What is done with hair after baptism. Why is a child's hair cut off during baptism? Why cut hair
Many reduce them to birthday gifts, New Year etc., but in fact the godfather should take the child to the temple for Communion, teach him the basics of faith. For example, invite them on a pilgrimage trip, donate an Orthodox book for children, give good advice to parents. In other words, they should help Orthodox education your child. But, you see, this is possible only on the condition that he himself is seriously churched. Therefore, when choosing godparents, first of all, I would advise you to think about whether a person whose actions can clearly indicate an indifferent attitude towards Christianity can help you raise your child in the faith. If the godparents do not help you in the development of the spiritual life of your child, the responsibility for this lies solely with them.
How to behave during the christening?
In principle, there is nothing daunting, everything will be prompted along the way. But first of all, I will once again advise you to find out in advance exactly how the sacrament itself takes place in the temple in which you would like to baptize a child.
The fact is that in all churches different traditions and opportunities. For example, I was baptized in a church where, for some reason, mothers are not allowed to christen themselves (this was in the 90s), then about twenty people were baptized at the same time. Now I can explain to myself the peculiarity of this temple: most likely, this is done due to the fact that for the first forty days a woman is in physiological impurity and cannot enter the temple, and so that someone unknowingly does not sin, the problem was solved radically. Although, to be honest, I do not agree with such a policy, especially when it comes to newborns. Imagine a baby in an unfamiliar place, where it is noisy, a lot strangers and there is no mother nearby - and it becomes somehow uncomfortable and sorry for the baby.
We baptized our daughter at the same time with six children, and, to be honest, it was somewhat noisy and fussy. But my goddaughters are all baptized in a small and cozy church. Everything happened quietly and in a family way, the priest, in parallel with the sacrament, and managed to joke, and explain difficult moments and advise on how best to proceed. In general, everyone was happy.
Let me remind you right away that the godmother in her monthly impurity cannot participate in the sacraments until the end of these days, it is better to reschedule the date. And if you want to take a photo or video during Epiphany, then ask the priest for this blessing in advance so that there are no unforeseen complications, and at the same time ask where you can’t go or get up. Once at a wedding, I watched the bewilderment of a photographer who was asked to get off the salt. As a human being, I understand him - this is an excellent point for shooting, but only a priest can stand there.
And a couple more tips for women. Come without lipstick, otherwise, when you kiss the icons and the cross, you will simply get them dirty. And if you don’t have a skirt of the appropriate length in your wardrobe, it’s better to come in trousers and put on a skirt offered by churchwomen over it, so that you would be less embarrassed because of your bare knees.
What is needed for baptism?
For the Baptism of a child you need:
- christening shirt;
- a cross on a ribbon (if it is purchased in a store, then it must be consecrated);
- a baptismal icon (usually bought by godparents): for a girl - Mother of God for a boy - Christ (this icon should be beautiful and expensive (it is clear that if possible your means), but you must remember that it will be with your child all your life and it is with this icon that you will bless him when you marry).
- towel and diaper for the baby;
- handkerchief or paper towel to wipe your face if necessary.
Why cut hair?
The rite of cutting the hair, which is performed immediately after washing off the body of the newly baptized Holy Myrrh, has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the rite of initiation of readers. The path to the restoration of Divine beauty, distorted, humiliated, obscured, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with offering Him with thanksgiving and joy that which in this world has become a symbol of beauty - hair. The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly at the Baptism of infants. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore several hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) [name] is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
Why baptize children?
Now the question of the meaninglessness of the Baptism of young children is very often raised. No one denies that there is no special command in Scripture to baptize children. But there is no direct command to baptize only adults. The Lord said "baptize all nations" (Matthew 28:19). There are no exceptions in these words based on age, nationality or gender.
Yes, these words do not say anything about baby baptism, yes, the baby does not have conscious faith. Yes, the child does not know what the Church is and on what principles it is built. But the Church is not a philosophical circle, it is life in God.
Yes, and all the mental and spiritual activity of a person cannot be reduced to the work of the mind! And if this is so, then, obeying what intellectual movements, John the Baptist, while still in the womb, felt the approach of the Savior, who was also still in an embryonic state? When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped up in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
And still…
In general, Orthodoxy as such proceeds from the fact that knowing what air is is one thing, but breathing it is something else. The baby does not know the properties and origin of milk - but cannot live without it. Would any mother say to a sick child: “You must grow up first, get a medical education, and only when you understand how this medicine affects the body, and when you make a promise to never eat snow again, then I will give you medicine”?
