Maria Menounos Shares Sweet Scenes from Daughter Athena's Christening: 'So Grateful' (Exclusive)

Menounos shares her 11-month-old daughter with husband Keven Undergaro

Maria Menounos' daughter has reached a special milestone!

The former E! News correspondent's 11-month-old daughter Athena recently had her christening at St. Nectarios Church, with Menounos, 45, sharing several photos with PEOPLE from the event and the subsequent party. Menounos, who shares Athena with husband Keven Undergaro, tells PEOPLE it was a "beautiful christening for my beautiful little Athena."

"I'm so grateful to St. Nectarios for all the miracles and knew she had to be baptized there. So grateful to our priest Father Demosthenes for a wonderful service and for all the love he and his family have shown us," the proud mom tells PEOPLE.

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Related: Maria Menounos Talks 'Bittersweet' First Mother's Day with Daughter Athena as She Holds Space for Late Mom

"Grateful as well to Athena's godparents Sotiris Ira Marietta and Leon for coming all the way from Greece (and for lugging boxes of Athena's christening wear to L.A. – post to come) and for taking on the sacred position of godparents," Menounos continues. "Also grateful for all who joined us in love to witness this special ceremony!"

In photos from the ceremony, Menounos can be seen holding Athena, who wore a white christening dress made by Celia Kritharioti. Athena's dress had a sweet tie to Menounos, who has worn Kritharioti's dresses to the Oscars and her wedding.

After the ceremony, Menounos, Undergaro and their guests celebrated "in true Greek fashion" with a huge party.

"So many beautiful memories from the after party! In true Greek fashion, we had a big celebration with great food, great music and even greater company!" Menounos tells PEOPLE. "Thank you to everyone who attended and showered our little Athena with so much love. It was beyond amazing."

The party, planned by Nicole Arena, featured cocktails from Casamigos and Cameron Diaz's Avaline wine.

"One of my favorite things was Athena's christening oil — as you may know, oil is such a big part of Greece and each one is from a different area!" Menounos says. "Her godparents went to a local store and the only one they found was specifically from Spitiko, and it happens to be a blend of all of the oils from all over Greece."

"If you know Athena's name, it is Athena Alexandra, also known as the goddess of war and wisdom and the defender of humankind...so it is only fitting that the oil is from everywhere as she is here to protect everybody!" Menounos adds.

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