Epiphany in Cyprus 2027 (Ta Fota, 6 January): Cross-Diving Guide
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Reviewed by Wanderistan editorial team · Last updated Jul 27, 2026
Cyprus follows the Revised Julian calendar, so its Christmas falls on 25 December like the West — but Epiphany, 6 January, called "Ta Fota" (the Feast of Light) or Theophania, is arguably the bigger spectacle for a visitor: coastal towns hold a blessing of the waters followed by young men diving into the sea to retrieve a cross thrown in by the priest, watched by crowds along the harbour.
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Quick answer
The date is fixed every year; the specific harbour and start time for each town's ceremony is set by the local church/municipality closer to the date, so this guide gives the well-established locations and format rather than a single confirmed 2027 schedule.
Cyprus Epiphany 2027 — the fixed facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 January 2027 (fixed every year) |
| Confidence | Certain — fixed liturgical date; exact harbour timing set locally closer to the date |
| Larnaca | Marina opposite the Church of Saint Lazarus — boats decorated with Greek and Cypriot flags, cross thrown from a boat |
| Paphos | Harbour near the medieval castle — choir performances and a festive parade alongside the ceremony |
| Limassol | The old port — cross blessing, national anthem, then dozens of divers retrieve it, followed by wine and sweets for the crowd |
| Core ritual | Liturgy at dawn, procession to the water, the cross thrown in and dived for as a symbol of purification for the new year |
Where to watch
- Larnaca's marina setting, right by the Church of Saint Lazarus, makes it one of the easiest ceremonies to combine with a short old-town walk.
- Paphos's harbour ceremony includes a parade and choir performances beyond the core cross-diving ritual, giving it slightly more spectacle for visitors.
- Limassol's old port draws some of the largest crowds of divers, followed by a communal wine-and-sweets tradition after the ceremony concludes.
Planning your visit
Ceremonies typically happen in the morning — arrive at the harbour early, both for a good vantage point and because the liturgy and procession precede the diving itself by some time.
This falls well outside the summer festival season this site covers most heavily, making it a genuinely distinct, low-competition entry point for winter Cyprus content.
- Part of our verified European Christmas markets table
- 2 Days in Paphos itinerary
- 2 Days in Limassol itinerary
- What is Ta Fota in Cyprus?
- "Ta Fota" (the Feast of Light), also called Theophania or Epiphany, is celebrated on 6 January and commemorates Christ's baptism — marked in Cyprus's coastal towns by a blessing of the waters and a cross-diving ceremony.
- Where can I watch cross-diving in Cyprus?
- Larnaca (marina by the Church of Saint Lazarus), Paphos (harbour near the medieval castle) and Limassol (the old port) all hold public cross-diving ceremonies on 6 January.
- Is Epiphany the same as Christmas in Cyprus?
- No — Cyprus celebrates Christmas on 25 December, the same date as Western churches. Epiphany, 6 January, is a separate, distinctly Cypriot spectacle centred on the sea rather than a market or tree.
