Today is possibly the only day in the year where you will see anyone swimming in the front harbour, where the taxi boats come and go in the summer. It's all because of Epiphany, and the water-blessing ceremony that takes place in towns and villages all over Greece.

I left the house at about 10, tricking Barbie to make sure she would not follow me, and went around Harani first where a second ceremony is performed each year (each main church is supposed to do it's own ceremony by the sea front, assuming the sea is nearby).

I took a few photos of the beautifully decorated platform and walked back towards the bridge. Most people were still at St John's Cathedral, waiting for the service to finish.

At about 11:00, people started to emerge from the side alleys and soon enough everywhere around the platform was packed. The Metropolitan and priests stood on the platform chanting, and everyone was waiting for the big moment.

It's the time when the Metropolitan starts the main "Epiphany chant". "Eν Ιορδάνη βαπτιζομένου σου Κύριε"... a very well known psalm talking about Jesus being baptised in the Jordan river, (even children can sing this despite it being in very old Greek).

The psalm is repeated 3 times, and at any point during that period the priest throws his cross in the sea in front of him. When this happens, anyone can jump in the water to catch the cross and bring it back to the priest. Whoever catches it is the Blessed One for the year.

We were on the edge waiting (I couldn't tell when the cross would be thrown and kept moving the camera!). The Metropolitan kept hold of the cross for as long as he could. It wasn't until the end of the third verse when he threw it in the sea.

Click on the video on the right to watch the Big Moment!

Despite jumping almost last, Sotiris grabbed the cross first. It's the second year in a row that he does it. Well Done Sotiri. And well-done Giorgo for having the guts to jump in!

After the cross is caught, it's time for Bread and Holy Water (Αγιασμός - Ayiasmos). People bring mugs/glasses/bottles and someone on the platform distributes the water from the big metal bowl. Agapitos was very kind to offer me a sip from his mug.

He was also very quick to take one of the orange crosses hanging on the platform. They bring luck and happiness to whoever has one.

Lucy and I joined Agapitos at Kantirimi (he was working, we just had coffee!) before heading up to upload today's photos.

I found Barbie waking up, looking surprised and not understaning how I managed to escape her even though she was sleeping at my front door. Barbie is a regular on SG, so I won't tell you my trick.

About an hour later, SymiGreece was again the only website to post 39 photos and 6 videos of what had just happened. Later I heard a comment by people looking at the page at Kantirimi, almost in disbilief that this is possible! "No other website is like that in the world!", they said (after I paid them!).

It was lunch time, and I went down to Pahos to join Agapitos, Lucy, Alex and Giorgos who were drinking Tsikoudia. A group of people came by singing the same "jump-in-the-sea-and-catch-the-cross-if-you-can" psalm. This time the cross was inside a basket with flowers all around it and a girl was holding the basket. A boy next to her had an empty basket and a man was spraying everyone with the Holy Water. We put money inside the empty basket and kissed the cross. Tradition dictates that the cross goes to every house and business. When the sun sets on Epiphany Day, any remaining Holy Water MUST be discarded on soil. Apparently it's a great sin to keep the Holy Water!

As we were leaving, I heard singing from inside Pahos's. I looked in and saw Yianni (from Yiannis Taverna) sitting down. When he saw me he called me in.

I remembered that I still had my camera with me... and couldn't resist the temptation of videoing the moment. Here is a glimpse of the Epiphany party at Pahos. Click the video on the left.

Yiannis insisted I had a drink with them, and when I said that I was on my way to Aris for lunch, he offered me his glass of Tsikoudia and I had a very big sip. We kissed Καλή Χρονιά (Happy New Year) and I left.

It's Agapitos's nameday today, and he treated us to a big feast at Aris: Yavros marinatos, Tzatziki, Saganaki, Grilled Haloumi, Dakos salad, Kalamari, Pork steak, grilled chicken, roast potatoes, roast lamb, chips, roast chicken and loads of wine. Of course we couldn't finish it all... but we had Barbie by our table...

With such good food, I hardly noticed the thug sitting at a nearby table. I 'm glad to report that this time he didn't physically or verbally attack anyone and left quietly within a few minutes.

After lunch, Giorgos went fishing and Alex, Agapitos and Lucy went home for a nap. I followed Barbie up, and after taking a photo of a pink Yialos from my balcony, I put some live Haroula on my iPod and started typing...