Romanian traditions, for the first time, in Stockholm

*Two volunteers will enter into the Baltic Sea water to recover the sign of blessing - cross - thrown in the water by His Grace Macarios, bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Northern Europe   Wednesday, January 6, 2010 will be held in Stockholm, for the first time in Capital of Scandinavia, one of the oldest traditions of the Romanians, on the occasion of the feast of Baptism of the Lord Jesus.
  On this occasion,His Grace Macarios, bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Northern Europe, will throw holy cross into the sea as a sign of blessing . According to the tradition, the cross should be recovered from the water by one of those present.
  Two men announced their intention to dive to recover cross from the Baltic Sea water. They are volunteers Felix Bozian and Radu Cristian Rusu .
  Romanian - Swedish Cultural Association FRATIA announces all those interested in the event that Wednesday, January 6, 2010, His Grace Macarios, bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Northern Europe, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, from 10.30, along with a group of priests, in Romanian Orthodox parish of the Assumption Bredang-Stockholm.
  During the Mass, will be a procession with the icons -not far from the church-( Sjövilla at Skärholmens Gård) on the coast of North Sea. In that place, special prayers will be said to sanctify water.
  After the religious service, everyone present will be blessed by holy water sprinkler. Then, according to tradition, His Grace Macarios, bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church of Northern Europe, will throw holy cross into the sea as a sign of blessing and to be recovered by volunteers.

Schedule of events

10.30-12.15 Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Romanian Orthodox parish of the Assumption Bredang-Stockholm
12.15-12.45 Travel in procession to the seashore for the sanctification of water
12.45-13.30 Sanctification water prayer, followed by throwing the cross in water