Celebrations throughout Cyprus today for the Feast of Lights
Agia Theophania is one of the oldest feasts of our Church, which was established in the 2nd century AD. and refers to the revelation of the Holy Trinity at the baptism of Jesus Christ.
On the feast of Lights, as it is called in Cyprus, which is a great annual Christian holiday commemorating the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist, people go to church, take the holy water they drink and sprinkle with it. his house, his fields, his jobs but also their animals so that everything goes as they wish.
The children say the poulostrina and the carols of Theophania "Good morning, yes, the lights, yes, the pouloustrina first" and so they get money. From ancient times until today, the tradition prevails in Cyprus on the eve of the Epiphany, the housewives to bake donuts, but no one touches since they must first scatter some of the donuts on the roof of the house to "eat" the "scalapountari" that is the goblins and leave saying "Titsi titsi sausage piece xerotiano to eat jia to grow".
In the past, farmers used to give some donuts to their animals, especially cattle, in recognition of their year-round effort to produce the land.
Of course, the custom that marks the Epiphany is the throwing of the Holy Cross into the sea, which is expected by swimmers who, defying the cold, dive into the icy waters to catch the Cross and receive the blessing of the priest.
The focus is on the port of Kato Paphos. The Epiphany of Paphos honors the Epiphany with special brilliance, focusing on the Holy Temple of Agioi Anargyroi in Kato Paphos. The Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos will add to the hierarchical Divine Liturgy and then will perform the Blessing, with the Metropolitan of Paphos George. Afterwards, the Archbishop will perform the procession of the diving of the Holy Cross in the port of Kato Paphos.
After the Divine Liturgy, a procession will be formed, under the sounds of the Philharmonic of the Municipality of Paphos, in the direction of the Port of Kato Paphos. The official celebrations of the Epiphany in Paphos were attended by the state, ecclesiastical and military authorities of Paphos as well as many people. Diving ceremonies of the Holy Cross will also be held in the ports of Latsi and Agios Georgios Pegeia, as well as in the port of Kato Pyrgos Tillyria.
Celebrations in Ayia Napa.
The Municipality of Ayia Napa and the Holy Diocese of Constantia - Famagusta will perform today, in the Holy Temple of Panagia Ayia Napa, the Celebrations of Agios Theophania. A written announcement of the Municipality of Ayia Napa states that the Divine Liturgy will be added by the Metropolitan of Constantia - Famagusta Vassilios and will be attended by the Minister of Defense Christoforos Fokaidis. This will be followed by the baptism of the Holy Cross and the consecration of the waters in the port of Ayia Napa.
The National Guard and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Paralimni will take part in the celebrations, while the first swimmer will be awarded a cross. In the specially designed area of the port will follow Cypriot and Greek traditional dances and songs by the Music Group Andreas Nikolaou and the Dance Club of the Municipality of Ayia Napa.
At the large pier in Larnaca.
The Epiphany celebrations in Larnaca are held today in the church of Agios Lazaros. A written announcement states that "the Divine Liturgy will begin at 07:00 in the morning, officiated by Metropolitan Chiti Chrysostom and will be followed by a procession to the large pier, where the consecration of the waters will take place." The Government will be represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Fotis Fotiou, and the Larnaca political, military, municipal and police authorities will be present.
In the Acropolis Park in Nicosia
The celebration will not be missing from the capital where the Mayor and the Municipal Council of Strovolos invite the people to the Sanctification of the waters at 11:30 a.m. in the lake of the Acropolis Park by the Most Theophile Bishop of Neapolis Mr. Porphyrios and the priests of the holy church of Agios Dimitrios of the Acropolis. After the Sanctification of the waters, hot donuts will be offered.
Source: Today