Is it possible to baptize a child in a honey salvation. What do parents need to do after the baptism of a child? Features of Baptism in Great and Dormition Lent

Orthodox baptism of a child: rules, traditions and customs, baptismal set. How the sacrament of the baptism of a boy or girl takes place in the holy temple. What you need to know about performing the ceremony - briefly about the most important thing.

First of all, you need to know the most important thing: baptism is a second birth, a birth into eternal life. It is in baptism that a person gets the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and without it, the salvation of the soul will be impossible.

At the same time, baptism alone is not enough, because salvation is acquired by the whole life of a person, and this life must be inextricably linked with the Church. If you think that your family is absolutely non-Church, you are mistaken: baptism makes every person a member of the Church. Therefore, both you (if you are baptized) and your baby (when you baptize him) belong to the Church of Christ. This means that the Lord takes special care of you and your salvation, looks at you and your family with special love.

Orthodox traditions and customs

Many believers are interested in - is it possible to baptize a child on fast days? You should know that for children the baptism rite is carried out throughout the year, without taking into account the passing fasts and holidays. Most often, this sacrament is performed on the fortieth day after birth. And the church name at baptism of an infant can be given on the eighth day from birth.

Parents (and godparents as well) should learn the Creed prayer, which expresses the main canons. It is advisable to come to the baptism ceremony in discreet, non-defiant clothing. Women will need a headdress - a stole, a shawl or a scarf.

If desired, it is allowed to take a photo or video, which will preserve the memory of the solemn event. But it is better to entrust this work to an outsider, since relatives during baptism should also the well-being of the baby. The ideal option is to invite a professional photographer or video operator to the sacrament.

After the baptism of the child, the sacrament of anointing is performed. During this procedure, the priest applies fragrant oil to the parts of the child's body. After that, the baby is supposed to be dressed in pre-prepared clothes (baptismal set). These clothes are not washed, they are kept throughout the life of a baptized person.

Is baptism permissible without godparents? If this sacrament is performed for a newborn baby or child, then no. People who have reached the age of majority and have decided to accept the sacrament of baptism can do without recipients.

Godparents and Their Responsibilities

Well, now that we have talked about the main thing, what should parents do before the child is baptized? The most important thing is to choose godparents. Let us remember once again: baptism is a second birth. This means that the godparents are second parents. They are responsible for helping parents in every possible way in raising a child. We emphasize: godparents should help to educate, and not just give gifts for the baby (gifts, of course, are pleasant, but no one will argue that they are not the main parental responsibility).

The godparents must certainly be believers and very desirable - people who often visit the temple. After all, they are responsible before God to teach the child the basics of faith, to bring him to the Church. And of course, godparents should pray for their godson all their lives.

If we talk about when it is better to baptize a child, then traditionally the sacrament is performed on the fortieth day from birth or shortly after. During this time, the baby will get stronger, and the parents will get used to the new life. But the most important thing is that after the fortieth day, the baby's mother can be present at the baptism, if certain prayers were read over her (which the priest knows).

But it is very important to remember: nothing prevents a child from baptizing earlier, and if there is even the slightest fear for the life of a newborn, baptism should be made immediately, even in the hospital. If a newborn is so weak that doctors do not vouch for his life, and there is no opportunity to invite a priest, any believer, including the baby's mother, can baptize the child.

What is included in the baptismal set

For the baptism itself, prepare a small cross (it does not matter at all which one is gold, silver or the simplest one), which is supposed to be put on a string of sufficient length. The cross should not have sharp edges that could injure the baby. You will also need a towel on which you need to put a diaper, a new undershirt.

It's great if the undershirt is white, not blue or pink: White color means the primordial purity of the soul, which she receives in baptism. It will be convenient for everyone if you prepare a vest, and not a baptismal dress, of which there are many now sold for both boys and girls. The undershirt is much easier to put on quickly - the priest will not have any difficulties, and the child will not experience any inconvenience.

The standard baptismal set includes booties, a towel or diaper, a scarf or a bonnet. Discreet embroidery or finishing of things with satin and lace is allowed. However, it must be remembered that a spiritual ordinance is being performed, so excessive excesses will be inappropriate.

Don't worry if your baby cries during baptism. There are no superstitious explanations for this, and the reasons for a child's cry can be found in the simplest and most familiar to you: hunger or fatigue. After completing the sacrament, you can easily comfort your baby and together you will rejoice at his birth in new life, life in God and with God.

What is soul salvation

What should be called salvation? Often this is understood as a guarantee of health, good behavior and successful studies, and all kinds of well-being. This is not entirely true: for health you need correct image life, for good behavior - proper education, for successful studies - diligent pursuits. Well-being is generally a very relative concept. Baptism opens the doors of the church for us and gives us the opportunity to live with Christ.

The inexpressible sweetness of such a life cannot be imagined or explained in words: it can only be tasted. To do this, you need not close the doors of the church for yourself and for the child after baptism, but come there for prayer, confession and communion. You need to try to keep the commandments of God and teach your children to do this, in case of non-compliance - sincerely repent. You need to accustom yourself to prayer and good deeds, and most importantly - to love the Lord, to love with all your heart, with all your soul.

And then the Lord with His grace will cover the whole life of the baptized person and will always help in everything. And with God's help, your child will have better health, better behavior, and more successful studies.

After the ordinance of baptism, the child will receive two invisible helpers. All his life there will be a guardian angel and a heavenly patron next to him. A guardian angel is a disembodied spirit that will protect a person from troubles and misfortunes, and proclaim to him the will of God, lead him along the path of salvation.

The heavenly patron is a saint who once lived on earth and glorified God with his life. He will pray to the Lord for those who have been baptized in his honor. And his life is a role model. Of course, neither a child nor an adult can literally imitate a martyr or a saint, but it is quite possible to take as an example the strength of his faith or the purity of life. If you do not know for sure in whose honor the child was baptized, and there are several saints with this name, that saint is considered the heavenly patron, the day of memory of which is the closest after the baby's birthday.

What is Baptism? Why is it called the Sacrament? You will find exhaustive answers to all these questions in this article, prepared by the editors of Pravmir.

The Sacrament of Baptism: Answers to Readers' Questions

Today I would like to tell the reader about the sacrament of Baptism and about the godparents.

