Feast of Theophany

As at Christmas and at the feast of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, so also at Theophany, we see that His way is one: the downward way which the Holy Virgin walked when, through her surrendering to the will of God, she brought the Creator into the world.

HOMILY ON THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

St. John of Kronstadt

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27)

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3, 5)

According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5).

A new, bright feast has arrived; the day of Light, the day of the most glorious, mysterious Baptism of the Lord, to Whom we are obligated for our renewal or rebirth, enlightenment, restoration, and adoption by the heavenly Father from Whom humankind was estranged for several thousand years by the defilement of sin.

SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION ON THE FEAST OF THE THEOPHANY

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Mt 3:17; 17:5

Icon of the Baptism of the Lord.Thus did the voice of the pre-eternal God the Father speak to people about the pre-eternal God the Son, when the Son, at the behest of the Father, through the action of the Spirit, became incarnate of the Virgin and wrought the salvation of perishing mankind. Brothers! Let us show obedience to the Son of God, as God desires of us, that Divine good will might abide with us.

SERMON FOR THE SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17)

With these profound and holy words, the incarnate Word began His preaching to fallen mankind. Outwardly, such simple teaching! But one must understand it with his very life: then these short and simple words which are contained in all of the Gospel will be revealed. Just as the holy Apostle Paul, when preaching the Gospel, which he did throughout almost all the known world, said that he testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

ON THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

St. Theophan the Recluse

Celebrating holy Theophany, we are transported in thought to the very place of this event, and we shall intelligently attend to what is happening there! There it is—Bethabara! You can see St. John standing on the shore, in clothes made of camel’s hair, with a girdle of a skin about his loins (Mk. 1:6). He is surrounded by a countless multitude of people from Jerusalem, Judea, and all the lands around the Jordan. The Baptism of the Lord has just finished, and all eyes are fixed upon the Son of man just emerged from the waters. They see nothing else. But sharpen by faith the eye of your mind, and following after John, passing over what is seen by all, turn an attentive gaze upon what is not seen by all—on the opened heavens, the dove descending, and the voice saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mk. 1:11). Fix your gaze, and do not tear your attention away from this wondrous vision! O! Who will give power to our words, that they might worthily sing praises to God in three hypostases, revealed at the Jordan!

Theophany / Bogoyavlenie

Commemorated on January 6

Theophany / Bogoyavlenie denotes the feast whereby through the Baptism of the Lord the MostHoly Trinity has been revealed to the world (Mt. 3: 13-17; Mk. 1: 9-11; Lk. 3: 21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptised by the holy ForeRunner of the Lord John, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a Dove. From ancient times this feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since that God is Light and has appeared to illumine "those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death" (Mt. 4: 16) and to save through grace the fallen race of mankind.

Eve of the Theophany (Kreshchenskyi Sochelnik)

January 5

Forefeast of Theophany

The church hymns for this day have: 

"You have shown forth in the flesh from a Virgin in Bethlehem, now you hasten towards Jordan",

"grant to all the faithful the salvation that comes through Baptism in Christ: for in this way it cleanses Adam, raises the fallen, humiliates the deposed torturer, opens the heavens, causes the Divine Spirit to descend, and grants incorruption to the communicants". 

"Let all the earth rejoice, let heaven be glad, let the world leap for joy, let the rivers clap their hands, let the springs and lakes and the deeps of the sea rejoice with them, for Christ is come to cleanse Adam", "Being Himself the Bestower of light, Jesus, not needing to be baptized, in the flesh descends into the stream of Jordan, wishing to enlighten those existing in darkness. Let us go fervently in faith to meet Him", "let us joyfully welcome Him with pure intention".

Troparion, tone 4

Of old, the River Jordan turned back 

Before Elisha's mantle at Elijah's ascension.

The waters were made to part in two 

So the wet surface became a dry path.

This was truly a symbol of baptism

In which we cross through mortal life. //

Christ appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.

Kontakion, tone 2

O compassionate Christ, who takes away the many sins of everyone,

And who for the sake of measureless mercy,

Approaches the waters of the Jordan to be baptized as man, //

Putting ferocious nakedness on me as the garment of ancient glory.

