The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church allowed funeral services for unbaptized infants

On July 14, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) approved the rite of commemoration of unbaptized infants. The press secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', priest Alexander Volkov, told reporters about this following the results of the synod meeting, which took place in Yekaterinburg.

“Until now, in our church it was not possible to perform funeral services for unbaptized babies. It happens that children are born stillborn or die in the first hours after birth due to some circumstances. Of course, grieving parents come to the temple and ask the priest to perform some kind of rite over their babies and are looking for consolation,” explained Father Alexander (quoted by TASS).

“The theological understanding of the state of the soul of an unbaptized baby is not fully defined; there are different theological points of view on this matter,” he noted.

According to the priest, in any case, the funeral service for an adult is different in that it contains prayers to God for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased, while an infant, although not baptized, does not yet have any personal sins.

“At this meeting of the synod, the rite of commemoration of unbaptized infants was officially approved. This rite is filled with two main themes: care for mothers and relatives, consolation of those who grieve due to the death of a child, and a request to God for the repose of the baby without asking for forgiveness of his sins.” , concluded Father Alexander.