebration scenario, preparing a surprise. An example of extreme celebration was once an operation codenamed "Takeover" involving a special police unit. At the height of the celebration, dozens of special forces burst into the cafe and searched the guests. They found a suspicious white powder on the newlyweds, helpfully planted by the presenter. Both the guests and the heroes of the occasion were in shock. But the most amazing thing happened after. Music started playing, and several riot policemen professionally danced a striptease. Only after this the newlyweds realized that they had been played by the organizers of the holiday.