24-year-old Darko Mitrovic (C) catches the cross that was thrown in the Vardar River by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany Day in Skopje, on January 19,2026. According to the beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first man who catches the cross thrown into the water will be healthy throughout the whole year.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
24-year-old Darko Mitrovic (C) catches the cross that was thrown in the Vardar River by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany Day in Skopje, on January 19,2026. According to the beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first man who catches the cross thrown into the water will be healthy throughout the whole year.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
24-year-old Darko Mitrovic (C) catches the cross that was thrown in the Vardar River by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany Day in Skopje, on January 19,2026. According to the beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first man who catches the cross thrown into the water will be healthy throughout the whole year.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Macedonians jump into the cold water to catch the cross that was thrown in the Vardar River by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany Day in Skopje, on January 19,2026. According to the beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first man who catches the cross thrown into the water will be healthy throughout the whole year.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
Macedonians jump into the cold water to catch the cross that was thrown in the Vardar River by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan, during Epiphany Day in Skopje, on January 19,2026. According to the beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the first man who catches the cross thrown into the water will be healthy throughout the whole year.
Robert ATANASOVSKI / AFP
