Eastern Epiphany

After sunset tonight the Byzantine Church began celebrating the Theophany (what the Western Church calls the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord).

In the local Ukrainian Catholic community, the Theophany is celebrated with a twelve-course meatless dinner and then the recitation of Solemn Compline, which is a prayer service that lasts about an hour or so, and during which the priest who is presiding blesses water. Traditionally, the blessing happens at a water source (swimming pool, stream, ocean etc) that is located close by the church, but in places where it's too cold to bless running water because of frigid winter temperatures, there is room for a little lattitude.

In our case, the water was held in a portable font and blessed within the church. At the competion of the blessing, those present are invited to drink of the newly-blessed water before departing the church.

Relations between the Ukrainian and Roman Catholics (at least in this part of the world) are very good, thanks to the hospitality of our Byzantine brothers and sisters. Sharing in these cultural and religious traditions helps us all to appreciate one another and our various ways of celebrating faith.