With a photograph of her daughter emerging from the chilly waters in Vancouver, Canada, Dora Papoutsakis hopes to inspire parishioners in Tarpon Springs, Florida to allow girls to participate in annual Epiphany celebrations.
Ms. Papoutsakis read the story we published in The Pappas Post about the Epiphany celebrations in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where only teen-aged boys are allowed to participate in the tradition.
We received the following note from mom, Dora, as well as the attached photograph of her daughter Katerina emerging from the water after retrieving the cross during Epiphany Celebrations in Vancouver this year.
I recently read the article posted on your Facebook page about how girls are still banned in Tarpon Springs Florida from participating in the cross dive. My thirteen-year-old daughter won in her category this year and has in 2 previous years. She has participated four years in a row and the whole Community bands behind her as she is one of the few females interested in carrying on this Greek Orthodox tradition. How could I ever explain to her that she wouldn’t be allowed purely because she is female? Especially when there is no basis in our religion to back this up. I hope this photo can inspire the parishioners of Tarpon Springs to overrule this arbitrary rule and to allow girls to participate more actively in our church traditions.
Dora Papoutsakis, Vancouver, Canada
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5 comments
That’s shameful Tarpon Springs!!!!!!!!!!!! What century are you living in?????????
They are living in the 21st century. The century where men and woman can do many things together but some things really don’t need to change. What’s shameful is that you can’t seem to wrap your head around the reality of this subject. Understand, there are events for women and there are events for men. They do not have to share 100% of all things. Men are not dove bearers or a mirofora for example, women are not alter boys. There are traditions and in Tarpon they have the right to continue their tradition contrary to what you think. Amazing, right? It is also supported by the parish and 50%+ are women. It is not up for debate. I doubt you will ever be visiting, so don’t lose sleep over it. I am positive no one there cares what you think either.
Same one as Christ. We don’t change for modernism and feminists.
Yes it’s true! My daughter wanted to participate and couldn’t. She went to Tarpon High and had a lot of friends who participated. We went to multiple Epiphanies. If she had been allowed,she would have gotten closer to the church rather than leave it.
They are in the 21st century Mr Vasilaki. As time goes on, it isn’t a requirement for rational thought to disappear. As a women in a mans field, I can safely say, although woman should be treated equally and no one is disputing this, there are some things, and that includes within our religion, that are kept gender separate as a matter of tradition and in some cases appropriateness, agree or not. Women certainly participate in this amazing ceremony. They are our dove bearers and mirofora. Not everything has to be gender inclusive. Promise that is true. Not sure who told you that? We also don’t have female clergy. It’s ok. Stop crying. You need to be stronger and more confident in your own skin. Women in an alter just isn’t where our religion is at. Not everyone agrees with you and it really doesn’t matter. Tarpon will hold their tradition, you will never visit there to see a truly moving sight, and all things will continue. Don’t lose any sleep over this, 100% positive no one else is.