Traditionally, the great feast of the Epiphany marks the end of the extended period of Christmas holidays in Greece.
Each year on January 6, hundreds of thousands of Greeks and visitors participate in the rich traditions that are observed in each and every city and town in the country, making it one of the most special holidays of the year.
What is Epiphany?
Epiphany is one of the most important Christian feasts of the entire year because it is the commemoration of the revelation of Jesus Christ as God.
Epiphany is also known as Theophany; both of these terms derive from the Greek words for “revelation” and the “revelation of God,” or ”Επιφάνεια” (epipháneia) and ”Θεοφάνεια” (Theopháneia).
This unique feast 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 which take place on this day.
One exception to this rule, however, is the churches which continue to follow the Julian calendar. Most of these Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of Epiphany on January 19th, rather than the sixth, as does 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 from as early as 200 AD in the Greek-speaking eastern parts of the Roman Empire, and these celebrations began as a commemoration of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River.
However, Western European Christians increasingly began to associate Epiphany with the visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus Christ.
For this reason, many parts of the West call Epiphany ”The Small Christmas” up to this day.
However, both Churches commemorate the groundbreaking revelation of God to the world, either via the three Magi or Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.
A Worldwide Christian Feast
In Greece, Cyprus and the Greek diaspora throughout the world, the feast of Epiphany is known by its English alternative term, Theophany. Many people most commonly also refer to it as ”Phόta,” which is Greek for “Lights.”
Greeks call this celebration Phόta because according to their belief, this is the day that God enlightened the world with His wisdom.
Epiphany customs in Greece and Cyprus revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters.
During these ceremonies, which are held on beaches, lakes and rivers, a cross is thrown into the water by a Greek Orthodox priest, and then boys and men compete to retrieve it so that they may have good luck throughout the year.
In the past, it was very common in Greece to hear children singing Epiphany carols the day before the Feast, a tradition similar to the singing of the Kalanta, or Christmas and New Year Day’s carols.
However, this particular tradition is now almost extinct, with a few exceptions in localities across Greece and Cyprus.
Of course, apart from the traditional blessing of the waters, many places in Greece, from small villages to large cities, observe their own unique traditions, which are deeply rooted in ancient Greek or Byzantine practices.
World’s largest celebration of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs, Florida
The annual Epiphany celebration of the Baptism of Jesus Christ will be held on January 6, 2025, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
The day begins with Orthros and Liturgy services at St. Nicholas Cathedral. Following Liturgy, a procession of clergy and faithful winds its way to Spring Bayou.
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, typically a young woman, is chosen to carry the dove in the procession.
After the dove is released, the Archbishop casts a cross into the bayou and young men dive into the waters. The one diver who retrieves the cross is considered blessed for the entire year.
John Hittos from Clearwater emerged from the Spring Bayou and was carried through the streets of Tarpon Springs after retrieving the cross in a matter of minutes at the 2024 Epiphany celebration.
“You do feel good being up there,” Hittos recalled. “But, at the end of the day, it’s not just about you. It’s about Jesus. His baptism and the celebration for the church. You know, it’s a moment to rejoice with all your fellow divers, your brothers in Christ.”
Tarpon Springs like a Greek island in Florida
Tarpon Springs, in Pinellas County, Florida, resembles a Greek island, with its blue and white structures, street names, the boats in its harbor, and its Greek-themed shops and restaurants.
The picturesque town has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. Many of them still work in the local sponge industry, which their Greek ancestors started.
Chris Alahouzos is the town’s mayor. 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.
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