Winner of SA’s eventful Blessing of the Waters to be presented with his award next week

·

It was an eventful afternoon for faithful and attendees of the Annual Blessing of the Waters held in Glenelg, South Australia on Sunday.

“I understand that there was a competition for the cross today but in two forms. A lawful one and an unlawful one,” Bishop Silouan of Sinope told the crowd after it was made clear that the man who reached the cross first had not registered and was already in the water and not at the shore with the other swimmers.

The man, who later identified himself as ‘Victor’ refused to hand the cross to the priests and was later escorted off site by a police officer for questioning.

During the negotiations, church representatives and the priests were urging the police for the matter to be resolved peacefully. 

The cross was returned to the church later during the day.

According to an announcement published on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (Archdiocesan District of Adelaide) social media pages on Sunday evening, Andreas Pavlou, the official winner of the Epiphany ceremony, will be presented with his award on Sunday, 17 January.

Speaking to The Greek Herald, Mr Pavlou said he feels blessed to be the winner.

“I was very pleased and excited when I was announced the winner. It was my fifth time going for the cross and I gave it my all and tried my hardest to get the cross. I feel very blessed”.

Although it was a first for Adelaide, a similar event unfolded last year in Port Melbourne’s ceremony when an interloper reached the cross before the 25 registered swimmers. 

*All photos Copyright ©️The Greek Herald

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Alumni excellence celebrated in style at Oakleigh Grammar

Oakleigh Grammar has inducted two more former students into the prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame.

A pilgrimage to heroic Souli: Remembering the legacy of the Souliotes and Souliotises

Nestled in the rugged mountains of Epirus, Souli is more than just a historical site—it is a symbol of resilience and bravery.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: Defining Orthodoxy and preserving Hellenism

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great, stands as a pivotal event in Christian history.

From PAK to PASOK: Sakis Gekas to lecture on anti-dictatorship resistance in Toronto

The talk will feature some of the key moments of the anti-dictatorship struggle and its manifestations in the public sphere.

US urges EU to abandon protections for feta and other regional products

The United States is ramping up pressure on the European Union to eliminate its system of geographical indications.

You May Also Like

Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo gets first acting gig

Love on the Spectrum reality TV star Michael Theo is playing the lead role in a new comedy drama called Austin.

‘It is not okay’: Germany condemns Turkey’s violation of Greek air space

Germany has condemned the violation of Greece's air space and overflights by Turkey's military aircraft above some Greek islands.

Abbot of St George Monastery at Yellow Rock removed by Holy Eparchial Synod

The Holy Eparchial Synod of Australia has removed Hieromonk Ieronymos Voultsidis as Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint George, Yellow Rock.