Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sent a message of optimism that Greece will overcome the current debt crisis, as people celebrated Epiphany on Sunday.

"From Piraeus, one of the major ports across the Mediterranean Sea, I wish to send a message of optimism that we will succeed united," said Samaras when attending the ritual of the "blessing of the waters" to celebrate one of the major religious feasts on the Orthodox Christian calendar.

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece led the rite which commemorates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River, according to the Orthodox Church, and cast the Holy Cross into the cold waters.

Swimmers braved the low temperature and jumped to retrieve it in order to be blessed with good luck, health and strength throughout the new year, as Samaras set a pigeon free.

Greeks hope that during 2013, the pains of a harsh austerity and reform program introduced since 2010 to slash deficits and avert a chaotic default will be mended by development, leading to the exit of the crisis.

Average Greek households and businesses suffer from record high unemployment rates and deep recession fuelled by rounds of tough wage cuts and tax hikes.

Despite warnings that the coming months will be as difficult as the past two years, as Athens needs to stick to painful policies in return for further bailout loans from international lenders, Greeks hope they will see light at the end of the tunnel soon.