POST FALLS  — Heavenly voices sang hymns as a crowd gathered Saturday on a snow-covered beach as the Spokane River gently lapped the shore.

Greek Orthodox priests said prayers and scattered holy water onto the bowed heads of the faithful.

A cross was thrown into the river and returned to the priests via its attached string. On the second toss, the cross went in, string and all, making for a lighthearted moment as the waters were blessed.

"Well, that's a first," said the Rev. Daniel Triant of Spokane's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

"It's going to bless the Spokane River from here on out," said a smiling Rev. Mark Townsend of St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church in Post Falls.

The moment occurred during the church's annual blessing of the waters Theophany ceremony, which has been held at the Post Falls home of David and Lisa Gencarella for the past 10 years.

"Today in the church we celebrate the baptism of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ," Triant said. "We also celebrate the appearance of God in his fullness. We believe in the Holy Trinity, we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and, on this day, we see not just Christ being baptized, but God, the Father, comes as a voice from the heavens and the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Holy Trinity, comes as a dove lighting on Christ."

Theophany, also known as Epiphany, is from Greek "theophaneia," meaning the "appearance of God." Triant said it is one of the times in Scripture the Holy Trinity is seen in its fullness. It is celebrated with feasting, baptisms and water blessings.

"The other big part of this feast is the baptism of Christ," he explained. "Baptism is a sacrament of the church, and it is something that we use for entrance into the church, but one might ask, 'Why does Christ need to be baptized?'"

"What Scripture tells us is that when he was baptized, all of the waters of the world were sanctified," he continued. "We are commemorating this event by blessing the waters outdoors. All orthodox churches across the country and around the world do this ceremony where they bless the water."

Townsend said this public proclamation is about mankind's salvation.

"This is our new beginning, this is Christ sanctifying all the waters, which basically sanctifies all of life," he said. "This is a way to come together to celebrate the sanctity of life, the renewal of all things."

Lisa Gencarella warmly welcomed fellow parishioners into her home as though they were members of her own family. 

"It's such a blessing," she said. "We love the idea of sharing our beautiful Spokane River with the community and also knowing it's being blessed by our church. It's just wonderful to celebrate the baptism of Jesus."

Prior to the gathering at the Gencarella home, Junior Stahlman of Post Falls and his seven children, ranging in age from 2 to 14, were baptized at the church.

"It feels amazing," he said. "To see all my kids and all their ages and we're all standing there getting ready to come into the Orthodox faith, it made me a little teary-eyed. It was a wonderful day, beautiful ceremony. It's like having a whole second family."

    The Rev. Daniel Triant of Spokane's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church scatters holy water onto the bowed heads of the faithful Saturday during a Theophany ceremony in Post Falls.
  

    Deacon Joseph Mannion of St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church lifts his stole as he says prayers to bless the waters Saturday during a Theophany ceremony on the Spokane River in Post Falls.
  

    Tabitha Townsend holds an umbrella for her dad, the Rev. Mark Townsend, as the two share a laugh Saturday on their way to the Spokane River for a Theophany water blessing ceremony.