Close

Sun Subscriber Login

Username:  


Password:



Please wait....
 
News Story
Updated: 01/06/2013 09:30:11PM

107th annual Epiphany celebration

Share this story:


By David G. Savage

Text Size:


TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) — Thousands of people have descended on the quiet city of Tarpon Springs to celebrate the Epiphany, which honors Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

This weekend marks the 107th annual Epiphany celebration for the Greek Orthodox community. Events include the blessing of the waters, a traditional litany procession and a cross dive.

Forty-seven male teens dove into 65-degree water Sunday to grab the cross. Sixteen year-old Vassilios Harding was the first to retrieve it and was blessed by the pope and carried off on the shoulders of fellow divers as he hoisted the cross in the air.

The winner is said to be blessed with one year’s good luck.


Reader Comments (1)

Previous Page | Next Page

Submit your comment below:







  

* = Required information

Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming", "trolling", or any other inappropriate material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content you post. All comments must comply with the Terms and Conditions of this site and by submitting comments you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions.


ADVERTISEMENT