With grandeur but also unexpected incidents, the celebrations of the Epiphany took place today in various cities and communities of Cyprus, focusing on the timeless custom of diving and retrieving the Holy Cross.
In Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and dozens of coastal areas, a multitude of believers attended the blessing of the waters. Both young and older people dived into the sea, following the tradition that has accompanied this great feast for centuries.
However, this year’s celebrations did not proceed without issues everywhere. In Limassol’s old port, during the water blessing ceremony, confusion arose when the cross retrieved from the sea was not handed over to the priest by the person who retrieved it. An unknown man, speaking broken Greek, left the area holding the wooden cross. The police have been informed and are investigating the incident, examining testimonies and material from the area.
The Holy Cross thrown into Limassol’s waters holds no monetary value but is of purely symbolic and religious significance.
An unexpected event also occurred in Ayia Napa during the ceremony at the local harbor. More than 30 people, including an eight-year-old boy and a woman, dived into the sea to retrieve the golden Cross dropped by Bishop Vasileios of Constantia and Famagusta. The golden Cross initially got lost at the bottom and despite repeated efforts, was not immediately found. Subsequently, a wooden Cross was thrown into the sea and retrieved by two swimmers while white doves were released during the ceremony.
A short while later, the golden Cross was found and handed over to Bishop Vasileios, who awarded a golden cross to the person who found it while silver crosses were given to all participants in the dive. The statements made by eight-year-old Panagiotis Denexaneas from Mani were touching; he jumped into the sea to find the Cross and said he would do it again next year.
In Ayia Napa, Parliament President Annita Demetriou wished “enlightenment for souls and redemption for our homeland,” emphasizing the importance of state presence at these celebrations. Meanwhile, Bishop Vasileios spoke of “the paradoxes of Divine matters,” highlighting that the essence of the day is spiritual struggle and hope for freedom and reunification of our homeland.
The President of Parliament Annita Demetriou congratulated 8-year-old Panagiotis Denexaneas from Mani who dived into the sea to retrieve the Holy Cross.
The celebrations proceeded smoothly without issues in other areas. In Zygi, events began with a Divine Liturgy at Apostle Barnabas Church followed by a procession to Zygi Marina where water blessing took place in front of many believers and local authorities.
The President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides attended in Paphos with his family. At Saints Anargyroi Church he led an Archieratic Divine Liturgy and performed a Great Water Blessing. A procession followed to Paphos Harbor where traditional cross diving took place. The President wished “many years and enlightenment,” emphasizing its significance for Hellenism and Orthodoxy.
The Epiphany celebration was held with grandeur today along with customary Water Blessing at Aglantzia Municipality, Nicosia District,, in beautiful Athalassa Lake behind Saint Barbara Church.
After the Sanctification of the Waters, a greeting was addressed by the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, who wished good enlightenment to all and stressed the importance of preserving traditions that unite society and strengthen collective memory and cohesion.
The ceremony took place within the framework of an event organized by the Nicosia Municipality, with the casting of the Holy Cross into the lake’s waters by the Bishop of Mesaoria, in the presence of a crowd that flooded the area, creating an atmosphere of reverence and celebration.
An artistic program followed, while the Nicosia Municipality offered traditional loukoumades (honey balls) to the attendees, concluding the event in a warm and festive climate. The celebration concluded with the participation of citizens of all ages, confirming that the custom of the Sanctification of the Waters remains alive and essential in modern public life.
Despite the isolated mishaps, the custom of diving for the Holy Cross remains vibrant and deeply rooted in the collective memory of the land, serving every year as a point of reference for faith, tradition, and social cohesion.
