Godfather who is he for the godson. How to choose godparents? Who can't be godfather

Instructions

Before the Sacrament of Baptism, the future godparent must confess and receive Holy Communion. To do this, you need to fast for three days. During this period of time, you should give up marital duties, food of animal origin, and also take care of yourself from irritability and foul language.

The receiver should not only be and wear a pectoral cross, but also know the prayers, regularly attend church, receive communion and confess. As the child grows up, he should pray for him, with the Gospel, introduce him to prayers, take him to Sunday school, tell stories, fasting and church, if possible, travel on pilgrimage trips.

Do not forget that during the Sacrament of Baptism, you renounced Satan before God for an unintelligent one, whom you held in your arms. According to church canons, the recipient will have to answer before whether he raised the godchildren as his own children.

note

The Orthodox Church allows you to be a godparent from the age of 15. A close relative (grandfather, brother, uncle) can become the recipient. A husband and wife cannot baptize the same child.

Helpful advice

For christening, it is customary to give the child a pectoral cross.

Being a godparent is an honorable and very responsible mission. But before taking responsibility before God for a child, a person needs to objectively assess himself and decide whether he can become a good godfather.

When is it better to refuse to be a godfather

There is an opinion that it is impossible to refuse the offer to be a godparent - supposedly it is a sin. However, godparents are primarily responsible for the morality of the godson, therefore they must take responsibility for the spiritual upbringing of the child.

Godparents must be Orthodox people of high moral character. Giving gifts to a child is not the only and not the main function of godparents. Spending time with the godson, godparents should talk with him on topics of kindness, love, moral values. They should introduce the child to church: attend church with him, take him to communion, teach prayers, talk about God. According to church officials, godparents should have faith and repentance and are called to pass them on, to teach them to their godson.

When considering an offer to become a godfather, ask yourself a question - will you pray for this child as for your own?

If you realize that you do not meet these requirements, or do not feel the strength to help parents in the religious upbringing of the child, do not put an unbearable burden on your shoulders. Being a bad godfather is worse than refusing to be one.

How to refuse an offer to be a godfather

If you fully realize that you are not ready for the responsibility that lies with the godparents, and do not feel the desire to take care of the godson, but are afraid with your refusal to spoil the friendly relations with the baby's parents, prepare to talk with them.

It can be assumed that when friends have a baby, they will offer you to become a godfather, because a good friend is, as a rule, a potential godfather. Knowing this in advance, do not immediately respond to their offer. Let the parents of the baby understand that you are very pleased that they want to entrust the spiritual education of their child to you. Explain that you take the ordinance of baptism seriously and know what a good godfather should be like. Ask them for time to think. By doing this, you will prepare your friends for the fact that your answer may not only be positive. Along the way, explain to them what functions godparents should perform. Young parents may not know about them. Hint that you do not fully possess some of the qualities necessary for the religious upbringing of a child.

Refusing to become a godfather, honestly tell your parents that you will not be able to pay enough attention to their child, you are not ready to teach him morality, but at the same time you love their baby and will communicate with him without even becoming a godfather.

Parents want all the best for their child and, no doubt, they will understand your refusal, and this will not affect your friendship in any way.

Tip 3: Can a goddaughter inherit the fate of a godmother: an Orthodox view

Nowadays there is a practice to baptize babies with godparents. Many physiological dads and mothers are very careful about the choice of godparents. However, sometimes some superstitions regarding godparents and godchildren can interfere with the choice.

There is an opinion that it is impossible to choose a godmother who is a widow for a female baby. Otherwise, the fate of the godmother may be passed on to the goddaughter herself. The Orthodox Church clearly gives its vision of this issue - there is no transfer of "curse" and "fate" from the recipients (godparents) to.


In Orthodox theology, there is no concept of "fate" as such. Therefore, it makes no sense to talk about fate as something independent directly from man and from the Divine will (in the context of the Christian doctrine). Orthodox people do not believe in rock. Moreover, it is not worth talking about the transfer of fate from the goddaughter. This is an absurd, completely non-Orthodox opinion. Indeed, in the sacrament of baptism, there is some spiritual relationship between godparents and godchildren, but this does not mean the connection of "destinies".


