Rituals in Rus', Russian and Old Russian rituals. Baptism of a child - carrying out the sacrament

Various rituals and ceremonies have become so firmly established in our lives that we have long ceased to be surprised by them. Their history goes back to the distant, distant pagan times, when people had almost no knowledge about the world around them. Almost no one at that time knew why it rains, what causes drought, what lightning is, etc.

The unknown is the most frightening thing, so people had to come up with some kind of explanation even for natural phenomena. This is how the first pagan gods appeared: Perun, Veles, Makosh and others. People believed that they gave them protection and patronage, and when angry, they could punish them.

The first rituals began to appear, designed to praise and appease the gods. Not a single holiday in Rus' was complete without traditional songs, dances and bonfires in honor of these supreme beings.

How did the rituals of the Slavs arise?

The more what people asked coincided with reality, the more firmly the rituals were fixed in the human consciousness. For example, the weather is hot for a long time, people need rain. Residents light bonfires in honor of the god of lightning, dance, and ask him to send down precious showers. But nothing happens...

After some time, people again stage performances for the deity, and for greater luck, this time they also burn, for example, a bull in a fire. And so it turns out that soon the clouds actually roll in and the long-awaited rain comes! You can be sure that now, whenever there is a need to glorify this deity, one bull will also leave this world.

Rituals, regularly repeated, were consolidated by people for many centuries. For example, farewell to winter - Maslenitsa. This holiday has survived to this day. Previously, of course, it was noted much more widely.

Each day of Maslenitsa week was associated with some event. One day they went to their relatives for pancakes, on another they had funny wall-to-wall fights, on the third they built castles and sculpted figures out of snow. And, of course, on the last day there were widespread festivities and treats with the final burning of the effigy of winter. We are celebrating this day now.

Of course, no one now thinks that without this solemn meeting spring will not come, but the holiday is still celebrated.

Rite of blood fraternization

There is an interesting custom that is now called “drinking for brotherhood.” The idea is that people who have decided that they are now in a strong friendship cross their arms with a drink (usually alcoholic) and drink it down to the last drop.

The ancestor of this custom was once called “Blood Fraternization.” Two men (usually warriors) swore loyalty to each other until the end of their days. At the same time, everyone made an incision on their hand, part of the blood fell into a specially prepared cup of wine, the incision sites were pressed tightly, and then they drank the resulting drink in half.

Just as rituals arose in pagan Rus', they continued with the advent of Christianity. The only difference was that now they were related to one supreme being, and not to the whole pantheon. The main deities merged with some saints, and the rest gradually sank into oblivion or began to be identified with evil spirits.

Accordingly, the nature of some customs also changed. For example, previously newlyweds, having taken vows of love and fidelity, went to worship the corresponding gods. Now this has been replaced by a wedding in a church.

On the day of Ivan Kupala, it was customary to organize bathing and entertainment related to water: dousing, sprinkling, etc. Now the church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist on this day. Again, the man who baptized everyone with water.

In winter, January 6, paganism celebrated the day of the Sun God, Mithras. Now this day is celebrated as Christmas Eve, the day before the Nativity of Christ.

Rituals and traditions have existed with us for many centuries. Some of them may have changed, lost part of their original meaning, but since people have not forgotten them over several centuries, it means that the truth is hidden somewhere in them.

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Baptism is a kind of spiritual cleansing of a person, which is performed only once in a lifetime. A person who is going to be baptized must know the basics of Orthodoxy, as well as the most important prayers. As for infants, they cannot yet learn the Orthodox faith, but their godparents can vouch for them. It is the godparents who, during the ceremony, undertake before God to raise their godson according to Orthodox canons. They must be people leading a pious lifestyle, and even in the event of misfortune, if suddenly their godson is left without parents, they must replace them for him.

The question arises whether it is worth baptizing infants, because they still cannot independently understand what is happening. The fact is that baptized children can venerate icons and receive communion regularly, thus having protection and an Orthodox upbringing from birth. After a secret ceremony in honor of the little one, you can submit notes about health, order magpies and mention his name in prayers.

Before the ceremony, you need to take care of purchasing an Orthodox cross. It is usually purchased from the temple as it is properly made and sanctified. But, if you need a cross made of gold, but there is no way to buy it in the temple. In this case, you need to purchase it at a jewelry store and show it to the clergyman before the ceremony. In Orthodox practice, there should be two godparents: a woman and a man, but only one is required. For a boy to be baptized, it is obligatory for a man to participate in the baptism, and for a girl, a woman.

