Remember

Loving woman doesn't lie.

Sacrament of christening

To win back a lost sheep God sent me a teacher in the image of active religious grandmother of my husband. She care about spiritual side of our (mine especially!) life so much that it’s hard to resist. However it is interesting to get known more about our customs and to practice some rituals. So, this time it is going to be about sacrament of christening.
When baby passed 40 days since delivery it is considered as an ideal time for christening. Mother of baby since that time is not “dirty” (??!) anymore and allowed to enter a temple again, but not while christening the baby.
Parents choose God parents for baby. Usually the Godmother is the best friend of mother and the Godfather for father accordingly. On Sunday they take a baby and all relatives who wish (except poor “dirty” mother) and bring it to priest in church. He does ritual of christening – reads certain pray, dips a child 3 times into holy water, draws crosses on hands, feet and forehead. In the end he takes on the neck a chain with cross. Mother (that terrible vessel of sins) sits at home and waits alone, when they return her baby. She can also be near the temple, hearing child’s heart-rending cry. The more baby cries the better – men say “it is evil spirits came out” or “baby repeats a pray after priest”.
After all relatives and family friends have big drunken party, where they make toasts for baby’s health. There is the first time the baby is shown to people. It is customary to hide newborns until they will be christened, because evil eye can make some harm to them.
Sacral meaning of christening is bringing a new soul to spiritual life for servicing God and forgiveness of original sin. Godparents are supposed to be providers in spirituality of their god-children. Normally Godmother is responsible for a girl and Godfather for a boy, but it is allowed to exchange or make teaching together. God-parents can’t have any relations except spiritual one. However in Ukrainian folklore they are always secret lovers.
They must teach the child Holy Writ and rituals and care for his\her belief. Connection between God-parents and their children remain for eternity. In the Judgment Day receivers will response for spiritual well-being of their under warships.
The photo report of God’s slave Angelina’s christening is here.