TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — It’s Greek Epiphany time.
The largest Epiphany celebration in the western hemisphere is once again set for Jan. 6 in northern Pinellas County.
What You Need To Know
- 118th Tarpon Springs Epiphany celebration taking place Saturday, Jan. 6
- Considered the largest Epiphany celebration in the Western Hemisphere, the event commemorates Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan
- SEE ALSO: Epiphany cross divers prepare Spring Bayou for 118th celebration
- Schedule of Events
- Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
- PODCAST: Stories of retrieving the cross
- Previous Cross Retrievers
Epiphany is celebrated worldwide but the famous celebration in Tarpon Springs turns the small town known for its quaint sponge docks into a unique festival that sees 20,000 people descend on the area.
Now in its 118th year, crowds annually turn out at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral and at Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs during the first week of January for the traditional throwing of the cross during Epiphany celebrations.
SPECIAL DAY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY
The event includes a blessing of the fleet on Friday, and an Orthros and Liturgy services at St. Nicholas Cathedral, which includes visits from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of the Greek Orthodox Achdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain and Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.
After a procession from the Cathedral to the bayou, about 60 young men will take their places in the usually chilly waters of the Bayou in hopes of retrieving the cross from the water and the yearlong blessing that is said to come with it.
On Saturday, the day begins with a church service at St. Nicholas, followed by the procession, the releasing of the doves and the cross throwing.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8 a.m. – Orthros and Divine Liturgy
9 a.m. – Archierarchical Liturgy including the Blessing of the Waters, followed by a procession to Spring Bayou with clergy, altar servers, visiting dignitaries and children in traditional Greek costumes.
Where: St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 17 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs, Fla.
7 p.m. – Epiphany Ball
Following the ceremony and cross throw, the Epiphany Glendi (festival) at the Spanos-Pappas Community Center (348 N. Pinellas Ave.) with food, drink, live music and dancing.
This year’s dinner and dance will celebrate 50 years since His Eminence Archbishop Nikita’s retrieval of the epiphany cross.
ROAD CLOSURES
Locations: Area bounded by Spring Boulevard, Pine Street, Levis Avenue and Lemon Street.
Major thoroughfares of Alternate US Highway 19 (from Pine Street to Lemon Street) and Tarpon Avenue (from Levis Avenue to Spring Boulevard) will be closed as well as many smaller roads within the area of the procession.
Time Period: Saturday, January 6, 2023, from approximately 10:45 am until 3:00 pm
Please observe posted detours, expect heavy traffic and yield to pedestrians. There will be NO overnight parking Thursday night or during the event within the procession area (Pinellas Avenue between Orange Street and Tarpon Avenue; Tarpon Avenue between Grosse Avenue and the Bayou; Orange Street between Pinellas Avenue and Ring Avenue).
ORIGINS
The Orthodox Christian Church celebrates Epiphany on Jan. 6 of each year, in remembrance of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the water of the Jordan River 2000 ago.
The observance spread to the new world and eventually to Tarpon Springs, which boasts the largest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the U.S.
Tarpon Springs’ Epiphany began as a simple affair in 1903 and has grown in size ever since.
The local ceremonies are identical to those taken place in and around Greece.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Most young men growing up in Tarpon Springs dream of retrieving the cross when it comes their time to dive.
And most, if not all, have a relative in the small, tight-knit community that grabbed the cross from the murky waters.
This year’s dove-bearer is Chloe Kotis, 17. Her sister, Fotini Sisois, 25, was chosen as dove bearer in 2016 and Kotis, 17, will be following in her footsteps.
“It’s been in my family for a long time. My grandfather, Vasil Kotis, caught the cross in 1956,” Kotis said. “Which just being here representing my sister, my grandfather and my mom, (she) has one of her boats out here. She passed away in 2018.”
Last year, George Stamas retrieved the cross.
His great grandfather retrieved the cross in 1938, and great uncle did it in 1941.
“God blessed us for this to happen,” Stamas said. “So it’s a blessing. It’s for a reason.”
