Greek Epiphany

Greetings,

Today Harry and I joined in with the Greek festivities of Epiphany...

The Greek Festival of Epiphany, or 'The Blessing of the Waters', is held every year on January 6 throughout all of Greece.

Epiphany is a feast day of the Christian church which commemorates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist.

The church service lasts about an hour... then the crowd gathers outside for the parade march towards the waters.

After services, the congregation and guests will gather dockside outside the Harbor. Prayers will be recited over the ocean asking the Lord to bless the ocean, protect those that sail on it, provide temperate weather and guard the faithful. A cross will be dipped into the harbor’s water and a dove released to symbolize the descent of the Holy Spirit.

While the prayers are read and the choir chants, the priest will throw a white cross into the water and teenagers of the parish will dive to retrieve it. Prayers are said over the young person who retrieves the cross and all the divers.

Boats from all around gather for the blessing.

The kids are gathering... waiting to jump into the icy waters in search of the cross.

I have several video clips, but not sure how to upload them... now that blogger no longer has that little video film strip upload button?  Will try another way... if I can figure it out.

Blessings,