Insights · Christening
A christening is a lovely day for a family, and a lot of work to prepare. Paperwork, godparent, church, the christening set, the reception. We have put together a complete checklist for parents, so nothing gets forgotten and you can actually enjoy the day.
You will find the paperwork you need, how the name and the christening are registered, who can be a godparent, what the godparent brings, the days when christenings are not held, and a checklist for the day itself with the things parents most often forget.
Contents (9)
1. Paperwork for the church
The priest will ask for the child's birth certificate from the municipality where the birth was registered. Before the christening, the parents show their IDs and sign to confirm that the details, religion and name are correct.
- If one parent cannot attend, a solemn declaration with a certified signature is needed, confirming they agree to the christening and the name.
- If the christening takes place in another parish, your parish priest sends the paperwork to the church where the ceremony will be held.
- For the godparent, ask the priest whether a certificate from their parish is needed. Each parish has its own practice.
2. Who can be a godparent
The godparent must be an Orthodox Christian. Someone who is not Orthodox cannot be a godparent, nor can an Orthodox person who has had only a civil marriage. In practice, parishes expect the godparent to be an adult. If your situation is unusual, speak to the priest early.
3. The name and registering the christening
Many parents don't know this, but registering the name and registering the christening are two separate procedures in Greece.
- Registering the name. The child's name is registered separately, online through gov.gr. One parent enters the name and the other confirms it with their own credentials. The christening can only be registered after the name.
- Registering the christening. After the ceremony, the church gives you a baptism certificate. You register it online on gov.gr with your TAXISnet credentials by uploading the certificate. It is free, and the updated birth certificate arrives in your my.gov.gr inbox, usually within a few days.
- Who can register it. A parent, the godparent, or a relative up to the third degree.
- When. There is no fine for registering late, but it is best done right after the christening.
The name on the baptism certificate must match the registered name exactly. The priest cannot change, add or remove names.
4. The date
There are days of the year when christenings are usually not held: the days before Christmas, the eve and feast of Epiphany, the first half of August and certain major feast days. Rules can vary, so confirm your date with your parish or the Holy Metropolis of Patras before booking a reception venue.
Book the church, venue and photographer early, especially for weekends in spring and autumn. The ceremony lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.
5. What the godparent brings
Traditionally, the godparent provides the set needed for the ceremony:
- A large white towel and the ladopana (the white cloths used after anointing).
- A small towel for the priest.
- Olive oil and white soap.
- The large white candle, which they hold lit on the child's behalf.
- The "allaxia": a new white outfit, vest, cap, little shoes and socks.
- The little cross.
For the martyrika (witness favours), the favours and the reception, customs vary from place to place and family to family. Discuss it early with the godparent, so everyone knows what they are taking on.
6. Checklist for the christening day
From what we see at christenings, these are the things that get forgotten most often:
- Nappies for after the font. This is the one parents forget most. After the immersion the baby is changed, and the nappy needs to be in the bag already, next to the new outfit.
- A bag with the baby's essentials. Wipes, a dummy, milk or food, an outfit for after church.
- A small blanket. Churches can be chilly, and after the water the baby needs to be kept warm.
- The martyrika. Have them ready in a basket by the exit, to hand out at the end.
- The baptism certificate. Get it from the church on the day, so you can register the christening straight away.
- The nap schedule. If you can, choose a time when the baby will be rested and fed.
It is your child's day. They won't remember it, but one day they will want to know what it was like. The photographs are how you'll tell them.
7. The reception
The venue, the decor, the theme, the sweets, activities for the children. The reception is the part that takes the most preparation. Book the venue after confirming the date with the church, and think early about entertainment for the children, so the adults can enjoy the day too.
8. The photographer
A christening only happens once: getting ready at home, the first time the godparent holds the child, the water in the font, the new outfit, the grandparents' faces. Book your photographer early and tell them what matters to you.
A tip from us: if you want photographs of the preparations at home, lay out the outfit, the ladopana and the little items of the day in advance, in a bright spot near a window. See more in our guide to baptism photography and to the cost of a christening photographer.
If you are still looking for a photographer for the baptism, see how we work on our baptism photography page.
Frequently asked questions about christenings
Where is a christening registered?
Online on gov.gr, with TAXISnet credentials, by uploading the baptism certificate from the church. The updated birth certificate arrives in my.gov.gr.
Is the name given at the christening?
Not any more. The name is registered separately, and the christening registration records the religion. The name at the christening must match the registered name.
Who can be a godparent?
An Orthodox Christian, in practice an adult. Someone who is not Orthodox, or an Orthodox person with only a civil marriage, cannot be a godparent.
How long does a christening last?
About 30 to 45 minutes.
What does the godparent bring to the christening?
Usually the ladopana, the candle, the oil, the soap, the towels, the new outfit and the little cross.
Planning a christening?
Tell us the date and where the ceremony will be. We'll photograph the day so that, when your child grows up, they can see what it was like.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team