EPIPHANY

A Compilation

The narrative concerning Epiphany is testified in the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke.  It begins with the ministry of St. John the Baptist, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness”, proclaiming the advent of the Messiah, Whom St. John baptizes in the Jordan River. God the Father bears witness to Christ and the Holy Spirit, in “the form of a dove”, confirmed the Father’s witness that this is the very Christ, the Messiah!

The reason that John the Baptist was "baptizing with water" was "that He (the Lamb of God) might be revealed to Israel", and John bore witness to this Divine Event, fulfilling his mission and saying, "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." St. John 1:34.  By this witness, the Church treasured and established the belief that "When you were baptized in the Jordan, O Christ, the worship of the Holy Trinity was made manifest", which belief has remained as the cornerstone of the Christian Church ever since. All believers in the past "drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ" I Corinthians 10:4; or as the St. Paul aptly unites the past, the present and the future in the person of Christ as the God-Man and Godhead.

The Birth of Jesus Christ, that is, the Incarnation of the Word of God, allows us to be born into Christ.  And His Baptism allows us to participate in the sacrament of Baptism, thereby to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, God, King, and Saviour!

The appearance of the Father and the Holy Spirit with Christ manifests the presence of the Holy Trinity..  As the Three Persons are the One God, we are now invited to become a part of God in eternity, as St. Athanasios taught.

Zaharias, the father of John the Baptist, ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’, said in anticipation, "Whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." St. Luke 1:78-9.

To “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”, that sounds terrifying!  Yet that is the reality that we shall all face one day.  Whether heroic, triumphant or miserable, every life ends humbly, the darkness and the shadow of death overcome all.  It is the appearance, the presence and the glory of Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit that bring us the victory over death.  It is the eternal Epiphany of God that carries our souls from the grasp of Satan to the eternal joy and glory of God’s kingdom.

Do we appreciate the gifts granted to us by the merciful God?... We should!... For everyone is allowed to participate; everyone who feels the need of salvation - the only requirement is to feel the need of the gift, to truly seek the Lord; and in repentance, to return unto the Lord.

One hymn of Epiphany beautifully states: "In the former festival (Christmas) we saw Thee as a babe, but here and now we behold Thee our perfect and manifested God, from Him Who is perfect." The Priest then repeats various poetical expressions of devotion and reverence, referring to the Baptism and Epiphany in relation to the divine Providence for the Salvation of humankind.

Then he prays, “Today the hour of our festival has come, and the choir of the Saints assists with us, and Angels celebrate together with men. Today, the clouds refresh mankind by raining down righteousness from heaven. Today the streams of Jordan are changed into healing waters by the presence of the Lord. Today we are redeemed from darkness and illuminated by the light of the knowledge of God.”

"I am the Light", Jesus said. He did not say: "I will show the light to you", but "I am the Light!"

This is not a new theory of life; it is mainly the knowledge of the true God which defines life as it is stated in the prayer of our Lord to His Heavenly Father, "And this is eternal life that they know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou has sent". St. John 17:3.

“When you were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Holy Trinity was made manifest. For the Father bore witness unto Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the steadfastness of His word.  O Christ our God, You Who have manifest Yourself, and have enlightened the whole world, may there be glory unto Thee!”