All over Greece yesterday the consecration ceremonies for Epiphany took place in a climate of devotion, without, however, missing any highlights.

Among them was 11-year-old Antonis, who dove for the cross in Thessaloniki and as he said today, “I went for the blessing, not necessarily to catch the cross. I went for my grandfather, to get well, because he has an illness…”

“Grandpa was touched and told me he was proud of me and all my friends were saying well done. I want to thank my coaches for teaching me to swim and everyone who cheered me on yesterday,” the little boy added, speaking to ANT1.

At the same time, however, in Seres we had an injury and a dive into a… fountain. In the first case, one of the worshippers who dived into the artificial lake in the valley of Agioi Anargyroi, in Serres, injured his knee, while in the second, in Tholos, there may have been only one person who chased the cross, but he narrowly escaped hitting the tiles.

A little further away, at the Pozar, the priest emerged as the star of the ceremony, who did not hesitate to test the reflexes of the faithful to whom, after pretending to throw the cross, he shouted “Where are you going? The crucifix is this way”

In Patras swimmers of all ages took to the waters in the Agios Nikolaos pier in the city’s old harbour to catch the crucifix. The swimmers again this year unfurled a huge Greek flag and sang the National Anthem.