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ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE - JAN. 6, 2026: Under a gray winter sky, Orthodox Christians in Istanbul marked the Epiphany on Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a centuries-old ritual that saw a wooden cross cast into the chilly waters of the Golden Horn.The day’s observances began at the Church of St. George (Aya Yorgi), the spiritual heart of the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.The service was led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who presided over a congregation of faithful and international visitors.Following the liturgy, the Patriarch led a solemn procession to the waterfront. There, he cast a wooden cross into the sea, symbolizing the baptism of Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the waters.Despite the winter cold, about 30 swimmers plunged into the Golden Horn in a competitive but reverent race to retrieve the icon. Vasilios Konstantinidis emerged from the water holding the cross aloft.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.Türkiye, a land that embraces many faiths, has a long-established Christian population, especially in such bigger cities as Istanbul.(Footage by Tayyıb Hoşbaş/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)