My World In Stills

Candles lit in prayer for the living and the dead rest in a sand urn within the narthex, or entrance, of St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church of Columbia, Missouri Sunday Sept. 20 2009.

In the arms of his "nouna", or godmother, Evan Aslanidis, 4 months, begins his baptism in the narthex of St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church. This initial preparatory rite is conducted before Aslanidis can enter the Church proper. Facing the East, Fr. Michael Monos conducts an excorcism, renounces Satan and gives Aslanidis a Christian name, Evangelo. The East is where the sun sets and where ancient Greeks believed Hades, or hell, resided.

Having received blessings from God, the baptized child is expected to provide an offering. Fr. Michael Monos cuts four tufts of hair from Evangelo's head and places them in the baptismal font. These tufts, removed at four points in the shape of a cross, represent Evangelo's first offering to Christ.

Greek Orthodox religion calls for Evangelo to be baptized just as he came from his mother's womb;naked. Complete immersion in the baptismal font symbolizes the cleansing of sin and a new birth through Christ. Evangelo is immersed three times in the name of the Father, Son and Holy spirit.

Ava Terzopoulos, Aslanidis' godmother, must carry her godson throughout the hour long ceremony. "After a while he got a little heavy so my arms were hurting...it wasn't too bad I just kind of tried my best" said Terzopoulos. Despite his tears Kalene Aslanidis, Evangelo's mother, was instructed by her priest not to disrupt the ceremony. "It is so hard to watch him crying and not go to comfort him" said Aslanidis. Following the baptism friends and family comforted her saying "Now he is baptized from head to toe".