Orthodox Baptism Gifts: The Cross, the Icon and the Customs

The classic Orthodox baptism gifts are a cross and an icon. The cross is the one the newly baptized receives at the font, usually from the godparent. The icon, most often the patron saint beside the Guardian Angel, is for the home where the new Christian will learn to pray. The candle and the white garment belong to the service itself, and each tradition has its own customs for who brings them.

What happens at an Orthodox baptism?

The rite is short and full of signs. The person is immersed three times in the name of the Holy Trinity. Then, in Hapgood’s 1906 English service book, the priest puts on the new garment saying, “The servant of God, N., is clothed with the robe of righteousness.” Chrismation follows at once: the priest anoints the brow, eyes, nostrils, lips, ears, breast, hands and feet, each time with the words “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The priest and sponsors then circle the font while all sing St Paul’s words, “As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Last comes the tonsure. A little hair is cut in the form of a cross, a sign that the person offers himself or herself wholly to God.

In many parishes the priest then places a cross around the neck of the newly baptized. The Greek parish of Kogarah calls it “a sign of protection.”

Who gives what? Customs by tradition

Greek: the nouna or nouno

In Greek families the godparent carries most of the day. St Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine lists what the godparent traditionally brings: the cross, the white clothes, a sheet and towels, olive oil, soap and the candles. The parish asks for a “Gold Byzantine Cross,” which “can be plain cross but should not have crucifix.” Afterward the godparent brings the child to Communion three Sundays in a row, the candle going along each time.

So for Greek baptism crosses, follow your parish: many want a plain cross on the day. Our crosses are mostly three-bar crucifixes, so in a Greek family they fit best as a later gift or for an adult.

Russian and Slavic: the krestny and krestnaya

Hapgood’s notes, drawn from the Russian service books, say three tapers burn on the font for the Holy Trinity, and the sponsors hold tapers “to signify their faith in the illumination” the sacrament brings. That is why baptism is called “Illumination.” A boy has a godfather, a girl a godmother, though other sponsors are allowed. St Nicholas Church in Oxford lists the cross and chain, a white candle and new white clothing among what the sponsor customarily provides.

Serbian: the kum and kuma

Serbian Orthodox sponsors are the kum and kuma. Protodeacon Rodney Torbic writes that they answer for the child and read the Creed. The kumovi then take on the duty to teach the child the faith and to remember the child in prayer. He quotes the Serbian saying: “God in heaven and Kum on earth.”

Romanian: the nași

The Romanian Orthodox parish in Luton lists what the service needs: a wax candle for “the Light of Christ,” a white cloth in which the godparent receives the child from the font, towels, olive oil and “a baptismal cross.” The godparent then sees that the child grows up within the Church, starting with regular Divine Liturgy.

What about the candle and the white garment?

We don’t sell baptism candles or baptismal garments. Here is what they mean, so you can buy them well.

• Orthodox baptism candles. The candle stands for Illumination, “the Light of Christ,” as the Romanian parish puts it. Ask your parish before you buy one, as sizes and customs differ.
• The white garment. It is new, white and put on right after the immersion, “the robe of righteousness.” Adults wear a white robe after their baptism.

Why give the Guardian Angel at a baptism?

The Church teaches that God gives each Christian a Guardian Angel at baptism. The canon to the Guardian Angel says the angel is given “from holy baptism,” and one Russian Orthodox reference adds that, strictly speaking, a Christian’s “Angel’s Day” is the day of baptism. Christ said of the little ones that “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

That is why our folding diptychs set the patron saint beside the Guardian Angel: the two heavenly companions received at the font, in one icon. The angel is honored at the Synaxis of the Bodiless Powers, 8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar). Find more saints families pray to for little ones on Saints for children.

Orthodox baptism gifts we recommend

Whether you want a christening gift from a grandparent or the godparent’s own gift, start here. All our icons are for the home. Our neck crosses are full-size adult pieces. For a child, the cross is one the family or godparent keeps with the icons for the child’s later years.

From the godparent

• Godparent Set, $149. A patron saint and Guardian Angel diptych for the godchild’s home, a gold-tone crucifix on a 60 cm chain the godparent keeps for the godchild’s later years, a prayer rope and a holy-water vial, with a card for the date. More ideas in our godparent gift guide.
• Patron Saint & Cross, $99. Their patron and the Guardian Angel in a red-velvet folding diptych, with a stainless three-bar crucifix and the saint’s card.

From family and friends

• A patron saint and Guardian Angel diptych, $69. Printed (lithographed) icons under glass, pine frame, red velvet covers, 8 × 9.5 cm closed. Choose by the baptismal name, such as St Nicholas & Guardian Angel, St Herman of Alaska or St Olga of Alaska. Not sure of the saint? Find a patron saint by first name or read how to find your patron saint.
• Icon Corner Set, $199. Christ and the Mother of God, the patron saint, an 8-inch wooden wall crucifix and a prayer rope: a prayer corner for a family starting out.
• An 8-inch wooden wall crucifix, $49, to hang above the family’s icons.
• Name-Day Gift Set, $149. For the first name day after the baptism. See name day gifts.

For an adult being baptized

Adult baptism gifts can be worn and used from day one.

• A cross on a 60 cm chain, $49, such as the Plain Three-Bar or the gold-color crucifix. Read how to wear an Orthodox cross.
• A 50-knot wool prayer rope, $24, for the Jesus Prayer.
• Received by chrismation instead? See chrismation gifts.

Can the gift be consecrated?

Yes. Add Consecration ($49). For a set or diptych, the diptych is one our priest consecrated before it left the workshop, one by one, and filmed with its number on a card. The number is on its box and signed certificate, and a vial of holy water comes with it. The name you give is prayed for separately, and the set ships in the normal time while consecrated ones are in stock. A cross or icon is consecrated by our priest before it ships, commemorating the person named, and those orders ship in 3–8 business days. Consecrated items are final sale.

We ship to all 50 states, DC and APO/FPO addresses, with free shipping on orders of $99 or more.