evvlabs

I am attending my grand-niece's Christening in Athens in September. It will be in a Greek Orthodox church. What is appropriate for a woman to wear? Touring churches in Europe I find shoulders should be covered. Sometimes knees should be covered. Does this apply? Are pants on women appropriate? Also, should the men wear a tie? Several of us non-Greek family members from the US are attending and want to dress appropriately for the occasion. Thanks.

Odin

Wear what you would wear to any other christening/baptism. It's no different in the Greek Orthodox Church. Not too short, not too revealing, apart from that no rules. No need to cover shoulders.

asps

As far as I remember, not only Orthodox churches requires people to be modestly dressed (in some cases this means women should not wear pants), but Greeks wear their Sunday best when going to church. Probably tie is not strictly required, but in my mind I remember the image of people exiting from Greek churches with most gentlemen dressed in jacket and tie.

HappyTrvlr

I haven't been to a baptism but rather the party following, a big event. Enjoy!

lavandula

When I was in a workplace where I had a lot of older Greek colleagues, I was told it brings dishonour to the married couple to wear black to a wedding (for Greek weddings, that is). I know this is a christening and may have entirely different rules, but I would keep that in the back of your mind when selecting colours. I still think about that every wedding I go to now ...

Lavandula

flanneruk

Surely the person to ask is your niece - or at any rate your sister or brother?

Whatever customs posters on this site may have observed, the issue is what's expected at the specific Athens church, and afterwards by your family.

mariha2912

Different families, different churches and different prists make an effect on those matters but I would not imagine a christening to an Athens church to have so strict rules as a villager church or a monastery. I have been on weddings and christenings on all those locations.

I agree with Odin, "Not too short, not too revealing, apart from that no rules. No need to cover shoulders."
But why don't you ask your family members for ideas?

evvlabs

My Greek family member (the baby's father) has not lived in Athens in 22 years, therefore, I don't think he would be any help. His wife, my niece, said she attended a funeral there, and her mother-in-law had her wear a sweater over her dress, to cover shoulders and cleavage.

Thanks everyone, for your help.

Odin

Clothes for a funeral and a baptism are different. In years gone by, close female family members have been known to dye their hair black to attend a Greek Orthodox funeral, as well as being in black head to toe. Even today, elderly widows wear black and they would wear black to a wedding or a baptism.

Covering shoulders is not necessary for attending a Greek Orthodox baptism, not in Greece, not in Cyprus nor in the US, unless perhaps you have some status in the Church or you are the godmother.