The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi of Mt. Athos on Sunday observed the Epiphany, based on the Julian calendar.
The Great Blessing of the Waters ceremony, with the tossing of the True Cross into the waters, was held at the Holy Monastery’s small harbor, where several pilgrims ignored the winter weather to dive into the sea to retrieve the Cross – in a bid to receive a Blessing for the new year.
A traditional reception followed, where the Elder Archimandrite Ephraim, the Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, referred to the theological meaning of the Feast of the Holy Theophany – or Epiphany.
