Asbury Park, NJ – Thousands of Greek Orthodox faithful from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware gathered Sunday for the annual Blessing of the Waters in the historic seaside town of Asbury Park. Under clear blue skies, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey cast a wooden cross into the Atlantic, and dozens of young swimmers raced into the surf, each hoping to retrieve it.
Proud families and friends lined the shore, cheering on the participants in a tradition that has been carried on for more than 65 years. A procession of clergy from across New Jersey, joined by altar boys and youth from nearly 20 parishes, made its way from the Paramount Theater and Convention Center to the shoreline just south of Convention Hall. There, the faithful formed a circle around the swimmers while others watched from the nearby jetty.
The event was divided into four groups, with one winner from each group raising the cross in triumph before returning it to Metropolitan Evangelos to receive his blessing and a commemorative cross.
The day began with a Divine Liturgy and a short memorial service for the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras at the Paramount Theater.
Winners:
- Junior Girls: Elena Iliadis, St. Thomas, Cherry Hill, NJ
- Junior Boys: Nicholas Koutsoumbi, St. George, Piscataway, NJ
- Senior Girls: Calliope Yiannos, Holy Trinity, Egg Harbor, NJ
- Senior Boys: Michael Simon, Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Holmdel, NJ
