Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshipers plunged into the icy waters of rivers and lakes around the world on January 6 to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ, according to the Religion News website.
By tradition, the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.
The religious holiday of Epiphany is also celebrated in some Western Christian churches as Three Kings Day, which marks the visit of the Magi, or three wise men, to the baby Jesus, and closes out the Christmas season.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis urged the faithful to reject "the god of money." In his Epiphany homily yesterday (January 6, 2020) in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis encouraged people to focus on serving others, not themselves.
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