Newsroom
From Ayia Napa to Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca, thousands across Cyprus gathered by the sea on Monday to mark Epiphany, one of the most symbolic days of the Orthodox calendar, with prayers, processions and the traditional diving of the cross into winter waters.
The ritual is simple but powerful. A priest throws a cross into the sea, and dozens of brave swimmers dive in after it. Whoever retrieves the cross is believed to receive blessings and good fortune for the year ahead.
Across much of the island, the day unfolded as expected: festive, spiritual and deeply rooted in tradition. But in Limassol, the celebration took an unexpected turn when the man who recovered the cross failed to return it to the priest, triggering confusion, police involvement and a full investigation.
The incident unfolded during the water consecration ceremony at Limassol’s old port. According to police, during the third throwing of the cross into the sea, a man retrieved it and assured those present that he would hand it back to the priest. He never did.
Authorities were immediately alerted, and what began as a religious celebration quickly turned into chaos. Police launched an investigation, collecting testimonies and reviewing CCTV footage from the area amid concerns that the cross had been stolen.
By Tuesday afternoon, police said they had located both the cross and the suspect, a 45-year-old Greek Cypriot who later confessed to taking it. He was taken to the Limassol Police Department pending the issuance of an arrest warrant. Police clarified that the wooden carved cross has little monetary value and will be returned to the church once the investigation is completed.
Elsewhere on the island, Epiphany celebrations remained focused on faith, tradition and hope.
In Ayia Napa, Speaker of the House Annita Demetriou attended the ceremony at the harbor, wishing “enlightenment for souls and redemption for our homeland.” She stressed the importance of state officials being present on such days, saying it matters to celebrate “together with the people.”
Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Famagusta, who presided over the Divine Liturgy and water consecration, described Epiphany as a renewal of baptism and expressed hope that future celebrations would one day take place in occupied Famagusta and other occupied areas.
“Divine things often happen through paradoxical means,” he said when asked about the golden cross initially thrown into the sea but not found, prompting the use of a wooden one instead.
More than 30 people, including an eight-year-old boy and a woman, jumped into the cold waters in Ayia Napa. After the golden cross was lost at the seabed, a wooden cross was eventually retrieved, while white doves were released into the sky.
Eight-year-old Panagiotis Denexaneas, one of the swimmers, said he felt “happiness and peace” after taking part. “The water was a little cold,” he admitted, smiling, adding that he hopes to dive again next year. He received a silver cross, while the swimmer who ultimately retrieved the cross was gifted a golden one.
As Cyprus celebrated Epiphany with prayers, sea dives and messages of unity, the Limassol incident served as a rare reminder that even the most sacred traditions can sometimes take an unexpected, and very human, turn.
