“When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee!” , Troparion of the Theophany, Tone 1
On 18 and 19 January, the day of the feast of the Theophany, His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna presided at the Vigil and the Divine Liturgy at the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, surrounded by the clergy and in the presence of a very large number of the faithful.
The Liturgy ended with the great blessing of the waters. Vladyka John recalled that the blessing of the waters is an occasion to remember our baptism in Christ our Saviour.
The Archbishop invoked the grace of the Holy Spirit upon the faithful, invited them to the daily sanctification of life and to bear witness to the love of God revealed by Christ.
Metropolitan John congratulated the young pilgrims from the parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Deventer (Netherlands), who had come to take part in the feast of the Theophany at the cathedral; Vladyka John then invited them to his table to share a coffee together.
