The sixth of January is the Feast of Theophany (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—His circumcision and presentation to the temple—as well as His baptism by John in the Jordan.
What Does Theophany Mean?
Epiphany means “shining forth” or “manifestation.” The feast is often called Theophany in the Orthodox service books, meaning 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.
In the baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus identifies Himself with sinners as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), the “Beloved” of the Father whose messianic task is to redeem men from their sins. He is revealed as One of the Divine Trinity, testified to by the voice of the Father and by the Spirit in the form of a dove.
The Hymns of the Feast
Troparion: “When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His Word. O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!”
Kontakion: “Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, and Thy Light, O Lord, has shone on us, who with understanding praise Thee: Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, O Light Unapproachable!”
The Great Blessing of Water
The main feature of Theophany is the Great Blessing of Water, prescribed to follow both the Divine Liturgy of the eve and the Divine Liturgy of the day itself. It begins with the singing of special hymns and the censing of the water placed in the center of the church, surrounded by candles and flowers. This water stands for the beautiful world of God’s original creation and ultimate glorification by Christ in the Kingdom of God.
Three readings from the Prophet Isaiah are chanted, foretelling the messianic age:
“Let the thirsty wilderness be glad, let the desert rejoice, let it blossom as a rose…” (Isaiah 35:1-10)
“Go to that water, O you who thirst, and as many as have no money, let them eat and drink without price…” (Isaiah 55:1-13)
“With joy draw the water out of the wells of salvation…” (Isaiah 12:3-6)
After the epistle and gospel readings, the great litany is chanted invoking the grace of the Holy Spirit upon the water and upon all who will partake of it. As the troparion is sung, the celebrant immerses the Cross into the water three times and proceeds to sprinkle water in the four directions of the world. He then blesses the people and their homes with the sanctified water.
Why We Bless Water
Some think the blessing of water and the practice of drinking it and sprinkling it over everyone and everything is “paganism” that has falsely entered the Church. However, this ritual was practiced by the People of God in the Old Testament, and in the Christian Church it holds special significance.
It is the faith of Christians that since the Son of God has taken human flesh and been immersed in the streams of the Jordan, all matter is sanctified and made pure in Him—purged of its death-dealing qualities inherited from the devil and the wickedness of men. In the Lord’s Theophany, all creation becomes good again, indeed “very good,” the way God Himself made it and proclaimed it to be in the beginning when “the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).