“Through Christ’s baptism, all creation – nature and humanity – was sanctified. Christ was reborn in humanity. It is up to us now if we corrupt or sanctify what we come across.”
His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios, Patriarchal Vicar, celebrated the great feast of Theophany (Epiphany) on Jan. 5, 2023. He presided at Great (Royal) Hours at St. George Orthodox Church Little Falls, NJ that morning, and celebrated Orthros and Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Allentown, Penn. that evening.
At both churches, His Eminence conveyed the love and festal blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East.
“God revealed Himself to us. He revealed His strength through the Holy Spirit, and He revealed his love,” Sayidna Antonios preached. “Yet we still live in sin. So, what does this grace become? A judgment to us because, although we are witnesses to His grace, we still live in sin.
“This is the season of blessing our existence in this world through the grace that is bestowed on us through this holy feast, in the great blessing of the waters. Do not underestimate this grace. Let it bless our life, homes, work, society, families, and relationships so that God may work through his creation.”
His Eminence offered the Great Sanctification of Water, blessing it to sprinkle on all the people and the church. The faithful then took holy water to their homes.
More photos at https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/1465
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