You can refuse to baptize the child. Duties of Godparents. How to choose godparents for your daughter

I have an unpleasant situation. Perhaps I deserve condemnation, but maybe I will hear some consolation. I have a very old acquaintance with whom I communicated closely and gravitated towards friendship with her. Years passed, and I realized that the person did not meet mutual interest and, moreover, I began to understand that she had a serious envy of me, and her character and thoughts began to put her on guard. One day I decided to exclude her from communication. I realized that I was not interested in one-sided sacrifice, and, moreover, I realized that the Lord had not in vain fenced off from it. But the unexpected happened: she was abandoned by the man with whom she lived and enjoyed the silks and furs. But the most unpleasant thing is that he left the pregnant woman. And then she realized that she had only her mother and me. I was in a split. On the one hand, I could not turn my back on her in a difficult moment, on the other, I could no longer communicate with this person. I chose to support her. But her malice for the whole world and envy for mine family life has outgrown all limits. It began to oppress me greatly, but I believed that the Lord was with me, and everything would be fine. After each meeting with her, setbacks began to occur. I understand, you will say that this is a superstition, but ... I took a rash step and baptized her child, moreover, I dreamed about it, he is my first godson. I fell in love with him with all my heart and hoped that my mother's love would change her and she would cease to envy me for any reason. But the man did not calm down, even she herself confessed to me her obscene envy. Hints began that I too would wait in my family life for such an ending as she did. And after a while, after 11 years of a rather warm relationship, my life began to go wrong, and as a result, divorce and other problems and complete loneliness. And when she told me that I was still happier than her, the final decision came to me to leave this tormenting relationship. I understand that everything is according to the will of the Lord, and her attacks, and I may have a fragile faith. But I really don't know what to do. I constantly feel unpleasant emotions from her in my address, resentment, etc. And the child is small, and how can I communicate with him because of her? I suffer a lot because of this. But I can’t help myself. Maybe I’m superstitious, but I have a defensive reaction after more than once someone else’s envy has ruined my life. Will the Church say to this to close her eyes and fulfill her duties? Do not judge strictly, I understand that my inexperience in life and carelessness in something takes place here. It may be foolish to ask you for consolation, but I do not want to live with this stone all my life. I have no children of my own and I could possibly be the best godmother for that child. But it's a shame that I'm afraid of his mother. After all, you still want to try to build your life and surround yourself with people who do not have these terrible feelings to such an extent.

Dear Alina, and yet the child is not guilty of anything. If even half because of the superstitious fear that you have towards his mother, you abandon the godson, it will be a spiritual defeat. For all. You are not obliged to love his mother with ardent love, although it would be nice that you experienced Christian patience and understanding that each of us has our own weaknesses, and that if you had to go through the trials in which she found herself, maybe you , at least, would have become embittered and nervous. But to maintain evenness, benevolence towards the unfortunate person, and, moreover, not to leave the little man, whose mother is so restless in soul, and can hardly give him a holistic Christian and moral education, the triumph of truth in your life will be obvious, and the opposite will be triumph of the evil one. No one can force you to be a godmother, but there is also no church rite to relieve yourself of these duties. Just as one cannot be baptized, so one cannot resign from the duties of the recipient, which we once voluntarily agreed to accept.

Often from the "church" grandmothers, and in general from elderly people, you can hear the phrase: "They do not renounce the cross!" The meaning of this phrase is that if you have been asked to become a godmother, but you have no right to refuse. What is this statement based on? And is it true? In this article, we will sort things out in order.

Why can't you refuse to be a godmother? What Baptism Contains

The rite of baptism itself is just one of the 7 sacraments that exist in Orthodox Church... The essence of this rite is as follows: a believer is immersed in water three times. It is believed that at this moment a person ceases to exist for a life in sin and is reborn for eternal life. From all of the above, we can conclude that the rite of baptism is needed by a believer in order to gain salvation. Indeed, during this ceremony, a birth for a completely new, spiritual life occurs.

What is required of godparents

One of the most important requirements is the true Orthodox faith of the future godparents... These should be people who live according to church laws, because their main goal is to teach the child entrusted to them the basic laws of Orthodoxy, to give the little person spiritual and life instructions.

