The celebration of renewal and rebirth, both of the body and the 
spirit is a deeply-help Orthodox tradition.  From the ancient 
festivals of the equinox to the observance of Easter, all 
Orthodox faiths bear joyful and solemn witness of the earth's 
reawakening. And nowhere is the celebration of rebirth more
joyous in custom than in the sacrament of baptism.

Within the first year of a child's life (and usually within the 
first six months), the family prepares for the baptismal 
ceremony. Since this will be the most important occasion in 
the child's life, much planning is necessary to make the 
observance "just right."  Invitations are sent, food is 
prepared, and flowers are arranged for the festive occasion.

The first, and perhaps the most important, decision made before 
the ceremony is the selection of godparents or a godparent. In 
Orthodox Christian tradition, this isn't merely a social choice 
but it is a sacred one. The godparent performs a vital part of 
the baptism and in the spiritual life of the child, so the 
decision must be made with care.

By tradition, the baptismal ceremony begins at the door of the 
church. The threshold of the church signifies the "old life" 
and the altar or fount symbolizes the place where the "new life" 
begins. Upon entering the church, the child is undressed and 
wrapped in a snowy white towel - symbolically "putting away" 
the old. As the family looks on, myrrh (an oil blessed by the
Patriarch) is placed in the cupped palms of the godparent. The 
priest dips his finger into the oil and anoints the baby in the 
sign of the cross. Then, as a sign of spiritual cleansing, the 
child is dipped three times in water.

After cutting three small locks of hair from the child, the 
priest will bless the new clothes chosen especially for the 
occasion. These special baptismal garments are symbolic of 
"putting on" a new spiritual life and are an essential part of 
the ritual. They add a touch of elegance to the baby's special 
day.

Attired in new clothes, the godparent holds the child as radiant 
candles are lit. Each parent and godparent is given a candle to 
hold and together walk around the fount three times in a 
symbolic dance of joy! Candles commemorating this occasion must 
be special to honor this important event. Most celebrants pick 
candles that are incredibly detailed, beautifully made and 
meticulously decorated to match their theme or preference colors.


As the honored guests leave the church, they pin a martirika (or 
matryrika - a "sign of witnessing") on their lapel to signify 
that they have witnessed this wonderful milestone. Adorable 
christening witness pins add the final touch to the celebration 
of the baptism of the child. You can customize these pins to 
your specifications to give your child the best in quality and 
appearance for this glorious occasion.

The welcoming of a child into the Orthodox spiritual community 
is a cause for great celebration. That child becomes the heir to 
centuries of tradition, ritual and history. But, you don't have 
to be Orthodox in order to commemorate your child's baptism with 
candles, christening witness pins and baptismal clothing. Your 
child deserves a unique baptismal ceremony, alive with your own 
personal touch - exquisite and "one-of-a-kind" high quality 
keepsakes that will reflect your taste, make your guests admire 
your touch of class, show your deepest appreciation for their 
participation and make your special day even more memorable.

An elegant and unique idea to commemorate your baby's baptism is 
to create a beautiful canvas reproduction album featuring your 
favorite baptismal photograph and embellished with fine Swarovski
crystals. It will turn your ordinary photo into a masterpiece 
and ensure the memories will last forever! These items are works 
of art that will bring a lifetime of aesthetic joy.

If you want your child's baptismal occasion to reflect your own 
creative tastes, find that special place that will customize 
those unique items to match your vision. Baptism favors, 
christening witness pins, ceremony candles, baptismal underwear, 
boxes and decorations are only limited by your imagination. Mix 
and match colors and designs to create the exclusive touches 
that will keep the memories of this special event alive forever!