A ceremony was held in the Golden Horn due to the 2022 anniversary of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ (Epiphany Feast), and the ceremony of removing the cross from the sea was held.
On the occasion of the 2022th anniversary of the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ, a service was held in the Hagia Yorgi Church in the Istanbul Greek Patriarchate in Fatih Balat. Prayers were said at the ceremony, which started at 09:00 in the morning. While the police took extensive security measures in and around the area where the ceremony will be held, the HES code was questioned for those who came to watch the ceremony. Visitors lit candles and went to the area where the ritual was held and accompanied the prayers.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the ritual, which lasted about 4 hours. Patriarch Bartholomew and those who attended the service walked to the Golden Horn as a cortege and participated in the ceremony of throwing the cross. Historian İlber Ortaylı also took part in the ceremony.
When the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew threw the cross into the sea, 10 people waiting on the shore jumped into the waters of the Golden Horn. Removing the cross from the sea this year, Galip Yavuz said, “I have been participating for 5 years, but this is the first time I won. I am so happy. I wish you all a year full of brotherhood and love. The water was not very cold this year,” he said, expressing his feelings.
