On Sunday, June 3, Fr. Marko baptized Olivera Hristina, daughter of Alan and Doris Manojlovic. Proud grandparents Mihailo and Lela Dobrich, Kumovi, and many friends attended the afternoon service. Olivera's Kumovi, Sasa and Nina Furtula, traveled all the way from Melbourne, Australia to be a part of her special day. Alan and Sasa were best friends in Lexington, Kentucky and promised to keep in touch as life took them to different directions. Little Olivera wore the gown that Mommy wore at her own baptism in 1980, God grant her many, many years!

The sacrament of baptism and chrismation brings great happiness to the Orthodox Christian family. Baptism cleanses an individual's soul of original sin. The special service entails the infant being immersed in the baptismal font three times, symbolizing the three days Christ spent in the tomb. This event is a reenactment of Christ's baptism, death and Resurrection. After immersion, the priest places the child in the open arms of the godparent, who holds a new white sheet as a symbol of the soul's purity.
Immediately following the baptism, the priest administers a second sacrament, Chrismation, where the child receives the gift of the Holy Spirit with miron, a special oil blessed by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Three locks are tonsured (cut) from the child's hair in the form of a cross.
After dressing in new clothing, the baptismal candles are lit and the priest, godparent, baptised infant, and chosen children walk around the baptismal font.  Following the reading of scriptures, the priest administers a third sacrament, communion, to the child.