"Tarpon Springs Epiphany Celebration Unites Divers Amidst Weather Watch"

The 118th Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, proceeded with John Hittos, 16, retrieving the cross from Spring Bayou, which is believed to bring a year of blessings. The event included a church service, a procession, and the traditional cross dive, despite earlier concerns about stormy weather. His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, who retrieved the cross 50 years ago, attended the ceremony. The celebration is a significant cultural and religious event for the Greek Orthodox community and attracted thousands of spectators.