The most common means of creating a wider family network was baptismal sponsorship because every infant had to have a sponsor (anadochos) present at the ‘adoption in holy baptism’. The ritual of baptism created spiritual ties of kinship which united godparents and natural parents as co-parents {synteknoi) and the offspring of both families as spiritual brothers and sisters. Parents sometimes chose relatives as godparents to their children but there are many more examples of friends or those whose friendship was sought, acting as sponsors. The offer to create a tie through baptismal sponsorship could enhance an existing friendship or create a new one. The famiUes linked by baptismal sponsorship socialized, eating and drinking together, visiting each other and giving gifts. Godparents were obUged to instruct their godchildren in the faith. However, they are more visible acting as substitute parents for their orphaned godchildren, providing an upbringing, education, dowry, and even entering into business transactions with them (Macrides 1987; 139-62).
Adelphopoiia
The adoption of a brother/sister differs markedly from the other ties. Although a ritual exists for its celebration and formation and treatises include it as a form of arranged kinship, it was rejected by the Church as ‘not admissible by law’. Yet in the statement of rejection there is an admission that the tie was sought after. Even members of the church hierarchy became brothers by arrangement (Padagean 1978: 625-36). The tie functioned in a way similar to that between a godparent and the natural parent of a child. Both ties were based on friendship or the hope of it and carried with them the obUgation of mutual help and support Adelphopoiia could provide a means of access and intimacy between a man and a woman or people of the same sex (Macrides 1990:110).
World History