The Orthodox Church gives clear instructions on who can be godparents and who cannot. Nothing is said about widowers and widows. This category of people does not fall under the prohibition to be godparents. Consistent with the Christian worldview, it is necessary to remember that godparents should not be married to each other (godmother and dad), physiological parents, atheists, sectarians, representatives of heterodox cannot be godparents; it is undesirable to choose baptized, but unchurched people as godparents. The Orthodox Church advises to choose as godparents those people who are aware of the doctrine of the Church, because the recipients are responsible for raising a child in the Orthodox faith.


Thus, an Orthodox person should not pay attention to superstitions associated with the transfer of "fate" from the recipients to the godchildren.


With the same name "The Godfather". The film, with a budget of $ 6 million, grossed $ 268.5 million at the box office. The film received an Oscar in the nominations for Best Actor (Marlon Brando), Best Screenplay and Best Picture, five Golden Globes and many other awards. The Godfather is consistently ranked # 3 in America's Most Outstanding Paintings.

Coppola's direction, as well as the inimitable acting of the cast, the outstanding work of Mario Puzo made the film's success indisputable, both among the ordinary viewer and among the elite of the world cinema. The personal drama of the main character of the film, the soldier of the Second World War, Michael Corleone, gives the film a special drama. The character of the hero under the pressure of circumstances is radically transformed over the course of the film - from a positive and harmless young guy to a cold-blooded gangster, the head of the mafia.

daypic.ru

The plot of the film "The Godfather" tells about the family of an emigrant from Italy. The time described in the film is 1945-1955. The film begins with an episode at the wedding of the only daughter of the mafioso Vito Carleone. Don sits in the study with his consigliere Tom Hagen and receives visitors. People come to Vito with different requests, because a wedding for a Sicilian is a day when he cannot refuse any request.

The film "The Godfather" is replete with bright, unforgettable, full of drama moments. Seeing, for example, an episode with the severed head of a horse in bed or a sudden explosion of a car with a young beauty, it is difficult to remain indifferent. The Italian composer also made his invaluable contribution to the painting, who managed to convey to the painting the inimitable spirit of the Sicilian atmosphere.

Almost 50 years have passed since the film was released. What were the actors of the film "The Godfather", and how their fate developed after "The Godfather" - in the editorial material.

Al Pacino - Michael Corleone (1940)


Actor Al Pacino as Michael Corleone - then and now

Michael Corleone is the main character in The Godfather. The transformation of the hero from an honest, with an unblemished military reputation to the head of a mafia clan became a key line in the plot of the picture.

The main role in the film "The Godfather" went to an actor of Italian descent. The role of the mafioso Michael Corleone made the actor famous. The actor is also known for his role as another bandit - in the film "Scarface" directed by Brian De Palma. Al Pacino called this role the main one in his career. The work in "The Godfather" was followed by success in the film "Serpico". The actor received an Oscar for his role in the film The Smell of a Woman (1992).

The actor played for almost all the famous directors of Hollywood. The most famous films: "Richard III", "The Devil's Advocate", "Donnie Brasco", "Ocean's Thirteen" and others. During the filming of "The Godfather" the actor began dating Diane Keaton, his partner in the film. In his entire life, Al Pacino never married.

Marlon Brando - Don Vito Corleone (1924-2004)


John Casale - Frederico Corleone (1935-1978)


"Fredo" is Don Vito's middle son. He considered himself the most useless in his father's family. A dramatic scene in the film, when Frederico, unable to save his father from the gangsters' bullets, stands lost in the middle of the street and sobs.

The Don's middle son was played by an American actor of Italian descent John Casale. The role in "The Godfather" made John internationally popular, like the rest of the artists of the picture. Later he was able to appear in the films "Conversation", "Dog Afternoon", "Deer Hunter", as well as in the sequel to the acclaimed film "The Godfather 2". In the last film, the artist played, already being terminally ill. Casale has starred in just five films, all of which have been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Picture category. In 2009, a documentary film about the life of John Casale "I knew it was you", directed by Richard Shepard, was released.

John Casale died at 42 from lung cancer.

The Godfather Movie - Official Trailer (video):

Baptism is a sacred ceremony through which a person is cleansed from his sins and becomes a servant of the Lord. Having learned the sacrament of baptism, the child is born again - now spiritually.

