Baptism of children: how the ceremony takes place. How to carry out the baptism ceremony yourself? Child baptism rules

07.08.2020

The exorcism rite is quite dangerous, and the church rarely gives permission for it. However, cases of the introduction of demons and demons into the bodies of people are still a real threat. Find out how the exorcism is done and who can perform it.

In the article:

The rite of exorcism - what it is and where it comes from

The rite of exorcism consists in and 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 introduction 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 are found in all world religions.

Exorcism is the expulsion of the devil, but the church refers to the evil spirits both the spirits to which the shamans turn and other entities. Now this name is considered common to all powerful cleansing rites. For example, there are rituals 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 drive out evil spirits from the premises, which is also sometimes called exorcism. In addition, this ceremony was carried out before baptism in Catholicism - it means the expulsion of evil from the soul of a person so that the Lord can enter it.

Exorcism and persecution of people by evil spirits are a common theme for modern cinema and horror classics. Perhaps this was the reason for disbelief in the likelihood of becoming possessed, suffering from possessed demons and demons. The priests argue that this problem is still relevant and it has not disappeared along with the Inquisition and the fires on which. Even in our time, when most people do not believe in the existence of evil forces, the rite of exorcism is quite relevant.

Moreover, evil spirits are able to take advantage of the weakness of people's faith. After all, it is impossible to resist what 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, multiple personality disorder, hysteria, psychosis, schizophrenia and many others. Not all madmen are possessed, but not all obsessed need the help of a psychiatrist.

Exorcism spell - text for exorcism

Proofreading exorcisms are usually called spells and prayers that are aimed at driving out evil spirits. As a rule, their meaning lies in turning to the Lord for help in the fight against evil:

I am addressing you, an unclean spirit sent by evil. You are the very sin, deception, blasphemy, fornication, murder. We pray to the Lord God for the powers that will help drive you out. His majesty and strength will resurrect the soul of the servant of God (name) and overtake a terrible devilish spirit by judgment. Lord, help us cast out the demon from the flesh and soul of the servant of God. You, insidious enemy, leave the body that you occupied, cleanse it of your essence. May your rule over the whole world end, may your kingdom be destroyed, may your poisoned arrows rot, be you destroyed, defeated, destroyed and subdued, as you were prostrated in Egypt, Jericho, Goliath and Aman. You are a human slave and we are strong over you. We are able to torment you for your deeds. We drive you out of the body you torment. We expose you to hellish and eternal fire. May the power of the Lord triumph over you. Let go and get out wherever you hide. You are forbidden to return forever to this body and to own this soul.

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

The Orthodox Prayer of Exorcism - How to Cast Out Evil

Exorcism (exorcism) in Transnistria

In addition to exorcism spells, it is recommended to read prayers. It can 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 prayer does not matter much, the main thing is the meaning that is embedded in it:

We expel you, spirit of all uncleanness, every satanic power, every infernal hostile invader, every legion, every gathering and sect of the devil, in the name and virtue of our Lord Jesus Christ, uproot and flee from the Church of God, from souls in the image of God created by the precious blood of the Lamb redeemed. You dare not more, the most cunning serpent, to deceive the human race, to persecute the Church of God and to reject and scatter the elect of God, like wheat. The Almighty God commands you, whom you wish to equalize in your great pride; who wants to save all people and lead to the knowledge of the truth. God the Father commands you; God the Son commands you; God the Holy Spirit commands you. Commands you the greatness of Christ, the eternal God of the incarnate word, who for the salvation of our race, through your fallen envy, humbled himself and was obedient even to death; who set his church on a strong stone and promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against her, for he himself would remain with her until the end of the age. The sacrament of the cross and all the secrets of the Christian faith commands nobility. The high Mother of God the Virgin Mary commands you, who in her humility struck your most arrogant head from the first moment of her immaculate conception. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and other apostles commands you. The blood of martyrs and of all holy men and women commands you by pious intercession.

The prayers read during the rite of exorcism should belong to the faith that the patient professes. The exorcist must also practice the same religion as the possessed one.

How is an exorcism performed?

