The Epiphany was celebrated with great pomp and splendor in Ayia Napa in the presence of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Dimitrios and the Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios, since Ayia Napa was the focus of this year's Epiphany celebrations in Cyprus.
Also present were the Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis, the Deputy Ministers of Culture and Tourism Dr. Vassiliki Kassianidou and Kostas Koumis, the Chiefs of the National Guard and the Police, representatives of the parties, the security forces, MPs, and other state, state and local authorities officials and a crowd of people.
The High Priestly Divine Liturgy and the Great Consecration were held in the Holy Church of Panagia Agia Napa, presided over by the Archbishop of Cyprus Mr. Georgios, co-officiating with the Metropolitan of Constantia/Ammochos and Vassiliou.
Afterwards, a procession was formed to the Port of Ayia Napa where from a special platform His Beatitude dived the Holy Cross and the customary consecration of the waters took place, with dozens of swimmers diving into the sea to catch the Cross and receive the blessing of Archbishop Georgios .
The first swimmer who retrieved the cross was given a gold cross by His Beatitude, while the rest who retrieved it the second and third time were given a silver one by the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis and the Mayor of Agia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannettou. The rest were given a silver cross for their participation.
In their short greetings, both the President of the Republic, the Archbishop of Cyprus and the Mayor of Ayia Napa wished good enlightenment and, as next year, to celebrate the Epiphany in Famagusta and in all the coastal areas of our occupied land.
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