Can I refuse to be godfather or godmother? Who can be godparents?

When the baby is born, the first cry and sigh testify to his physical birth. Spiritually, this moment comes on the day of baptism. The rite of acceptance of faith accompanies us for many generations. The right to be godfather is considered honorable, it indicates a special, warm and trusting relationship between the parents of the child and the recipients. Their duty is to accept the spiritual birth of a person and be responsible for the faith of their godson.

The answer to the question of who can be the godparents of a boy or a girl is evident from the point of view of the church. This title is worthy of people who support the Orthodox faith and have reached adulthood. They are responsible for bringing the child to spiritual values.

What carries within it the sacrament of baptism

Baptism is an ancient rite conducted in the Orthodox Church. The main purpose is to cleanse a person from misdeeds committed in a past life so that he can start his new journey with a "clean slate".

When the baby is brought into the church for the first time in order to baptize him, only the closest people and spiritual mentor remain in the holy place . Hence the name "sacrament of baptism".

After the priest utters all the prayers and thrice wipes the baby with water from the font, the ritual is considered complete.

Most of us are baptized in the first months of our lives, and therefore in the memory of a person there is no information about everything that is happening. People live, develop, build families. At some point the time comes when the offer to become a godparent comes. Or, moreover, a child is born in the family and it must be baptized.

In such a situation, a natural question arises: "Whom do you take as a receptor and can you refuse to be godfather?". The answer is not to be found in the faith or the church, it is within ourselves. It is very important to sensibly assess the possibilities of future godparents: will they be able to give the child something that they can not give you, whether they will love him as a native and whether they will not be thrown off the true path.

It is also necessary to understand that life is very unpredictable, and if the godfather or mother quarrel with the parents of the godson, this should not in any way affect their personal relationships and disrupt the spiritual connection.

Spiritual relationship

The godparents experience at least the parents before the child's baptism. This, to a large extent, is connected with the progress of church illiteracy among the modern population. This often leads to refusal to be a receptor. Here the main thing is to understand that to be godfather is not terrible, if you take this step consciously. And it is not necessary to comply with church canons. It is possible that this event will turn your inner world and perception, and you will be drawn to self-education in this regard.

It is important for the church that the chosen godparents will clearly understand: henceforth they are responsible for the child exactly as it is assigned to biological parents.

When choosing the recipients for their child, parents should take into account that the church is not supportive of receiving the spiritual birth of a child, if it is taken by a married couple. But in this case, the husband or wife may be the godchild of several children of one parent.

Godmothers close relatives - is it possible?

Every conscious parent before the child's baptism has a difficult question as to how to choose the godfather and the cross for the baby. However, in most cases the answer to it is on the surface, it is only necessary to delve deeply into the rules of the church.

In the olden times, the circle of relatives tried to expand as much as possible. This was done to increase the number of people who in the future will take care of the child and help him in difficult situations. That is why the invitation to be a recipient of close relatives came only as an exception. This is due to the fact that in one family everyone cares about each other and without that. Again, to increase the family circle tried to do so that the brother and sister had different godfather and mother. But here the restriction is not from the side of the church, but under the influence of human concepts.

The main thing is that the receiver should not forget about his duties, and he did not have a question as to whether he could refuse to be a godfather. After passing with the child a rite of baptism, the parent should feel a spiritual connection with him.

How many children can one person baptize?

If a person by nature is kind, sociable and loves children, then he can repeatedly offer different families to become a recipient. Involuntarily a question arises about how many times you can be godfather and mother?

There are no quantitative restrictions on the part of the church, and you are free to be the spiritual parents of several children. However, it is very important that the cross should realize the importance of this ritual and understand the responsibility that is assigned to him. A spiritual parent is a holy example for a godson. Not fulfilling his duties, he will answer not before the parents of the child, but before God. Throughout life, the receiver must care for and protect his godson, no matter how much he has.

There is a rumor in the people that a woman who baptized one child and wished to become a recipient for one more, takes off the cross from her first-born. Fortunately, this is only a myth and the church has a view of it.

Re-baptism is like a second birth for a biological mother who will never leave her first baby if she has one or more children. The godmother bears equal responsibility for her godchildren, and, having become related in a church with several children, even from different parents, she can not forget either of them.

Parents should think hard about those who will cope with this role, because among young people there are often questions about whether it is possible to refuse to be a godfather, while having already passed the rite.

How to choose godparents for a daughter

To choose a godmother for a girl was always more problematic than for a boy. Often the friends of the mother of the child think about whether it is possible to refuse to be a godparent if the girl has not baptized the boy before. This is another folk myth that says that the girl's godmother, who undertook these obligations for the first time and never baptized a boy, will remain a loner, and the goddaughter "will take away her beauty and luck".

This error has no Christian justification, but is exclusively superstition, to which it is a sin to obey. Cross for the girl must be a convinced Orthodox Christian. Another interesting point about which not many parents know, the girl must necessarily have a captive, and a ritual without a godfather is allowed.