Preparing a mother for her baby's Baptism

On the eve of the day of the ceremony, it is necessary to discuss in advance with the Priest the issue of the presence of the mother in the baptismal room. It is believed that a woman is purified only on the fortieth day after giving birth, so if the Baptism of the baby is planned earlier, the mother will not be present.

If forty days have passed since the birth of the baby, and the mother wants to be present, she needs to inform the Priest about this the day before the ceremony so that he can read a special cleansing prayer, after which she will be allowed into the baptismal room.

How does the Baptism ceremony take place?

The duration of this sacrament is an hour and a half. Before it begins, candles are lit in the temple and the Priest reads special prayers. To carry out Baptism, the baby is undressed, and he is in the arms of his godparents. The girl should be held in her arms by her godfather, and the boy should be held by her godmother. In winter, the baby will most likely be left dressed. But the legs and arms must remain open.

After all the necessary prayers have been read, the Priest will ask the godparents to face the western side of the temple and answer important questions. Then, they read a special prayer.
Next, the Priest will bless the water, oil and anoint the chest, ears, legs and arms of the crumbs.

Then, the Priest will take the baby in his arms and plunge his head into the water three times. In this case, the baby should be turned to face the eastern part of the temple. And only after this, the baby is given into the hands of his godparents. When receiving a godson, the godfather holds a kryzma in his hands - a special cloth for baptism. After the child has dried, he can be dressed in baptismal clothes and put on a cross.

Clothes should be white, this indicates that he has a pure soul, which he must preserve, and the cross is considered a sign of faith in the Lord. Parents must take care to preserve the baptismal robe and kryzhma.

After the rite of Baptism, the rite of Confirmation will be performed, during which the Priest anoints the baby with specially consecrated oil (chrism), as if outlining the image of a cross on the forehead, nostrils, eyes, ears, lips, arms and legs.

Then, the Priest goes around the font with candles three times and wipes the myrrh remaining on the baby’s body. Afterwards, the prayer required for cutting the hair is read and the Priest cuts the baby’s hair in a cross shape. They are then rolled with wax and placed in the font.

At the end of all the rituals, the priest reads a prayer for the baby and godparents, blessing everyone to leave the temple. If the baby is 40 days old at the time of Baptism, then Churching also takes place. A priest with a child in his hands marks them with a cross at the entrance to the temple, in the center of the temple and near the Royal Gate. If a baby is baptized - a boy, then the Priest with the child in his arms enters the altar. If a girl is baptized, she is not brought into the altar, since she cannot become a clergyman in the future. After which, the child, both male and female, is applied to the icons of the Mother of God and the Savior. It is then given to one of the parents. After which the child must be given communion.

Communion in Orthodox churches occurs at the end of the morning liturgy. If parents bring a baby to the temple at the time of communion, then they line up among the communicants. In the temple, parents and babies are usually allowed to go first. Usually, communicants are given bread and wine, but if the communicant is small, then he is given wine. It is always necessary to give Holy Communion to babies, at least once a month, then the baby will get sick less and feel great.

What things are needed for baptism?:

1. A small Orthodox cross (you can choose any one you like, but it is better to purchase it in a church where it will already be illuminated);
2. Christening gown or christening shirt;
3. Baptismal kryzhma - the cloth into which the godparents receive the baby during Baptism;
4. Icon;
5. Diaper;
6. Towel;
7. Candles.

Parents should not forget immediately after the ceremony about the cross they bought; the child must wear it constantly, throughout his life. Therefore, take care in advance about where the cross will hang on your baby’s body. The best option would be a satin rope, since a chain or rope can rub the baby’s delicate skin. When the child grows up, you can put a chain on him.

The baby needs to be fed on a schedule, so the mother should take care of feeding times so that he is not hungry during Baptism.

If you want to capture this important moment in life, find out in advance whether it is possible to take photos or videos during the ceremony, and if the Priest gives his consent, then agree with the photographer in advance.

How godparents are chosen and their responsibilities

Currently, young parents choose godparents for their baby, without particularly thinking about the responsibility that will be entrusted to them after the ceremony. Therefore, it often turns out that the child saw his godfather or godmother once or twice in his life.

