Baptism of a child is a sacrament. How to properly prepare for the rite of infant baptism and how the sacrament occurs

The ritual of exorcism is quite dangerous, and the church rarely gives permission to perform it. However, cases of demons entering people's bodies are still a real threat. Find out how the exorcism ceremony occurs and who can perform it.

In the article:

The rite of exorcism - what is it and where does it come from?

The ritual of exorcism involves removing demons from the human body. Many believe that it comes from the Middle Ages - the times of the fight against witches, demons and other representatives of evil spirits. However, the theme of the infusion of spirits into the human body was present in shamanism, which existed long before the advent of Christianity. Most likely, the Catholic Church only gave a new name to this phenomenon. Similar rituals occur in all world religions.

Exorcism is the expulsion of the devil, but the church also classifies as evil spirits the spirits to which shamans turn, and other entities. Now this name is considered common for all powerful purification rites. For example, there are rites of exorcism of salt, water, oil and other inanimate things and products. It should be understood as the expulsion of evil spirits from food and things in which the demon has settled. They also expel evil spirits from premises, which is also sometimes called exorcism. In addition, this ritual was performed before baptism in Catholicism - it means the expulsion of evil from a person’s soul so that the Lord can enter it.

Exorcism and the persecution of people by evil spirits is a common theme in modern cinema and classic horror films. Perhaps this became the reason for disbelief in the possibility of becoming possessed, suffering from possessed demons and demons. The priests claim that this problem is still relevant and it did not disappear along with the Inquisition and the bonfires at which. Even in our time, when most people do not believe in the existence of evil forces, the ritual of exorcism is quite relevant.

Moreover, evil spirits are capable of taking advantage of people’s weakness of faith. After all, it is impossible to resist something that you don’t even believe in. Skepticism is not appropriate if we are really talking about the introduction of evil spirits into a person. But it should be remembered that science considers this phenomenon a symptom of a number of mental illnesses - demonopathy, split personality, hysteria, psychosis, schizophrenia and many others. Not all crazy people are obsessed, but not all crazy people need the help of a psychiatrist.

Exorcism spell - text to exorcise a demon

Proofreading exorcism is usually called spells and prayers that are aimed at exorcism. As a rule, their meaning is to turn to the Lord for help in the fight against evil:

I appeal to you, an unclean spirit sent by evil. You are the very sin, deception, blasphemy, fornication, murder. We pray to the Lord God for the forces that will help drive you out. His greatness and power will resurrect the soul of the servant of God (name) and the devilish spirit will be overtaken by a terrible judgment. Lord, help us cast out the demon from the flesh and soul of the servant of God. You, treacherous enemy, leave the body you have occupied, cleanse it of your essence. May your reign over the whole world end, may your kingdom be destroyed, may your poisoned arrows rot, may you be destroyed, defeated, destroyed and subjugated, as you were prostrate in Egypt, Jericho, Goliath and Haman. You are a human slave and we are strong over you. We have the power to torment you for your deeds. We expel you from the body you are tormenting. We expose you to hellish and eternal fire. May the power of the Lord triumph over you. Let go and go wherever you are. You are forbidden to return forever to this body and own this soul.

While reading the words of exorcism, you cannot interrupt or stop, regardless of the circumstances in which you are - this is all the demon needs, he will try with all his might to stop the process.

Orthodox exorcism prayer - how to drive out evil

Exorcism (exorcism) in Transnistria

In addition to exorcism spells, it is recommended to read prayers. It could be "Our Father" or "Symbol of faith". In Catholicism the following prayers are read - Gloria Patri Anima Christi, Ave Maria and Salve Regina. But there is also a special prayer of purification for exorcism in Russian. The language of the prayer does not matter much, the main thing is the meaning that is embedded in it:

We cast out you, the spirit of all uncleanness, every power of Satan, every hostile encroacher of hell, every legion, every assembly and sect of the devil, in the name and virtue of our Lord Jesus Christ, be uprooted and flee from the Church of God, from souls created in the image of God and by the precious blood of the Lamb redeemed. You no longer dare, most cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, persecute the Church of God and tear away God’s chosen ones and scatter them like wheat. The Almighty God commands you, with whom you still want to be equal in your great pride; who wants to save all people and bring them to the knowledge of the truth. God the Father commands you; God the Son commands you; God the Holy Spirit commands you. The greatness of Christ, the eternal God of the Word incarnate, commands you, who, for the sake of the salvation of our race, fallen through your envy, humbled himself and was obedient even to death; who built his church on a strong rock and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it, for he himself would remain with it until the end of time. The mystery of the cross and all the mysteries of the Christian faith commands you to nobility. The high Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you, who struck your most arrogant head from the first moment of her immaculate conception in her humility. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and the other apostles commands you. The blood of the martyrs and all holy men and women commands you pious intercession.

The prayers read during the exorcism ritual must belong to the faith that the patient professes. The exorcist must also profess the same religion as the possessed.

How is an exorcism session performed?

Nowadays, it is customary to record the exorcism ritual on camera. Video is usually necessary to demonstrate to non-believers in the existence of demons and demons. In addition, such videos are necessary for beginning exorcists, who must know what they need to prepare for and what the path they have chosen for themselves is. In the old days, the inquisitor or priest who read the sacred words of exorcism had an assistant who documented everything that happened to the patient and how the demon behaved. Besides, these are modern church rules.

