Editor's note: The photo and video are from this year's celebration.
The 115th annual Epiphany celebration will happen in Tarpon Spring on Jan. 6, 2021. But, some major changes are coming to the event because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Namely, the celebration will be scaled down in size. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral says parishioners will be able to attend the blessing by securing a pass that will be provided ahead of time. It is unclear at this time how many passes will be distributed.
A maximum of 250 people will be allowed inside the church for the celebration and everyone inside will have to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Additionally, the procession to the blessing of the bayou and casting of the cross will be "significantly" scaled down to only include the divers, dignitaries and the clergy, according to a news release.
And while the event's "traditional time" is still being honored this year, the Cathedral says it has agreed to forego its Glendi Celebration.
Only two family members of each diver will be allowed to view the event in a separate viewing area.
Spectators who are "vulnerable" and "the elderly" as encouraged to view the services online via the website.
Additional changes include the following:
- Limited capacity at the cathedral
- CDC guidelines of social distancing and mask guidelines will be encouraged as recommended by emergency management officials.
- There will be a "significantly" scaled-down procession consisting of the divers, dignitaries and the clergy
- The parent viewing area will be limited from family members to only two family members from each diver
- All 55 divers between the ages of 16-18 will dive for the cross
- The clergy and divers will walk to Spring Bayou at the normal traditional time and will use limited streets with police officers present to allow safe travel along Pinellas Avenue and Spring Boulevard
- Parishioners of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral will be permitted to attend the blessing at Spring Bayou with the appropriate pass that will be provided in advance
- The cathedral has agreed to forego its Glendi Celebration after the blessing of the waters and the retrieving of the cross