TURKEY: Greek Orthodox Christians brave the cold waters of the Bosphorus to compete for a wooden crucifix in a traditional Epiphany ceremony
Record ID:
860646
TURKEY: Greek Orthodox Christians brave the cold waters of the Bosphorus to compete for a wooden crucifix in a traditional Epiphany ceremony
- Title: TURKEY: Greek Orthodox Christians brave the cold waters of the Bosphorus to compete for a wooden crucifix in a traditional Epiphany ceremony
- Date: 7th January 2012
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (JANUARY 6, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PATRIARCHATE PEOPLE ENTERING CHURCH FOR CEREMONY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LIGHTING CANDLES VARIOUS OF CEREMONY / MEMBERS OF CONGREGATION / PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW CONDUCTING CEREMONY RELIGIOUS PROCESSION WALKING OUTDOORS PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW WALKING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED NEAR BOSPHORUS STRAIT VARIOUS OF BARTHOLOMEW ON PODIUM NEAR WATER MEN STANDING ON BOAT, WAITING TO DIVE BARTHOLOMEW THROWING CROSS INTO THE SEA MEN SWIMMING MAN IN WATER HOLDING UP CROSS AND KISSING IT ONLOOKERS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK CITIZEN WHO GRABBED THE CROSS, APOSTOLOS OKIONOW, SAYING: "I feel great, for the last four years, every year I come here. And this year I was the lucky guy. And I will come next year, again. And I wish to everybody peace and Happy New Year." PRIESTS WALKING
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey, Turkey
- City:
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA4TN6G9J8ZYYY0R4CZ4H6AOZV5
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- Story Text: Orthodox Christians in Istanbul attended the annual Epiphany dive ceremony on Friday (January 6, 2012).
After a traditional church service, the crowd walked to the Golden Horn estuary with Patriarch Bartholomew.
As part of a tradition dating back to Byzantine times, a crucifix is thrown into the waters by the patriarch and young divers plunge in, competing to retrieve it.
Greek citizen Apostolos Okionow recovered the wooden crucifix from the water and then ceremonially handed it over to the Patriarch.
"I feel great, for the last four years, every year I come here. And this year I was the lucky guy. And I will come next year, again. And I wish to everybody peace and Happy New Year," he said afterwards.
Hundreds of members of Istanbul's Greek Orthodox community attend the ceremony every year on the banks of the stretch of water known as the Golden Horn, which cuts into the western side of the Bosphorus dividing the city's European and Asian sides. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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