It was not long ago that I learnt that Orthodox Christians in İstanbul celebrate the birth and the baptism of Christ on the 6th of January. It was quite a surprise for me to learn about the Feast of Epiphany on the 6th of January. The word Epiphany is derived from the Greek word meaning to come to sight or to appear referring to the divine appearance of Christ. Christians believe that the three kings went to visit Jesus and to give him gifts on this day. As the day is the 12th day after Christ’s birth, it is also called the 12th night.
This day is also called Theophany, Three Kings’ Day, and the Feast of January 6 which harbours an old tradition that has been going on for centuries in İstanbul. That is throwing the cross into the water to be picked up by believers. This tradition is still going on in Christian neighbourhoods such as Fener and Yeniköy.
I was there to watch the ceremony two years ago in Fener which is one of the neighbourhoods of Golden Horn. A small community of Christians were there to throw the cross into the water to be picked up by men who raced to be the first one to do so. Picking the cross from the water is said to symbolise Christ’s Baptism.
If you are in Istanbul on January 6th, try to see this centuries old tradition that is still with us in Fener!
A photo in Fener taken on the 6th of January, 2019 . One can see the cross thrown into the sea of the Golden Horn to be picked up by Christian men racing to be the first one to do so
Check out TRT World News’ announcement of this special day!
