TRAVERSE CITY -- Dozens gathered at the Clinch Park Marina Pier Saturday for a special ancient ceremony which traces its roots to the Church of Jerusalem.
Fr. Ciprian Streza from the Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church lead the Great Blessing of the Waters ceremony Saturday afternoon.
The event is traditionally held on January 6th, the Feast Day of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River and is also known as the Epiphany.
The ceremony included a mix of poems and songs and was followed by the immersion of the cross into the waters of Grand Traverse Bay three times.
The Great Blessing of Water is celebrated by more than 250 million Orthodox Christians across the world.
