19.01.2015.
Swimming for Holy Cross
In honor of the great Christian holiday of Epiphany, a traditional swimming for Holy Cross was held today in several cities in Serbia. At Ada Ciganlija in Belgrade, over 50 citizens, SAF and Gendarmerie members and SVIBOR representatives participated in the manifestation, and the winner of this year’s, 17th traditional swimming is Pavle Dragisic. He was the first to swim the 33 meter track that symbolizes Christ’s age, and he lifted the 15 pound ice cross made of holy water.
Patriarch Irinej presented the winner with the Holy Cross, and President of the Municipality of Cukarica Srdjan Kolaric presented him with the victor’s cape.
The manifestation on the Savsko Lake began with the ceremonial liturgy served by Patriarch Irinej in the church of St. Djordje in Banovo Brdo, from where he led the procession to the lake. Before the swimming began, Patriarch Irinej held the ceremonial homily on Epiphany.
Members of the Air Force and Air Defence Command attended the celebration of Epiphany at the Municipality of Zemun. The manifestation began with the liturgy at the Church of St Nikolaj, and the liturgy was held by Bishop Toplicki Arsenije. After that, the procession came down to the Danube, and 520 competitors swam at the Zemunski kej for the Cross. The fastest one was Bojan Raskovic (18), a pupil at Svetozar Miletic Grammar School from Novi Sad.
The 16th swimming for the Holy Cross at the River of Sava in Sremska Mitrovica was attended by 136 swimmers, including nine members of the 1st Army Brigade. The winner was Zivkovic Dusan from Lacarak.
