Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Feast of our Lord; Holy Day of Obligation.
Titus 2:11-15; 3:4-7; Matthew 3:13-17.
Read Matthew 3:13-17
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
One might be surprised to learn that the feast of Theophany is even more ancient than Christmas, since in the early centuries of the Christian era both feasts were celebrated on the same day with evident emphasis on the Epiphany as the ultimate fulfilment of Christ’s coming into this world. As one of the Sticheras sung at the time of the pre-feast Vespers says: “The first feast (Christmas) was bright, but the one to come (Theophany) is brighter.” At the time of Christmas only the Second hypostasis of the Holy Trinity appeared in flesh to the world, while at the time of the second feast the entire Trinity was revealed to the world. At the first feast the coming of Jesus was secretly foretold by the Archangel Gabriel, while in the second feast it was publicly announced by John the Baptist. In the first feast, Jesus’ advent was marked by the star, while in the second feast, it was made known to the world by the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the first feast the children of Bethlehem were baptized with their own blood, so all the people of God can be baptized in the baptismal waters.
The feast of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan river was regarded as being not only the endmost fulfilment of God’s Appearance to the world, but also as being the very beginning of world’s Redemption. When Jesus entered the waters of Jordan and the river turned back, all the sins that were ritually washed away from numerous people baptized by John the Baptist returned to Jesus. Now, He only symbolically takes upon himself the sins of the few repentant individuals, so in the nearest future He can overtly become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the entire world. He who Himself was redeemed by the blood of the innocent children and baptized by the water of Jordan will soon redeem the whole humanity by the blood and water coming out of His pierced heart. In Theophany we celebrate God who has revealed Himself to us, so all who “come in the name of the Lord” may be blessed. He was revealed as a “beloved Son,” so all those who were baptized in Christ and clothed themselves with Christ may become beloved sons and daughters of our loving God.