There are no strict rules and canons regarding who should buy a cross for baptism. These can be close relatives (parents or grandparents), close friends, or the clergyman himself. However, according to the established Orthodox tradition, the godmother buys a cross for girls, and for boys - Godfather. Compliance with this condition is by no means necessary, because the main thing is that the rite itself be carried out with with a pure heart and awareness of its importance for future life little man.
How to choose a cross for a child
In fact, it does not matter who should buy a baptismal cross, just as it is not so important what material it will be from. Much more important is that the cross must be Orthodox. This means that the decoration meets certain requirements: for example, a crucifix is depicted on the front side of Orthodox crosses, and a prayer addressed to God, namely “Save and save”, is depicted on the back. But the main requirement is sanctification. If the cross was not bought in a church shop, then before baptism it is necessary to consecrate it (for this, it is enough just to hand it over to the priest).
As for the material, a silver cross will be the best option for a baby. This metal has excellent antiseptic properties and can be used even by allergy sufferers. If you do not know, just look at the eyelet of the product (a special ring through which a chain or cord is threaded). It is on him that a sample is placed, usually it is 925.
Particular attention should be paid to the shape of the product. Sharp corners and details can injure the delicate skin of the child, so it is best to buy a product with rounded shapes, such as the production model.
Who should be present at the baptism and is it worth buying a gold cross
Both parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends can attend the sacrament of baptism; the presence of the godparents is obligatory. It is they, and not the parents, who take the baby out of the font after bathing.
Gold, like silver, does not cause allergic reactions, so products made from this metal are also in demand. Subject to all conditions, such a cross will be a wonderful gift from a godfather or godmother. However, keep in mind that a thin chain is easy to break, so for the first time, you should give preference to a lace made of cotton or linen fiber. The pectoral cross is worn constantly. It is believed that this is the only way he will protect the baby from all troubles and misfortunes.
A Christian throughout his life participates in various rituals and sacraments, the very first of which is baptism. There are many traditions regarding this ritual. For example, a person must have godparents who must give certain gifts.
What do godparents give to a godson in Orthodoxy
The most important christening gift pectoral cross ik. It doesn't have to be expensive and chic. Of course, most godparents present a gold or silver gift, but even a simple wooden cross is acceptable. The most important thing is to choose the right shape. If a small child is being baptized, then the ends of the product should be rounded so that the baby does not get scratched.
The cross for the baby should be small and with rounded corners.
Important! A cross bought not in a church must be consecrated.
Traditionally, a godmother buys a cross for a girl, and a godfather buys a cross for a boy. Some families break this tradition and, for example, buy an expensive and beautiful item together. A cross can be given both with a chain and with a simple rope or ribbon.
Check that the fastener on the gaitan is strong and small, and that the gaitan itself is suitable in length
Important! During baptism, it will be more convenient for the priest so that the cross on the gaitan is freely put on the baby over the head. Then the rope can be shortened or replaced.
The duties of the godmother also include the purchase of a special bed sheet and clothes for the baby. A piece of cloth in which a child is wrapped after baptism is called kryzhma. Kryzhma must be snow-white, in the warm season it is recommended to buy linen, in winter it can be replaced with terry. Kryzhma should be decorated with embroidery and Christian symbols. Of course, it will be better if the godmother embroiders everything herself, but if she does not know how to needlework, it's okay. After baptism, the kryzhma must be carefully stored.
The godmother traditionally buys a christening outfit
The godmother should give a baptismal outfit: a white baptismal long shirt and a white bonnet. Most often, the outfit is made of cotton fabric and decorated with embroidery, ribbons and beads, but only a cross is required from all this splendor (it can be on the chest or on the back).
The baptismal shirt can also be oar, it is much more convenient for the baby
Ideally, the godmother sews and decorates the clothes herself, but you can also buy ready-made ones, in any case, the baptismal shirt must be consecrated in advance in the church. Sometimes the gift is complemented with sliders and booties.
Church shops now sell ready-made baptismal kits. They include a shirt, kryzhma, sometimes even a cap and a simple cross. Such sets are already consecrated.
In the shops at big temples there is always a choice of ready-made christening sets
The godfather must pay for the entire rite of baptism, the festive table. In the case of the christening of a girl, he is not obliged to buy any gifts, although by agreement he can purchase a cross. If desired, he can give any memorable thing: jewelry, children's toys, books.
The kid should receive an icon of the patron saint as a gift. Usually the godmother buys it, but the father can do it too, the parents themselves agree on this.
According to tradition, a silver spoon is also given for baptism, this can be done by any of the godparents, they are together or the grandparents of the child.
All other gifts are optional. Godparents (any of them or together) can give a children's Bible, a Psalter, a silver cup, a bag for storing the first strand, candles, a pillow with Orthodox drawings and inscriptions.
It is customary to give the Children's Bible and the Lives of the Saints for children
Traditions in other countries
The role of godparents in Catholicism is practically no different from their role in Orthodoxy. The godparents together give the child a cross and an icon. According to tradition, the godmother buys christening clothes, and the father buys a special candle. It is lit for the first time during the ceremony and is not thrown away in the future, as it should illuminate life path person.
Protestants rarely baptize children, as they believe that an adult and conscious person should accept religion. Those who were baptized in childhood undergo confirmation in the future - confirmation of their faith. Protestantism is divided into many branches, and in most of them there are no godparents. Godparents are present among Lutherans, Anglicans and Calvinists, but they are obligatory only for children, adults can do without them at all. In Protestantism, there are no strict requirements regarding gifts from godparents, they can not be given at all, the contribution to the spiritual development of the godson is much more important. But if the godparents give gifts, most often these are various silver items.
In Catholicism, godparents have the same duties as in Orthodoxy.
The ritual of baptism and the role of godparents in it are determined by tradition. For example, the father must pay for the ceremony, and the mother must sew or purchase clothes for the child.
In the Orthodox Church there are no strict rules regarding who should give the baby a cross for the rite of Baptism. As a rule, parents and godparents agree among themselves who will get such an important event as choosing a pectoral cross. In addition to parents and godparents, grandparents and even just family friends can give a cross to a baby. Usually, when asked who buys a christening cross for a girl or a boy, the clergy answer this way: “The one who wishes the child well and presents such a gift from the bottom of his heart.”
But still, as practice shows, at the Baptism of a female child, the future godmother chooses a pectoral cross for him, and at the Baptism of a boy, the choice falls on the godfather. For a girl has importance the influence of the godmother, it is possible that she is a close friend of the girl's own mother. The godmother is always happy to help educate her beloved goddaughter, and the donated pectoral cross after the rite of Baptism will always protect the child from evil people. But the duty of the godmother is not only to choose a cross for the girl. She should also take her to church for communion, tell her how to behave, congratulate her on all important church holidays. At that moment, when the godmother gives the little girl a cross for christening, she thus begins to show that she takes responsibility for caring for her goddaughter.
How to choose a cross for a girl for christening.
Choosing a cross for a girl for christening, as well as for a boy, is a very important task. It is worth approaching it with all responsibility. As mentioned above, not only parents and godparents, but also family friends can give a cross to a child. You can buy a pectoral cross in the Church or in a jewelry store. If you buy this creed from a jewelry store, then it will be necessary to bless it. First of all, you should pay attention to such two important parameters as size and material. If the budget allows, it is better to buy a cross made of gold. At the same time, check with the seller what other metals and in what ratio are included in the jewelry besides gold. The fact is that some metals, which are found in large quantities in gold, can cause allergic reactions on the skin.
As for the size, it should be small. It is worth buying a small pectoral cross that will not interfere with the baby. It is very important that there are no stones on the product. Small children put everything in their mouths, and if a child accidentally swallows a bitten pebble, it is hard to imagine how it will all end. If you are interested in the price of gold crosses, then
The rite of baptism is an important event in a person's life, the beginning of his spiritual existence. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, the godfather is the godfather at the baptism of the boy. It is he who takes the baby from the hands of the priest, thereby assuming full responsibility for the further church upbringing of the child.
In principle, only a godfather is enough to baptize a boy, although the godmother is also traditionally invited. Since the sacrament is performed, in most cases, at a very early, unconscious age, preferably on the fortieth day after birth, the godfather assumes spiritual responsibility.
Who should buy a cross
The pectoral cross is not a piece of jewelry, but a symbol of a person's deep faith. The desire to give it to a baby can be called a measure of the seriousness of the intentions of the future. spiritual guide boy.
Such a purchase is not mandatory, it can be purchased for baptism or by the parents themselves or other close people, for example, grandparents. However, if the godfather makes a gift, then this will become another symbol of his spiritual connection with the baby.
After all, it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive cross, in this case you can rely on the basic principle of Orthodoxy on this issue - every cross is true and its life-giving power.
- This is useful to know:
Cross selection
If you buy a cross for baptism in a church shop, you can be sure that it is consecrated and complies with all the canons. If you choose in jewelry stores, then you need to consecrate in advance or during the ceremony, the priest will definitely ask about it. Traditionally for boys they buy crosses of a simple form, without stones. However, in most cases, the choice depends entirely on personal preferences and wishes.
In order for the creed to last long enough, not to be lost, when buying, you need to pay attention to the workmanship and some important points. by the most weak point is an eyelet for the chain and its attachment to the body, so these parts must have sufficient thickness, respectively, strength. You can read more about choosing a pectoral cross in the article or watch the video.
