Sydney’s Hellenic community turned out in the thousands to celebrate the Epiphany Greek Festival with Archbishop Makarios arriving on a boat for the annual service of the Blessings of the Waters.

The all-day event took place today (12 January) at Carss Bush Park with Sydney’s rain staying away long enough for the Festival’s proceedings to run smoothly.

The service commenced at around 1pm with Archbishop Makarios arriving on a boat from where he threw the Cross into the water for the keen swimmers to try to pick up.

The person who found the Cross was 15-year-old Dennis (Διονύσης) Petri from Liverpool.

Following this, the official program began with numerous officials in attendance that also delivered speeches.

Archbishop Makarios with Dennis Petri. Photo: Dimitri Kallos

Archbishop Makarios expressed his gratitude for everyone’s attendance for the event, noting that “the Feast of Theophany is a call to personal renewal”.

Ioannis Mallikourtis, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, stressed the significance of the event as a demonstration of both how tolerant Australian society is and how Greek Australians have managed to hold onto their culture.

“(The event) shows that Greek Australians are a success story because they managed to integrate but at the same time maintain their values, culture, faith and traditions,” Mallikourtis said.

“This is indeed impressive for someone who comes from mainland Greece.”

He thanked the Australian State and Federal authorities for their support of the Festival.

Both Steve Kamper, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Small Business, Lands and Property, and for Sport representing the Premier Chris Minns, and Sam Stratikopoulos, Councillor for Georges River Council representing the Mayor, expressed their pleasure in assisting the event.

Photo: Dimitri Kallos

Kamper explained in his speech that he and the Premier made the decision this year to contribute $50,000 to the Festival, with Stratikopoulos adding that Georges River Council (of which Carss Bush Park is part of) provided roughly $20,000 as an official sponsor for the event.

Nikolaos Varelas, the Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, also conveyed his pleasure to witness the event and reiterated one of Mallikourtis’ other points in his speech in urging the younger generations to continue speaking Greek.

“You have to be proud and show it by our language, our culture, our civilisation and our religion,” Varelas said.

Among the officials was also Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and for Work Health and Safety, with the event not featuring any Federal representation as well as no Liberal representation.

The Festival also featured several dancing groups throughout the day, many stalls selling food and various items, and plenty of music, with the entertainment including a performance by Vasilis Metaxas scheduled in the evening.

The event was emceed by Stan Kondilios.

The Aristotelian Dance Academy. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney Dance Group. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
The notable attendees on stage for the official ceremony. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
Photo: Dimitri Kallos
The swimmers vying to find the Cross as it is thrown by Archbishop Makarios. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
Dennis Petri on the boat with Archbishop Makarios after finding the Cross. Photo: Dimitri Kallos