Holy Theophany 2025

On the feast of Holy Theophany, for the Great Blessing of the Waters, we use a fountain dating from 1783. Water streams from a container above through the beak of a silver dove mounted at the top, from which it drips through the mouths of doves set at the rims of three lower basins, one after the other, until it reaches the lowest basin. The fountain is adorned with palm branches, olive boughs, and tangerines brought from Wadi Pharan, where temperatures are always warmer. An icon lamp, also supported by a silver dove, is suspended above.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσημειώθη ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς, ἐν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνοῦντας σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον.

Thou hast appeared today to the world, and thy light, O Lord, is signed upon us that in knowledge hymn thee: Thou hast come, thou hast appeared, thou Light unapproachable.