News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Acts of Faith: 2004

January 23, 2004 Ethan Hyman [/assets/story/image_buynow.comp]
"It's the craziest way of celebrating faith," said Yany Alexoudis of the dive for the cross held January 10th in Wrightsville Beach as part of the fourth annual Epiphany Celebration, which included blessing of the waters and the boats. "The cross entering the water is symbolic of Jesus's baptism in the River Jordan" said Yany's father, Father Regis John Alexoudis of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Tradition holds that the diver that surfaces with the cross will be especially blessed in the coming year. "Hopefully it will be a good year for me," said Yany, who beat the others to the cross.
About This Project


Ethan Hyman
"Acts of Faith" explores the different belief systems that co-exist in the Triangle area. Ten years of heavy migration has brought many new faiths to the region, turning the Bible Belt home of Billy Graham into a spiritual coat of many colors. Mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, synagogues and scores of Christian churches have become spiritual and social centers for a radically changing population. The demographic shift has pushed congregations to find innovative ways to keep their members while attracting new arrivals. "Acts of Faith" was born as a way to show this new religious diversity and analyze the role spirituality plays in people's daily lives.


Pailin Wedel
When covering an event for Acts of Faith, we look for situations that evoke strong emotion and try to bring readers into the moment. Though holidays and major celebrations are important, we also look for unexpected expressions of faith and quieter moments of solitary exploration. We hope to give readers insight into the breadth and depth of faith by showing how people incorporate it into their everyday lives.


Ted Richardson
For two years, Sher Stoneman and Susana Vera produced this column. In 2004, they handed it over to Ethan Hyman, Scott Lewis and Lisa Lauck. In 2005, Ted Richardson replaced Scott Lewis on this project. In 2006, Pailin Wedel replaced Lisa Lauck.

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