The concepts of godparenthood in the narratives of laypeople of the Russian Orthodox Church: an analysis of interviews from several parishes in the Leningrad region

In modern Orthodoxy, there is a tradition of godparenthood that dates to the early centuries of Christianity. Throughout history, godparents and godchildren have interacted differently depending on the cultural context and religious situation. It is not the child who chooses the godparents, but rather the parents, who are guided by various motives. The decision of who will be the godparent is accompanied by certain assumptions that are built into a system of narratives. For example, there are ideas about what a godparent should be like or what they should do for the child’s spiritual upbringing. The most important moment is when the godparents introduce the child to the Church and make baptismal vows on their behalf, thus becoming their spiritual parents. Baptism, therefore, solidifies the spiritually related relationship. In this regard, godparenthood is a social institution where the biological parent and the godparent establish their relationship. In modern Orthodoxy, godparents are not only important actors in the baptism, who introduce a person to the Church - their formal status implies that they participate in the spiritual upbringing of the child. However, empirical analysis shows that godparenthood is primarily a way to maintain relationships between friends or strengthen family ties. Also, in case of the biological parents’ death, the godparent is ready to help with the upbringing of the child and become their guardian. This article will describe various narratives of communication between godparents and biological parents, the reasons that improve or worsen these relationships, and will also discuss the main types of relationships identified based on empirical data obtained in the parishes of the Leningrad region.