Events: Tarpon Springs Teens Dive For Year Of Epiphany Blessings

TARPON SPRINGS, FL -- Tarpon Springs' most celebrated event takes place Sunday, Jan. 6, on the Epiphany, the day the Magi presented themselves to Christ, commemorated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the day Christ was baptized.

Thousands of people are expected to be on hand when dozens of teenage boys dive into the Spring Bayou in a competition to retrieve the Epiphany Cross and receive a year of blessings.

8 a.m. - Orthros/Matins at Saint Nicholas Cathedral
9 a.m. - Archierarchial Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil and the blessing of the waters by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.
11:30 a.m. - Procession to Spring Bayou
A procession of clergy, dignitaries, divers, bands, choirs and school children will make its way along Tarpon Avenue to Spring Bayou.
1 p.m. - Blessing of Spring Bayou
The dove will be released, the waters will be blessed and divers will jump into the bayou in search of the Epiphany Cross
1:30 p.m. - Epiphany Glendi - Festival
A celebration of Epiphany will be held at Craig Park in Tarpon Springs. The event will include food, drinks, live music and dancing.

Image via City of Tarpon Springs

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