His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir blesses the waters of the Dnieper River
On 18 January 2010, the Eve of the Epiphany, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the refectory Church of the Laura of the Caves in Kiev. Concelebrating were Archbishop Pavel of Vyshgorod, abbot of the Laura; Archbishop Antony of Borispol, rector of the Kievan Theological academy and seminary; and Bishop Panteleimon of Vasilkov.
That same day in the evening Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the All-Night Vigil together with archbishops and bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and clergymen of the Laura of the Caves in Kiev at the refectory Church of Ss. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves.
On January 19, the feast of the Epiphany, Metropolitan Vladimir officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Laura of the Caves in Kiev. Concelebrating were Archbishops Pavel of Vyshgorod and Antony of Borispol, rector of the Kievan Theological academy and seminary; Bishops Illary of Makariev, Alexander of Pereyaslavl-Khmelnitsky, Panteleimon of Vasilkov, and ordained monks of the Laura.
On the feast of the Epiphany the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church blessed the waters of the Dnieper River at the Obolonskaya Embankment. Concelebrating were Bishop Antony of Borispol, rector of the Kievan Theological schools, Bishop Alexander of Pereyaslavl-Khmelnitsky, and clergymen of the local district.
After the Office of the Blessing of the Waters, Metropolitan Vladimir greeted the worshippers, saying: “Today the nature of the waters is sanctified, the water is blessed everywhere. This is the mercy of God Who wants us to be perfect as He is perfect and holy as He is holy. May the Lord, through the prayers of us, the unworthy, bestow the blessing and strengthening of the Jordan River upon us.”
His Beatitude Vladimir congratulated the worshippers on the great feast and sprinkled them with holy water.
Many believers immersed themselves in the blessed waters of the Epiphany font, press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports.