Choosing godparents for a child is not an easy task, as it might seem. After all, the godfather must necessarily meet a number of requirements that are presented to him by the church. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider who you intend to appoint as the spiritual parents of your child.
In most cases, people are baptized in childhood. And often childhood is quite early. Therefore, all responsibility for the choice of godparents lies entirely with the parents of the child. And it is very important that they choose the godparents correctly.
What requirements must godparents meet?
First of all, it is desirable that the godfather be an Orthodox Christian. The Orthodox Church will not accept a Muslim, Catholic or atheist as the spiritual parent. After all, the main purpose of the godparent is to help the child in the education of the Orthodox faith. In this regard, it is desirable that the godfather should be a church man. This means that he will be able to assume the responsibilities of regularly driving the godson to the church and observing all the necessary rituals and services.
Of course, you can choose that person to be godparents who has nothing to do with the church, but in this case it is worth remembering that no matter how good a person he is, in fact the godfather cannot match.
When choosing a godfather for your child, remember that you make this choice once and for all: you cannot change the godfather. If, after some time, he does not change for the better, the family with the godson will only have to pray that enlightenment catches up with him.
Often questions arise about whether it is possible to appoint the next of kin, pregnant women, etc., as godparents. And often the townsfolk have no answer to these questions. The church, on the other hand, gives a sufficiently clear explanation on the topic of who can be godparents of a child. So, contrary to popular myth, you can freely choose a pregnant woman as a godmother. And for both boys and girls.
The restriction applies only to the father or mother of the child, who cannot be godparents in their own baby. It is also not allowed to become spiritual parents of one child to spouses (if the couple only plans to get married, she also falls under the ban). Other relatives, including siblings of the child’s parents, as well as their parents, may well assume the responsibilities of the godparents. Also, do not choose to godparents or monks, young children. In addition, adoptive parents also cannot become godparents at their stepdaughters and stepsons.
By the way, with regard to godmothers, there is a ban on the participation of women in the sacrament of Baptism during the period of monthly uncleanness.