During the christening, the baby has another father and mother - godparents. Earlier, according to church traditions, there was only one godfather, the boy had a man, the girl had a woman. But later, when the times of lack of faith and debauchery came, it was decided that it would be too hard to save the child's soul and faith for one recipient (godfather). After all, the duties of a godfather and mother are very great.

What should a godfather know?

The godfather is the child's spiritual mentor. His responsibilities include:

  • spiritual education of the godson;
  • bringing the basic canons preached by the church and the Bible to the attention of the baby;
  • communion and confession of a child in church;
  • helping parents take care of their godson or daughter;
  • responsibility for the upbringing and dignified life of the godson in the event of the death of his parents.

Also, according to unspoken rules, future godfathers take on the organization of christenings.

What should a godmother do?

Buy a baptismal set:

  1. Special white towel with embroidery.
  2. The baptismal suit is a white undershirt and a cap, in the cold season - white pants and a blouse. Keep your palms and feet open.

What should a godfather do?

  1. Organize christenings in the church (negotiate with the priest).
  2. Organize a feast.
  3. Buy a cross and a string or chain.

Duties of a Godfather at Baptism

Before baptism, future parents are cleansed spiritually - they confess, receive communion. The godfather or mother needs to learn the Creed prayer. This prayer will need to be read during the ceremony. The godfather must also give a cross and a chain. The godmother, in addition to the baptismal set, can give the godson a silver spoon.

Is it possible to change the godfather?

The godfather can only be changed before the baptismal ceremony. If for some reason your godfather can no longer see the child and there is a worthy person who will spiritually educate the child, he will become a mentor for him, but not a father. The godmother cannot be changed either.

Ekaterina Morozova


Reading time: 14 minutes

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Have you been chosen as godmother? It is a great honor and a great responsibility. The duties of a godmother are not limited only to the sacrament of baptism and congratulations to the godson on the holidays - they will continue throughout life. What are these responsibilities? What do you need to know about the ordinance of baptism? What to buy? How to Prepare?

Baptism - the essence and meaning of the baptismal ceremony

The rite of baptism is a sacrament in which the believer dies to sinful carnal life in order to be reborn from the Holy Spirit into spiritual life. Baptism is cleansing a person from original sin which is communicated to him through his birth. Equally, as a person is born only once, and the Sacrament is performed only once in a person's life.

How to Prepare Your Godfathers for Baptism

One should prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism in advance.

  • Two or three days before the ceremony, future godparents should to repent of their earthly sins and to receive the Holy Communion.
  • Directly on the day of baptism it is forbidden to have sex and eat .
  • At the baptism of the girl godmother will have to read the prayer "Symbol of Faith" , when the boy is baptized it reads Godfather .

Duties of a godmother. What should a godmother do?

A child cannot choose a godmother himself, this choice is made for him by his parents. An exception is the older age of the child. The choice is usually driven by the proximity of the future godmother to the family , a warm attitude towards the child, the principles of morality that the godmother adheres to.

What are the responsibilities godmother?

  • Godmother vouches for the newly baptized a child before the Lord.
  • Is responsible for spiritual education baby.
  • Takes part in life and education baby on a par with biological parents.
  • Takes care of the child in a situation where something happens to the biological parents (the godmother can become the guardian in the event of the death of the parents).

The godmother is spiritual mentor for her godson and an example of the Christian way of life.

The godmother must:

  • Praying for the godson and be a loving and caring godmother.
  • Attend church with a child if his parents do not have this opportunity due to illness or absence.
  • Remember your responsibilities on religious holidays, regular holidays and on weekdays.
  • Take seriously the problems in the godson's life and support him in difficult stages of life .
  • Interested in and promote the spiritual growth of the child .
  • Serve an example of a godly life for the godson.

Features of the rite of baptism

How is the sacrament of baptism of a child carried out?

Requirements for a godmother at christening

The most important requirement for godparents is be baptized orthodox who live according to Christian laws. After the ceremony, the godparents should contribute to the spiritual growth of the child and pray for him. If the future godmother has not yet been baptized, then she must be baptized first , and only then - the baby. Biological parents can be generally unbaptized or profess a different faith.

  • The godmother must be aware of their responsibility for raising a child. Therefore, it is encouraged when relatives are chosen as godparents - family ties are broken less often than friendships.
  • The godfather can attend the girl's baptism in absentia, godmother - only in person ... Her duties include taking the girl out of the font.