During an exorcism session, there must be witnesses to what is happening - at least one person. In the old days, the relatives of the patient were called, but now the situation with witnesses has not changed much. There are many reasons for their presence. Relatives must be convinced that the suffering of their loved one is over. Their observations will be made public, which will convince more than one person of the existence of a problem that most do not even believe in.

In addition, there is another reason for the presence of witnesses - frequent fatal accidents. Evil spirits can cause harm to a person's physical body during the process of exorcism. The non-infliction of physical harm by the exorcist must be recorded by witnesses, and these should be not only his assistants, but also people who are close relatives of the patient. Of course, witnesses must be warned about what they will see. Sometimes there is also a doctor present who is engaged in providing exclusively medical care to those suffering from the machinations of the forces of evil.

Both witnesses and the priest or exorcist must confess before the exorcism is performed. Fasting is also necessary, the longer the better, but, as a rule, such patients cannot always wait forty days, so three or nine days is the optimal time for fasting.

The evil spirit is trying with all its might to hide its presence from the clergyman, but the latter must not be deceived by him.

He can bargain; the demon's offers are usually such that it is difficult to disagree. According to the Gospel, demons even bargained with Jesus Christ, as a result of which they agreed to go into the bodies of pigs instead of going to hell. Sometimes they ask tricky questions about the interpretation of the Bible and the norms of Christian morality. Theology is their favorite topic. If the exorcist answers correctly, most likely he will be able to negotiate with the evil spirits about her departure. Humility and faith are the best weapons in this fight.

Any otherworldly phenomena must be ignored by the exorcist; the ritual and reading of prayers must not be interrupted. Sooner or later the demon will be defeated with the help of faith in Divine help and the sacred words of prayer. Peace and tranquility will be the first signs of victory over the forces of evil. One ritual is not always enough. Sometimes the fight against evil takes several years - it all depends on the strength of the demon and the professionalism of the exorcist.

After the demon is sent back to hell, a prayer request for further protection for the victim and his loved ones is mandatory. It is known that the demon can return, and only a lifestyle that is correct from the point of view of Christian morality can protect against this. After getting rid of evil spirits, you should visit church more often, pray and confess. It is advisable to fast for some time. Sometimes a person from whom the devil has been cast out does not remember anything that has happened in his life since the moment the body was taken over by evil spirits.

Who can perform an exorcism ritual?

It is recommended to trust the exorcism of demons and devils clergy. The Church extremely rarely gives permission for such rituals - it can only be carried out with the permission of higher church leadership. Nowadays, exorcism is very rare, but there are monasteries and churches where the treatment of the possessed is carried out on a regular basis. Exorcism is a complex and dangerous ritual, which it is advisable to trust to real specialists in this matter. In its process, people sometimes die, and the responsibility for this often falls on the shoulders of the exorcist.

If you intend to become an exorcist, you should keep in mind that not every person is suitable for this role. He must be pure of heart and conscience, try to live in accordance with the laws of the religion to which he belongs. The presence of grave sins on your conscience is a factor that indicates that you cannot practice exorcism. Moreover, the demon will be able to use you for his own purposes if he comes into contact with you.

An important point is good physical health. Of course, there is nothing to do in such situations for a person with a weak nervous system. You must feel confident when communicating with demons - this will also have to be done. The voices of demons can cause almost physical suffering, but you cannot interrupt the reading of prayers - are you sure you’re ready for this? The presence of mental disorders is also a serious obstacle.

Both the assistants and the exorcist himself should not be squeamish, self-righteous or suffering from pride. The demon will hurl insults, trying to lead you into sin and interfere with the ritual. He has telepathic abilities, and will go to reveal the secrets of everyone present at the session. In addition, blood and excrement are something that you will see quite often. The evil spirit understands what emotions such a spectacle evokes in an unprepared person, and takes advantage of it.

Serious knowledge of theology, careful study of religious literature and diplomacy are what will be useful to an exorcist. The demons enter into dialogue with him, try to bargain, find a place to leave so as not to return to hell. They often use tricky theological questions to lure inexperienced exorcists into a trap. Knowledge of Latin will not hurt either - many texts useful in exorcizing demons have been written in this language.

Reading time: 10 minutes

One of the most important events in the life of a believer is the sacrament, during which he is accepted into the faith and the church. The baptism of a child, both a boy and a girl, is carried out according to certain rules of the church. The sacrament is carried out according to a ritual that has not changed for several centuries. Parents and godparents must prepare carefully and in advance for this significant event.

What is baby baptism

The rite of baptism of a child is a responsible step for believing parents and their baby, a procedure after which a person is accepted into the Christian faith and church. Christenings have a long history, but the basic rules and canons have been preserved to this day. The holy baptism of a child is not a tribute to fashion or tradition; the rite rids the baby of sins (hereditary or personal) and birth takes place for a holy, spiritual life.