But why does the Church still baptize? Yes, because she takes this baby under her protection, under her protection.
Finally, a little about the sad
Often there is information about the possibility of performing baptism over dead babies, naming them and remembering the unbaptized at the liturgy. Unfortunately - in fact, this is impossible; for the Lord commanded the apostles to baptize living people, not the dead (Mark 16:16). By the 26th canon of the Council of Carthage, the Church decreed that the deceased should not be baptized, nor should they be given Divine Mysteries; and in the interpretation, this rule says:
"Presbyter's more unreason (if such was allowed) will not help the deceased, after death, having been baptized from him, not baptized." This rule is placed in the book "Pilots", where the Rules of the Holy Apostles and the Holy Ecumenical and Nine Local Councils are located. In this situation, parents can only prayerfully sigh for such babies to God in their home prayers.
During the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, a person undergoes a symbolic hair cutting. This rite has its own special meaning. The hair of the person being baptized is cut as a sign of his humility and obedience to the Lord, the abandonment of his former sinful life. It is impossible to accept without making a promise to God of true service to Him. Only with sincere intentions and with a pure heart it is possible to receive the Sacrament of Baptism for the salvation of one's soul.
Acceptance of Baptism can be figuratively compared with the adoption of the oath by military personnel. How, while taking an oath to the Motherland, military personnel undertake to remain faithful to the Fatherland, to serve in its defense even at the cost of own life, and during the Sacrament of Baptism, a believer undertakes to serve God with his whole life. Cutting hair during the Sacrament of Baptism is a confirmation of this promise.
The cutting of hair at Baptism signifies belonging to the Lord. In ancient times, slaves in the Roman Empire cut off a certain part of their hair as a sign that this person is not free, but belongs to his master. So, when cutting hair during the Sacrament of Baptism, a person gives his life into the hands of God, accepts the Lord as a slave and promises to obey His will. Awareness of one's servitude to the Lord helps Christians fight against such sins as pride and arrogance. It happens that having done something good, a person begins to exalt himself by this and consider himself a great benefactor. The Holy Gospel teaches us not to think more of ourselves than that we are slaves worthless, but have done only what we had to do.
At the Baptism of a child, it is necessary to have godparents, since participation in the Sacrament requires a conscious decision for the Christian service of the Savior. Since the baby cannot make a conscious decision, then the godparents should do it for him, taking the responsibility of the Christian upbringing of his godson.
If we recall the image of slaves in the context, then according to ancient law, the children of slaves belonged to the same master as their parents. So in Christian faith if the parents accepted Holy Baptism, during which they were trimmed as a sign of obedience to the Lord, then their children must also receive Holy Baptism in Orthodox faith and be brought up in piety and spiritual purity.
May the awareness of our belonging to the Lord and the memory of the symbolic meaning of cutting hair during the Sacrament of Baptism help us strive with greater strength to serve the Lord with our whole lives!
It has always been believed that the strength and energy of a person is in the hair. Hair is the home of your soul and the spirit of your head. It used to be that every person had a halo around their head. When a person sinned, the rays of heavenly energy became heavy under the influence of sin and fell, turning into hair. But nevertheless, they continue to nourish a person with the energy of heaven.
There are so many signs about hair that you can’t trust your hair to just anyone, that after combing you can’t throw your hair away because if they scatter in the wind, the head will hurt. If you cut your hair, you will lose your strength, therefore, small children up to a year old, and in some nations even up to 3 years old, cannot cut their hair. …
All signs are based on the fact that any effect on the hair can change a person's life. Therefore, by allowing hair to be cut during Baptism, we kind of show our trust in God, we entrust our lives to him, we give consent to change our lives. Hair is a symbol of obedience and...
Tongue has been a symbol of obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. People felt the concentration of strength and energy in their hair. An example is the Old Testament story of Samson (Judg. 16 ch.). This rite is found both in the rite of initiation into monasticism and in the initiation of readers.
