The Feast of Epiphany at the Phanar

On Tuesday, January, 06, 2015, His All-Holiness presided over the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Epiphany and Service of the Great Blessing of the Waters, together with Elder Metropolitan Constantine of Nicea, Metropolitans Joseph of Proikonnisos, Meliton of Philadelphia, Demetrios of Sevasteia, Athenagoras of Kydonies, Maximos of Selyvria and Amphilochios of Adrianopolis.

Also in attendance were Metropolitans Evangelos of Perghe, Germanos of Theodoroupolis and Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe, accompanied by his delegation, Greek Consul General Nicholas Matthioudakis, Archons of the Throne and faithful from Turkey and throughout the world.

The Great Blessing of the Waters took place along the wharf of the Phanar district on the Golden Horn. There, as is customary for this great feast, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew threw a cross into the icy waters, which several men and women raced after to retrieve.

Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate