Through rain and storm Port Melbourne sees Blessing of the Waters

Despite dense rainfall and lightning storms, the Blessing of the Waters ceremonial proceeded arsenic planned astatine Port Melbourne’s Princess Pier, drafting hundreds of attendees astatine midday connected Sunday.

The event, which was scheduled to statesman astatine 12 pm, faced a hold of conscionable implicit an hr owed to the downpour.

Initially, the MC took to the stage to denote that participants could still registry to dive for the cross. However, arsenic σύντομα arsenic helium finished, a torrential downpour caused a sudden scramble for shelter.

Children, aged attendees, and families clutching souvlakia sought refuge under the gazebo astatine the pier’s center, while others huddled adjacent nutrient trucks oregon different covered spots. Intermittent lightning illuminated the stormy sky, with the cracks of thunder prompting gasps from the crowd.

Though some attendees near during breaks successful the rain, others continued to arrive, undeterred by the weather.

By conscionable aft 1pm, the storm had passed, and the ceremonial resumed. Participants and spectators gathered astatine the pier’s edge, where the stage was acceptable for the Blessing of the Waters.

Panagiotis.

Thirty-five registered divers, some men and women, leaped into the bay, awaiting the ceremonial propulsion of the cross. Among them, Panagiotis from Clayton emerged victorious, retrieving the transverse for the 2nd clip successful his galore years of participation.

Speaking to the media, Panagiotis expressed his joyousness astatine the achievement, noting that the tradition holds a special spot successful his heart.

The event, contempt the earlier disruptions, concluded connected a precocious note, with attendees celebrating the cherished yearly tradition.