November 29, 2005
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40 Day Blessing for the Newborn
On the fortieth day after birth, the parents brings the child to church where the priest conducts the service of “40-Day Blessing” or “Sarantismos” for the mother and child.
“The ritual of the ‘churching’ of women after childbirth has its origin in the early Middle Ages. This was the time when the liturgical life of the Church was beginning to expand and develop in imitation of the Biblical patterns. The “Church” must not be understood in an antiquated way (from the Old Testament) in the sense of a legalistic practice. (For further Old Testament knowledge, read the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 12). Rather, the ceremony of churching marks the time when the mother, having recovered physically and emotionally from the birth of her child, and having re-ordered her life around the child’s care, will resume her life in the community of the Church again. She comes to the church with her child (and accompanied by her husband) to offer her thanksgiving for her child, and coming in contact with the life-giving glory of God, she asks for the forgiveness of her sins, despite her human weakness, so that she may be `worthy to partake, uncondemned, of the Holy Mysteries,’ (that is Holy Communion) once again.
This ceremony, in imitation of the Old Testament ceremony to which the Mother of God submitted (Luke 2:22-24), was done on the fortieth day after the child’s birth, but may also take place as close to the fortieth day as possible. Some request that this take place prematurely to facilitate their personal needs and desire to attend social engagements. God in His wisdom ordained that a period of six weeks lapse following childbirth before the mother resumes her life. Good advice is not to hasten this process.
During the churching, the priest, in imitation of the elder Simeon (Luke, Chapter 2), takes the child up to the sanctuary, making the sign of the Cross with it and reciting the prayer of St. Simeon (Luke 2:28-32). Again, inspired by the example of Simeon’s encounter with the infant Messiah, for each child has the potential to be great in the sight of the Lord, the act of churching recognizes this and also serves, as with the mother, to introduce the child to the community of faith.”
On the day of churching, the parents and the child are invited to wait in the narthex of the church where they will be greeted by the priest. This takes place after the antidoron has been distributed following the Divine Liturgy. For the Service click here
Me and My Godfather (Nouno George) with Maria~Angelica, the next generation.
Papou Nick and Maria~Angelica after a long day.
Tracy do you recognize Maria~Angelica’s dress? I put it on her special for her 40 days. Thank you so much for all your beautiful gifts! You are too kind!
Thank you also to Jennifer’s brother Daniel for taking the photos.
Comments (28)
Seems like she was just born yesterday!
To me, at least. :fun: The pictures are beautiful!
Seems like just yesterday I learned I was pregnant!!!!!!!! I will never , ever forget Saturday February 19th 2005! Who could ever have imagined all the blessings that would come from meeting you on the Shed and then baptizing and chrismating you and your family on Feb. 19th, a day to remember indeed! And 8 months later baby was born on October 19th! I am still marveling at the miracle of it all!
Oh, she’s just so precious!!! :littlekiss::love::littlekiss:
Thank you Tamara, I just love her lips and cheeks in that last one. :love: (and her little chubby hand under her little chubby cheek!) :littlekiss:
Adorable!!
I just remember you sitting on the stairs at the hotel feeling nauseous and thinking it was the clam chowder! :giggle: :love: It has been amazing….anyone who talks to me for more than 5 minutes gets held hostage to hear the whole story!
:love: :love: :love:
What a precious one! :sunny:
What great pictures! Congratulations! Your family is so beautiful! Praise to our God from whom all blessings flow!
Too cute!!! Glory be to God for all things!!!!! :love:
Praise to our God from whom all blessings flow!
Amen!
Glory be to God for all things!!!!!
Amen!
You have such a beautiful family!!!! One little Princess huh?? ;o) Thats what we have. She wanted a sister so bad! Maybe the next one. Hee hee hee. I say no more than 6 and no more after I am 30. Do you think you will have more??
Presbytera Lisa,
I love all the photos, but the one of Maria-Angelica being churched and her brother waving is just too precious!
May God grant all of you many years!
In Christ,
Mimi
Mimi that is funny you spotted that.:wink: Jonah is waving to his brothers; he is seeing them for the first time that morning. They are standing there still in their altar robes. Jonah is our little ham; that kid is a trip. :fun: I am so glad you joined Orthodox chat and I can read your blogger now too! :coolman:
Jenn G. if I stopped after 30 I would have only had Basil! You are doing good girl to get your family by the time you are 30 !:goodjob: I am 37.
