Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-19
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RESCUE CROSS FROM
ICY SUSQUEHANVA
Sons Of the Balkans Swim Into
Midstream as Part Of Quaint
Religious Ceremony

| A plunge into the ice-choked waters
Of tn eSusquehanna river and hum
| dred-yard swim through the swiftly
! flowing currents and back again, was
part fthe quaint religious cere-
mony held by the members of Steel
toms Bulgarian settlement this morn
ing.
The dip into the icy waters of the
river was made by three stalwart sons
of Balkans and was for the purpose
Of rescuing large gilded crosshurled
far out into the stream by the priest,
the Rev. Gregori Chizmaroff. who con-
Quoted the ceremony.
Each year on this date the believers
of the Bulgarian Orthodox faith,
members of the church at Front and
) FRANKLIN streets, go through their
ceremony in celebration of the ami
versary of the baptism Of Christ in the
river Jordan.
The ceremony this morning began
shortly after sunrise with services in
the Bulgarian church About 9.30 the
members Of the church, led by a band
and two large flags, one American
and one Bulgarian side by side. form
ed in line and marched through the
near Francis street. In the rear Of
the band came two robed youths bear
Ing a cross and large picture of
Christ being baptized. The priest,
majestic in his glittering vestments of
gold cloth and flowing hood of somber
black, followed close behind with his
assistants. In the road closely massed
tramped practically the entire popula-
West Side.
Throughout the entire course of the
short march the paraders tramped
with heads uncovered and singing q
weird chant When the procession
turned into Francis street, near the
river. the band broke into stirring
hVmn and the chant rose to a loud
song.
At the waters edge a stand had
been erected bearing a number of
burning candles. The priest took his
stand here and went through a long
service. At the close of the service he
walked to the walters edge and
hurled g. large gilded cross of wood
far out into the stream.
Race For Cross
While the cross was yet in the air
three stalwart Bulgars, who had been
sitting waiting in a boat several yards
off shore, sprang to their feet, threw
off the robes in which they had been
wrapped wi tpo Ian and plunged over the side
A mad race through the water fol-
lowed. In an incredibly short time
one of the swimmers outstripped the
others, seized the cross and threw it
farther out into the river. Again
all three swimmers raced after ft.
once more the cross was seized and
iung away from the swimmer, but
TINS time shoreward. The swimmers
Ioliowed, but more slowly until the
cross was for the third time taken
from the water. Then hand in hand
the three swimmers splashed out of
the Icy water. On shore their admir-
ing fellow countrymen eagerly helped
the swimmers into warm clothes and
hurried them off to their homes. The
men who took the plunge were Lubin
Karaveloff, Dimco Stephanoff and
Stephan Stainoff.
Following the ceremony of rescu-
ing the cross the priest baptized each
member OF his congregation by splash
ing them on the forehead with water
and allowing theb to kiss the cross
Another chant ended the ceremony.