AUSTRALIA: Greek Orthodox Epiphany Celebrations in Sydney 2023

Hundreds of people from Greek Orthodox parishes in Sydney attending this year’s Epiphany celebrations at Yarra Bay on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

According to three of the four gospels, the Great and Holy Feast of Epiphany (Theophany) celebrates the revelation of God when, during the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist at the Jordan River, the voice of God is heard from Heaven saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved- with you I am pleased.” It is also the time when the divine presence known as the Holy Trinity came into being; in addition to God and his Son, the Holy Spirit was present, too, arriving in the form of a dove.

This year marked Archbishop Makarios’ second year officiating the Epiphany celebrations, since becoming the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. The past two years were cancelled due to the Covid19 pandemic.

Over 100 swimmers ran and swam into the water with hopes of retrieving the Holy Cross. This year, victory was claimed by a father of three, Dimitri Glastras, from the Parish of St Spyridon in Kingsford. “You are not lucky, you are blessed,” the Archbishop told Dimitri Glastras once he emerged from the water.

His Eminence blessed all the swimmers one by one, and during this speech highlighted the meaning of diving for the Holy Cross. As he explained, this is not just a symbolic event or a tradition followed in the villages in Greece and repeated in Australia, it is an exhortation to all Christians to make meaningful changes in their lives.

During the service of the Sanctification of the Waters, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was joined by His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis and His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, the Chancellor of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Archimandrite Christophoros Krikelis and the Holy Clergy of the city of Sydney.

Many officials, representatives of the consular authorities, the political authorities of Australia and the organisations and institutions of the Greek Communities. Among others, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Yannis Mallikourtis, the Federal Member of Parliament, Mr. Matthew Thistlethwaite, who represented the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Anthony Albanese, the Greek Senator Mr. Peter Poulos, who represented the State Premier of New South Wales, Mr Dominic Perrottet, the Leader of the Opposition Party in the Parliament of New South Wales, Mr Chris Minns, Greek NSW State MPs, Ms. Sofia Kotsis and Mr. Steve Kamper, the Mayor of the City of Randwick, Mr. Dylan Parker, the councillor of the City of Randwick, Ms. Alexandra Luxford, the Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council and Secretary of the Consolidated Trust of the Holy Archdiocese, Mr. Nick Papas and the Secretary of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Ms. Nia Karteris.

*Images by Nick Bourdaniotis/Bourdo Photography (Copyright)