Dear Parents,

We extend our congratulations and ask for God’s blessing upon you and your family on the upcoming occasion of your child’s Holy Baptism. Listed below are a few things you should know for the preparation of the baptism of your child.

CHOOSING GODPARENTS
To be eligible to be Godparents in the Orthodox Church you need to be a practicing Orthodox Christian in good sacramental standing with the Church. Ideally, both Godparents should be Orthodox, or at least one of them must be.

The responsibilities of the Godparents are very important and reflect why we expect them to be both faithful Orthodox. Godparents are responsible for encouraging the parents in raising their child in the Orthodox Church, its faith and practice. This is why they publicly renounce the Devil and profess Christ repeatedly, and must know and believe the Orthodox Creed, which they are expected to read or recite during the first part of the Baptism service. The Godparents should insure that their Godchild is taken regularly to the Church, ideally every Sunday, or at a minimum every 3rd week to receive Holy Communion. The Godparents should attempt to be at Church with the Godchild to set a proper example as well as seeing that their Godchild develops a habit of prayer at home personally and with its family. The Godparents should encourage their Godchild in reading the Scripture and other Orthodox scriptural books, in attending Church School, camp, SOYO, etc., and should remember them especially with spiritual gifts (church books, icons, etc.) on their saint’s day (name day) and at Christmas and Pascha, as well as on their birthday. Normally the Godparents help to supply some if not all of the below listed items used at the Baptism of their Godchild.

BAPTISMAL NAMES
Orthodox Church tradition requires your baby to have an Orthodox Christian Saint’s name as a baptismal name. If your baby’s first or middle name is not such a baptismal name, you will need to select one for the baptism. For a list of acceptable baptismal names, please ask the priest.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE BAPTISM
Please bring the following items to the Baptism: