Bishop Silouan of Sinope flanked by police due to COVID restrictions for Glenelg’s Blessing of the Waters

The annual Blessing of the Waters has ended in dramatic fashion after an unauthorised swimmer stole the cross. But that wasn’t the only drama.

The annual Greek Orthodox Blessing of the Waters has ended in dramatic fashion after an unauthorised swimmer stole the cross when it was thrown in the water at Glenelg.

And the Archdiocese’s most senior man in South Australia turned up to the event flanked by police and COVID marshals – with a rope around him to stop anyone going near him – because he had been given a quarantine exemption by SA Health to attend on Sunday.

A middle-aged man, who identified himself only as Victor, emerged from under Glenelg Jetty shortly after 12.30pm when the blessed cross was thrown in the water and snatched it.

Under the rules of the event, swimmers had to register and swim from the shore after the cross was thrown in a race to be the first to find it.

After emerging with the cross, the man refused to hand it back to church officials and would not comment.

‘Victor’, clutching the cross, after being questioned by police. Father Michael Psaromatis addresses the booing crowd. Picture: Russell Millard

He was met by boos from the crowd when he returned from the jetty and taken into the Stamford Grand for questioning by police, who eventually recovered the cross.

Father Konstantinos Skoumbourdis told the crowd not to boo because it was not befitting of Christians – but he had some choice words for the thief.

A‘Victor’ holds up the cross after snatching it from the water. Picture: Russell Millard

Competitors look in dismay as ‘Victor’ walks out of the water with the cross. Picture: Russell Millard

“Everyone else registered … so everyone can have a fair competition,” Fr Skoumbourdis said.

“It’s not a matter of retrieving the cross, it’s a matter of doing it honourably. It’s like going to run a 100m race against Usain Bolt but you’re right at the finish line ready to go and you say, ‘I beat Usain Bolt’.

“How is that right? It’s not.”

Elias Sardellis, who came to watch the event, said he was “absolutely disgusted” at what had happened.

“But I’m happy it’s been rightfully returned,” he said.

Before all that unfolded, Bishop Silouan of Sinope arrived in an extremely cautious style, shielded from members of the public.

Bishop Silouan of Sinope on the jetty, roped off from the public. Picture: Russell Millard

The Bishop, who is currently in quarantine after attending a conference in NSW, was granted an exemption by SA Health to attend the blessing under strict conditions.

He was taken to and from Glenelg by a police escort.

An SA Health spokeswoman said he was given the exemption to attend a “culturally significant ceremony with specific arrangements made by SAPOL”.

“The exemption included requirements for him to remain 1.5m away from people at all times and not to share items to ensure no public risk,” the spokeswoman said.

DJ Groove Terminator – aka Simon Lewicki – was also given an exemption to perform at the Summer Sounds festival in Bonython Park.

He, too, is being followed by a police escort.

It comes as no new cases of COVID-19 were reported in SA today. There are still 15 active cases in hotel quarantine, and about 5,000 tests were carried out on Saturday.

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has pleaded with her fellow state premiers to think carefully before they shut their borders as the state recorded three new cases.

“I would simply say to other state leaders — firstly, please talk to us in New South Wales before you close the border because we can explain to you the situation that’s going on,” she said.

Victoria recorded four consecutive days without local transmission, with another bumper day of testing on Saturday.

Originally published as Bishop Silouan of Sinope flanked by police due to COVID restrictions for Glenelg’s Blessing of the Waters