Baptismal Gift

[Rose]

What would be an appropriate gift to give a grandchild for their baptism into the Greek Orthodox church that will remind the child of this very special day? My husband and I are not Orthodox, but the other grandparents are, and we don't want to do anything they would do. We don't want any hurt feelings, but we would like it to be something special.

[Father David Moser]

I suspect that an icon - not a print, but an original hand painted icon - would be a gift that would not only be appreciated, but would also endure and be something that could even become an hierloom. The other grandparents may also be thinking the same thing, but chances are extremely slim that you would choose the same thing (and you can always ask if you want to be sure). I would suggest an icon of the child's patron (the saint for whom they are named) or of the Savior or the Virgin Mary. Perhaps another option would be to choose an icon of a particular feast - a scriptural event of the life of Christ that is important to you (say Nativity/Christmas, the Resurrection, the Baptism of Christ, the Transfiguration or Pentecost.) A well done icon, not necessarily large or ornate, might be just the thing. Another suggestion might be a well executed cross to hang on the wall - wood, brass, marble, sandstone, mosaic, whatever medium works. Without going into the vast trinkets of Orthodox taste, etc, I think that those two suggestions - an icon or a cross - might be your best bet.

Fr David Moser