A Godparent/Sponsor is selected for all who are being received into the Orthodox Church through Holy Baptism and/or Holy Chrismation. Every candidate for baptism needs one godparent/sponsor of the same sex, and may have a second godparent/sponsor of the opposite sex. They must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing and are known to be practicing the Orthodox faith and a responsible member of the local parish. Godparents/sponsors are selected in coordination with the parish priest who must give his blessing before a potential godparent/sponsor is asked.
A godparent/sponsor makes the commitment to partner with the parents of a minor and with the adult convert to support and encourage their faithful growth in the life of an Orthodox Christian. St. Theophan the Recluse describes this responsiblity as the most important can make.[4]
While it is an honor to be asked to be a godparent, one should make sure that the potential sponsor will be committed to the responsibility. The role must be honored and not taken lightly. Every godparent will be accountable to God as to whether or not he or she has fulfilled their duties. Prospective godparents must know their faith, or at least be in the process of learning their faith and be committed to a life in Christ. One problem today is that people who are called upon to be godparents do not know their faith and are not regular participants in the life of the Church. This is also true for some parents. Consequently a child who is baptized may never know anything about Jesus Christ and the Church. In the early Church heavy emphasis was placed on the educating of the faithful and those who desired to come into the Christian faith. As Christianity spread in a pagan world, the need to teach individuals before their baptisms became crucial. The systematic instruction, which was a preparatory stage for baptism was and is called "catechism."
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