On the morning of Friday, January 5, 2024, after reading the Great Hours of Epiphany, a group Baptism was held at St. Maximos the Greek Chapel in Seoul. With much emotion, the catechumens received the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Chrismation and became members of the uncreated Church of Christ.
In the evening of the same day, the Service of the Great Vespers of Epiphany was celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
On the following day, Saturday, January 6, numerous believers and catechumens participated in the Service of Orthros (Matins) of the Feast of Epiphany, followed by the Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Blessing of the Waters.
On Sunday, January 7, in a very wintry atmosphere, since everything was white from the thick snow that had fallen overnight, we celebrated the feast of St. John the Baptist and the feast of Christmas for the Slavic-speaking faithful, who from early on overflowed the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Seoul. The church choir sang in Korean throughout the Orthros, because the Slavic-speaking people had already celebrated Vespers and the Orthros on Saturday evening. Yet, during the Divine Liturgy, sometimes the Cathedral choir sang in Korean and sometimes the Slavophone choir sang in Slavonic. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Slavophones sang Christmas carols and two children recited some poems, after which gifts were given to all the children. At the church’s exit, those who wished could buy Christmas cookies, which had been prepared by the Slavonic speakers.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Korean faithful headed to the church Hall where, following the Constitution of the parishes of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea, the Annual General Assembly of the Cathedral Parish took place.