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

During the exorcism session, there must be at least one witness of what is happening. In the old days, the patient's relatives were called, now the situation with witnesses has not changed much. There are many reasons for their presence. Relatives need to make sure that their loved one's suffering 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 - the frequent fatal accidents. Evil power can harm the physical body of a person in the process of exile. The exorcist's non-physical harm must be recorded by witnesses, and it must be not only his assistants, but also people who belong to the patient's close relatives. Of course, witnesses must be warned of what they will have to see. Sometimes there is also a doctor who is exclusively engaged in providing medical assistance to a person suffering from the machinations of the forces of evil.

Both the witnesses and the priest or exorcist must confess before casting out the devil. 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 priest, but the latter should 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 leaving. Humility and faith are the best weapons in this struggle.

After revealing the essence of the essence sitting inside a person, the exorcist turns to the Lord and asks for strength for himself and the patient to successfully resist the creation of darkness. After that, texts are read aimed at driving out the harmful entity. It was at this time that the ceremony becomes spectacular, especially for the faint of heart. The patient speaks of himself in the third person, beats in convulsions, speaks in an unfamiliar voice. Sometimes demons behave relatively calmly, entering into dialogue with clergy.

Any otherworldly phenomena should be ignored by the exorcist, the ritual and the reading of prayers should 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 rite is not always enough. Sometimes the fight against evil takes several years - it all depends on the strength of the demon and on the professionalism of the exorcist.

After the demon is sent back to hell, a prayer request for further protection for the victim and her loved ones is mandatory. It is known that a 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 often visit church, pray and confess. It is advisable to fast for a while. Sometimes a person from whom the devil was expelled does not remember anything that happened in his life from the moment the body was captured by evil forces.

Who can perform the exorcism ritual

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

If you intend to become an exorcist, it should be borne in mind that not every person is suitable for this role. He must be pure in 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 suggests that you cannot engage in 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 weak nervous system... You need to feel confident when dealing 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 surely ready for this? Availability mental disorders is also a major obstacle.

Both the assistants and the exorcist himself should not be squeamish, complacent, or self-righteous. The demon will scatter insults, trying to lead you into sin and interfere with the ceremony. He has telepathic abilities, and will go to reveal the secrets of everyone present at the session. In addition, blood and excrement is something that you will see quite often. The unclean power understands what emotions such a sight evokes in an unprepared person, and uses it.

A solid knowledge of theology, a thorough study of religious literature, and diplomacy are all things an exorcist will need. Demons enter into dialogue with him, try to bargain, find a place to leave, so as not to return to hell. They often lure inexperienced exorcists into a trap with tricky theological questions. Knowledge of Latin will not hurt - many useful texts in exorcism are written in this language.

The history and culture of the Russian people goes back many centuries. All these years she was continuously enriched with new phenomena and traditions, but she continued to keep the memory of the experience and customs of her ancestors. Often, Russian national rituals form a rather bizarre combination of actions conditioned by ancient pagan beliefs, which, nevertheless, harmoniously correlate with Christian Orthodox canons.

Most of the rituals in Russia, one way or another, are associated with religion, and more ancient, pre-Christian traditions with the mythological personification of elements and natural phenomena.

The most famous and important pagan rituals that survived after the baptism of Russia include:

Shrovetide.
Ivan Kupala Day.
Caroling.
Yarilin day.

All of them, one way or another, were associated with the archaic ideas of the Slavs about the forces of nature and were most often tied to some events, calendar or seasons.

Maslenitsa

Since ancient times, the event that occurred on the day of the vernal equinox was celebrated widely and on a grand scale. People rejoiced at the arrival of spring: it is no coincidence that the symbol of this holiday was a pancake - a miniature symbolic sun. Shrovetide itself symbolized winter. It was believed that after the rite of burning, she would transfer all her powerful energy to the earth, thereby ensuring a rich harvest and protecting from natural disasters.

Ivan Kupala Day

Initially, the holiday was tied to the day of the summer solstice, but the name itself, which has survived to this day, received already in the Christian era by the name of John the Baptist. This epithet in Greek sounds like "swimmer", "plunger", which is quite consistent with the essence of the celebration - a ritual bath in an open reservoir. This holiday very clearly demonstrates the bizarre combination of Christian religious traditions with pagan, archaic beliefs and rituals.

One of the main traditions on Ivan Kupala is bonfire jumping. It was believed that this promotes cleansing, protects from ailments and allows you to protect yourself from evil spirits. It was very important on the night of Ivan Kupala to swim in a river or lake, since the water was considered purified of all evil spirits and acquiring some magical properties.

