PALILILA REPRESENTATIVE SWIMS FOR HOLLY CROSS‏

19.01.2010.

During this year traditional swimming competition for the HOLLY CROSS, that was organized in Nis on the occasion of Christian celebration of Epiphany, among other 19 contestants, there was Marko Djordjevic -  representative of Palilula. In spite of snow and cold January  weather, many citizens came and cheered the participants of this traditional Christian swim race. Milos Aleksic, from Nis Gendarmerie,   won this year race. The Orthodox Bishop of Nis, Irinej, had blessed all the participants before the race, and then the participants let the white doves fly, as a symbolic gesture.

The swimmers ages from 19 to 63 swam in freezing river water of 0 to 5 Celsius temperature trying to catch the Holly Cross that Bishop Irinej had put in the river.

All the contestants got golden cross on a chain and this year winner was rewarded 40 000 dinars.

This traditional orthodox swimming for the Holly Cross is organized all over Serbia. The Epiphany is one of the biggest Christian holidays, the Day when Jesus Christ was baptized and it marks the beginning of His holly mission and Christian sermons and preaching.

Фото Д.Видојковић