Epiphany a Christian celebration, connected to the ancient Athenian celebration of "Plynteria."

 
Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily 
Celebrated every year on January 6, it is the third and last feast of the Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi, with only a minor reference to the baptism of Jesus and the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation 
​Twelve days of celebration beginning with Christmas. The name of the feast results from the revelation of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, which, according to the Scriptures, happened at the Baptism of Jesus.

It is not known with certainty when Epiphany was established to be celebrated.

John Chrysostom admits and describes the celebration as an ancient festivity in Antiocheia the Great. In the fourth century, the celebration of Epiphany is celebrated by Church as a whole as a feast of the humanity’s enlightenment through the Holy Baptism.

Two are the main celebrations of the Epiphany:
- The Great Blessing, which takes place within the Churches.
- The Diving of the Holy Cross, following the Great Blessing.

The Cross is thrown by the priest in the sea area in ports, rivers or lakes shores and, in some cases, into water  roman cisterns in Athens and Chania , imitating the Baptism of Christ and the purify of water
 
Traditions

Carol of “Lights”. They are sung by children at the eve of the celebration in many variations.

Τhe "grip of the Cross" from swimmers, divers, during the ceremony of the Holy Cross Diving. Young, mostly, people dive into the icy waters to catch the Cross first and receive the blessing of the priest and also accept the wishes from the rest of the citizens.

Blessing of the houses from the priests. In Greece the sanctification takes place for the first time at the Epiphany Eve and it is called "Little Blessing" or "Protagiasi"(first sanctification) or "Enlightenment".

During the Protagiasi, the priest goes to all the houses and with the Cross and a branch of basil sprinkles all the houses with holly water so that the evil will leave. Previously, folklorists connected the illumination of houses with the disappearance of goblins, which are imagined to leave the house full of fear and screaming when the priest arrived.

The celebration of Epiphany also includes many events which are connected to the ancient Greek customs. Sanctification, in Greece, also has the meaning of the purification of people and the exemption from the influence of demons. The latter concept is not strictly Christian, but has its roots in ancient worship.

The immersion of the Cross, according to popular belief, gives water cleansing and sanitizing capabilities. The inhabitants of many areas, after diving for the cross, run to the beaches or along rivers and lakes to wash their agricultural tools and icons even. According to popular belief, even the icons with the passage of time lose their original strength and value, but they gain it again from the holy water.

It is this process that is strongly Epiphany is a celebration of Christianity, in commemoration of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.
Celebrated every year on January 6, it is the third and last feast of the Twelve days of celebration beginning with Christmas. The name of the feast results from the revelation of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, which, according to the Scriptures, happened at the Baptism of Jesus.

Two are the main celebrations of the Epiphany:
- The Great Blessing, which takes place within the Churches.
- The Diving of the Holy Cross, following the Great Blessing.

The Cross is thrown by the priest in the sea area in ports, rivers or lakes shores and, in some cases, into roman cisterns, in Athens and Chania, imitating the Baptism of Christ.


Traditions

Carol of “Lights”. They are sung by children at the eve of the celebration in many variations.

Τhe "grip of the Cross" from swimmers, divers, during the ceremony of the Holy Cross Diving. Young, mostly, people dive into the icy waters to catch the Cross first and receive the blessing of the priest and also accept the wishes from the rest of the citizens.

Blessing of the houses from the priests. In Greece the sanctification takes place for the first time at the Epiphany Eve and it is called "Little Blessing" or "Protagiasi"(first sanctification) or "Enlightenment".

During the Protagiasi, the priest goes to all the houses and with the Cross and a branch of basil sprinkles all the houses with holly water so that the evil will leave. Previously, folklorists connected the illumination of houses with the disappearance of goblins, which are imagined to leave the house full of fear and screaming when the priest arrived.

The celebration of Epiphany also includes many events which are connected to the ancient Greek customs. Sanctification, in Greece, also has the meaning of the purification of people and the exemption from the influence of demons. The latter concept is not strictly Christian, but has its roots in ancient worship.

The immersion of the Cross, according to popular belief, gives water cleansing and sanitizing capabilities. The inhabitants of many areas, after diving for the cross, run to the beaches or along rivers and lakes to wash their agricultural tools and icons even. According to popular belief, even the icons with the passage of time lose their original strength and value, but they gain it again from the holy water.

It is this process that is strongly connected to the ancient Athenian celebration of "Plynteria."