Yarilin day

Again, in the originally pagan holiday dedicated to the sun god Yarila, with the adoption of Christianity, some motives were added about the struggle of the saints with the pagan deity.

On this day, the ancient Slavs turned to Yarila for help so that he would provide the crops with sunlight and protect them from flooding. An important ceremony that took place on this day was called “Land opening”. It was imperative to swim in the dew, because it was believed that on this day it has healing and miraculous properties.

Caroling

This rite, as a rule, was timed to coincide with Christmastide and consisted of a group of young people and girls going around the house in the village by a group of young people and girls who sang comic songs or goodwill addressed to the owners, receiving a ritual reward for this. Old Russian farmers were sure that participation in Christmastide rituals doubles the energy of fertility and contributes to an increase in crop yields, offspring of livestock and ensures general well-being in the farmstead.

With the adoption of Orthodoxy, a significant number of religious rites appeared, associated with the onset of certain important stages in a person's life. Among the main ones are:

Epiphany.
Wedding ceremonies.
Funeral rites.

Epiphany

The rite of baptism meant the spiritual birth of a person and his belonging to the Christian religion. The child had to be baptized in the first year of life. For each baby, godparents were appointed, who presented the child with an icon of his patron saint and an Orthodox pectoral cross. They named the newborn in accordance with the name of the saint mentioned in the calendar.

The choice of godparents was very responsible: it was believed that they were responsible for the child and should set him a worthy example to the same extent as biological parents. After the ceremony in the church, a festive and generous feast was arranged with the presence of all people close to the newly baptized baby.

Wedding ceremonies

For weddings in Russia, they tried to set aside certain periods in the calendar year. It was impossible to marry during large fasts. In addition, weddings were rarely played during the period of the most intensive agricultural work.
The main wedding ceremonies included:

Matchmaking.
Bride and look.
Collusion.
Wedding train.
Wedding.

No wedding was complete without matchmaking. This was the most important stage at which the groom's family made a decision about whether to persuade the girl they liked to marry their son. Moreover, very often at this stage, the opinion of the potential newlyweds themselves was not even interested, and the groom and the bride could see each other only at the bride.

If everything was fine with both parties, a wedding conspiracy took place, during which the heads of families literally beat each other on the hands, symbolically signifying the achievement of a fundamental agreement on marriage between their children. During the conspiracy, the date of the wedding, the invited guests, and other organizational issues were discussed.

Refusing to enter into marriage after conspiracy meant dishonoring yourself and your potential spouse. In case of refusal, the “injured” party had the right to demand compensation for all losses associated with this action.

On the day of the wedding, a wedding train was going to, which was an elegant chaise, carts or sleigh, at the head of which was the groom's boyfriend who ordered the route.

Finally, the most important wedding ceremony was the wedding. After the completion of the sacrament, in the groom's house, the parents were waiting for the young, greeted them with bread and salt and rolled a generous and cheerful wedding feast.

Funeral rites

The main meaning of all the rituals associated with the burial of the deceased was the desire to facilitate his transition from this world to the kingdom of God. The funeral service could not be performed if the person was not baptized, committed the sin of suicide, or did not confess or receive communion during the year before death. The deceased was put on a pectoral cross, dressed in clean clothes and covered with a funeral veil. Music was considered inappropriate, as were flowers.

It was believed that the main thing on this day is a prayer for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. After the burial of the deceased, the relatives organized a memorial meal, which was accompanied by appropriate prayers. It was considered unacceptable to bring food to the churchyard. Traditionally, food was brought to church and parishioners were treated. On the 3rd, 9th and 40th days, a memorial service was ordered in the church. All this time, relatives grieved for the deceased, dressed in dresses of dark shades

Inga Mayakovskaya

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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 (to "kill two birds with one stone" at once) - in most cases, couples still approach this issue deliberately, realizing the importance of this rite and experiencing a sincere and mutual desire to become a full-fledged, according to church canons, family ...

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

How to prepare correctly for the sacrament of the wedding?

A wedding is not a wedding where they walk for 3 days, fall with their faces in a salad and beat them to each other according to tradition. A wedding is a sacrament through which a couple receives a blessing from the Lord in order to live together in grief and joy all their lives, to be faithful to each other "to the grave," to give birth and raise children.

