With thousands gathered at the Spring Bayou this afternoon for the annual Epiphany celebration, Chris Kavouklis dove beneath the water and brought back the cross said to carry a special blessing.
The 18-year-old from Tampa was one of dozens of teenage boys who dove into the bayou in what's become the highlight of the Greek Orthodox community's annual celebration, marking Jesus' baptism.
The dive serves as a rite of passage for many Greek Orthodox boys here. The one who catches the cross is said to blessed for a year.
"From the time the children can understand, they want to catch the cross," said mom Sylvia Danapas, 47, whose son, Angelo, 17, is diving today.
Her two older sons both dived for the cross, and her father, the late Mike Koulinos, caught it when he was a teenager.
Epiphany Day is celebrated each Jan. 6 to mark Jesus Christ's baptism. Also known as the Feast of Lights, it's one of three big holy days in the Greek Orthodox religion, along with Christmas and Easter.
Sunday morning, the divers, who all wore swim trunks and Epiphany 2008 T-shirts, paced in front of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, where Greek prayers and chants were broadcast outside through giant speakers.
The boys, most of whom are the sons and grandsons of Greek immigrants, said besides knowing how to swim, there is no way to prepare for the dive. It's not an athletic contest; it's just about faith.
"We believe someone's already chosen. Today's just the day we find out who it is," said Nicholas Sarouaos, 17.
After the cross-throwing, the Glendi, a festival with Greek musicians, dancing and food, will be held at the Sponge Docks from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: http://www2.tbo.com
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