Blessing of the Waters ceremony marks Epiphany in Darwin

·

The Greek Orthodox community of Darwin in the Northern Territory gathered at the city’s Waterfront on Sunday, January 5, to mark the annual Blessing of the Waters ceremony as part of Epiphany celebrations.

Presided over by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, the ceremony honoured the baptism of Christ and the sanctification of the waters, a significant tradition in the Orthodox Christian faith.

A highlight of the day was the traditional dive to retrieve the Holy Cross. This year, Chris Townsend, a member of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW, successfully retrieved the cross, earning congratulations and applause from the gathered crowd.

The ceremony was organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia, and was attended by a number of officials including NT Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill; NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby; Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling MP; and the Country Liberal Party candidate for Solomon, Lisa Bayliss.

Large delegations from Cretan organisations across Australia and New Zealand were also in attendance as they were in Darwin for their annual convention. Organisations included the World Council of Cretans, the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, the Cretan Association of Northern Territory, the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW, the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, and the Cretan Association of Tasmania.

As the weekend drew to a close, attendees departed with a sense of unity and pride in their shared heritage, strengthened by the spiritual and cultural significance of the cherished annual event.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

St Benedict School in Mt Torrens rejects screens, embraces ancient Greek philosophy

Established in early 2024 by members of the Catholic Church of the Holy Name, St Benedict has grown to around 50 students.

Greece’s stolen treasures find a digital voice in UNESCO’s Vanishing Museum

UNESCO’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, launched at MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona, offers a new way to confront cultural loss.

Michael Tassis included among SEQ’s leading hospitality bosses

With 11 venues already thriving and a twelfth on the way, Tassis has cemented his place as one of Queensland’s most dynamic restaurateurs.

EU to replace passport stamps with biometric border system

The E.U. is preparing to phase out traditional passport stamps for non-EU travelers, introducing a new digital border control program.

Parthenon free of scaffolding for the first time in 15 years

For the first time in over 15 years, Athenians and visitors can enjoy an unobstructed view of the Parthenon.

You May Also Like

Donald Trump gets back to work as world leaders condemn assassination attempt

World leaders condemned the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on the weekend.

Nafplio listed among the ‘Most Welcoming Cities on Earth’ for 2022

The Greek city of Nafplio has been named as one of the '10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth for 2022' by Booking.com.

Indigenous lawyer Matthew Karakoulakis shares his secret to being the best in his field

When it comes to success, First Nations lawyer Matthew Karakoulakis says it’s all about having a supportive team and an encouraging family.