Choosing a name

If the name with which the baby is registered on the birth certificate is not in the calendar, then you should decide on choosing another one. They select names for the child’s baptism that are consonant with the world, for example, Zhanna - Anna, Sergei - Sergius. When there is no such correspondence in the church calendar, the name of the saint is used, who is honored immediately after the birth of the baby. When choosing a name, it is better to seek help from a clergyman rather than doing it yourself. In church rituals, the name given during the sacrament is used. It is necessary to know him in order to honor the heavenly intercessor.

At what age is it better to baptize a child?

The Church recommends scheduling a baby's christening as early as possible. Catholics and Orthodox Christians schedule the baptism of a child in the first months from the date of birth, although a person of any age is allowed to perform the ceremony. Some people postpone baptism until a person can independently decide on his choice of religion. Often the date for the sacrament is set on the 40th day of the baby’s life. The choice of the date of baptism, which establishes when to baptize a child, has several reasonable explanations:

• newborns up to 3 months can easily tolerate head diving;
• babies behave calmer and are not afraid when strangers pick them up;
• The mother of the baby is allowed to enter the church after 40 days from the date of birth.

Child christening - rules and signs

If the baptism of an infant is carried out according to all the rules, preparation for the sacrament should begin in advance. For future godparents, the church prescribes going to confession a few days before the date of christening, repenting and receiving communion. It is also recommended to fast for 3-4 days, although this condition is not mandatory. On the morning of the ceremony, godparents should not eat or have sex the day before.

On what days are children baptized in church?

You can carry out the sacrament of baptism of a child on any day, be it a holiday, an ordinary day, or a fast day. In church calendars there are no prohibitions on certain dates for the ceremony. The only exceptions are Christmas, Easter and Trinity, when the churches are crowded and it will be difficult to conduct the sacrament. Some churches have their own schedule related to internal regulations. When choosing the day on which the baptism of children will be scheduled, it is better to consult with a priest.

Rules for baptizing a child in the Orthodox Church

When you decide to baptize a child, it is important not only to choose a temple and purchase baptismal supplies, but also to familiarize yourself with the conditions defined by the church that parents and guests must follow. Church rules state that everyone must wear crosses. Women should wear closed dresses and cover their heads with a scarf. The baptism process lasts at least half an hour, the baby will be held in your arms, so it is better to avoid uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

Men will need a dark suit, but not black. Although the church does not set strict rules regarding the appearance of men, it is not necessary to arrive at the place where the sacraments are performed wearing shorts and a T-shirt. On the eve of the solemn event, the parents, as well as godmothers and fathers, must confess. A few days before the sacrament takes place, you should fast.

What is needed for the baptism of a boy child

When a boy is christened, the godfather is always involved in the ceremony. Traditionally, he takes on all financial obligations, buys a cross for the ceremony and a gift. The custom of paying for the ritual is not always entrusted to the godfather; depending on the financial situation, the child’s natural parents can make a donation to the church. It is up to the godmother to buy a baptismal set, which includes a shirt, a blanket, and sometimes a cap. She is also responsible for buying kryzhma and a silk scarf for the clergy.

Girl christening

At the sacrament of baptism of a girl, the godmother is considered the main recipient. Its main task is to read the “Creed” prayer during the ceremony. If it is difficult to memorize a text, you can take a hint with words. Traditionally, a woman gives a baptismal set and buys a kryzhma (white towel) for her godchildren. As a gift, you can present an icon of the saint whose name the goddaughter bears. The godfather must buy a cross, and also helps the girl’s parents financially by paying for the ceremony.

Choosing godparents

One of the main tasks of parents is to choose the right godparents (fathers) from Orthodox Christians for their newborn. These are not just those people who give gifts to a child on holidays, but also engage in spiritual education, teach the rules of Christian life and the basics of Orthodox doctrine. According to the church charter, one godparent is required: for a girl - a woman, for a boy - a man, but often both the godmother and the godfather are invited for the baptism procedure. Both recipients must be Orthodox Christians.

Receivers cannot be changed, so parents must carefully select mentors for their child. Often the child’s relatives are invited to this responsible “position”. Grandmothers, uncles, older sisters and any other people close to the family can become godparents. If you choose adoptees from the family, the godson will communicate with them more often, for example, at family events. In addition to the conditions set by the church, it is worth paying attention to the following qualities of potential godparents:

• reliability;
• responsibility;
• high moral and ethical values.

Who has no right to be a godfather

According to the norms of church law, sometimes a person cannot become a godfather or godmother. The high responsibility that is imposed on the recipients determines the circle of people who cannot claim such an honorable role. The following cannot become godparents:

• spouses or bride and groom for one child;
• parents for their baby;
• monks and nuns;
• non-Orthodox, unbaptized;
• immoral or insane;
• children (boys under 15, girls under 13).

The sacrament of baptism - rules for godparents

Responsibility for raising their godchildren in the Orthodox spirit is assigned to their godchildren. Preparing for this most important stage in a child’s life plays a huge role, although it does not require much effort. Previously, recipients need to undergo a special interview by visiting the church. The godmother helps the parents prepare some items for the child's baptism. It is important that she knows how to handle the child, that she can take off his clothes and put on the baptismal set.

The godmother plays the most important role when the sacrament is performed on a girl. In cases where male infants are baptized, the godfather bears great responsibility. He takes the baby after immersing himself in the holy font, when the baby is wrapped in kryzhma. The godfather can also participate in the purchase of a baptismal set or cross. All material expenses are secondary; the main condition for a child’s baptism is the sincere faith of the relatives and godparents.

