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Letting the blessings flow

Area clergy, community gather for Theophany

Staff photo / Bob Coupland From left, the Rev. Timothy Paproski of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Father Deacon John Tutoki and the Rev. Brian Crivella, both of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Warren, lead the Blessing of the Waters ceremony Sunday by the Mahoning River at the Warren Community Amphitheatre. More than 45 people attended the event.

WARREN — Local Orthodox Christian community members gathered Sunday afternoon to mark Theophany with the Blessing of the Waters at the Mahoning River.

More than 45 people took part in the annual event celebrating the Greek Epiphany, also known as the Orthodox Christian Feast of Theophany, which falls on Jan. 6.

Leading the blessing were the Rev. Brian Crivella of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Warren and the Rev. Timothy Paproski of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren.

“I hope all those who are here will know that God loves them and he is sanctifying all of creation and the universe. The baptism of Christ in the Jordan River is what is important to us. By blessing the Mahoning River, God will bless all the community of Warren for all those who get their water from here,” Crivella said.

During the blessing, three frozen ice-shaped crosses were cast into the Mahoning River. In some cases, people dive in to retrieve the cross, and whoever gets it is said to receive a year’s worth of blessings and good fortune.

“Today we not only bless the waters but thank God for everything he has done for us. He came here to sanctify all of creation,” Crivella said.

Paproski said the event is one way for the churches to come together.

“This is really wonderful. It is a way for us to come together as an Orthodox community and the greater community of Warren. We are all together celebrating the same feast,” Paproski said.

Deacon John Tutokii of St. John the Baptist said he always has joy uniting with all the other churches that attend.

“We all come together as one church,” he said.

The blessing included a litany and prayers

Each person attending was blessed with holy water and also could kiss one of the crosses.

Mary Gearhart of Bazetta and a member of St. John the Baptist said this is the second year she has attended the event and wanted to be involved again this year.

For people, water is a symbol of life itself. Water is needed to live and also for cleansing and purity.

The purpose of the “Theophany” and “Blessing of Water” is to commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, where the Holy Trinity was revealed for the first time, and to symbolically bless water as a representation of spiritual renewal and purification, allowing the faithful to use this blessed water to bless their homes and themselves throughout the year.

Those who attended Sunday’s event were given bottled holy water and then went for hot chocolate at the Mocha House.

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