The Feast of Theophany was celebrated with splendour in the Holy Diocese of Canberra, with the coastal town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales and the local Greek Orthodox Community of St John the Baptist at the centre of the festivities.
Saturday, 10 January, proved to be a blessed and historic day for the local community, as the celebrations were presided over by the first Bishop of Canberra, Bishop Athenagoras.
The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Great Blessing of the Waters at the Church of St John the Baptist, presided over by Bishop Athenagoras and concelebrated by Fr Savvas Pizania of the Parish of St Savvas the New of Kalymnos in Banksia, Sydney, and Fr Platon Derlis of the Parish of St George in Shepparton, Victoria.
The Bishop conveyed to the congregation the paternal blessings and greetings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Among those in attendance were the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Batemans Bay, Mr Stefanos Paschalidis, as well as major benefactors Ioannis and Evangelos Liagkis, who were acknowledged for their longstanding contribution to the local community.
This was followed by the Service of the Blessing of the Waters and the immersion of the Holy Cross at Clyde Wharf, in the presence of hundreds of faithful from Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, and the South Coast region of New South Wales. The Holy Cross was retrieved by 15-year-old Julian Pilavakis from Canberra, who was holidaying in Batemans Bay with his family. Also diving into the waters were three other teenagers from Canberra: 13-year-old Sideris Paschalidis, 14-year-old Vasilis Lontos, and 14-year-old Andreas Charidimos.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the Greek Orthodox Community of Batemans Bay hosted a meal in the hall of the Church of St John the Baptist, where Bishop Athenagoras blessed and cut the traditional Vasilopita for the year 2026. The Vasilopita had been prepared with the care of Fr Savvas Pizania from Sydney.
