The Blessing of the Fleet 1/5/10

Here in my small town of Tarpon Springs, the celebration of the Epiphany is one of the major events of the year. This is when the young men of repute between the ages of 16-18 within the Greek Orthodox Church dive for the golden cross thrown into the murky waters of Spring Bayou. According to all reports, this is one of the largest of the Epiphany celebrations held in the United States.

Today marked the preliminary event leading to the grand finale tomorrow. Today was the Blessing of the Fleet down on the Sponge Docks. It was such a cold and overcast morning, that I was not sure if Jo and I were going to go. I had missed this the past two years of the three we have lived in this lovely little town. But, she and persevered and, bundled up and armed with some hot coffee braved the elements. The sun came out, the priest and his assistants and young acolytes moved with great ritual and grandeur among the few who had also turned out. The priest dipped his branch into the holy water and sprinkled those who had come to be blessed (and some, like the tv cameras and crews who had not). He was enthusiastic and generous with his blessings and it was a moving experience to be witness to something that has been going on here in Tarpon Springs in the Greek community for over 100 years and in Greece for far longer.

Jo and I went to the new Italian restaurant in town for lunch. We sat in the lower level and just happened to be seated in front of the committee that oversees the dive scheduled for tomorrow. Our weather has been unseasonably cold here...some of the worst Tampa (and Florida) has experienced in years. The bayou, which is spring fed is not as cold as the river or the Gulf but it is far colder than it has been in years. The committee was very concerned for the almost 70 young men who, dressed in white tee shirts and blue gym shorts, will dive into the water tomorrow around 12:30 pm, swim to small boats tied and moored in a semi circle off the platform and then dive back into the bayou in hopes of finding the golden cross tossed by the Arch bishop of the Church for North and South America. Of course, the main concern is hypothermia and it was heartening to hear and then talk with the two men and one woman who were working so hard to protect these young men with EMRs nearby, buddy systems in place and more and yet still allow these young ones the opportunity to be a part of their culture and their religion.

There are three or four couples of us going to the Epiphany celebration tomorrow. I hope the sun shines warm and the event is well attended.