If it so happens that the godparents themselves do not understand anything in matters of faith, then what can they give to their godson? What will they teach him? When agreeing to become a godmother, it is very important to realize what a huge share of responsibility for spiritual education falls on your shoulders. After all, godparents, along with blood parents, are responsible for the child before God.

If a person who has made the decision to undergo the rite of baptism is an adult and can utter the words of renunciation himself, then his godparents, who are present at this, act as sureties in the face of the Church, bearing responsibility for the fidelity and sincerity of his words.

Duties of the godmother:

Pray for your godson as often as possible.
Perform all church ordinances, the main of which are confession and communion.
Tell about the services church calendar, as well as the holiness and importance of icons.
Tell in detail about church services, the rules of fasting and the power of prayer.

Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear that a stranger cannot become a godmother.

Who shouldn't be chosen as godparents

You cannot trust such an important and responsible mission to a good-natured grandmother, met in the church or near it, who is ready to "support" your child during baptism. In addition, it is not recommended to choose friends or relatives as godfathers who will not be able to fulfill their spiritual duties described above. The godparents for the child should in no case be chosen for personal benefit for the parents or the baby. It is important to remember the original purpose of this sacrament, so as not to deprive the child of a true spiritual mentor and not impose on someone who will not worry at all about the spiritual side of the child's upbringing in the future, for which he himself will subsequently be held accountable before God. Godparents cannot choose sinners who have not repented, as well as people who lead an immoral lifestyle.

Taking into account all the above facts, let us summarize: why, after all, it is impossible to refuse to become a godmother. And is it really impossible?

Is it possible to refuse an offer to become a godmother and will it be a sin

If a person who was offered to become a godfather, for some reason, feels his inner moral and spiritual unpreparedness or has reasonable fears that he will not be able with full responsibility to fulfill the duties of a godparent given to him by God, then this person may well respond with a refusal. the blood parents of this child (or the baptized one himself, if he turns out to be an adult) act as the godfather of their offspring. In this there is no one terrible sin, about which there is a lot of talk.

Think for yourself: after all, it will be more honest to do this in relation to the baby, his parents and, which is important, to himself, rather than taking on a weighty responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child not to fulfill his obligations given to God.

Today the Orthodox Church, in contrast to the 1990s, when very many were baptized and often without preparation - pious and knowledgeable elderly people were still alive - rightly requires knowledge, understanding of Church canons and Commandments from adult baptized people, godparents and child's parents. After all, the Sacrament of Baptism is one of the most important points in the life of the child and his family, a solemn event for the parents of the baptized person and godparents.

Who can be a godfather, what are their duties, how to observe all the rules of preparation for Baptism - you will learn from our article.

The essence of baptism

Baptism is the entry of a person into the Church. It is done by dipping or pouring holy water - after all, the Lord Himself received Baptism from John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
An adult who consciously decides to be baptized must

Talk to the priest
Learn "Our Father" and "Symbol of Faith" - a confession of your faith,
To know and sincerely believe in the teaching of Christ - Orthodoxy, the Gospel,
If you wish, attend catechism courses to learn more about the Orthodox faith.

Parents and godparents need to do the same if a baby is baptized.

Baptism of a girl or boy

The patronage of the Lord and His saints is especially important for children. Orthodox Christians try to baptize children as soon as possible, after about forty days from birth. On this day, the mother must visit the temple for the priest to read the prayer of permission over her after childbirth. You can baptize a child on any day, even a holiday or fast. It is better to agree about Baptism in the church in advance or find out the usual schedule of Baptisms - then several children are baptized.

You must have with you at Baptism

Birth certificate - so that you will receive a certificate of Baptism,
Christening gown - traditionally with blue or pink accents, but optional
Towel,
A cross on a short lace - so that the child does not harm himself by wrapping the lace.

Often christening sets are sold in the church - they can be donated from the godfather to the godson.

Duties of Godparents

At Baptism, it is not necessary to have both godparents, you can only have one - the same sex as the child. This person must be churched and a believer, wearing an Orthodox cross on his chest during the Sacrament of Baptism.

At the interview, the priest will ask if you believe in God, what prayers you know, will prompt and help you with a word in all preparation.
Relatives, such as a grandmother or sister, can be godparents.
Priests can also become godparents.
People professing another faith or belonging to another Christian denomination (Catholics, Protestants, sectarians) cannot be godparents.
Husband and wife cannot be godparents of one child. And people who have become godparents of one child cannot get married. This is the tradition and canon of the Church.
In all other cases, people can become godparents. It is to find out about your religion and ask about the relationship to each other that the priest will be at the interview.

