Theodoros
(the baptism in Greek Orthodox Church)

Sunday, 17th of September. A special day for Fotini and her God Son. The big day of the baptism... the Christening of Theodoros Aggouris!

At my last blog I had invited all of you, my friends, at this ceremony, one of the great mysteries for the Greek Orthodox faith.

I was happy to receive all those comments from you. You have accepted the invitation and even you were thousand miles away from us we felt your presense close to us.

Theodoros left me to describe the ceremony because he is so young and not ready at this time to accomplish and this duty. He is my small terrorist but he was a gentleman for the ceremony and you are going to see this in all the photos I have ready to present you.

A Greek baptism in the Christian Orthodox Church is a major event in the life of any family. Because of the numerous rites which accompany it, many of which go back to the earliest centuries of Christianity, the baptismal service is a complicated one.

For the sacrament of Baptism, the godmother/godfather must be an Orthodox Christian and must bring the following to church:

  • 1 small white or ivory towel (to be used by the priest and godparent to wipe their hands after the baptism)
  • 1 large white or ivory towel (to wrap the baby in)
  • 1 large white or ivory oil sheet (used with the towel to wrap the baby)
  • 1 set of baptismal undergarments - These garments are brought by the godparent to dress the infant immediately after the immersion in Baptism. In Orthodoxy, these garments are considered sacred and must be kept safely.

    All of the above are called Ladopana-Baptismal Underwear Set and they are a 6 piece set .
  • 1 small bottle of olive oil (for the priest to pour into the baptismal water)
  • 1 bar of soap (for the priest and godparent to wash their hands with after the baptism)
  • 3 white candles (which they light after the baptism when they walk around the baptismal font) - 1 large candle and 2 smaller matching ones
  • A baptismal outfit , shoes and socks
  • Martirika-Christening Witness Pins (that will be pinned on the guests attending the ceremony). Theodoros Martirika had a white cross and his initial letter in silver.
  • A gold cross on a chain (for the baby to wear after Chrismation)
  • A baptismal box to put all of the above inside and carry them to the Church.

The baptismal day is one of the most important days in the life of an Orthodox Christian. The sacrament of Baptism usually occurs within the first year of a baby's life after the forty day blessing. The sacrament began in the Church Narthex where the parents hand the child over to the godmother, me.
At that point, I, the godmother, spoke on behalf of the child and denounced Satan (the evil spirit) and recited the Creed. Then, the priest, the parents and I walked towards the front of the church where Christina, the baby's mother and my friend, took him to undress and wrap him in a large towel.

The priest blessed the water in the baptismal font, and added to it the olive oil that I brought for the ceremony. Then he took olive oil from my hands and rubbed the baby with it.
Then it was my turn to use the rest of the olive oil I had at my hands to anoint the baby in every part of his body. This blessed oil must not leave uncovered any part of him.
Then the priest immersed the baby in the font three times symbolizing the three days that Christ spent in his tomb. While immersing the baby in the font, the priest pronounced the baby's name, Theodoros, along with the name of the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The priest then took the baby out of the water and gave him to me. I was ready holding the white sheet and towel waiting the young guy to be inside my hug.
What followed was the sacrament of Chrismation where the priest anointed the baby with "myrrh" (oil that has been blessed by the Patriarch).
The priest cut three locks from the baby's hair.
The priest also blessed the baby's clothes and then Christina, his mother, dressed Theodoros in the Christening outfit I have chosen for him.
The priest blessed the golden cross I have bought for my God Son and I placed it on him. I took Theodoros at my arms and and lighted the big candle and the small candles. The candles were given to kids to hold. We all then walked around the font three times symbolizing the dance of joy.
When the ceremony finished, the parents kissed my hand and received their baby and all relatives and friends wished them " Na sas zisi " which means " life to him/her " and to me " Panta Axia " which means " To be always worthy ".

I will reply here what the priest told to the people who attented this baptism, the Christening of "Theodoros".

Theodoros comes from the combination of the greek words Theos (God) and Doro (gift). Theodoros is a gift of God to his parents and to all of us. The gift of life.
Today I, his God mother offered him to God. I offered a great gift to Him. I gave a great gift to God and a great gift to Theodoros, the God inside him.

I am proud and I thank Christina and Vasilis for the great honor. Theodoros is now my spiritual son and I have a great responsibility to teach him how to discover God around him and inside his heart. We are going to walk at the great path which will drive him close to the God. I hope to be healthy and stay close to him as long as he will need me.

Theodoros and I want to thank all you who were there even far away from us at this important time of our life.

 
Copyright 2011-2012 © Fotini Eleftheriadou