Epiphany Mission

The Feast of Theophany

As we hear in the Scripture readings, and will commemorate on the feast of the Meeting on February 2, the first thirty years of the life of our Lord Jesus were hidden. His public ministry began with his baptism in the Jordan River, which we commemorate on the feast of Theophany:

At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. Immediately on coming up out of the water, he saw the sky rent in two and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Then a voice came from the heavens: "You are my beloved son. On you my favor rests." (Mark 1: 9-11)

This feast is celebrated on January 6, and is counted one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the church. In the Byzantine Catholic Church, it is a holyday of obligation. In Slavonic, it is called Bohojavlenije ("appearance of God", i.e. theophany). or Prosviščenije ("enlightenment").

(cited from the Metropolitan Cantor Institute - full text is here:

Theophany - Introduction (MCI) The feast of the Theophany of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is part of the cycle of winter feasts that are sometimes called the "Feasts of Light". These feasts -- the Nativity, Theophany, and Meeting - have a common focus: the coming of the Messiah into the world, and the beginning of His wo...

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