Thousands of faithful throughout the country celebrated Theophany in their local churches and by singing the hymn “When you, O Lord,were baptizedin Jordan…” headed towards the rivers where the cross would be thrown. The very low temperatures did not prevent many young people from diving into the icy waters to capture the cross and receive its blessing.
In the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral in Tirana, the Divine Liturgy was led by the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, his Beatitude Anastasios, who celebrated together with the Metropolitan of Amantias, His Eminence Nathanail, Bishop Asti, and the clergy of the Archepiscopate. At the end of the Liturgy, the Archbishop performed the Great Blessingof Water. Then the water was poured to the water tanks positioned outside the church, from where hundreds of faithful received it. In the city of Durres, after the Liturgy at the “Apostle Paul and Saint Asti” church, the believers headed towards the harbor, where the cross was thrown into the Adriatic sea. It was captured by theyoung man, Esi Papajorgji.
In Berat, after the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the litany was performed along the streets of the city and the cross was thrown by Metropolitan Ignatius, into the waters of Osumi river from Gorica bridge. It was captured by 16-year-old Kostandin Musha. The service of Theophany and the casting of the cross into the sea took place also in the city of Vlora, where the young immigrant Altin Qirjo had the blessing to get it. The cross was also thrown into the waters of Vjosa in Selenica, into Seman in Mazhaj etc.
In Korça, the Divine Liturgy and the services were performed at the “Resurrection Christ” Cathedral, while the cross was thrown by Metropolitan Joan at the city’s fountain. The cross was captured by 20-year-old Ronaldo Kovaçi. The Cross was later thrown by His Grace Joan in the icy waters of Pogradec Lake, where a group of young believers wentinto the water to capture it in spite of the freezing temperatures.
In Gjirokastra, the Liturgy and the services were performed in the “Resurrection of Christ” cathedral, and then the cross was thrown from the bridge in the Drino River where it was captured by the young boy Haxhi Rexha. The same services were carried out also in the villages and other cities of the Metropolis of Gjirokastra, including even Saranda and Himara.
In Elbasan, following the Divine Liturgy, hundreds of believers joined the litany and headed towards the swimming pool complex, where Metropolitan Andon threw the cross into the water. It was captured by the young man Aleksandro Llozi.
In Fieri, after the Liturgy at St. George’s Church, the believers headed towards the great fountain of the city, where Metropolitan Nikollaperformed the blessing of water and threw the cross into the water where it was captured by the young man Athanas Davidhi.
