Crowds gathered on Rye’s beachfront for the blessing of the waters presided over by Father Eleftherios Tatsis and organised by the Hellenic Orthodox Brotherhood of St Paisios of Australia.
Moved by the mass attendance of faithful at the established annual ceremony, the priest gave a short speech to the congregation speaking on the importance of faith and family.
“The Church” he said, “it’s you,” to much applause.
He emphasised his plans to continue preaching the Liturgy.
Fr Eleftherios, affectionately referred to by his followers as Papa Lefteri, remarked that at the moment he also acts as a nurse, as his wife Papadia is ill.
He added that he once lost his voice after officiating 45 mysteries one weekend.
“After that I was told I wouldn’t be able to continue my work, but Christ told me not to lose my faith and showed me ways to find my voice,” Papa Lefteri said.
“I didn’t become a priest for the money. I became one for my faith and if there’s a man or woman who says I took money from them, let them come and spit on me,” the well-known cleric concluded.
He then threw the crucifix into the sea as is tradition, from a boat just off shore as swarms of swimmers leaped into the water to retrieve it.
The cross was retrieved from the water by a young man named Luke.
