Theophania celebrations were underway in Melbourne at Rosebud on Monday January 6, with Matthew Papadimitriou from Florina catching the cross for the third time.
20 young men entered the chilly water, on what was a cloudy Melbourne morning, to catch the Holy Cross and be blessed by the priest for the year.
Matthew Papadimitriou was a member of the 2019 Hawthorn Spartan premiership team, and will be hoping that the cross brings him further luck for the year.
The Theophania, or “Epiphany”, is celebrated on January 6 every year and commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ through a day of celebration and festivities. The Theophania, meaning “Christ shining through”, is one of the most meaningful celebrations for the Greek Orthodox Church, ranked third behind only Easter and Pentecost.
