site.btaEpiphany Custom Observed by Participants in Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition

An Epiphany ritual for retrieving the cross from the icy Antarctic water was performed on January 6, the Naval Academy said in a post on social media on Saturday. Senior Lieutenant Stanislav Stefanov, maintenance officer in the crew of the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), took out the cross, observing a long Bulgarian tradition.

Traditionally, on Epiphany, a cross is thrown into the icy waters of a river or other body of water and young race to retrieve it because it is believed that whoever catches the cross will be healthy and happy throughout the year. 

Stefanov is part of the 32nd Bulgarian expedition to Antarctica.

On January 4, RSV 421 cast anchor in the South Gulf of Antarctica just off the Bulgarian Antarctic base.