Without a wedding, a marriage is considered "defective" by the Church. And, of course, it should be appropriate. And it's not about organizational issues that are resolved in 1 day, but about spiritual preparation.

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

The preparation includes a 3-day fast, during which you need to prepare for the ritual prayerfully, as well as refrain from intimate relationships, animal food, bad thoughts, etc. In the morning before the wedding, the husband and wife confess and take communion together.

Video: Wedding. Step-by-step instruction

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

The betrothal is a kind of "introductory" part of the sacrament that precedes the wedding. It symbolizes the fulfillment of the church marriage in the face of the Lord and the consolidation of the mutual promises of a man and a woman.

The betrothal is not in vain performed immediately after the Divine Liturgy. - the couple are shown the importance of the sacrament of marriage and the emotional awe with which they should marry.
Betrothal in the temple symbolizes the husband's acceptance of his wife from the Lord himself : the priest introduces the couple to the temple, and from this moment their living together, new and clean, begins before the face of God.
The beginning of the ceremony is burning incense : 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 signs himself with the sign of the cross (note - baptized), after which the priest hands them over already lit candles. This is a symbol of love, fiery and pure, which husband and wife should now nourish for each other. In addition, candles are a symbol of the chastity of men and women, as well as God's grace.
Cruciform incense symbolizes the presence next to the couple of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Next, there is a prayer for the betrothed and for their salvation (soul) , 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 that, everyone present, including the husband and wife, should bow their heads before God in anticipation of a blessing while the priest reads a prayer.
After prayer to Jesus Christ, betrothal follows : the priest puts on the ring to the groom, "betrothed the servant of God ..." and 3 times overshadowing him crosswise. Then he puts on the ring to the bride, "betraying the servant of God ..." and the autumn sign of the cross three times. It is important to note that the rings (which the groom should 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.
Now the bride and groom must exchange rings three times (note - in the word of the Most Holy Trinity): the groom puts on his ring to the bride as a symbol of his love and readiness to help his wife until the end of his days. The bride wears her ring to the groom as a symbol of her love and readiness to accept his help until the end of her days.
Next - the priest's prayer for the blessing and betrothal of the Lord 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 the wedding - how is the ceremony going?

The second part of the sacrament of marriage begins with the exit of the bride and groom in the middle of the temple with candles in their hands, as with 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 ascending their good deeds, like incense to the Lord.

The choir greets the couple by singing Psalm 127.

Next, the couple stands on a white towel spread in front of the analogue : both in the face of God and the Church confirm their free expression of will, as well as the absence in their past (approx. - on each side!) of promises to marry another person. The priest asks these traditional questions to the bride and groom, taking turns.
Confirmation of a voluntary and unbreakable desire to marry reinforces natural marriage who is now considered a prisoner. Only after this does the sacrament of the wedding begin.
The rite of the wedding begins with the proclamation of communion with the couple in the Kingdom of God and three lengthy prayers - to Jesus Christ and to the Triune God. After that, the priest marks (in turn) the groom and the bride with a crown crosswise, "crowning the servant of God ...", and then "crowning the servant of God ...". The groom should kiss the image of the Savior on his crown, the bride - the image of the Mother of God, which adorns her crown.
Now for the bride and groom in crowns, the most important moment of the wedding comes 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, reciting a prayer three times.
Church Blessing of Marriage symbolizes the eternity of the new Christian union, its indissolubility.
After the reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians of 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 married and a prayer for peace in a new family, honesty of marriage, integrity of cohabitation and life together according to the commandments until old age.
After "And grant us, Master ..." everyone reads the prayer "Our Father" (it should be learned in advance, if you did not know by heart until the preparation for the wedding). This prayer in the mouth of a married couple symbolizes the determination to fulfill the will of the Lord on earth through their family, to be loyal and obedient to the Lord. As a sign of which, the husband and wife bow their heads under the crowns.
They bring the "chalice of communication" with Cahors , and the priest blesses her and gives her 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 inseparable being from now on.
Now the priest must join the right hands of those who are married, cover them with a bishop (note - a long ribbon around the priest's neck) and put your palm on top, as a symbol of the husband's receipt of his wife from the Church itself, which in Christ united these two forever.
The couple is traditionally circled three times around the analogion : on the first circle they sing "Isaiah, rejoice ...", on the second - the troparion of the "Holy Martyr", and on the third, Christ is glorified. This walk symbolizes the eternal procession that from this day begins for the couple - hand in hand, with a common cross (the burdens of life) for two.
The crowns are removed from the spouses and the priest greets the new Christian family with solemn words. Then he reads two petition prayers, during which the husband and wife bow their heads, and after the end they capture pure mutual love with a chaste kiss.
Now, according to tradition, the 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 apply to the Images (just the opposite). Here they kiss the cross, which the priest brings, and receive 2 icons from the minister of the Church, which can now be kept as a family relic 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 his coffin, both.

