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 baptizing all who responded to his message of repentance. John directed the people toward the one who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized. Initially, John hesitated, but Jesus insisted, and John baptized Him. As Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven proclaimed Jesus as the beloved Son of God.
Christ’s baptism was a manifestation of God to the world, revealing the Holy Trinity. The theme of “manifestation” is also depicted in Scripture with the symbolism of light, symbolizing the enlightenment of the world by Christ.
Icon of the Feast
The Icon of the Feast of Theophany portrays the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. John is shown in the wilderness, baptizing Jesus with outstretched arms, symbolizing reverence and directing others to Christ.
The Orthodox Celebration of the Feast of Epiphany
The celebration of the Feast begins on January 5 with the Forefeast of Theophany, including evening or morning services and the Blessing of the Waters. On January 6, the Feast day, Divine Liturgy is conducted along with the Blessing of the Waters, symbolizing Christ’s blessing of the Jordan River.
Many communities conduct the Blessing of the Waters near bodies of water, with holy water poured into the water as a sign of blessing. The tradition of tossing a cross into the water for retrieval by divers is also practiced. The blessed water is then distributed to the faithful for consumption and home blessings.
In the following weeks, clergy visit parishioners’ homes to conduct a blessing service using the holy water from the Feast. The Feast of Epiphany is a significant celebration in the Orthodox Church, emphasizing the manifestation of God and the enlightenment brought by Christ.
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America