"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." ( Jn 1:5)
Posted on 01/06/2014 4:44:01 AM PST by NYer
In this icon of the Baptism, Christ receives baptism at the hands of John the Baptist, the last of the prophets of the old Covenant. Here, the Old and New Covenants meet in the water of the Jordan- the old baptism for repentance of sins, and the lasting baptismal rebirth of water and the spirit, as brought by Jesus in the New Covenant (Lk 3:16). For this reason, the bottom of this icon depicts symbols of the initiation Sacraments of the Christian Church- Baptism, Chrismation and the Eucharist. On either side are representations of confirmation of the Holy Spirit in purifying water: the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in creation (Ge 1:2), and the traditional "Blessing of the Waters" with the Cross in the Epiphany liturgy. In this icon of the Baptism, Christ is stripped of His eternal robe of glory and naked, is robed in the waters of the Jordan which itself shines forth with the beams of His glory and light. Here, He is clothed in our humanity, that we, in our baptism, might be clothed in His eternity. The symbol of the sun and the moon represent the cosmic light that Christ brings on his Feast of Epiphany.
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Eastern Churches, this feast is known by two names: Epiphany and Theophany. The Greek word, "Epiphany" means "a manifestation" or "an apparition" and the word, "Theophany", "an appearance of God." On this day, we celebrate the appearance or manifestation of Crist among us as God's Son.
The feast of Epiphany was first celebrated in the East around the third century and eventually was adopted by the Western Church. In the Eastern Churches, the celebration of the Epiphany originally centered on both the Birth of our Lord and his baptism. When the later Western feast of Christmas was introduced into the East, Christmas became the feast of the Birth of Our Lord and the Epiphany, that of his baptism.
The feast of the Epiphany is intimately connected with the mystery of our Lord's birth. The Child who was born for us and the Son who was given to us is manifested before us to be the Son of the Most High. Christ begins his public life with his baptism by John in the Jordan river. At his baptism, Christ is seen as the fulfillment of John's preaching: he is the Messiah and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Father and the Holy Spirit are witnesses to Christ for he is the beloved Son of the Father and upon him the Spirit rests. Thus at the baptism of the Lord, we have not only an epiphany or manifestation of Christ as God's Son, but also a theophany or manifestation of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The feast of the Epiphany reminds us not only of the baptism of Christ, but also of our own baptism. St. Ephrem, in his Hymn on Epiphany, says: " ... our blessed Lord came to be baptized with sinners and because of his glory, the heavens were opened. The One who purifies all creatures, desiring to cleanse them, went into the waters and sanctified them for our baptism." It is for this reason that we bless water on this day. Originally, the mystery of baptism was celebrated on this feast and the waters blessed were those of baptism.
Today, we celebrate the manifestation or epiphany of the Trinity at the baptism of Christ as well as the manifestation of the glory of God in the person of the Lord come into the world, that is to say, the manifestation of Christ, the Word of God, among us. Let us then call to mind the grace of God who has appeared for the salvation of all, and thank him for the baptism through which we have been begotten in the Spirit and through which we have put on Christ and become children of the Father.
Scripture Readings
The Glorious Epiphany (Denho)
January 6
Titus 2:11-3:7 Transformation of Life
Brothers and Sisters:
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Praise be to God always!
Luke 3:15-22 The Baptism of Jesus
The Evangelist said: As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This is the truth. Peace be with you.
Blessed Feast Day to all!
Blessings to you also NYer.
Blessings to all as we continue transforming our lives.
Joyous Feast!!!!
Our priest had us celebrate Theophany yesterday so that we could all do so together. It was a wonderful day!
Same in our parish. Brought home a bottle of freshly blessed water.
I wish the U. S. Bishops would get it right!
History of the Magi: Who were the Wise Men?
Why “Celebrate” Christmas—and the Epiphany?
On Christmas and Epiphany
Happy Epiphany! ...sort of
6th January, The Epiphany of Our Lord
St. John Chrysostom's Homily for the Feast of the Theophany (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
Wise Men from the East and the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord [Ecumenical]
Ancient Document Sheds New Light on Magi Story
The Epiphany of the Lord
Straight Answers: Who Were the Magi?
OU Professor Says Ancient Text Reveals Startling Information About Magi, Star of Bethlehem
The Gift of the Magi
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh On the Feast of the Epiphany
FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY (THEOPHANY) OF OUR LORD - January 6, 2010
New security as pope leads Mass for Epiphany
The Magi and the Star -- Epiphany Explored
Three Kings festivities in full swing around [Puerto Rico]
"A strange mingling of light and shadow..." On the Feast of Epiphany
Wise Men from the East -- Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany
The Magi and the Star
The Secret Life of the Magi Kings [Epiphany]
Wise Men from the East [Ecumenical - with a question]
Feast of the Epiphany (2)
Feast of the Epiphany (1)
Epiphany (when the Gentile visitors brought gifts) [Ecumenical]
Twelfth Night [Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany]
A Christmas Pilgrimage (maintaining Christmas until Epiphany)
Christmastide and Epiphany
Epiphany Revealed (Did the Wise Men Really Have Names?)
