Epiphany swimming for the Holy Cross is held throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, preceded by holy liturgies and processions to the rivers.
On Epiphany, people swim 33 meters, which symbolizes the years of Christ’s life, and whoever reaches the Holy Cross first will be awarded prizes provided by the organizers.
The Epiphany celebration in Banja Luka began with a liturgy in the Church of Christ the Savior.
This was followed by a litany through the streets of the city, as well as swimming for the Holy Cross.
Believers and citizens participating in the procession, headed from the temple of Christ the Savior towards the City Bridge, where the water will be consecrated with the descent of the Holy Cross into the river Vrbas and swimming for the Holy Cross.
In Trebinje, after the procession, they swam for the Holy Cross, to which fifteen-year-old Matija Runjevac swam.
Danijel Drljača was the first to swim to the Holy Cross in Prijedor.
Nemanja Lero from Bileća is the winner of today’s Epiphany swim for the Holy Cross on Lake Bileća, in which more than 40 swimmers participated.
The Eparchy of Zahum-Herzegovina and the Primorska and Serbian Orthodox Church Municipality of Blagaj organized a swim for the Holy Cross on the Neretva River in the Mostar settlement of Ortiješ again this year on the Feast of the Epiphany.
Twenty swimmers from Herzegovina, as well as neighboring Croatia, swam for the Holy Cross in the Neretva River.
Nineteen-year-old Ljubo Knežić from Metković was the first to reach the cross.
Today, the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany, the feast of the baptism of Jesus Christ, which began his mission and preaching of the Christian faith.
Jesus Christ was baptized on the Jordan River by John the Baptist who baptized people, thus preparing them for the coming of the Messiah.
Tradition says that St. John recognized the Messiah in Jesus who came to Jordan to be baptized, and the evangelists recorded his words: “You need to baptize me, and you come to me”.
The Epiphany is one of the greatest Christian holidays, because it is believed that at the moment of baptism, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit appeared together for the first time, which was the first time that the secret of the Holy Trinity, which became a symbol of faith, was announced.
The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove of light, as written, landed on the head of the Son of God, and then the heavens opened and the voice of God the Father was heard: “This is my beloved Son who is according to my will”.
Jesus Christ lived an earthly life for another three years after his baptism, fulfilling his mission of redeeming the human race from the original sin.
On this holiday, Epiphany water is consecrated in temples, which is considered healing and protection from impure forces. Epiphany water is kept in houses until the next big water consecration.
On the feast of the Epiphany, according to our national custom, the faithful greet each other with “God has appeared!”
In many cities and towns, a competition of swimmers for the Holy Cross is held.
