With full ceremonial splendor, the Sanctification of the Waters was celebrated at Greece’s largest port, Piraeus, presided over by the Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, along with representatives of the country’s political leadership.
Earlier in the morning, a festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity of Piraeus, presided over by Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus. The service was followed by the Blessing of the Waters, which took place at the pier opposite the Church of Saint Spyridon in Piraeus.
In statements following the ceremony, the President of the Republic remarked, among other things, that “today we celebrate the radiant Feast of Theophany and, from here as well, from the country’s largest port, Piraeus, we take part in a great celebration in order to receive the light and the truth that we so greatly need in our time.”
He further emphasized that this light can guide citizens forward with confidence and be transformed into a source of both personal and collective strength.
“All of us celebrate the blessing of the waters, and our thoughts turn to what we all cherish: peace, prosperity, harmony, and our success. The world faces many problems and many difficulties arise, but this is also an opportunity to look at many things anew and help set them right. Happy New Year,” said the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymos, speaking from Piraeus, where the central ceremony of the sanctification of the waters for the Feast of Epiphany took place.
Photos: Giannis Panagopoulos/EUROKINISSI
