The traditions of Epiphany were carried out at St. Simeon Skete today as usual. All of the doors were blessed.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdHUZDlknBcdiJ9GE63uu5qXBzDYEZBhwOgKvTeduwDPnNAPQjrKJihYXFEioc-yDyP2qt_l5YCAwsneEHwb_QI-041Arm9qP-pV1QGuPyX5FhlTJfA51CbvPRA8v9VTrzUW5FXRqIhE/s640/DSC_0002.JPG)
After Mass, carrying the Cross for 2013,
we hiked down to bless St. Arsenius Hermitage
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOUZdRRHEuHY7cEQqueHPLMr6n0i6qubLEGGeN7zCeUcEuJ3DM_sOXyypEU5dGZMzphgTZzrUTvc1YGsnPWBfv2lkK_3Ny78tbFkLsr5d8Pf_jiXXVug0ICsBVgkHCHb0ANZvdDh2jys/s640/DSC_0004.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oy2gI2XQCm9S3kVJkfEPMZ71P3IA54YBLPUwckjQ763XfFt22a20Li0h_xXEyhYZy8giXETag6f2yNrKAI-TLyjMhC1vg4cZW9z3Ms5aW3PHBkr4-YU0OrLnqI4g5r3XgS2nfEKMIUg/s640/DSC_0005.jpg)
for the "Blessing of the Doors". Anna House, The Sanctuary of the Holy Name, the Kellia and other buildings on the main property was blessed before Mass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7bGVwLIXcM9c7qtPhqkUuPGeWclh7Z5od6PWF9Pc4YAhA1DvA1BtlV2jGVSouX3imOv8BFz30yjQU6v6k2VZ-qhMY7yAlpXqYhMTQRjo9SjHuy_ZoieVZNjs-OVWIRjwLU9Dfdq6l2U/s640/DSC_0042.jpg)
From the hermitage we hiked our way down
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0i3AiVTpu0BtN1_6YBxUt3nlqelSDChHUg1iiPYP-YPOKPRs1iHT4xadTSmyReSuy5Z8r_KJF1j2b0sBwH3J5c8pkYWgwgmjzn8_dOTO3YUw5XqDujIRh5qidQGtx9-9CQc2L8Gc9hQ/s640/DSC_0043.jpg)
to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk4yuwp47aMJW0zIRRl6O7v1YxchyqoB3r6qZR572Es1wulNyFUxEr4LKq-X8W3l43slnlmCR6sjRw_c8wUTuA6KLw5JWd7w_GZyIgoDUQqKovJ8L7ABgbX4_WYOkbEtZHUe8VcBR1ZY/s640/DSC_0008.JPG)
There we said the Redemptive Rosary.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48zAcMpDGUEPKdILPCEJ72n-SFCEY5sUEVVxHA_o54zTZxkv9rD0okbR9QHyTWQheTHVRdxCR-bWKCM7N6ShxSUZPSVHNTlH7ZYNMn1PGAfFuwmUOEQ4XUxJ15mRm95HcycQSOuXzG3U/s640/DSC_0010.jpg)
From there we hiked a bit further down to the river to toss the Blessed Cross that Seraphim made on the 12th day of Christmas into it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QvfawqtkIcbuOAeuuJFEIEldx9zNAP4NMK3aj-KXKMD_8fr3LrCtfuX1aS-kyDHUzG6c8cw72TPkaLZ8HpYoJbw8NCW54aomlF0Ed61xkDhZ3HhRqx3gtlXaugXTWk7AA957cXMiDC8/s640/DSC_0009.jpg)
For details of the NHA Traditions at Epiphany refer to this previous blog post: Click Here: Why do we bless doors at Epiphany?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHI6a0oTilr6XXzcwsc5Fp6VCESP-LVBme0Q9nmT8jga7qJ5ZpZlsd2HK2nMSPssssx_IxC7QZiL285tt3_fkSaq1KSra0_Qs3SpwWwJCWVKdwwFTe9ieEOAsL9u-330TA_ACMLJhyxk/s640/DSC_0012.JPG)
It was a cold, muddy, hike. The wind was whipping around
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMpNuihBFx-IDh0t52x-yWXvLpWT5I40672swUxTOFE9ybcLObwfXw1lmXKakBCGDIuSEsVxecxrZiwCIXdlJ4I8bhTMBXhGkSgGRpmUBa5n_n_9Vf9FTVRebiZbUU7dLXMjxFxeW3dw/s640/DSC_0013.JPG)
and with no leaves on the trees to shield us - it seemed even colder. Bundled up we made our way to the waters edge.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80VVcPcCNqnQ4e3NvchkK8XFhQIHqolQaJGWzgYwvk3JmBGYJLwIqHrt8vO4CqjnNaZnbWMdDE3IaMzdX9MP8BDQOOqTx5EtJtEnX3el8bQPyoBZYO1d4t1Q9X77aWXVac6tYaTI6-FY/s640/DSC_0017.JPG)
