Last Thursday marked a historical day for the members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Port Adelaide in South Australia, as they were the only Greek Australians in the country to celebrate the annual Blessing of the Waters this year, due to the ever-increasing coronavirus outbreaks that forced all other religious ceremonies to be cancelled in each state.

Under strict covid measures, clergy and members of the community attended the Hierarchical Orthros and Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Church of The Nativity of Christ in Port Adelaide, which was led by Bishop Silouan and parish priest Father Ioannis Choraitis.

After the liturgy, those in attendance marched towards the Fisherman’s Wharf, Port River waterfront, where the historic Blessing of the Waters took place.

“This is actually the first time in 60 years that the Blessing of the Waters takes place on the actual day of the Theofaneia and we couldn’t be happier,” said the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Port Adelaide, Mr John Douvartzidis.

Bishop Silouan of Sinope presided over the ceremony and spoke about the significance of the event, not only for Christians but also for the whole community and mankind.

He also referred to Archbishop Makarios who at the last minute had to cancel his scheduled attendance in Adelaide after testing positive with COVID-19.

21-year-old John Kokolakis, who is studying to become a teacher, retrieved the Holy Cross after diving in the Port River Waters where he competed with five other young men.

“This is something I try and do every year. I had surgery last year and I couldn’t dive for the cross, so I am even more grateful and excited that I managed to retrieve the cross this year. We are a very religious family, and this means a lot to me and them,” Mr Kokolakis told Neos Kosmos.

“This is the second time I have been successful retrieving the cross, but it is certainly very special because it has been a tough year for everyone and I can only see this as a good sign and a blessing for all of us,” continued Kokolakis of Flinders Park.

Bishop Silouan concluded the event expressing his gratitude to the youth.

“Young people are our compass, and it is our duty to keep them close to the Church,” he concluded.