51³Ô¹ÏÍø

ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE - JAN. 6, 2026: Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew led a religious ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 6, marking the 2026 anniversary of the baptism of Jesus Christ in Istanbul.The ceremony was held at the Church of St. George within the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.The service, which celebrates the feast of Epiphany (Theophany), was attended by a congregation of faithful and several high-ranking officials, including Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis.The Epiphany day marks the beginning of Christmas celebrations by most Orthodox Christians on Jan. 7, later than on Dec. 25 – the date for many other Christians – due to different traditional calendars.It is one of the Orthodox Church’s most important holidays, commemorating Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan.Sea police units on boats also took security measures along the sea as swimmers were diving for the cross. Locals also watched the ceremony from the shore.Several other diving rituals were also held in other districts of the famed Turkish city, including Samatya, Yesilkoy, Buyukada, and Istanbul Strait.Turkiye, a land that embraces many faiths, has a long-established Christian population, especially in such bigger cities as Istanbul.(Footage by Osman Bakır/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)