January 28, 2014
Wayne, WV: Bishop George leads Theophany Services in Holy Cross Monastery

On Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of January, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, led the divine services in Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV for the great feast of the Baptism of our Lord (Theophany). On Saturday morning, the Eve of the great feast, His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy, followed by Vespers and the Great Blessing of the Water. That evening, His Grace led the festal Compline and Matins, and the following morning, on the very day of the feast, celebrated the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and once more performed the Blessing of the Water.

Bishop George was co-served at all of the services by monastery clergy: dean Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), Hieromonk Andrew (O’Leary), Hieromonk Hilarion (Heagy), and Hierodeacon Sergius (Wilson), as well as Deacon Jeremiah Davis. The monastery brethren and local faithful gathered in the church to pray.

Having blessed the waters and sprinkled the faithful, Bishop George encouraged all to participate fully in this tradition of the Church:

"All the waters of the earth are sanctified by our Lord's baptism, and the Orthodox Church honors this great and salvific event every year on the feast of Theophany, as the clergy bless water throughout the world. It is important for the faithful to also share in this joy and grace of the feast by having their priest come and bless their home with this sanctified water."

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