When choosing godparents, you should take into account that they are close to your family and are on good and friendly terms. Godparents must themselves be baptized. It is necessary that the godparents wear a cross at the time of the ceremony. The baby's relatives can also be godparents: grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. But these people cannot be insane, leading an antisocial lifestyle, and coming to the temple for the ceremony while intoxicated. Also, the parents of the baby who is going to be baptized, as well as a man and woman who are married or those who are going to get married, cannot become godparents. Monks and nuns, as well as minors, cannot be godparents.

If the baby’s parents are not baptized, then there will be no obstacles to the baptism of their child. The most important thing is that their godparents be baptized. The main responsibility of the godparents after the ceremony will be the proper upbringing of the child, facilitating the child’s visit to church, receiving communion and explaining the Orthodox canons to him.

How to choose a baptism day and name

Usually, up to forty days from birth, infants who are weak or sick and whose lives are in danger are baptized. In such cases, as a rule, the ceremony is carried out in a hospital or at home. If everything is fine with the child, he grows and develops as expected, he can be baptized already on the fortieth day after birth. Before baptizing a child, you must choose a temple where this sacrament will take place and talk with the Priest about the day. The ritual can be performed on any day; there are no prohibitions on this matter; it can be performed during Lent and on great Orthodox holidays.

As for the name, it is chosen by the parents even before baptism. Parents name the baby as their heart tells them, it can come from the name of the saint on whose day the baby was born, or the name of the saint whose memorial day was on the eighth day from the baby’s birth. You can name your child any name you like, but it is natural to use common sense so that in the future the child can live comfortably with this name.

If the parents chose a name for the child, but there is no saint with that name in Orthodox history, then the child can be baptized under the name of the saint on whose day he was born, and in the future in life it will be he who will be his patron.

This sacrament must be taken seriously. A properly performed ritual will help protect the baby for life.

Useful video about the sacrament of baptism

Every believer knows that confession is one of the most important and significant rites of the Christian church. The ability to first realize all your sins, sincerely repent of them and fully reveal yourself to God through confession is a very important stage in spiritual development and self-improvement for every believer.

But, unfortunately, not everyone, even a deeply religious person baptized in the church, regularly goes to confession. In most cases, this is prevented by a feeling of embarrassment and awkwardness; some are stopped by pride.

All adults and children over 7 years old can come to church and repent; children under this age go to communion.

Nowadays, many adults are not accustomed to repent of their sins, so they cannot decide to take this step and put off the day of repentance for a long time. Moreover, the older a person becomes, the more difficult it is for him to decide to take this step.

Often people come to confess for the first time before baptism or then, years later, they decide to legitimize their marriage before the Lord, i.e. get married Before the wedding, as a rule, an individual confession takes place, after which the priest allows the wedding to take place. Both future spouses must repent before the wedding.

In order to remove the heaviness from your soul, begin to talk with God and sincerely repent of everything you have done, you need to learn how to go through confession in church, because this ritual must be performed according to certain rules. You can find out how communion and confession take place from church workers, as well as in church shops usually located nearby.

What should it be like?

Confession is a special Sacrament, during which a believer, through a priest, sincerely tells God about all his sins and asks for forgiveness for them, and also promises not to commit such actions ever again in his life. In order for a person to feel how his soul has been cleansed, making him feel light and light, it is necessary to take the conversation with the clergy very seriously.

It is important to understand that the ritual of remission of sins is not a monotonous listing of them out loud, for the Lord God already knows everything about them. He expects something completely different from a believer! He expects from him sincere, sincere repentance and a great desire to cleanse himself, so as not to do this again in the future. Only with such feelings and desires should you go to church.

« How does confession go?“- this question worries everyone who wants to confess for the first time.

The sacrament occurs according to certain rules:

• Cast aside your fear and shame to admit to the priest that you are an imperfect and sinful person;
• The main components of the ritual are sincere feelings, bitter repentance and faith in the forgiveness of the Almighty, who will certainly hear you;
• It is necessary to repent of your sins regularly and often. The belief that it is enough to come to church once, tell the priest about everything at one time and never return here again is fundamentally wrong;
• The ritual must be carried out seriously. If your soul is disturbed by the fact that bad thoughts come into your head or you have committed a minor everyday offense, then you can repent of these acts at home in prayers in front of the icon;
• There is no need to hide your sins even when they seem very terrible and shameful to you.

