19.01.2011.
Teophany swimming competition for the Holy Cross
In the traditional 12th swimming for the Holy Cross to mark Epiphany or Theophany, the day when Jesus revealed himself as the Son of God, (19 January, Julian Day) held in several towns in Serbia, the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces took part too. The winner in the swimming contest for the Holy Cross in Ada Ciganlija is a student of the Obrenovac Grammar School Nikola Bankovic. There were sixty competitors, including, the members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie and the members “SVIBOR "alliance.
Bankovic was the first to swim 33 meters, the length symbolizing the years of Jesus Christ. The ice cross made of last year’s Theophanic water weighs 15 kg. The Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church His Holiness Irinej, accompanied by priest Slavko Bozic presented the Holy Cross to the winner. The winning garments were presented to the fastest swimmer by the President of Cukarica Municipality Milan Tlacinac.The organizers were the municipalities of Cukarica and Sveti Djordje Temple as they restored the venerable tradition of swimming for the cross 12 years ago.
The theophany liturgy began at 8.30 in the temple of St. George, a crucession started around 11.00 all the way to the Ada Ciganlija led by Patriarch Ireniej The crucession was attended by about 1,000 people. The Patriarch congratulated the holiday to the crowd outside the restaurant, "Jezero" in Ada Ciganlija with the traditional greeting "Christ has revealed himself," and said that the Epiphany is the holiest of all holidays, as it embodies all Christian holidays. Patriarch Irinej told the crowd to find peace and love within themselves, and to show love to God and thy neignbour. The swimming for the Holy Cross, among many citizens, was also attended by the Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas, the Minister of Religion Bogoljub Sijakovic, and many city officials.
Besides the race for the Holy Cross on Adi Ciganlija, organized by the Sports Society "Milan Gale Muskatirovic and SVEBOR society, the competition was held also in the Sports Centre" 25 May ". The winner was Nikola Kovacevic (21) from Belgrade. He was the first to swim 33 meters and reach the Holy Cross among 14 contestants.AT 09:00 in the church Ruzica'''', a liturgy was served, while culutural events only embellished the event attended by members of the MoD and VS.
A professional soldier Branislav Jankovic, skipper on the river minesweeper, won the 12th teophany contest swimming that took place on the river Jegricka in Zabalj, near Novi Sad. Although he swam the first time, the twenty-seven year old Branislav swam to the Holy Cross and proudly raised from the water, as numerous observers gave him rounds of applause and ovations.
In addition to Branislav, one of seventeen competitors, a member of the River Flotilla, Lieutenant Dragan Stojiljkovic, deputy commander of the Command Squad alos took part in the competition.
