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Epiphany celebrated in Nicosia
NICOSIA kept up with the seaside towns in observing the traditional
consecration of the waters on Epiphany.
On the initiative of Mayor
Michalakis zampelas and a Nicosia Citizens' Group, and aided by perfect
weather, an open air Greek Orthodox ritual of baptising the holy cross as
a symbol of ChristOs baptism during the Epiphany church service was held
in Eleftheria Square.
Officiating Kykko Bishop Nikiforos used a brass church font to bless the
cross and he then sprinkled holy water from an elevated platform over the
congregation that had gathered to attend the unique occasion.
White doves were released during the ceremony, symbolizing the appearance
of the Holy Ghost at ChristOs christening by John in the Jordan River. The
choir of Kykko Monastery chanted Epiphany hymns.
The religious
ceremony came after a multicultural event featuring the dancing group of
the Greek contingent of Eldyk, the choir and dancing group of the Maronite
community and the choir of the Nicosia Municipality.
A special treat
was the public appearance of the Francophone choir O Chypre en Coeur, O
composed of French-speaking people living in Cyprus, at the initiative of
the French embassy.
Bishop Nikiforos expressed the wish for all
Cypriots to come together again, while Mayor zampelas said that Nicosia
could become a modern example of unity and creativity.
At the end
of the ceremony he gave attending children their Opouloustrina,O the
traditional Epiphany gift that used to be given in older times.
Although zampelas had called on the people of Nicosia to come to the Epiphany
event of the capital, Municipality traffic wardens were busy slamming parking
tickets on the windshield of cars nearby.
The municipal parking in
the moat is currently taken up by the carousel and other Christmas
constructions.
The custom of consecrating the waters by throwing
the cross into the sea to be retrieved by swimmers, was yesterday observed
in all coastal towns of Cyprus. |
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