Jersey

Published by The National Herald, September 24, 2004

New Jersey Waters Sanctified

By Theodore Kalmoukos
Special to The National Herald

BOSTON.- Hundreds of Greek Orthodox faithful from New Jersey took part in the sanctification of the waters celebration that took place in Asbury Park on Sunday, September 19.

Metropolitan Evangelos officiated at the ceremony, which was instituted in 1947 by the then Archbishop of America Athenagoras, who then became Ecumenical Patriarch. This annual ecclesiastical event, which includes the diving of the holy cross into the ocean, was interrupted in the year 2000 because the Metropolis of New Jersey post was vacant for three-and-a-half years.

“I was planning to rejuvenate this sacred and most beautiful ceremony the first year of my ministry as a Metropolitan of New Jersey, but there was not enough time for the preparation last year, so we had it this year,” Metropolitan Evangelos told the Herald.

“It was such a wonderful and pious experience for all. We will completely rejuvenate the ceremony for the benefit of all.”

The answer to the question asked by many as to how this tradition came to be was provided by former Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos, whose knowledge of the life of our Church in America is enormous: “Athenagoras instituted the celebration towards the end of the Second World War, requesting from God that the war be ended and so that the ocean become bearers of peace and reconciliation among the nations and continents, and thus the tradition was established to our days.”

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Paramount Convention Center in Asbury Park officiated by Metropolitan Evangelos, who was assisted by his newly appointed chancellor, V. Rev. Anargyros Stavropoulos and some 30 priests of the New Jersey Metropolis. At the end of the Liturgy a litany was formed from the Paramount Center to the Ocean site where in special designated area Metropolitan Evangelos blessed the waters by diving the holy cross twice. “This year we dived the cross twice, one for the boy’s group and one for the girl’s. Twenty-six children dived this year to find the cross. Up to now, only boys were diving and the girls felt somehow as been left out. I hade received many complaints when I was serving as Chancellor of New Jersey Metropolis, and thus I decided to have two diving this year in order for all the children to participate,” Metropolitan Evangelos told the Herald.

Kelly Kyriakides from St. John the Theologian Cathedral in Tenafly and John Louros from St. George in Asbury Park found the cross. Metropolitan Evangelos bestowed upon each of them a golden cross and also gave to the other 24 children a key chain with the icon of St. John Chrysostom on it. The other female divers were: Elpetha Tsivicos, St. George Asbury Park; Kathlyn Alexiadis of St. George in Clifton; Christie Bontales of St. Athanasios in Paramus; Ekaterina Athanasiou, and Maria Vlahos of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Orange; Polyxeni Toli of St. George in Piscataway; Kelly Kyriakides of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly; Katerina Gionis of St. Barbara in Toms River; Samantha Liakris of St. George in Trenton; and Stacy O’Sulivan of Holy Trinity in Westfield.

The male divers were: John Louros of St. George in Asbury Park; Elias Pitsilis of St. George in Clifton; Tom Sophias of Ascension in Fairview; Gregorios Plakoudis of Kimisis tis Theotokou in Holmdel; Peter Hios of St. Athanasios in Paramus; Andrea Zaharopoulos and Jimmy Denas of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Orange; Aris Kalimanis of St. George in Piscataway; George Hadjiwerou of St. Andrew in Randolph; John Zavolas of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly; Nicholas Maravelias of St. Barbara in Toms River; Michael Liakris of St. George in Trenton; Emmanuel Malandrenias of St. Demetrios in Union’ Andrew Jason of Holy Trinity in Westfield; and Chris Karsos of St. Nicholas in Wyckoff.

A memorial prayer was offered in memory of Metropolitan Silas, Bishop George and Archimandrite Germanos Stavropoulos, who served as Chancellor to Metropolitan Silas. Fr. Germanos was killed in an automobile accident some 10 years ago.

Metropolitan Evangelos introduced his new chancellor, Protopresbyter Anargyros Stavropoulos, who assumed his duties officially on August 1.

“Fr. Anargyros is one of the most pious, respected and well educated clergymen of our Church,” Metropolitan Evangelos told the Herald.

“His choice to be the Chancellor of our Holy Metropolis is the fruit of intense prayer. I hold him in the highest regard and honor. I believe in Fr. Anargyros.”



Volume 6 Number 39 - Tuesday, September 28th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY