- Priest Nikolai (Karov)

Once a certain woman came to me with a request to baptize her child. We have received prior preparation of the godparents at the parish and, if they are baptized at the age of reason, are baptized. I asked about the age of the child, it turned out that he was 16 years old. I explained that before baptism, there should be some preparation with visits to the service and an interview. She categorically refused and made it clear that her son did not want to come to church. I was surprised and clearly set a prerequisite for attending, at least once a divine service. I listened to a whole lecture on how she understands baptism, and that while he agrees, you need to baptize him.
The conversation ended in nothing. In the end, the teenager was baptized in another church, where there is no such preparation. Question! Do you think baptism was good for this young man?
But before continuing the disagreement, I will cite one interesting passage from the Venerable. Macarius the Great, how, walking through the desert, the reverend saw a human skull lying in the sand. He thought it would be interesting to know who the deceased was. The saint touches his staff to the skull and it is the spirit of this person.
- Who are you? Asks the ascetic.
“During my lifetime, I was a pagan sorcerer, who made a lot of evil people and much blasphemed the Creator, for which he was cast into the depths of hell,” the spirit answered.
- Is there anyone who is worse than you?
- Below us, pagans, are Christians ...
- But what is their fault? - the old man wondered.
- They, having accepted Holy Baptism, continued to live like pagans. Many sinned, never repented, bypassed the church of God. Calling themselves Christians, they defamed Christ. It was for this that they were cast down to the bottom of hell. - Priest Nikolai (Karov)