Thirteen year-old Jason Adamopoulos has a year of good luck coming his way after winning the dive for the cross as part of the Epiphania (Epiphany) celebrations on Thursday.
Thousands of people were at Frankston pier as Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis lead a procession, blessed the waters and threw the wooden crucifix into the water for the eager 20 male competitors to retrieve. Jason, who was competing in the dive for the first time, said his father inspired him to enter. “My Dad did it one year so I thought I’d give it a try,” he said.
“I’m so excited to have won; it feels great.” The Christian Brothers College student, who will be going into Year 8 this year, fielded congratulations from fellow Greek community members and received a gold cross and a blessing from the Bishop. Jason’s father said he has been taking his son to practice swimming off Frankston pier every weekend over the summer.
“I’m so proud,” he said, pointing out his son’s “battle wound”, a scratch obtained from the cross dive. Competitors ranged in age with the youngest, Erik Kafritsas, just eight years old. Erik and his mother travelled an hour and a half from Greensborough to watch the event, before he decided at the last minute to take part.
Greek Orthodox Community of Frankston committee member, Lambros Semertzidis, who has been involved with the event for the past eight years, said the dive for the cross is no easy feat.
“I’ve done it a couple of times and it’s pretty tough, you get kicked in the face and pushed under water, it’s pretty competitive,” he said. While girls can compete, “it’s generally 97 percent males”, he added.
The Epiphania, which marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas, symbolises all the faces of the holy trinity, which appeared simultaneously at Jesus’ baptism, Greek Orthodox Community of Frankston committee member, Tim Gemetzsis said.
The event has special relevance for the local church, the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of Theofania, as January 6 is also the saint’s day for Agia Theofania. “Our church was the first to celebrate this occasion in Australia and has been doing so for 50 years,” Mr Gemetzsis said.
Thousands of people also turned out for the ceremony in Rye, with Dimitri Kardas winning the dive for the cross, after competing for the fourth time. A ceremony will be held at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, tomorrow (Sunday, January 9), from 12:30pm, followed by a fete.