THE spectacle of the Greek Orthodox Church’s traditional Blessing of the Waters will return to the Bogey Hole for the first time in years.
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At 11.30am on Sunday, two days after the Greek Epiphany, members of the Hamilton-based church will converge on the Bogey Hole to offer prayers “for the safety of all people working at the sea, and especially for the peace and prosperity of this great country of ours and the Australian people”.
From the cliff face, Father Nicholas Scordilis will bless the waters below, before scores of young people jump in the water to collect a metallic cross.
The winner – the person who first retrieves the cross – will receive a cross and chain as a gift. The church said all participants would receive a blessing from Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis – the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia.
The Greek parish has used the Bogey Hole for the past 60 years for its traditional blessing. Recently, the event took place at Merewether and Newcastle ocean baths when the much-loved sea bath closed due to the unstable cliff face.
The Bogey Hole finally reopened to the public late last month after the completion of the $490,000 rock-bolting project.
