Children in Distress - Robert Alexandru takes his first leap of faith

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Robert Alexandru takes his first leap of faith

Christened at last

Christening is an important right of any young Romanian, particularly one who is young and frail as Robert. His naming and acceptance by the Orthodox community will mean so much, if he can survive and when he gets older.

Sadly no one at the hospital where he was born, or even in his family, thought that Robert Alexandru deserved to be named by the centuries old right of baptism that have allowed a congregation to celebrate life and welcome a new child into their midst. His foster family at St Margaret’s Hospice where he now lives felt that if he is to survive he might well benefit from being part of the family of the Orthodox Church. Father Georgie, the priest at the local, All Saint Church and Romanian orthodox chaplain to our Bucharest hospice's children, arranged “special baptism “ and both Valentina Zaharia the Charity’s Executive Director in Bucharest and Alyth Hughes, Trustee and Consultant Physiotherapist stood as parent and godparent of this poor child abandoned as not worth the effort, until he came to St Margaret’s.

Despite the bitter cold outside and inside the church, Robert bore his immersion quietly and we are pleased to report that he is thriving on the care,attention and love he continues to receive.

If you would like help or sponsor a child like Robert to give him the chance of life please to contact abarron@childrenindistress.org.uk or call 0141 559 5695