For ease of perception, I will offer the reader an article in the form of questions most often asked by people about Baptism and the answers to them. So first question:

What is Baptism? Why is it called the Sacrament?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church, in which the believer, when the body is immersed in water three times with the invocation of the name of the Most Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, dies for a sinful life, and is reborn by the Holy Spirit for Eternal Life. Of course, there is a basis for this action in the Holy Scriptures: “He who is not born of water and the Spirit cannot enter the Kingdom of God” (John 3, 5). Christ says in the Gospel: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned ”(Mark 16:16).

So, baptism is necessary for a person to be saved. Baptism is a new birth for spiritual life in which a person can attain the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is called a sacrament because through it the invisible saving power of God - grace - acts on the baptized person in a mysterious, incomprehensible way for us. Like other sacraments, baptism is ordained by God. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, sending the apostles to the gospel sermon, taught them to baptize people: “Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28, 19). Having been baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church of Christ and from now on can proceed to the rest of the church sacraments.

Now that the reader is familiar with the Orthodox concept of baptism, it is appropriate to consider one of the most frequently asked questions related to the baptism of children. So:

Infant Baptism: Is It Possible To Baptize Infants Because They Do Not Have An Independent Faith?

Quite right, young children do not have independent, conscious faith. But do not her parents, who brought their child to be baptized into the temple of God, have her? Will they not instill in their child faith in God from childhood? Obviously, parents have this kind of faith and are more likely to instill it in their child. In addition, the child will have godparents - recipients of the baptismal font, who vouch for him and undertake to educate their godfather in the Orthodox faith. Thus, babies are baptized not according to their own faith, but according to the faith of their parents and godparents who brought the child for baptism.

The prototype of the New Testament baptism was the Old Testament circumcision. In the Old Testament, infants were brought to the temple for circumcision on the eighth day. By this, the parents of the child showed their and his faith and belonging to the chosen people of God. Christians can say the same about baptism in the words of John Chrysostom: "Baptism is the most obvious difference and separation of the faithful from the unbelievers." Moreover, there is a basis for this in the Holy Scriptures: “Circumcised by circumcision not made by hands, by the removal of the sinful body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ; being buried with Him in baptism ”(Col. 2: 11-12). That is, baptism is dying and burial to sin and resurrection for a perfect life with Christ.

These reasons are enough for the reader to understand the importance of infant baptism. After that, the following question will be quite natural:

When should children be baptized?

There are no definite rules in this matter. But usually children are baptized on the 40th day after birth, although this can be done sooner or later. The main thing is not to postpone baptism for a long time unless absolutely necessary. It would be wrong to deprive a child of such a great sacrament for the sake of the prevailing circumstances.

The curious reader may have questions regarding the days of baptism. For example, on the eve of multi-day fasting, the most frequently heard question is:

Can children be baptized on fast days?

Sure! But technically, it doesn't always work out. In some churches, during the days of Great Lent, they baptize only on Saturdays and Sundays. This practice is most likely based on the fact that weekday Lenten services are very long, and the intervals between morning and evening services may be small. On Saturdays and Sundays, services are somewhat shorter in time, and priests can devote more time to services. Therefore, when planning the day of baptism, it is better to know in advance about the rules observed in the temple where the child will be baptized. Well, if in general we talk about the days on which you can baptize, then there are no restrictions on this issue. You can baptize children on any day when there are no technical obstacles to this.

I have already mentioned that every person, if possible, should have godparents - receivers from the baptismal font. Moreover, children who are baptized according to the faith of their parents and receivers should have them. The question arises:

How many godparents should a child have?

Church rules prescribe for a child to have a recipient of the same sex as the person being baptized. That is, for a boy - a man, and for a girl - a woman. In tradition, both godparents are usually chosen for the child: father and mother. This does not contradict the canons in any way. It will also not be a contradiction if, if necessary, the child will have a recipient of a different sex than the person being baptized. The main thing is that this is a truly religious person who subsequently conscientiously fulfills his duties to bring up a child in the Orthodox faith. Thus, the baptized person can have one or, at most, two recipients.

Having dealt with the number of godparents, the reader will most likely want to know:

What are the requirements for godparents?

The first and foremost requirement is the undoubted Orthodox faith of the recipients. Godfathers must be church-going people, living a church life. After all, they will have to teach their godson or goddaughter the basics of the Orthodox faith, give spiritual instructions. If they themselves are ignorant in these matters, then what can they teach the child? The great responsibility of the spiritual education of their godchildren is laid on the godparents, for they, together with their parents, are responsible for it before God. This responsibility begins with the renunciation of "Satan and all his works, and all his angel, and all his ministry, and all his pride." Thus, the recipients, being responsible for their godson, make a promise that their godchild will be a Christian.

If the godson is already an adult and himself utters the words of renunciation, then the godparents present at the same time become sureties before the Church in the fidelity of his words. The godparents are obliged to teach their godchildren to resort to the saving Sacraments of the Church, mainly confession and communion, should give them knowledge about the meaning of worship, the peculiarities of the church calendar, about the blessed power of miraculous icons and other shrines. Godfathers should teach those they have received from the font to attend church services, fast, pray and observe other provisions of the church charter. But the main thing is that godparents should always pray for their godson. Obviously, strangers cannot be godparents, for example, some kind-hearted grandmother from the church, whom the parents persuaded to "hold" the baby for baptism.

But it is also not worth taking as godparents simply close people or relatives who do not meet the spiritual requirements that were set out above.

Godparents should not become an object of personal benefit for the parents of the baptized person. The desire to become related with a profitable person, for example, with a boss, often guides parents when choosing godparents for a child. At the same time, forgetting about the true purpose of baptism, parents can deprive the child of a real godfather, and impose on him one who subsequently will not at all care about the spiritual education of the child, for which he himself will also answer before God. Unrepentant sinners and people leading an immoral lifestyle cannot become godparents.

Some of the details of baptism include the following question:

Can a woman become a godmother on the days of a month's cleansing? What if this did happen?

On such days, women should refrain from participating in church ordinances, which include baptism. But if this did happen, then it is necessary to repent of it in confession.

Perhaps someone reading this article will become godfather himself in the near future. Realizing the importance of the decision, they will be interested in:

How can future godparents prepare for baptism?

There are no special rules for preparing recipients for baptism. At some churches, special conversations are held, the purpose of which is usually to explain to a person all the provisions of the Orthodox faith regarding baptism and acceptance. If it is possible to attend such conversations, then it is necessary to do so, because it is very useful for future godparents. If the future godparents are sufficiently churched, constantly confess and receive communion, then attending such conversations will be a sufficient measure of preparation for them.

