Worldwide celebrations commence as the Theophania begins

·

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.

In Australia, various activities and food celebrations are on display during the Theophania, including food stalls selling souvlaki, loukoumades and baklava. Thousands will flock to numerous locations across Australia, with some of the main ones being the Epiphany day (Theofania) celebration in Frankston, Melbourne, and the Epiphany Greek Festival in Yarra Bay, Sydney.

The main event is comprised of the throwing of the cross, by which a holy cross is thrown into any water basin, varying from seas to rivers, lakes, and even fountains. After a priest throws the cross, men plunge into the water to grab hold of it and try to outrace each other. Whoever succeeds in reaching the cross first and bringing it out is believed to be blessed with good luck. The festival marks the 12th day of Christmas celebration and is considered one of the ​most important religious festivals.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Victorian football community mourns after the passing of Heidelberg United’s Keely Lockhart

The Victorian football community is in mourning following the heartbreaking news of Keely Lockhart’s tragic passing.

Alexia Apostolakis debuts for Matildas in narrow defeat to Panama

Greek Australian teenager Alexia Apostolakis made her senior debut for the CommBank Matildas on Saturday. Read more here.

Greek government to host online seminar for Greeks abroad on tax, business and relocation

An online information seminar designed specifically for Greeks living abroad will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Erin Patterson found guilty of mushroom lunch murders

Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her relatives by intentionally serving them a meal laced with deadly mushrooms.

Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers set to launch in Athens

The world’s most distinguished Hellenic legal minds are set to gather in Athens for the inaugural Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers 2025.

You May Also Like

Dutch journalist in heated exchange with Mitsotakis flees Greece amid safety concerns

Dutch journalist, Ingeborg Beugel, has confirmed that she has left Greece after allegedly facing attacks and bullying.

UK PM rebuffs Greek PM’s demand for talks on Parthenon marbles

The British Prime Minister has told his Greek counterpart that the decision to repatriate the Parthenon marbles is up to the British Museum.

Effy Alexakis officially launches her ‘Forty Photographs: A Year at a Time’ exhibition

Effy Alexakis has officially launched her exhibition, Forty Photographs: A Year at a Time, at the N. Smith Gallery in Paddington.