Tarpon Springs Teen Boys Take Plunge To Retrieve Epiphany Cross

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — Tarpon Springs is preparing to commemorate Jesus Christ's baptism with the city's 117th annual Greek Orthodox Epiphany ceremony Friday, the largest such ceremony on the continent, attracting more than 20,000 people each year.

Epiphany, meaning "appearance of God," celebrates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. According to the gospels, during the baptism the voice of God is heard saying, This is my Son in whom I am pleased." Then the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends upon Jesus, the son of God, revealing the Holy Trinity to humankind for the first time.

First celebrated in 215 A.D., Epiphany s held on the last day of the Dodecameron, the 12 days succeeding Christmas, and is considered one of the most sacred Greek Orthodox celebrations.

After several years of subdued celebrations due to the pandemic, this year's event will kick off Thursday with the Tarpon Springs Blessing of the Fleet at the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard from 1 to 3 p.m. The Rev. Athanasios C. Haros of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral and other clergy will bless the sponge boats and divers as those gathered remember the sponge divers who lost their lives in the often-dangerous deep sea-diving pursuit.

The observance will continue Friday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36 N Pinellas Ave., with the Orthos at 8 a.m., the Archierarchail Liturgy at 9 a.m., followed by a procession of clergy, altar servers, visiting dignitaries, the dove bearer, choir members, teen divers and children dressed in traditional Greek costumes to Spring Bayou where His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, leader of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, will bless the waters with holy water in a symbol of the sanctification of the Jordan River with the presence of Jesus.

Each year, a high school- or college-age member of the cathedral choir, typically a young woman, is chosen as the dove bearer, carrying a caged dove during the procession and then releasing the bird, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, during the ceremony at Spring Bayou.

This year, that honor goes to 17-year-old Elena Gonatos, the daughter of Emmanuel and Voula Gonatos. Gonatos is a lifelong member of St. Nicholas and has been singing in the choir since she was 8 years old.

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She is also a part of the St. Nicholas dance ministry and an active member of the theater program at East Lake High School. She plans to attend the University of Florida to study law.

Gonatos follows in the footsteps of two aunts who also served as dove bearers: Helen Gonatos Cauthorn in 1983 and Mary Gonatos Deffigos in 1987. For a full list of past dove bearers, click here.

The much-anticipated dive for the Epiphany cross, which dates back to 1920 in Tarpon Springs, will follow. The archbishop will cast the cross into the bayou and throngs of young men ages 16 to 18 will dive into the waters in pursuit of the cross. The diver who retrieves the cross is considered blessed for the year. For a full list of past cross retrievers, click here.

The Epiphany ceremonies will continue with Glendi, which was canceled during the pandemic. The Greek Orthodox celebration from 2 to 7 p.m. highlights traditional Greek food, drinks, music and dancing. This year's event will feature performances by well-known Greek recording artist Dionysis Kornilakis, who plays the Cretan lyra, a pear-shaped, three-stringed bowed musical instrument; Pelagos Entertainment, a well-known Greek-American band based in New Jersey; and Greek folk dance troupes.

The event will also include food trucks including Meli Greek Street Donuts, Wheelin N Grillin, Rusty Bellies Bite, SofteeKing, Anclote River Grill, Maggie on the Move and Gigglewaters.

The free Glendi will take place at the Spanos-Pappas Community Center, 348 N Pinellas Ave.

The event will conclude on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the Epiphany Ball featuring dinner and dancing. Click here for tickets.

Once again, Lekkas Photography & Video, the official photographer of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, will be photographing and videotaping this year's ceremonies. Click here to see more photos and videos.