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104th Greek Epiphany Celebration....The Dive for the Cross!!

2010.01.07

Greek flag flies over Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Early arriving crowd starts to pick out their seats.

Jesus banner.

Giovanni just happy to be here.

Part of the crowd eagerly await the toss.

It was cold by Florida standards, but a beautiful day!!

The rescue divers take their places.

Some of the 70 divers arrive eager and ready to make the dive.

Archbishop Demetrios holds the Cross.

The mad dash for the boats begins....

Into the 50 degree water....brrrrrrrrr!!!

Splish, splash they're not taking a bath...

Diving to the left, jumping to the right, it's wild!!

Out of the water and into the boats.

I know they have to be cold...I was cold and I had on a t-shirt, a hooded jacket and a windbreaker.

The divers get ready to dive for the cross. The eventual winner is the second young man from the left. The one standing with the green plaid shorts.

The Archbishop prays over this solemn event.

On your marks....

Get Ready......

Dive.........The Cross is tossed and the young men dive in seeking their place in history.

A mad scramble...

"I've got it, I've got it!" Sixteen-year-old Demetrios Kalogiannis holds the Cross proudly as he begins his year of blessings and good luck.

Victory and disappointment....

Sixteen-year-old Demetrios Kalogiannis climbs out of Spring Bayou with his prize.

All smiles as he is greeted by well-wishers and family.

"I did it!"

Approximately 70 teenage young men braved the unseasonal temperatures in the 30's and cold waters in the 50's to dive for the cross that is said to give them one year of good luck. The event was the 104th Greek Epiphany held in Tarpon Springs, Florida. It is the largest Epiphany celebration in the western hemisphere. Over 10,000 people showed up to watch as Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, tossed the cross into the chilly bayou. Sixteen-year-old Demetrios Kalogiannis outswam the other hopefuls to claim the prized possession.

Fantastic Capture Oscar !! great post ,

finbarr · 2010-01-06: 18:46

Great shots! Fantastic capture in the last ... great shots of the Archbishop.

????? · 2010-01-06: 20:27

What an amazing event! Must have been very emotional to watch. Wonderfully captured Oscar. :)

livelovelaugh · 2010-01-06: 21:40

wonderful photos !!

mujay · 2010-01-06: 22:05

so wonderful event !that is really gr8

peace4kidss · 2010-01-07: 01:08

interesting, I've never heard of that event before! I can't believe they dived into that frigid water!

????? · 2010-01-07: 02:43

Reminds me of the Tangata Manu

????? · 2010-01-07: 03:20

Oh religion is a strange, wonderful and mysterious thing.
Great set of pictures Oscar.

SADHYA · 2010-01-07: 05:01

So different from the live nativity I visited yesterday on the Epiphany holiday here in Italy. great report.

MoMac · 2010-01-07: 05:42

Excellent set Oscar!
It's hard to believe that it's that cold there!!

jennye · 2010-01-07: 06:39

Well done my friend!!! I wish him the best for this year...

miclaud · 2010-01-07: 06:55

Excellent.

farideh · 2010-01-07: 07:18

Exiting photos and interesting tradition!

hannamagnusson · 2010-01-07: 08:30

Great serie of pictures. Thank you for sharing :-)

snapshoot · 2010-01-07: 08:35

Very interesting and exciting tradition! Well captured, Oscar....and thanks for sharing. Brrrr....does look cold, though.

lookagain · 2010-01-07: 08:52

Your Epiphany shots from Florida are much better than my Epiphany shots from Greece!!! There were so many people pushing me around and squeezing me that I only got some unfocused, ugly shots!
It's unbelievable how many boys dived in! There were only 8, here! The temperature was very low here yesterday.... but still ..... there are less and less boys every year!

Great post Oscar!

BlueLady · 2010-01-07: 09:31

There is much to-do and excitement that day, as seen.
Nice set Oscar. ;o)

Ryana · 2010-01-07: 10:04

cool

JaCkYe · 2010-01-07: 12:11

Very interesting, Oscar.
Thanks for sharing!

????? · 2010-01-07: 14:24

incredible and impressive.

storytaylor · 2010-01-07: 17:16

doesn't seem very solemn to me; what an interesting event!!!!!

urmysunshine · 2010-01-07: 22:33

First time i saw a celebration like that Oscar , and it seems the water is so cold interesting so many still participate , its the faith that moves them to dive with no fear ! well capture of the event ! thank you so much for sharing my friend!
Best regards ,
rob

blackhawk1552 · 2010-01-08: 03:27