Necessary things for the sacrament of Baptism
You can purchase a special baptism kit in large supermarkets and children's clothing stores. The cost of such a kit depends on the material of manufacture and additional accessories included in it. As a rule, baptism kits for boys and girls are sold separately.
It is worth understanding what should be included in the kit and what to pay attention to when purchasing.
Cloth
To perform the Baptism ceremony, the child is lowered into the font naked, after which he must be dressed, for this purpose the kit includes special clothes. The undershirt should be soft to the touch and durable. The baby should be comfortable in such clothes, otherwise he will begin to be capricious, and the ritual will not be able to be carried out calmly. Therefore, they buy a shirt made from natural materials. The color of the baptismal shirt should be white, this symbolizes the purity and integrity of the person being baptized. The presence of lace trim in a heavenly shade is allowed.
Another item of clothing included in the baptismal set is a cap for a boy or a scarf for a girl. It is recommended to pay attention to products that have a minimum of decorative elements; the material is preferably cotton.
The set usually also includes booties, which are put on the baby’s feet after the Baptism ceremony. When choosing, pay attention to ensure that they fit tightly to the baby’s leg and do not move out. As a rule, they are knitted from cotton threads, so a mother can knit such a piece of clothing even before the baby is born. As a last resort, you can also use regular socks, as long as they are white.
Towels
The towel used to dry the baby after baptism in the font is called kryzhma. As a rule, there is an embroidered cross on it, indicating its purpose. After the sacrament is performed, the godmother holds the baby on it. It is recommended to pay attention to cotton or terry products. In some cases, the kryzhma is made with a hood, in which case it replaces a cap or scarf.
Pectoral cross
The cross, which the priest puts on after the end of the ceremony, is purchased by the godparents. If a girl is baptized, this responsibility is assigned to the godmother; when a boy is baptized, the father buys him. It is best to purchase this attribute of the sacrament in a church shop, since all the crosses there are already consecrated. If it was bought in a store, it must be consecrated in the temple in advance.
The material used to make pectoral crosses can be different - from wood to gold; each godfather purchases an option, focusing on his financial capabilities. The main requirement is the absence of sharp corners so that during the sacrament the attribute does not injure the baby.
Manufacturers
You can purchase a baptismal set for a boy in an online store or in a children's boutique. The cross can be purchased from a church shop or children's boutiques. As for the cost of the set, its price depends on the manufacturer and model. The average price is 1300 – 4300 rubles. If you don’t buy a ready-made set right away, but buy all the items separately, it will cost 500-600 rubles, and the cost of a towel will be 1200-1500 rubles.
golden goose
This manufacturer's assortment includes various kits for baptism of fry. The products are made from natural fabric. Thanks to this, you won’t have to worry about the health of your baby’s delicate skin.
baptismal set for a boy from the manufacturer Golden Goose
In the assortment you can buy both a whole set and all the necessary items separately. There are simple models, elegant and insulated ones. The cost of the products is 1900 - 4000 rubles.
Comfort
This manufacturer's assortment includes complete baptismal sets, as well as individual attributes. Only cotton is used in the manufacture of products. Everything is done according to the canons of the Orthodox scheme. The insulated “Jacob” deserves special attention.
baptismal set for a boy from the manufacturer Comfort
It is acquired at the baptism of a boy in winter. The color of the set can be white or champagne. The cost is 900-2800 rubles.
Bridge
This manufacturer offers customers to buy sets for the baptism of a boy, which is made exclusively of cotton. The assortment includes insulated sets, as well as products decorated with lace. The shirt has a simple cut and high-quality tailoring.
baptismal set for a boy from the manufacturer Mostik
All products are made in the traditions of the Orthodox Church. You can purchase the set at a price of 1300-2900 rubles.
Kryzhma
This manufacturer's product range includes baptismal sets for boys from 0 to 9 months. Only pure cotton is used for production. Products can be decorated with thin blue lace. The christening shirt has a V-shape, medium-length sleeves, and must be put on over the head.
The set contains a rectangular diaper with a corner, its size is 90x90 cm. You can purchase a set for 1500-2300 rubles.
Baptism kits for boys are a necessary attribute for conducting a mysterious ceremony. When choosing products, it is necessary to take into account the material used in sewing clothes and its external design, since there should not be too expressive elements. In addition, it is important to take into account the time of year in which the baptism will take place. If this event is scheduled for winter, it is recommended to choose insulated products. You may also be interested in the composition of the flannelette blanket for newborns. Also find out how to choose a mattress for newborns.
We also recommend that you read in more detail about how to choose a mattress for a child over 3 years old.
How to choose the right things
There are no specific strict rules for choosing a baptismal set; they are guided by their capabilities and the appropriateness of things for the upcoming event. It is preferable to choose natural materials - cotton, linen, cambric, and also make sure that the seams are turned outward.
For boy
A set of clothes for a boy should consist of a cotton shirt, a cap and booties or socks. If the child is over 3-4 years old, it is possible without a headdress, since men do not need to cover their heads in the temple, unlike women.
The shade of clothing is white, but sky blue or light green is not prohibited, the main thing is that the color is not too bright, which is unacceptable for carrying out the sacrament. Among the decorations on a shirt and cap, embroidery and ruffles are acceptable, but you should not choose underwear with worldly designs - airplanes, bunnies and other animals.
For girl
When baptizing a girl of any age, a scarf must be included in the set. The color of the robe is also allowed to be soft pink, but usually a snow-white shirt and a cap and booties of the same color are purchased. Ruffles, frills and other decorations will look natural on a girl’s clothes, the main thing is that there are not too many of them.