If potential recipients themselves are not yet sufficiently churchly, then a good preparation for them will be not only the acquisition of the necessary knowledge about church life, but also the study of Holy Scripture, the basic rules of Christian piety, as well as a three-day fast, confession and communion before the sacrament of baptism. There are several other traditions concerning the recipients. Usually the godfather takes care of the payment (if any) for the baptism itself and the acquisition pectoral cross for his godson. The godmother buys a baptismal cross for the girl, and also brings the things necessary for baptism. A baptismal kit usually includes a baptismal shirt, a sheet, and a towel.

But these traditions are optional. Often in different regions and even individual churches have their own traditions, the execution of which is strictly monitored by parishioners and even priests, although they do not have any dogmatic and canonical foundations. Therefore, it is better to learn more about them in the temple in which the baptism will take place.

Sometimes one hears a purely technical question related to baptism:

What should godparents give for baptism (godson, godson's parents, priest)?

This question does not lie in the spiritual realm governed by canonical rules and traditions. But it seems that the gift should be useful and remind of the day of baptism. Useful gifts on the day of baptism there could be icons, the Gospel, spiritual literature, prayer books, etc. In general, in church shops now you can find a lot of interesting and soulful things, so acquiring a worthy gift should not be a big difficulty.

Enough frequent question asked by unchurched parents, there is a question:

Can non-Orthodox Christians or non-Christians become godparents?

It is quite obvious that no, for they will in no way be able to teach their godson the truths of the Orthodox faith. Not being members of the Orthodox Church, they generally cannot take part in church sacraments.

Unfortunately, many parents do not ask about this in advance and without any qualms of conscience invite non-Orthodox and non-believers to be godparents to their children. At baptism, of course, no one talks about this. But then, having learned about the inadmissibility of the deed, the parents run to the temple, asking:

What if it happened by mistake? Is baptism valid in this case? Do I need to baptize the child?

First of all, such situations show the extreme irresponsibility of parents when choosing godparents for their child. Nevertheless, such cases are not uncommon, and they are found among unchurched people who do not live a church life. An unambiguous answer to the question "what to do in this case?" it is impossible to give, because there is nothing like this in church canons. This is not surprising, since canons and rules are written for members of the Orthodox Church, which cannot be said about heterodox and non-believers. Nevertheless, as a fact, the baptism took place, and it cannot be called invalid. It is legal and valid, and the baptized person became a full-fledged Orthodox Christian, tk. was baptized by an Orthodox priest in the name of the Holy Trinity. No re-baptism is required, there is no such concept at all in the Orthodox Church. A person is born physically once, he cannot repeat it again. Likewise - only once a person can be born for the spiritual life, therefore there can be only one baptism.

I will allow myself a small digression and tell the reader how I once had to witness one not very pleasant scene. A young married couple brought their newborn son to the temple for baptism. The spouses worked for a foreign company and invited one of their colleagues, a foreigner, by the Lutheran faith, to become the godfather. True, a girl of the Orthodox faith was supposed to become the godmother. Neither parents, nor future godparents were distinguished by special knowledge in the field of the Orthodox faith. The parents of the child were hostile to the news of the impossibility of having a Lutheran as the godfather of their son. They were asked to find another godfather or baptize the child with one godmother. But this proposal made the father and mother even more angry. The stubborn desire to see this particular person as the recipient prevailed over the common sense of the parents and the priest had to refuse to baptize the child. Thus, the illiteracy of the parents became an obstacle to the baptism of their child.

Thank God that such situations have never been encountered in my priestly practice. The curious reader may well assume that there may be some obstacles to receiving the ordinance of baptism. And he will be absolutely right. So:

When can a priest refuse to be baptized?

Orthodox Christians believe in God the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The founder of the Christian faith was the Son - the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who does not accept the divinity of Christ and does not believe in the Holy Trinity cannot be an Orthodox Christian. Also, a person who denies the truths of the Orthodox faith cannot become an Orthodox Christian. A priest has the right to refuse a person to be baptized if he is going to accept the sacrament as a magical rite or has some kind of pagan belief regarding baptism itself. But this is a separate issue and I will touch on it later.

A very common question about receivers is the question:

Can spouses or those who intend to marry become godparents?

Yes they can. Contrary to popular belief, there is no canonical prohibition for spouses or those intending to marry to be godparents with one child. There is only a canonical rule that prohibits the godfather from marrying the child's own mother. The spiritual relationship established between them through the sacrament of baptism is higher than any other union, even marriage. But this rule does not in any way affect the possibility of marriage of godparents or the possibility of spouses becoming godparents.

Sometimes unchurched parents of children, wanting to choose godparents for their children, ask the following question:

Can people living in a civil marriage become recipients?

At first glance, this is a rather complex issue, but from the church point of view, it is resolved unambiguously. Such a family cannot be called a full-fledged one. And in general it is impossible to call a prodigal cohabitation a family. Indeed, in fact, people living in a so-called civil marriage live in fornication. This is a big trouble modern society... People baptized in the Orthodox Church, at least aware of themselves as Christians, for some incomprehensible reason refuse to legitimize their union not only before God (which is undoubtedly more important), but also before the state. There are a myriad of excuses. But, unfortunately, these people simply do not want to understand that they are looking for any excuses for themselves.

For God, the desire to "get to know each other better" or "unwillingness to stain the passport with unnecessary seals" cannot be an excuse for fornication. In fact, people living in a "civil" marriage trample on all Christian concepts of marriage and family. Christian marriage presupposes the responsibility of the spouses for each other. During the marriage, they become a single whole, and not two different people who made a promise from now on to live under the same roof. Marriage can be compared to two legs of one body. If one leg stumbles or breaks, won't the other carry the entire weight of the body on itself? And in a "civil" marriage, people do not even want to take responsibility for stamping their passports.

What then can we say about such irresponsible people, while wanting to be godparents? What good can they teach the child? Could they, having very shaky moral foundations, be able to give a good example to their godson? Not at all. Also, according to church canons, people leading an immoral life (“civil” marriage should be regarded as such) cannot be recipients of the baptismal font. And if these people finally decide to legalize their relationship before God and the state, then they, moreover, will not be able to be godparents with one child. Despite the seeming complexity of the question, there can be only one answer to it - unequivocally: no.

The topic of gender relations is always very acute in all areas of human life. It goes without saying that this translates into various issues directly related to baptism. Here is one of them:

Can a young man (or girl) become a godfather for his bride (groom)?

