Blessing of the Susquehanna River in
Pittston, Pennsylvania

The faithful of our Byzantine Catholic Churches of St. Michael the Archangel, Pittston and St. Nicholas of Myra, Swoyersville, gathered at Riverfront Park in Pittston on Sunday, January 11 for a traditional blessing of the Susquehanna River.  This was the first time a blessing was held at this section of the river, and the first time ever in the Greater Pittston area.

The park is a short distance from St. Michael Church.  Those present for the service braved the cold sustained winds with an overcast sky.  Fifteen minutes before the blessing, a strong white-out snow squall converged on the region. Hope appeared to be lost, but not for long as the skies opened, a very bright sun appeared at the start of the 3 o’clock hour, with everyone grateful the service could begin.

Prayers were led by Rev. Andrii Dumnych, and Rev. Deacon Lawrence Worlinsky, with liturgical assistants from both parishes contributing.

The photos in the gallery below are highlights from this day

In the tradition of our Eastern European ancestors, we bless a nearby source of water in our community following the Great Feast of Theophany.  Water is the source of life for our earthly sustenance and for all living things.  For us as Catholics, water is the essential element of the Mystery of Baptism.   Baptism in the proper Trinitarian form is a regenerative cleansing from original sin that is essential for salvation.  Baptism initiates and indelibly marks the soul into life in Christ as his sons and daughters, and as his Christian disciples.  During our celebrations of Theophany and Pascha (Easter), we sing the very Scriptural words, “All you who have been baptized into Christ, have been clothed with Christ”.  

In addition to blessing water as a religious tradition, we support the value of being good stewards of the earth. And we recognize how God cares for us, refreshing the earth with the water we depend upon, a vital natural resource.  

“After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the water. Suddenly the sky opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and hover over him. With that, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on Him.”  (Matthew 3:16-17)

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Excerpt from Psalm 104 *

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;
you have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot; you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers; and flaming fire your ministers . . . .

. . . May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord be glad in his works!

“Great are You O Lord + and wonderful are your works,

No words can do justice to the praise of your wonders.”

 –  words recited by the priest in the blessing of water –

Reflection:  Our Susquehanna River is beautiful when it is serene, but at other times it can be a fearful, powerful force in which we are at its mercy.  All of us who live and work near our river understand how it changes.  And in many ways, it’s not unlike our own lives in which nothing stays the same.  As Christians, we pray for strength in our faith to deal with the highs and lows that come our way.  And just as we may take for granted the river we are so accustomed to seeing, we are challenged to keep our faith flowing and growing in all the seasons of our life; to not allow our faith to become stagnant, just as water that is stagnant is not good.  Our faith must be ever moving forward, replenished and renewed, staying on course in hope of our promised destination, united with God.  

*(NAB, as used in the Byzantine Catholic Church liturgies)