Asbury Park, NJ – The Annual Blessing of the Waters took place last Sunday on the shores of Asbury Park in New Jersey. Four groups of boys and girls ranging from grades 7th to 12th participated in the opportunity to retrieve the cross thrown into the Atlantic ocean by Bishop Apostolos of Medeia. Junior and Senior trophies were awarded along with a cross, bringing them good luck for the year.
The day had started with a Divine Liturgy Service and short Memorial Service for the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church at Asbury Park in New Jersey.
The winners were:
- Petros Kiafoulis, Jr., St. George Asbury Park
- Niko Karavakas, Sr., St. George Asbury Park
- Christina Skoulariotis, Sr., St. Athanasios Paramus
- Caterina Carayannopoulos, Jr., Holy Trinity Westfield
The annual event brings together the Greek communities of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware under the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey.
Images courtesy of Stelios Lambrou