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Blessing of Waters celebrates Holy Theophany
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Gallery
The Rev. Thomas Constantine treasures the “small miracles” that have happened at the Blessing of the Waters prayer service on the Feast of Holy Theophany, the baptism of Jesus.
The Eastern Orthodox Clergy Association of Mahoning Valley conducted the eighth annual service Tuesday afternoon on the ice-covered shore of Lake Glacier in Mill Creek MetroParks. A small group of clergy and participants were bundled up against the temperature of 20 degrees.
Along with Father Constantine, other clergy were the Rev. Andrew Nelko and Deacon David Gemmel of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Campbell and the Rev. Daniel Rohan of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Liberty. Service participants were Antonios Constantine, who held the icon of Jesus’ baptism, and Demetri Constantine and Nadia Nelko, chanters.
Over the years, participants have shared what the service has meant to them, said Father Constantine, pastor of St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman. One time, he said a person talked about losing a loved one and how attending the service “brought joy.”
Another year, ducks and geese on the lake quacked and honked as the service began then quietly swam up to the shore and floated quietly in the water until the conclusion.
Another time, Father Constantine said participants tried to break the ice so that the cross could touch the water but had no luck. When the cross was thrown onto the ice, it cracked.
“This is a unique and interesting event to start the new year,” said Mayor John McNally, who attended. He said he appreciated the clergy’s blessing of the city and Valley.
The Rev. Kathryn Adams, a Methodist minister, said she attended because she appreciates the beauty of Orthodox traditions. Jeanne Tucker of Frack Free Mahoning said she was there to recognize the importance of water in our lives and liked the idea of the waters being blessed. Pattie Campos and daughters Marina and Sophia attended to honor the heritage of her husband and their father, George Campos, who belongs to St. John the Forerunner. “This is a day of celebration,” George Campos said.
“Holy Theophany, the baptism of our Lord, is of great importance because at the baptism it was revealed that Jesus was the son of God and also God himself,” said Father Constantine. The priest said verses from the Bible refer to Jesus’ baptism. From Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, ‘Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.’”
The lake site was chosen, Father Constantine said, because the water flows into the Mahoning River, and that in turn, touches residents in various ways.
The priest said he and other pastors have Blessing of Waters services at their individual churches. The blessed water is used in the blessing of homes, another custom. “We pray for health and healing,” he said.
The first community Blessing of Waters service evolved into this annual event. “It’s about blessing the Youngstown area and its people and praying for the city and its prosperity,” Father Constantine said.
The service featured readings from Scripture and highlighted references to water — how it is associated with rebirth, cleansing and a “gift of blessing” for the “healing of soul and body.”
It also included the use of basil, which Father Constantine called “the flower of the church.” He explained that the herb grew at Golgotha, the site of Christ’s crucifixion. Father Constantine dipped the basil in holy water and then blessed those in attendance.
This year, when the cross (attached to fishing line) was tossed into the lake, it landed on an icy patch.
“Sometimes the small miracles take time to be revealed but there was a blessing there,” Father Constantine said.