The climax of the Christmas celebration, the 12th Day or Epiphany (Bogojavlenie), will be celebrated with "baptizing of the Waters" throughout the orthodox christendom tomorrow, January 19th. It is one of the most spectacular events in the church calendar and attracts large crowds of laity.
I have just received a photo showing the Archbishop Stefan, the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, with the cross which will be thrown tomorrow in the freezing waters of river Vardar in Skopje, Macedonia. There will be 48 men who will dive, at noon sharp, from the Stone bridge into the river to retrieve the cross. The ceremony signifies "baptism" of all the waters in the country. Around the country believers begin the day with prayers and processions. Bishops throw their crosses into local rivers to be hunted by the bravest. You can find a fine description of the ritual here.
The 48 orthodox zealots in the capital have all undergone medical checkup in the Institute of sport medicine and there will be scores of paramedics, kayak-paddling teams, special police units and thousands of spectators around. The mayor Violeta Alarova will present an icon for the man who will actually bring the cross back to the Archbishop. He will also get other gifts. All divers will get bathrobes. The feast is much, much more picturesque and incomparably more authentic in its pageantry and rich folklore as performed in the provincial townships and villages.
I was disappointed with the way Epiphany is celebrated in Greece. The church dignitaries are all dressed up in their shiniest robes and the state is represented by the President followed with the top echelon of government, military and justice official plus the whole diplomatic corps. They usually gather in the port of Pireus while battleships with all hands on deck float around. But, but, but. The actual cross, a heavy silver masterfully crafted item is not thrown for the believers to catch and bring back. It would be impossible for it would sink faster than a big anchor. Thus - it is tied on a rope and is thrown, if I remember correctly, three times. that signifies the baptism of the waters of the seas around Greece. In the provinces of Greece the event must be more picturesque but I have not witnessed one.

There is no point commenting that the 12th Day of Christmas passed here (in the Netherlands and throughout the Wild West) again without anything similar happening. Who would baptize the waters of the Amstel or the Maas if there are no people ready to dive for the cross from the bridge in Maastricht? If anything similar happens then it passes without mention in the media. And what is not recorded by the media is tantamount as if did not happen. True or False?

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