The morning service at Theofania church for Epiphany was led by Archbishop Makarios of Australia. After the liturgy, the parishioners moved to Frankston Pier to bless the water and the annual diving for the cross.
On a very warm, 30 C, day, crowds had already gathered on the pier, and a brilliant sun in the azure made the waters sparkle.
Epiphany marks the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and according to scripture, God was revealed, thus the words Epiphany or Theophany.
Greek Consul General Emmanuel Kakavelakis for Victoria, told Neos Kosmos that Epiphany, or Theophany, “is a unique feast” because “it’s a day of Revelation, it’s a day of union and it’s a day of enlightenment.”
“God is revealed to man today, and there is the union of heaven and earth in the body of Jesus Christ, and union and alignment for us as people for us Greeks, it’s a piece that brings all of us together a day of great celebration.”
The consul in his linen blue suit, taking respite under tree shade, waiting for the Archbishop to arrive, said we were “blessed with beautiful weather today.”
Neos Kosmos asked the consul general if he’d ever noted the irony that our cohorts in Greece would be jumping into icy cold waters here. It’s the middle of summer?
“I have considered as a Consul General that it might be my turn to dive and in that case, I would rather do it in Australia than Greece at this time of the year”, joked the Consul General.
Archbishop Makarios, Australia’s leader of the Orthodox faith, told Neos Kosmos the day marks one of “the most significant celebrations in Greek Orthodoxy and Greek culture.”
“God declares himself, he is made evident, as the word says, Epiphany, the presence of god to people, and Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were made manifest.”
“Today is when the mystery of the baptism occurred in the Jordan River, again we have the revelation of God as the Holy Trinity, the Son is in the water, the Holy Ghost appears as a dove, and God is heard saying ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'”
The Archbishop said the celebration has become wedded to Hellenism: “Greece is surrounded by water, full of islands, and is a seafaring nation, and people bless the waters.”
Bishop Themistoklis told Neos Kosmos that in River Jordan, “God through his son Jesus, God the Father spoke for the first time in centuries.”
“We hear God the Father speaking and the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove, consequently a manifestation of the Holy Trinity.
“That as it happened today was a watershed by which we understood God’s identity as a Trinitarian God.”
After blessing the waters, and before throwing the wooden cross into the sea, Archbishop Makarios, in English, reflected on 2023, in which the world “faced trials and tribulations.”
“We reflect and set goals and consider how we want to achieve them,” he said, adding we are blessed in a “peaceful multicultural Australia.”
“As you consider your New Year’s resolutions, I encourage you to make this your primary resolution to make Christ part of life.”
He then tossed the cross into the sea, and immediately the young, and some young at heart, dove and raced and to what became a scramble over the cross.
Kosta Kopsaftis, the young man who was successful in retrieving the cross, told Neos Kosmos, “The cross means much; it gives me hope and good luck for 2024.”
For many attending, like Demos, the event is both “spiritual and cultural.”
“It’s our religion and our culture, and it’s my mother’s, brother’s sister’s name day, so we make it a family event.”
Mother and daughter Athena and Katerina felt the event “spiritually and traditionally we come every year.”
Irene, who graduated in international relations and politics last year, said. “Spiritual life is important to me, as is keeping cultural tradition alive.”
Senior high school student Panayiotis, originally from Greece and living here for 10 years, said he loved it and “loves Australia.”
It was the first time for Elly, Greg and their two children, Arian and Kosta. Elly sees it as an important “Hellenic tradition” and wants the “kids to be aware of who they are.”
Ariana said she “will not be jumping in to find the cross”, any time soon, while Kosta said he would consider it maybe when “I become 11.”
Greg wants to dive for the cross, and every year he mentions it: “My wife laughs at me, but I am determined and will get fit for next year.”
