The Feast of Theophany in Zemun

Church of Serbia – 24/1/17

His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, officiated the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy in the church of Saint Nicholas in Zemun on the Lord’s feast-day of Theophany, 19 January 2017. (photo gallery). – A great number of swimmers were competing for the Holy Cross in the icy waters of the Danube.

Following the Liturgy where the Patriarch was concelebrated by the clergy of the Archdioceses of Belgrade-Karlovac, he performed the solemn rite of the Blessing of water.

The solemn Theophany procession, led by the Serbian Patriarch, and followed by Police and Gendarmerie units in solemn uniforms as well as the faithful, went through central streets of Zemun until the embankment at the Zemun quay, where the Patriarch blessed a monument “Theophany swimmer”, which was raised on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Theophany swimming in the Danube.

Following that, the Serbian Patriarch Irinej went to the river bank where he blessed girls and boys who were fearlessly swam in the icy water for the glory and honour of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit who appeared on this day on the river of Jordan.

The Theophany celebration, which has been organized in Zemun since 18th century, was enhanced by presence of the mayor of the Zemun Municipality with his colleagues, members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Police, representatives of the public, cultural, scientific and sport institutions. A multitude of people from Belgrade were present at this event.

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