 Each year in early January, the Greek Orthodox churches representing the
Western Conference gather in Ft. Walton to celebrate a Divine Liturgy together
followed by a youth Cross Dive as part of the Epiphany celebrations. This event
is usually hosted by the community of Saints Markella & Demetrios in Mary
Esther. This year the Divine Liturgy was held in the new church. Rev. Father
Anthony Stratis of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans as Vicar of the
Western Conference of the Atlanta Metropolis presided over the ceremony, along
with the Rev. Father Michael Vastakis, and Rev. Father Panagiotis Papanikolau of
Pensacola.The traditional Cross Dive begins with a member of the military tossing a wreath
into the waters and a prayer for active-duty military serving in harm's way and
all over the world. The biblical account of Christ's baptism is read, the waters
blessed and young girls dressed in white release three white doves. The dove
symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit; the number three representing the
Holy Trinity. Concluding the ceremony is the tossing of a white wooden cross
into the water where youth from the area's Greek Orthodox Churches brave the
cold waters to retrieve it. This year there were twelve youth representing Ft.
Walton, Pensacola, Panama City and New Orleans parishes. Four teens from the
Pensacola parish participated in the dive - Sandy Spraggins, Ange Kantrales,
George Weisnicht and Deomi Polyzos. The cross was retrieved by 16 year old
Bennett Bastian of Ft.
Walton parish. Congratulations to all of these young people!
Read coverage in the Northwest Florida Daily News website (video,
article,
photos)
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