Tarpon Springs- Every year, in the month of January, the city of Tarpon Springs is host to the reenactment of one of Christianity’s most critical moments, the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. While many churches and locations across the world reenact many moments of Christianity (and other religions), Tarpon Springs is special for its large Greek community and its connection to the Greek Orthodox Church. The name of this ceremony is the Epiphany Celebration and has taken place in Tarpon Springs for the past 108 years.

  The Epiphany Celebration is a ceremony that is associated with the Greek Orthodox Church, but it is also an event that is important to the cultural diversity and heritage of the Tampa Bay region. Just how Ybor City is culturally significant to the Cuban culture in Tampa, Tarpon Springs is just as significant for the Greek community.

  However, this is no athletic event. There is only one fan base, and it is the Greek community, who gather to watch young men honor their religious beliefs and practices. There are no opponents, only equals. Once the cross is hoisted in the air by the recipient, the spectators look on proudly. Then, as the other participants seat the recipient on their shoulders, all beam with joy proud that they participated in the ceremony.

  For the past 108 years, young, Greek men between the ages of 16 and 18 have kneeled before their religious leaders (His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios) and prepare to dive into the frigid waters to retrieve a hand-made cross.

  It is said that the retriever of the cross is blessed for the next year. In the ceremony’s 108 year existence, all of the cross retrievers have been from Tarpon Springs, except for three, two of which were consecutive. The first was from Sparta, Greece and the second from Long Island, New York. The third didn’t have to travel too far and that was this year’s recipient, Peter Smith of Sarasota.

  While dive participation is strictly for members of the Greek Orthodox Church, the event is region wide, bringing spectators from all over the Tampa Bay area, and sometimes even further.

  One reason is that the Archbishop is more easily accessible to members of his church. This was evident as His Eminence walked the streets from St. Nicholas’s Cathedral to the Glendi (party), after the dive.

  While the dive always brings out an army of spectators (sometimes as large as 30,000 people), the Glendi is open to the public and displays Greek culture. It includes delicious food on the grill and traditional music that goes hand-in-hand with corresponding dances.

  As the ceremony came to a conclusion, a man held his new born son behind me and said, “In 15 years, you will be out there representing our family, just like I did years before.” The fact is, this is no athletic event.