Public Invited to Annual Blessing of Ohio River
Orthodox churches team up for event
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A Martins Ferry-based Greek parish will help celebrate the blessing of the water to mark Epiphany at 1 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Port in Wheeling.
The Rev. Michael Ziebarth, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church of the Life-Giving Fountain in Martins Ferry, will join the Rev. Demetrios Tsikouris, pastor of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Wheeling, for the event. Ziebarth said Epiphany is the 12th day of the Christmas holiday, when Orthodox Christians believe the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River occurred. For non-Orthodox believers, the arrival of the three wise men, or Magi, is celebrated on the same date.
"God comes down and blesses the water and Christ in the water and blesses the whole world," Ziebarth said. "It reminds us of our own personal baptism. It reminds us of God's care for the whole world."
Ziebarth said that since the world is a gift from God, people should take care of it and be good stewards of the earth.
"I don't know if God smiles if we trash our gift," he said. "He provides us with resources so that we can work and be productive, and he expects us to take care of them. … There is no life without water."
Ziebarth said ceremony attendees also will be blessed with holy water. Ziebarth said he often receives requests from people to have their homes and businesses blessed. Following the blessing of the river, Ziebarth said he will proceed to bless the downtown area and beyond.
"I bless homes and businesses and anything that doesn't run away too fast," he quipped.
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Barton, which uses the Julian calendar, will celebrate Christmas Eve on Sunday and Christmas Day on Monday.
The Barton church's Christmas Eve services include: 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 7:30 p.m. candlelight Christmas carols and 8 p.m. Nativity eve vigil service. Monday's services: 9:30 a.m. is the singing of Christmas carols and 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity.