The traditional rite of child baptism in Ukraine

The Ukrainian people mostly profess the Christian Orthodox religion, according to which the baptism of a child is an obligatory ritual. It is recommended that a child's baptism is performed in the first years of life. Of course, babies cannot make this decision on their own, so their parents must take care of their spiritual birth. After the baptism of babies, the Christian church takes care of them, protects them fr om harm and misfortune.

THE MEANING OF THE RITE OF BAPTISM

Infant baptism is a great and joyful holiday for the whole family. The most honorable participants in this holiday, in addition to the baby, were the grandmother-midwife, godparents and the child's own parents. After the baptismal ceremony, the birth parents and godparents became godparents.

To this day, the Ukrainian people believe that the sacrament of infant baptism protects the child from "evil spirits," introduces him to God and cleanses him from original sin.

There is also an ancient Slavic belief that a woman who gives birth to a baby is an intermediary between the worlds of the living and the dead. Immediately after birth, the child was given a talisman to protect him or her from evil spirits. This amulet protected the baby from otherworldly beings for forty days. After that, the baptism took place according to all the rules and traditions, the baby received its guardian angel and became inaccessible to evil spirits.

In addition to the above functions, the baptism of a child gives him or her another parent - godparents. These parents are supposed to introduce the child to religion and the church, to engage in his or her spiritual development, and to accept him or her into their family in case the birth parents die.

BAPTISMAL TRADITIONS

Traditionally, infant baptism is performed by reciting prayers and immersing the child in water and pouring water over the baby's head three times. However, this is only a small part of the traditions that our ancestors pursued.

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF THE RITE

The sacrament of infant baptism is deeply rooted in the beliefs of the ancestors of the Ukrainian people. During the baptism of a child, a midwife bathed the baby and wrapped it in a clean diaper, wh ere she also put amulets. These items were usually a piece of bread, salt, a cooled coal fr om the stove, and a small iron object. When a godmother was carrying a baby from or to church, when she encountered evil people, she had to say special incantations, addressing these objects. This, according to the beliefs of the ancestors, helped protect the child from "evil spirits".

The traditions of infant baptism also included placing the child on a cloak under the icons. Just before entering the church, the baby was placed on a beautifully embroidered pillow, and the godparents and relatives lifted it three times, saying words of good health, happy and long life. The child's baptismal ceremony also includes the handing over of the child by the midwife to the godfather, who is supposed to pass it on to the godmother. This is a kind of ritual that our ancestors often followed. They believed that a girl should be handed over through a comb, and a boy - through a threshold.

The priest in the church, according to the customs of the child's baptism, dipped the baby three times in holy water and then handed it over to the godparents. Girls were usually given to the godmother and boys to the godfather. After being dipped in the font, the child was wrapped in a clean and white diaper called kryzhma.

THE MAIN STAGES OF THE CEREMONY

Modern christenings can be divided into the following stages:

• Preparation for the christening - at this stage, the child's parents go to the church and agree on the date of the christening. В In the church, parents are told what documents and things are needed to baptize a child. Sometimes, the baptismal and church marriage documents of the birth and godparents are required. Often, there is also the practice of special classes for future godparents, which teach them how to perform the duties of a godparent.
• Infant baptism - during the ceremony, the priest dips the child into the font and pours water over the head three times, reading special prayers. After that, the child is wrapped in a kryzhma. This ceremony symbolizes a new beginning, a new life without sin and evil spirits.
• Anointing with oil is one of the most important traditions of child baptism, when the baby is blessed. The priest anoints the child with oil, which symbolizes the gift of the Holy Spirit. In some churches, this is the final stage, while in others, the mother of the baby's head is covered with a festive stole or shawl.

After completing all the stages, you can ask the priest to bless the gifts from the godparents. Such gifts can be icons, medallions or crosses.

SIGNS AND BELIEFS ASSOCIATED WITH BAPTISM

In addition to the customs of baptizing a child, there are many signs and beliefs that still play a big role for the Ukrainian people.

OMENS BEFORE BAPTISM

There is a belief that a cross before baptism should be bought in a church. After all, there this irreplaceable attribute will already be consecrated according to all the rules and traditions, and the priest will help you choose the right size. It is better to choose a silver pectoral cross.

In addition, before performing the tradition of baptizing a child, it is worth purchasing such items as a kryzhma and an icon after which the child is named. These items should also be consecrated in advance.

It will not be superfluous to make a donation to the development of the church wh ere the baptism is planned.

SIGNS DURING BAPTISM

From time immemorial, the ancestors of the Ukrainian people had many signs of the baptism of a child, which are reflected in modern life.

They believed that the behavior of the baby during baptism was of great importance. Thus, in the Kyiv region, restless behavior of a child was considered a bad sign, which could portend an imminent death. Another bad omen, which was mostly believed in the Hutsul region, was the sneezing of a child during baptism.

Instead, the child's sneezing or crying portended good health and long life for the infant, according to the signs of the inhabitants of eastern Ukraine. If a child yawned during the ceremony, he or she would be lying, according to ancestors in the Hutsul region. There was also a sign that quiet behavior during baptism was a sign of a calm and good character.

Attention was also paid to the candles during the sacrament. They had to burn brightly and burn to the end, in which case the child would have good health. If the candles went out earlier, the child was not a survivor.

During the baptism of a child, he or she was given a Christian name. Behind each such name is an angel who will help the child in life. That is why the choice of name was approached very seriously and carefully, wanting to provide the child with an easy life and a happy future.

SIGNS AFTER BAPTISM

After the ceremony, the godparents hurried home with the child so as not to meet evil people. It was also considered a good sign against the evil eye to light a candle in the house, after which the godmother would cut the child's hair with a silver coin, saying a spell for a happy life and good health. This coin was left for the child as a talisman.

The oil that anointed the baby was not washed off for at least a day, so the child was not bathed the night after baptism. And if they did, a young girl washed her face in this water with the oil. This portended a quick and happy marriage for her in the future.

Almost all over Ukraine, such a ritual as carrying the child around the table was also considered to be a sign of the child's baptism! The baby was placed on a casing and walked around the festive table with it, which meant prosperity for a happy life.

Among the customs of the christening of a child is still a festive exquisite table, which was set by the parents of the baby after the ceremony.

PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM

The baptism ceremony is an important tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation of the Ukrainian people. That is why preparation for it has always been of great importance and was carried out with special care.

First of all, before the christening of a child, it is worthwhile to agree in advance with the church on the date and time of the event. The next steps are to prepare all the necessary attributes and choose godparents.

CHOOSING GODPARENTS

The godparents of an infant may be people of the Christian religion who are believers. The godmother and godfather cannot be married.

If the godmother is pregnant at the time of the child's baptism, it is considered a good sign. Usually, birth parents choose godparents who have family well-being and children of their own.

Our ancestors believed that the rite of baptizing a child could pass on the godparents' good luck to the baby. Therefore, it was not uncommon for there to be up to five pairs of godparents for children from the same Ukrainian family.

An invitation to become a godmother or godfather is considered very honorable, so you cannot refuse it. Refusal to become a godparent is a serious sin.

NECESSARY THINGS AND ATTRIBUTES FOR THE CEREMONY

In order for the christening of a child to be held in accordance with all traditions and canons, you need to purchase the following things in advance:

• Silver pectoral cross - must be consecrated, so it is bought in the church shop by the godfather, but it can also be bought by the parents. You should choose a chain for it.
• Icon - choose an icon of the saint after whom the child is named.
• Kryzhma is a white diaper in which a baptized child is placed, preferably, that the kryzhma has also been blessed. The godmother usually buys the kryzhma.
• Christening shirt- besides it, you can choose any comfortable clothes that are easy to put on and take off.
• Caps or hats - for the baptism of a girl.
• Church candles.

It is important to remember that the selection of all these attributes is extremely important for the sacrament of child baptism.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BABY BAPTISM CEREMONY

For a successful baby baptism, you should pay attention to the following tips:

• Choosing a church and agreeing on the date and time - choose a church that you go to yourself or wh ere you feel comfortable and cozy. Agree in advance on such things as the date and time of the child's baptism.
• Godparents - you should choose godparents taking into account the traditions and rules, as well as your personal relationship. Remember that godparents should be the child's mentor in matters of religion and upbringing.
• Necessary things for baptism - take care of buying a cross, icon, sacrum, etc. These items will not only make the baptism of babies more solemn, but also endow them with a happy fate and good health.
• Loyalty to traditions - there are many customs, traditions and beliefs of the ancestors of the Ukrainian people. So, if you know that your ancestors pursued certain traditions before, during or after the baptismal rite, do not neglect them!

Infant baptism is an extremely interesting and important tradition that is present in the life of the Ukrainian people to this day. We believe that our article will help you organize the best christening and give your baby a happy life and a long life!