The people of Tarpon Springs want you to know that “you don’t have to be Greek to have fun.” Take this as your invitation to the Patriarchal Epiphany Centennial Celebration that will energize the streets and souls of all who visit “Epiphany City,” as the community has become known, between Jan. 4 and Jan. 8.

Though it is the oldest and largest in the U.S., Tarpon Springs’ Epiphany Celebration features two firsts in 2006: a centennial designation and a visit from His All Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and spiritual leader of 250 million Greek Orthodox believers worldwide.

The arrival of His Holiness on Jan. 4 not only marks the first time such a Patriarch has visited Tarpon Springs, but the first time this Patriarch has attended any church’s anniversary celebration. Accompanying these honors, traditional Epiphany events welcome all who are drawn to the heritage and love of life that are Tarpon Springs’ trademarks:

Diving for the Cross
At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, nearly 50 boys will dive into Spring Bayou in search of a wooden cross. All of the divers, Greek-American males aged 16 - 18 who must apply and attend seminars to attain the honor, will receive a blessing. The dive is complete in a matter of seconds (usually around half-a-minute), but the boy who emerges with the cross receives a special blessing his community believes will last a lifetime. Leap of Faith, a photographic exhibit at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, presents a collection of historic Epiphany photographs Jan. 5 - 30.

Epiphany Glendi Celebration
Immediately following the cross dive, Tarpon Springs explodes into a two-day Epiphany Glendi Celebration (Friday, Jan. 6, 1 p.m. - midnight; Saturday, Jan. 7, noon - midnight). Glendi, meaning “happy festival,” also means live music and dancing for adults and children. Three hundred dancers in traditional Greek costume will perform throughout the festival, which will block off the entire Sponge Dock District, leaving restaurants, shops and the charm of this National Historic District open for visitors to enjoy.

For more information on Tarpon Springs’ Patriarchal Epiphany Centennial Celebration, including a complete schedule of events, visit https://floridasbeach.com/url_tracking.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fepiphany100.com&nID=378&type=exLink.