In a fallen world, the path to the restoration of Divine beauty, darkened, humiliated, distorted, begins with a sacrifice to God, that is, with bringing to Him with joy and gratitude that which in this world has become a symbol of beauty - hair. The meaning of this sacrifice is revealed especially vividly and touchingly at the Baptism of infants. The child cannot offer God anything else, and therefore a few meager hairs are cut off from his head with the words: “The servant of God (servant of God) is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit ....
Hair cutting has been a symbol of both obedience and sacrifice since ancient times. For example, the rite of entry into the monastic rank is called “monastic tonsure”.
In the preliminary prayer, the priest glorifies God for giving man His image and creating a man with a beautiful body and soul, and every part of him is filled with beauty and meaning. Above all, he placed the head, and in it are many feelings that do not interfere with each other.
From the head of the newly baptized, the priest cuts off several strands of hair as a sacrifice and dedication to God.
Saying the words: “The servant of God (here the name is called) is cut in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” the priest with special scissors cuts strands of hair from the head of the one who is sheared crosswise in four places: on the back of the head, near the forehead, on the right and left sides of the head.
At this time, the godfather or the person serving the priest prepares a lump of wax, rolling it thinly so that the hair fits in it. Having blinded the wax into a ball along with the hair ...
How long before the christening should I go to the temple? We walked in two days, but our city is small and we were baptized on a weekday.
How long do christenings take? about an hour
Is the baby dipped in the font or poured with water from it? we were lowered into the font with legs, where there was water about waist-deep and watered from above
Is it true that mothers are not allowed to attend christenings themselves? I was, over me even then they read a cleansing prayer after childbirth
Is it necessary to go in a dress / skirt (downtime after childbirth does not fit into anything my pre-pregnant)? yes, with a hem of a decent length (at least just above the knee) and in a scarf or scarf on the head
How did your little ones behave during the christening? for the most part he was calmly in the arms of his godmother, examining everything with curiosity. I cried just a little when they got out of the font - I didn’t understand why they bathed so little (he loves it very much)
Is it true that the priest cuts the hair of a child (I read somewhere that he cuts off with a cross ...
Help, explain, throw ideas!!! Girls, after tomorrow my princess turns one year old!!! I’m sitting here racking my brains… how can we organize it… we’ll celebrate on Saturday, but the day after tomorrow… how to divide this holiday into two days so competently… but oh well, my question is the following:
1. the godfather, as you know, must cut the curl in the form of a cross! Where? on the back of the head, on the side, on the forehead ??? and most importantly WHY???
2. who knows the decoding of what is laid in front of the child (keys, money, etc.)
3. those who have already celebrated this wonderful holiday, maybe you have some advice, for example, “this and that were superfluous, I don’t advise you to do it” or vice versa “I regret that I didn’t do this and that, I advise you” or “we did SO THAT AND SO THAT we advise you too” Insert codes:
Copy the code and paste it into the window for creating a record on LiveInternet, after enabling the “Source” mode there
As it will be…
Why is a lock of hair cut off in the Church during the Sacrament of Baptism?
Why is a lock of hair cut off in the Church during the Sacrament of Baptism?
Because:
This symbolizes the belonging of the baptized person to the Lord. In ancient times, slaves in the Roman Empire cut off a certain part of their hair as a sign that this person belongs to his master. So, when cutting hair during the Sacrament of Baptism, a person gives his life into the hands of God, accepts the Lord as a slave and promises to obey His will. Today, slavery is perceived by us as an unambiguously negative phenomenon - it was Christianity that taught the whole world. But at the same time, Christians are well aware that one cannot be absolutely free, a person always remains dependent on something - a slave to his passions and habits. And only in baptism a person, giving himself into obedience to God, ceases to be a slave of Satan, goes out from under his power and passes to absolute freedom - under the power and protection of God. V…
And what's funny? the rite is such that the godfather cuts off the cross on the head of the child, but our godfather died recently (((so I ask who can do this, instead of him.
this is all just, as you rightly said, RITE, and nothing more! People came up with such a tradition. It has nothing to do with faith and religion. IMHO, I am intolerant of all kinds of ceremonies, because it turns out that we don’t particularly believe in God, we don’t observe anything from the charters of the church, but the godfather must shoot the baby in a year old cross on the head. Meaning??!!! and when my child was a year old - no one cut it, but cut it, when it was necessary to put the hair in order, when the time ...
