Epiphany (Fota) 2027 on 6 January: the Blessing of the Waters in Cyprus

Epiphany, known in Cyprus as Fota or Theophania, falls on Wednesday 6 January 2027 and is a public holiday. After a morning liturgy, each coastal town walks in procession to its harbour, the bishop throws a cross into the sea and swimmers dive in to bring it back. It is free to watch, open to everyone and the last big day of the festive season.

The 2027 programmes from the church and the municipalities have not been announced yet. Details below are from 6 January 2025 and 2026, labelled by year; confirm times in the first days of January.

What does Epiphany celebrate?

Epiphany marks the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. The Greek name Theophania refers to the appearance of God at the baptism: in Orthodox teaching the voice of the Father, the Son in the water and the Holy Spirit as a dove. The everyday name, Fota ("the Lights"), recalls the people baptised on that day in the early Church, who were said to be "enlightened", and the candles filling the churches.

Blessing water is the heart of the feast. Priests bless the water in the church font, which the faithful drink and take home, and then bless the sea, a lake or a reservoir by throwing in a cross. Whoever brings the cross back is said to be blessed for the year ahead. A few Old Calendarist communities keep the feast on 19 January instead; in 2026 they held their ceremony at Zygi on that date.

What happens on the eve, 5 January?

The eve is called the Paramoni ton Foton (Eve of the Lights), and in many Cypriot villages it is also known simply as Kalanda. Customs include:

• The priest's house visits. After the evening service the priest goes from house to house, sprinkling each home with holy water to drive away evil. Traditionally children went with him carrying the water and a lantern lit from the church lamp, and households thanked him with loukoumades, sausages, nuts or a few coins. In towns, people more often take blessed water home from church and sprinkle the house, garden and workplace themselves.
• Kalanda and pouloustrina. Children go door to door singing the Epiphany carols and are given small sums of money, mostly by grandparents, aunts, uncles and godparents.
• Xerotigana. In Paphos villages, fried sweets are made on the eve and shared with the poor, the sick and families in mourning. Priests in some villages also bless animals and possessions.

Who are the kalikantzari?

The kalikantzari are the goblins of Cypriot folklore. They live underground but come to the surface for the twelve days from Christmas Eve, hiding by day because they fear light and making mischief at night. Before anyone eats the first batch of loukoumades, the housewife throws a few onto the roof, sometimes with bits of sausage, while saying a short rhyme, so the goblins leave the family alone. The Epiphany blessing sends them back underground for another year. If you want to join in, try our loukoumades recipe.

What happens on 6 January?

The day follows the same order across the island:

1. Liturgy in the main church of each town, early in the morning.
2. Procession to the sea, with the clergy, the icons and the cross, usually led by a philharmonic band and National Guard or police units. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism listed the processions at about 10:30 in both 2025 and 2026.
3. The blessing of the waters (the Great Agiasmos) at the harbour, with the hymn "When You were baptised in the Jordan, O Lord".
4. The cross is thrown into the sea, sometimes more than once, and the swimmers dive. The winner hands it back to the bishop, and in many towns gets a gold or silver cross as a keepsake.
5. In several places white doves are released, followed by folk dances or music on the quay.

Where can you watch the blessing of the waters in Cyprus?

These are the official venues for 2026, with what happened on the day. The 2027 programme is not out yet (checked 19 October 2026).

Limassol

Limassol's ceremony starts at Agia Napa Church in the old town and finishes at the old port, where the procession arrives along the seafront. In 2024 National Guardsmen lined the route and the municipal philharmonic band played. In 2026 the day made headlines when the wooden cross disappeared after the third throw. Police traced the man who had taken it the next day, and the cross went back to the church. Our Limassol hub covers the old town and parking.

Larnaca

In Larnaca the liturgy is held at Agios Lazaros, the town's most important church, and the procession goes down to the sea at the marina end of the seafront. In 2024 the President attended the service led by the Archbishop. In 2026 Metropolitan Nektarios of Kition led the Great Blessing of the Waters and the cross was thrown from the main pier. See our Larnaca hub.

Paphos and Latsi

Paphos regularly hosts the state celebration, which means extra security and dignitaries. In 2026 Archbishop Georgios led the liturgy at Agioi Anargyroi in Kato Paphos before the procession to the harbour; in 2025 it was at Theoskepasti Church instead, so check which church is used in 2027. Further north, Polis Chrysochous holds its own blessing at the Latsi fishing shelter after a service at Agios Andreas.

Ayia Napa and the east coast

Ayia Napa's procession runs from the Church of Panagia to the harbour. In 2025, when the President attended, more than 35 people dived, the youngest an eight-year-old boy diving for the first time and the oldest 65. In 2026 a gold cross sank and could not be found at first, so a wooden one was thrown and caught by two swimmers; the gold cross was later recovered, and every participant was given a silver cross. There were events in Paralimni in 2023; for Protaras, check with Paralimni and Ayia Napa municipalities in early January.

Nicosia

Nicosia has no sea, so the capital blesses the lake at Athalassa Park. In 2026 the liturgy was held at Agia Varvara in Platy Aglantzia, the procession set off at 10:30 towards Agios Georgios in the park, and the blessing was scheduled for 11:00, followed by Cypriot and Pontic dances and activities for children.

Can expats dive for the cross?

There are no published entry rules, and people of all kinds take part. In 2023 two Ukrainian women dived in Paphos for the first time, and in 2025 Ayia Napa's divers ranged from eight to 65 years old. If you want to try:

• Ask the parish or the municipality a few days before whether you can take part.
• Only go in if you are a confident swimmer used to cold water, and have warm clothes and a towel waiting on the quay.
• Remember it is a religious rite: the cross goes back to the bishop, never home with you.

What is closed on 6 January 2027?

Epiphany is a public and bank holiday, so banks and government offices are closed on Wednesday 6 January 2027. Public schools are off from 24 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 and go back on Thursday 7 January; private schools set their own dates. Whether a private-sector employee gets the day off depends on the employment contract or collective agreement. Shop and supermarket hours vary on the day, so do any big food shop on the 5th. Our guide to public holidays and working hours lists the other days off.

Tips for watching the ceremony

• Arrive early. The best spots on the quay fill up well before the procession arrives, especially in the town hosting the President. Aim to be there by about 10:00 if the 10:30 pattern holds.
• Park away from the procession route. Seafront roads are blocked while the procession passes, so park a short walk away and expect slow traffic around the harbour.
• Dress respectfully. You can wear normal winter clothes, but if you go into the church for the liturgy, cover shoulders and avoid beachwear. In 2026 it was about 20°C on the coast, but mornings by the water can be windy.
• Stand still for the blessing. Keep quiet during the prayers, and move aside for the clergy and the icons.
• Photos. Taking photos in the open air is normal; inside the church, be discreet and skip the flash. Avoid filming swimmers' children close up without asking their parents.
• Bring children. The diving and the doves are a hit with children, and some towns put on dances and activities afterwards.

Is Epiphany the end of the festive season?

Yes. Epiphany closes the twelve days of Christmas. The nine Christmas villages run by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism stay open until 6 January 2027, and most organised festive events end that day. For the build-up, read our guides to an expat Christmas in Cyprus, vasilopita and New Year traditions and the wider Christmas in Cyprus guide.

What to do next

1. Pick your town and check the municipality's page in the first days of January for the 2027 programme.
2. Plan to arrive at the harbour by 10:00 and park away from the seafront.
3. Make a batch of loukoumades on the 5th and, if you like, keep the tradition by tossing one on the roof.
4. Check your bank and school dates: everything public is closed on Wednesday 6 January and schools reopen on the 7th.