Surprises during the celebration of Epiphany throughout Greece

January 8, 2020
Written by E.Tsiliopoulos

^Featured

Surprises during the celebration of Epiphany throughout Greece

Like every year, this year on Epiphany day there were quite a few surprises. Faithful across the country dived into the icy waters to catch the ross, but the evere weather made their job more difficult.

The islanders had the most difficulty finding the ross in the water, as the waves in the Aegean and Crete were huge. On the other hand, those most feeling the freeze were the inhabitants of Northern Greece, with temperatures reminiscent ofthe North Pole.

Cephalonia: Strong winds knock the priest into the sea
In Cephalonia a priest ended up in the sea in an attempt tothrow the cross. The incident occurred in the Skala area. As can be seen in the video of Kefalonia Click, as the priest and the faithful approached the "wild" waters of the sea, the strong winds blowing in the area swept the priest nto the water.

Chania: He fell for the Cross and a lifeguard had to save him
In Chania, the winds were so strong that a man trying to catch the cross was in danger. However, thanks to the intervention of the members of the Volunteer Lifeguard Unit of the Chania Nautical Club, who were in the port for another year, he was rescued.

Fthiotida: After no one dove to catch the Cross, the priest did
In all splendor, the Holy Epiphany was celebrated in the Kainourgio, Fthiotida, on the beach, in front of the camps of St. Catherine. According to Kamena Vourla News, local pastor Ioannis Eleftherios, (possibly Papa Yiannis), dove in to gather the Cross himself, as no faithful attempted to catch it.

Nafpaktos: A girl catches the Cross against seven boys
A girl bested seven boys in Nafpaktos, catching the Cross. According to the NPress website, the children dove for the ross just across from where the Metropolitan threw it in the sea, so the procedure was perfectly fair. Eurydice Loukopoulou became the first woman to catch the cross in Nafpaktos.

The cross in Florina was lost
During the water blessing in Florina there was an unexpected event. Specifically, the priest threw the cross farther from the point they had calculated so it was ... lost. According to ERT, the most adventurous were trying to find the cross, while dozens of residents were watching.

A thirteen year old fell in the freezing Thermaikos
A total of 21 people jumped into the icy waters of Thermaikos on the occasion of the blessing of the waters ceremony. Among themwas 14-year-old Alexandros Patsios. Alexandros lived in Germany and has been living in Greece with his family for a year. He ad seen videos with those who were involved in the ceremony and wanted to take part in it. Why did he dive? "For Christ," he said in statements, stressing that he would recommend it to his friends so that they too would have the experience.

Dutch man catches the cross in Kerkyra

27-year-old Tom from the Netherlands, who is in Corfu for his last year, working for the Institute of Geopolitics. "I feel very fortunate and grateful to have received the cross. It was the first time I dove and will do it every year, despite the unbearably cold weather,” the 27-year-old Dutchman, who not only loves Corfu but also follows its traditions, told AMNA.
theofaneia kekyra ollandos epiase stavro 2020 01 06

theofaneia kekyra ollandos epiase stavro 2020 01 06

A 10-year-old caught a Cross in the municipality of Neapolis-Sykes
With the messages of peace and love, the Feast of the Epiphany was celebrated in the municipality of Neapolis-Sykes, where two water-sanctification and diving ceremonies of the Holy Cross took place, in the Municipal Swimming Pool of the Sykes Municipal Unit and in the municipal swimming pool of the Neapolis Municipality.

Dozens of children, boys and girls, adults, athletes, club members or individual swimmers dove into the water to catch the Cross. The lucky one for 2020 in Sykes as a 10-year-old student who caught the Cross, and also took it to his class. 19-year-old Asterios Katrantzis, a student in the second year of the School of Automation at the TEI of Thessaloniki caught the Cross in the other ceremony.

see the video from Cepalonia