The choice of the receiver for the son

It is also worthwhile to understand who can be god's godparents to a boy. Here, just like in the case of the girl, there are no rules and restrictions. The godfather must understand the responsibility he has for the child and that he will need to maintain a spiritual connection with him all his life.

What is the responsibility of the recipients

It's hard to realize that not everyone understands what the godmother and father is for, and why this is the name of their new and such a vital role in life. Maximum, than the participation of godparents in the life of a child is limited - these are visits to the name-day and the day of the angel and the gift of gifts. This, of course, is wonderful, but everything is much deeper on the spiritual side.

The duties of the godfather are in prayer for the son. At least once a day the recipient must turn to God with a petition for his godson. Nothing special, exactly what you need to do for your children: ask for health and well-being, salvation and help. Asking about who can be the godparents of a boy and a girl, answer if any of your close friends can love a child the way you do. And only then it will be possible to decide.

The godmother of duty at the child's baptism places on himself the same as the father. She must help the biological mother, pray for the godson, go with him to church on holidays and develop in the spiritual plan.

Preparation for the baptism of a child

The main point is that the selected godparents should come to church for the baptism of the child with consecrated crosses. The godmother must necessarily be in the temple only with the head covered. You should avoid clothes with trousers. Dress or skirt should be below the knee, and shoulders closed.

The sacrament of baptism is a long rite, which can last up to two hours, so the shoes need steady, low-travel and no heels. During the whole time the receiver will have to hold the baby in his arms.

It is enough for a man to wear a strict suit or trousers with a shirt.

All that is required for the rite: towels, candles, icons - can be purchased at the church. With a child it is necessary to prepare only a cross and clothes.

The church is a place where you should refrain from attracting attention, so be modest in dress and behavior.

Common gifts to godchildren

Modern traditions of baptism differ little from the ancients. Just like before, it is customary to give a child a cross-it is the duty of the godfather, and the godmother gives clothes. This is about the boy's baptism.

If a girl is baptized, then the rules are the same, just the other way around. Now the parents are buying the gifts, but it is desirable that the godparents present a memorable present.

It was a long time ago to give a baby a silver spoon. Her recipients were presented as gifts when the child had the first tooth.

It is believed that it is with this spoon that you should start introducing lure. This tradition has survived to this day.

Can I become a child of a pregnant woman?

There are no prohibitions for a pregnant godmother to take part in the rite. The Church can not prevent the child from baptizing a woman in position. The only thing that can prevent this is the physical condition of the pregnant woman, but if she is sure that she can stand 2 hours with the baby in her arms standing, then you can. The main thing is the realization that soon my mother will have not only her own born child, but also a spiritual godson.

Who is forbidden to become a bearer of the church

According to the laws, there are a number of restrictions, falling under which a person does not have the right to participate in the sacrament of baptism:

• Godparents of another, non-Christian faith - Buddhists, atheists, Catholics, Muslims and others, even if they are the closest friends of the family;
• If parents want to be baptized by parents who are bound by marriage or family relations;
• Mentally ill people are not admitted to the rite;
• If the parents were not baptized;
• If there is no desire to become a receptor;
• Biological parents can not baptize their own child;
• Underage people;
• It is forbidden to baptize stepmothers and stepfathers of their stepdaughters and stepchildren;
• If a woman has critical days, the entrance to the church is prohibited;
• Monks and priests.

In the latter case, the exception is the situation if the priest is the godfather of a monk or a person belonging to the church.

Is it necessary to be married to become godfather?

Another popular myth says that at least one of the godparents should be married. This belief is fundamentally wrong. But at the same time, parents should understand that a married man or a married woman is a more responsible and experienced person, respectively, they clearly understand what duties are assigned to them.

Being a recipient is very responsible and honorable. The godmother of duty at the baptism of the girl confers upon herself similar to what the father who baptized the boy took upon himself.

What to do if the godparent forgot his purpose

Unfortunately, it happens that the recipients forget about the responsibility that they assumed at the moment of the child's baptism. The duties of the godfather include the upbringing, care and spiritual development of the baby.

If parents made the wrong choice and a carefree person turned out to be a crook, then the blame for this lies only on them. In such a situation, they should do what the receiver should have done, and involve the child in the church.

Can I refuse or change my godparents

The sacrament of baptism is a ritual performed once in a lifetime, and no one can cross the child. It does not matter how badly the child's biological or godparents sinned or he himself. What was done before Bohr in a holy place can not be changed.

Depending on the situation, an adult who has already grown up can make his own choice, communicate with godparents who have sinned, changed their faith, or not. If the recipients assumed this responsibility, but failed to fulfill their obligations, they betrayed the godson, and God will have to answer for it.

In this case it can be said that the spiritual union concluded between the parents and the child in infancy is destroyed.

Parents of the child should clearly understand and be sure of the choice of godparents in the same way as in themselves, because this is not a tribute to fashion, but a great sacrament that a person does in the temple only once.