Christian Chrysakis, 18, retrieved the cross during the 112th Annual Epiphany Celebration held Saturday in Tarpon Springs
By Don Johnson, Patch
TARPON SPRINGS, FL – Christian Chrysakis, 18, a Tarpon Springs High senior, retrieved the cross during the 112th Annual Epiphany Celebration held Saturday in Tarpon Springs. Chrysakis was one of 57 young men, ages 16 to 18 and all members of Greek Orthodox churches, who dove for the cross. The boy who retrieves the cross is said to receive a year of blessings from God.
The annual event celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist in the River Jordan and is hosted by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs.
Epiphany observances began at 8 a.m. with Orthros (Matins) followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 10 a.m. Following the Divine Liturgy and Great Blessings of the Waters, there was a procession to Spring Bayou where a white cross was thrown into the water and 57 young men dove for it. Despite the frigid temperatures, the boys stayed with tradition and wore shorts and T-shirts for the dive.
Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta took over the duties of tossing the cross since Archbishop Demetrios couldn’t travel from his home in New York due to weather.
