Paphos Life

I've never ever seen anything like that and I have been to quite a few christenings.

My son was baptized in the late 80th at Neo Chorion village and the priest was ever so gentle, it was really nice to see how little water he used...and the water was even lukewarm.

Max

Well I was at a Baptism on Friday, albeit an Anglican service, and it was nothing like this!!!
It was the most caring and thoughtful service you could have imagined, beautiful and praiseworthy.

I see no benefits whatsoever, of dunking the child forcefully in the font and struggle to see the Christian benefits.

Give me the Anglican service any time!

One of the comments on the Daily Mail article reckons it was not a Greek Orthodox baptism but eastern European. Woud need someone who speaks Greek to listen to the sound track to confirm this.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Greek Orthodox Christening of a wee lad named Chrisovelandes (help with spelling V!). I was also honoured enough by the family to be sitting in the front row. It was also one of the loveliest most relaxed, happy family occasions I have ever witnessed. (In Paphos).

It reminded me of the Christenings of our two boys in the Church of Scotland in the Highlands. We never had our third child christened but she doesn't hold it against us. (I hope)

PS. Only difference; In a Greek Orthodox Church . . . . .You can wander about to your hearts content and be totally relaxed, enjoying the company and atmosphere. In a Church of Scotland Kirk . . . . . . You sit on your tawn and DO NOT MOVE until the Minister tells you otherwise.

Then, and only then. . . . .You go and party.

I have been to many baptisms / christenings through my life, but I've never ever seen a young child lifted and doused into the font in that manner! It's a wonder that the priest didn't dislocate the poor babe's arms at the shoulders!

Was the priest just showing off, or did he have a drop too much of Zivannia earlier? Usual procedure is for the priest to cuddle the child, then lower him or her down to the font, then simply annoint with the sign of the cross on the babe's forehead using his fingertip..

Maybe these parents asked for something more spectacular than biblical characters being baptized in the River Jordan 2000 years ago?

AL

So how widespread is this supposed to be then? I don't think I've seen one corroborating witness.