Orthodox churches partner to bless Cedar River

CEDAR RAPIDS - On Saturday, four orthodox churches held an annual blessing of the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The service, which took place on the First Avenue Bridge, was an effort of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church and St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, all of Cedar Rapids, as well as the Iowa City-based St. Raphael Antiochian Orthodox Church.

About 30 individuals gathered to witness the four church fathers bless a wooden cross and dip it into the Cedar River.

The act commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist, said the Rev. Elias Khoury, priest at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox.

Many locations throughout the country - and throughout the world - host a Blessing of the Waters service as a part of Theophany, or the celebration of Christ's baptism, said John Ackerman, director for media relations for the Metropolis of Chicago, which oversees Greek Orthodox parishes throughout the Midwest.

In the Corridor, the four churches have been partnering for the service for about 12 years, Khoury said.

Khoury said the ceremonies have been held at other bodies of water in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City as well. Last year, the priests performed the ceremony at the creek in Thomas Park in Marion.

The Rev. Peter Andronache, priest at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, said the priests typically get to together for ceremonies more than five times a year.

The Rev. Fred Shaheen of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church said the ceremony allows for the churches to come together as one community.

'We are one church, and we can express that,” Shaheen said.

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