The Holy Metropolis is pleased to announce that for the eleventh time since 2001 the blessing of the harbor of New York City on Theophania again took place, in the shadow of the new Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center.
On Saturday, January 19, 2013 – following Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Markella, His Eminence PAVLOS, the Metropolitan of America, led the clergy and faithful to the harbor where he conducted a service to bless the waters of the great city. He completed the blessing by casting a Cross into the icy waters. This symbolizes the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan at the hands of St. John the Baptist. Nine young men dove into the harbor hoping to reach the Cross first and return it to Metropolitan PAVLOS.
This ancient and holy Christian ritual, dating from the time of the Emperors in Constantinople, was witnessed by the people of New York through the cooperation of the local authorities, and assisted by FDNY harbor launches, and scuba divers.
As has become the tradition the procession was led by the incomparable Monaghan Bag-Pipe Band of NYC.
