How to be baptized in the Orthodox Church

Those who regularly attend church are well aware of church rites and rules. But honestly, now few people have time to go to church every Sunday. And many only at a conscious age understand the importance of such visits, but are afraid to do something wrong. After all, in the church there are non-tactful know-it-alls who like to make comments. To calmly spend time in prayer without attracting the attention of others, before visiting the temple, you should learn to be baptized by the rules.

How to overshadow yourself with the sign of the Cross

The ability to be baptized shows respect for one’s faith and Orthodox traditions. That is why a true Christian not only performs this action himself in strict accordance with the church ritual, but also always shows the correctness of the actions to those who ask for it.

In order to inflict the sign of the Cross on yourself or on any other person, first you need to correctly fold the fingers of your right hand. Together connect the tips of the index, thumb and middle fingers, and the little finger and ring finger are pressed with the tips to the palm of the hand. The correct arrangement of the fingers is the basis for the ritual of lighting the holy cross.

When the fingers are folded properly, you need to put them with an impressive gesture to their forehead, then lower the hand to the level of the solar plexus, then to the right shoulder and end with the application to the left shoulder. After the right hand is lowered, you can bow.

What is the meaning of this action?
If the child has devout parents, they usually take him to the temple from childhood and naturally learn to be baptized. But for many children attending church, this action is performed out of habit, they may not understand the meaning of illuminating themselves with such a sign. But this gesture is not accidental and has a certain meaning.

Three fingers together in the Orthodox faith signify the Holy Trinity, that is, faith in God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. Two pressed fingers to the palm signify the dual nature of Jesus Christ, the union of the divine and human principles in the Son of God. It is accepted to be baptized with the right hand, because it is precisely behind the right shoulder that the Guardian Angel of man stands.

The places of application of the connected tips of three fingers also have their own meaning. Putting fingers on the forehead, the illumination of the mind occurs, and to the area of ​​the solar plexus - the inner senses. To illuminate the physical forces, attachments are made alternately to the right and left shoulder.

In some cases, after illuminating oneself with the holy cross, it is customary to bow. It is necessary to bow only after “Amen” is pronounced and the right hand is already lowered, otherwise the worship breaks the applied cross, and this is considered wrong. The bow may be in the belt or earth. In the first case, the head is bowed to the waist, and in the second case, they kneel down and touch the forehead of the earth. Bowing the head is an act of humility before the Lord God and an expression of love for him.

The death of the Son of God Jesus Christ after being crucified on the cross is an act of self-sacrifice for the salvation of human souls. Divine power is placed in the cross to protect the soul. By illuminating himself with the banner of the cross, a person protects himself from the temptations of the devil, various misfortunes. The cross laid by the clergyman or parents has the same power.

When to be baptized

Typically, Christian prayer ends with the words: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen." It is at the moment of uttering this phrase, no matter mentally or aloud, that they illuminate themselves with the holy cross. They are also baptized when a priest says a prayer.

Orthodox Christians are not only baptized when they pray. Upon entering and leaving the temple, they are baptized three times and make a half-bow, and during fasting, the bow should be earthly. They illuminate themselves with the holy cross and in front of Christian shrines. For example, in front of the miraculous icon and the Bible in the church.

A believer will always cross himself three times if he walks past the temple and bow to the waist. Even if this way he goes twice a day to work and home. With this gesture, he publicly declares his faith and love for the Lord God, shows respect for Orthodox traditions.

The believer is also baptized upon awakening, before the beginning of the meal, before going to bed. In order to cross oneself, it is not necessary to say a long prayer. Simple words of gratitude to God for starting another day in your life, for sending food to the table or for a successful day will be enough.

Usually, parents illuminate their children before they leave home, as well as before important events in their lives, before going to bed. Thus, they give them protection from misfortunes, send calm dreams or good luck in the performance of the intended business. The illumination of the holy cross by the parents of their children is of particular strength, since in addition to God's love for any person, parental love is invested in it.

Why is it important to be baptized correctly?

Incorrect illumination of oneself with the sign of the Cross can not only cause condemnation from other visitors to the temple, which is unpleasant, but not dangerous. An incorrectly drawn cross nullifies all the power of prayer. It is believed that indiscriminate waving in an attempt to illuminate oneself with the sign of the Cross attracts demons. Man, as it were, deprives himself of protection against the temptations of the devil.

Movements while illuminating yourself or a loved one with a cross should be unhurried and clear. Each touch to the forehead, stomach or shoulders should as if imprint a symbol in the body. When performing this church ritual, thoughts should be clean and orderly, that is, you need to think only about God.

Many people, when covering themselves with a cross, do not bring their hand to the abdomen, but stop it at chest level. The priests consider such a cross upside down and therefore wrong. Such a sign was used earlier by those who opposed the rites of the Orthodox Church and preferred their way of turning to God. But if a person has already decided to visit the temple, then it is worthwhile to find out how to be baptized correctly.

Video: how to be baptized