Baptism is the most important sacrament in Christianity. It symbolizes birth for spiritual life. Baptism is called a sacrament because through it in an incomprehensible, mysterious way of a person acts saving grace. Parents who realize the importance of this event are preparing for it in advance. They choose godfathers for their child and acquire the necessary attributes for performing the ritual - a pectoral cross, a kryzhma and clothes.
Summary of Baptism
The sacrament of baptism can take place at different ages. It depends on the desire of the parents if they decide to baptize the child, or on an adult. Ideally, a person should choose the faith himself, however, according to Christian tradition, parents should baptize a baby already on the 40th day of his life, since this was exactly the case with Jesus Christ.
In the old days, this rule was strictly observed. In addition, the child was given a name by a priest in the church during the baptismal ceremony. Today, everything has changed a bit, now every family has the right to decide whether to baptize or not to baptize children. Moreover, this is not done strictly on day 40, but when it is convenient for parents.
What is needed for the baptism of a child
For the rite of baptism, much is not required. We need a pair of godparents - a woman and a man, a baptismal towel (kryzhma), a pectoral cross.
You should also take care of clothes for the baby. You can buy either a suit or a baptismal shirt for a child.
Baptismal clothes
According to the Orthodox tradition, the pectoral cross should be bought for the child by the godfather. But a godmother usually acquires a towel and a baptismal shirt for a boy.
What should be the clothes for the baptism of the child? It can be either an ordinary cute suit of any color (preferably a snow-white or just a light shade), or a special shirt. You can get it at a church shop or even an ordinary children's store.
What does a christening shirt look like for a boy
A christening shirt for a boy is no different from a similar shirt for a girl. If this clothing is not white, it may be with a delicate blue tint. The shirt has a loose fit. It can be long, on the floor, and a little shorter, but not higher than the knee.
Clothing for the baptism of a boy can be decorated with gold or silver ornaments, and there can also be an embroidered Orthodox cross on it. As for the material from which such an outfit is made, it should be natural, soft, pleasant for a child’s body.
You can also create a baptismal shirt with your own hands, for this you will need to pick up patterns, sew and decorate clothes yourself. In this case, it will become not only the most comfortable and soft, but also decorated as you want the godmother or the mother of the child.
