His Beatitude explains the significance of Theophany for man's salvation
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy. Photo: UOC
On the day of the Great Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, or Theophany, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy recalled the spiritual meaning of this event and its significance for the salvation of the human person. A video of the homily was published by the UOC Information and Education Department.
The archpastor noted that the Lord Jesus Christ – the Second Hypostasis of the Holy, Life-Giving Trinity – took human nature upon Himself for the salvation of fallen mankind. Before the beginning of His public ministry, the Savior came to the River Jordan to the holy Prophet John the Forerunner and, though sinless, received baptism from him, thus “fulfilling all righteousness” and showing an example of the deepest humility.
According to the Primate, it was precisely at the moment of the Lord’s Baptism that the Holy Trinity was revealed: the Son of God was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the voice of God the Father bore witness: “This is My beloved Son.”
His Beatitude Onufriy also spoke about the sanctification of all created nature. Entering the waters of the Jordan, the Savior sanctified the element of water and the whole earth, destroying the work of evil and granting creation grace. That is why, on the feast of Theophany, the Church performs the Great Blessing of Water.
“This holy water possesses great grace-filled power: it drives away demons, sanctifies a person, heals infirmities, and strengthens one to pass worthily through the earthly path and attain eternal salvation,” he emphasized.
Metropolitan Onufriy called on the faithful to treat Theophany water with reverence – to receive it with faith, to wash with it, and also, when possible, to immerse themselves in water in remembrance of the great mystery of Theophany. He also recalled the church tradition of sprinkling homes and households with holy water, since all creation is in need of the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit.
The archpastor reminded that the feast of the Baptism of the Lord is, above all, a call for every Christian to follow the Lord and live according to the Gospel teaching, in order to become heirs of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that on Theophany, His Beatitude celebrated the Liturgy at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
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