All roads led to Batemans Bay on Sunday, January 5 as around 300 people gathered to witness the annual Blessing of the Waters, a central event of the Epiphany celebrations.
Locals from Batemans Bay were joined by visitors from Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulburn and Sydney to mark this significant occasion in the Greek Orthodox calendar.
In the morning, a Divine Liturgy was held at St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Batemans Bay. The service was co-led by Father Iakovos Syriotis from the St Demetrios parish in Queanbeyan and Father Kyriacos Theologou from the St Panteleimon parish in Goulburn.
Among those present were Sid Pascalidis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Batemans Bay, and major benefactors John and Angelo Liangis, who were acknowledged for their ongoing contributions to the local community.
The highlight of the day took place at Clyde Wharf, where families gathered to witness the traditional dive for the Holy Cross.
Nickolaos Mihailou, originally from Canberra and on holiday in Batemans Bay with his family, successfully retrieved the cross. As a proud Kalymnian, this marked his participation in three Blessings of the Waters ceremonies, a meaningful act of faith and tradition.
Following the ceremony, the Greek Orthodox Community of Batemans Bay hosted a BBQ seafood lunch at the church hall, providing a warm and festive gathering for attendees.
With perfect summer weather reaching 37 degrees, the beaches were bustling as locals and visitors alike enjoyed the holiday spirit well into the afternoon.
*All photos supplied by Nick Tsoulias.
