A Little Bit of Greece in Queensland

By Jennifer Stewart 

The Greek Festival of Epiphany is held every year on 6 January and is the time the Greek Orthodox Church throughout the world holds its Blessing of the Waters ceremony - all churches located close to the water take part and Sunday 9th January saw the fourteenth ceremony held at Redcliffe.

It was a perfect day and the foreshores were crowded with beach-goers, enjoying the council's $2 million refurbishment of the Sutton's Beach area and the chance to promenade on the brand new jetty.

Church members from the Taigum Greek Orthodox community had stalls selling delicious Greek foods; Greek music played in the background and dancers demonstrated traditional dances to entertain the thousands who packed the parkland adjacent to the jetty. Father George Papoutsakis (from St Paraskevi's Church at Taigum) - resplendent in his ceremonial robes - made his way along the jetty, to the Wynnum Coast Guard boat, which carried the official party close to the shore where the blessing of the waters took place.

Perched on the a rock, with the waters lapping below; gazing across the Bay to Moreton Island, and listening to the chants and responses, it was easy to imagine being in the Aegean Sea instead of Moreton Bay.

Once the blessing was complete, the finale was the customary dive for the cross. Young boys - all members of the Greek Orthodox faith - had been waiting patiently on the shore throughout the prayers and now swam towards the boat, diving to retrieve the cross. The successful swimmer was rewarded with a personal blessing (said to ensure good luck for the coming year) and a small cross.

Whatever our personal religious beliefs, ceremonies such as this provide a wonderful way to share in the wide cultural heritage that is Australia in the 21st century!

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