It is January 6, 1974 and Famagusta is wearing its goodies for the brilliant celebration of the Lights. The streets are full of life.
After the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos, which is presided over by Archbishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus, thousands of people in procession arrive at Glossa Beach.
Unsuspecting what would follow a few months later. Not knowing what the last Epiphany would be in Famagusta.
Three daring swimmers dive into the icy waters and grab the Holy Cross. Archbishop Makarios leaves the dove of peace in the sky.
The security measures are draconian, fearing an attack on the President of the Republic of Cyprus, as reported by the correspondent who covered the celebrations for a foreign news agency. Police guard Archbishop Makarios and follow him everywhere.
"Until 1974, the official celebrations for the Epiphany were always in Famagusta. Around 30 thousand people made the journey from the church of Agios Nikolaos to the sea. It was a journey of almost an hour ", says Pavlos Iakovou, a representative of the Famagusta initiative in My City, to REPORTER. He remembers the last Epiphany and is moved.
"The divine service was held at the Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos in Famagusta. After the Divine Liturgy, they descended from Dimokratias Avenue, to the sounds of the band of the Municipality of Famagusta and accompanied by an honorary procession from the army to the sea for the sanctification of the waters. It is estimated that it had 30 people that day. The gift for the swimmer was an image of a Saint from the churches of Famagusta ", he remembers.
For the people of Varos, Epiphany was a special day because the city was full of people.
"The Epiphany, the Flood, the celebration of Orange and the Flower Gardens, were the celebrations that gave life to Famagusta and attracted tens of thousands of people. Epiphany was a very important day for us, because it was a meeting from the region, from the surrounding villages. Hotels also worked hard. They came from Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, but also from the surrounding villages to celebrate ", says Mr. Iakovou.
Bitter feelings
"Emotions are bitter. We waited year after year to go back to our city to celebrate Christmas, New Year and Lights. Now is the 46th year that we will not celebrate in our city properly. People are thirsty for a return. For this reason, the initiative group of Famagusta, our city, will bring back to the memories of the people the Epiphany. Since 2014 we have been doing Epiphany in Famagusta. Of course, the feelings are not the same. Let's go as visitors to do the Epiphany in Agios Georgios Exorinos and go to the sea to do a formal sanctification of the waters, without the procession and the sea that we had then. And then we run to leave and leave our city behind ", says Mr. Iakovou, concluding.
For the fifth year in a row, hundreds of Famagusta residents went to the occupied territories today to celebrate the Epiphany. The Most Reverend Protosyggellos of the Holy Diocese of Constantia and Famagusta, Archimandrite Augustine Kkaras, presides over the sacred services. At 11:30 a.m. on Glossa beach, the Holy Cross diving ceremony and the consecration of the waters will take place.
THEOFANIA IN AMMOCHOSTO in 1968
Source: Reporter