Theophany - a solemn celebration throughout the country

 

January 6th is the day when all the waters are sanctified, because the Saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, was baptized on this day and in this act Re sanctified the waters. As in all the Orthodox Churches of the world, the great feast of Theophany was celebrated with solemnity in the Church of Albania, showing to all present the great depth and value of Orthodoxy. According to tradition, a sermon is not given, but rather believers hear that this day of Jesus Christ's baptism represents the beginning of His saving mission. The message of this feast is self-evident from the service of the great Blessing of the Waters in which can be found all the historical, dogmatic and theologica1 messages of this feast.  - Tirana      From the early morning, the Annunciation Church in Tirana was filled with believers, wishing to participate in the holy services. The services were lead by the Archbishop of Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, aided by Bishop Andoni of Kruja and several other clergy members. This year, because of the bad weather, the Archbishop celebrated the Great Blessing of the Waters inside the church. As usual the service was chanted by the psalters and byzantine choir and included readings of the prophecies, and the Great Litany calling the grace of the Holy Spirit to rest upon the water and all those present. The service ends with the prayer to God, in which Christ calls upon the blessing of the waters, all people, and all creation through His appearance and divine and sanctifying presence through the coming of the Good and Life-giving Holy Spirit.
	While the Dismissal Hymn of the day was being chanted "When you were baptized in the Jordon 0 Lord...", His Beatitude thrust the cross into the water three times and then blessed the faithful in all four directions with a bunch of basil. Then the Archbishop and other clergy also blessed the water in the large tub outside, from which the believers would take in bottles for their homes. Until late in the evening, people (even from other faiths) were coming to take the blessed water.
- Berat      Meanwhile in Berat, Theophany is one of the most popular and largest feasts of the year. Hundreds of believers were gathered not only in the church but also all along the roads as the Metropolitan Ignati and priests lead a procession towards the old Gorica bridge, where thousands of people (including those of other faiths) were waiting along the river's two bridges.
	This year about 20 boys competed in the cold waters of the Osumi River. The boys do not capture the cross for themselves but go as teams from all the different neighborhoods of Berati. For these boys, it is a victory if any one of the members of their own neighborhood team comes up with the cross. ln this yearly competition, for which Berati is famous, it is not only important who comes up with the cross but also who brings it out of the river. This year 34 year old Emanuel Gjeci had the blessing to capture the cross. Following fuis he and his team from the neighborhood of "Donika Kastrioti", went all over the city with the cross, chanting the hymn of the day and as usual all families (regardless of faith) greet the boys and the Holy Cross.
- Durrës      In Durrës, at the Adriatic Sea, cold rainy weather was no hindrance to the numerous believers who came to receive the Lord's blessing on the feast of Theophany. The Church of Sts. Paul and Asti was filled with believers for the Feast of Lights, as it is also called, since Christ is also the Sun of Righteousness and enlightens all the world and aIl humanity. The Bishop of Apollonia, His Grace NikoIla, lead the Divine Liturgy, together with clergy and the student's choir of the Theological Academy. After the service of the Blessing of the water, everyone proceeded to Dock 5 of the Port of Durrës for the traditional ceremony where the cross was thrown into the sea..
	The city band played the hymn of the day "When you were baptized in the Jordan..." as the cross was thrown into the water. Three brave boys of Durrës dove into the frigid waters to capture the cross, but 15 year old Dhimitër Xhimitiku, a member of the city's Orthodox Youth Group, proved himself quickest of the bunch as he brought the cross from the water with much enthusiasm. Following this all the people returned to the church to take the Holy Water.
- Vlora      The feast of Theophany was also celebrated in Vlora, where many faithful took the blessed water. At the- Port of Vlora, after a short service, Fr. Konstandin Prifti threw the cross in the water. This year 53 year old Vangjel Ndini captured the cross for which he was given a gift from the church.        By: Thoma Dhima, Sevastiani Qako, Isidor Koti, Father Spiro Bulika.    Translated and edited by: Georgia Gillman