What you need to know

Godparents are entrusted with the enormous responsibility of spiritual education of the godson, teaching him the basics of the Christian faith. If the recipients are not sufficiently informed, then they should fill in the gaps, study the relevant literature, and talk with priests. Before the sacrament, it is better to learn about the rules of the ceremony. It is important to clarify at what stage the godmother takes the baby, and when the baby is held by the godfather, at what point the child is wrapped in kryzhma, and when the baptismal shirt is put on him.

Prayer for the baptism of a child for godparents

To receive the sacrament of baptism, a person (or recipients, if the ceremony is performed on a child) needs to know two fundamental prayers for all Christians: “Our Father”, “Creed”. It is better to know their text by heart and understand the meaning. In the modern church, they are tolerant of the fact that recipients do not remember prayers. It is allowed to read them according to the prayer book.

Responsibilities of godparents

The role of godparents does not end after the sacrament of baptism; they need to pay a lot of attention to the spiritual education of the godson. Through personal example, the recipients must demonstrate human virtues to the child and teach him the basics of the Christian faith. With Christian upbringing, children need to learn to resort to the sacraments of confession, communion, and become familiar with the dates of church holidays. Godparents give knowledge about the gracious power of the icon of the Mother of God and other shrines.

The godparents teach the godchildren to attend services, pray, observe fasting and other provisions of the church charter. Of the many tasks assigned to godparents, the most important is daily prayer for their godson. Throughout your life, you should maintain a warm and trusting relationship with your godson, be with him in sorrow and joy.

How does the baptism ceremony take place?

The sacred sacrament is carried out according to a specific plan and in an established order, which does not change for many years. The baptism of a child is called a spiritual birth, the main participants in the process are the priest, godparents and the newborn. According to ancient customs, the baby’s natural parents should not be present during the ceremony, but today they treat this with loyalty and allow mom and dad to attend the sacrament. The procedure can be divided into the following stages:

1. The rite of announcement. At that stage, over those preparing for baptism, the priest three times reads prohibitory prayers against evil and the baby’s renunciation of it. The baby is wrapped only in diapers, his chest and face should be free.
2. Prohibition on unclean spirits. Turning to the west, the priest reads prayers against Satan three times.
3. The renunciation of the recipients. The priest asks questions, and the recipients are responsible for the baby.
4. Confession of fidelity to the son of God. The godparents and the baby turn to the east and again answer the priest’s questions. At the end of the rite of confession of allegiance, the recipients read the prayer “Creed.”
5. Blessing of water. The priest dresses in white robes and performs the ceremony. The receivers each take a candle in their hands, and 3 more are lit on the eastern side of the font. After reading the prayer and asking for illumination of the water, the priest baptizes the water three times and blows on it.
6. Blessing of the oil. This stage of baptism is carried out similarly to the illumination of water. The priest blows into the vessel with oil three times, makes the sign of the cross over it, and reads a prayer. The water of the font is anointed with sacred oil when the person is baptized.
7. Immersion of the baby in the font three times. The priest baptizes the child by immersing him in water three times. The procedure is accompanied by special prayers. After the baby is dipped into the font three times, the priest hands the baby over to his receivers. The godfather takes the boy's child, and the godmother takes the girl's child. The baby is wrapped in a baptismal towel or kryzhma.
8. Dressing the baby in baptismal clothes. The baptism ceremony continues with the putting on of baptismal shirts on the newly baptized, and a cross is put on the baby.
9. Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest anoints the baby’s forehead, eyes, cheeks, chest, arms and legs while saying a prayer. The boy is carried around the altar three times, the priest helps the girls to venerate the icon of the Mother of God. The process is accompanied by a prayer of churching.
10. Hair cutting ceremony. The priest cuts some hair from the newborn's head. At the end of the sacrament, this hair remains in the church as a symbol of the first sacrifice to God.

Celebration of christening

The holy sacrament of baby baptism ends with a family celebration. The ceremonial table should include dishes made from dough and cereals. Guests are often treated to pancakes, pies and other pastries. It is traditional to serve poultry; clay dishes are used for baking it. An indispensable treat should be vegetables and herbs, symbolizing spring and the beginning of a new life. Godparents and guests present the baby with a gift. There are no special requirements for choosing a gift. You can give anything: from an icon of a saint to a set of silver spoons.

What to do with baptismal items

How to be baptized is described in detail in the Bible, but there are no recommendations for the use of baptismal paraphernalia. Because of this, there are many opinions and advice. Priests can recommend several options for storing kryzhma to parents:

• put it in a corner of the chest of drawers and take it out in extreme cases (if the baby is sick or is acting restless);
• place the kryzhma near the crib, hiding it from public view, so that it protects the baby.

When the baby does not wear the cross all the time, it can be stored along with the kryzhma in the chest of drawers. While opinions may differ regarding the use of kryzhma, there are actions that absolutely cannot be carried out with it. The baptism towel cannot be washed, thrown away, or baptized another person in it. The baptismal shirt is put into a box or a special bag and kept for life. There is an opinion that it has healing powers; the shirt can be applied to the sore spot of the person who has been baptized in it.

Video

Before the engagement, the priest will take your rings to consecrate them, candles and icons.

You will be placed in the middle of the church in front of a lectern on which the cross and the Gospel lie, facing the altar. According to custom, the groom stands on the right and the bride on the left. After the priest crosses you three times, he will light your candles at the same time from one large candle. Having crossed the groom with a lighted candle (the groom must cross himself), the priest will give him his candle. Now he will cross the bride, who at this time will also have to cross herself, with the second candle, and give the candle to her. Candles should be held in the left hand, while the candle is taken with the hand through a handkerchief. These candles serve as a sign of your future marital love, which God blesses.

After this, the priest will ask you to stand on a towel spread on the floor in front of the lectern.

Then the priest will read a series of prayers in which he will ask God to bless your betrothal, send you all kinds of blessings and mercies in your married life, unite and keep you in peace and like-mindedness.

After this, the priest will take a small saucer on which your consecrated rings will lie. Moreover, the groom's ring will lie in front of the bride, and the bride's ring will lie in front of the groom. The priest will explain to you that everyone must touch the ring lying in front of him and move it to the opposite side of the plate. This procedure is repeated three times, and in the end everyone will have the ring that is intended for them. Before the engagement, the rings are taken out of the altar from the throne. This means that the family being created is blessed by God himself.

After this, the priest will take the rings, cross you with them and give each person his ring in his right hand. Now the priest will turn to the groom and say: “The servant of God (name of the groom) is engaged to the servant of God (name of the bride), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.” After that, he will put a ring on the groom. Turning to the bride, the priest will say: “The servant of God (name of the bride) is engaged to the servant of God (name of the groom), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen” - and will put the ring on the bride.

Having accepted your ring, you need to cross yourself. The bride and groom accept these consecrated rings as a pledge and a sign of the strength and inviolability of their sacred union.

Then the priest will read a prayer for the blessing of the betrothed, and the deacon will read a litany. Remember that when reading prayers in church, you are supposed to cross yourself when pronouncing certain words and phrases, such as “Lord, have mercy!”, “Hallelujah!” If you are not very familiar with the rules of conduct during prayer, look at the choir or deacon and cross yourself when they cross themselves. And those moments of engagement or wedding when the newlyweds must cross themselves, the priest will tell you.

Now the priest will ask questions to the bride and groom. Since the entire service is conducted in Church Slavonic, not everyone can immediately understand the content of the question, especially in such a solemn atmosphere. Therefore, we will give an approximate version of the questions that will definitely be asked to you by the priest. The first question to the groom sounds something like this: “Do you (name of the groom) have a good and spontaneous will and a strong thought to take this (name of the bride) as your wife, which you see here in front of you?” The answer to this question is: “Yes.” The second question that will be asked to the groom is: “Has he been promised to another bride?” The answer is, of course, “no.” The priest will ask the bride the same questions. After this, he will read prayers in which he will turn to God with a request to send His heavenly grace to those entering into marriage.

After this, the most important moment of the sacrament will come - the laying of crowns. Crowns have long been signs of royal power. And the fact that the crowns are put on the heads of the bride and groom means that they are the heads of the family being created. The priest will take the first crown in his hands, cross the groom with it, saying: “The servant of God (name of the groom) is married to the servant of God (name of the bride), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.” The groom must cross himself and place his head under the crown if it is intended to be worn on his head. If there are witnesses at the wedding, the crown is awarded to the one who stands behind the groom.

Then the priest will take the second crown, cross the bride with it, saying: “The servant of God (name of the bride) is married to the servant of God (name of the groom), in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” and will put the crown on her head or will be given to the witness, who will hold it over the bride's head throughout the ceremony. If the crowns are placed on your heads, be careful, as they do not have a very comfortable shape and can slip off if you move awkwardly.

After this, the priest will read the letter of the Apostle Paul, which talks about the importance of the sacrament of marriage, the mutual responsibilities of husband and wife, and a chapter from the Gospel of John about the presence of Jesus Christ at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. After the prayer, the priest will bless the cup of wine brought. You must take three sips from this cup. The cup will first be presented to the groom, and then to the bride, this will be repeated three times. Remember that the wine must be drunk to the last drop, since this ritual is a symbol of the fact that from now on you will share equally both joy and sorrow.

The priest will take your right hands in his, cover them with the stole and circle you three times around the lectern.

How to choose a wedding day

Firstly, weddings cannot take place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday throughout the year and on the eve of the twelve, temple and great holidays (you can find out more about these days in the church or from the Orthodox calendar).

The rite of church marriage is not performed during fasting.

Great Lent (48 days before Easter).

Petrov (from the second Monday after Trinity to Peter's day).

During Shrovetide week.

During Easter week.

On the days and on the eve of the Beheading of John the Baptist (September 11) and the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord (September 27).

A wedding is the “golden gate” to this wonderful world.

Each couple can choose a church to their liking; there are no strict rules here. Some people want to get married in a large, magnificent temple with a huge choir and bells ringing. And for those who love privacy, a modest chapel is quite suitable, where the choir consists of two or three girls, but there is no need to be afraid of a large number of onlookers.

