"Teen Triumphs in Tarpon Springs' 118th Epiphany Cross Dive Celebration"
In Tarpon Springs, Florida, the Greek Orthodox community celebrated the Epiphany with their annual cross dive tradition, where 16-year-old John Hittos retrieved a cross from the chilly waters of Spring Bayou, earning a year of blessings. The event, which is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, followed a procession led by clergy and a dove bearer, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The celebration reflects the town's rich Greek heritage, initially established by sponge-diving immigrants.