Traditionally, the great feast of Epiphany marks the end of the extended Christmas holiday period in Greece.
Every year on January 6, hundreds of thousands of Greeks and visitors participate in the rich traditions observed in every city across the country, making it one of the most special holidays of the year.
What is Epiphany?
Epiphany is one of the most important Christian holidays of the year because it commemorates the revelation of Jesus Christ as God.
Epiphany is also known as Theophany; both terms derive from the Greek words for “revelation” and “revelation of God” or “Επιφάνεια” (Epiphany) and “Θεοφάνεια” (Theophaneia).
This unique holiday is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Church, and millions of people around the world participate in liturgies, masses, and many other traditional events that take place on this day.
An exception to this rule, however, concerns churches which continue to follow the Julian calendar. Most of these Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of Epiphany on January 19, rather than the 6th like the rest of Christianity.
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, to which the Greek Orthodox Church also belongs, the feast of Epiphany is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
According to archaeologists, Christians began celebrating Epiphany as early as 200 AD in the Greek-speaking eastern regions of the country. Roman Empireand these celebrations began as a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
However, Western European Christians increasingly began to associate Epiphany with the visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus Christ.
This is why many regions of the West still call Epiphany “Little Christmas” today.
However, both Churches commemorate the revolutionary revelation of God to the world, either via the three wise men or through the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
A global Christian holiday
In Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora Throughout the world, the feast of Epiphany is known by its alternative English term, Theophany. Many people also call it “Phόta”, which means “Lights” in Greek.
The Greeks call this celebration Phόta because according to their belief, it is the day when God illuminated the world with his wisdom.
Epiphany customs in Greece and Cyprus revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters.
During these ceremonies, which take place on beaches, lakes and rivers, a cross is thrown into the water by a Greek Orthodox priest, then boys and men compete to retrieve it for good luck throughout the day. throughout the year.
In the past, it was very common in Greece to hear children singing Epiphany songs on the eve of the feast, a tradition similar to singing the Kalanta, or Christmas and New Year carols.
However, this particular tradition is almost extinct today, with a few exceptions in certain localities in Greece and Cyprus.
Of course, aside from the traditional blessing of the waters, many places in Greece, from small villages to large cities, observe their own unique traditions, deeply rooted in ancient Greek or Byzantine practices.
The World’s Largest Epiphany Celebration in Tarpon Springs, Florida
The annual celebration of the Epiphany of the Baptism of Jesus Christ will take place on January 6, 2024, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon SpringsFlorida.
The day begins with orthos and liturgy services at St. Nicholas Cathedral. After the liturgy, a procession of clergy and faithful heads toward Spring Bayou. Once there, the Archbishop of America blessed the waters, as crowds of believers descended on the water’s edge.
The Gospel of the day is then read and a white dove is released to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit. Each year, a member of the community, usually a young woman, is chosen to carry the dove in the procession. Chloé Kotis has been named bearer of the 2024 Epiphany Dove.
Once the dove is released, the archbishop throws a cross into the bayou and the young men dive into the waters. The only diver who retrieves the cross is considered blessed for the entire year.
Tarpon Springs like a Greek island in Florida
Tarpon Springs in Pinellas County, Florida looks like a greek islandwith its blue and white structures, street names, boats in its harbor and Greek-themed shops and restaurants.
The picturesque city has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the United States. Many of them still work in the local sponge industry, started by their Greek ancestors.
Chris Alahouzos is the mayor of the city. Alahouzos and his family emigrated to the United States from the Greek island of Kalymnos when he was 14, and his father was a sponge diver.
