The Epiphany was marked with vibrant celebrations across Greece and the world on January 6.
In Greece, Blessing of the Waters ceremonies drew faithful participants into icy waters in pursuit of the Holy Cross.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended a ceremony at Hadrian’s Aqueduct in Athens, where he highlighted the optimism and hope symbolised by the Epiphany.
“Greece today is a beacon of stability in an unstable world and a country that, despite difficulties, is paving the way for progress in a more general environment of stagnation,” Mitsotakis said.
Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou celebrated the occasion at Lake Doiran in Kilkis, participating in the Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Waters ceremony.
She delivered a message of peace and renewal, saying, “From Kilkis, I am wishing that the light of love and peace dispels the darkness threatening humanity.”
In Thessaloniki, a planned dive for an 11-year-old boy to retrieve the Cross turned dramatic when a 25-year-old man unexpectedly dived and claimed it. The situation was amicably resolved when the diver handed the Cross back to the boy, expressing ignorance of prior arrangements.
Meanwhile, in Ioannina, a 12-year-old girl retrieved the Cross, and in Evia, a 10-year-old boy braved the cold to do the same. Zakynthos maintained its distinct custom of symbolically dipping the Cross rather than casting it into the sea.
In addition to the Prime Minister and President, other political figures also marked the day. PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis attended celebrations at the Phanar in Istanbul, while SYRIZA leader Socrates Famellos was present at the grand ceremony in Piraeus, where Archbishop Ieronymos led the Blessing of the Waters.
Globally, the Epiphany was celebrated through unique traditions. In Istanbul, worshippers swam in the Golden Horn, while in Bulgaria, men sang and danced in rivers. Prague hosted its annual Three Kings swim, and in Kyiv, believers braved icy waters amidst the ongoing conflict.
In Australia, the Epiphany was celebrated with Divine Liturgies around the nation and Blessing of the Waters ceremonies in places such as Rye, Rosebud, Darwin and Batemans Bay.
