Metropolitan Sawa leads Forefeast of Theophany worship in Warsaw
Metropolitan Sawa. Photo: Polish Church website
Metropolitan Sawa presided over the All-Night Vigil and the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord at the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw. This was reported by the official website of the Polish Orthodox Church.
The sermon was delivered by the cathedral’s rector, Archpriest Dorofey Savitsky, who focused on the symbolism of water in the Bible. He recalled that in the Book of Genesis the Spirit of God hovered over the waters as a sign of life and God’s presence in creation. The priest emphasized that water in Scripture carries a dual meaning – it is both a source of life and renewal, and an instrument of purification and judgment.
The priest noted that the symbolism of water finds its fulfillment in Christ, Who, by entering the waters of the Jordan, sanctified all creation. After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Sawa performed the rite of the Great Blessing of Water, reading the traditional prayers and asking for the descent of the grace of the Holy Spirit. The hierarch then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.
As the UOJ previously reported, the Synod of the Polish Church has called for the convening of a Pan-Orthodox Council.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.