Once we reached the River Seraphim led the rosary - the Mystery of the Baptism of the Luminous Mysteries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtARCg0Zk_U5PVje0MRR_g4vdkiyBo0wLu-ztQuC2FQK7XmAdC2aPFkBBAFbW5lvwtuYZK4-4Z6oSyKYTWF696RltjVO5m7-Y_eiaMrmXYQRFlk5NXAvLzxNuO12_daQ43Z_ztPEjqLRQ/s640/DSC_0021.jpg)
Next we renewed our Baptism vows
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6t2gM6hxMUrb1BEuA3SRz4zhf4xKuA3TH-b0gYrSrQLy81uoStnwYKDE6FnkbFM5a-pkbcyCNKlo6NlmrkazA0ofV7RUfDnefnrhOiBMqfvcw2T1pG63x7SbpbCk3wcem209Pv_eiH3U/s640/DSC_0014.jpg)
and I was asked to toss the Blessed 2013 Cross into the river, thus making all waters Baptismal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85-HVYUvUI_lU0YSLNYN0dsoBuKp3NbMVo33zGCNeXMFkSWXsCwwAs9f-VvMSK5q1SUnOylv1ISbTTT1PXU3ifRoMI8QhgfplmNYvPSrr7a3hB-0g0SH0fh5HrPHP5OzE3aLlaTeT3mc/s640/DSC_0024.jpg)
Once the Cross landed in the water
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IJEsXtSTfu34QNiGu9ER_6_6cCeGaLgb-ZHsaIpWH6Pe8ouEn0k9r7zHDHc2f_X-9aQerqck7RA-GiJVBy5o5ccc4F3dW8r-SuKsrXNfQugZxeutYlAO6Zcf57JARQwTagazJcCiq68/s640/DSC_0025.JPG)
we stood there,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIGJ6KpLWI1WyvzRv6uYWleiNBHqw6KoWKWzsBO_3lHL7HM39zx6qA1-yJmwt2GMOO0agrzEXW0xIZ07cEjMCQXiA10ruHYcRFNdlppmt5dnN4QGxuJQZuDgxL6RE-j5awzqEruRlI0U/s640/DSC_0026.JPG)
praying
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3_JXnwMQOK7NUNYhIdG3R9Cnr_4DcF4WOkCm9OlX7l823FLrzm7Zag1c9vpR4BylGbV2GQcHtGAt24DiNwOBSikdOWpkrFudgldEBLFsDRKsD3hUKv18H8_ZSIKqivNMlSPPPEHWg0E/s640/DSC_0027.JPG)
as we watched the Cross
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_P7XS1jgNTarKt6bcWvCDSWAKQslhc3xUAQjmAXN8G1JYlEXMYcMAidT8z8nLCIN8Vv7exG105FmLj9f9He1MAkOth2ycpdey9WQgj-5iV7dQwdhPNMkYXsbBziI7Q7mKciSKHG7JOM/s640/DSC_0029.JPG)
flow with the current
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiVMdedf6VdMn3EyxGCBbgwIjdDiE3fGwJ8BSS_vgJDyI7ZNZCcKjW38BYHajIe1HVq0g_mFd31fB9LuQZq6UDLyrw_soK4KqEJJVjKL31Kee9DXFIV5T6T1OV550FKckRLaus-c4Dp0/s320/DSC_0031.JPG)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRE0d5f9s68cBy6plTv4ZomXxJEDyhOeRDCUtz2uj2arbfpjw2NkQGmzPHWqdh8J7czEwxJ9MY4wA_3crq3C_6ktpKGc6NRcJqiU41B-n77Xz9Je527Y4ErchCjYvbWa2gZaH7mEYg4U/s320/DSC_0038.JPG)
and float
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTdP40HI2ODTL2siMhHSuFt3p4zL7_nWaUu28iOvxUzwWjaGpbNJuFIUG-2u72rQAm3WyWaelhL51_Ju06ZiDQMOuWgCm4rB8sLsFXGJEfgWpFHUx7T_-mx3TA0y4bAz3k6z2gj-UFI8/s640/DSC_0040.JPG)
down stream
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-IFaWwldiTPdAiYn2nuVAZ4sPNZ3pdc_lphLHOX9q3q32LJtRN0VYDXhjC9sl6MfO8zVzMfTk8iMtReSK_WuIZGNI8JoQASCchuGpeHH-iIaxLOfGsVLCkOC5fD3oLTm5eyYXR3_1io/s640/DSC_0033.JPG)
within a few minutes it will be passing through Taylorsville Lake and on to other tributaries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBv6RypU8Ml-K_twf6QJ0kWGXvLBhqh_OqW-pEpP0h_pGXm78lsyYBK-df4A4K3EdzebPzfScspoBy-zBxQ8By3d6egTnWTbJVBh_aUrdcIexsDnetLPV_Ya4iGllsJ4UBMMJMjjzfOs/s640/DSC_0039.JPG)
