Theophany celebrated in Phanar churches on January 19

Water blessing on January 19 in Antalya by the clergy of Phanar. Photo: screenshot from Phanar's YouTube channel

On January 19, 2025, Theophany services were held in the churches of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Phanar's Facebook page shared a video of the service led by Metropolitan Theoliptos of Iconium in the Church of St. Basil in Triglia (modern-day Zeytinbağı, Turkey). After the service, clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate blessed the waters of the Sea of Marmara with the traditional throwing of the cross into the water.

In the Istanbul Church of St. Andrew (Galata district), the liturgy was led by Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia. In his sermon, he conveyed "the wishes and paternal blessing of Patriarch Bartholomew" and spoke to the parishioners about the meaning of the feast.

On the same day, Metropolitan Job (Getcha) of Pisidia presided over the liturgy in the Church of St. Alypius the Stylite in Antalya, Turkey. After the service, the clergy and faithful held a procession to the waterfront, where the water blessing took place.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the head of the Volyn Regional Military Administration, Yurii Pohuliak, expressed the opinion that those celebrating according to the Julian calendar "should disappear like that Russia".

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