Miami’s Traditional Consecration of the Waters of the Ocean on Theophany

Every year on the feast day of the Theophany (Baptism of Christ) at Dania Beach (Miami) is celebrated in the morning with a Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Matrona of Moscow followed by the traditional consecration of the ocean waters in the afternoon. 

The Vicar of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America and the Rector of the Miami Cathedral, Archimandrite Alexander Belya, together with fellow clerics Archpriest John Spasiuk and Archpriest Mikhail Gutsul as well as numerous parishioners, arrived at the city beach for the consecration waters of the ocean.  It was performed according to the established Orthodox Christian tradition for the sixth year in a row.  The priest from the Monastery of St. Nicholas in Fort Myers, Archimandrite Barsanuphius Podyma, also joined the clergy of the Cathedral on this occasion.

At the end of the service of consecration, everyone plunged into the newly blessed waters of the ocean.  Many people thanked the clergy for continuing this long-standing tradition that gives them a spiritual connection to their homeland.  The Cathedral of St. Matrona of Moscow brings together immigrants from many Slavic countries living in Florida, particularly in Miami, including Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, and Serbians as well as those of other nationalities, such as Georgians, Moldovans and Americans of the Orthodox Christian faith.