I have read , “Women should not have children after 35; thirty-five children are enough!”
she is just precious.
I love seeing pictures of your beautiful family, Lisa!
:heartbeat::sunny::heartbeat:She is absolutely gorgeous!!! I’m sure she’ll be well-protected by those big brothers of hers!!!
I love the pic of all three boys and Maria! Of course, they are all beautiful!
ryc: I would love it if you had some other book suggestions that I may not have that your family reads during your nativity fast. Also, would you mind emailing me info. about nativity fast and what are the traditions that your church and family does during the time up until Jan 7 (I think?). I would ask our Russian Orthodox cousins but they are so busy that the Christmas season would be over by the time I get an any answers
Also, do you know if there is a lot of difference between the Greek and Russian Orthodox Nativity Fast etc?
OOPS!:shysmile: I just realized I shortened Maria~Angelica’s name. Do you prefer her to be called by her full name?
Thank you everyone for your kind words.:heartbeat:
Sarah Conciliar Press is my favorite place for Children’s books. There are several there that are very good reading during the Christmas season. I have most of them if you have a question about a particular book. Here is some info. on the Nativity Fast. I am sure there are cultural difference in the Nativity traditions between the Greeks and Russians. I think there was a thread about the customs on my message board. Let me check. Found it, here is the thread. I haven’t read it recently so I don’t know if it answers your questions. If I think of anything more I will e-mail you.
We do call her Maria~Angelica her middle name is Zoe but her first name is Maria~Angelica for both grandmothers.
I am looking forward to going through all my books and starting the Nativity reading! Thanks again for the idea Sarah!:littlekiss:
I’m so honored that you put her in the dress I got her for her for her 40 day blessing! So cool. She really is beautiful. I’m a very weird person in that I notice peoples ears the way others notice eyes, noses, etc. Thought I’d let you know Maria-Angelica has extra pretty ones! :lol:
:lol: She does doesn’t she! They are so soft too!:giggle: I am glad you are honored Tracy. It was the perfect dress for the day; it fits her perfectly. It was so sweet of you to buy us presents.:love:
Thank you Lisa for all of those resources!!! I am off to check each of them out…
Lovely pictures!!!
Great pics…you have a beautiful family!!
Karen
What beautiful pictures!
As a side note, is it Greek practice/tradition to do the churching after liturgy? The 2 times I have been churched (so far) in our OCA parish, it was done before the liturgy. The first was on Palm Sunday one year, we were churched and then baby was baptised. The second time I was actually churched at the Vigil for Transfiguration and then baby was baptised the following Sunday. Interesting that y’all do the churching after liturgy. So did you sit outside the whole liturgy? Sorry to sound like a ninny but reading that it is done after is new to me. LOL Of course, I need to be nosey! LOL
Lovely pictures though! I can be churched…the day AFTER Nativity! LOL My dh thinks that is very funny. LOL
If we get an infant – I would LOVE the bassinet. I’d feel better about a baby being in my room. There’s not enough room for a crib in my room and Les has NEVER slept with a baby in the bed before so he’s nervous he’d squish the baby.
Thanks for all your support and help!
Hi Becky, there is no reason that the 40 day blessing couldn’t be done before Liturgy, the whole congergation wouldn’t be there yet though. In the large GO church I grew up in I remember the 40 day blessings being after the Liturgy ended and private as well. Now more and more you see it being in front of the whole congergation. This will vary from parish to parish, but makes no difference. Personally I started the day at 7:30, getting the older boys ready to leave with their dad by 8:30, having just gone to sleep for the night at 5 and Jonah, baby and I just managed to get to Church for the 40 day blessing at the end of the Liturgy which was 11:15. So for practical reason sometimes after is just more doable. Next week though I will go to Church, God willing for the Liturgy. If one does get there earlier then yes you stay in the Narthex for the Liturgy. Also the 40 day blessing can be done, as I am sure you already know, any day of the week it doesn’t have to accompany a Church service. My actually 40 days was on Tuesday. I hope you are recovering well and enjoying the baby. :sunny:
:heartbeat: Lovely pictures, lovely family! :heartbeat: Your boys look like the happiest big brothers ever!