The 45th annual Blessing of the Waters Ceremony took place on Sunday at the Glenelg Jetty, drawing crowds to a vibrant celebration of centuries-old religious tradition. The event was part of the Glenelg Greek Festival, which featured cultural and religious activities from Friday to Sunday.
Sunday’s centerpiece festivities began at 12.30pm with approximately 50 swimmers diving into the sea, competing to retrieve a crucifix thrown from the jetty by Bishop Silouan of Adelaide. The swimmer who successfully retrieved the cross received a gold crucifix and a special blessing for the year ahead.
The procession onto the jetty was led by clergy from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, joined by representatives from Ukrainian, Serbian, Romanian, and Antiochian Orthodox churches. The ceremony commemorated the Feast of Epiphany, celebrating Jesus Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan by John the Baptist and the manifestation of the Holy Trinity.
Prominent attendees included Premier of SA Peter Malinauskas along with other local, state, and federal dignitaries.
Following the Blessing of the Waters, the Glenelg Greek Festival continued its celebrations on the grassed foreshore near the Stamford Grand Hotel. Running across three days, the festival showcased traditional Greek food, music, and dance, supported by over 120 volunteers from Greek Orthodox parishes across South Australia.
