Epiphany means shining forth or manifestation. The feast is often called, Theophany, which means the manifestation of God. The emphasis of this day’s celebration is on the appearance of Jesus as the Divine Son of God; One of the Holy Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The main feature of the feast of Epiphany is the Great Blessing of the Waters.
      In all Orthodox Churches of Albania this feast was celebrated with a great festivity. In the capital city of Albania, Tirana, the Liturgy of this feast was lead by Archbishop Anastasios in the Orthodox Cathedral, “Evangelization of the Mother of God”. Hundreds of people gathered to participate in the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of the Waters. All the believers developed a better understanding of this feast through the sermon delivered by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios. All the believers received Holy Water blessed by the Church to take to their homes to bless their families, houses and their environment. Throughout the day, people continued to come to the Church to take the Holy Water.
      In Durrës, believers gathered for this feast in the Church of Saints Paul and Astios. As traditional, after the Divine Liturgy the Great Blessing of the Waters was celebrated. The Bishop of Apollonia, His Grace Nicolas, offered a sermon on the meaning of the feast, saying to the believers: ‘Today is the public appearance of Jesus, and today He begins the mission of salvation through His teachings, death, resurrection and ascension...’ After the Liturgy, all the clergy and the believers of Durrës went to the Sea Port of the city to throw a cross into the waters of the sea. Many young people from this city swam in the cold waters trying to take the cross, but only one was the winner. In the end, the believers received Holy Water with faith and hope and returned to their homes.
      Also in the city of Berat, the feast of Epiphany concluded the 12 days of celebration. The believers of this city, especially the children, on December 23, went in the houses of people to announce the coming of Christ on earth. The believers continued their celebration with the great feast of Christmas. From December 24th the faithful gathered in the Church to attend the service of the Great Hours of Christmas. The Next day, hundreds of faithful people were in the Church attending the Divine Liturgy of Christmas. The feast of Saint Basil, on January 1st, gathered again the believers to participate in the Divine Liturgy. The Metropolitan, the priests and the believers wished on another for a blessed year by God.
      The celebration was concluded with the feast of the Great Blessing of the Waters, on January 6th. Hundreds of people filled the Church of Saint Dimitrios in Berat. The Liturgy and the Great Blessing of the Waters was lead by the Metropolitan of this Diocese, His Eminence Ignati, who leaded also all the Liturgies of this days. After the Liturgy, the believers went together to the old bridge of the city, and they threw the cross in the cold waters of the Osumi River. Hundreds of people, from the whole region around this city were present to attend this service. According the tradition of this historical city, the whole group of boys that seam in the river, have used to go to the houses of the believers to sing the Troparion of Epiphany. The city of Berat through all these days have been celebrating all of these Great feasts.
      The feast of Epiphany was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Pogradec as well. The Metropolitan of this Diocese, His Eminence John, lead the Liturgy and the Great Blessing of the Waters. Even though it was very cold, hundreds of believers were in the church from early in the morning. The cross was thrown in the waters of the River of this city. His Eminence explained the meaning of the feast to the believers and the media saying: ‘This feast is called the light because God was revealed and God Himself is light...’ Believers wished one another a blessed year and took holy water to their homes to bless their families and hopefulness filled their hearts.
      Also in the city of Vlora the feast of Epiphany was celebrated with a joyful spirit. The Divine Liturgy was conducted in the church of Saint Theodors and after the Liturgy all the believers went to the nearby sea to throw the cross in the water. Many people swam in the cold water to catch the cross. The young people of the Church of Saint Athanasios in Selenica of Vlora, after the Liturgy also challenged the cold waters of the Vjosa River to catch the cross.
      In the city of Saranda hundreds of believers filled the church and garden of Saint Harallambos, to participate in the Divine Liturgy and in the Great Blessing of the Waters. The Ceremony was lead by the Metropolitan of this Diocese, His Eminence Dimitrios. In the sermon of the day His Eminence said: ‘Even though without sin, the New Adam, Christ threw Himself in the waters of the Jordan River, into the ‘watery tomb’ as a foresight for His going into the darkness of the tomb for the salvation of humanity. Jesus enters into the waters and destroys the power of Satan ...’’ Representatives from the local authorities, believers of the city, and from the whole region were present at the Great Blessing of the Waters. All the believers went to the Ionian Sea and threw the cross into the waters of this sea. Many young people, some of them from different educational institutions of the Church, as well as many young people from the youth group of the Church, swam in the sea to take the cross.
      The Great Blessing of the Waters was jubilantly celebrated by many people in other cities such as in Elbasan, Korça, Përmet, Himara etc.
      The believers in all the Orthodox Churches throughout Albania wished one another a blessed year and a blessed life in Christ.  The churches were filled with the voices of the faithful chanting the Troparion of the feast:
      When Thou, O Lord, was 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 truthfulness of His Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee.

 

Thoma Dhima , Nestilda Dangaj ,Vasil Jovani,
Joan Qako , Pr. Spiro Bulika, Orfea Beci
Translated by Ana Kërcyku
Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale