More than 40,000 people attended the 2025 Epiphany Greek Festival on Sunday, January 12, at Carss Bush Park in Sydney, NSW. The festival delivered a spectacular day of cultural celebration, faith, and community.
The festival was organised by St Basil’s NSW/ACT and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA).
Official guests in attendance included the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; the Deputy High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Nikolaos Varellas; the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper MP; the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis MP; and Georges River Councillor Sam Stratikopoulos; as well as many other Presidents and representatives of Greek community organisations and institutions.
The day began with the Blessing of the Waters ceremony, led by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. The Archbishop was joined by Their Graces, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis and Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
Attendees watched as young men attempted to retrieve the Holy Cross from the waters, a powerful act symbolising renewal and blessings for the year ahead.
Ultimately, the Cross was retrieved by the young Dionysios Petri, who received the Archbishop’s paternal blessing, as did the other swimmers.
The Blessing of the Waters was followed by a number of official speeches.
In his address, Archbishop Makarios reflected on the Holy Cross as “the instrument of our redemption and the gateway to eternal life.” He recalled the central importance of the Cross in the Orthodox faith, noting that “it is the ultimate symbol of Christ’s love and sacrifice, the instrument of our redemption and the gateway to eternal life.”
The Consul General Mr Mallikourtis stressed how the festival “shows that Greek Australians are a success story because they managed to integrate, but at the same time maintain their values, culture, faith and traditions.”
Cyprus’ Deputy High Commissioner Mr Varelas conveyed his pleasure to witness the event and reiterated one of Mr Mallikourtis’ other points in his speech in urging the younger generations to continue speaking Greek.
During his speech, Minister Kamper shared that he and the NSW Premier Chris Minns decided to contribute a $50,000 grant to the festival this year. Cr Stratikopoulos added that Georges River Council, which oversees Carss Bush Park, provided approximately $20,000 as an official sponsor of the event.
At the conclusion of the official proceedings, which were emceed by Stan Kondilios, the festival grounds came alive with traditional Greek music and dance performances, featuring cultural groups adorned in vibrant costumes.
Families enjoyed a variety of activities, including rides, face painting, and a Ferris wheel, ensuring fun for all ages.
Food was a major attraction, with stalls offering everything from savoury souvlaki to sweet loukoumades.
Over 80 vendors displayed handmade crafts and authentic Greek products, giving attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in Greece’s rich culinary and artisanal heritage.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Oglos
