Asbury Park, NJ – Parishioners from throughout the Metropolis of New Jersey attended the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove, NJ, celebrated by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, Chancellor Archimandrite Christoforos Oikonomidis and clergy from the Metropolis.

Continuing the 75-year-old tradition of the Metropolis, attendees gathered on Asbury Park beach for the Blessing and throwing of the Cross into the water. After Archbishop Elpidophoros threw the Crosses, GOYAns raced into the water to find them. Those who retrieved the four crosses thrown are Arianna Boutsikaris (Junior Girl) from Saint Barbara Church in Toms River, Christina Skoulariotis (Senior Girl) from Saint Athanasios Church in Paramus, and Kosta Hantoulis (Junior Boy) and Chris Vlahos (Senior Boy). They are both from Saint George in Piscataway.

Images are courtesy of Stelios Lambrou.