The 39th Festival “Theofania – Blessing of the Waters” is set to happen at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne

On Sunday 9 January 2022, Theofania Festival will take place for the 39th consecutive time Station Pier Port Melbourne.

The location holds a special significance to Melbourne’s Greeks as it was the point of arrival of the 1950s and 1960s main immigration wave to the Antipodes.

The holy blessing of the waters, a sacred day for Orthodox Christians around the world will be conducted under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in collaboration with the Inter-Communities Council of Victoria.

The event garners hundreds to thousands of faithful and courageous young men and women that are not afraid to dive into the cold ocean waters and retrieve the cross that the Bishop casts into the waters. It is believed that whoever retrieves the Cross receives God’s blessings. The successful diver also receives a golden chain with a crucifix from the Archdiocese to commemorate the event.

Every year the Theofania liturgy and ceremony marks an exciting and colourful day full of tradition and cultural festivities that include traditional food, music and dancing open to the entire family.

The ceremony will be conducted by Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis and  Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta accompanied by local clergy. The festival will be attended by the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Federal, State, Local and Community representatives.

Neoskosmos.com