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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-01-06
CONTENTS
[01] Greece celebrates Epiphany with traditional 'blessing of the
waters' ceremonies
[01] Greece celebrates Epiphany with traditional 'blessing of the
waters' ceremonies
Greece celebrated the religious holiday of Epiphany on Saturday with
the traditional "blessing of the waters" ceremony at the country's
countless ports, harbours, lakes and reservoirs, with the nation's
political leadership also on hand at Church masses and at the water's
side.
The most prominent service was again celebrated at the port of Piraeus'
metropolitan cathedral and seafront, with Archbishop of Athens and All
Greece Christodoulos officiating at the service, attended by President
of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, Defence Minister Evangelos
Meimarakis, who represented the government, main opposition PASOK
leader George Papandreou, former premier Costas Simitis and dozens of
other government officials, MPs and local government office-holders.
Most political leaders on hand expressed their best wishes for 2007.
On his part, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis attended Epiphany
services near his home in the east Attica coastal town of Rafina, where
he expressed his best seasons for the New Year, while emphasising the
need for close ties between parents and children.
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos officiated at a similar service in
Istanbul, the venerable Patriarchate's seat.
Caption: A young man emerges from the water in Spring Bayou, Florida,
holding the cross in this file photo, dated Jan. 6, 2005. The cross was
thrown into the water seconds earlier by Orthodox Christian priests
during the annual Epiphany "blessing of the waters" service. ANA-MPA
photo / D. Panagos.
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