In this case, they will have to terminate their relationship and limit themselves only to a spiritual connection, tk. in the sacrament of baptism, one of them will become the recipient - the godparent of the other. Can a son marry his own mother? Or a daughter to marry her own father? Obviously not. Of course, the church canons cannot allow this to happen.

Much more often than others, there are questions about the possible susceptibility of close relatives. So:

Can relatives become godparents?

Grandfathers, grandmothers, uncles and aunts may well become godparents with their little relatives. There are no contradictions to this in the church canons.

Can a foster father (mother) become a godfather for an adopted child?

According to rule 53 of the VI Ecumenical Council, this is unacceptable.

Based on the fact that a spiritual relationship is established between the godparents and the godparents, an inquisitive reader may ask the following question:

Can the parents of the child become the recipients of the children of their godmothers (godfathers of their children)?

Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. Such an action does not in any way violate the spiritual relationship that has been established between parents and recipients, but only strengthens it. One of the parents, for example, the mother of a child, can become the godmother of the daughter of one of the godfathers. And the father may well be the godfather of the son of another godfather or godfather. Other options are possible, but, in any case, spouses cannot become recipients of one child.

Sometimes people ask this question:

Can a priest be a godfather (including the one who performs the sacrament of baptism)?

Yes maybe. In general, this question is very urgent. From time to time I have to hear a request to become a godfather from people who are completely unfamiliar to me. Parents bring their child to baptism. For some reason not found godfather for a child. They begin to ask to become a godfather for the child, motivating this request by the fact that they heard from someone that in the absence of the godfather, the priest must fulfill this role. We have to refuse and baptize with one godmother. A priest is the same person as everyone else, and he may well refuse strangers to be godfather to their child. After all, he will have to bear responsibility for the upbringing of his godfather. But how can he do this if he sees this child for the first time and is completely unfamiliar with his parents? And, most likely, he will never see again. This is obviously not possible. But a priest (even if he himself performs the ordinance of baptism) or, for example, a deacon (and the one who will concelebrate the sacrament of baptism to the priest) may well become recipients of the children of his friends, acquaintances or parishioners. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Continuing the theme of receptivity, one cannot but recall such a phenomenon as the desire of parents due to some, sometimes completely incomprehensible, reasons "to take the godfather in absentia."

Is it possible to take the godfather "in absentia"?

The very meaning of receptivity presupposes the acceptance by the godfather of his godson from the font itself. By his presence, the godfather agrees to be the recipient of the baptized person and undertakes to educate him in the Orthodox faith. This cannot be done in absentia. In the end, the person whom they are trying to "write in absentia" as godparents may not agree at all to this action and, as a result, the baptized person may be left without a godfather at all.

Sometimes from the parishioners one hears questions about this:

How many times can a person become a godfather?

In the Orthodox Church, there is no clear canonical definition as to how many times a person can become a godfather during his life. The main thing that a person who agrees to become a receiver must remember is a great responsibility for which he will have to answer before God. The measure of this responsibility determines how many times a person will be able to take upon himself the receptivity. This measure is different for each person and, sooner or later, a person may have to abandon the new receptivity.

Can you refuse to become a godfather? Wouldn't that be a sin?

If a person feels an inner unpreparedness or has a fundamental fear that he will not be able to fulfill his duties in good faith godparent, then he may well refuse the parents of the child (or the baptized one, if it is an adult) to become the godfather of their child. There is no sin in this. This will be more honest in relation to the child, his parents and himself than, taking responsibility in the spiritual upbringing of the child, not to fulfill his immediate duties.

Continuing this topic, I will give a few more questions that people usually ask about the number of possible godchildren.

Can you become godfather to the second child in the family if you already had one with the first?

Yes, you can. There are no canonical obstacles to this.

Is it possible for one person during baptism to be the recipient of several people (for example, twins)?

There are no canonical prohibitions on this. But technically it can be quite difficult if babies are baptized. The receiver will have to hold and receive both babies from the font at the same time. It will be better if each godson has his own godparents. After all, each of those baptized separately are different people who have the right to their godfather.

Probably, many will be interested in the following question:

At what age can you become a recipient?

Minor children cannot become godparents. But, even if a person has not yet reached the age of majority, then his age should be that when he will be able to realize the full weight of the responsibility he has assumed and will conscientiously fulfill his duties as godfather. It seems that this may be the age close to the age of majority.

The relationship between the child's parents and godparents also plays an important role in the upbringing of children. It is good when parents and godparents have spiritual unity and direct all their efforts to the proper spiritual education of their child. But human relations are not always cloudless, and sometimes one hears this question:

What to do if you quarreled with the godson's parents and for this reason you cannot see him?

The answer suggests itself: to make peace with the parents of the godson. For what can a child be taught by people who have a spiritual relationship and are at the same time at enmity with each other? It is worth thinking not about personal ambitions, but about raising a child and, having gained patience and humility, try to improve relations with the parents of the godson. The same can be said for the parents of the child.

But a quarrel is not always the reason that the godfather cannot see the godson for a long time.

What if, for objective reasons, you have not seen your godson for years?

I think that the objective reasons are the physical separation of the godfather from the godson. This is possible if the parents moved with the child to another city or country. In this case, it remains only to pray for the godson and, if possible, communicate with him using all available means of communication.

Unfortunately, some godparents, having christened a baby, completely forget about their immediate duties. Sometimes the reason for this is not only an elementary ignorance of the recipient about his duties, but his falling into grave sins, which make their own spiritual life very difficult. Then the parents of the child involuntarily have a completely legitimate question:

Is it possible to refuse godparents who do not fulfill their duties, have fallen into grave sins or lead an immoral lifestyle?

Order of refusal from godparents Orthodox Church does not know. But parents can find an adult who, not being the actual recipient of the font, would help in the spiritual upbringing of the child. At the same time, one cannot consider him a godfather.

But having such a helper is better than depriving the child of communication with a spiritual mentor and friend altogether. After all, a moment may come when a child begins to seek spiritual authority not only in the family, but also outside it. And at this moment such an assistant would be very useful. And the child, as he grows up, can be taught to pray for the godfather. After all, the child's spiritual connection with the person who received him from the font will not be severed if he takes responsibility for the person who himself has not coped with this responsibility. It happens that children surpass their parents and mentors in prayer and piety.

