On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the Epiphany was celebrated in the parishes of the Metropolis of Austria and the Exarchate in Hungary. Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria presided over the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by the Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Ioannis Nikolitsis, Hieromonk Arsenios Voukidis and Archdeacon Maximos Rudko, without the presence of the faithful due to the COVID-19 restrictive measures.
In his sermon, the Metropolitan of Austria referred to the importance of the feast, emphasizing that Jesus Christ enters our lives to enlighten us and share the light. As he pointed out, today is a day of enlightenment and a feast of light, since Christ, the light of the world, comes to enlighten every human being. The decay is washed away and life is born, sin is buried and true virtue is born. Living in the divine light man is cleansed both spiritually and physically, and becomes the son of the King of heaven.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan of Austria performed the Blessing of the Waters. Although the feast of Epiphany took place without the presence of believers due to the health measures, the Metropolis, nevertheless, prepared vials with holy water, which were distributed to the faithful for the sanctification of their homes.
In the evening of the same day, the Metropolitan performed the sanctification rite of the Danube.
The celebration of the Epiphany in the Exarchate of Hungary was presided over by Bishop Paisios of Apamea, who also blessed the waters of the Danube in Budapest. Finally, the Blessing of the Waters was performed by most of the parishes of the Metropolis and the Exarchate, praying for the inhabitants of their areas and the protection of the environment.
Source: Metropolis of Austria
