The Feast of Theophany at the Headquarters of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea
A few days after the dawn of the New Year 2025, the Orthodox Church, residing in Seoul, celebrated the Great Hours (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) of Epiphany on the morning of Friday, January 3. In an atmosphere of devotion, we welcomed in the “Jordanian watercourse”, together with St. John the Baptist, our Lord Jesus Christ, through the wonderful biblical readings, the beautiful Prayers, and the theological and beauty-filled hymns of our Church.
At the end of the Service, the Metropolitan explained the importance of the Great Hours in the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church. In the afternoon of the same day, we celebrated in the church of St. Maximos the Greek (as in the morning), the service of the 9th Great Hour of Holy Theophany.
On Sunday, January 5, the day before Theophany, despite the heavy snowfall, many people came to participate in the Matins, the Divine Liturgy, and the consecration of the waters. The large congregation received the Holy Eucharist and was then blessed by the Metropolitan with the Great Holy Water of Epiphany. The Lunch of Love followed, with the participation of the entire congregation, and then the General Assembly of the parish of St. Nicholas was held, during which the Spiritual and Financial Report for 2024 was presented to the members of the Community, as well as the Budget and the planned projects for the new year 2025 were approved. On Sunday afternoon, the Service of the Great Vespers of Epiphany was celebrated.
At the dawn of the glorious and all-bright day, the solemn service of Matins of the feast was held and then the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great followed. Later, Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea, accompanied by a group of young people, consecrated with Holy Water the Missionary Centre, the offices of the Metropolis, the halls, the homes of the priests, the associates, and all the areas around the Cathedral, while the young people followed by singing related hymns and carols. In the afternoon, the Great Vespers of the feast of the holy and glorious prophet John the Baptist was celebrated, praising the Triune God that this year again we were deemed worthy to celebrate the Holy Twelve Days of Christmas.
Our heartfelt wish is that the Holy Trinity, just as it first appeared to humanity for the first time in the Jordan River and enlightened the world, may it appear daily to each one of us, and illuminate the “kingdom of God within us”. Thus, we too, may see God “face to face”, and help make the Orthodox Church of Korea a beam of Light that will illuminate the Korean society. Amen!
Source: Metropolis of Korea