Prayer for a sinner or a deluded person will be a manifestation of love for that person. After all, it is not for nothing that the Apostle James says in his epistle to Christians: “Pray for one another in order to be healed, the intensified prayer of the righteous can do much” (James 5:16). But all these actions must be coordinated with your confessor and receive a blessing for them.

And here is another one interest Ask periodically asked by people:

When there is no need for godparents?

There is always a need for godparents. Especially for children. But not every adult baptized person can boast of a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and church canons. If necessary, an adult can be baptized without godparents, because he has a conscious faith in God and can quite independently utter the words of renunciation of Satan, combine with Christ and read the Creed. He is fully aware of his actions. The same cannot be said for babies and young children. The godparents do it all for them. But, in case of extreme need, you can baptize a child without recipients. Such a need, undoubtedly, can be the complete absence of worthy godparents.

The godless time has left an imprint on the destinies of many people. The result of this was that some people, after years unbelief finally gained faith in God, but when they came to church, they did not know if they had been baptized in childhood by believing relatives. A logical question arises:

Is it necessary to baptize a person who does not know for sure whether he was baptized as a child?

According to Canon 84 of the VI Ecumenical Council, such people must be baptized if there are no witnesses who could confirm or deny the fact of their baptism. In this case, the person is baptized, pronouncing the formula: "If he is not baptized, the servant (servant) of God is baptized ...".

Something I'm all about children and about children. Among the readers, perhaps, there are people who have not yet been honored with the saving sacrament of baptism, but with all their souls strive for it. So:

What does a person who is preparing to become an Orthodox Christian need to know? How can he prepare for the ordinance of baptism?

A person's knowledge of faith begins with the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, a person who wants to be baptized first of all needs to read the Gospel. After reading the Gospel, a person may have a number of questions that require a competent answer. Such answers can be obtained at the so-called catechumens, which are held in many temples. At such conversations, those who wish to be baptized are explained the basics of the Orthodox faith. If such conversations are not conducted at the church in which a person is going to be baptized, then you can ask all questions of interest to the priest in the church. It will also be useful to read some books that explain Christian dogmas, for example, the Law of God. It will be good if, before accepting the sacrament of baptism, a person memorizes the Symbol of Faith, in which the Orthodox doctrine about God and the Church is briefly set forth. This prayer will be read at baptism, and it would be great if the baptized person himself confessed his faith. The immediate preparation begins a few days before baptism. These days are special, so you should not scatter attention to other, even very important, problems. It is worth devoting this time to spiritual and moral reflections, avoiding fuss, empty conversations, participation in various amusements. It must be remembered that baptism, like other sacraments, is great and holy. He must be approached with the greatest awe and reverence. It is advisable to observe fasting for 2-3 days, those living in marriage the night before to refrain from matrimonial relations... You need to be extremely clean and tidy for baptism. You can put on new smart clothes. Women should not wear make-up, as always, when visiting the temple.

There are many superstitions associated with the sacrament of baptism, which I would also like to touch upon in this article. One of the most common superstitions is:

Can a girl be the first to baptize a girl? They say that if a girl is baptized first, and not a boy, then the godmother will give her her happiness ...

This statement is also a superstition that has no basis either in Holy Scripture or in church canons and traditions. And happiness, if it is deserved before God, will not disappear from a person.

Another bizarre thought that I have heard on numerous occasions:

Can a pregnant woman become a godmother? Would this affect her own child or godson in some way?

Sure. Such a delusion has nothing to do with church canons and traditions and is also a superstition. Participation in church ordinances can only be for the benefit of the expectant mother. I also had to baptize pregnant women. Babies were born strong and healthy.

A lot of superstitions are associated with the so-called re-baptism. Moreover, the reasons for such a crazy action are sometimes very bizarre and even funny. But most of these rationales are pagan and occult in origin. For example, here is one of the most common superstitions of occult origin:

Is it true, is it that in order to remove the damage directed at a person, it is necessary to cross again, and keep the new name secret so that new attempts at witchcraft do not work, tk. do they conjure it in the name?

Honestly, hearing such statements, I want to laugh heartily. But, unfortunately, there is no laughing matter. What kind of pagan obscurity an Orthodox person has to reach in order to decide that baptism is a kind of magic ritual, a kind of antidote to corruption. An antidote to a certain indefinite substance, the definition of which no one even knows. What is this ghostly corruption? It is unlikely that someone from those who are so afraid of her will be able to clearly answer this question. This is not surprising. Instead of looking for God in life and fulfilling His commandments, the "church" people with enviable zeal are looking for the mother of all evil in everything - corruption. And where does it come from?

I will allow myself a small lyrical digression. A man is walking down the street, stumbled. All - jinxed! We urgently need to run to the church to light a candle so that everything is fine and the evil eye will pass. While walking to the temple, I stumbled again. Looks like they not only jinxed, but also put some damage! Wow, infidels! Well, nothing, now I will come to the church, I will pray, I will buy candles, I will stick all the candlesticks, I will fight the corruption in full. The man ran to the church, stumbled on the porch again and fell. All - lie down and die! Damage to death, a generic curse, well, and there is also some disgusting thing, I forgot the name, but also something very scary. Three-in-one cocktail! Against this, candles and prayer will not help, this is a serious matter, an ancient voodoo spell! There is only one way out - to be baptized anew, and only with a new name, so that when these same voodoo slander on the old name were whispered and needles were stuck into the dolls, all their spells would fly by. They will not know the new name. And all the witchcraft is done in the name, didn't you know? What fun it will be when they will whisper and conjure intensely, and everything will fly by! Bam, bam and - by! Eh, it's good when there is baptism - a cure for all diseases!

This is approximately how superstitions associated with rebaptism appear. But much more often the sources of these superstitions are the doers occult sciences, i.e. fortune-tellers, psychics, healers and other "gifted by God" personalities. These indefatigable "generators" of newfangled occult terminology go to all sorts of tricks to seduce a person. Family curses, and celibacy crowns, and karmic knots of destinies, transfers, love spells with lapels and other occult nonsense are used. And the only thing that needs to be done to get rid of all this is to cross. And the damage was gone. And laughter and sin! But many fall for these near-church tricks of the "mothers Glafir" and "fathers Tikhonov" and run to the church for a second baptism. It is good if they say where they got such an ardent desire to be baptized, and they will be denied this blasphemy, having previously explained what trips to occultists are fraught with. And some do not even say that they have already been baptized and are being baptized again. There are also those who are baptized several times, because previous baptisms "did not help." And they won't help! It is difficult to imagine greater blasphemy over the sacrament. After all, the Lord knows the heart of a person, knows about all his thoughts.

It is worth saying a few words about the name, which is so advised to change "kind people". A person's name is named on the eighth day from birth, but since many do not know about this, basically the prayer for naming the name is read by the priest immediately before baptism. Surely everyone knows that the name is given to a person in honor of one of the saints. And it is this saint who is our patron and intercessor for us before God. And, of course, it seems that every Christian should call on his saint as often as possible and ask his prayers before the throne of the Almighty. And what actually happens? Not only does a person neglect his name, but he also neglects his saint, after whom he is named. And instead of calling for help from his heavenly patron, his saint, at the moment of trouble or danger, he visits fortune-tellers and psychics. A “reward” for this will be followed by a corresponding one.

There is another superstition directly related to the sacrament of baptism itself. Almost immediately after baptism, the ceremony of cutting hair follows. In this case, the receiver is given a piece of wax, in which it is supposed to roll the cut hair. This wax is to be thrown into the water by the receptacle. This is where the fun begins. No one knows where the question arises:

Is it true that if at baptism the wax with cut hair drowns, then the life of the baptized person will be short-lived?

No, this is superstition. According to the laws of physics, wax cannot sink in water at all. But if thrown from a height with sufficient force, then at the first moment he will really go under water. Fortunately, if the superstitious recipient does not see this moment and "fortune-telling on baptismal wax" will give positive result... But, as soon as the godfather notices the moment the wax is immersed in water, lamentations immediately begin, and the newly-made Christian is almost buried alive. After that, it is sometimes difficult to bring the parents of the child out of the state of terrible depression, who are told about the "sign of God" seen at baptism. Of course, this superstition has no basis in church canons and traditions.

Summing up, I would like to note that baptism is a great sacrament, and the approach to it should be reverent and deliberate. It is sad to see people who have received the sacrament of baptism and continue to live the same sinful life. Having been baptized, a person must remember that now he is an Orthodox Christian, a warrior of Christ, a member of the Church. This requires a lot. First of all, to love. Love for God and neighbors. So let each of us, regardless of when he was baptized, fulfill these commandments. Then we can hope that the Lord will lead us into the Kingdom of Heaven. That Kingdom, the way into which the sacrament of Baptism opens to us.

Apple Spas - folk holiday, timed to coincide with the Orthodox celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord, in which church and folk traditions are closely intertwined - in 2018, as every year, they celebrate August 19.

In ancient times, several Spas were celebrated, which were timed to coincide with the ripening of cereals, vegetables, fruits and other gifts of the earth - Honey, Apple and Nut, which are celebrated in August, have survived to this day.

V church calendar all three Savior are associated with Jesus Christ and with his deeds - the word "Savior" is an abbreviated form of the word Savior.

Second Savior or Savior on the mountain

The Apple Savior, which is also called the Second Savior, the Feast of the First Fruits, the Middle Savior, Peas Day, the First Autumn and so on, recalls the great power of nature and its invaluable gifts.

Fertility in pre-Christian times was celebrated in mid-August, which was the end of the harvest. In gratitude to the earth for good harvest people sacrificed fruits to the gods and organized merry folk festivals with songs and dances.

With the adoption of Christianity, the church connected this popular celebration with the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. According to the Scriptures, Jesus was completely transformed when he prayed on Mount Tabor with his disciples - His face shone, and His clothes became dazzling white.

Thanks to this divine phenomenon, the holiday began to be called - Savior on the mountain. The deeper meaning of this holiday is concluded in the union of the divine and human essence of Jesus Christ.

On the Apple Savior, everyone should think about the righteousness of his life, try to be transformed for the better.

Traditions and customs of the holiday

In all active Orthodox churches, festive services are held on this day - believers go to church for confession and communion. People have long believed that on the Apple Savior, God sends His blessing to people.

After the service, fruits are consecrated - this custom dates back to the Old Testament, when people brought bunches of grapes and cereals to the temple for blessing and as a token of gratitude to God.

In Russia, grapes did not grow everywhere, so the tradition was transformed, and they began to consecrate apples, the collection of which fell on the Apple Savior. Accordingly, apples, which personify prosperity and well-being, have become the main symbol of the holiday.

According to tradition, parishioners to this day bring baskets with grapes, apples and other fruits to the church, which can be eaten only after the solemn ceremony of consecration.

According to an ancient belief, on the Apple Savior, angels in heaven treat the souls of children with apples, and a woman who ate the fruit before the onset of the holiday deprived the soul of the child of treats. Therefore, after the consecration of the fruits in the church, the parents who had lost their children went to the cemetery and left some of the apples on the graves or distributed refreshments in the temple.

Nowadays, after a church service, it is customary to go to the cemetery to honor and mourn all deceased relatives, and not just children.

To bless the sowing, people often invited the priest to the fields.

On the holiday, any housework, sewing, washing and construction work is prohibited - only cooking and harvesting are allowed.

On Spas, they bake pies, most often they use apple filling, add honey and walnuts... On the tables, there are also pancakes with various fillings, sweet cereals, pies, baked apples, fresh fruit compote. According to tradition, they treated all friends and neighbors, and in the evening they went to the field and saw off the summer with songs.

Since the Dormition fast continues during the Apple Savior, any food of animal origin is prohibited, but on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19, the church charter allows eating fish and a little wine.

According to an old custom, on this day, the housewives performed a ritual of cleansing the house, for which they used apples and a wax church candle. In particular, the apple was cut into two halves and the core was taken out - they put a candle in one half and walked around the house with it, reading prayers and asking the Lord to protect the home from adversity, and to give peace and harmony to the family.

Icon "Savior Not Made by Hands"

Then the wax from the candle was transferred to the other half of the apple, tightly tied the two halves of the fruit with a rope, carried away from the house and buried in the ground. After completing the ritual of purification, the hostesses began to prepare treats.

On the Apple Spas, auctions were held, at which whole carts with apples were displayed, and people who had gardens considered it their duty to treat the sick, beggars and orphans with fruits that day.

Signs and beliefs

A lot of signs and beliefs are associated with the Apple Savior, which have survived to this day.

So, by popular belief, the first apple eaten, will tell you what to expect from fate in the coming year. If the apple is sour, then troubles await, but if it turns out to be sweet, then life will be full of joy and happiness. Sweet and sour fruit has always meant a strong family, peace and comfort in the house.

