Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos blesses Jordan waters
Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos consecrates the waters of the Jordan. Photo: JerusalemPatriarchate
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem on January 18, 2026 led the services for the Forefeast of Theophany in Jerusalem and on the River Jordan, the Jerusalem Patriarchate reported.
At the monastic church of Saints Constantine and Helen of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher, the head of the Church of Jerusalem celebrated the Liturgy and the rite of the Lesser Blessing of Water. After that, the procession went to the Patriarchate residence, and from there to the Jordan Valley, traveling along the road through Jericho and past the monasteries of the holy Prophet Elisha and St. John the Forerunner.
From there, the procession moved toward the River Jordan, where, on a specially prepared site, the Patriarch of Jerusalem served Vespers and performed the rite of the Lesser Blessing of the waters.
“Finally, His Beatitude, despite the dense crowd, descended to the edge of the bank of the River Jordan and immersed in the waters the Precious Cross, sanctified by the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ who was baptised there, amid the chanting of, 'When Thou, O Lord, wast baptised in the Jordan…,'” the statement said.
On the eastern bank, opposite the place of the service, Archbishop Christophoros of Kiryakoupolis performed a similar rite with pilgrims from Jordan.
As the UOJ previously reported, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem served the Nativity service in Bethlehem.
Read also
Shevchuk boasts of Kyiv residents who, without heat, dance in the streets
The head of the UGCC told people in Rome about the “joy of a nation” that calmly endures life without heating and electricity.
Raiders сut locks off UOC church in Kuzmyn – a takeover is underway
Representatives of the OCU cut the locks off the UOC Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Kuzmyn. A confrontation is unfolding.
Cherkasy authorities move to transfer UOC parish to “Ukrainian Patriarchate”
In the village of Velyka Yablunivka in the Cherkasy region, supporters of the OCU have begun a process aimed at taking over the UOC’s St. John Church.
New Three-Saint Church consecrated in Romny
In Romny, Metropolitan Tikhon of Romny and Buryn performed the rite of consecration for a new Three-Saint Church.
In Odesa region, Jehovah's Witness sentenced to three years for draft evasion
A resident of the Odesa region who practices the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses received a real prison sentence due to his refusal to perform military service based on his convictions.
Metropolitan Theodosiy explains why persecutions benefit the Church
The bishop called not to justify evil but to see in trials an opportunity to achieve humility and love – the goals of Christian life.