Holy Feast of Epiphany

Epiphany (Greek word which means "appearance" or "manifestation") is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christ.  It falls on 6th January.

Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates.  For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi; Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan.  In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation.

This feast is also popularly referred by the names of Danaha (Syrian word which means "Revealed" as in "God has Revealed") and Theophany (Greek word means "Manifestation of the trinity") by the Orthodox Christians throughout the world.

The observance had its origins in the Eastern Christian Churches, and was a general celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It included the commemoration of: his birth; the visit of the Magi ("Wise Men", as Magi were Persian priests) to Bethlehem; all of Jesus' childhood events, up to and including his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist; and even the miracle at the Wedding of Cana in Galilee.  It seems fairly clear that the Baptism was the primary event being commemorated.

The Orthodox Churches perform the Great Blessing of Waters on Theophany.  The water that is blessed on this day is known as "Theophany Water" and is taken home by the faithful, and used with prayer as a blessing.   People will not only bless themselves and their homes by sprinkling with Theophany Water, but will also drink it. The Orthodox Church teaches that Theophany Water differs from regular holy water in that with Theophany Water, the very nature of the water is changed and becomes incorrupt, a miracle attested to as early as St. John Chrysostom.

Theophany is a traditional day for performing Baptisms, and this is reflected in the Divine Liturgy -

"How shall I describe this great Mystery?

For the In-corporal hath become Incarnate;

The Word took unto himself the density of flesh.

The Unseen is seen, the Untouchable is touched.

The Beginning less beginneth

and the Son of God becomes the Son of Man;

yes Jesus Christ, himself who is the same yesterday, today and unto all ages.

When Thou, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,

The Worship of the Trinity was made manifest.

For the Voice of the Father bore witness

unto Thee, calling Thee the Beloved Son,

And the Spirit in the Form of a Dove confirmed His word

as sure and steadfast. O Christ our God,

who has appeared and enlightened the world, Glory to Thee."

The above quoted hymns provide the message of this Feast. The Church calls the whole Event of Christ's incarnation as a Mystery since it is beyond human comprehension and understanding that God revealed Himself in flesh and took body out of humanity. As the song says, the Unseen became seen, the Untouchable became touchable and the Beginning less became begotten! The eternal God manifested to Human with out changing His essence! The Holy Trinity was manifested to the Church at Jordan, Father in Voice, the supreme source of Creation, Son as Human Person, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove symbolizing the Creative Power. Thus the Uncreated, Self-existent, Eternal, Adorable and of One-substance' revealed Himself to the Church on this great Feast. This is why the Church gives all importance to this Feast and calls it as the Feast of Great Manifestation.