Editorial Religion and Belief

Men Jump In Black Sea Waters To Catch The Crucifix On Epiphany Day In Varna, Bulgaria

January 6, 2026 12 images Varna, Bulgaria

Men Compete In Black Sea Waters Catching The Crucifix Thrown By Varna Orthodox Christian Church Metropolitan Ioan As Part Of The Tradition On Epiphany Day, On January 6th 2026 In Varna, Bulgaria

Men kiss the Orthodox Christian crucifix after 17-year-old Georgi Venov catches it in the Black Sea waters in Varna, Bulgaria, as part of th... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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The Brass Orchestra of the Naval Forces of Bulgaria leads the Epiphany procession in Varna, Bulgaria, on January 6, 2026. by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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17-year-old Georgi Venov catches the crucifix thrown in Black Sea waters by Varna Metropolitan Ioan as part of the tradition on Epiphany Day... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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People fill Varna central beach in Varna, Bulgaria, on January 6, 2026, during the Epiphany procession. by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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Men who jump into the Black Sea waters along with navy soldiers stand on a pier in Varna, Bulgaria, after 17-year-old Georgi Venov catches t... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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Men prepare to jump into the Black Sea waters to compete for catching the crucifix thrown by Varna Orthodox Christian church Metropolitan Io... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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17-year-old Georgi Venov shows the crucifix he catches in Black Sea waters as part of the tradition on Epiphany Day in Varna, Bulgaria, on J... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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The Bulgarian Orthodox Christian church's procession on Epiphany Day in Varna, Bulgaria, on January 6, 2026, ends on a pier where Metropolit... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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Men who jump into the Black Sea waters stand on a pier in Varna, Bulgaria, after 17-year-old Georgi Venov catches the crucifix thrown by Var... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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17-year-old Georgi Venov catches the crucifix thrown into the Black Sea waters by Varna Metropolitan Ioan on Epiphany Day in Varna, Bulgaria... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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People collect Black Sea water near the place where Varna Metropolitan Ioan throws the crucifix some minutes earlier as part of the traditio... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

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Men jump into the Black Sea waters to compete for catching the crucifix thrown by Varna Orthodox Christian church Metropolitan Ioan on Epiph... by Denislav Stoychev/NurPhoto

#13161052 6 Jan 2026