THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
BAPTISM IN ORTHODOX CHURCH
It was the Lord Jesus Christ who instituted Baptism.
"He who believes and is baptised will be saved" (Mark 16:16).
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19).
"Truly. truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
The great model of our baptism, then, is the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan.
A List of Responsibilities of a Godparent in the Orthodox Church
The Responsibilities of the Godparent only begin at baptism, the role really expands and hopefully blossoms as the Godparent and Godchild develop a close and loving relationship. As with any relationship, this spiritual one needs to be fostered and cared for in order for it to develop. The best way for this relationship to grow is through prayer. Pray for your Godchild and his or her parents, and the parents should encourage their child to pray for the Godparents. By doing this you are encouraging a relationship and giving it the spiritual basis on which to mature.
The role of the Godparent in the Orthodox Church
The role of the Godparent in the Orthodox Church is an important one. Along with the parents, the Godparent is charged with the responsibility of assisting in the spiritual development of the child. In some cultures, the Godparent is addressed by a special name ( an example is nouno/nouna in Greek.) Whether a blood relative or not, the Godparent is now embraced as part of the “spiritual family” of that child.
What items are necessary for a Christening
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A white set of clothing for the infant
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A Cross (gold or silver)
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One white bath towel & one white hand towel
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A small white sheet
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A small bottle of extra virgin olive oil
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A bar of soap
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A large candle​