Historic blessing of the waters in Wallaroo, South Australia

For the first time in its history, the seaside town of Wallaroo in South Australia celebrated Epiphany with a unique Blessing of the Waters ceremony at Wallaroo foreshore on Thursday, 9 January 2025. This event marked the beginning of a new tradition that combines religious reverence of the Feast of Epiphany with social unity.

The Divine Liturgy, celebrated earlier at the Church of St. Nicholas in Wallaroo—which regularly holds services with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and under the guidance of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide—was attended by a large congregation, including many young people and families holidaying from Adelaide. Father Michael Psaromatis, the parish priest, warmly invited the congregation to join the ceremony on the Wallaroo foreshore, and they responded with great enthusiasm.

During the ceremony, nine young men and boys entered the water to retrieve the Cross, which had been cast into the sea. The Cross was successfully retrieved by Mr. Dionysis Stamatelopoulos, a parishioners of St. George Church in Thebarton, Adelaide.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the congregation enjoyed a festive meal prepared by members of the parish committee. It was heartwarming to see many passersby joining in the celebration, sharing in the joy of the great feast.

The throwing of the Cross at Wallaroo became the highlight of the celebration, bringing the faithful and parishioners closer together in a spiritual experience that is set to become a landmark tradition in the coming years. Through this new custom, Wallaroo inaugurated an innovative way of celebrating the feast of Epiphany, blending the religious ritual with the natural beauty of the fishing village, and setting the stage for a year filled with blessings, optimism and unity.