The Great Blessing of Water - Theophany 2022On Thursday, January 6th, on the Feast of Theophany, Fr. Sergei conducted the Great Blessing of Water. Due to COVID concerns, the celebration of the Feast of Theophany will be transferred to Sunday, January 9th. We are we asking parishioners NOT to bring their own bottles for Holy Water again this year; Fr. Sergei bottled Holy water with proper COVID protections after the service. Bottles of Holy Water will be available beginning Sunday, January 9th with one bottle available per household. Click onto the more information link below to view several photos from Thursday’s Blessing of Water.
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Icon of the Feast of Theophany at the center of the church, |
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The silver cross used to bless the Holy Water. This cross belonged to Archpriest Fr. Vasil Mandy, the first priest at St. George. See below for some history on this cross. |
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The rear side of the silver cross |
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Fr. Sergei reading the sticheron, or prayers of blessing. |
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Fr. Sergei blessing the water with the silver cross. |
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Blessing the water with the silver cross. |
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Due to COVID concerns, the newly blessed Holy Water was bottled and prepared for parishioners to take home. |
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The icon of the Feast of Theophany located on the south wall of the church. |
History of the Silver Cross at St. George
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Fr. Vasil Mandy - St. George's 1st priest (1935 - 1937) |
The silver cross used during the service of the Great Blessing of Waters was the cross that belonged to the Archpriest Fr. Vasil Mandy, who brought the cross with him from Albania. Fr. Mandy was the first priest of St. George Church. It was passed on to his daughter (with whom he lived). Eventually, it passed on to his granddaughter, Julia (Mandy) Peters, and from there to Millie (Peters) Miller. Millie Miller presented the cross to our church. The cross is likely over 100 years old.
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