The Importance of Godparents

The Importance of Godparents
by Angel Tzouras Brock

Photos in Gallery

Imagine two little Greek girls, Athena and Elle, born just two months apart; Athena in August and Elle in October, playing and laughing outside their childhood homes on Canton Street on Detroit's east side in the 1920's…

Fast-forward thirty years. Alexander and Elle have a second daughter, Angel, who needs to be sponsored in Baptism. Alex and Elle's older daughter, Dianne, already had Aunt Dinny and Uncle Bill Anton for her Godparents as Dinny is Elle's sister and she and Bill were Koumbari for their wedding.

Who would they choose to baptize their baby daughter? For Elle, the choice was easy. She immediately thought of her best friend, Athena! Hence, the baby girl's name became Angel Athena - Angel for Alex's mother, Angeliki from Samos and Athena for Angel's Godmother!

From the very beginning, it was a rare and special relationship. Angel would often spend weekends at her Godparents' and would go to their restaurant, Ham Heaven and to Sts. Constantine and Helen Church along with her beloved Godsisters, Elena and Kathy. Angel was right between them in age. They had so much fun at sleepovers and themed birthday parties - one in particular was a Hawaiian Luau around the time Hawaii became an official state! There were also the other simple but fun childhood pursuits like board games, jumping rope, comic books (the Phantom) and all of the girls had Patty Play Pal dolls that were so life-like, even in size (they wore a size 2T!)

The families also spent many memorable Thanksgiving holidays together, as well. The very comical Nouno George would state, "We are having turkey for Thanksgiving, but also some ham on the side to remind us where the turkey came from!"

Elena, Kathy and Angel all went on to Cass Technical High School and would often run into one another in the halls, there, along with other very good Greek girlfriends from church like Toni, Kris, Pat, Effie, Bessie, Denise and others. The friends would also see one another at GOYA dances and other events, including summer camp in Rose City.

After college, both Elena and Angel worked for the State of Michigan and would often run into one another, downtown and have a very nice, unexpected lunch.

Angel separated from her first husband and on the day of the divorce, right after it was final, she walked across the street from the City-County building and had lunch at Ham Heaven! Comfort food at its best! Not to mention being able to see her precious Godparents.

Over the years, the bond only became stronger. In later years, Elle would tell Angel, "Call your Nouna!" These words still ring in her head, today.

One of the last events Angel and Elle attended together before Elle's death was the Daughters of Penelope Festival of Tables at St. Nicholas in October, 2000, right around Elle's 79th birthday. They, of course, sat next to Athena at her sponsored table.

Angel's beloved mother passed away on December 17th of that year. Elle,
Dianne and Angel had also lost their amazing, eternally positive and cheerful Alex ("Alexander the Great") in July of 1999 and then their precious Aunt Dinny also made her repose in May, 2000.

When Angel and Michael (her sweetheart she had met at age 15, also at Cass Tech) got married at Holy Cross in July, 2001, Athena and George were, of course the Koumbari, doing the honor of sealing their love with the rings and crowns. And Elena made the beautiful koufeta favors.

They say that when one loses her parents, the Godparents take over. That became ever apparent to Angel. Even though she can still hear her mother's words to "Call your Nouna" she does not have to be reminded! She makes every attempt to see her God-family as often as possible.

This past June, Angel became a Godmother herself for the first time. She had prayed a long time to have a God-daughter, and Tracey Vlahos was definitely "worth the wait!" Coincidentally (or not) Tracey is the daughter-in-law of Mary (Fountoukis) Vlahos, who is Dianne's best friend from childhood! Mysterious ways, indeed…

They say blood is thicker than water, but the Holy Chrism (the most essential of all oils) is even thicker than that, sealing us all for eternity with Christ's indescribably wonderful "Agape" love.