Godparents should not forget about the day of baptism ... On the day of the Guardian Angel of the godson, one should go to church every year, light a candle and thank God for everything.

What to wear for a godmother? The appearance of the godmother at the christening.

The modern church is more loyal to many things, but it is certainly recommended to take into account its traditions. Basic requirements for a godmother at baptism:

  • Have godparents pectoral crosses (consecrated in the church) is obligatory.
  • It is unacceptable to come to baptism in trousers. Wear a dress that will hide the shoulders and legs below the knee.
  • On the godmother's head there must be a scarf .
  • High heels are superfluous. The child will have to be held in your arms for a long time.
  • Flashy makeup and defiant clothing are prohibited.

What do godparents buy for baptism?

  • White baptismal shirt (dress). It can be simple or embroidered - it all depends on the choice of the godparents. The shirt (and everything else) can be purchased directly at the church. The old clothes are taken off the baby at baptism as a sign that he appears clean before the Lord, and the baptismal gown is put on after the ceremony. Traditionally, this shirt should be worn for eight days, after which it is removed and stored for a lifetime. Of course, you cannot baptize another baby in it.
  • Pectoral cross with the image of the crucifixion. They buy it right in the church, already consecrated. It doesn't matter - gold, silver or simple, on a string. Many, after baptism, remove crosses from children so that they do not accidentally damage themselves. According to church canons, the cross should not be removed. Therefore, it is better to choose a light cross and such a string (ribbon) so that the baby is comfortable.
  • , in which the baby is wrapped after the Sacrament of Baptism. It is not washed after the ceremony and is kept as carefully as a shirt.
  • Cap(kerchief).
  • The best gift from godfathers would be cross, scapular or silver spoon.

Also for the rite of baptism you will need:

  • Baby blanket... For a comfortable baby in the baptismal room and warming up the baby after the font.
  • Small bag, where you can fold a lock of baby's hair, cut by the priest. It can be stored along with a shirt and towel.

It is advisable to make sure in advance that things are suitable for the baby.

After the rite of baptism

So, the baby was christened. You have become a godmother. Of course, by tradition, this day is a holiday... It can be celebrated in a warm family circle or crowded. But it is worth remembering that christening is, first of all, a holiday of the spiritual birth of a baby. You should prepare for it in advance and thoroughly, having thought over every detail. After all spiritual birthday, which you will now celebrate every year, is much more important than the day of physical birth.

For all Orthodox people, baptism is a very important event in life, because this is the second birth of a person (spiritual, and the first was physical when the child was born), the cleansing of his soul for later life, a kind of pass to the Kingdom of God. All former sins are forgiven to the newly enlightened person. For this reason, the Sacrament of Baptism is necessary for every person who is looking for the meaning of life and salvation.

God-parents

Who are the godparents?

Baptism is a very important sacrament. This is the spiritual birth of a person and the cleansing of his soul from all existing sins. The church recommends baptizing a child on the eighth or fortieth day after birth. On the eighth day of his life, Jesus himself was dedicated to his Heavenly Father. On the fortieth day, since it is during this period that the woman's body after childbirth becomes physiologically clean and she is allowed to go to church, because for a small child, the presence of a mother is necessary.

Naturally, children, being at this age, cannot realize the whole essence of faith, one should not expect repentance and faith from them, but these two conditions are the main ones for union with the Lord God. For this, the child is assigned godparents, who are subsequently responsible for the upbringing of their godson (goddaughter) in the Orthodox spirit. It is necessary to choose godparents very responsibly, because these people will be the second mother and second father for the baby.

How to choose godparents?

You need to choose godparents for your child among people close to you or good friends with whom you regularly maintain relationships. These should be people you absolutely trust. Church tradition says that if something happens to the biological parents of the child, the godparents take this role.

Only Orthodox believers who can give an account of their faith can be godparents. For a child, one godparent is usually enough, for a girl only a godmother is needed, and for a boy - a godfather. But traditionally, both are invited to the godfathers. Godparents can be chosen two, three, four, seven, as you please.

Church norms state that godparents cannot be:

  • Leah's spouses are the bride and groom, since marital relations between people who are in spiritual kinship are prohibited.
  • Parents of your baby;
  • Minors, as they do not have a clear core of faith.
  • Nuns and monks;
  • Unbaptized people;
  • Non-believers (also non-believers);
  • People who participate in various cult sects, organizations;
  • Wicked people, as their lifestyle does not deserve to be godparents.
  • They are insane people, since they are not able to vouch for the faith of the child, and in the future they will not be able to teach him the faith.

What happens during baptism?

Most often, baptism takes place in the church, although it is permissible to carry it out outside of it. Usually the duration of an ordinance lasts from thirty minutes to one hour.

The main participants in the sacrament of Baptism are a child, godparents and a priest. In ancient times, parents could not participate in the sacrament, but in recent years the church has begun to be much more loyal to this. And during the sacrament of baptism, both the mother and the father of the child are allowed to be present (after reading a special prayer).

Throughout the entire process, the receivers stand next to the priest, one of them has the baptized person in his arms. Before performing the ceremony, the priest walks around the baptismal room in white robes and reads prayers three times. Then he turns to the godparents and godson with a request to turn to face the west, this symbolizes the abode of Satan. The baptized one is asked some questions. But since he is still very small and cannot speak, the godparents are responsible for Io (if the child is an adult and can speak, then he answers independently). Questions and answers are repeated three times. Then the godparents need to read the Creed. The Creed summarizes the foundations of the Christian faith.

The priest consecrates oil (oil) and water and the child as a sign that he has become a full-fledged member of the Christian church, anointed with oil. The baptized one is given a name and is dipped three times in sacred water. The godparents take the baby from the font to the baptismal diaper (kryzhma). If the baby is baptized in the cold season and for some reason it is impossible to completely undress him (for example, the very cold air temperature in the baptismal room), then the arms and legs of the child should be prepared in advance, they should be naked. If the room is warm, then the child is dipped naked. After immersion in water, the priest conducts anointing. He dips a brush in a bowl of myrrh, the child is anointed with the eyes, forehead, ears, nostrils, chest, legs and arms. With each anointing, the following words are spoken: “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen". Together with the priest, the godparents repeat "Amen".

When the process of anointing is over, the Gospel and the Apostle are read and, together with these prayers, a small bunch of hair is cut off from the child. To sign that the baby has become a Christian, they put a cross around his neck. A lock of cut hair remains in the church as a sign of dedication, and symbolizes sacrifice to God. When the baptismal ceremony ends, the godparents accept the baby from the hands of the priest. For this reason, godparents are often referred to as recipients. After they take the child in their arms after the completion of the ceremony, they undertake to raise the baby in the Orthodox spirit for the rest of their lives. The godparents are also responsible for the spiritual education of their godson at the Last Judgment. If it is not possible to see your godson every day, then you should mention them in your prayers.

Duties of Godparents

Alas, not all godparents understand the full significance of their new "position". It is very good, of course, to taste your godson and give him gifts for his birthday, Angel's Day and other holidays. But this is not the main responsibility of godparents. They have to take very much care of their godson, and this care includes a lot.

We need to pray for the godson every day. You need to accustom yourself to turn to God once a day, namely before going to bed. It's not difficult at all. You can ask God for help in raising your children, salvation, health, well-being of relatives, godchildren. It is very important that the child, at least from time to time, attended the church with the godparents; they should take him to communion on a church holiday. All godparents give gifts to children, but it will be better if they have a Christian meaning. A children's Bible will be an excellent gift, all the main events of the Sacred History are described in it.

Also, godparents can help young mothers who do not always find time to work with the child.

What kind of appearance should godparents have

At the ceremony of baptism, the recipients must have consecrated crosses. Traditionally, in church, a woman should have a headscarf or headscarf, and a skirt or dress should be below the knee and with closed shoulders. The only exceptions are little girls.

Since baptism lasts a long time, it is not recommended to wear high-heeled shoes, because most of the time you will need to stand with the baby in your arms. The godmother shouldn't have lipstick on her lips. As for men, there are no specific requirements for their appearance (naturally, it is better to abstain from shorts and shorts, because such clothes will not look appropriate in the temple). You need to dress modestly in church, so as not to attract attention, you need to focus on the ceremony itself.

Preparing for the ceremony

Today, almost everyone baptizes children in churches. Naturally, there are exceptions, for example, if the baby is very sick, then the sacrament can be performed in the hospital or at home. Then you need to provide a separate clean room for the ceremony.

