Swimming for the Holy Cross in the Netherlands
By the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Justin of Western Europe, the parish of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Netherlands organized a swimming event for the Holy Cross at the Reuwijkse Plassen lake, located at the tri-border area between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
By the blessing of His Excellency Bishop Justine of Western Europe, the parishes of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Netherlands organized swimming for the Holy Cross at the Reuwijkse Plassen lake, located at the tri-border area between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
This is already the second consecutive year that the swimming for the Holy Cross is held in the Netherlands. This year, 15 swimmers participated for the cross, significantly less than last year, which was expected considering that this year Epiphany fell on a Monday, which is a working day for the vast majority of people in the Netherlands. The victory was claimed by Mr. Marko Spasić from the Parish of the Holy Trinity in Rotterdam.
The gathering of swimmers and spectators began around 3 PM when Ms. Vesna Krstonosić from the parish in Amsterdam set up a reception desk for the participants. Shortly thereafter, the Holy Cross was blessed; however, most swimmers arrived between 3:30 and 4 PM. At 4 PM, Protopresbyter Boris Topić from Rotterdam and Priest Krsto Stanišić from Utrecht served a prayer for the blessing of the water. After the prayer, Father Boris and Father Krsto took a boat along with a floating wreath of flowers on which the Holy Cross was placed. The wreath, which is a kind of artwork made of flowers, was created by Verica Barjaktarović from Utrecht.
When Father Boris and Father Krsto reached a distance that would be both sufficiently challenging and safe for the swimmers, they placed the wreath with the cross in the water and greeted the swimmers with the Epiphany greeting three times, “Christ is revealed!” Immediately after that, Katarina Vujić used a whistle to signal the start of the swimming, ensuring that the conditions were equal and fair for all swimmers alongside Radoje Kosa. The swimmers dashed into the water, running a few meters until they reached the deep water and then swam towards the cross. About halfway from the shore to the cross, it became evident that Marko Vasić took the lead. In the last few meters, he made a final effort and reached the cross visibly tired, with a few other swimmers arriving just behind him, while others lagged far behind, and some even stopped halfway.
After taking the Cross, Marko and a few swimmers who reached the cross immediately after him clung to the boat and all headed towards the shore. At one moment, Father Krsto also jumped from the boat, joining the swimmers in the water. When they reached the shore, the swimmers turned towards the people for a group photo, and Marko Vasić raised the cross high. Everyone sang the song “Oh Kosovo, Kosovo” together and cheered “Kosovo – Serbia.”
After that, the swimmers and spectators went to change, and then continued the gathering at a restaurant by the lake shore. In the restaurant, the swimmers replenished themselves with hot tea and soup, and Father Boris first presented awards and t-shirts to the winner and then to all the other swimmers. Awards and t-shirts were also presented to professional rescuers Wim, Christian, and Stefan, who followed the entire event with a boat and professional equipment, ensuring the safety of the swimmers. The medical care for the swimmers was led by Dr. Luka Bilbija, who was at the head of the medical team. The coordination of the multi-member group of organizers from the parishes in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, who prepared the event for months, was led by Mr. Nemanja Čabrilo from the parish in Eindhoven.
For the Orthodox Serbs living in the Netherlands, this event of Epiphany swimming for the Holy Cross represents a great joy and fulfillment of long-standing requests and wishes to participate in this wonderful Orthodox tradition alongside the entire Serbian people in the country where they live.
By the blessing of His Excellency Bishop Justine of Western Europe, the parishes of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Netherlands organized swimming for the Holy Cross at the Reuwijkse Plassen lake, located at the tri-border area between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
This is already the second consecutive year that the swimming for the Holy Cross is held in the Netherlands. This year, 15 swimmers participated for the cross, significantly less than last year, which was expected considering that this year Epiphany fell on a Monday, which is a working day for the vast majority of people in the Netherlands. The victory was claimed by Mr. Marko Spasić from the Parish of the Holy Trinity in Rotterdam.
The gathering of swimmers and spectators began around 3 PM when Ms. Vesna Krstonosić from the parish in Amsterdam set up a reception desk for the participants. Shortly thereafter, the Holy Cross was blessed; however, most swimmers arrived between 3:30 and 4 PM. At 4 PM, Protopresbyter Boris Topić from Rotterdam and Priest Krsto Stanišić from Utrecht served a prayer for the blessing of the water. After the prayer, Father Boris and Father Krsto took a boat along with a floating wreath of flowers on which the Holy Cross was placed. The wreath, which is a kind of artwork made of flowers, was created by Verica Barjaktarović from Utrecht.
