MADERA — On Sunday, Jan. 12, parishioners of Ss. Mary and Michael Parish—an Orthodox Christian community worshipping alternatively at Nativity of the Theotokos (St. Mary’s) Church in Madera and St. Michael’s Church in Irvona—gathered at Clearfield Creek for a moving outdoor Blessing of Waters service, an extension of the world-wide celebration of the Theophany (Baptism/Epiphany) of Jesus Christ.
Following the Divine Liturgy in Madera, participants processed to the bridge on PA-53 near the Bigler Township Municipal Building to sanctify the waters and pray for the well-being of the local community and all creation.
Led by Archpriest Alexander Cadman, the service brought together faithful individuals of all ages to witness the sanctification of Clearfield Creek.
The event highlighted the central theme of Theophany—the revelation of God through the sanctification of nature—and included prayers for the preservation and blessing of the environment.
“This blessing reminds us of our responsibility to care for creation and to seek God’s grace in our daily lives,” said Father Alexander.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate and pray for our beloved county.”
A similar blessing of Clearfield Creek in Irvona, home to the parish’s other worship location, is scheduled for 2026, continuing this meaningful tradition to invoke God’s blessing on our community and all creation.
Event photos capture the beauty of the day—from the reverent procession to the litanies asking God’s intercession for our community and world from the bridge overlooking the waters, which serve as a tributary to the Susquehanna River.
The special prayers sung this day ask God to bless the waters and all who partake of them and use them.
The Susquehanna River serves as a crucial source of drinking water for millions of residents within the basin.
In Pennsylvania alone, an average of around 6 billion gallons of water are withdrawn daily from reservoirs, rivers, streams and groundwater sources to sustain life.
The ceremony connected the small, but growing worship community here in Clearfield County to the more than 4 million people who consider the Susquehanna River Basin their home, further connecting our local population to the broader community and world through this ancient and sacred rite.
For more information about upcoming events of Ss. Mary and Michael Orthodox Parish or the meaning of the Theophany celebration, please contact the parish at info@orthodoxclearfield.org or 814-862-8694.
About Ss. Mary and Michael Orthodox Parish:
Saints Mary and Michael Orthodox Parish is a growing sacramental community of Christians worshipping at Saint Michael Church in Irvona, Pa., and Nativity of the Theotokos Church in Madera, Pa., ministering to the people of the greater Clearfield area. Participants gather every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for the Divine Liturgy, every Saturday at 6 p.m. for Great Vespers, and on the eve of Great Feasts at 6 .pm. for Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Locations alternate between the two churches; visit orthodoxclearfield.org to see the current location.
