The feast of Theophany or Baptism of the Lord comes at the end of the so-called “Sviatsi,” or “Holy Days.” Following the typicon the Royal Hours were served on Friday morning with no liturgy, since the feast fell on Sunday.  Saturday morning, on the Eve of Theophany, His Grace Bishop Luke served the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which was followed immediately by Great Vespers for the feast of Theophany.  This itself was immediately followed by a Great Blessing of Water in the monastery bell tower chapel.  As is the monastery custom, one meal, strictly Lenten, was served after all the monastery and seminary quarters had been blessed with holy water.

On the feast itself, on Sunday, Vladyka Luke served the divine liturgy of St. Basil.  During the Hours, he tonsured Monk Theodore a subdeacon, and Monk Paisios was tonsured a reader.  May God help them both in their new obediences.  At the end of the liturgy, once again, Vladyka with the monastery clergy, processed to the bell tower for another Great Blessing of Water.  For the next few weeks, the monastery clergy, including Vladyka himself, will be busy blessing the homes of our many monastery neighbors with holy water.