Note that when the child is dipping into the baptismal font, the godparent of the same sex with the child (which is natural, because he is almost naked at that moment) takes the baby in his arms and lowers it into the baptismal font. Sometimes a priest does this, but often the help of a godfather is needed. Therefore, it is better for the child to see and know in advance the godfather or godmother, not to be afraid of him.

Godfather

During the Baptism of the boy, the godfather reads the prayers "Our Father" and "The Symbol of Faith" for him, which means that he takes responsibility for the baptized one.

The godparent - mother or father - should become almost the Guardian Angel of the child. He can pray for him in his daily prayers, as well as remind the godson's parents and himself with time about God, set an example of participation in the Sacraments of the Church and in his most righteous life.

You can refuse to be a godfather - this is not a sin, but you will deprive yourself of great joy. Become a godfather - increase your family!

Date of Baptism

What is asked at an interview with a priest

Is it possible to baptize a child in leap year or February 29th?
Yes, in the Church there is no concept of a leap year and the signs associated with it are superstitions.

Is it possible to baptize a child for a pregnant, unmarried girl during her period?
Yes, you can. The godmother during Epiphany should not only be in a short skirt or trousers, heavily made up.
Even during her period, a woman can participate in Baptism and be baptized herself. According to one of the strict traditions, it is forbidden to apply to icons at this time. But the modern Church softens the requirements for people.
During menstruation, candles are lit, applied to icons, and even proceed to all the Sacraments: Baptism, Wedding, Anointing, Confession, except for Communion. But even in this case, the priest can give the Communion to a seriously ill woman in danger.
We also note that different priests have different attitudes towards the Sacraments that women receive during women's days. Therefore, it is worthwhile to warn the priest before participating in Baptism during menstruation. In any case, you can ask the priest for a blessing in any condition.

Is it possible to baptize without godparents?
Yes, you can, this is also not a sin.

Can I be baptized twice?
The sacrament of Baptism is performed only once in a lifetime. Under no circumstances can it be repeated. They are baptized a second time only when they accept another Christian denomination, different from Orthodoxy. However, here you need to carefully study the question of how Catholicism and Protestantism differ from Orthodoxy, what sects are and how not to get into them.
If communication with godparents is lost, no repetitions of the Sacrament are needed, just pay more attention to the baby yourself in relation to spiritual life. Choose a spiritual mentor, for example, from among the priests - take this particular priest to Confession, invite your child to listen to his advice.

Should I cross with another name?
Even if you changed your name in your passport, your name in Baptism will remain unchanged. However, no one bothers you to venerate this saint, now the same name for you, and turn to him (her) in prayers as well as to the first one.

Baptism Rite - Strong Prayers

The main Orthodox prayers Godfathers read "Our Father" and "I Believe" aloud during Baptism.
Note that they can be read at any time in great danger, in difficult circumstances, when a person is very anxious, nervous about the situation.

The prayer is read regularly. The Church blesses to read morning and evening prayers, which are in any prayer book. These include Our Father and I Believe.

Try to memorize the prayer, this will have the added effect of concentration and self-soothingness.

The Lord's Prayer, "Our Father" - all our ancestors knew its words (there was even an expression "to know as our Father") and which every believer should teach his children. If you do not know her words, memorize them, you can read the prayer Our Father in Russian:

“Our Father in Heaven! May it be holy and glorified your name Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, both in heaven and on earth. Give us the bread we need today; and forgive us our debts, which we forgive our debtors; and let us not have the temptations of the devil, but deliver us from the influences of the evil ones. After all, Thine is in heaven and earth the kingdom and power, and the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever. AMEN".

The Lord's Prayer is also called the Lord's prayer because the Lord Himself gave its words, they are written down by the evangelists and are in the New Testament.

“I believe in the only God, the Father, the Almighty, Who Created Heaven and Earth, Visible and Invisible to all. And in the Only Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Born of the Father before the beginning of time - the Light from the Light, the True God from the True God, not Created, but Born, Having the One Essence with the Father, through Him everything happened. For us, people, and for the sake of our salvation, Who Descended from Heaven and Received human flesh through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and received the nature of man. Crucified for us under the Pontic Pilate, and Suffered, and Buried, and Risen on the third day, in fulfillment of the words of Holy Scripture, and Ascended into heaven, and Sitting at the right hand of the Father. And again Christ will come in glory to judge the living and the dead, and there will be no end to His Kingdom. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, Creating Life, coming from the Father, who with the Father and the Son befits glory and worship, Who spoke through the prophets. The only, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess the Only Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and life after death. AMEN".

Baptism in the temple

The Orthodox Church has seven sacraments of grace. All of them were established by the Lord and are based on His words, preserved in the Gospel. The sacrament of the Church is called a sacrament, where with the help of external signs and rituals it is invisible, that is, mysteriously, where the name comes from, the grace of the Holy Spirit is given to people. The saving power of God is true, in contrast to the "energy" and magic of the spirits of darkness, which only promise help, but in fact destroy souls.

Baptism is performed in the church, and if a person is sick, the priest can perform the Sacrament at home or in a hospital room. Before Baptism, a person is put on a baptismal shirt. A person gets up (lies with an illness) facing east and listens to prayers, and in a certain moment at the direction of the priest, turning to the west, spits in that direction as a sign of renunciation of sins and the power of Satan.

Then the priest plunges the child into the baptismal font three times with prayer. For adults, the Sacrament, if possible, is carried out in the temple by immersion in a small pool (it is called in Greek baptistery, from the word baptistis - I dip) or by pouring from above. The water will be warm, so don't be afraid to catch a cold.

After pouring water or dipping, a person is baptized with water and invisibly - with the Holy Spirit, they put on a prepared in advance pectoral cross(for a child - on a short string, it is safer). It is customary to keep the baptismal shirt - it is worn during serious illnesses as a shrine.

If necessary, a seriously ill newborn child is baptized right in the hospital, a dying person who has expressed a desire to be baptized is baptized on the spot. It can be done even not by a priest - it is enough to get water and pour it on the person, saying: "The servant of God (servant of God) (name) is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

If a person recovers or feels a little better, invite a priest to fulfill the Sacrament of Baptism with Confirmation.

Confirmation, as it were, completes the Sacrament of Baptism, being performed together with it and symbolizing the next stage of a person's churching.

While Baptism cleans a person from sins, he is reborn, Confirmation gives the grace of God, visibly placing the seal of the Holy Spirit on his body, giving him strength for a righteous Christian life.

In Chrismation, the priest, repeating: “The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit,” crosswise anoints the forehead, eyes, nostrils, ears, lips, hands and feet of a person. It is for this that the baptized person is dressed in a baptismal gown that reveals these places.

Confirmation occurs only once in a lifetime - anointing with oil at evening services and at Unction is not anointing.

Holy Myrrh is consecrated once a year - on Maundy Thursday on Holy Week on the eve of Easter. V the ancient Church this rite was established because the Baptism of new Christians was usually carried out on Holy Saturday and Easter. Today it follows custom. In the Russian Orthodox Church, its head, His Holiness Patriarch, sanctifies the olive tree oil with a mixture of precious aromas as peace. It is brewed during the first weekdays of Holy Week in a special ancient way, and after consecration it is sent to all parishes of the Church. Without peace, the Sacrament of Baptism remains incomplete, combined with the Sacrament of Confirmation - through the myrrh, the newly baptized one receives the gifts of the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Congratulations to the christening

Epiphany Day is the day of a new birth in Christ. Therefore, on this day, a gift with the image of the same patron saint will be a particularly appropriate gift for the newly baptized. The icon will also be a wonderful christening gift from godparents.

A donated or purchased icon is placed in your home iconostasis. It is usually arranged in the "red corner" - opposite the door, by the window, or in any clean and bright place. On a special shelf for icons, which can be bought in shops at churches, in the center they put the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, on the left - Holy Mother of God, and on the right is a revered saint. It is possible, if necessary, to arrange an iconostasis on the bookshelf, but only next to spiritual books, and not entertainment publications.

It may turn out that the baptized (your godson) bears a rare name and it is difficult to find an icon of his heavenly patron in church shops. Then purchase and place in your home iconostasis an icon of All Saints, where absolutely all Orthodox saints are symbolically depicted.

In general, the gift should be appropriate, have a religious context.
- Gift editions of the book of the life of the saint or about the time in which he lived;
- The Bible is a family book that can even be inherited;

- Paid pilgrimage to holy places in your region;
- A modest but elegant gift - a bottle of church Cahors with interesting glasses;
- A beautiful icon lamp for the "red corner" - home iconostasis at home;
- Chain for pectoral cross;
- Ring "Save and Preserve" with a cross and a prayer;
- Bracelet with a prayer or with a cross (now there are both men and women on sale);
- Most traditional option is a beautiful, hand-written or self-embroidered icon of the patron saint;
- A vessel for holy water;
- Audio and video discs of spiritual content.

An expensive cross - the greatest shrine of an Orthodox person, a symbol of his faith in Christ and his protection - can also become a gift for Baptism. Choose a chain or leather cord long enough to hide the cross under your clothing. In the Orthodox tradition, in the Slavic lands, it is not customary to wear a cross on a short chain so that it is noticeable. Over the clothes, crosses are worn only by Orthodox priests - but these are not worn on the body, but pectoral (that is, "breast", translated from Church Slavonic) crosses, which are given when ordained to the priesthood.
It is important to remember that if you acquire a cross outside the temple, you need to consecrate it by bringing it to the church and asking for the consecration of a priest. It's free, or you can thank for the consecration with any amount.

Pectoral crosses different forms and from various materials all Christians wear. Particles of the Life-giving Cross, on which Christ Himself was crucified, are today in many churches of the world. Perhaps in your city there is also a particle of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, and you can venerate this great shrine. The cross is called Life-giving - the one who creates and gives life, that is, it has great power.

It doesn't matter what the cross is made of, different traditions existed in different centuries, and today the cross can be made of metal or wood; threads or beads; enamel or glass;
most often they choose the one that is comfortable to wear, durable - usually these are silver or gold crosses; you can choose crosses of blackened silver - they do not carry any special signs.
The Church recommends choosing crosses with the Crucifixion - that is, the figure of Christ and the inscription "Save and Preserve", which usually comes with back side... They are sold in temples.

Many cherish baptismal crosses - they wear others, and these are worn as a shrine, in difficult times. This is a fairly old tradition.
God bless you and help you in fulfilling your honorable duties as godparents!

The offer to become a godparent is usually considered honorable and joyful. However, there are circumstances when people cannot or do not want to take on the role of recipient in the Sacrament of Baptism. And among the people it is believed that you cannot refuse: once they were called to the godparents–must agree without fail.

Photo berin.com.ua

About how to act in such a situation - Archpriest Mikhail Kushnir, rector of the Church of the Miracle of the Archangel of God Michael in Khonekh of the village of Sloboda Shargorodskaya in the Vinnytsia region.

- When they offer to become godfather or a mother - it does honor to the person. After all, native parents trust their child to people who will then be responsible for his spiritual growth. And I will not speak or I cannot - this is somehow not good.

But now the time is such that many are looking for godparents who can become a sponsor of the child. This is, of course, wrong and should not be. But people often say that they invited them to be their godparents, and then set conditions that they should give the child a year, two, etc. - gold earrings or a chain, something else expensive. Or they want to help with money in this and that. And godparents should spiritually enrich the child. Therefore, if a person feels and understands that he is offered to become a godfather only in order for him to financially help the child, to bear certain expenses, then he can refuse. All the more so if financially he cannot afford it.

But when they offer to be a real godfather, how can you refuse ?! The Lord gives it and the Church blesses. Moreover, when they are invited to be the godparents, it is usually known what kind of family it is, how parents relate to the Church and the Sacrament of Baptism. Because there are many people who baptize their children not by faith, but simply for the sake of tradition.
There are many godparents who formally relate to their role in the child's life. It is easier for them to give gifts than to engage in spiritual education. Because they themselves do not go to church and do not live by faith and with God.

Why take such people as godparents ?! They are just spirit drones. We must improve and not only materially live. You need to take people as godparents who remember what the Lord's commandments are and try to live by them.

