ROCOR Parishes in Georgia Bless Rivers on Feast of Theophany

St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church gathered at the Chattahoochee River. Photo: Luke Albanese

METRO ATLANTA — On Monday, January 19, the Feast of Theophany, a large number of faithful from St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, located in the Roswell area of northern Atlanta, went to Azalea Park in order to bless the Chattahoochee River. 

The service was conducted by Priest Daniel Iliev, Priest Aaron Blanco, and Deacon Mark King, with hymns and the Scripture readings being conducted by readers and servers. After the Blessing of the Waters, the wooden Cross was thrown into the river, followed by a large number of the faithful running into the water and swimming to be the first to obtain the Cross. 

A 16-year-old boy ended up being the one to find the cross, and the celebration continued with a barbecue in the park. A few faithful also ran and jumped off a dock and triple immersed themselves into the blessed Chattahoochee River.

On the same day, in Rome, Georgia, St. Clement of Rome Orthodox Church went to Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Center, a location in which the Oostanaula, Etowah Rivers, and Coosa Rivers all meet each other. The waters have different temperatures or consistencies and sometimes you can see them become unmixed from the sky. 

The service was led by Priest David Burrows, who has recently become the full time priest for the St. Clement of Rome Orthodox Mission, with Choir Director, Dr. Enoch Jacobus, leading the hymns.

The priest, vested in traditional liturgical garments, stood on a dock overlooking the river with children and parishioners gathered around, reading the prayers of blessing and casting the holy Cross into the flowing waters. 

The faithful participated reverently, proclaiming the sanctification of creation through Christ's entry into the waters. No prior records exist of an Orthodox Great Blessing of Waters being performed on the waters of Rome, Georgia, making this a pioneering moment for Orthodoxy in the region.

Previously, UOJ reported that Orthodox faithful had blessed Lake Michigan for the Feast of Theophany.

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