The material largely depends on the season in which the baptism takes place. In winter, items made of flannel and bikers are suitable; in summer and spring, you should pay attention to shirts made of light cotton or linen.
Preparing a baptism kit for boys
The baptism of a child is not just a beautiful and impressive church ceremony. It has a special spiritual value, since it marks the second birth of a person, but in a spiritual sense. From the moment of baptism, the little man is freed from original sin and a new path opens before him. According to Orthodox canons, a baby should be baptized as early as possible, preferably on the seventh or fortieth day after birth. However, many parents decide to hold the ceremony a little later so that the child grows up and gets stronger.
On such a solemn day, special attention should be paid to the baptismal set. The items included in this set may vary slightly. However, the baptismal shirt remains an unchanged part of it. While the cross is a symbol of Christianity, a clean shirt indicates that the transformation of an ordinary person in Christ has taken place. Since ancient times, such shirts were sewn by hand and were exclusively snow-white, which reflected spiritual purity and purity in the face of God. Today, deviations from this rule are allowed, and a set for a boy can be purchased
muted, pastel colors, for example, bluish or light green. Bright, rich colors or decorative elements on a dazzling white background will stand out from the overall picture and can ruin the overall impression of the outfit. A cross is usually embroidered on the chest of the shirt.
In addition to the shirt, a boy's baptism kit usually includes a diaper or towel with which the child will need to dry himself after washing in a font of holy water. Then the child should be put on a clean shirt. The set also includes a headdress, which can be a regular hat, cap or cap. The main thing is that it is in harmony with the rest of the outfit.
When choosing a baptismal set, you should give preference to 100% natural and environmentally friendly materials. The baptismal shirt should be made of pure cotton, soft and pleasant to the touch, dense and not see-through. If all the threads are woven properly, the cotton will shine a little in the sun. The fabric should not irritate the baby’s skin and be hypoallergenic so that the child feels comfortable. Also, the clothes should not have rough seams or roughness that cause discomfort. The baptismal set must be the right size for the baby. It should not be too tight or too big.
Baptism set for a boy
It should be sewn from fabric of the same texture and made in the same style. The use of embroidery or ornaments of Slavic culture is allowed as decorative elements, but they should not overload the outfit so that it does not become too pretentious and catchy. Baptism is, first of all, a spiritual sacrament, so various external excesses here look inappropriate and ridiculous. However, overly modest attire is also not encouraged, since it should correspond to the atmosphere of the holiday.
The importance of the baptismal set is difficult to overestimate. Our ancestors kept the shirt that was used at baptism as the apple of their eye and attributed miraculous properties to it. According to legend, a baptismal shirt protected its owner from all kinds of misfortunes and troubles, gave strength and helped cure illnesses and ailments. Today, a boy’s baptismal set should also be kept at home throughout the baby’s life. However, you should not store it with the rest of your clothes, as over time it will become covered with dust and turn yellow. The ideal option in this case would be a cotton cover that will keep all items safe and sound.
What is needed for the baptism of an adult
If a person has decided to be baptized as an adult, he also needs to prepare a baptismal kit, which includes:
- A floor-length white linen shirt, and for girls an additional headscarf.
- New slippers.
- Pectoral cross on a long rope.
- A large towel, as well as a small one to dry your hair after the bath.
- Spare clothes, this is necessary if baptism is carried out not only by dousing the head, but by complete immersion in the font.
An adult independently prepares a kit for performing the sacrament.
What does a boy's christening shirt look like?
A baptismal shirt for a boy is no different from a similar shirt for a girl. If this clothing is not white, it may have a subtle blue tint. The shirt has a loose fit. It can be long, to the floor, or a little shorter, but not higher than knee level.
Clothes for a boy's baptism can be decorated with gold or silver ornaments, and there may also be an embroidered Orthodox cross on it. As for the material from which such an outfit is made, it should be natural, soft, and pleasant to the child’s body.
You can also create a baptismal shirt with your own hands; for this you will need to select patterns, sew and decorate the clothes yourself. In this case, it will become not only the most comfortable and soft, but also decorated the way the child’s godmother or birth mother would like.
Who can be the baby's godparents?
To fulfill such an important and high spiritual mission, you need to choose godparents from the circle of relatives or friends of the child’s parents. Usually they become people several years younger than their parents or the same age as them. People chosen to be godparents will play the role of spiritual mentors in the boy's life. They will also pray for the well-being of their godchild. Being asked to be godparents is always considered a very pleasant duty and very honorable. To refuse it is an unforgivable insult to both the parents themselves and the child. Therefore, when you are asked to become the spiritual parent of a baby, gladly agree. This means that they trust you and offer to become related in this way.
There is no need to rush into purchasing a baby boy christening kit. You should prepare well to avoid making any mistakes. The fact is that church canons prescribe certain rules in accordance with which clothes and other accessories should be purchased.
Using a christening shirt for a boy
According to Orthodox custom, baptismal clothing needs to be worn only once in a lifetime, to be baptized. After this, it should simply be stored in a dry place. A baptismal towel can be used when a child is sick. People believe that if a child is wrapped in kryzhma, ailments and ailments will recede. But for the baptism of a child, you no longer need to take out a shirt from a secluded place.
However, this does not mean that you should skimp on baptismal clothing. After all, it is much more pleasant and comfortable for a child when natural soft fabrics touch his body, rather than artificial synthetics.
How do parents prepare for the ceremony?
Some time before baptizing a child, godparents and birth parents talk with the priest. It’s good if before the christening they all confess and receive communion. It is also advisable to fast three days before the event. The priest will tell the child’s mother about a special prayer read for children. Having gone through the sacrament of baptism, the parents repeat the rite of communion, but now they do it together with their son. Godparents can also go through communion and confession.
