The rite of the great blessing of water, presided over by the Greek-Orthodox Metropolitan of Vienna (and exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople), Michael Staikos, was celebrated for the first time in Vienna, on 6 January, solemnity of Epiphany. The Metropolitan was flanked at the rite by the episcopal vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Vienna, Nicolae Dura, and the episcopal vicar of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Iwan Petkin. Staikos declared, in his homily, that the over 400,000 Orthodox Christians in Austria have the task of bearing witness to their faith “in the freedom that is guaranteed here”. “Orthodoxy considers the great blessing of water the sign of the fact that with the appearance of God on earth not only man, but the whole of Creation, was renewed”. With the celebration of the rite for the first time outside the walls, explained Staikos, “Orthodox Christians wish to show that they love Vienna and Austria, and pray for God’s mercy for all the people who live here, irrespective of their nationality, language and religion. Their message is one of reconciliation, tolerance, dialogue and peace for all people of good will”. Staikos particularly welcomed the faithful of the Romanian and Bulgarian Orthodox Churches and announced that the ceremony would be repeated next year.
