II. THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY/THEOPHANY – (From “The Orthodox
Messenger,” January 6, 2008, p. 1.
TODAY’S
FEASTDAY: tHEOPHANY / EPIPHANY
Today’s Feastday is known either as “Theophany” or
“Epiphany.” The first comes from the Greek word theophania,
meaning "appearance of God." The second is from the Greek word which
means “appearing upon.” It is one of the
Great Feasts of the
Orthodox Church,
celebrated on
January 6. The reason it
has these names is that it is the feast which reveals the Most Holy
Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the
Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark
1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). This observance commemorates
Christ's
baptism by
John the Forerunner in
the River Jordan, and the beginning of Christ's earthly ministry. The
Feast of Theophany/Epiphany is the culmination of the Christmas Season,
which starts on
December 25 and ends on
January 6. In
commemoration of this event, the
Great Blessing of Water
is performed on this day, and
Theophany / Epiphany Celebrated TodayTthe
Holy Water so sanctified
is used to bless the homes of the faithful.
The feast is called Theophany or Epiphany
because at the baptism of Christ the
Holy Trinity was revealed
clearly to humanity for the first time -- the
Father's voice is heard
from
Heaven, the
Son of God is
incarnate and standing
physically in the Jordan River, and the
Holy Spirit descends on
Him in the form of a dove.
Originally, there was just 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 Wise Men, 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.
The main feature of the
feast is the blessing of water, which we conduct today following the
Divine Liturgy. You can take the blessed Holy Water home, to sanctify
your home by sprinkling some throughout the house. There are several
other traditions associated with the Holy Water.
You can add some regular water to it and pour the
holy water at the four or more corners of your home. Also, some people
will drink some of the Holy Water before breakfast in the morning
following Epiphany/Theophany. The Holy Water sanctifies both our
homes and ourselves as a blessing for the New Year. May 2008 be a
blessed year!
III SOME HYMNS FROM THE EPIPHANY SERVICES
The Dismissal Hymn of the Feast: “As You were baptized in the
Jordan, O Lord, / then was the worship of the Trinity made manifest./
for the voice of the Father bore witness to You, / naming You the
Beloved Son; / and the Spirit in the form of a dove, confirmed the
certainty of the word. / O Christ God, / who appeared and illumined the
world, / glory to You.”
Discussion and Reflection
Kontakion of the Feast: “You appeared to us on earth /
today, O Master, / and Your light was shown on us / who cry aloud to You
and say / with understanding O Christ our God: / You came and shown
forth, O Light unapproachable.”
Discussion and Reflection
From The Stichera of the Vesperal Liturgy:
v.
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips!
“When the Forerunner saw Him who is our enlightenment, who enlightens
every man, coming to be baptized, his heart rejoiced and his hand
trembled. He pointed Him out to the people and said: ‘This is the Savior
of Israel, who delivered us from corruption!’ O Christ God, O sinless
One, glory to You!”
Discussion and Reflection
v.
Incline not my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in
company with men who work iniquity.
“O
our Savior, the armies of angels trembled when they saw You baptized by
Your servant, and the Holy Spirit bearing witness by coming down, and
when they heard the Father’s voice speaking from heaven: ‘This One upon
whom the Forerunner lays his hands is My beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased!’ O Christ God, glory to You!”
Discussion and Reflection
v.
Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, but let the oil of the
wicked never anoint my head.
for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. “When
the Jordan River received You, O Fountainhead, the Consoler came down in
the form of a dove. Behold the marvel: the One who drew the curve of
heaven bows His head to the Forerunner, to the one made of clay, who
cries out to his Maker; ‘Why do You order me to do things beyond my
worth? It is I who need to be baptized by You!’ O Christ God, O sinless
One, glory to You!”
Discussion and Reflection
v.
When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they
shall learn that the word of the Lord is true. “O God and Lord, when
You resolved to save man, who was lost, You deigned to take the
servant’s form, for it behooved You to assume for our sake what was
proper to us. And when You were baptized in the flesh, O our Redeemer,
it made us worthy of Your forgiveness. Wherefore, we cry out to You: ‘O
Christ God, our Benefactor, glory to You!’”
Discussion and Reflection
v.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and
always and forever and ever. Amen.
“When You bowed Your head to the Forerunner, You crushed the heads of
the dragons; and when You stood in the mist of the stream, You let Your
light shine upon all creatures that they might glorify You, our Savior,
who enlighten our souls!”
Discussion and Reflection
Troparia From the Vesperal Liturgy
“O Creator of the world, You appeared in the world in order to shine
upon those who live in darkness. O merciful One, glory to You!”
Discussion and Reflection
“O our Savior, through the greatness of Your mercy, You cleansed the
sinners and publicans, and now Your light shines upon those who live in
darkness. Glory to You!
Discussion and Reflection
III. DISCUSSION