The Eve of Theophany anticipates the feast. Through the hymns and the readings of the Eve in the Royal Hours, Vespers and the Liturgy (see pages l5 and 16), the Church presents from both testaments of the Holy Scripture everything from the Old Testament prototypes and prophecies concerning baptism, the very existence of baptism and its fruits 1). As on the Eve whatever day of the week it falls, the Ustav (Rubrics) requires, for the sake of the blessing by sprinkling and the tasting of the holy water, a fast and the need to eat "scalded seeds (grain), or kutiya with honey", as this evening of the Baptism ordinarily is called Eve of Theophany or Christmas Eve 2).

SERMON FOR THE SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17)

With these profound and holy words, the incarnate Word began His preaching to fallen mankind. Outwardly, such simple teaching! But one must understand it with his very life: then these short and simple words which are contained in all of the Gospel will be revealed. Just as the holy Apostle Paul, when preaching the Gospel, which he did throughout almost all the known world, said that he testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Living the Life That Wells Forth Unto Life Eternal

Metropolitan John (Wendland) of Yaroslavl and Rostov (+1989) 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!

For thirty years our Lord Jesus Christ did not reveal Himself in any way; He lived a domestic life.

At that time a special movement was underway in the people, which we now might call mass Baptism. People approached John the Baptist and received from him the ritual side of Baptism, that is, immersion in water. St. John the Baptist warned people that his Baptism was not sacramental: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance (Matthew 3:11).

He prophesied of Christ, saying that Christ would accomplish, along with Baptism, man’s complete rebirth: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Jesus and the Jordan River

SOURCE: Jerusalem Post

By Beata Adonia, TRAVELUJAH

Visit one of the most famous biblical Christian sights where Jesus was said to have been baptized.

The Jordan River flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Kinneret and then continues down into the Dead Sea with no outlet. It is a place of many important biblical events. However, for most Christians the first association with the river would be the scene of Jesus Christ being baptized by John the Baptist.

Why do we bless homes on Theophany with Holy Water?

Father Paul Christy of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church blesses the Semos family home in Germantown, TN. Photo by Mark Weber.Why do we bless houses (and almost anything else that we can sprinkle) with water?

Many years ago, when I was yet a deacon, I was visiting with some non-Orthodox friends who were inquirers into Orthodoxy (they sadly, never followed through with their interest - or even their promise to become Orthodox) and we were discussing this topic in the context of blessing their house. I look at it like this. This world, this creation, is in captivity; it is enemy held territory. The evil one, having enslaved all of creation at the fall, has laid claim to every nook and cranny of this earth. And for a while it looked as though he might be able to hold onto it. But then he reached too far and attempted to enslave the Master of All and to bind Life with the chains of death and his power was broken. But creation is still fallen, it is still contested land in the spiritual battle.

About Holy Water

St. John of Shanghai

Great Blessing of the Waters, Sretensky Monastery. Photo by Anton Pospelov.On Theophany, that is, the Day of the Lord's Baptism, every year a great miracle is performed. The Holy Spirit, coming down upon the water, changes its natural properties. It becomes incorrupt, that is it does not spoil, remains transparent and fresh for many years, receives the grace to heal illnesses, to drive away demons and every evil power, to preserve people and their dwellings from every danger, to sanctify various objects whether for church or home use. Therefore Orthodox Christians with reverence drink Holy Water - a great Agiasma (holy thing), as the Greeks call it.

The Feast of the Theophany

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we celebrate a day that is called by many names: the Baptism of our Lord, Theophany, and it is also called Illumining. We commemorate our Lord's baptism today in the Jordan. Theophany is the appearance of God, where indeed the Holy Trinity manifested Himself after Our Lord's baptism. Why would we call it Illumining? It is because through baptism we are indeed illuminated.

The Baptism of the Lord

John did restrain Him, saying: "I must needs be baptized of Thee, and dost Thou, then, come to me?"