View full version: The first haircut of a child. Sign-superstition?
17.12.2010, 15:20
I’m interested in the question - why store the child’s hair after the first haircut. Is it for memory or does it have some special meaning? My mother says that my first hairs after the haircut are somewhere. She doesn’t know why this is done. When my son was cut for the first time, they gave me his cut hair in an envelope.
17.12.2010, 15:24
I have a tuft of hair that was cut at baptism, and after the first haircut, we threw the hair away.
17.12.2010, 15:26
We cut our hair for the first time in the salon, the master carefully collected the hairs for us and gave it away, why I don’t know, but I keep
17.12.2010, 15:44
But we do not store, the first time I hear about such a sign ....
17.12.2010, 15:54
I have a tuft of hair that was cut off at ...
It has long been believed that the first haircut of a child should not be until the moment he turns one year old. This is due to the fact that cosmic energy is contained in the hair, and if they are cut ahead of time, this will bring misfortune and illness to the child. There was a belief in Poland that a premature haircut would lead to poverty, the Belarusians believed that this would disrupt the development of speech. There are peoples who did not cut their children's hair before the age of seven, fearing to damage the baby's mind. The Goth kings were not allowed to cut their hair for the rest of their lives from birth. Cutting your hair meant giving up the throne.
…
I won't explain exactly. I know that adults prepare for communion, read prayers, the Bible. You can’t really prepare children, they are children. Communion of a child protects him from the devil, the evil eye, bad people, as our grandmother explained to us. Communion usually takes place after the morning service, so if the child is small and it will be difficult for you to stand with him in the church for the entire service, ask the clergy about what time the service ends and the communion begins. Come to this time.
Communion itself is quick, the child is placed or taken on right hand and bring it to the priest. The church minister will ask the name of the child, if the child himself does not speak yet, then the mother calls. They say: “A baby takes communion ... (name), In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. At this time, from a special spoon, the child is given to drink the so-called Jesus blood, something like a light fruit drink, slightly sour. And that's all. Then you can drink either milk or juice. Mom, aside, they can give a piece of sacred bread if ...
Often we do not know how the church relates to a particular issue related to a wedding, the birth of a child or family relationships. We have found answers to the most common of them.
1. Can I get married if my grandmother recently died?
Yes, you can sign and get married. Sorrow for the dead is a personal matter and is measured by love for them.
2. The day before the wedding, my grandfather died, who asked in advance not to postpone the wedding in case of his death. Should I now repent and confess?
If it was the will of the dying, there is no sin in it and there is nothing to repent for, but you can confess about it. And of course you should pray for your grandfather.
3. Is it possible to get married on a leap year?
The church considers prohibitions or restrictions in marriage on a leap year to be prejudice and does not distinguish a leap year from the rest in any way.
4. What days are you not allowed to get married?
They do not marry on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays ...
View Full Version: 1 year old child - traditions and their interpretation?
My godson is 1 year old next week. I know that there is some tradition that a child is put on a casing and given various objects to choose from - gold, car keys, paints, a book, a bottle ...
I would like to know in more detail this whole procedure with an interpretation, it is desirable what they cut off there (because they will ask me, as a godmother), in what order, etc.
Google searches turned up nothing
Therefore, I ask for advice from experienced moms, dads and others like them.
They cut their hair from four sides, as at baptism - from the forehead, from the back of the head, above the ears. By a little. Parents keep them, in my opinion, more as a memory than for something.
Although in the church the priest told us that this should be done.
And about the casing is quite simple. The casing must be spread out with fur, the baby is put on it. In front of him they lay out various objects related to different professions, and offer him something ...
From the book of Herman Shimansky "Liturgy: Sacraments and Rites"
Wudu
At present, according to the order of the Orthodox Church, after the litany "Have mercy on us, God" there is no dismissal, and the priest performs two more actions in a row: washing and tonsuring the hair.
In the ancient Church, these two acts were performed on the eighth day after baptism and chrismation. During the previous seven days, the newly baptized carefully kept on themselves the oil and Holy Myrrh received in the two sacraments, and therefore did not wash themselves, nor did they take off the white clothes received in baptism. All this time they spent in fasting and prayer, moving away from worldly pleasures and entertainment. The recollection of such a practice of the ancient Church is preserved in our breviary, which places ablution on the eighth day.
