"Swimming for the Holy Cross" 🇷🇸
◾Serbian Orthodox Epiphany, known as Богојављење (lat. Bogojavljenje) , is a significant religious observance celebrated on January 19th (January 6th in the Julian calendar). On this day, the Serbian Orthodox Church commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. One of the distinctive customs during Богојављање is the ritual of „Пливање за часни крст“ or swimming for the Holy Cross.
◾In this ritual, young men dive into icy waters to retrieve a wooden cross thrown by a priest. The one who successfully retrieves the cross is believed to receive a special blessing and good fortune throughout the year.
◾This tradition symbolizes the baptism of Jesus and emphasizes the importance of spiritual cleansing and renewal. The act of swimming in cold waters represents a commitment to faith and a willingness to endure challenges for the sake of religious devotion.
