SHOTLIST:

SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA (JAN. 19, 2026) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS STANDING NEAR RIVER

2. WHITE DOVES IN CAGE

3. VARIOUS OF PRIESTS ARRIVING

4. MAN SOAKING IN ICY RIVER

5. NORTH MACEDONIAN ARCHBISHOP STEFAN THROWING CROSS INTO RIVER

6. PARTICIPANTS DIVING IN RIVER TO SEARCH FOR CROSS

7. PARTICIPANT DARKO MITROVIC FINDING CROSS IN RIVER

8. DARKO MITROVIC SPEAKING TO ARCHBISHOP STEFAN

9. PARTICIPANTS POSING FOR PHOTO SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA - JANUARY 19: Orthodox Christians in several Balkan countries — North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo — celebrated Epiphany with church services and the centuries-old tradition of retrieving a cross from icy waters.

In North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, the main liturgy was led by Archbishop Stefan of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

After the service, hundreds gathered along the Vardar River to watch the cross-diving ceremony, one of the most anticipated moments of the holiday.

Dozens of participants plunged into the cold river, racing to reach the wooden cross thrown into the water. Organizers said 160 citizens had applied to take part, and Darko Mitrovic was the first to grab the cross as spectators cheered from the riverbanks.

Similar ceremonies were held in other cities, including the tourist hub of Ohrid.

According to local belief, the person who catches the cross is considered lucky for the year ahead, while the water touched by the cross is thought to bring health.

Epiphany is observed on Jan. 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Western Christian traditions.

Eastern Christian traditions that follow the Julian calendar, rather than the Gregorian calendar, celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 19, as their Christmas Eve falls on Jan. 6.