What a wedding could be like

A traditional wedding presupposes the presence of a host with his own prepared program, the organization of a bride price, a rich table, many guests, and walks around the city. The wedding venue can be any restaurant, bar, cafe, banquet hall, even your own apartment. The dishes at such a holiday are very diverse. You can give preference to any cuisine in the world, of course, taking into account the tastes of your guests. The music at your wedding can be very diverse. These can be both melodies of past years and modern music. You can invite musicians whose repertoire includes melodies that suit your taste. Guests can be entertained by the toastmaster, who will offer a variety of competitions and games for guests and newlyweds.

For those who have imbibed a conservative attitude towards life with their mother’s milk, such a festive program will seem like heaven on earth, however, today more and more newlyweds are opting for the exotic, trying to be different from the rest. Beautiful brides change their virgin white outfit to scarlet, blue and even black dresses. Others surprise the guests gathered for the wedding ceremony with the type of transport that takes the newlyweds to the wedding altar. Some people prefer… a parachute to the “bored” limousines and carriages drawn by three horses.

If we talk about the ways of travel for future spouses to the Wedding Palace, then, perhaps, one of the most unusual weddings took place several years ago in the city of Kharkov. Many city residents were surprised by the newlyweds who decided to create a symbiosis of a wedding limousine and a banquet hall from a tram car. The bride's mother, who works as a conductor, helped make her dream come true. It turned out that the usual tram car could even turn into a dance floor, on which numerous guests danced for about two hours, after which the wedding continued more traditionally - in a restaurant.

One American couple celebrated their wedding in the dairy department of the store - it was there that they met several years ago. In a word, a wedding “on the spot”

Sometimes friends of the newlyweds prefer not to let their spouses in on the secrets of the celebration scenario, preparing a surprise. An example of extreme celebration was once an operation codenamed "Takeover" involving a special police unit. At the height of the celebration, dozens of special forces burst into the cafe and searched the guests. They found a suspicious white powder on the newlyweds, helpfully planted by the presenter. Both the guests and the heroes of the occasion were in shock. But the most amazing thing happened after. Music started playing, and several riot policemen professionally danced a striptease. Only after this the newlyweds realized that they had been played by the organizers of the holiday.

Every believer knows that confession is one of the most important and significant rites of the Christian church. The ability to first realize all your sins, sincerely repent of them and fully reveal yourself to God through confession is a very important stage in spiritual development and self-improvement for every believer.

But, unfortunately, not everyone, even a deeply religious person baptized in the church, regularly goes to confession. In most cases, this is prevented by a feeling of embarrassment and awkwardness; some are stopped by pride.

All adults and children over 7 years old can come to church and repent; children under this age go to communion.

Nowadays, many adults are not accustomed to repent of their sins, so they cannot decide to take this step and put off the day of repentance for a long time. Moreover, the older a person becomes, the more difficult it is for him to decide to take this step.

Often people come to confess for the first time before baptism or then, years later, they decide to legitimize their marriage before the Lord, i.e. get married Before the wedding, as a rule, an individual confession takes place, after which the priest allows the wedding to take place. Both future spouses must repent before the wedding.

In order to remove the heaviness from your soul, begin to talk with God and sincerely repent of everything you have done, you need to learn how to go through confession in church, because this ritual must be performed according to certain rules. You can find out how communion and confession take place from church workers, as well as in church shops usually located nearby.

What should it be like?

Confession is a special Sacrament, during which a believer, through a priest, sincerely tells God about all his sins and asks for forgiveness for them, and also promises not to commit such actions ever again in his life. In order for a person to feel how his soul has been cleansed, making him feel light and light, it is necessary to take the conversation with the clergy very seriously.

It is important to understand that the ritual of remission of sins is not a monotonous listing of them out loud, for the Lord God already knows everything about them. He expects something completely different from a believer! He expects from him sincere, sincere repentance and a great desire to cleanse himself, so as not to do this again in the future. Only with such feelings and desires should you go to church.

« How does confession go?“- this question worries everyone who wants to confess for the first time.

The sacrament occurs according to certain rules:

• Cast aside your fear and shame to admit to the priest that you are an imperfect and sinful person;
• The main components of the ritual are sincere feelings, bitter repentance and faith in the forgiveness of the Almighty, who will certainly hear you;
• It is necessary to repent of your sins regularly and often. The belief that it is enough to come to church once, tell the priest about everything at one time and never return here again is fundamentally wrong;
• The ritual must be carried out seriously. If your soul is disturbed by the fact that bad thoughts come into your head or you have committed a minor everyday offense, then you can repent of these acts at home in prayers in front of the icon;
• There is no need to hide your sins even when they seem very terrible and shameful to you.

During this ritual, it is imperative to confess to all wrongdoings, otherwise you will commit another sin - you will try to hide your actions and thoughts from God, and deceive Him. Since going through confession and communion is a very responsible matter, you need to carefully and meaningfully prepare for it.

Preparation

Proper preparation for it plays a big role in how successfully the rite of absolution will take place. It is necessary to tune in to communication with the Almighty, to a sincere and frank conversation with the clergy. Prepare internally and externally, think through every single moment.

