A throng of young men gathered at the iconic Tarpon Springs sponge docks for the Blessing of the Fleet in preparation for today’s Epiphany cross dive, considered a rite of passage in the Tampa Bay Greek American community.
Commemorating Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, the yearly dive has taken place since 1920 and draws crowds upwards of 20,000. Clergy and laity alike gather around the Spring Bayou, where the Archbishop blesses the waters; after the Gospel reading, a young woman selected by the community releases a white dove to signify the Holy Spirit’s descent. The Archbishop then casts a cross into the bayou, and Greek Orthodox boys aged 16-18 dive into the waters in search of the cross.
Ahead of today’s events, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America held an Agiasmos Service at the docks, blessing each diver, supportive family member, and curious onlooker with holy water.
This year’s dove bearer, Michalia Makryllos, was greeted by His Eminence with a special assurance that though she received her blessing after the cross divers, she was “the last one, not least.”
Addressing the town, the Archbishop emphasized that the community of Tarpon Springs is “an exemplary demonstration of what it means to be Greek Orthodox in America,” preserving “the traditions that define us as a people” and living “the traditions of the Church in [their] everyday lives.”
His Eminence also blessed the sponge boats, restaurants, and shops lining the dock, greeting the owners with familiarity. Many of the town’s shops sustained considerable damage in hurricanes that struck the region last fall, with one posting a notice that though their “livelihoods were challenged,” their “determination remains unshaken.” In the face of these challenges, today’s 119th Epiphany celebration demonstrates the community’s resilience and commitment to their Orthodox faith and Greek heritage.
Photos: Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
