All children will be baptised for free, vows Archbishop

By Evie Andreou

ARCHBISHOP Chrysostomos on Wednesday vowed that no child will remain unbaptised and promised free ceremonies for all babies whose parents cannot afford it.

Speaking on state broadcaster CyBC, Chrysostomos said that the Church is willing to help all those families to overcome the financial obstacles of the christenings.

“The Church cannot remain indifferent to the tragedy our country is going through,” he said. “We can christen for free all children, but also provide anything a christening ceremony needs”. He added that the Church can also find godparents for the children in the case the families cannot find a family member of any other person willing to do so.

He urged all parents with financial difficulties and whose babies are not christened to contact the archbishopric to “arrange the details”.

Last week, the Red Cross issued pleas for people to become godparents to needy children or for donations to help cover expenses. The plea concerned two children, who in one case both parents were unemployed, and in the other the mother was a single parent who could not cope financially.

Christenings can be a very expensive affair, but even the bare necessities could set back families financially. It can also be off-putting for potential godparents.

Church fees, traditionally paid by godparents, for christening ceremonies range between €70 and €80 depending on each parish, but godparents also need to buy a chain and cross for the child, as well as towels and clothes for the baby to change into after the christening, which could set back someone by at least another €200 to €300.

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