The task of the witnesses at the wedding ceremony in the church - what do the sureties do?

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

The task of the witnesses:

Hold crowns over the heads of those who are married.
Give them wedding rings.
Lay the towel in front of the lectern.

However, if the 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 divorce. An exception is the death of a spouse or his loss of reason.

And finally, a few words about the wedding meal

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

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

Various rituals and ceremonies have become so firmly established in our life that we have long ceased to be surprised at them. Their history of origin goes back to the distant, distant pagan times, when people had almost no knowledge of the world around them. Almost no one at that time knew why it was raining, what caused drought, what was lightning, etc.

Uncertainty frightens most of all, so people had to come up with some explanations even for natural phenomena. This is how the first pagan gods appeared: Perun, Veles, Makosh and others. People believed that they would give them protection and patronage, and if angry, they could punish them.

The first rituals began to appear, designed to praise and appease the gods. Not a single holiday in Russia was complete without traditional songs, dances and bonfires in honor of these supreme beings.

How did the rituals of the Slavs arise?

The more what people asked for coincided with reality, the more firmly the rituals were fixed in human consciousness. For example, the weather is hot for a long time, people need rain. Residents light bonfires in honor of the god of lightning, dance, ask him to send down precious showers. But nothing happens ...

After a while, people again arrange performances for the deity, and for greater luck this time they also burn, for example, a bull in the fire. And so it turns out that soon the clouds are really coming and the long-awaited rain is coming! You can be sure that now, at every need to glorify this deity, one bull will also leave this world.

The rituals, regularly repeating, were fixed by people for many centuries. For example, seeing off winter - Maslenitsa. This holiday has survived to this day. Previously, of course, he was celebrated much more widely.

An event was timed to coincide with each day of the Maslenitsa week. On one day they went to relatives for pancakes, on the other they staged comic wall-to-wall battles, on the third they built castles and molded figures out of snow. And, of course, at the last one there were widespread festivities, treats with the final burning of the effigy of winter. We celebrate this day now.

Of course, no one now thinks that spring will not come without this solemn meeting, but the holiday is celebrated as before.

Rite of blood brotherhood

There is an interesting custom, which is now called "drinking for a brotherhood." Its essence is that people who decided that they are now in strong friendships, cross their arms with a drink (usually alcoholic) and drink it to the drop.

The ancestor of this custom was once called “ Blood fraternization". Two men (usually warriors) swore allegiance to each other for the rest of their days. At the same time, each made an incision on his hand, part of the blood fell into a specially prepared bowl of wine, the incision sites were firmly pressed, and then they drank the resulting drink in half.

As the rituals arose in pagan Russia, they continued with the advent of Christianity. The only difference is that now they were related to one supreme being, and not to the whole pantheon. The main deities merged with some saints, and the rest gradually disappeared into oblivion or began to be identified with evil spirits.

Accordingly, the nature of some customs has changed. For example, earlier the newlyweds, having taken oaths of love and fidelity, went to worship the respective gods. Now this has been replaced by a church wedding.

On the day of Ivan Kupala, it was customary to arrange bathing and entertainment related to water: pouring, sprinkling, etc. Now the church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist on this day. Again, the person who baptized everyone with water.

In winter, January 6, paganism celebrated the day of the sun god, Mithra. Now on this day, Christmas Eve is celebrated, the day before the birth of Christ.

Rituals and traditions have existed alongside us for many centuries. Let some of them have changed, lost some of their original meaning, but since people have not forgotten them for several centuries, it means that somewhere in them lies the truth.

