Epiphany Tradition

January 6, 2016

Wednesday

Miles Traveled 0

Total Miles Traveled 1742

Day 119

We returned to the boat at Dunedin Monday after a great holiday visit with family on Florida’s east coast. 

Today we returned to Tarpon Springs by car to observe the annual Epiphany tradition. The Orthodox Christian celebrates Epiphany on January 6th of each year, in remembrance of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the water of the Jordan River over 2000 ago. In the old country, Jesus Christ baptismal day was celebrated with spiritual emotion and long procession. Following tradition, the Greek community established that January the 6th of each year will be celebrated with the sanctification of the waters and the immersion of the cross in the Spring bayou on “Cross Day” or “Epiphany”. The first observance of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs was celebrated by the first settlers in 1903, and was held in the Episcopal church. 

The procession moves from the church to Spring bayou and after prayer, the Archbishop throws a cross into the water, which at the same moment, the divers would dive into the waters, as they would swim, wrestle, and churn the waters in search of the cross. The throwing of the cross symbolizes casting of the bread of truth upon the troubled world. The plunging of the young boys into the waters signifies the immersion into the river Jordan of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The diver who retrieves the cross would then climb from the water and kneel before the Archbishop, as he would hand him the cross. At this time, the Archbishop would bless the young man and congratulate him. For hundreds of years in the land of the Greek forefathers, whoever retrieves the cross, it has been said that he would have good fortune and divine beneficence. Upon the return to the church, the divers are asked to stand at the altar, while the retriever would receive special blessings.

In the afternoon, the Archbishop and priests go back to the waterfront where the Agiasmo (sanction of the waters) took place; they would then bless the boats. The Greek community believes unconditionally that a hurricane will not pass through the city of Tarpon Springs because St. Nicholas, which is patron saint and the protector of the seamen, will protect the city and its residents as well. The last hurricane, which passed through this city, was in 1920.