Festive church services were held in Cana of Galilee on April 19 to mark Thomas Sunday and commemorate the miracle of the transformation of water into wine. The celebrations were led by Patriarch Theophilos III, according to the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

On this day, the Orthodox Christian community in Cana observes two significant events: the moment when Apostle Thomas affirmed his faith in the risen Christ, and the Gospel account of Jesus Christ performing his first miracle at the wedding in Cana.

The Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy in the town’s church, concelebrating with clergy of the Jerusalem Church, members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, and priests of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission. Among those present were the ambassadors of Russia and Greece.

In his sermon, Theophilos III emphasized the central importance of Christ’s Resurrection to Christian belief. Quoting the words of Apostle Paul, he noted that “if Christ has not been raised, our faith is in vain.”

He highlighted that the testimony of Apostle Thomas, who touched Christ’s wounds, affirms the reality of the bodily Resurrection. At the same time, the miracle at Cana—where water was turned into wine—reveals Christ’s divine nature and the deeper meaning of salvation.

“Through these events, Christ revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him,” the Patriarch said.

He also spoke about the spiritual significance of the Eucharist, through which, according to Church teaching, believers partake in the Body and Blood of Christ and thus enter into a living connection with the Risen Savior.

Following the liturgy, a religious procession took place around the church, during which passages from the Gospel describing the wedding at Cana were read. Large numbers of worshippers took part, accompanied by a scout band. The celebrations continued with a communal meal and meetings between the Patriarch and parishioners.