Who can be the boy's godfather
The answer is simple and unequivocal - a man, necessarily baptized, Orthodox faith. Everything else depends on the parents, who take on the serious responsibility of choosing a spiritual mentor for their child. After all, this person must guide and help the boy throughout his life in difficult times, especially in matters of faith. Also, the godfather, if necessary, should be ready to replace the parents of the baby.
Therefore, this issue must be approached very seriously and proceed not only from relations with parents, but Special attention give the desire of the future godfather to devote his time to the spiritual upbringing of the boy, the readiness to take care, as if he were his own child.
According to a long-established tradition, it is the godparents who should present the first pectoral cross for the baptism of an infant. The second name for such a sacred attribute is a vest (that is, a thing that should always be on the body of a Christian). The same applies to festive clothes for baptism and a personal personalized icon with the name of the saint, which they plan to give to the baby at baptism.
In some cases, all these religious paraphernalia are bought by the parents themselves. The cross must first be consecrated in the church, although some jewelry stores offer customers products that have already been consecrated.
Newborn gift
The first vest to a child can be presented:
- The child's parents themselves.
- God-parents.
- Grandparents, aunts and uncles.
- Other relatives.
- Family friends.
After christening in the church, the pectoral cross should always be on the baby, but most often parents are afraid to put jewelry on a small child, as this is not safe, and he can accidentally damage or lose it.
Some adults believe that the baby should start wearing a cross from the first days after birth, because this way he can quickly get used to it and stop paying attention or trying to break the jewelry. In this case, after the Sacrament, the cross is removed and left to lie until the child reaches a conscious age to wear such an attribute. In any case, the decision to leave the cross on the body, or hide it for a while, is made only by the parents of the baby.
The first children's vest
Baby pectoral crosses- this is a separate category of goods, which is most adapted to be worn on the body of a child. Since the skin of a newborn is very delicate and thin, the jewelry must be of good quality. Typically, children's crosses have smooth, rounded edges so that the child does not inadvertently injure himself when wearing.
The main thing is the quality of the chain, lace or thread for wearing a child's pectoral cross. In order for the baby not to injure himself or strangle himself, you need to pay special attention to the circumference of the chain or lace. Traditionally, it should be about 2 times the circumference of the child's neck. In addition, it must withstand a weight that is 2 times less than the body weight of its carrier.
Cross lost or broken
Ideally, it is believed that a vest is an item that should accompany a person from his very birth to death. Such a sacred attribute cannot be gifted, bought or sold. you need to baptize a child as early as possible, because he will gain reliable protection from filth and negative energy from the very first days of his life. But what to do if the first pectoral cross of a newborn is accidentally broken or lost during operation?
Do not panic and worry about this. This phenomenon is a common situation for active children. You can simply purchase another cross, then consecrate it in the church and give it to the child. It is also allowed to purchase an already pre-consecrated pectoral cross. There are special baptismal kits that contain everything you need to conduct the sacred Sacrament.
In addition, this solution is very practical and convenient in every sense - you do not have to pick up ritual items for a long time and buy them in different places. Immediately before baptism, it is recommended to contact the temple where the sacred rite will be held in order to personally communicate with the priest, learn all the nuances and subtleties of the great Sacrament. The clergyman will also advise which pectoral cross is better to choose for the baby, and also tell about the list of other attributes.
Material selection
What determines the price of pectoral crosses for children? First of all, of course, on the type of material (most often it is silver and gold), as well as the weight of the product. For kids, it is customary to buy silver or gold small size crosses, with rounded edges that will not cause discomfort to the child when wearing. In the case of gold, of course, its fineness also matters. For example, a 585 fine metal will cost much less than a 980 cross. There are many types of gold - white, red, pink, yellow, blackened and even enamelled.
The most popular materials for crosses are:
Of course, these nuances are a matter of taste and financial capabilities of the parents and godparents of the baby; this does not affect the spiritual value of the first cross in any way. Pure gold is a very soft material that a child can easily damage. So, 585 test is pure gold, which is alloyed with other non-precious materials to increase its strength and wear resistance. That's why high quality products it is better to give it to adults who will take care of the jewelry and will be able to keep it for many years.
In addition, a cross for a newborn can be made of silver, preferably the highest, 925 or even platinum. These materials are considered environmentally friendly, harmless to the delicate skin of the child and therefore will not have any effect on it. negative impact. In some cases, crosses are made of semi-precious stones (for example, turquoise, amber, etc.). The most popular are gold crosses for christening a child.
Product weight and stone decoration
Usually the weight of a child's pectoral cross is a little less than one gram. This weight is considered optimal for wearing by a child. The maximum size of this Christian attribute is up to 2 cm. Children's crosses are often devoid of unnecessary frills and pretentious patterns, so their prices are much lower than, for example, similar adult crosses. And also, you should not buy a pectoral cross for a child, generously showered with inlays of precious or semi-precious stones.
This is done more for safety reasons than economy - young children are very curious, they can accidentally remove stones, lose them or even swallow them. Although some parents they still buy children crosses encrusted with small diamonds. Of course, such jewelry is much more expensive than usual, their cost starts from 25 thousand rubles, while the cost of unencrusted crosses starts from 2 thousand rubles apiece.
IN Orthodox Church it is believed that the material from which the vest is made is not so important, since it is simply a symbol of faith in Christ. Of course, you can choose a cross made of another material, such as copper, steel, or even ordinary wood. But do not forget that such products, unfortunately, have a shorter service life than noble metals, which will retain their attractive appearance. appearance for many years.
If we take into account the tradition that the first pectoral cross should remain with a person from the Sacrament of Baptism itself until death, then it is better to immediately opt for a high-quality and durable piece of jewelry. Precious materials don't cause skin irritations and allergies.
The following images can be on the cross:
- Image of a crucifix.
- The inscription "Save and save."
- Abbreviation "I. N. Ts. I.
- Other religious symbols and attributes.
On most vests there is an inscription “I. N. Ts. I", which means "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", as well as the crossbar at an angle - as a symbol of the transition from the sinful, worldly, to the spiritual.
On Christian crosses for baptism there are 4 symbolic nails with which Jesus Christ was crucified, while on the Catholic version there are only 3. The figure of the crucifixion symbolizes the joy that the son of God has made the transition to a better, brighter life. Excessive naturalism and detail of the crucifixion is considered unacceptable in this case. In some cases, skulls can be seen at the feet of Christ - a symbol of death, the underworld.
How to wear
A pectoral cross for a child is best worn under clothing, away from human eyes. Firstly, it will help the baby to always have strong spiritual protection, which will not be affected by negative external factors. Secondly, this will protect him from thieves, gypsies and simply dishonest people who can steal, take away or trick a child into giving them expensive jewelry. Thirdly, such wearing of a cross is much more practical - it will not be affected by direct sunlight, moisture, air currents (especially silver, which tends to darken and turn green).
And during the game, the child will not be able to break the chain, lose or break the vest, and also injure the neck area by clinging to something. It is best to choose a cord or ribbon made of natural materials (natural fabric, leather), which will not cause an allergic reaction in the child and irritation on delicate skin.
For aesthetic reasons, it is customary to buy a chain for a cross from the same material as the vest itself. For example, a gold cross will not look very attractive on an ordinary silver chain, this will indicate total absence taste. For a child, it is not necessary to buy an expensive massive chain, you can completely get by with a soft ribbon or cord.
Or simply postpone the chain donated to the baby until a more conscious age, when he can appreciate such a gift, in order to wear it neatly and proudly. For boys, it is better to choose a more massive, impressive jewelry, while for girls - more elegant and medium-sized.
Vests can be purchased not only in jewelry stores. Usually in large churches and temples there is a stand with jewelry paraphernalia, already pre-consecrated. There are many online stores that allow you to buy children's crosses for a little cheaper than in regular stores.
Who buys a cross for a girl's christening? According to tradition, if a baby is baptized, then she should purchase the first vest for her. the godmother. Who buys a cross for a boy's christening? It is believed that the godfather should be such a donor. However, this rule is now rarely observed, and in some cases, grandparents, other relatives or just friends of the parents can purchase a vest for a baby.
But who makes such an important purchase must be agreed in advance, so that immediately before the Sacrament or during it there are no unpleasant surprises. The shape of the cross is also unprincipled - it can have a 4, 6, or 8-point shape. The latter two are believed to have a particularly strong level of protection against evil forces and bad eyes. It is important to remember that the vest is not only decorative, so it is desirable to have the inscriptions “save and save” on it, as well as the image of the crucifix.
Consecrate in church
How much does it cost to bless a cross in a church? Most often, in temples there is no certain fixed fee that must be paid. Some people donate as much as their financial means allow. In other churches and temples, there is still a price list for the provision of such services. The cost depends on the popularity of the temple among the parishioners, its fame, as well as antiquity and history. In an ordinary church, the cost of consecrating a baptismal decoration starts from 200 rubles. In addition, in churches and temples, you can easily purchase already pre-consecrated crosses.
When choosing the first cross for the christening of a child, you should not save especially, because this thing should stay with him for life. It is not necessary to buy a very expensive jewelry that the baby can lose or break. Instead of a chain, you can use a strong but soft lace or ribbon. The main condition for buying such jewelry is its obligatory consecration in a church or temple.
