16-year-old Alexander Makris retrieved the Holy Cross at Tarpon Springs, Florida, at what is considered the world's largest Epiphany Day celebration, attracting more than 20,000 spectators annually.
Makris was among 70 young men who jumped from boats into the Bayou to retrieve the Holy Cross at the annual celebration held by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral and parish community in Tarpon Springs.
Presiding over the 116th annual Epiphany celebration were His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, The Reverend Fr. Athanasios Haros, Dean of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Dove bearer for the day was Katerina Lecourezos, a 16-year-old junior at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg.
