Community Corner
Tarpon Springs High Senior Retrieves Cross At Annual Epiphany
Christian Chrysakis, 18, retrieved the cross during the 112th Annual Epiphany Celebration held Saturday in Tarpon Springs
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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.
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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.
"This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life," Christian Chrysakis, who on Saturday emerged from the frigid waters of Spring Bayou with the Epiphany cross, said. "I still can’t believe it." https://t.co/zxM7Z2iDor
— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) January 6, 2018
Congrats again to Christian Chrysakis of Tarpon Springs! He just turned 18 last month! This was his final year to dive, and HE DID IT! pic.twitter.com/znEq7pXmoa
— Amanda Ciavarri (@WFLAAmanda) January 6, 2018
Christian Chrysakis, 18 of Tarpon Springs finds the cross at #Epiphany2018. @TB_Times #Epiphany pic.twitter.com/ZP3l4e0UE8
— Eve Edelheit (@Eve_Edelheit) January 6, 2018
The boy who retrieved the cross is Christian Chrysakis from Tarpon Springs. #Epiphany pic.twitter.com/vLvXhQ4ne0
— Roberto Roldan (@ByRobertoR) January 6, 2018
In Tarpon Springs, the Epiphany celebration is a century-old tradition for thousands of people. pic.twitter.com/NVcJvJGn5o
— Bay News 9 (@BN9) January 4, 2018
Image via City of Tarpon Springs Facebook Page
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