DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0216
194 THE ISLES AND SHRINES OF GREECE
baby. He has also an important function at the
baptism. At this service two priests officiate. It
goes without saying that there is a crowd of relatives
and friends. The child is completely undressed.
The liturgy is read. The priest cuts with a pair of
scissors a few hairs from the infant's head and throws
them into the baptismal font. A small quantity of
olive oil brought by the godfather is likewise poured
into the font. The child is then held toward the west,
representing the kingdom of darkness, and is asked
three times by the priest if he renounces the evil
spirit. The godfather replies in his behalf, " I have
renounced him ; " and the exorcism of the devil is
completed by blowing and spitting three times. The
priest and the godfather, with the child, turn toward
the east, representing the kingdom of light, and the
sponsor is asked if he accepts Christ. A confession
of faith follows. The priest then plunges the child
three times into the font, the water of which has been
mercifully warmed. After being dried by a nurse
the infant is anointed by the priest, who touches its
forehead, chin, shoulders, navel and feet. Of course
other prayers follow. The child that does not kick
and squirm during the operation must have the forti-
tude of a Spartan.
After the baptism the nounos gives two or three
drachmas to the father or mother, flings a handful of
pennies (leptd) among the children, and gives to
each of the women present ten or twenty lepta. This
money is called papTvpiica, that is, witness money
that the child has been baptized and is a Christian.
There are Greeks who do not have their children
baptized until they are ten or fifteen years of age.
baby. He has also an important function at the
baptism. At this service two priests officiate. It
goes without saying that there is a crowd of relatives
and friends. The child is completely undressed.
The liturgy is read. The priest cuts with a pair of
scissors a few hairs from the infant's head and throws
them into the baptismal font. A small quantity of
olive oil brought by the godfather is likewise poured
into the font. The child is then held toward the west,
representing the kingdom of darkness, and is asked
three times by the priest if he renounces the evil
spirit. The godfather replies in his behalf, " I have
renounced him ; " and the exorcism of the devil is
completed by blowing and spitting three times. The
priest and the godfather, with the child, turn toward
the east, representing the kingdom of light, and the
sponsor is asked if he accepts Christ. A confession
of faith follows. The priest then plunges the child
three times into the font, the water of which has been
mercifully warmed. After being dried by a nurse
the infant is anointed by the priest, who touches its
forehead, chin, shoulders, navel and feet. Of course
other prayers follow. The child that does not kick
and squirm during the operation must have the forti-
tude of a Spartan.
After the baptism the nounos gives two or three
drachmas to the father or mother, flings a handful of
pennies (leptd) among the children, and gives to
each of the women present ten or twenty lepta. This
money is called papTvpiica, that is, witness money
that the child has been baptized and is a Christian.
There are Greeks who do not have their children
baptized until they are ten or fifteen years of age.