A special ritual was also held in the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Antakya, due to the “Baptism Day” celebrating the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. The ritual was realized ‘without a community’ within the framework of the Covid-19 pandemic rules.
The “Baptism Day” Ritual, which celebrates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, also witnessed colorful scenes in Antakya. In the ritual attended by only the Church Fathers Can Dellüller and Dimitri Doğum, as well as the zangos, the white pigeons were flown and blessings were made with olive branches.
Father Can Dellüller, who gave a sermon in the ritual, said that our Savior Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, and that the Holy Spirit was placed on Jesus Christ in the form of a pigeon during his baptism. Noting that today is considered as a day when all people are blessed, Father Dellüller also celebrated the day of all congregation members.
During the sacred ritual, after reading passages from the Gospel, the Holy Cross was immersed in the water inside the cauldron, and a representative baptism was performed. After the ceremony, the fathers dipped a bunch of olive branches into the blessed water, then shaken them on the icons and performed a blessing. Meanwhile, white pigeons were also flown as symbols of the Holy Spirit. (SAT-7 Turk / İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ-İskenderun)
