Epiphany. Couldn't for years figure out why the feast that I had thought was all about the three wise men should here seem to refer to the baptism of Christ. The answer is in the word itself, ephiphaneia, or appearing., better translated as "striking manifestation" - and therefore the manifestation of Jesus as divine. Clumsy, but with some logic to it. Also known in Greek as fota, or light, day. Candles are lit at church and take home to burn in front of icons for the next forty days. There's a parade from the church to the waterfront where the bishop throws in a cross and the young men dive to retrieve it. It's never lost as it's prudently tied to the end of a string. We don't go down in time for the parade (which always seems pretty militaristic, with cadets and soldiers actually carrying weapons) but do go down later to enjoy the crowds and collect some of the aromatic branches strewn on the pier. The road is blocked to traffic and it's all festive, families strolling and booths selling everything from icons to helium balloons to hot dogs. Lovely warm day and we buy ice creams - J's caramel and mine lemon.