Girls, eating the first apple, often dipped it in honey and made their most cherished wish. In the old days, it was believed that the envisioned will certainly come true if the thoughts are pure and the request comes from the heart.

Many signs were associated with the weather - rain on the Second Savior promised a wet and cold winter. But the sun and warmth on the holiday - they promised a snowy winter, without severe frosts.

People believed that on this day it is impossible to drive away flies, if they sit on your hand - you can frighten off happiness, so it was necessary to wait until it flies away.

Wheat ears will grow large if the north wind blows during sowing.

If the bees gather in a swarm, and a light rain has begun, a cold and rainy autumn will soon come, and if bees flock to honey, then the prosperity in the house is guaranteed.

If the leaves on the trees turned yellow on Apple Spas, it means that it will soon get very cold.

Those who are engaged in sewing for a holiday will shed tears all their lives.

There are many starlings in the trees - by the harsh January.

Marrying and getting married on this day, as on other days of the Dormition Lent, was categorically forbidden, as it was considered a great sin. There is a belief that young people who become engaged in the days of the Assumption Lent will never be happy.

According to popular beliefs, the Apple Savior means the onset of autumn and the transformation of nature. It is generally accepted that nights after August 19 get much colder.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources

Hello. We continue to get acquainted with the summer Orthodox holidays. Apple Spas is the second holiday in the month of August.

Consecration of the fruits of the new harvest

August is rich not only in harvest, but also in Orthodox holidays. First, on August 14, all believers celebrated the Savior of Honey. It is followed by the Apple Savior. What date is this holiday celebrated? Every year, and also in 2017 - August 19, the date never changes.

On this day, believers bring honey and apples of the new harvest to the temple for consecration. During this period of August, the Dormition Fast takes place, which will last until August 28.

From the history of the holiday

The history of the holiday dates back to the 4th century. According to legend, the Savior with three disciples: John, James and Peter - climbed Mount Tabor to begin their prayer. It was here that Jesus Christ learned that he must sacrifice himself for the salvation of people, here a very bright divine light fell on him, indicating his destiny. Therefore, the holiday is called the Transfiguration of the Lord.

Jesus forbade his disciples to tell about what they had seen, and ordered all people to gather fruits for consecration in the temple. This event took place 40 days before the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross.

What is the essence of the holiday? Understanding that Jesus Christ combined the divine and the human in himself. It was on this day that the Son of God revealed to his disciples the real essence of his divine origin, that he is not an ordinary philosopher, but that he brings people a new faith. The disciples saw with their own eyes how their Teacher was transformed, showing a divine face and white clothes shining with a wonderful light. All the people around Jesus understood the true meaning of his mission on earth.

What does the Apple Savior mean for the people? It also commemorates the completion of summer work and the start of an even more diligent harvesting effort.

Prohibition for women

Women are forbidden to eat apples until the holiday itself, especially those whose children have died in infancy, there were miscarriages or abortions. Why can't you eat apples before the Apple Savior? This is explained by the fact that little children, sitting in the sky, will see their mothers and cry sadly. If a woman did not eat apples, then the Mother of God will give the child an apple of paradise for happiness and good luck. In the Scriptures not a word is said about this, but the belief still lives on.

Many people ask the question: is it possible to baptize on the Apple Savior? Yes you can!

Apple Spas - end of summer

Signs that come true.

When tasting the first apple on Spas, do not forget to make a wish when biting off the last piece. They say everything comes true before the first snow!
What this day will be, so will the Pokrov (October 14) and the whole of January 2018.
If there is no rain, then the autumn will be dry, if it rains, then wait for a rainy autumn.
If it is clear on this day, then the winter will be harsh.

The traditions of the Savior are also revived - to treat everyone with apples and honey. Earlier, during the mass festivities, everyone who had an apple orchard put carts with a new crop on the street in order to distribute them to passers-by. Those who did not do this were considered greedy, dishonest people.

On this day, fairs and festivities were held, it was noisy and fun, people went to visit a friend. The tables were laden with food. Organized for children funny Games... Today Spassky games are also held in kindergartens.

Holiday recipes

Take apples of the same size.
Cut off the lid, remove the seeds and core.
Mash cottage cheese, powdered sugar, a little starch, vanilla, yolk with a blender.
Fill apples with this mass.
Place in the oven for 30 minutes.

Caramel pancakes

Products:

6 apples.
120 g flour.
250 ml of milk.
125 ml. water.
150 g Sahara.
2 eggs.
1 lemon.
½ tsp cinnamon.
2 tbsp butter.
250 ml sour cream.
3 tbsp icing sugar.
salt.

Preparation:

Put flour, milk, water, eggs in a bowl, 50 gr. sugar, salt. Whisk everything.
Bake pancakes.
For the filling, cut the peeled apples into cubes, add cinnamon, zest and lemon juice, 30 gr. Sahara.
Melt the butter in a frying pan, add 70 gr. sugar, stirring constantly, prepare caramel.
When sugar acquires caramel color, remove from heat, add apples, put on fire.
Stir until the apples are soaked with caramel, then remove from heat.
Put the filling on each pancake, pour sweet sour cream on top.

Festive rites

On the Transfiguration of the Lord, people performed various magical rituals for love and wealth.

Remove spoilage urgently

Many diseases are caused by damage from envious people. Take honey and birch bark, do the following:

Wake up on August 19th when dawn is just beginning.
Take water from the spring into an earthen pot, go to bed.
Spread honey on the bark at noon.
Glue the bark to your forehead.
Pronounce the conspiracy.
Wash yourself with water from the spring, pour the rest under a birch tree.
Rinse, dry the bark so that it becomes your talisman, always carry it with you.

“Strong health, happiness and joy, come into my soul, heal my body. Terrible filth and past grief, go away, seep into the ground. Flower, linden and bee honey is delicious. Let sweetness fill my life. May it be so".

For wealth

Pick 3 linden twigs and place them in the bedroom.
In the morning, for 9 days, before noon, perform the ritual.
Go around your home, hit the corners with twigs and read the conspiracy. After 9 days, dry the branches, store them until the next Apple Savior.

“Money sticks to money, and the lost coins are returned. If I spend anything, I'll get it back a hundredfold. Money sticks to money, wallets stick together. My words are strong. Amen".

