Epiphany in Greece: Blessing the Waters tagged: , , , , , ,

Epiphany in Greece: Blessing the Waters

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix

You think it’s too cold to dive into the water and catch the Cross? No problem! Others will do it for you today. That’s a nice tradition indeed performed on January 6, the day Christians celebrate the Epiphaneia(appearance) or Blessing of the Waters.

Faithful Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. This ritual is seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God, that’s why it is also called Theophany (God shining forth or divine manifestation) or Phota (Lights).

It is one of the Great Feasts of Christians that closes festively the twelve days that started on the Christmas Eve.

Greek Orthodox Church perform the Great Blessing of the Waters. After the divine liturgy, the clergy and th epeople  go to a procession with the cross to the nearest body of living water (lake, sea, river, water depot).

At the end of the ceremony the priest will bless the waters by casting a cross into the water. It is now the turn of volunteers – mostly young men – to participate in the ceremony.. they dive into the water to recover the cross. The lucky one returns the cross to the priest and receives a special blessing.

If there is no living water nearby the Blessing ceremony is hold outside the church with a baptism font filled with water. People take the Holy Water at home and sprinkle their house, their fields, their animals. They also drink it.

 Greek Orthodox Church teaches that on that day a miracle happens as the nature of water changes and becomes incorrupt.

Sprinkling the Theophany Waters  also cleans the world of the mischief-prone Kalikantzaroi, the goblins try to torment God-fearing Christians through the festive season.

Today is the last day to turn on the lights of the Christmas Tree. Unfortunately we undecorate it tomorrow…

Read more information about Epiphany customs around the world here