For the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 'Three Kings' Seek, Find, and Worship the Lord
The Universal King
Helena's (Mother of Constantine) Epiphany Meditation
EPIPHANY - THREE KINGS - January 6 (Holy Day of Obligation)
The Epiphany of the Roman Primacy
Thousands watch teens dive for the cross in Tarpon Springs
The Season of Epiphany
Tarpon Springs Celebrates Epiphany
100th Epiphany Day Event Will Be Global Celebration
Patriarch Adds To Epiphany Pomp
Ready for "Little Christmas"?
The Magi and the Host
Another Christian Holiday Celebrated
Christmas and Epiphany
India's Zoroastrians and the Three Kings for Jesus
Journeying with the Magi
Who Were The Magi?
Were the Magi who visited Jesus -- Persian?
The Journey of the Magi
The feast of the Epiphany January 6th ( the 12 day of Christmas) is when in many countries gifts are exchanged.. But the feast of Epiphany which used to be identified on American calendars no longer does so.
The reason for it might have developed from the Vatican II decision when the Roman Catholic American Council of Catholic Bishops which long ago diminished observing it on the weekday date importance with the Novus Ordo which reduced the importance of attending services on many feast days known as “holy days of obligation”.
When they changed its titular weekday observance of Epiphany to the 2nd Sunday following New Years known as The Presentation (formerly known as Circumcision). Which runs; Presentation (new years) with Mathews gospel which mentions circumcision, The Sunday following new years dedicated to Mary and then the Sunday following dedicated to the Epiphany instead of Jan 6th. References on American calendars to Epiphany disappeared.
While strengthening the feast of the Epiphany observance and importance during the Christmas season which begins on Christmas day and ends on the 3rd Sunday after Christmas formerly the feast of the Holy Family changed to the baptisim of Jesus. Which under the former liturgical calendar was the finding of the Child Jesus in the temple. The elimination of the calendar reference to it may wound up being an unintended result because of the liturgical date of observance.
Or rather Epiphany is put on the first Sunday of the new year. Compress the other Christmas season related holidays in the week between Christmas and New Year’s to also include Holy Family and making the baptism of the Lord the last day of the Christmas season so that it would make it easier for Catholics to observe. Same with Epiphany.
The Maronite Church retains the Feast of the Epiphany as a Holy Day of Obligation but for rather unusual reasons. The See of the church is in Lebanon, which is home to Catholics, Orthodox, and Muslims, along with other religious groups. By law, the president is required to be a Maronite (catholic), the prime minister a Sunni (Muslim), and the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi'a (also Muslim). As such, "holy days of obligation" are considered legal holidays. Hence, to re-evaluate a "holy day" on the calendar and reduce its importance, would shift the balance of christian vs muslim holy days.
Our parish (here in the US) celebrated the feast yesterday. You can see from the image posted above, that in Lebanon, the feast was celebrated today.
Is he blessing the new holy water? Is it done in Epiphany in the Eastern churches as it is done on Holy Saturday evening in the Western church?
Not quite. The best explanation of this action comes from the description of the feast, as posted above:
Today, we celebrate the manifestation or epiphany of the Trinity at the baptism of Christ as well as the manifestation of the glory of God in the person of the Lord come into the world, that is to say, the manifestation of Christ, the Word of God, among us. Let us then call to mind the grace of God who has appeared for the salvation of all, and thank him for the baptism through which we have been begotten in the Spirit and through which we have put on Christ and become children of the Father.
For us Roman Catholics, we are accustomed to a gradual transition from Christmas through Epiphany (visit of the Magi) to the Finding of the Child in the Temple, all of this leading up to Christ's Baptism in the River Jordan.
In the East, the traditions are quite different. Again, I refer you back to the beginning of this thread for more details. Essentially, in the East, Christ's Baptism in the River Jordan was more important than His birth. The baptism represented his "epiphany" or manifestation as the Son of God. Hence, Epiphany = Baptism in the River Jordan and is celebrated on January 6. Meanwhile in the west, Christmas took on greater significance since it represented the birth of Christ, not His manifestation. Eventually the west adopted the Eastern tradition and vice versa. If you compare the two calendars, there are a slew of important events that take place between the birth of Christ and His Baptism in the River Jordan. Each church approaches these events in a slightly different way, placing greater emphasis on certain events over others.
It helps to read through the original post above for a more in depth explanation. Hope this was helpful.
American secular calendar publishers stopped referencing Jan 6th as Epiphany 2 years ago. I in my own way have been trying to encourage its observation since 2002. http://www.theusmat.com/natdesk.htm
Thank-you!
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