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Members of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church defy cold as they mark Jesus’ baptism in a faraway river

January 7

The warmth of faith

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

NANTICOKE -- Not even the bitter cold could keep St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church members praising God over the Susquehanna River at noon on Wednesday.

As temperatures hovered in the mid-20s, the Rev. Adam Sexton and several parishioners made their way down the snow-covered sidewalk of the bridge connecting Nanticoke and West Nanticoke to honor Jesus’ baptism on the Feast of the Theophany.

“The Theophany that we celebrate is the first time that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were present on Earth at the same time. The Spirit in the form of a dove, the voice of the Father saying this is my beloved with whom I am well pleased and then, of course, Christ, in the Jordan (River),” Sexton said.

He started the blessing service with a censer before leading the congregation in a series of chants and prayers and later a frozen ice cross during the service also known as the Epiphany. The cross was later thrown into the river below, hitting a pocket of water.

Saxton then sprinkled holy water on all in attendance.

This was the first time the 99-year-old church has celebrated the Epiphany over a body of water, he said.

Orthodox churches celebrate Theophany every Jan. 6. Russian Orthodox churches celebrate Theophany on Jan. 19, after celebrating Russian Christmas, Sexton said.

Church member Barbara Pascoe of Hanover Township attended with her husband, Phillip.

“It was wonderful, absolutely heartfelt, and the Holy Spirit was with us,” she said after the less-than-15-minute service.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

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