January 25, 2016
New York City: Bishop Nicholas leads Feast of Lord’s Theophany in Synodal Cathedral & performs Great Blessing of the Water

On Tuesday, January 19, the great feast of the Baptism (Theophany) of the Lord, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. His Grace was co-served by the cathedral’s senior priest, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, and cathedral clerics: Archpriest Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Hieromonks Eutychius (Dovganyuk) and Tikhon (Gayfudinov), Priest Vitaly Lalyukov, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Deacons Nazari Fataliev and Dionysius Lvov.

Singing the services was the Synodal Choir, under the direction of conductor Matushka Eugenia Temidis. The festal service was held under the aegis of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, and many parishioners were able to commune of Christ’s Holy Mysteries at Liturgy that day.

After the service, Bishop Nicholas performed the Great Blessing of the Water. Congratulating the clergy and faithful with the feast of the Lord’s Baptism, His Grace wished that "the blessed water, filled with grace, which the faithful will take into their homes, might serve for them as a conduit for spiritual and physical healing," and reminded those present of the pious tradition of beginning one’s day by drinking the water of Theophany – the agiasma.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese