10-01-10

On the first Sunday after the 6th of January the annual Greek Blessing of the Waters is held in Glenelg, South Australia. In this religious ceremony--which commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan--the clergy and people of the church walk in procession with the cross out on the Glenelg Jetty.  At the end of the pier, the baptismal hymn is sung and then the cross is cast into the Holdfast Bay to bless the waters.

In the water, far below the pier, several young men from the church are on hand to retrieve the cross.  The  man that gets to the cross first will then swim to shore and return the cross to the priest, who will then deliver a special blessing to the swimmer.

2010's Lucky Guy