Orthodox baptism gifts are usually chosen in a hurry: the date is set with the parish, the godparents have agreed, and suddenly there is a week left. The occasion itself, though, gives a clear direction. At baptism a child is received into the Church, is named after a saint and puts on a cross for the first time. A gift that will be used in prayer for years makes more sense than one that is admired once at the party.

This guide covers who gives what by custom, which items suit a baby, what to bring if you are a guest, and what to give a godchild who is already at school or an adult being baptised.

Who gives what at an Orthodox christening

The Church has no fixed rule about presents. What families follow is custom, and it varies from parish to parish.

  • The godfather usually buys the baptismal cross and the cord or chain it hangs on. The priest blesses it and places it on the child during the service.
  • The godmother often brings the white sheet or towel in which the child is received from the font, and the christening gown or shirt. The family keeps these afterwards and does not use them for everyday things.
  • The parents prepare candles, towels and the meal, and may later commission an icon to mark the day.
  • Grandparents and guests bring something the household will use: an icon, a children's prayer book, a book about the child's saint.

Agree on this in advance. Two crosses of the same kind or three identical icons are awkward for everyone, and one message to the godparents prevents it.

The cross and how to choose it

For a baby the cross should be small and light with smooth edges, so that it does not scratch the skin or catch on clothing. A soft cord is safer than a chain for the first years.

The most common Orthodox form is the eight-pointed cross, with the Crucifixion on the front. Many crosses carry the words "Save and protect" on the back. Sterling silver 925 is strong enough for daily wear; it darkens with time, which is normal and easy to clean. Gilded crosses are more often chosen as a present for a memorable day.

Our Orthodox crosses are sterling silver, and every silver cross and pendant is consecrated on particles of the relics of St George the Victorious. The item card says so. If you need another size, metal or inscription, the cross can be made to order, and we reply within two working days with the price and the lead time. Sizes, forms and the question of who pays for the cross are covered in the article on the Orthodox baptism cross.

Icons for a godchild

An icon stays with a person for life. It hangs over the cot first, then moves to the family icon corner, and later to the grown child's own home. Three kinds are given most often.

  1. The patron saint. The saint whose name the child receives at baptism. Check the baptismal name and feast day with the parents first: several saints may share one name, and the church name is not always the one on the birth certificate.
  2. The Guardian Angel. Orthodox tradition holds that a guardian angel is given at baptism, so this icon belongs naturally in a child's room.
  3. A measured icon. An old custom: the patron saint is painted on a panel exactly as tall as the newborn. It has to be ordered from an iconographer well before the day.

When the family has no icons at home yet, a pair of Christ and the Mother of God gives them a place to start praying together. In our icons section you will find icons from the workshops of the Pskov-Caves and Danilov monasteries, consecrated in those monasteries and carrying the workshop certificate on the back. For help matching an image to the occasion, see which icon to give.

Gifts for a boy, a girl, an older child

There is little difference in meaning between Orthodox baptism gifts for a boy and for a girl. A cross, an icon and a prayer book suit both. The details change: a girl's cross may be finer, with a delicate pattern, and her icon shows a woman saint who shares her name; a boy's cross is often plainer in design. The Guardian Angel is given to both.

When a child is baptised at seven or ten, the gift can be more personal. A children's Bible with pictures, a prayer book in large print, or a small icon of their own saint to keep by the bed all work well.

Orthodox baptism gifts for adults

Adults who come to baptism have usually thought about it for a long time and often already own a cross or an icon. Ask before buying. Good choices for an adult convert include:

  • the Gospel or the Psalter for daily reading;
  • a prayer rope, with a short note on how it is used;
  • an icon of their patron saint, if they chose a new name;
  • church candles for their first prayer corner at home.

The Gospel, the Psalter, prayer books, prayer ropes and candles are all in our catalogue, along with gift sets.

Gifts for godparents and for later years

Parents sometimes want to thank the godparents. A modest gift is right: an icon of the godchild's saint, a framed photograph from the service, a prayer book. It reminds them of their promise to pray for the child.

For godparents the giving does not end on the day. Birthdays and name days follow, and a godchild gift chosen with the same care keeps the bond alive: a pendant with the saint when the child is older, a book about the saint's life, a chain for the cross once the cord is outgrown.

Before you order

A few questions save time: the child's baptismal name, whether a cross is already bought, how much room there is for icons, and whether the family wears silver on a cord or a chain. An item from an ordinary shop is usually taken to church to be blessed. In our catalogue each card states where the item was consecrated. Gifts chosen for the sacrament are collected under baptism gifts. We ship from Tallinn by registered mail with a tracking number within 1-3 working days after payment, so order early enough for the cross to arrive before the service.