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Town Dives Into Epiphany

Tampa Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Cross divers talk outside of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. Sunday marks the annual Epiphany Celebration for the Greek community of Tarpon Springs. Young divers will attempt to retrieve a cross from the Spring Bayou.

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By CARLOS MONCADA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - About 25,000 people are expected to converge on this north Pinellas County city today for the 102nd Epiphany celebration.

Large crowds and heavy foot traffic are expected around St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36 N. Pinellas Ave., and Spring Bayou in Craig Park, police said. Detours, road closures and traffic congestion should be expected from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m.

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.

The daylong festivities recognize the roots of the community, founded by Greek sponge divers more than a century ago.

A procession will leave St. Nicholas about 12:15 p.m. and travel from the church east on Orange Street, south on Ring Avenue, west on Tarpon Avenue to the bayou.

During the blessing of the bayou, a dove is released to commemorate the biblical reference to the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus in that form.

The cross dive, a Greek Orthodox ritual, follows at 1 p.m. Males ages 16 to 18 try to retrieve a wooden cross tossed into the water. Some 60 young men will dive from dinghies into the bayou.

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.

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