To baptize a child, the first thing to do is choose a temple. Walk around different churches, ask what are the features of the ceremony in each of them. It is also worth considering that baptism is not always carried out directly in the temple. Many churches have a baptistery (baptismal). The baptismal chamber is a separate room located on the territory of the temple, specially adapted for the baptismal ceremony. If the temple is large, then the ceremony is usually held solemnly and magnificently. And some may like the quiet, secluded atmosphere of a small church. Talk to the novices or to the priest, they will be able to tell you about all the details of the baptismal ceremony.

How to choose the day of your baptism?

There is no establishment of a baptismal church on the fortieth day after the birth of a child. This is due to the fact that until the fortieth day a woman who has given birth to a child cannot enter the temple, since at this time she has postpartum expirations and infirmities. Before entering the temple, special prayers are read over the woman. But, if you want to baptize a child before forty days or later, then no one can forbid you to do this. Children, at the request of the parents, are often baptized even before the fortieth day, especially if something threatens the child's health. In this case, baptism is carried out as a protective rite against all evil spirits.

In ancient times, the feast of baptism in its significance was equated with the greatest holidays of Christians, for example, Easter. But today, baptism is a family holiday. And now the ceremony is allowed to be carried out on almost any day, except for such great church holidays as Trinity, Christmas, Easter. Often on such days the churches are overcrowded, therefore it is recommended to postpone the day of baptism to another date. You can come to most churches without an appointment. The sacrament of baptism usually begins at 10 in the morning, since the service ends at this time. But in this case, there is a great chance that your child will be baptized with someone else, or you will have to wait a little. It is much more convenient to make a preliminary agreement with the priest who will conduct the ceremony for a specific day and time. In this case, your baby will be baptized in splendid isolation and first. It is very important that the day of the baptism did not coincide with the critical day of the godmother, since otherwise she will not be able to be present in the church.

Preparing Godparents for the Sacrament

In order for all the rules to be observed, it is necessary to prepare for the ceremony in advance. Godparents should taste the temple on the eve of baptism, confess, repent of all sins, and receive communion. It is very good if the godparents fast before the day of the ceremony, but this is not a mandatory requirement. On the day of the ceremony, godparents are prohibited from having sex and eating. At least one of the godparents must know the Symbol of Faith by heart. According to the rules, the godmother reads the "Symbol of Faith" when a girl is baptized, and the godfather reads when a boy is baptized.

There is such an unspoken rule - all costs associated with baptism are borne by the godparents. Some churches do not have specific prices, in which case, upon completion of the baptism, the invited and godparents make voluntary donations. The amount of these costs is not discussed anywhere and they are not required. But, as a rule, the custom is observed.

According to church traditions, the child's godmother buys a “rizka” or kryzhma for baptism. This can be a regular towel or a special cloth in which the baby is wrapped when taken out of the font. Also, the godmother gives the baby a baptismal shirt and a cap with ribbons and lace, for girls - with pink, and for a boy - with blue. The baptismal gown is preserved throughout a person's life. After the baptism of the baby, the kryzhma is not washed, as drops of the oil of the World may remain on it. In the process of the sacrament, the kryzhma is endowed with some miraculous abilities. In the event that the child is sick, they cover him with a canopy or use it as a pillowcase for a pillow for the baby.

The godfather gives the child a baptismal cross and a chain. Many people think that it is best to choose a silver cross, some believe that a gold cross is best, and some have an opinion that it is best for little children to buy a cross on a string or on a ribbon, and not on a chain. This is individual.

What prayers do you need to know?

Every conscientious Christian should know the basic prayers: "Symbol of Faith", "Our Father", "Virgin Mary"... In the process of baptism, the godparents say the Symbol of Faith prayer for the child. Each of these prayers is in a short prayer book, you can, if you wish, purchase it in the church shop.

What do you need to take with you to church to baptize your baby?

Baptism symbolizes the birth of a person into a sinless new life. Godparents, accepting a child from the holy font, accept a completely pure being who does not have a single sin. Such purity is symbolized by clothes - kryzhma, together with a cross it is an integral attribute. Kryzhma is usually bought by the child's godmother, and the cross is bought by the godfather.

For a small child, a white openwork diaper, a baptismal shirt, or a new towel that has not yet been washed can serve as a canopy.