Vltava waters blessed in Prague on Theophany
Archbishop Michael led the procession on the Feast of the Lord's Baptism. Photo: UOJ
On January 19, 2026, Archbishop Michael of Prague and the Czech Lands led the celebrations of the Baptism of the Lord on January 19 in Prague, reports the UOJ in the Czech Republic.
The celebration began with the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. After the service, a procession of believers with icons and banners was held to the Vltava embankment. Archbishop Michael performed the rite of the Great Blessing of Water, immersing the cross three times into the river.
After this, several parishioners plunged into the icy waters of the Vltava to retrieve the cross thrown by the archbishop. According to organizers' estimates, between 800 and 1000 people participated in the event at the railway bridge.
As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Sawa led the Baptism services in Warsaw.
Read also
Epifaniy discusses OCU development with head of Zaporizhzhia RMA
Dumenko and Ivan Fedorov agreed on consolidating the efforts of the authorities and the religious organization.
His Beatitude officiates at all-night vigil at Chernivtsi cathedral
More than a thousand believers of the UOC prayed together with the Primate at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Chernivtsi.
Unknown assailants attempt to set fire to synagogue in London
The attackers hurled bottles filled with gasoline at the building, police treating the incident as antisemitic hate crime.
Korchynskyi calls on Culture Ministry to “decolonize” UOC church near Lavra
The radical mockingly and blasphemously derided Orthodox saints.
President of Baptist seminary calls for women to be barred from pastorate
Albert Mohler said the largest Protestant denomination in the United States has reached a “breaking point” over disputes surrounding women’s ordination to pastoral ministry.
Synodal department brings Paschal gifts to neuropsychiatric care home
In Kyiv, staff of the UOC Synodal Department visited the Novobilychi neuropsychiatric care home, greeted the residents on Pascha, and delivered kulichi, fruit, and other gifts.