After Mass, carrying the Cross for 2013,
we hiked down to bless St. Arsenius Hermitage
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oy2gI2XQCm9S3kVJkfEPMZ71P3IA54YBLPUwckjQ763XfFt22a20Li0h_xXEyhYZy8giXETag6f2yNrKAI-TLyjMhC1vg4cZW9z3Ms5aW3PHBkr4-YU0OrLnqI4g5r3XgS2nfEKMIUg/s640/DSC_0005.jpg)
for the "Blessing of the Doors". Anna House, The Sanctuary of the Holy Name, the Kellia and other buildings on the main property was blessed before Mass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7bGVwLIXcM9c7qtPhqkUuPGeWclh7Z5od6PWF9Pc4YAhA1DvA1BtlV2jGVSouX3imOv8BFz30yjQU6v6k2VZ-qhMY7yAlpXqYhMTQRjo9SjHuy_ZoieVZNjs-OVWIRjwLU9Dfdq6l2U/s640/DSC_0042.jpg)
From the hermitage we hiked our way down
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0i3AiVTpu0BtN1_6YBxUt3nlqelSDChHUg1iiPYP-YPOKPRs1iHT4xadTSmyReSuy5Z8r_KJF1j2b0sBwH3J5c8pkYWgwgmjzn8_dOTO3YUw5XqDujIRh5qidQGtx9-9CQc2L8Gc9hQ/s640/DSC_0043.jpg)
to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers.
There we said the Redemptive Rosary.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48zAcMpDGUEPKdILPCEJ72n-SFCEY5sUEVVxHA_o54zTZxkv9rD0okbR9QHyTWQheTHVRdxCR-bWKCM7N6ShxSUZPSVHNTlH7ZYNMn1PGAfFuwmUOEQ4XUxJ15mRm95HcycQSOuXzG3U/s640/DSC_0010.jpg)
From there we hiked a bit further down to the river to toss the Blessed Cross that Seraphim made on the 12th day of Christmas into it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QvfawqtkIcbuOAeuuJFEIEldx9zNAP4NMK3aj-KXKMD_8fr3LrCtfuX1aS-kyDHUzG6c8cw72TPkaLZ8HpYoJbw8NCW54aomlF0Ed61xkDhZ3HhRqx3gtlXaugXTWk7AA957cXMiDC8/s640/DSC_0009.jpg)
For details of the NHA Traditions at Epiphany refer to this previous blog post: Click Here: Why do we bless doors at Epiphany?
It was a cold, muddy, hike. The wind was whipping around
and with no leaves on the trees to shield us - it seemed even colder. Bundled up we made our way to the waters edge.
Once we reached the River Seraphim led the rosary - the Mystery of the Baptism of the Luminous Mysteries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtARCg0Zk_U5PVje0MRR_g4vdkiyBo0wLu-ztQuC2FQK7XmAdC2aPFkBBAFbW5lvwtuYZK4-4Z6oSyKYTWF696RltjVO5m7-Y_eiaMrmXYQRFlk5NXAvLzxNuO12_daQ43Z_ztPEjqLRQ/s640/DSC_0021.jpg)
Next we renewed our Baptism vows
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6t2gM6hxMUrb1BEuA3SRz4zhf4xKuA3TH-b0gYrSrQLy81uoStnwYKDE6FnkbFM5a-pkbcyCNKlo6NlmrkazA0ofV7RUfDnefnrhOiBMqfvcw2T1pG63x7SbpbCk3wcem209Pv_eiH3U/s640/DSC_0014.jpg)
and I was asked to toss the Blessed 2013 Cross into the river, thus making all waters Baptismal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85-HVYUvUI_lU0YSLNYN0dsoBuKp3NbMVo33zGCNeXMFkSWXsCwwAs9f-VvMSK5q1SUnOylv1ISbTTT1PXU3ifRoMI8QhgfplmNYvPSrr7a3hB-0g0SH0fh5HrPHP5OzE3aLlaTeT3mc/s640/DSC_0024.jpg)
Once the Cross landed in the water
we stood there,
praying
as we watched the Cross
flow with the current
and float
down stream
within a few minutes it will be passing through Taylorsville Lake and on to other tributaries.