Melbourne 2.0

The purpose of this second trip to Melbourne was so that we could witness Petra's christening and so that I could be induce into godfather hood. Fanica has been a friend of ours since saffron was born. She would look after us when mum and dad went out, we would occasionally spend Christmas together and we would have dinners together. A year prior to the christening Fanica married a British bloke called Phill a year later they had a baby, Petra Bailey. They then decided that I would be her godfather at her christening (interesting fact: orthodox children. Only have one godparent).

I have godparents but to think that I knew anything about god parenting was a bit far fetched. So we arrived in Melbourne in the hopes that I would learn what to do. Instead I ran astound with Fanica finding things that were needed in Romanian tradition while the grandmothers cooked for the post christening party and Phill entertained the male folk present. So Fanica and I went to various shops looking for a coat for the baby and a traditional candle before meeting up with mum ( I also bought an amazing rainbow umbrella which I took an amazing photo holding it with the help, and inspiration, of a French tourist and I then wanted to bring all over the world with me but I couldn't because it was a crapy made in china one that wouldn't last very long). Once with mum we caught the tram back to the centre in which mum gave Fanica marital advice and Bought some soaps and towels that were needed for a traditional christening. After all this was done we got dressed in formal attire and went to meet the baby. 

Now this is where the traditional stuff kicked in. First one of the grandmothers had to bring the baby to the church (luckily we got there just before it started pouring down with rain) then we said hi to the priest and Phill gave him 50 dollars as "thanks" for introducing her to orthodox faith (it's custom and I don't think Fanica gave Phill much choice) and after a while it was my go. They handed me the baby and Fanica's mum and I took turns in replying or reading from the bible, me in English and Fanicas mum in Romanian. After that we walked up to the big silver bowl filled with water. I was handed a traditional candle and I handed the baby over to Fanica's mother. Then we walked around the bowl and I spent the entire time trying not to burn the priest who kept waving his arms around in an attempt to fly away. After going around a silver bowl for half an hour we undressed the baby (finally this was 1hr into the process), the priest applied oil to the head belly and back in the shape of the cross and then in she went and finally it was over, almost. I then had photos taken by Fanicas friends, family and my mum holding both the baby and the candle (who's stupid idea was that). Then it was custom that I, being the godfather, had to walk home holding the baby. We weren't going home so once at the bar for the after party I gave up. That was the end of the baptism and now baby Petra was a orthodox, but the job wasn't done next we will teach u how to cook a baby