This weekend marks the 2019 Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs.

The Greek Orthodox celebration focuses on the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

In one of the biggest Epiphany celebrations in the country, dozens of teenage boys dove into the Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs to try and retrieve a cross that was thrown in the water.

Around noon, a procession of clergy, dignitaries, divers, bands, choirs and school children started making its way along Tarpon Avenue to the bayou. They arrived just before 12:30 p.m.

The dove was then released by 15-year-old Stella Bilirakis of Tarpon Springs and the waters were blessed before the cross was cast.

Within a minute, the cross was retrieved by 17-year-old Ilias Skandaliaris of Tarpon Springs. He is now said to have good luck for the rest of the year.

After he was helped out of the water by the boys, Skandaliaris blessed by the Archbishop.

The other divers then hoisted the teen up on their shoulders and carried him to a huge celebration at Craig Park.

 The Feast of Epiphany is the most important day for this city of the Tampa Bay area, known around the country and the world, as “Epiphany City.” His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, once again presided at the annual 113th celebration of Theophany (Epiphany), the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, the the Great Blessing Service of the Waters and the Dive for the Cross in Spring Bayou, while some thirty thousand pilgrims and visitors attended the festivities, according to estimates from the local authorities.His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, following the reading of the gospel from a stage overlooking the Bayou waters tossed the wooden Holy Cross in the water and fifty-eight teenage young men from the Greek Orthodox parishes and communities of the area dove to retrieve it.  Ilias Skandaliaris of Tarpon, 17-years-old, quickly emerged holding the Cross as high as he could.

Fifteen-year-old Stella Billirakis, granddaughter of Greek American Congressman Michael Billirakis released a white dove representing the Holy Spirit that flew over the Bayou. Stella was chosen among her peers, and she is following the family legacy of her grandmother Evelyn, who was the dove girl 62 years ago.

In the morning of the Feast, Archbishop Demetrios presided over the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the historic Cathedral of Saint Nicholas with concelebrants His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela and His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos. They were assisted by the dean of the Cathedral Fr. Athanasios Haros, the priests Sampson Kasapakis and Theofanis Katsiklis and other clergymen of the area.

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