According to the Status Quo, diplomatic representatives of Greece serving in Greek diplomatic missions within the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem have the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism for their children at the Grotto of Bethlehem.
Making use of this right, Mavroeidis, serving at the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv, and his wife, Anna Mantika, holding the rank of Consul and serving at the Greek Consulate General in Jerusalem, baptised their child, Michael-Petros, at the Katholikon of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, following the arrangements of the Patriarchal Representative of Bethlehem, Metropolitan Benedictos of Diocaesarea, together with the assistants and ministers of the Shrine.
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was celebrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, along with Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, the Elder Dragoman and Master of Ceremonies of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Matthaios, the Sacristan of the Shrine, Archimandrite Polykarpos, the Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos, Archimandrite Simeon, and the ministering clergy of the Shrine.
Standing as godparents were the Ambassador of Greece to Tel Aviv, Mrs Maya Solomou, and Dimitrios Charoulis, in the presence of the grandparents, Petros Mavroeidis and Virginia Mavroeidou, Dimitrios Mantikas and Christina Argyropoulou, as well as other relatives, with the honoured presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and his wife.
Following the Sacrament of Baptism, a reception with light refreshments was offered to those who honoured the newly-illumined.