Dear friends, get ready for the holiday, involve the children so that they also learn the story of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

On this day, there are practically no boundaries between the worlds. Light energy predominates. Therefore, in the Transfiguration of the Lord, the signs are accurate, and the conspiracies and rituals of white magic are especially powerful. Apple Savior is the time when you can change your destiny, cleanse your inner energy, and receive the protection of higher powers. It is filled with deep sacred meaning. This is a day of positive energy flows that you can use for your own good. How? Long-term observations, signs, various ritual actions will prompt, which are especially reliable and effective.

Traditions and signs on the Apple Savior (Transfiguration of the Lord)

You can ask for anything on the Savior, but you need to do it sincerely and without selfish thoughts.

The Transfiguration of the Lord is a big Christian holiday with a fixed date that never changes. Therefore, in 2018, as always, it is celebrated on Sunday 19 August.

In the people, the holiday is simultaneously called the Apple or Second Savior, Savior on the Mountain, Pea Day, First Autumn.

This is one of the three Spas, which are traditionally celebrated in August. The energy of the holiday is optimistic, filled with light, kindness and mercy. August 19 is a real opportunity to change life for the better, to transform along with nature. Apples consecrated in the church are endowed with special energetic power.

What is forbidden to do on this day

Eating apples before the Savior was not allowed, especially for women

In ancient times, the Slavs had a strict ban on eating the fruits before a special ritual. The tradition of blessing the harvest has survived to this day. Until the apples, pears, grapes in the Apple Savior are consecrated by the priest in the church, they cannot be cooked or consumed fresh. The strictest prohibitions apply to apples. Moreover, the consequences of breaking the taboo are more destructive for women, who so take upon themselves the original sin of Eve.

What else cannot be done on this day:

It is strictly forbidden to work. It is allowed to cook food and take care of the garden. You can not do field work, build anything, knit, sew, clean up the house. It is believed: if you collect grain for the Savior, it will deteriorate very quickly. The entire harvest must be harvested before the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Before the Apple Savior, there is a strict ban on eating apples for women whose children have died. The taboo concerns mothers who have lost their babies. However, mothers who have lost their adult son or daughter also forbid themselves to eat apples and dishes made from them until the Second Savior comes. All because of the ancient legend, which is still believed in Russia. In the afterlife, on this day, children receive golden apples. Only those whose mothers ate apples before the Apple Savior remain without wonderful fruits.
It is also better for unmarried guys not to eat apples until the Transfiguration of the Lord - the wife will be crying and ugly.
It is forbidden to swear, have fun, consume any alcohol, meat, fatty dishes, eggs, because the holiday is celebrated on the day of the Assumption Lent. Only vegetables and fish dishes, as well as all kinds of dishes from apples and other fruits.
You shouldn't kill flies on the Second Savior. If she sat down on her hand twice, this is a sign symbolizing the fulfillment of desires. The insect cannot be driven away - it is better if it flies away of its own accord.

What needs to be done on the day of the Second Savior

The first thing they do is take a basket of fruits and go to the service in the temple, where, after the festive prayer service, the priest in snow-white clothes will sprinkle the fruits brought with holy water. It must be remembered: the harvest is brought to the church first of all as a token of gratitude to God. Only then will they acquire special properties.

It is believed that a consecrated apple will bring health, happiness and good luck. Anyone who did not eat such a fruit on the Apple Savior can be sick and suffer for a whole year until the next Transfiguration. Apples harvested on August 19th, even if they late varieties, are well kept. The first thing plucked from the tree must be eaten, saying: "What is far-fetched will come true, what will come true will not pass." This is done to make wishes come true.

It is not forbidden to baptize children on the Apple Savior; on the contrary, on this holiday there are even a little more godparents than on weekdays.

Folk omens for August 19

You need to be attentive to the signs and do the following:

Holiday weather - forecast for January: if it rains - snowy winter, hot dry day - frosty January without precipitation. Rainy Transfiguration of the Lord - it will rain often in the fall.

Rituals, fortune telling and conspiracies

The apple, a round symbol, can participate in many rituals on this day.

Magic rituals performed on the Apple Savior will be easy and effective, and fortune-telling will be reliable. Special personal energy costs will not be required. Faith in ritual, light thoughts and feelings are important.

Fortune telling on apple peel for unmarried girls

Cut the apple so that the cut rind is in the form of a ribbon. If you cut, and the tape breaks, you will not get married this year. In the case when a long ribbon is obtained, the peel is thrown over the shoulder with the left hand. The Sivol, which turned out after the fall, will tell the further fate of the girl: it will resemble the first letter of the name of the future spouse.

Fortune telling on relationships for unmarried

You take apples according to the number of men you are interested in. Write a name on each. Then take it to the garden or balcony overnight. Early in the morning see the result:

There will be nothing sensible if the fruit is cut by birds.
An apple, which the birds ate almost completely, will tell about the appearance of a dangerous rival.
A fruit that has fallen to the ground - a relationship with this man will bring tears and pain.
The fruit that has disappeared altogether says that the paths with the guy will go their separate ways.

Youth fortune telling on apples

For a group of girls and guys, take a consecrated apple, each of which should be fixed on a string. Make a fire and spin the fruits with the greatest strength. Whoever has an apple falling into the fire faster will marry or get married earlier. The one who turns out to be the last one should not dream of a wedding until the next Savior.

A simple ritual for wealth

The more apples you distribute to relatives and the poor, the richer you will be this year.

To avoid problems with money, consecrate apples, give them to the poor. Eat one yourself, saying: “Soothing the need, a health resort for wealth. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! May it be so!"

Love conspiracy for the Transfiguration

To draw attention to yourself, you need to cut the apple in half. Three nettle leaves are placed between the halves, connecting the fruit together. They bring it to their lips and say: “Fly here like a nettle that burns with a fiery passion, for the two of us the most beautiful. May it come true for the benefit of those in love and their loved ones. " The conspired apple is hidden in a secret place. After it rots, the remainder is buried near the beloved's dwelling.

Strong conspiracy that improves the relationship with the boss

To make the contact with the leader friendly, in the church they light a candle for health and say: “God almighty, having flamed with his mercy, have mercy on your servant (name of the boss) and over me (name). From now on, let it be so. ”

Apple Savior is loved in Russia. This is a holiday of gratitude and light, positive changes and faith in the future. Nature transforms itself and gives us the strength to change the course of fate for the better. What was conceived will certainly come true if the heart and soul on this day are filled with bright feelings. May the outgoing summer remain a good memory, and the coming autumn will bring wonderful changes for the better.

* Photos by Olga Kasyanchuk and Alexander Taldin