The Epiphany was celebrated in Thessaloniki with all its splendor and in an atmosphere of spiritual rapture. The throwing of the Holy Cross, for the first time after sixty years, took place at the 1st pier of the port, by the metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheo, in the presence of the clergy, representatives of the local authorities, the armed forces, the security forces and hundreds of citizens.

On the paved beach, from the port to the White Tower, a crowd of people gathered from early on, while separating railings were also installed to avoid overcrowding in the event area.

Boats of the Fire Service created water jets that impressed those present.

35 believers dived into the cold waters of Thermaikos, among them five minors and two women. Timios Stavros was caught and retrieved from the waters of Thermaikos by Stergios Pagonidis, a water polo player and student at the Mathematical Institute of the Greek Academy of Sciences.

“I am very happy. It is a great blessing to grasp the cross”, pointed out Stergios Pagonidis and wished “above all health, may we all be well and peace in the world”.

The Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheos wished a happy and blessed birthday to all the Thessalonians and to all the visitors of Thessaloniki, “who found themselves today on the beach of Thessaloniki and in its port, in order to become partakers of the wonders of God, through this consecration ceremony of the waters. May the life of all of us be bright, since our triune God is light. And let us avoid the works of darkness, remaining faithful, as the Apostle Paul exhorts, to the works of light”.

Referring to the initiative to hold the sanctification of the waters in the port of Thessaloniki after 60 years, he said: “It’s nice to keep traditions and everything beautiful we see is good to imitate. We did it, mainly, not so much to keep the tradition, because another tradition had been created in the meantime, but mainly to give the possibility to all those people who are on Nikis Avenue, to become better participants in the ceremony, something which I think has been achieved”.

The events were attended, among others, by the Deputy Minister of Interior (Macedonia-Thrace) Stathis Konstantinidis, who noted that it is “a great day, a great celebration the sanctification of the waters with the symbolism that accompanies it, the rebirth of Plasis, the rebirth of man. But at the same time and with the message of humility that the day teaches us, let God be baptized by man. Health and strength to all the worldly enlightenment to all of us to do the good and the good, be well, have a good year with health”.

“Happy birthday, happy new year and happy enlightenment to all. Today is a very important day for our Orthodoxy, for Hellenism, and we are all here together to send out a resounding message that united, committed to our goals, with faith in our capabilities, we can achieve everything,” said regional governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas and wished “happy birthday and good enlightenment to everyone”.

“Good enlightenment to all of us and especially to all those who handle the big and critical problems of the city” and “a happy new year with solidarity, with humanity, with respect for the citizens” wished the mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis.

This year, after the end of the Divine Liturgy and the Great Sanctification in the metropolitan church of Gregory Palamas, the holy litany of the Holy Cross followed from the metropolitan church to the port.

In addition to the parish of the metropolitan church of Agios Gregorios Palamas, the pilgrimage church of God Sophia and the old metropolitan church of Agios Minas, within the boundaries of which is located the port of Thessaloniki, where the immersion of the Cross took place, participated in the litany.