Cynthia Eyler | Submitted

POTSDAM -- Two Christian churches from Potsdam joined to co-celebrate the Feast Day of Epiphany on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 6.

Fr. Peter Irfan, acting rector of St. Olympia Orthodox Church, and Fr. Christopher Brown, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Potsdam, joined outside Trinity Church on Fall Island to celebrate together the Feast Day of Epiphany with a blessing of the waters service.

Members of both parishes, ranging from 5 to 80 years of age, braved the cold and wind on the banks of the Raquette River on Fall Island to celebrate Epiphany, also known as Theophany, which commemorates the day that Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River.

Immediately prior to the service, Fr. Peter broke a hole into the ice on the Raquette River, and during the service, he immersed a cross into the river, prayed and blessed those gathered, while parishioners sang and prayed.

Fr. Christopher gave a brief homily at the conclusion of the service regarding the significance of Epiphany.

After the service and homily, Fr. Christopher invited all to warm up inside the Trinity Church fellowship hall for conversation, tea and sweets.