Photos: Paraskevi Spyropoulou, Christoforos Papakyriakou, Andreas Rouko & Konstantinos Koukouras.

With ecclesiastical splendor and devotion, the Holy Theophany was celebrated on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Parish Holy Church of Saint Nicholas in Chalkida, presided over by our Most Reverend Shepherd, Metropolitan of Chalkida Mr. Chrysostomos.

The Most Reverend presided at the Orthros, led the Divine Liturgy, and performed the Great Blessing of the Waters, accompanied by his Clergy.

Among the large congregation were Members of Parliament, the celebrating Regional Governor of Central Greece Mr. Fanis Spanos, other elected representatives of local government, and the heads of military and security authorities of the area.

After the Great Blessing, Mr. Chrysostomos delivered the divine message, highlighting the salvific meanings of the Feast and offered paternal blessings to all.

Immediately afterwards, the litany of the Holy Cross and the sanctification of the waters ceremony took place at the Chalkida waterfront, with the participation of hundreds of Christians who filled the entire seaside promenade of the city.

About thirty men dove into the waters of the Evripos Strait, and the Cross was retrieved by computer science student Mr. Michail Chatzigeorgiou, who was congratulated by the Most Reverend and received a golden cross, while each participant in the retrieval received a silver cross as a blessing.

After all exited the boat, the Most Reverend handed the Holy Water container to the Mayor of Chalkida, Ms. Elena Vaka, for the city’s waterworks and warmly congratulated all involved in the excellent organization of the Feast of Theophany.

During the return of the Holy Cross from the waterfront to the Church of Saint Nicholas, dozens of families with their children came forward to venerate it from the hands of our Most Reverend Shepherd.