- And what if the family is spiritually dysfunctional and they are invited to be the godparents simply "because it is necessary", but they will not allow the child to participate in the spiritual upbringing of the child?
- It is imperative to agree and take on spiritual obligations for the child. Let such a person rejoice that the Lord gives him to serve in life. If a person has brought at least one soul to God, this is already a great reward in Heaven. If the child's step to Christ has already been taken, and the parents of the baby, though just for the sake of the ceremony, were invited to be the godfather, then later the godfather will be able to influence the spiritual development of his godson. He simply has to do it. And if at first the parents don't like it very much, over time they will stop interfering and contradicting. And even when there is no opportunity to be near the child, you can pray for him.
- And if the parents have bad heredity, obvious moral vices and are afraid to take responsibility for a supposedly difficult child?
- A person cannot know how the Lord's will will manifest. Can grow up in a dysfunctional family good child and vice versa. Everything is in the hands of God, everything is determined by the Lord. You need to live in the present and try to do whatever is necessary. If you put spiritual food in a child, it will still manifest and help. Therefore, in such a situation, one cannot refuse to be a godfather and one must rely on the will of the Lord.

And if there is an opportunity to be a godfather, take care of the child spiritually and help him, then you need to go for it. The Lord told the apostles to preach all over the world, so the laity should also carry the word of God into their homes, their families and those whom the Lord sends to us.

About 20 years ago I baptized a boy from a very dysfunctional family... Then it was still difficult to find godparents who would confess before the Sacrament of the Baptism of the Infant. And it so happened that over time the godfather of this boy began to go to church and receive communion, and I told his parents that only for the sake of this boy the Lord protects their family.

Because the boy, although with obvious developmental problems, is always in church at all services. And where he does not meet me on the street, he always asks for a blessing and shows others that, they say, also ask for a blessing from the priest. He is one of a huge and very dysfunctional family who goes to confession, and in Great post he also brings some of his relatives. This is how the Lord rules.

And when a baby is baptized, there must always be recipients. We do not live in the desert, and someone must take responsibility. We must always remember and understand that if we are truly Orthodox Christians and there is an opportunity to participate in the Church Sacraments, then we must strive to act in such a way as to bring spiritual benefit. There are situations when you need to give a helping hand. If we help a physically sick person, give pills, call an ambulance, then this is spiritual help.
- If the person refused to be godfather–it is a sin?
“I don’t know if it’s a sin in the eyes of God or not. It matters how a person refused and under what circumstances. You need to confess, tell the priest about it, and then - how the Lord will govern.

Interviewed by Marina Bogdanova

Reader question:

Hello! We baptized our daughter, and our godmother - ex-wife my husband's brother, and we live in the same apartment. She does not fulfill her duties as godmother, and recently she began to accuse me of treason with her man, our family of theft, and the child should not leave our room at all. Is it possible to cancel the godmother or transfer the child to another godmother?

Archpriest Andrey Efanov answers:

Dear Natalia, in the tradition of Russian Orthodoxy there is no mechanism for depriving the powers and duties of the recipients during baptism and transferring them to another person. On the one hand, recipients are called godparents, and parents should be respected regardless of their qualities. But, on the other hand, when the parents give up their duty, the children are assigned to another family. And, as there are adoptive parents, so, it seems to me, there may be adoptive godparents - these are the people who can take the trouble to help parents in the flesh in the spiritual upbringing of a child. In principle, the official procedure for "spiritual adoption" is not so important for this, especially since it does not exist. The factual side is more important. You wrote that the godmother is not fulfilling her duties, but you did not specify which ones. Doesn't she take the child to the temple? You can do it yourself. Not engaged in the spiritual education of your child? But then you can do this yourself or ask your friends from those who are churched and have free time help you in the spiritual enlightenment of your child.

I am sure that parents can also fulfill the duties of a godmother. After all, this is their child! If help is needed, then in any church, the priest can instruct parishioners to help the child become churched. The main thing is that the parents want it, then everything will work out.

An archive of all questions can be found. If you have not found a question that interests you, you can always ask it.

On the splash screen is a fragment of a photo Flickr.com/massalim

Hello, then why attach godparents who, as a result, do not bear their cross, or even better, when you find out that you are not believers yet, you have lost your faith ... Then why bind people to this responsible business ... It is clear that we are the parents themselves, as a result, will educate their own children without any godparents, but at the same time in the soul there is a question to that person, WHY ... WHY ... If so in the end it turns out, then let parents baptize without anyone, and whoever helps, he will help even without baptism ... So that later I say the same no claims to those people who take on the spiritual cross ... And then maybe people will live with a different understanding of this rite ... And then they baptize, kind of pledged, but in the end why is it needed ... You are a mother, you fiddle with your child ... Well, isn't it funny ...