The ablution is performed according to the following order: the priest reads prayers in which he asks the Lord to keep the spiritual seal of the newly enlightened one undefiled, to make him an invincible ascetic and vouchsafe him eternal life.
Then “allows,” it is said in the Ribbon, “a belt of men and a veil” and, connecting their edges, dips them in clean water and sprinkles the newly baptized, saying: "Thou hast been justified, thou hast been enlightened, thou hast been sanctified, thou hast been washed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."
Then, with a sponge filled with clean (warm) water, he performs the very washing of the parts of the body anointed with oil and Peace, pronouncing the words: “You were baptized, you were enlightened, you were anointed, you were sanctified, you were washed; in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen."
Both the previous and subsequent words indicate the successive celebration of the sacraments that the newly baptized was awarded, namely, the words:
you were justified - indicates the forgiveness of sins;
you were baptized - for the sanctification of the soul and body in the waters of baptism;
enlightened - at the same time to the enlightenment of the soul by faith in this sacrament;
anointed - for the sacrament of chrismation;
sanctified - refers to the sacrament of the Eucharist, which was honored by the newly baptized in the ancient Church for seven days;
washed - refers to the present rite of ablution.
Grooming Vlasov
The haircut is done after the ablution. It is preceded by a prayer in which the priest asks for God's blessing on the newly baptized and on his head, but having succeeded in age, "the glory of God will ascend with gray hairs of old age" and the good Jerusalem will see.
Then he cuts the hair on the head of the newly baptized in a cross-shaped manner, saying:
“The servant of God (name) is sheared in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (singers - “Amen”).
Cutting the hair on the head means the submission of the newly baptized to Jesus Christ and his dedication to the service of God.
The hair on the head is usually cut in the order in which the head is blessed: first the back of the head is cut, then the front of the head, then the right and left sides.
The cutting of the hair is followed by a short litany: “Have mercy on us, O God,” about the recipient and the newly baptized. And then there is a dismissal with a cross, where the saint is usually commemorated, in whose honor the name of the baptized is given. After the dismissal, a cross is given for kissing, first to the newly baptized, then to the recipients.
CHURCHING
Churching is the introduction of a newly baptized person into church society and reckoning with it. In its origin, churching also has the meaning of permission to enter the temple.
The rite of churching an infant is performed on the 40th day after birth over an already baptized infant.
This rite usually follows immediately after reading “Prayer to the wife in childbirth on the 40th day” (“fortieth prayer”). After reading the last (4th) prayer, the priest, taking the baby in his arms, creates for him the image of the cross, - first in front of the gates of the temple (in the vestibule), - saying the words:
“The servant of God (or the servant of God) (name) is being churched in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.”
Entering the temple, he says:
“He will enter into Your house, bow down to Your holy temple.”
In the middle of the church, he again creates the image of the cross with the words:
“The servant of God is being churched…” and after them he says:
"In the midst of the church He will sing to Thee."
Finally, in front of the royal gates for the third time, the priest, creating the image of the cross as a baby, pronounces the same words: "The servant of God is being churched." And if the baby is male, then he brings him to the altar, carrying him around the throne through a high place, and after offering him (attaching) to local icons, he gives him into the hands of those who brought him. If the baby is female, then it is not brought into the altar, but only in front of the royal gates. The priest concludes the churching with the prayer of Simeon the God-Receiver: “Now you let go ...” and dismissal with the cross.
The actions you mention are included in the sequence of prayers and actions performed during Holy Baptism in the Orthodox Church.
WITH God's help I will try to answer your question.
In modern church practice in the Orthodox Church, the following (or the sequence of actions and prayers) at Holy Baptism includes three parts:
1.Washing;
2. Baptism;
3. Chrismation.
Each part has its own prayers and actions.
All these parts are very ancient and date back to apostolic times.
To answer your question, you need to touch on each part in more detail.
Announcement:
The fact is that the first Christians were not baptized immediately, but went through a special probationary, initial (or categorical) period. The Apostle Paul mentions this: “He was instructed in the first principles of the way of the Lord…. ." In the original Church Slavonic: “This was announced the way of the Lord….” (Acts.18;25).
