The Eve of Theophany fell on a Sunday this year, so the Royal Hours were served Friday morning with no liturgy as according to the Typicon. On the Eve itself, All-Night Vigil was served as usual Saturday evening.
Sunday was a full day of church services. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was served as usual after the Meeting of the Bishop, vesting and the hours. Divine Liturgy was followed by Great Vespers for the feast with 13 readings, an epistle and Gospel readings also. This was followed by a procession to the belltower to serve a Great Blessing of Water. The large tub was filled with water to serve the needs of the community.
After the blessing and the conclusion of the service in church, which Vladyka fully blessed with holy water, a couple of priests blessed all the dwellings of the brotherhood, offices, and the rooms of the seminarians. Only then was the one meal of the day blessed, a strictly Lenten meal.
Sunday evening was the Vigil of the feast, consisting of Great Compline and Matins. On Monday, January 6/19, the Liturgy of St. Basil was served with another Great Blessing of Water in the belltower.
On Tuesday, the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist, the liturgy was served at 8 AM. Vladyka served liturgy at the Skete of the Mother of God Quick to Hear in West Winfield, and he blessed their buildings.
Thus ended the festal season of Nativity and Theophany, although the afterfeast goes on, with the fathers blessing the homes of the neighbors.
