×

Orthodox churches lead Ohio River blessing

PROJECTILE BLESSING — The Rev. Andrew Nelko, priest at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, prepared to cast a large cross made of frozen holy water into the Ohio River during Saturday’s Great Blessing of Water, as the Rev. Matthew Moore, priest at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, stood by with two more ice crosses. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — Two Orthodox churches from Weirton asked for divine blessings upon the Ohio River during a ceremony at the Steubenville Marina Saturday.

Members of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and All Saints Greek Orthodox Church participated in the traditional Great Blessing of Water. Service led by the Rev. Andrew Nelko, priest at St. Nicholas church, with assistance from the Rev. Matthew Moore, priest at All Saints church.

The service featured petitions, prayers and readings from the Old and New testaments. The priests also cast large crosses made of frozen holy water into the Ohio River, to let their blessing flow downstream.

Many Orthodox churches celebrated the Feast of Theophany, also known as Epiphany, on Jan. 6. The major feast commemorates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River and the revelation of the Holy Trinity

“Traditionally, in orthodox churches around the world, during that feast, we bless water in the church that people take home and use,” Nelko said, “and we also bless a large body of water — whether it’s lakes, pond, rivers, oceans … asking God to sanctify it and bestow his grace on it.”

HELPING HANDS — Members of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, both in Weirton, helped hold items essential for the churches’ Great Blessing of Water along the Ohio River, Saturday. -- Christopher Dacanay

Conferring blessings on things is common in Orthodox churches, Nelko said, particularly during holy days throughout the year: Blessing fruit for the transfiguration, cars for the feast of Elijah, candles for the presentation of Jesus at the temple and flowers for the dormition of Mary.

“The idea is, we’re stewards of God’s creation, and all we’re doing is offering it back to God to bless, sanctify and give it back to us, essentially,” he said.

Bundled-up church members of all ages showed up for the service, despite the bothersome cold and an accumulation of snow from the night before. Congregants stood on the marina’s fishing pier and chanted prayers, as snowflakes fell and chunks of ice drifted down the gray-green Ohio River.

Near the service’s conclusion, Nelko addressed those gathered.

“It’s cold, it’s snowy, but we did it,” he said, adding later: “We ask God to bless what we are called to be stewards of. That’s the most important part — we’re called to be stewards of God’s creation. This is not our stuff. This is God’s stuff, and we’re called to care for it, protect it, preserve it.”

Nelko noted the ongoing wildfires occurring in parts of Los Angeles County, reminding the congregation to pray for those who are near the tragedy.

“(The fires are) a reminder that all of creation is groaning at the fallenness of man and the brokenness, but it is our job to restore it and offer it back to God, and he gives it back to us, blessed and sanctified.”

Nelko said the offering of material items to God for him to sanctify sees its pinnacle in the eucharist — when bread and wine become the true body and blood of Jesus during the Divine Liturgy, according to Orthodox belief.

In lieu of a table, members of the churches helped hold objects essential for the service.

One of the individuals helping was Jason Ballas, who was joined by his father, Dr. Emanuel Ballas.

Dr. Ballas recalled being in St. Augustine, Fla., on Jan. 6 for the Epiphany service. There, the practice is to cast a cross into the river, off the Bridge of Lions, and have someone dive in to retrieve it.

As for the Ohio River service, Ballas said, “It’s a little cold to be doing this today, but it’s important to give thanks to God and everything that he does for us.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today