This year’s Epiphany celebrations in Amari in Rethymno on the island of Crete will feature the famous “Cretan” crocodile, Sifis, as locals will dive for the holy cross in the river dam. The custom of the Epiphany (January 6) celebrations is called “diving for the holy cross” and is performed in all areas near water in Greece. It consists of a Christian Orthodox priest throwing a holy cross in the water to sanctify the water. Then, local men and boys dive in the water to bring it back. The residents of Amari feel that Sifis is one of their own now and have no hesitation of jumping into the same waters where the crocodile lives in order to catch the cross and throw it back to village priest Papa-Giorgis. “Everyone will go to the dam for the ceremony. Sifis seems harmless to humans. I see him almost every day out of the dam and when he feels the presence of people, he flees terrified and dives in the water,” said the president of the Pantanassa Cultural Association Constantinos Ieronymakis. However, the Mayor of Amari Adam Paradeisanos, speaking to Ethnos newspaper, emphasized the need to ensure that the crocodile must stay in the area in a controlled environment as he has become the main local tourist attraction advertized in Rethymno, Crete and Greece worldwide. The crocodile was first seen in July at the river dam in Amari, near Rethymno, and has become a major attraction. In the beginning, there were efforts to catch him, but a great number of people were opposed to his capture. There is also a Facebook page with messages of support for the crocodile, such as “Leave Sifis alone!”
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