FAIRVIEW, NJ – Photos: Douglas John Photography
His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany on January 6 and the Blessing of the Waters at the Church of the Ascension in Fairview, NJ. The service drew a large gathering of faithful who participated in the celebration of one of the most significant feasts of the Orthodox Church.
His Eminence was welcomed by proistamenos Fr. Christos Pappas and concelebrated the Liturgy with Fr. Christos, Metropolis of New Jersey Chancellor, Fr. Gregory Gilbert, and Metropolis Youth Director Fr. Symeon Williams.
In his Sermon for the feast, His Eminence emphasized that Christ’s baptism in the Jordan showed his good will towards man and the salvific nature of His economy. Christ did not just enter the water and condescend to be baptized by John the Baptist to sanctify the waters but to sanctify all of creation especially man’s nature. In the natural world we know that where there is water we know there is life. Christ’s presence in the desert of the Jordan shows us that He provides us with his life- giving salvation, He is the source of salvation and eternal life in the desert of the world. This is why we hear in the hymns of the service “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, crying out and saying, “Come all, and receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, yes, of Christ, who has come in His epiphany”.
Following the service, Metropolitan Apostolos was joined by Clergy of the North Jersey Region and local faithful in the agiasmos/blessing of the waters of the Hudson River at Molos Restaurant in Weehawken, New Jersey. All joined together to chant the hymns of the feast asking God in his benevolence to bless his creation. Both the nature that surrounds us and our own selves, to cleanse of our sins for our salvation.
