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.
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.
Read more on the waters, the procession and the retrievers...
January 5th
January 6th
Locations: During previous Epiphany celebrations, areas 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) were closed as well as many smaller roads within the area of the procession.
Please observe posted detours, expect heavy traffic and yield to pedestrians. There will be NO overnight parking the night before 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).
