Last weekend, I had the privilege of shooting at the christening of a baby boy, whose family celebrated his baptism in the Greek orthodox tradition.
First, a few photos of the beautiful Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester, IL.
OK, so I’m still an amateur at HDR! 🙂


Fairly gorgeous place… this is a slightly more subtle HDR image.

Fairly gorgeous place… this is another HDR

This is the christening font itself.
Little Jimmy doesn’t know what’s coming – totally at peace with the world.
In the Greek tradition, the Godparents actually handle the whole process.
They start off ensuring the baby is exorcized of any evil prior to his baptism.
The godparents rebuke the devil on behalf of the baby.
The grandmothers take him and prepare him by getting him ready for the big event. They put him in a towel to keep him warm and dry.
The priest blesses the water in the font.

The godparents are given oil:
They anoint Jimmy with oil.
He is immersed in water three times.
Strands of his hair are cut by the priest.
After all of this, Jimmy was taken back to change into his christening clothes.
The priests wait patiently.
After he returns, he is anointed again with oil, and carried around the font three times.
And finally, the priest blesses again before the ceremony was finished.
He was very chill after all of that action. He really was a trooper through a real ordeal.
Congratulations, Diana, George, and James!