Epiphany procession and swimming for the Holy Cross in Zemun

The Holy Cross was reached by the 18-year-old Jovana Leposavic, who dedicated the Epiphany Cross to her friends suffering from cancer, as well as for those who have died of this malignant disease.

His Holiness Serbian Patriarch served on 19 January 2019, on Epiphany, the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in Saint Nicholas Church in Zemun, Belgrade.  During the Lityrgy the Pariarch ordained Mr. Nikola Masnikos, a graduate theology student and postgraduate theologian of the Moscow Theological Academy, to the rank of a reader.

After the Liturgy the Patriarch officiated the solemn rite of the blessing of water. The solemn Epiphany procession followed going along the central streets of  the city until the Zemun waterfront at the Liberation Quay where the competion in swimming for the Holy Cross was organized.

Total of 224 swimmers took part in the Epiphany celebration, which had been held in Zemun since 18th century (with a half-century interruption due to the communist regime). The Holy and Precious Cross was reached by the eighteen-years-old Jovana Leposavic from Belrgade, who had defeated cancer. The victor girl thanked the organizers of the Epiphany celebrations and bold knights – swimmers for the Holy  Cross which she dedicated to her friends suffering from cancer, as well as to those who have died because of this malignant disease.

The Mayor of Belgrade Professor Dr. Zoran Radojicic and the President of the Municipality of Zemun Mr. Dejan Matic awarded this brave girl with a statue of the Epiphany swimmer and a medal. For a remarkable contribution to the promotion of Christian feat and chivalry which was showcase in the Epiphany swimming, Patriarch Irinej handed the Epiphany Cross to Mayor Radojicic, whereas the Organizing Committee awarded  the Ambassador of Russia and Radio Television of the Republic of Srpska with the same distinction.

The celebration was attended by the President of the Municipality of Zemun with associates, members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Police Department, representatives of public, cultural, scientific and sport institutions.

The organizers of the 22^nd swimming race for the Holy Cross were: City Municipality of Zemun, the Serbian Orthodox Church-school Community of Zemun and the Belgrade Svebor Association. The race was dedicated to the great jubilee – eight centuries of autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the centuries-old friendship of the Russian and Serbian peoples.