DIVING INTO A YEAR OF BLESSED LUCK
A TOWNSVILLE teenager is counting his lucky stars after winning the annual Greek spiritual event, Throwing of the Cross.
Jonathan Gatis, 13, said it was a special victory that his family was proud of.
“I’m pretty happy; my Mum was crying,” he said.
The annual event marks the epiphany, or baptism of Christ, which is one of the most sacred days of the year on the Greek Orthodox Church calendar.
After a Greek minister has blessed the waters, young men line up and dive for a cross that has been submerged.
“It represents good luck: once you get it you have good luck for the rest of the year,” Jonathan said.
Reverend Father Alexios Kapandritis was happy for Jonathan and his family
“It’s a big blessing for the whole family, not for him only,” he said.
“He will see a good year with health, prosperity and God will bless all the family.’’
He said Blessing of the Water was a sacred day around the world.
“The same action happens every year; open the heavens and the Holy Spirit visits us and blesses all the people and everything around us,” Fr Alexios said.
“The symbolism of this action is when Jesus Christ was baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist.
“The heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended into the water in the Jordan.”
Fr Alexios said it was a blessed time of year.
“Personally it is a very special time of my life every year because I can feel the Holy Spirit around me and the heavens open,” he said.