Epiphany: One of Christianity’s Most Important Feasts
Traditionally, the great feast of the Epiphany marks the end of the extended period of the Christmas holidays in Greece.
Each year on January 6, hundreds of thousands of Greeks and visitors participate in the rich traditions 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” (Greek: Επιφάνεια / epipháneia) and the “revelation of God” (Greek: 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 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 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.
Western European Christians, however, increasingly began associating Epiphany with the visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus Christ. For this reason, up to this day, many parts of the West refer to Epiphany as “The Small Christmas.” 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 and Cyprus and among 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 beliefs, 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, held on beaches, lakes, and rivers, a cross is thrown into the water by a Greek Orthodox priest, and boys and men compete to retrieve it so that they may have good luck throughout the year. In the past, it was quite common in Greece to hear children singing Epiphany carols the day before the Feast, a tradition similar to the singing of the Christmas and New Year’s Day 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, 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 the 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 established. 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 fourteen, and his father was a sponge diver.
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