A YEAR of luck and prosperity is ahead for a Renmark boy who retrieved the blessed cross at an annual Greek Orthodox ceremony in Renmark last week.
Leonidas Drogaris, 12, was this year’s winner of the Renmark Greek Orthodox Church’s Blessing of the Waters, which was officiated by Father Dimitrios Moraitis, at the Renmark Swimming Centre on Wednesday.
The ceremony, which commemorates Jesus’s baptism, had more than 40 people in attendance and saw 10 boys between the ages of 10 to 19 dive to retrieve the cross thrown in the pool by Father Moraitis.
Leonidas described retrieving the cross as an “honour”.
“I have retrieved the cross before but each time feels as special as the last,” he said.
“I think after the year we’ve just had we all need all the luck we can get, so it felt very special to win.”
Leonidas said the ceremony is something he holds close to heart.
“My dad participated in the ceremony when he was younger and it’s something very special to our faith,” he said.
“It’s one of the biggest days in the Greek Orthodox calendar and to be part of it is really an honour.”
The Berri Greek Orthodox Church held its Blessing of the Waters ceremony last Sunday at Berri’s Hayden Stoeckel Swimming Pool.
Waikerie’s Angelos Myer, 12, retrieved the blessed cross.