St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
كنيسة القديس جاورجيوس الأنطاكية للروم الأرثوذكس
San Diego - سان دييغو

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Babe Churching

The priest makes the pastoral visit to a woman recovering from birth, immediately after birth or as soon as pastorally suitable to mother and child, at the place of birthing – at home or health-care site, and says a prayer for the mother and for the child.

On the Eight Day the child receives a Name, and the priest visits the child and says a prayer and seals the child by the sign of the Cross on his forehead, mouth and breast.

After forty days, the mother brings her child to the church. The future godfather/godmother (the person who will receive the child once baptized) is present as well. The mother stands with her child in the narthex, in front of the church doors. The priest conducts the service at the church’s western entrance.

Following this, he will proceed into the church with the child, accompanied by the mother or both parents, to the front of the iconostasis. There, in front of the icon of the Theotokos Mother of God, the priest will bestow a blessing upon the child and recites the troparion, “Rejoice, O Mother of God, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”, before entrusting the child back to the care of the parents.

The Tradition of Churching NewBorns

Many questions surround the tradition of introducing a newborn child to the church after forty days.

The first question: Why forty days, and can it be done before that?
The number 40 carries spiritual significance in the Bible, dating back to the Old Testament. It symbolizes encounters with God. For instance:

  • The Hebrew people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land.
  • Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the Ten commandments.
  • Elijah, the prophet, fasted for 40 days.
  • Most importantly, Jesus Christ Himself fasted for 40 days before starting His ministry.

This tradition echoes Leviticus 12, which says a newborn male child would be brought to the temple after 40 days, and a female child after 80 days. A sacrifice would be offered on their behalf. Following this practice, Joseph the Betrothed and the Theotokos presented the infant Jesus at the temple after 40 days (Luke 2:22-28). In the New Testament, the Church treated both male and female infants the same. By doing so, the Church followed the example set by Jesus.

This tradition continues today with a special service welcoming newborns into the church for the first time.

In ancient times, there was a crucial need for postpartum recovery and health. Mothers and newborns lacked the advanced medical care available today. Women typically remained confined to their homes, often bedridden, for several days after childbirth. During this period, they focused on nourishing themselves with wholesome food. Bleeding after childbirth was common, but it did not usually subside within a short time. Unlike today, there were no sanitary napkins, paper towels, or cotton swabs. This is why words like impurity, purity, and cleanliness are prevalent in the Book of Leviticus and the Old Testament. In the Gospel of Luke (2:22), we learn about the infant Jesus being presented at the temple on the day of
purification.

In the past, newborns were often tightly wrapped in cloths for the first forty days.
This practice aimed to keep the baby’s limbs straight and prevent potential injuries like hip dislocation.

The forty-day timeframe was significant for both the mother’s postpartum recovery and the baby’s well-being. This period likely influenced the tradition of introducing the child to the church after forty days, further solidifying the timeframe’s importance.

In today’s world, thanks to advancements in medicine and healthcare, women often give birth in hospitals and are discharged within a day or two. They can quickly resume their normal activities. However, this modern reality prompts questions: Should a woman refrain from attending church until forty days have passed since her delivery? Should the newborn child not be taken to church before the forty-day mark?

The answers to these questions vary based on cultural norms and local customs.
Nevertheless, the general pastoral approach emphasizes the importance of preserving the forty-day tradition. As mentioned earlier, the number 40 carries significant spiritual meaning. Disregarding this tradition might gradually diminish its significance and lead to the adoption of concepts that deviate from biblical teachings.

Kindly contact the Pastor of the church for the arrangement of the Churching in advance.

The detailed instructions of His Eminence the Metropolitan can be read here.