When Father Boris and Father Krsto reached a distance that would be both sufficiently challenging and safe for the swimmers, they placed the wreath with the cross in the water and greeted the swimmers with the Epiphany greeting three times, “Christ is revealed!” Immediately after that, Katarina Vujić used a whistle to signal the start of the swimming, ensuring that the conditions were equal and fair for all swimmers alongside Radoje Kosa. The swimmers dashed into the water, running a few meters until they reached the deep water and then swam towards the cross. About halfway from the shore to the cross, it became evident that Marko Vasić took the lead. In the last few meters, he made a final effort and reached the cross visibly tired, with a few other swimmers arriving just behind him, while others lagged far behind, and some even stopped halfway.
After taking the Cross, Marko and a few swimmers who reached the cross immediately after him clung to the boat and all headed towards the shore. At one moment, Father Krsto also jumped from the boat, joining the swimmers in the water. When they reached the shore, the swimmers turned towards the people for a group photo, and Marko Vasić raised the cross high. Everyone sang the song “Oh Kosovo, Kosovo” together and cheered “Kosovo – Serbia.”
After that, the swimmers and spectators went to change, and then continued the gathering at a restaurant by the lake shore. In the restaurant, the swimmers replenished themselves with hot tea and soup, and Father Boris first presented awards and t-shirts to the winner and then to all the other swimmers. Awards and t-shirts were also presented to professional rescuers Wim, Christian, and Stefan, who followed the entire event with a boat and professional equipment, ensuring the safety of the swimmers. The medical care for the swimmers was led by Dr. Luka Bilbija, who was at the head of the medical team. The coordination of the multi-member group of organizers from the parishes in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, who prepared the event for months, was led by Mr. Nemanja Čabrilo from the parish in Eindhoven.
For the Orthodox Serbs living in the Netherlands, this event of Epiphany swimming for the Holy Cross represents a great joy and fulfillment of long-standing requests and wishes to participate in this wonderful Orthodox tradition alongside the entire Serbian people in the country where they live.
By the blessing of His Excellency Bishop Justine of Western Europe, the parishes of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Netherlands organized swimming for the Holy Cross at the Reuwijkse Plassen lake, located at the tri-border area between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
This is already the second consecutive year that the swimming for the Holy Cross is held in the Netherlands. This year, 15 swimmers participated for the cross, significantly less than last year, which was expected considering that this year Epiphany fell on a Monday, which is a working day for the vast majority of people in the Netherlands. The victory was claimed by Mr. Marko Spasić from the Parish of the Holy Trinity in Rotterdam.
The gathering of swimmers and spectators began around 3 PM when Ms. Vesna Krstonosić from the parish in Amsterdam set up a reception desk for the participants. Shortly thereafter, the Holy Cross was blessed; however, most swimmers arrived between 3:30 and 4 PM. At 4 PM, Protopresbyter Boris Topić from Rotterdam and Priest Krsto Stanišić from Utrecht served a prayer for the blessing of the water. After the prayer, Father Boris and Father Krsto took a boat along with a floating wreath of flowers on which the Holy Cross was placed. The wreath, which is a kind of artwork made of flowers, was created by Verica Barjaktarović from Utrecht.
When Father Boris and Father Krsto reached a distance that would be both sufficiently challenging and safe for the swimmers, they placed the wreath with the cross in the water and greeted the swimmers with the Epiphany greeting three times, “Christ is revealed!” Immediately after that, Katarina Vujić used a whistle to signal the start of the swimming, ensuring that the conditions were equal and fair for all swimmers alongside Radoje Kosa. The swimmers dashed into the water, running a few meters until they reached the deep water and then swam towards the cross. About halfway from the shore to the cross, it became evident that Marko Vasić took the lead. In the last few meters, he made a final effort and reached the cross visibly tired, with a few other swimmers arriving just behind him, while others lagged far behind, and some even stopped halfway.
After taking the Cross, Marko and a few swimmers who reached the cross immediately after him clung to the boat and all headed towards the shore. At one moment, Father Krsto also jumped from the boat, joining the swimmers in the water. When they reached the shore, the swimmers turned towards the people for a group photo, and Marko Vasić raised the cross high. Everyone sang the song “Oh Kosovo, Kosovo” together and cheered “Kosovo – Serbia.”
After that, the swimmers and spectators went to change, and then continued the gathering at a restaurant by the lake shore. In the restaurant, the swimmers replenished themselves with hot tea and soup, and Father Boris first presented awards and t-shirts to the winner and then to all the other swimmers. Awards and t-shirts were also presented to professional rescuers Wim, Christian, and Stefan, who followed the entire event with a boat and professional equipment, ensuring the safety of the swimmers. The medical care for the swimmers was led by Dr. Luka Bilbija, who was at the head of the medical team. The coordination of the multi-member group of organizers from the parishes in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht, who prepared the event for months, was led by Mr. Nemanja Čabrilo from the parish in Eindhoven.
For the Orthodox Serbs living in the Netherlands, this event of Epiphany swimming for the Holy Cross represents a great joy and fulfillment of long-standing requests and wishes to participate in this wonderful Orthodox tradition alongside the entire Serbian people in the country where they live.