Thousands of Odesa residents take part in UOC Eparchy’s Theophany celebrations
Clergy of the Odesa Eparchy blessing the waters of the Black Sea. Photo: Screenshot from the eparchy press service video
On January 19, 2026, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC organized several locations in the city where Odesa residents could pray together and immerse themselves in the waters of the Black Sea blessed by clergy. This was reported on the eparchy press service’s social media pages.
Three sites were operating in the city: the Lanzheron, Chaika, and Zolotyi Bereh beaches. At these beaches, local authorities organized duty shifts of rescue services as well as emergency medical teams.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel, the blessing of the waters was performed by vicars of the Odesa Eparchy and clergy.
The organizers provided hot food and drinks, baked goods and other sweets for Odesa residents, as well as communal singing of Christmas carols.
The eparchy expressed gratitude to the Odesa City Council and the city military administration for support and for ensuring safety on the water and on land, as well as for the rescue and medical teams on duty at all locations.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that on Theophany, His Beatitude celebrated the Liturgy at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
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