Greek Orthodox faithful swam in İstanbul’s iconic Golden Horn to retrieve a wooden crucifix thrown into the Bosporus during Epiphany day celebrations on Monday. Priests and Orthodox Christians were present at the Fener dock where the Metropolit threw a large cross into the sea, as reported by the Anadolu news agency.
Patriarch Bartholomew was not present due to severe flu. The four-hour ceremony was led by Metropolit Bishop Tranupoltos Germanos at the Fener Greek Patriarchate in the morning.
Yorgo Alexandridis from Greece was the first to reach the cross and return it to the Metropolit, who awarded him a golden cross pendant. The 47-year-old Alexandridis said he was very happy to have reached the cross first, adding that his ancestors came from the Black Sea province of Trabzon.
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