Correspondent photo / Sean Barron From left, the Revs. Timothy Paproski of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren, Constantin Ursache of St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman, Thomas Constantine of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle, Pa., and Colin Barker of St. Mark Orthodox Church in Liberty, conduct Saturday’s 20th annual Blessing of the Waters at Mill Creek Park’s Lake Glacier.

YOUNGSTOWN — You could say that the winter chill and icy waters were counterbalanced by the warmth of prayer and the blessings for that water.

“It’s the baptism of our Lord on Jan 6. We bless the waters, homes and people in the homes,” the Rev. Thomas Constantine of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle, Pa., said.

Constantine was referring to the primary purpose of the 20th annual Blessing of the Waters gathering Saturday afternoon at Mill Creek Park’s Lake Glacier.

Despite a temperature in the high 20s, light wind and several inches of fresh snow, an estimated 50 clergy members, children and others braved the elements to celebrate the Greek Epiphany, also known as the Orthodox Christian Feast of Theophany, which falls on Jan. 6.

On the eve of the occasion, which is steeped in solemn ritual, children often sing carols to recount Jesus Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, and priests conduct the Lesser Sanctification of Water in churches. They also visit homes to sprinkle Holy Water and bless residents.

This year’s gathering was after Jan. 6 mainly because a weekend day was more conducive to bringing together a larger number of the area’s religious leaders, Constantine said.

On the day of Epiphany, the Great Sanctification of Water takes place in the churches, followed by processions to rivers, lakes, the sea and other bodies of water for the Blessing of the Waters ceremony.

A pinnacle of the latter tradition is a priest casting a cross into the cold and icy water. In some cases, people dive in to retrieve the cross, and whoever gets it is said to receive a year’s worth of blessings and good fortune. Tossing the cross into Lake Glacier on Saturday was the Rev. Timothy Paproski of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Warren.

Beforehand, prayers were sung for the salvation of souls, world peace, stability of the churches, overall unity, the nation’s well-being, those who perform public services, people who travel by land, sea and air, others who are sick and infirm, and those who live in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. Prayers also were for the water to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit’s power and visitation, as well as people’s deliverance from wrath, affliction, danger and constraint.

Lake Glacier’s location for the Blessing of the Waters was significant because it feeds into the Mahoning River, “so it’s basically a blessing for all the waters of Youngstown,” Constantine said.

Saturday’s reading was a portion of St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, which offers insight into the early Christian church.

In essence, Paul addressed questions from the Corinthians that pertained to marriage, morality and spiritual gifts. The letter also explains in detail Christian doctrine.

After the Blessing of the Waters, many attendees went to St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman for a celebratory reception, followed by an evening Vespers prayer service.