Before going to confession, be alone at home in a calm environment. Concentrate and try to grasp the idea that soon you will have to communicate with God in the church, in his Temple. You should not be distracted by anything around you, because you are preparing to commit a very important act in your life. The prayers of John Chrysostom will help you get in the right frame of mind and prepare.

Remember all your sins and transgressions, start with mortal ones, then remember whether you sinned with anger, pride or love of money, restore in your memory the pictures of sins. Ministers recommend that you prepare yourself for repentance long and carefully; you need to pray a lot, remember your sins in solitude, and it is advisable to fast.

In order not to forget anything and not to miss any sin, you can write everything down on a piece of paper. It is especially important to use such a cheat sheet during your very first frank conversation with a priest.

When going to confession, you need to pay special attention to your appearance. Women must wear a skirt below the knees and a jacket with covered shoulders and arms, and must cover their heads with a scarf.

It is better to avoid wearing cosmetics on this day; painting your lips is generally prohibited, because you will need to venerate the cross. Men should also not be naked, even if it’s hot outside, you shouldn’t go to church in shorts and a T-shirt.

How is it going?

People who want to go to confession for the first time are worried about how everything will happen. In Orthodox churches and temples, both general confessions are held, which everyone can attend, as well as individual conversations with parishioners.

At general confessions, the priest absolves the sins of all believers who come to the temple, while he lists those sins and transgressions that people commit most often. This is done in order to remind people of sins that they may have forgotten.

Upon entering the church, you need to go to the lectern, the place where there is a queue of those wishing to confess. While you are waiting for your turn, you need to pray and remember your sins. When your turn comes, you need to approach the priest, who will ask your name, what you want to talk about and what you want to repent of.

You need to tell everything as it is, without embarrassment and without hiding anything, you need to answer the questions asked by the priest honestly. It is important to remember that only you and the priest will know everything you tell.

During confession, the clergyman covers the person's head with part of his clothing, which resembles an apron. This is an obligatory part of the ritual; at this moment the priest will read a prayer. After which he will give his instructions and, perhaps, assign penance, that is, punishment.

A sincerely repentant person has his sins forgiven forever. After the end of the ceremony, you must cross yourself and kiss the cross and the Gospel. Then you need to ask the priest for his blessing. Confession in churches usually takes place on certain days, which you need to know about in advance.

It is important for every believer to know the following points:.

Inga Mayakovskaya

Reading time: 7 minutes

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A wedding is an important event in the life of every Christian family. It is rare when couples get married on their wedding day (in order to immediately “kill two birds with one stone”) - in most cases, couples still approach this issue thoughtfully, realizing the importance of this rite and experiencing a sincere and mutual desire to become a full-fledged family, according to church canons .

How does this ritual take place, and what do you need to know about it?

How to prepare for the sacrament of wedding correctly?

A wedding is not a wedding where they walk for 3 days, fall on their faces in a salad and hit each other with their faces according to tradition. A wedding is a sacrament through which a couple receives a blessing from the Lord to live their whole lives together in sorrow and joy, to be faithful to each other “until the grave”, to give birth and raise children.

Without a wedding, a marriage is considered “incomplete” by the Church. And, of course, it must be appropriate. And we are not talking about organizational issues that are resolved in 1 day, but about spiritual preparation.

A couple who takes their wedding seriously will definitely take into account those requirements that some newlyweds forget about in pursuit of fashionable wedding photos. But spiritual preparation is an important part of a wedding, as the beginning of a new life for a couple - with a clean (in every sense) slate.

Preparation includes a 3-day fast, during which you need to prepare for the ceremony prayerfully, and also abstain from intimate relationships, animal food, bad thoughts, etc. In the morning before the wedding, the husband and wife confess and receive communion together.

Video: Wedding. Step-by-step instruction

Betrothal - how is the wedding ceremony carried out in the Orthodox Church?

Betrothal is a kind of “introductory” part of the sacrament that precedes the wedding. It symbolizes the consummation of a church marriage in the face of the Lord and the consolidation of the mutual promises of a man and a woman.

1. It’s not for nothing that betrothal takes place immediately after the Divine Liturgy – the couple is shown the importance of the sacrament of marriage and the spiritual trepidation with which they should enter into marriage.
2. Betrothal in the temple symbolizes the husband's acceptance of his wife from the Lord himself : the priest brings the couple into the temple, and from that moment their life together, new and pure, begins in the face of God.
3. The beginning of the ritual is censing : the priest blesses the husband and wife 3 times in turn with the words “In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In response to the blessing, everyone makes the sign of the cross (approx. - crosses themselves), after which the priest hands them the already lit candles. This is a symbol of love, fiery and pure, which a husband and wife should now have for each other. In addition, candles are a symbol of the chastity of men and women, as well as God's grace.
4. Cross censing symbolizes the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit next to the couple.
5. Next comes a prayer for the betrothed and for their salvation (souls) , about the blessing for the birth of children, about the fulfillment of those requests of the couple to God that relate to their salvation, about the blessing of the couple for every good deed. After which, everyone present, including the husband and wife, should bow their heads before God in anticipation of the blessing while the priest reads a prayer.
6. After the prayer to Jesus Christ comes the betrothal : the priest puts a ring on the groom, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross 3 times. Next, he puts a ring on the bride, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross three times. It is important to note that the rings (which the groom must give!) symbolize an eternal and indissoluble union at the wedding. The rings lie, until they are put on, on the right side of the holy throne, which symbolizes the power of consecration in the face of the Lord and his blessing.
7. Now the bride and groom must exchange rings three times (note - in the word of the Most Holy Trinity): the groom puts his ring on the bride as a symbol of his love and willingness to help his wife until the end of his days. The bride puts her ring on the groom as a symbol of her love and readiness to accept his help until the end of her days.
8. Next is the priest’s prayer for the Lord’s blessing and betrothal of this couple , and sending them a Guardian Angel to guide them in their new and pure Christian life. The betrothal ceremony ends here.

