Rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Spring participated in the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord in Miami
January 19, 2025On January 19, 2025 the day of the great twelve-feast of the Baptism of the Lord, also known as Theophany, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos visited St. Matrona Cathedral in Miami. The bishop concelebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great with the cathedral’s rector, Archimandrite Alexander Belya; the rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Archpriest Vasyl Babych; the cathedral cleric, Priest Ivan Zeikan; and Protodeacon Volodymyr Oliynyk from the Brooklyn cathedral.
On this major feast day, St. Matrona Cathedral was filled with the faithful, most of whom approached to receive the Holy Gifts, so Holy Communion was served from two chalices.
Following the Liturgy, Bishop Athenagoras, together with the clergy, performed the Great Blessing of the Waters.
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Athenagoras congratulated the clergy, parishioners, and guests of the cathedral on the Feast of Theophany. On behalf of the faithful, Archimandrite Alexander thanked His Grace for visiting the cathedral and enriching the celebration through prayerful communion in spiritual joy and love in Christ. He noted that the bishop has been serving here on the Feast of the Baptism for the second year in a row, establishing a cherished tradition.
After the Liturgy, following a long-standing custom, the clergy, parishioners of St. Matrona Cathedral, and faithful from the region gathered at the public beach in Dania Beach. This year’s celebration was especially solemn and spiritually uplifting. First, the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters was presided over by an hierarch—Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos. Second, the blessing has now been performed for the tenth consecutive year. Third, the service drew the largest number of people in all that time.