But Jesus said unto him in reply: "Let it be, for now, for thus doth it behoove us to fulfill all righteousness." (Mt. 3, 14-15)

Detail of fresco in the Church of Vladimir Mother of God, Sretensky Monastery, Moscow

    

Today the entire Orthodox Church universal celebrates the festive remembrance and glorification of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The holy Evangelist reports that when the Lord came to the Jordan to be baptized, John attempted to restrain Him, saying: "I must needs be baptized of Thee, and dost Thou, then, come to me?"

Discourse On the Day of the Baptism of Christ

St. John Chrysostom

We shall now say something about the present feast. Many celebrate the feastdays and know their designations, but the cause for which they were established they know not. Thus concerning this, that the present feast is called Theophany—everyone knows; but what this is—Theophany, and whether it be one thing or another, they know not. And this is shameful—every year to celebrate the feastday and not know its reason.

First of all therefore, it is necessary to say that there is not one Theophany, but two: the one actual, which already has occurred, and the second in future, which will happen with glory at the end of the world. About this one and about the other you will hear today from Paul, who in conversing with Titus, speaks thus about the present: The grace of God hath revealed itself, having saved all mankind, decreeing, that we reject iniquity and worldly desires, and dwell in the present age in prudence and in righteousness and piety—and about the future:Awaiting the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ(Tit 2:11-13). And a prophet speaks thus about this latter: The sun shalt turn to darkness, and the moon to blood at first, then shalt come the great and illuminating Day of the Lord(Joel 2:31).

Feast of the Holy Theophany of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION

The Feast of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the Baptism of Christ and the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were made manifest. Thus, the name of the Feast is Epiphany, meaning manifestation, or Theophany, meaning manifestation of God.

BIBLICAL STORY

The Biblical story of the Baptism of Christ is recorded in all four of the Gospels: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-9, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:31-34.

John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus and the one chosen by God to proclaim His coming, was preaching in the wilderness and was baptizing all who would respond to his message calling for repentance. As he was doing this, John was directing the people toward the one who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).

EPIPHANY

The sixth of January is the feast of the Epiphany. Originally it was the one Christian feast of the “shining forth” of God to the world in the human form of Jesus of Nazareth. It included the celebration of Christ’s birth, the adoration of the Wisemen, and all of the childhood events of Christ such as his circumcision and presentation to the temple as well as his baptism by John in the Jordan. There seems to be little doubt that this feast, like Easter and Pentecost, was understood as the fulfillment of a previous Jewish festival, in this case the Feast of Lights.

Epiphany means shining forth or manifestation. The feast is often called, as it is in the Orthodox service books, Theophany, which means the shining forth and manifestation of God. The emphasis in the present day celebration is on the appearance of Jesus as the human Messiah of Israel and the divine Son of God, One of the Holy Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

By Archpriest A. Narushevich

On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord a Christian is transported by his thoughts and feelings to a time long since passed. He directs his attention to that which was accomplished at the Jordan, and his heart is filled with reverent trembling.

A Christian contemplates Heaven opening over the Jordan and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus Christ in the form of a dove. He hears the very voice of the Heavenly Father: “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3: 17). These unusual manifestations leave a profound impression in the heart of a believing Christian, evoking in it wonder and piety. From the depths of his enraptured heart the Christian involuntarily cries out: “Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works, and there is no word which sufficeth to hymn Thy wonders.”

The Baptism of Our Lord

By Archpriest A. Narushevich

On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord a Christian is transported by his thoughts and feelings to a time long since passed. He directs his attention to that which was accomplished at the Jordan, and his heart is filled with reverent trembling.

A Christian contemplates Heaven opening over the Jordan and the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus Christ in the form of a dove. He hears the very voice of the Heavenly Father: “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3: 17). These unusual manifestations leave a profound impression in the heart of a believing Christian, evoking in it wonder and piety. From the depths of his enraptured heart the Christian involuntarily cries out: “Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works, and there is no word which sufficeth to hymn Thy wonders.”

The Eve of Holy Theophany (Day Four)

The fourth day of the Forefeast of Theophany falls on January 5th. The Eve of Theophany anticipates the feast.

If January 5th falls on a weekday, the following order is observed:

Vespers on the evening of the 4th, then Matins. The First Hour is not read after Matins.

On the 5th we read the Royal Hours, followed by Vespers and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.