(19 Jan 2011)
1. Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej arriving
2. Wide of audience
3. Various of Patriarch Irenej conducting ceremony
4. Various of audience
5. Two men dressed as knights bring the cross of honour
6. Cutaway of audience
7. Swimmers arriving
8. Various of Patriarch Irinej blessing swimmers
9. Swimmers dive into water and swim to cross
10. Close of winner Nikola Bankovic kissing cross and holding it in air
11. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Nikola Bankovic, Cross of Honour race winner:
"The water is very cold. It places stress on the body."
(Reporter: What does it feel like (to win)?)
"It feels great. It's incredible."
12. Man kisses Bankovic, he walks off
STORYLINE
Orthodox Christians in the Serbian capital Belgrade celebrated the Epiphany on Wednesday with a special outdoor ceremony conducted by the country's Patriarch and a traditional icy swim at Lake Ada.
Scores of people attended the event which this year saw 57 people dive into near-freezing water and race across a small section of the lake in an attempt to win the Cross of Honour.
This year's winner was Nikola Bankovic.
Epiphany marks the 12 days of Christmas, also known as Feast of Epiphany.
While in western Christian traditions, Epiphany marks the visit of the wise men or magi to the infant Jesus, in Eastern Orthodoxy the festival commemorates Christ's baptism, by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
For Orthodox Christians in Russia, Serbia, the Holy Land, Egypt and other Eastern Orthodox churches, Epiphany is celebrated on the 19th of January as their Christmas falls on the 7th.
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