Epiphany by the numbers
By TIMES STAFF
Published January 1, 2006
Years Tarpon Springs has been celebrating Epiphany: 100
Number of times His All Holiness Bartholomew has attended: 0
Orthodox Christian faithful worldwide: 350-million
Orthodox Christian faithful in the U.S.: 1.5-million
Population of Tarpon Springs: about 24,000
Estimated largest crowd at Epiphany in the past: 30,000
Crowd anticipated this year: 80,000
Cross divers this year: 56
Buses that will transport people to Friday's events: 28
Countries where events will be broadcast via satellite: 177
Number of chairs that will be set up for the Glendi: 3,000
Number of salads at the Glendi: 6,000
Number of pastries: 5,000
Number of souvlakis and sandwiches: 10,000
Greek dancers from all over the country and Canada who will be performing: 400
EMS personnel during Epiphany: 75
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies contributing officers: more than 15
Total number of law enforcement officers patrolling during Epiphany: more than 150 < /p>
Total number of Tarpon Springs Police Department officers: 48
Number of Tarpon Springs police divers who will scour Spring Bayou for fake crosses or underwater hazards Friday morning: 2
When the crosses switched from gold to wood after several were lost or broken: 1960s
Year when the color of the crosses was changed from gold to white for better visibility: 1971
Number of homing pigeons trained each year for release: 3
Number actually released: 1
