Beatrice Gabriela

Baptism / Bucharest

Black and white close-up of baby Beatrice Gabriela asleep, a knitted bow on her head
Black and white portrait of the parents embracing, the father kissing the mother's forehead as she holds the babyBlack and white close-up of the father cradling the baby's head while the mother leans in behind
Black and white detail of the baby's small fist resting against her mother's hand
A mother smiles down as she bottle-feeds the baby, who wears a bright pink bow
The church altar dressed for the baptism, a table draped in blush pink with a garland of roses before the gilded iconostasis
A hand holds the lit baptism candle, wrapped in blush roses and white ribbonClose view of the baby in a cream lace bonnet, a pacifier in her mouth, held in the church
The godmother holds the baby in a pink dress in warm window light, looking down at her
The father holds the candle beside the godmother and baby as the priest reads the service
The priest gently lowers the baby into the baptismal font, its rim ringed with pink and red flowers
Black and white image of the priest lifting the baby high as the godmother laughs beside himWrapped in a towel after the font, the baby looks up as the priest anoints her
In the dim church, the godmother bends over a table to dress the baby
The priest smiles as he gives communion to the baby, held by her smiling mother among white flowers
The godmother stands in the church holding the baby in pink, guests and icons behind her
The parents, baby and godparents pose together before the painted iconostasis
A father lifts his laughing older daughter and kisses her cheek inside the church