Catechetical
Letter
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MEATFARE
WEEK +
Apostle Onesimos of 70 +
Ven. Paphnutius + Ven. Eusebius of |
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The Responsibility of
the Godparent
Sub-deacon Thomas Wilson has compiled from the OCA
web site and Fr. Timothy Sawchak some areas of responsibility for the
godparent. They are written mostly in the tone of godparents of non-adult
godchildren, but essentially, they break down into these twelve:
1.
Keep the
anniversary of his baptism, learning the life of his patron Saint together.
Keep his name day together with reverence and joy. Be together, break bread,
and give a particularly appropriate type of gift. 2.
Study, learn,
and make progress, in order to answer questions. 3.
Encourage
progress in the Faith by offering presents that help with it, such as icons,
prayer books, scriptures, lives of Saints, and help him start an Orthodox
library. 4.
Be available.
Spend time together. Strengthen the relationship. If distant, call, write, email
and/or visit. Send letters at the beginnings of liturgical seasons (Nativity,
Great Lent, etc) to help keep the calendar. “Prayer and love in Christ know
no distance.” 5.
Pray always for
him; You will be asked about his soul in The Judgment. 6.
Be a genuine
friend and an example in Christ. “The relationship between the Godparent and
the baptized is so important and so close that the Church forbids marriage
between the Godparent and Godchild.” They are parent and child, and also
siblings. 7.
“Pray through
the ups and downs of life with your godchild. Find out what's troubling or
challenging your Godchild, what he or she is excited about or eagerly
anticipating,” and contextualize it in the Faith. Encourage prayer, pray
together, and remind him of your prayers for him. 8.
Emphasize the
“spiritual” (ascetic) aspects of the Feasts and holy days. Make it a
tradition to share fitting readings at such time, and keep the days in proper
veneration. Diminish the commercial culture in the keeping of time. 9.
“Invite your
godchild to go with you to Great
Vespers, Matins,
or weekday services . . . Encourage your whole "god-family" to come
to Church for services other than (in addition to) the Sunday resurrectional
Divine Liturgy” 10. Ask what your godchild is studying and learning,
discuss these things and be be a help in them, and encourage study of the
Holy Gospel. 11. “Help your godchild serve God. Choose a service
project to work at regularly together, such as working at a hot-meal program
or visiting parishioners in the hospital.” Encourage service in the Church
and to others. Help him find and fulfill his vocation. Encourage seminary or
monasticism, if interest is shown. Do not rule out Holy Orders as his
vocation. 12. “Make your godchild "one of the family".
Include your godchild, and his or her parents and siblings, in your own
family's "social" events: reunions, picnics, camping trips, and zoo
and museum outings.” I have realized,
all along, of course, that taking the affinity (syngeneia) of godparent and godchild seriously is easily
considered odd and awkward in our culture. But then so is every other piety,
even the sign of the cross when sincerely made. I will always find delight in
my duties toward you, who are my delighting, and likewise gravity and dread
of judgment, and so then also a means of salvation for me, by your prayers.
Because of Christ, we will never be parted, if we persevere and overcome. Let
us keep one another on the Ladder. The Responsibility of the Godchild by
Sub-deacon Thomas Wilson Godparent and Godchild
should 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 Godparent and his/her family. By doing this you are encouraging a
relationship and giving it the spiritual basis on which to mature. When greeting one's
Godparent, you should feel the love and familiarity that you have with your
own parents. It is NOT inappropriate to hug or kiss your godparents, as you
would your own parents. A Godchild should light
candles and pray for their Godparents every time they enter a church, say
their family prayers, and say their personal prayers. The Godchild should
observe the Godparents names day. Celebrate it with a special visit and
dinner if you're nearby, and give a "spiritually oriented" gift to
celebrate, like a spiritual book of the Godparent's patron saint's life, a
new icon, etc. Keep in touch by phone,
e-mail, or postcard if your Godparent lives out of state or across the globe.
Prayer and love in Christ know no distance! There will come a time
in which your Godparents have aged and are less able to be fully present with
you do to illness or perhaps a nursing home placement. Remember to continue
to pray for them and visit or write them often to maintain your relationship.
Ask for their advice even though you have grown up. Finally there will come
a day in which your Godparents will repose in the Lord, maintain your image
of your Godparents in your mind to help brings peace and memories of love and
wisdom. Pray for your Godparents and offer memorial services in their memory,
do works and offer alms in their name. And pray for them as they will
continue to do for you in heaven. From: The Orthopraxis of Godparents in the Orthodox Church From: A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology Fotios K. Litsas, Ph.D. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese web site Affinity. (Gr. Syngeneia). The spiritual relationship existing between an individual and his spouse's relatives, or most especially between godparents and godchildren. The Orthodox Church considers affinity an impediment to marriage. Baptismal Garments. (Gr. Fotikia or baptisika; Sl. krizhma). The garments brought by the godparent to dress the infant immediately after the immersion in Baptism. In Orthodoxy, these garments are considered sacred and must be either kept safely or destroyed by fire. God-parents. (Godfather, Gr. Nounos; Godmother, Gr. Nouna).Sponsors at Baptism and Chrismation taking the responsibility for the faith and spiritual development of the newly-born Christian. The Orthodox people highly regard the spiritual bond and relationship between godparents and their godchildren, and marriage between them is prohibited. (see affinity). Nounos. (see godparents). |
DIVINE LITURGY Cathedral: Sun 2/19 5:00am |
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LAY PRAYERS Vespers &
Compline: Saturdays Hours & Typica: Sundays |
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CALENDAR Meatfare Week: Economia from fasting Feb 12 – Feb 19 Cheesefare Week: Dairy, Eggs, Fish Feb 27 – March 5 Great Lent: March 6 – April 22 Holy Week: April 16 – April 23 oca.org/OCFasting.asp |
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The practice of godparents, witnesses or sponsors of a
person who is to be baptized, and who are to instruct the person in the rules
of Christian living, has existed from the first century of the Christian era.
The first written information about godparents is attributed to the second
century. ,In the first century of Christianity the godparents quite often
were deacons, deaconnesses, hermits, virgins and, in general, people who
dedicated themselves to serving the Church and who were able to instruct the baptized
in true Christian faith and its morals. –
" Godparents are adults who sponsor a child at the time of
his/her baptism. They take on the responsibility of helping the child's
parents raise him/her in the Orthodox Faith, ensuring that he/she takes part
in the Holy Mysteries and other divine services, knows the Creed and the main
prayers and hymns of the Orthodox Tradition, and is familiar with the lives
and teachings of Christ and His Saints. –
Beliefs & Practices web site
If you should think of me, in my unworthiness, pray Christ have mercy and save me. – the unworthy |