Video: Russian wedding in the Orthodox Church. Wedding ceremony

The sacrament of a wedding - how does the ceremony take place?

The second part of the sacrament of marriage begins with the bride and groom entering the middle of the temple with candles in their hands, as if carrying the spiritual light of the sacrament. In front of them is a priest with a censer, which symbolizes the importance of following the path of the commandments and offering up their good deeds as incense to the Lord.

The choir welcomes the couple by singing Psalm 127.

• Next, the couple stands on a white towel spread out in front of the lectern. : both, in the face of God and the Church, confirm their free will, as well as the absence in their past (note - on each side!) of promises to marry another person. The priest asks these traditional questions to the bride and groom in turn.
• Confirmation of a voluntary and inviolable desire to marry secures a natural marriage , who is now considered a prisoner. Only after this does the sacrament of marriage begin.
• The wedding ceremony begins with the couple’s declaration of participation in the Kingdom of God and three lengthy prayers – to Jesus Christ and to the Triune God. After which the priest signs (in turn) the bride and groom with a crown in the shape of a cross, “crowning the servant of God...”, and then “crowning the servant of God...”. The groom must kiss the image of the Savior on his crown, the bride must kiss the image of the Mother of God that adorns her crown.
• Now the most important moment of the wedding begins for the bride and groom wearing crowns. , when with the words “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!” the priest, as a link between people and God, blesses the couple three times, reading a prayer three times.
• Blessing of marriage by the Church symbolizes the eternity of the new Christian union, its indissolubility.
• Afterwards there is a reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians by St. apostle paul , and then the Gospel of John about the blessing and sanctification of the marriage union. Then the priest pronounces a petition for the newlyweds and a prayer for peace in the new family, honesty of marriage, integrity of cohabitation and life together according to the commandments until old age.
• After “And grant us, O Master...” everyone reads the prayer “Our Father” (it should be learned in advance if you did not know it by heart before preparing for the wedding). This prayer on the lips of a married couple symbolizes the determination to do the will of the Lord on earth through their family, to be devoted and submissive to the Lord. As a sign of this, the husband and wife bow their heads under their crowns.
• They bring the “cup of fellowship” with the Cahors , and the priest blesses it and serves it as a sign of joy, offering to drink wine three times, first to the head of the new family, and then to his wife. They drink wine in 3 tiny sips as a sign of their inseparable existence from now on.
• Now the priest must join the right hands of the newlyweds and cover them with stole (note - a long ribbon on the priest’s neck) and place your palm on top, as a symbol of the husband receiving his wife from the Church itself, which in Christ united these two forever.
• The couple is traditionally led around the lectern three times : on the first circle they sing “Isaiah, rejoice...”, on the second - the troparion “Holy Martyr”, and on the third Christ is glorified. This walk symbolizes the eternal procession that begins from this day for the couple - hand in hand, with a common cross (the hardships of life) for two.
• Crowns are removed from spouses , and the priest welcomes the new Christian family with solemn words. Then he reads two prayers of petition, during which the husband and wife bow their heads, and after finishing they seal pure mutual love with a chaste kiss.
• Now, according to tradition, married spouses are led to the royal doors : here the head of the family must kiss the icon of the Savior, and his wife - the image of the Mother of God, after which they change places and again kiss the Images (only in reverse). Here they kiss the cross, which the priest offers, and receive from the minister of the Church 2 icons, which can now be kept as a family heirloom and the main amulets of the family, and passed on to future generations.

After the wedding, candles are kept in the icon case at home. And after the death of the last spouse, these candles (according to the old Russian custom) are placed in the coffin, both of them.

The task of witnesses at a wedding ceremony in a church - what do guarantors do?

Witnesses must be believers and baptized - a friend of the groom and a friend of the bride, who after the wedding will become the spiritual mentors of this couple and their prayer guardians.

The task of witnesses:

1. Hold the crowns over the heads of those getting married.
2. Give them wedding rings.
3. Lay a towel in front of the lectern.

However, if witnesses do not know their duties, this is not a problem. The priest will tell the guarantors about them, preferably in advance, so that there are no “overlaps” during the wedding.

It is important to remember that a church marriage cannot be dissolved - the Church does not give divorces. The exception is the death of a spouse or his loss of mind.

And finally - a few words about the wedding meal

A wedding, as stated above, is not a wedding. And the Church warns against possible indecent and irreverent behavior of all those present at the wedding after the sacrament.

Decent Christians dine modestly after a wedding, and do not dance in restaurants. Moreover, at the modest wedding feast there should not be any indecency or intemperance.