An unusual turn of events occurred on Epiphany this year, as the Holy Cross fell into the Athens Reservoir during the traditional water consecration service.
The incident took place in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Athens Mayor Haris Doukas, with Bishop Euripus Chrysostomos officiating the ceremony.
As the Bishop threw the Holy Cross into the water, it became evident that the cross was not properly tied in his hand. The cross plunged into the reservoir and remained submerged for around 20 minutes, causing a brief disruption during the sacred event.
An urgent operation was swiftly launched by EYDAP, Athens’ water utility company, to recover the sacred object. A team of employees worked quickly to retrieve the cross using a pole. After 20 minutes of effort, the cross was successfully recovered, ensuring the completion of the Epiphany ceremony.
Despite the unexpected mishap, the event concluded without further issues, with the Holy Cross restored to its rightful place.