Baptism:
This part includes directly actions and prayers related to the Sacrament of Baptism.
Here, before water baptism, the person being baptized is anointed with holy oil (or oil) as a reminder of the Gospel parable of ten virgins and ten candlesticks. Thus giving those who wish to be baptized to remember once again that they will meet with the Lord Jesus Christ and that the lamp of their souls should always be full of the oil (or oil) of faith.
At the same time, the use of holy oil symbolizes the approaching joy of Baptism, because a new spiritual person is born. About the oil symbolizing joy, the prophet Isaiah says: "...instead of weeping oil of joy..." Isaiah 61.3
Water Baptism is the Sacrament of the Church, where the word itself contains the meaning of the Divine presence in what is happening, incomprehensible to man.
After baptism, a person becomes a member of the Church, and can take part in Church Sacraments. Undoubtedly, baptism with full immersion in water is correct and canonical.
Baptism is performed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The meaning of Water Baptism is immersion in the abyss of water of one's sins, the death of one's old man and the resurrection of a new man in Christ Jesus.
“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be abolished, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).
The sin from the sinning progenitors of mankind Adam and Eve in Holy Baptism is forgiven, a person is born again. But… without losing the inclination to sin.
3. Chrismation.
In ancient Christian church, after Baptism, the apostles established the laying on of hands on those who were baptized so that the Holy Spirit would descend on them.
“And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them….” (Acts 19; 6).
The apostles, dispersing throughout the earth to preach about the Resurrected Christ, could not have time to lay hands on all those who were baptized, and therefore they blessed the laying on of hands by the Bishops appointed by them. Later, as the number of believers increased, even the bishops could not be present everywhere in person in order to have time to lay hands on those who were baptized. Then baptism began to be entrusted to presbyters, priests, but in order to preserve the episcopal ordination blessed by the apostles, the form of the sacrament was changed. They began to prepare a special chrism (incense oil) which was consecrated by the Bishops, and then the priests anointed the body parts of those who were baptized with this chrism. Thus, the continuity of the apostolic traditions was preserved.
The use of the world is very ancient tradition. IN old testament the composition of the world for sacred anointing was indicated to Moses by God Himself (Ex. 30, 22-25).
The apostle Paul also points to the anointing when he says: “But he who confirms us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who both sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor. 1; 21-22).
Now about the clothes in which they are baptized and about cutting their hair.
The clothes in which a person is baptized come into contact with the Holy World, which is a Shrine, and simply washing will not be a respectful attitude towards the shrine.
In ancient times, clothes were not removed after Baptism for 8 days. All these days, the one who was baptized every day went to the Temple and communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Places on the body anointed with holy myrrh were washed off with water. The first Christians prepared clothes in which they were baptized for their burial.
The practice of cutting hair in a promise to serve Christ is very ancient and dates back to the apostolic church.
So the apostle Paul says: “... And take off Akila and Priscilla, having cut off your head in Knechrei according to a vow” (Acts 18:18).
Since after Holy Baptism a person becomes new spiritually, nevertheless, does not lose the inclination to sin. The Church teaches that a person needs to work hard so that sin does not prevail over him. So the apostle Paul says: “Sin shall not have dominion over you….” (Romans 6:14).
Therefore, adhering to the tradition of ancient Christina Orthodox Church cuts the hair of the person being baptized, reminding him that he promises to serve God faithfully and with a clear conscience.
As the apostle Peter says: “So now we too are baptized like this image, not washing away the uncleanness of the flesh, but the promise to God of a good conscience, which saves us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21)
Historically, hair was cut differently in different places, somewhere it was cut out completely, somewhere it was cut out in the form of a cross. At present, several hairs are cut crosswise on the head of the baptized.
The often used tradition of preserving hair during Baptism also originates from antiquity, when those who were baptized, wanting to save themselves from the temptations of the world, in this way reminded themselves of what the Lord had saved them from with Holy Baptism. Although this tradition is not universal, in other places cut hair is burned.
About the time of Baptism.
In the first centuries of Christianity, baptism was performed according to big holidays which was usually preceded by a fast established by the church
One of these holidays is Easter - the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
Those who were admitted by the bishop to Holy Baptism were instructed how to conduct a fast, and Baptism was performed on the designated Feast.
God help you!
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