During this ritual, it is imperative to confess to all wrongdoings, otherwise you will commit another sin - you will try to hide your actions and thoughts from God, and deceive Him. Since going through confession and communion is a very responsible matter, you need to carefully and meaningfully prepare for it.

Preparation

Proper preparation for it plays a big role in how successfully the rite of remission of sins will take place. It is necessary to tune in to communication with the Almighty, to a sincere and frank conversation with the clergy. Prepare internally and externally, think through every single moment.

Before going to confession, be alone at home in a calm environment. Concentrate and try to grasp the idea that soon you will have to communicate with God in the church, in his Temple. You should not be distracted by anything around you, because you are preparing to commit a very important act in your life. The prayers of John Chrysostom will help you get in the right frame of mind and prepare.

Remember all your sins and transgressions, start with mortal ones, then remember whether you sinned with anger, pride or love of money, restore in your memory the pictures of sins. Ministers recommend that you prepare yourself for repentance long and carefully; you need to pray a lot, remember your sins in solitude, and it is advisable to fast.

In order not to forget anything and not to miss any sin, you can write everything down on a piece of paper. It is especially important to use such a cheat sheet during your very first frank conversation with a priest.

When going to confession, you need to pay special attention to your appearance. Women must wear a skirt below the knees and a jacket with covered shoulders and arms, and must cover their heads with a scarf.

It is better to avoid wearing cosmetics on this day; painting your lips is generally prohibited, because you will need to venerate the cross. Men should also not be naked, even if it’s hot outside, you shouldn’t go to church in shorts and a T-shirt.

How is it going?

People who want to go to confession for the first time are worried about how everything will happen. In Orthodox churches and temples, both general confessions are held, which everyone can attend, as well as individual conversations with parishioners.

At general confessions, the priest absolves the sins of all believers who come to the temple, while he lists those sins and transgressions that people commit most often. This is done in order to remind people of sins that they may have forgotten.

Upon entering the church, you need to go to the lectern, the place where there is a queue of those wishing to confess. While you are waiting for your turn, you need to pray and remember your sins. When your turn comes, you need to approach the priest, who will ask your name, what you want to talk about and what you want to repent of.

You need to tell everything as it is, without embarrassment and without hiding anything, you need to answer the questions asked by the priest honestly. It is important to remember that only you and the priest will know everything you tell.

During confession, the clergyman covers the person's head with part of his clothing, which resembles an apron. This is an obligatory part of the ritual; at this moment the priest will read a prayer. After which he will give his instructions and, perhaps, assign penance, that is, punishment.

A sincerely repentant person has his sins forgiven forever. After the end of the ceremony, you must cross yourself and kiss the cross and the Gospel. Then you need to ask the priest for his blessing. Confession in churches usually takes place on certain days, which you need to know about in advance.

It is important for every believer to know the following points:.

Inga Mayakovskaya

Reading time: 7 minutes

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A wedding is an important event in the life of every Christian family. It is rare when couples get married on their wedding day (in order to immediately “kill two birds with one stone”) - in most cases, couples still approach this issue thoughtfully, realizing the importance of this rite and experiencing a sincere and mutual desire to become a full-fledged family, according to church canons .

How does this ritual take place, and what do you need to know about it?

How to prepare for the sacrament of wedding correctly?

A wedding is not a wedding where they walk for 3 days, fall on their faces in a salad and hit each other with their faces according to tradition. A wedding is a sacrament through which a couple receives a blessing from the Lord to live their whole lives together in sorrow and joy, to be faithful to each other “until the grave”, to give birth and raise children.

Without a wedding, a marriage is considered “incomplete” by the Church. And, of course, it must be appropriate. And we are not talking about organizational issues that are resolved in 1 day, but about spiritual preparation.

A couple who takes their wedding seriously will definitely take into account those requirements that some newlyweds forget about in pursuit of fashionable wedding photos. But spiritual preparation is an important part of a wedding, as the beginning of a new life for a couple - with a clean (in every sense) slate.

Preparation includes a 3-day fast, during which you need to prepare for the ceremony prayerfully, and also abstain from intimate relationships, animal food, bad thoughts, etc. In the morning before the wedding, the husband and wife confess and receive communion together.

Video: Wedding. Step-by-step instruction

Betrothal - how is the wedding ceremony carried out in the Orthodox Church?

Betrothal is a kind of “introductory” part of the sacrament that precedes the wedding. It symbolizes the consummation of a church marriage in the face of the Lord and the consolidation of the mutual promises of a man and a woman.

1. It’s not for nothing that betrothal takes place immediately after the Divine Liturgy – the couple is shown the importance of the sacrament of marriage and the spiritual trepidation with which they should enter into marriage.
2. Betrothal in the temple symbolizes the husband's acceptance of his wife from the Lord himself : the priest brings the couple into the temple, and from that moment their life together, new and pure, begins in the face of God.
3. The beginning of the ritual is censing : the priest blesses the husband and wife 3 times in turn with the words “In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In response to the blessing, everyone makes the sign of the cross (approx. - crosses themselves), after which the priest hands them the already lit candles. This is a symbol of love, fiery and pure, which a husband and wife should now have for each other. In addition, candles are a symbol of the chastity of men and women, as well as God's grace.
4. Cross censing symbolizes the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit next to the couple.
5. Next comes a prayer for the betrothed and for their salvation (souls) , about the blessing for the birth of children, about the fulfillment of those requests of the couple to God that relate to their salvation, about the blessing of the couple for every good deed. After which, everyone present, including the husband and wife, should bow their heads before God in anticipation of the blessing while the priest reads a prayer.
6. After the prayer to Jesus Christ comes the betrothal : the priest puts a ring on the groom, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross 3 times. Next, he puts a ring on the bride, “betrothing the servant of God...” and making the sign of the cross three times. It is important to note that the rings (which the groom must give!) symbolize an eternal and indissoluble union at the wedding. Until they are put on, the rings lie on the right side of the holy throne, which symbolizes the power of consecration in the face of the Lord and his blessing.
7. Now the bride and groom must exchange rings three times (note - in the word of the Most Holy Trinity): the groom puts his ring on the bride as a symbol of his love and willingness to help his wife until the end of his days. The bride puts her ring on the groom as a symbol of her love and readiness to accept his help until the end of her days.
8. Next is the priest’s prayer for the Lord’s blessing and betrothal of this couple , and sending them a Guardian Angel to guide them in their new and pure Christian life. The betrothal ceremony ends here.

Video: Russian wedding in the Orthodox Church. Wedding ceremony

The sacrament of a wedding - how does the ceremony take place?

The second part of the sacrament of marriage begins with the bride and groom entering the middle of the temple with candles in their hands, as if carrying the spiritual light of the sacrament. A priest walks in front of them with a censer, which symbolizes the importance of following the path of the commandments and offering up their good deeds as incense to the Lord.

The choir welcomes the couple by singing Psalm 127.

• Next, the couple stands on a white towel spread out in front of the lectern. : both, in the face of God and the Church, confirm their free will, as well as the absence in their past (note - on each side!) of promises to marry another person. The priest asks these traditional questions to the bride and groom in turn.
• Confirmation of a voluntary and inviolable desire to marry secures a natural marriage , who is now considered a prisoner. Only after this does the sacrament of marriage begin.
• The wedding ceremony begins with the couple’s declaration of participation in the Kingdom of God and three lengthy prayers – to Jesus Christ and to the Triune God. After which the priest signs (in turn) the bride and groom with a crown in the shape of a cross, “crowning the servant of God...”, and then “crowning the servant of God...”. The groom must kiss the image of the Savior on his crown, the bride must kiss the image of the Mother of God that adorns her crown.
• Now the most important moment of the wedding begins for the bride and groom wearing crowns. , when with the words “Lord our God, crown them with glory and honor!” the priest, as a link between people and God, blesses the couple three times, reading a prayer three times.
• Blessing of marriage by the Church symbolizes the eternity of the new Christian union, its indissolubility.
• Afterwards there is a reading of the Epistle to the Ephesians by St. apostle paul , and then the Gospel of John about the blessing and sanctification of the marriage union. Then the priest pronounces a petition for the newlyweds and a prayer for peace in the new family, honesty of marriage, integrity of cohabitation and life together according to the commandments until old age.
• After “And grant us, O Master...” everyone reads the prayer “Our Father” (it should be learned in advance if you did not know it by heart before preparing for the wedding). This prayer on the lips of a married couple symbolizes the determination to do the will of the Lord on earth through their family, to be devoted and submissive to the Lord. As a sign of this, the husband and wife bow their heads under their crowns.
• They bring the “cup of fellowship” with the Cahors , and the priest blesses it and serves it as a sign of joy, offering to drink wine three times, first to the head of the new family, and then to his wife. They drink wine in 3 tiny sips as a sign of their inseparable existence from now on.
• Now the priest must join the right hands of the newlyweds and cover them with stole (note - a long ribbon on the priest’s neck) and place your palm on top, as a symbol of the husband receiving his wife from the Church itself, which in Christ united these two forever.
• The couple is traditionally led around the lectern three times : on the first circle they sing “Isaiah, rejoice...”, on the second - the troparion “Holy Martyr”, and on the third Christ is glorified. This walk symbolizes the eternal procession that begins from this day for the couple - hand in hand, with a common cross (the hardships of life) for two.
• Crowns are removed from spouses , and the priest welcomes the new Christian family with solemn words. Then he reads two prayers of petition, during which the husband and wife bow their heads, and after finishing they seal pure mutual love with a chaste kiss.
• Now, according to tradition, married spouses are led to the royal doors : here the head of the family must kiss the icon of the Savior, and his wife - the image of the Mother of God, after which they change places and again kiss the Images (only in reverse). Here they kiss the cross, which the priest offers, and receive from the minister of the Church 2 icons, which can now be kept as a family heirloom and the main amulets of the family, and passed on to future generations.

