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Biserica Ortodoxă Română de la Tomis, condusă de Arhiepiscopul Teodosie, pregătește sărbătoarea Bobotezei pe 6 ianuarie. Arhiepiscopul va distribui 200.000 de sticle de apă sfințită. Ceremonia începe la Catedrala Sfinții Petru și Pavel din Constanța și se termină la Portul Tomis, cu aruncarea crucilor în Marea Neagră.

Translation

The Romanian Orthodox Church in Tomis, led by Archbishop Teodosie, is preparing for the Epiphany celebration on 6th January. The Archbishop will distribute 200,000 bottles of holy water. The ceremony begins at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Constanța and concludes at the Port of Tomis with the throwing of crosses into the Black Sea.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: Who is leading the church event at Tomis for Epiphany?

Archbishop Teodosie is leading the event.

Question 2: Where does the Epiphany ceremony start and end?

The ceremony starts at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral and ends at Tomis Port.

Exercise: Vocabulary

- drive

(f.) - celebration

- distribute

(f.) - ceremony

(f.) - cathedral

(f.) - throwing

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▌04/01/2025

The Romanian Orthodox Church of Tomis, led by Archbishop Teodosie, is preparing a significant initiative for the upcoming Epiphany celebrations. On 6 January, also known as Bobotează in Romania, Archbishop Teodosie plans to distribute 200,000 bottles of Holy Water to the faithful. This action contrasts with the 10,000 liters offered by Patriarch Daniel in Bucharest, highlighting a notable difference in scale.

Epiphany is a major Christian holiday that commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. To mark the occasion, Archbishop Teodosie will conduct the Great Blessing of the Waters ceremony. Beginning at the Archiepiscopal Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Constanța, the celebration will include a procession that culminates at the Port of Tomis, where the Archbishop will lead the service. Symbolically, he will cast three crosses into the Black Sea, representing the Holy Trinity.

The prelude to Bobotează involves a series of rituals that begin on 5 January. Archbishop Teodosie is scheduled to visit the Poarta Albă Penitentiary to distribute Holy Water to both employees and inmates. Later, he will travel to the town of Hârșova, near the Danube, to conduct another ceremonial blessing. The Holy Water is then bottled in 200,000 PET containers for distribution.

Archbishop Teodosie Distributes 200,000 Bottles of Holy Water at Epiphany Archbishop Teodosie Distributes 200,000 Bottles of Holy Water at Epiphany (Illustration)

Meanwhile, the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate in Bucharest, led by Patriarch Daniel, has announced a more modest celebration. A similar blessing will take place at the Patriarchal Cathedral, where 10,000 liters of Holy Water will be distributed in 0.5-liter bottles. Additionally, 5,000 sets of blessed bread and icons will be offered to worshippers.

Archbishop Teodosie's activities are receiving considerable attention due to his complex background. He is currently involved in legal proceedings, facing charges related to influence peddling, and has been a controversial figure for his past remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic. His outspoken nature has often stirred public discourse, highlighting the diversity of opinions within the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The scale of Holy Water distribution and the archbishop’s active schedule underscore the cultural and religious significance of Bobotează in Romania. As one of the final observances of the winter holiday season, it represents a time of spiritual renewal and community bonding.

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