"The Blessing of the Waters for Epiphany took place at the port of Thessaloniki on Tuesday, attracting a large number of faithful people, as 55 individuals dived into the sea to retrieve a cross. Footage shows participants swimming, and one of them retrieving the cross. Cardinals can be seen walking with the cross, flowers, and a Bible. Later on, people are also seen praying. Metropolitan Philotheos stated, "It is a day on which Christ renews all of nature." He further explained that Christ's baptism in the Jordan sanctified not only the waters but 'our entire world as well'. The Metropolitan also urged the faithful to keep this sanctification, adding they should "work in our daily lives on our personal sanctification through works of love for others." The cross was retrieved by swimmer Stergios Pagonidis, who has participated for four years, and was greeted by the cheers of thousands of faithful lining the waterfront. Epiphany, also known as Theophany, is one of Christianity’s most important feasts, commemorating the revelation of Jesus Christ as God."