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Christening · Άλσος Νέας Φιλαδέλφειας

Danae

Danae’s Baptism | Nea Filadelfeia Grove

Little Danae dressed in white, in the summer light at Nea Filadelfeia Grove.

On a stone landing in the Nea Filadelfeia Grove, two old leather suitcases, a vintage camera and a wicker basket full of sunflowers were waiting. In front of them stood the candle, dressed in lace and a yellow gerbera. Next to it, on a little dress form, a white tulle dress, and on the rug a pair of tiny sandals with bows. Everything was ready for little Danae's christening.

Inside the small church of Zoodochos Pigi, the font was decorated in the same colours: sunflowers, pink carnations and purple statice over pale tulle. That is where Danae was given her name, surrounded by smiles, emotion and warm hugs.

The story did not end at the church. Afterwards we went back to the Grove for a Next Day shoot, with the light coming through the trees. Danae, in her white dress with a feathered headband, walked across the grass with her little hands up in the air, as if she were the one directing the session.

At some point she changed her look: a straw hat, a white top, a denim skirt and her pacifier firmly in place. Some things are not up for negotiation, not even for a photo.

The frame I keep from that day is a close one: a small hand holding a pink carnation against the tulle of her dress.

Church
Zoodochos Pigi Church, Nea Filadelfeia Grove, Athens
Area
Άλσος Νέας Φιλαδέλφειας
White christening dress on a stand, a candle, vintage suitcases and a flower basket before a stone wall.
Glass bottle with a yellow daisy, witness bracelets and wooden letters with little bees on a wooden table.
White tulle christening dress on a stand and white sandals with pink bows on a fluffy rug.
Embroidered white towel with sandals, candles with yellow daisies, a bottle and bracelets.
Christening setup with macramé, a dress, suitcases and sunflowers in a stone courtyard under pine trees.
Wicker peacock chair with a pink cushion, a flower vase and yellow fabric on stone steps.
Christening decor with macramé, a white dress, a wooden sign and leather suitcases beside a stone wall.
The baby in a straw hat, white top and pacifier raises a hand to the hat.
The baby in a straw hat, white top, denim skirt and pacifier stands in a courtyard.
The baby in a white top, denim skirt and pacifier sits on a white fluffy rug.
The baby in a white top and denim skirt sits on a fluffy rug in front of macramé fringes.
The baby sits on a fluffy rug beside vintage suitcases, sunflowers and a wooden word dream.
The baby crawls on a yellow cloth, with sunflowers and wooden furniture behind.
The baby sits in a wicker peacock chair with a white hat hanging on its edge.
The baby stands by a wooden post pointing with one hand, a sunflower in front.
The baby in a white top in profile, before vintage suitcases and a wicker basket of flowers.
Silver baptismal font decorated with sunflowers, carnations and purple flowers inside a church.
A woman in a white blazer holds the baby with a pacifier inside a church with stained glass.
The priest reads beside the font as guests stand in a church with painted icons.
The priest anoints the baby held by a man in a white apron, with guests behind them.
A woman puts sandals on the baby in a white tulle dress and hair bow.
The baby in a white tulle dress stands on the grass beside a pond in a park.
The baby in a white dress and hair bow stands on the grass in front of a pond.
A woman in a green dress and a man in a white T-shirt sit with the baby in a park.
A man in a white T-shirt sits on a blanket on the grass holding the baby in a white dress.
Close-up of the baby wearing a white feathered headband and a tulle dress.
The baby in a white tulle dress, hair bow and pink pacifier reaches out a hand.
A woman in a green dress lifts the baby in a white dress high beside a tree trunk.
A man lifts the baby in a white dress high while a woman holds him in a garden.
The baby in a white tulle dress sits on the grass hugging a pink plush bunny.
The baby in a white dress and feathered headband sits smiling on the grass, a fountain behind.
The baby's small hand holds a pink carnation against white tulle.

Christening · Feneos, Corinthia

Dimitra

Baptism at Lake Doxa, Feneos, Corinthia, Greece

A christening at Lake Doxa, at the Monastery of Agios Georgios in Feneos, Corinthia: the copper font, the stone courtyard and the view of the lake.

Read the story

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