“To the Jordan River”
On the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism
“The Blessing of the Waters on the feast of Theophany originated in the Church of Jerusalem and in the fourth to fifth centuries was performed only in this Church: the faithful came to the river Jordan for Blessing of the Waters in commemoration of the Baptism of the Savior. That is why on the feast of Theophany water is usually blessed in rivers, streams and wells (“walk to Jordan” processions), because Christ was baptized outside the Church. But on the Eve of Theophany water is blessed in churches,” writes Germogen Shimanskiy in his article on liturgics for the seminary.
One hundred years ago: “Procession to the Jordan with the Holy Royal Passion Bearer, Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II.
“Grant sanctification, blessing, cleansing and health to all those who have contact with it, and to those upon whom it is poured, and to those who receive of it,” says the prayer of the Great Blessing of the Waters. So let us make an effort, so that in coming into contact with the Great Agiasma would bring us health not just of the body, but also of the soul. Let us pray, go to church services, confess often, and as our strength allows, worthily partake of Christ’s Holy Gifts, sanctifying both soul and body.
Over the past centuries the tradition of immersion in blessed waters developed in each Local Orthodox Church in its own unique way. This is what you will see in the photo gallery below.
Very different latitudes: Nyurengri, Yakutia (eastern Russia, the coldest inhabited region in the world).
Photo: pravyakuria.ru
With the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel, Bishop Diodor is performing the Great Blessing of the Waters on the Black sea’s shore.
2015. Photo: eparhiya.od.ua
Odessa, the Great Blessing of Waters near the Holy Dormition’s Monastery,
2013. Photo: eparhiya.od.ua
Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan: a priest right after immersing in an ice-hole (“prorub”).
2013. Photo: epiharia.kz
The land blessed by the spiritual labors of St. Sebastian of Karaganda. Bishop Sebastian of Karaganda (Kazakhstan) is performing the Blessing of the Waters.
Photo: eparhiz.kz
Uzbekistan: Metropolitan Vikenty is blessing the water in the holy font at the cathedral.
Photo: pravoslavie.uz
Kamchatka Peninsula—35 degree below zero (centigrade).
Penzhina district, Kamchatka. Photo: pravkamchatka.ru
Prielbrusiye (Elbrus region), Kabardino-Balkaria (Caucaus Mountains), Russia: in a special service unit a soldier immerses himself in the blessed waters of the river Adir-Su.
In the Diocese of Yekaterinburg holy fonts are installed even in prison churches.
Inside the prison Church of Venerable Martyr Vadim of Persia on the territory of the penal colony no. 10. Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
Saratov, the holy font of the Church of the Meeting of the Lord.
The Zaton village, the city of Saratov. Photo: A Kurochkin
Georgia: “Walk to the Jordan”. The procession is headed by Metropolitan Dimitry of Batumi.
In 2000 he initiated the revival of this tradition in Batumi. Photo: netgazeti.ge
And in Greece there is another tradition: A young man rejoices at having taken the cross thrown into the sea during the Blessing of the Waters.
The Blessing of the Waters: Metropolitan Nicholas of Fthiotida is throwing the cross in the water.
2016. Photo: Romfea.gr
Fthiotida: a procession of the cross towards the sea with an icon of the feast.
2016. Photo: Romfea.gr
The Blessing of the Waters in Bulgaria: the procession is leaving Backovo Monastery.
2016. Photo: bg-patriarshia.bg
The Blessing of Waters and Theophany immersions in Alexandria.
Patriarch Theodore II is releasing a pigeon. Alexandria, 2016. Photo: patriarchateofalexandria.com
The Svyatogorsk (“Holy Mountain”) Lavra, Eastern Ukraine: Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk is performing the Great Blessing of the Waters.
Photo: svlavra.church.ua
