Babies and Church by Fr Yanni Michaelidis

When a baby is born our first thought isn’t to call the priest. And yet there are beautiful Orthodox prayers that can be read for the birth and naming of the baby that traditionally takes place on the eighth day... (I know, I know, this is likely the 1st time you’re hearing about this...and its ok!) In some traditions, (our own included to some degree) because the mother has co-created life with God, she is considered too holy to mix with regular folks at church and remains home for 40 days— this lines up nicely with modern medical recommendations to keep newborns away from the public for 6 weeks; One can say the wisdom of the church understood this from the beginning.

Families arrange for a churching (or a baby blessing as we sometimes call it) around the completion of the 40 days. Mother and child arrive at the church for the first time since the birth, and the priest reads special prayers and blessings for both before they enter the church. Choosing godparents then becomes the next big step, and it can prove to be difficult as many people are sure to have strong opinions. It’s good to pick some- one you truly feel will shepherd your child in the faith, who is trustworthy and a good example to your child. This decision belongs to the parents, and should be made with prayerful consideration.

It’s a great blessing for children to have another trusted adult to whom they can turn with questions or worries, the right godparent can be an important loving presence in your child’s life. In traditionally Orthodox countries and cultures the godparents become like family. By selecting loving godparents for our children, we bring the church into our family structure. The godparent’s primary role is to connect the child with the church throughout life. Choose people whose example will make a lasting impression on your child’s spiritual development; be thoughtful in selecting members of the parish who will be there to help you out when times are troublesome. Most importantly chose godparents whose love of Christ is clear and will be a pattern for your child to follow throughout their life.

Think of our parish as another family—consecrated and gifted to you by God to help you come to salvation. You are as important as the oldest yiayia and the youngest baby. Your involvement in the life of the Church will bless and sanctify that community as the Holy Spirit works through you to bring the presence of Christ into every relationship. Don’t worry about doing something wrong, not fitting in, or “ruining” the parish or the services because of misbehaviors or mishaps. Come to serve, come to grow, come to love, and come to learn. Your children will learn from you to form a lasting relationship with their future parish community, and their faith will be stronger for it.

+Fr. Yanni Michaelidis