Blessing the waters of the ocean

(ROCOR-EAD) - The parish of the Church of Our Lady "The Inexhaustible Chalice" and the community of the Mercy House of St. John of Kronstadt have been performing the touching tradition of blessing the waters of the ocean for several years. Twice a year, on the Epiphany of the Lord (January 19 n.s.) and on the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord (August 14 n.s.), priests, choristers, parishioners, parish children, and the resident brethren of the Mercy House head out in procession and with hymns from the church to the seashore, graciously blessing the Metrobridge, stores, and passersby with holy water. And every year, the number of people desiring to bathe in the blessed water grows.