When should a child not be baptized?

It is considered a bad omen if a funeral was held before the ceremony. In this case, it is necessary to postpone the procedure, since, according to belief, the child may have difficulties and troubles in the future.

If during the baptismal ceremony the clergyman made a mistake, then the ceremony should be suspended and postponed to another date so that there is no negative in the child's life.

You cannot baptize a child if the mother expressed a desire to be present at the ceremony in the church, but 40 days have not passed since birth. From ancient times it was believed that during this period of time the woman was still unclean and she was forbidden to enter the temple.

Why baptize children?

Baby baptism is a matter of faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. This procedure is a spiritual union with the Lord and its meaning does not consist in the forgiveness of sins, since the baby has not yet had time to sin.

Parents have a strong understanding that the evil eye and damage are most influential on the child. And this rite is considered a powerful remedy for the harmful effects and consequences of a bad eye.

In general, the christening of a boy and a girl is not particularly different. A male child must be taken out by the godfather behind the altar, but the godmother does not do this with the baby. There is also a difference in the presence of a headdress. The girl should have it, while the boy is allowed to be without it.

What you need to baptize a girl:

previously purchased cross;
festive dress or smart shirt;
kryzhma;
two towels;
bread;
a set of spare clothes;
church candles;
kerchief or cap;
a bottle of water;
dummy if necessary;
icon;
bag for cut hair;
birth certificate;
parents' passports.

List of things needed to baptize a boy:

pectoral cross;
an icon corresponding to the baby's name;
kryzhma;
white shirt or undershirt;
a bottle of water and a pacifier;
spare clothes for changing clothes;
two towels;
candles bought in the church;
parents' documents;
birth certificate;
bag for cut hair.

Child baptism rules

On this important day for the family, a number of specific requirements should be fulfilled so that nothing will overshadow the holiday.

The rules for baptizing children for parents include the following:

On the day of the christening, no one in the family should quarrel.
Since the day of the baptism of a child in the church at all times was equated with a solemn event, no work is done in the house where the festive event is taking place.
Relatives who stay at home should not open doors to neighbors or friends until all participants in the ceremony return from church.
After the ceremony, you should keep the baptismal gown, towel, candles and diaper. According to custom, these items should be kept throughout a person's life, and when his earthly path is completed, he must take them with him. It is believed that all baptismal things have sacred meaning and in the future will help in the treatment of the most serious diseases.

There is a sign associated with the material well-being of the child. In order for him to be provided for in his life, you need to count the money in the house from the morning before going to church.

If earlier the parents could not be present in the temple during the procedure, now the customs have changed. The rules for baptizing a child have become more loyal. Father and mother can take part in the ceremony. Clothing requirements must also be met. It cannot be bright and defiant. Each person present should have a cross and candles in their hands.

All these rules apply to godparents. Additionally, they should learn the Symbol of Faith prayer, which will be recited on behalf of the baby. It is advisable that they fast before the appointed day. On the very day of the ceremony, they cannot eat or have sex.

After the child is baptized, the candles that were used during it should be taken away. They have a strong energy and if the child is sick, they are lit at home, reading prayers.

Training

Prepare for the baptism of a child in advance. You need to choose a church, visit it in order to schedule a christening date, agree on a time and find out the necessary details regarding the procedure itself. The parish usually keeps a record, so you shouldn't postpone your visit to the temple. The priest will tell you how the baptism takes place, what this procedure is for and who can be present.

It is necessary to carefully consider the decision who will be the godfather and godmother. They must be ready to further support the child at critical moments in life. A husband and wife cannot baptize the same baby. If a person uses alcohol or drugs, he is clearly not suitable for becoming the godfather of an infant.

One of the preparation stages is the purchase of the necessary things for the baptism of newborns, a list of which will be offered in the church.

How a child is baptized

During the ceremony, the godparents hold the baby. Parents in this case are just spectators. The priest reads the Creed prayer, which the godparents repeat after him. After that, the priest blesses some water in the font and anoints the baby with oil.

The next step in the baptism of children is the sacrament itself, when the priest lowers the child three times with his head into the baptismal font, while reading a prayer, after which a pectoral cross is put on the baby. After chrismation, the godparents carry the baby around the font three times in their arms. This symbolizes eternal spiritual life.