After the wedding, candles are kept in the icon case at home. And after the death of the last spouse, these candles (according to the old Russian custom) are placed in the coffin, both of them.

The task of witnesses at a wedding ceremony in a church - what do guarantors do?

Witnesses must be believers and baptized - a friend of the groom and a friend of the bride, who after the wedding will become the spiritual mentors of this couple and their prayer guardians.

The task of witnesses:

1. Hold the crowns over the heads of those getting married.
2. Give them wedding rings.
3. Lay a towel in front of the lectern.

However, if witnesses do not know their duties, this is not a problem. The priest will tell the guarantors about them, preferably in advance, so that there are no “overlaps” during the wedding.

It is important to remember that a church marriage cannot be dissolved - the Church does not give divorces. The exception is the death of a spouse or his loss of mind.

And finally - a few words about the wedding meal

A wedding, as stated above, is not a wedding. And the Church warns against possible indecent and irreverent behavior of all those present at the wedding after the sacrament.

Decent Christians dine modestly after a wedding, and do not dance in restaurants. Moreover, at the modest wedding feast there should not be any indecency or intemperance.

Let us not lie and admit that all Christian holidays and rituals associated with them existed long before the emergence of Christianity itself. The rituals simply migrated from paganism, adopting a new religious name.

That is why, in order to understand how rituals arose, you need to look much further, into the most primitive past of man.

The history of the emergence of rituals must begin with belief in the supernatural. Our ancestors tried to at least somehow explain natural phenomena (thunder, lightning, rain, flood, drought, etc.). Since they had no scientific data about what was happening, they had to invent something on their own.

So, at the most important moments for a person, he tried to beg for the mercy of fate, so that some God would not accidentally become angry, and frost would not strike before the harvest.

Thus, we can conclude that the emergence of rituals is closely related to human economic needs.

Let's start with the first religious one, which most of us encounter in the first days of our lives. In Christianity, immersing a baby in water is believed to protect him from Satan and wash away original sin.

However, the idea that water would protect a child from evil spirits arose long before Christianity, and the believers themselves did not immediately begin to engage in baptism. Today, Catholics pour baptized water, Protestants sprinkle water, and Orthodox Christians immerse the baby in it three times.

It will be interesting to reveal the secret of how the Christian rite of communion arose. Formally, in Christianity, bread and wine symbolize the flesh and blood of Christ. By receiving communion, a person joins the divine.

Previously, everything happened in a similar way. Communion arose with the advent of agriculture. Then, when the harvest and the growth of livestock were considered the most important things for human existence, wine and bread were considered the blood and flesh of the plant-growing Gods and Spirits, on which the harvest depended.

In early Christianity, the sacrament of confirmation occurred only on Easter and was performed mainly on infants, and, of course, on kings, who became “representatives of God” in their kingdom only after confirmation.

However, Christians did not come up with this idea. Humanity has always admired aromatic substances; people believed in their magical properties. In India, anointing was carried out at weddings, at baptisms and at funerals, and in Egypt at the consecration of priests.