Church celebrates Holy Theophany of our Lord

A fresco of the Baptism of the Lord. Photo: Wikimedia

On January 19 (January 6 according to the Julian calendar), the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Theophany, or the Baptism of the Lord, one of the twelve major feasts of the church year.

On this day, Christians commemorate the event described in the Gospel: the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River by John the Forerunner. According to the Gospel narrative, during the Savior's Baptism "the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'" (Luke 3:21–22).

The feast is called Theophany because at the moment of Christ's Baptism, the Holy Trinity was revealed to the world: God the Father testified with a voice from heaven, the Son received Baptism in the Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove.

On Theophany, the rite of Great Blessing of Water is performed. According to church tradition, on this day all water – in rivers, springs, and wells – is sanctified in a special way and acquires healing properties. The faithful take blessed water in churches and keep it throughout the year, using it for sprinkling homes and in cases of illness.

Traditionally, on the day of Theophany and on the eve of the feast, known as Theophany Eve, many Orthodox Christians perform ritual immersion in an ice hole – an iordán – cut in the shape of a cross. The Church emphasizes that this is not mandatory; the essence of the feast lies in prayer and participation in the church service.

In Constantinople, as well as in Balkan countries, the tradition of diving for a cross, which a priest throws into the water, is widespread on this day.

Previously, the UOJ wrote about why the Jordan parted and why fire descended upon the water.

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