Christmastide

After thunderstorms moved past, Florida's largest Greek Orthodox community celebrated the Epiphany on Saturday as a 16-year-old boy dove into chilly water to retrieve a cross in an annual rite that draws thousands.

The town of Kalofer witnessed a breathtaking display of tradition as hundreds of men immersed themselves in the icy waters of the river Tunja to perform the traditional Bulgarian 'horo'. Draped in folk attire and proudly waving the national flag, the men joyously danced to the tunes of drums and bagpipes, accompanied by a resonating folk melody.

This unique feast is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Church

January 6 marks Epiphany, known as "Yordanovden" or Jordan's Day in Bulgaria, a vibrant celebration deeply rooted in the country's cultural fabric. This cherished festival embraces water blessings and age-old rituals, symbolizing purification and prosperity.

Today, after Epiphany, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Council of St. Prophet John the Forerunner and Baptist. The day is popular as Ivanovden in Bulgaria (Ivan's Day) and is among the holidays with the largest number people who have a name day in our country - over 347 thousand.

It is a gift fit for a king, or three: a gold coin slipped by a Belgian baker inside a traditional flaky Epiphany Three Kings cake baked to perfection.

Instead of the usual bean, Brussels baker Luc de Weerdt opted for the more luxurious prize of small round 18-carat gold coins, stamped with his bakery's logo.

An orthodox faithful catches a wooden crucifix during Epiphany day celebrations in Piraeus near Athens, Friday. Epiphany marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas, but not all Orthodox Christian churches celebrate it on the same day.
[Louiza Vradi/Reuters]

On January 6, Bulgarians celebrate Epiphany or St. Jordan's Day (Yordanovden) - one of the biggest Christian holidays in the Bulgarian calendar.

On January 1, Bulgaria's Orthodox Church celebrates the Circumcision of the Lord. Circumcision is an Old Testament sacrament that began at the beginning of the second millennium before Christ. It was introduced by the forefather Abraham as a sign of the covenant between God and God's chosen people, but it also appears as a type of Holy Baptism.

The Greek government relented and allowed limited attendance at churches celebrating the feast of the Epiphany Wednesday, reversing a ban on attendance designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus.