Like every year, the ceremony of finding the crucifix in the sea was held in Istanbul and in Izmir, in remembrance of the the anniversary of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ.
One of the ceremonies in Istanbul was held in Ayios Fokas Greek Orthodox Church in Ortaköy. The ceremony was led by the Bosphorus Churches Metropolitan Irineos Yuanidis. After the liturgy in the church, the congregation came to the seashore to watch the crucifixion throwing ceremony. After the prayer led by the Metropolitan Yuanidis, the crucifix was thrown to the sea from the boat. With the throwing of the crucifix, three people jumped into the cold waters of Boshporus to find it. Sotiri Yumurta was the first person to take it from the sea.
The same ceremony took place also in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Golden Horn and in the churches in Kuzguncuk and Izmir.
