The proposal to be godparents is a sign that you have been recognized as worthy to bring up a new person who has just been born in Christian morality. So, with future parents your religiosity is beyond doubt. But increasingly, the number of godparents for one child becomes a stumbling block between parents and the church. How many should there be? Can a husband and wife have one child? How many spiritual parents can a person have?
The question of whether husband and wife can be godparents torment the minds of Orthodox people and cause debate even in religious forums and in disputes between priests. According to the Orthodox canon, in order for the rite to be considered perfect in accordance with all the rules, one perceiving spiritual parent is enough - for male infants this must be a godfather, and for girls - a godmother, respectively. The second godfather does not have to be, it is only at the request of the parents.
Orthodox priests argue heatedly on this topic. Definitely, only the mother and father of the child cannot be godparents. From the point of view of opponents that godparents should be married real, spouses after marriage are a whole, and if both of them are godmothers, this is wrong. But this cannot become an obstacle for them in the baptism of different children from the same family. Supporters of the fact that a
married couple can be godparents appeal to the fact that the
Holy Synod clarified in a decree dated December 31, 1837. They stated that according to Trebnik one receiver is sufficient, depending on the gender of the godson, that is, there is no reason to consider godparents by people who are in any spiritual relationship and therefore forbid them to marry among themselves.
You can formulate the answer to the question whether husband and wife can be godparents, as follows. If their marriage is registered only in the registry office, and was not consecrated by the church, then most likely the priest of the Orthodox Church will not object to the spouses becoming both baptismal recipients, because according to the laws of the church their marriage is not fastened in heaven. The same applies to the following cases when it is possible to be spiritual parents - godfather and wife can marry after the baptismal ceremony, and still remain godparents.
Modern parents, of course, want their godparents to be close to the godson’s family, and choose the recipients from among friends or relatives. The usual number of godparents in a ceremony is two heterosexual people. Rarely does one godfather manage. The reason for this lies not so much in the spiritual as in the material aspect. Christians impose on spiritual parents not only religious, educational, but also material responsibilities - for example, they should congratulate the spiritual child on the holidays, which means giving gifts. And, of course, it is believed that the more successful the godfather or godmother, the better for the child.
In the outback with the question of whether the husband and wife can be godparents, the situation is even simpler. Often in villages you can come across even the tradition of four or more godfathers. Two or four married couples are chosen there, and they don’t bother with such questions at all - is it right or wrong, from the point of view of religion. But if the issues of Orthodoxy are important for you, it is better, of course, to consult with the priest, and then choose the godparents. And it’s best to choose them not by wallet, but by heart. Truly believing people, even without being godfather in a rite, will always support your child in difficult times and guide him on the right path, and whether they will be husband and wife is not so important. For your child and godfather spouse will automatically be godmother.