Tarpon Springs is the city in U.S. with the largest population by proportion of Greek decedents…read more The first observance of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs was celebrated by the first settlers in 1903.
Rain or shine, warm or cold, the festivities of Epiphany at Tarpon Springs takes place every year on January Sixth. (If there's a thunderstorm that makes it dangerous to be in water it will be cancelled but so far the saints have made sure that doesn't happen.) The ceremonies is the same as the one taking place all over Greece on the same day, so if you want a taste of Greece without leaving the continent, come here for a day trip!
While the faithfuls gather in the St. Nicholas Cathedral, the tourists (many out-of-towners) have already stake their spots on the grass around Spring Bayou. You can hear the music and hymns through the loudspeaker, and eventually, the procession down Tarpon Avenue. Local teenage boys between 16-18 swim to the row boats around the dock, where they stand posed for the moment the cross is tossed into the water.
The Archbishop begins by blessing the waters, then read from the first chapter of St. Mark's, verse 9, "and it came to pass in those days...he saw the heavens opened, and the spirit like a dove descending upon him, and there came a voice from heaven saying "thou art my beloved Son, in thee, I am well pleased". A girl, the designated dove bearer, will release a white dove as the cross is tossed into the water. The boys all dive in, hoping to be the first to retrieve it, for honor, glory and blessing for him and his family.
In the past, the cross was made with gold. However, there were a few years the sunk cross could not be found, so nowadays it is made with white oak.
Also, the day before, if you are lucky, you will see the Archbishop going around Tarpon Springs blessing the businesses and the residents. One year we received our blessings in a bakery and another time at the covid testing center (which we felt was more potent than any vaccine. : D )
