Feast of Theophany

Orthodox Christian tradition celebrates Jesus’ baptism

A Russian Orthodox Christian jumps into an ice hole made in the shape of a cross during a traditional Theophany celebration.
A Russian Orthodox Christian jumps into an ice hole made in the shape of a cross during a traditional Theophany celebration.

As the 12 days of Christmas come to an end, Orthodox Christians are preparing to celebrate the Feast of Theophany on Wednesday. The holy day commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, as well as the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. It also marks the beginning of Christ's public ministry.

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Diving into water to retrieve a cross is a tradition for many Orthodox Christians during the Feast of Theophany, even in freezing temperatures.

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File Photo

A Greek Orthodox man, holds up a wooden cross thrown into the water during a celebration of Theophany, also known as Epiphany. The holy day Wednesday commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, as well as the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. It also marks the beginning of Christ’s public ministry.

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File Photo

A Bulgarian boy holds a cross as believers sing and dance in the icy waters of river Tundzha to celebrate Theophany in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria. Traditionally, an Eastern Orthodox priest throws a cross in the river, and it is believed that the one who retrieves it will be healthy through the year.

In Western churches, the day is known as Epiphany and commemorates the Magi's visit to see the newborn savior.

Inter-faith celebration

Episcopalians in central Arkansas will participate in an Epiphany service Wednesday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock. The Central Convocation Epiphany Service will begin at 6:45 p.m. with music by the choir of St. Mark Baptist Church of Little Rock.

The Rev. Phillip Pointer Sr., senior pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church, will be the guest preacher, and the Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas, will be the celebrant. Music will also be provided by the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church choir and members of participating churches.

The Rev. Danny Schieffler, rector of the church, said his congregation invited the Baptist church to participate in a gesture of Christian friendship. The church’s goal for the new year is to reach out to churches of other denominations and groups of different faith traditions.

For churches in the West, Epiphany is a day to commemorate the visit of the Magi to see the newborn Christ.

“It’s celebrating the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, which in essence is a manifestation of God’s love for all people,” Schieffler said. “The story of the Magi, the … wise men, making their way to see Christ brings to a conclusion the Christmas season, and it’s a major feast of its own.”

In Eastern churches, the day is known as the Feast of Theophany and it commemorates the baptism of Christ. Schieffler said Episcopalians and other Protestants celebrate the baptism on the Sunday following Epiphany.

“We felt it was a good time to reach out to our brothers and sisters at St. Mark Baptist Church because part of the theme of Epiphany would be the inclusion of all people. So it’s a fitting time,” Schieffler said. “We’ll worship together and have fun together.

“I think it’s going to be a fun and inspirational night, and it will be fun to hear a preacher from a Baptist church preaching in an Episcopal church. Who knows what the Spirit will have to say that night.”

All are welcome.

Information: st-marks.com, (501) 225-4203

The Rev. Joseph Bittle, pastor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Little Rock, said the two traditions celebrate different historical events but share a similar theme.

"Both -- the baptism of Christ and the visitation of the Magi -- are seen as a revelation of Christ to the world," he said. "A distinction might be made regarding how that theme is expressed. In the East, it becomes a Trinitarian feast ... and in the West you might say Christ is being shown forth to the world."

The Greek word "theophany" means "manifestation of God." That manifestation is referred to in the Gospels, including in Matthew 3:16-17: "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

"In that biblical account, we have the significance of the voice of the Father saying, 'This is my son in whom I am well pleased,' as well as the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as a dove," said the Rev. Nicholas Verdaris, pastor of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock. "We say, 'Behold the Holy Trinity.' All three are present in this moment."

Verdaris said the Feast of Theophany "is a very significant holiday and feast day in the church's eyes."

One of the great feasts of the Orthodox Church, Theophany is also one of the oldest, dating to the fourth century. The day is celebrated by Orthodox Christians around the world, and water plays an important role. Water is blessed for use throughout the year, bodies of water are blessed, and in some communities crosses are thrown into rivers or lakes. Sometimes men or boys of the parish plunge into the water to retrieve the cross, even in icy conditions.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church will celebrate the Feast of Theophany at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Waters. The church is at 1812 Watt St. and the public is welcome. Traditionally, and in churches able to adhere to a full liturgical cycle, services would begin on the eve of Theophany and worshippers would gather again on the actual feast day for another Divine Liturgy and blessing of the waters. At Holy Trinity, the two are combined into one service, with water blessed for use in blessing homes and for parishioners to partake of at home.

On Jan. 10 parishioners will gather for morning worship and then caravan to the Two Rivers Bridge over the Arkansas River to bless the waters there as a continuation of the celebration of Theophany.

Bittle said the river blessing is a symbol "of God reclaiming and restoring all of creation from the state of degradation due to the fallout of sin after the fall of man."

The congregation will walk across the bridge and hold a short service. (This is dependent on the water level of the river as it was set to rise above flood levels at press time.)

"In some places what they'll do is throw in a cross and the more brave among us would go diving for it and bring it back up," Bittle said. "We don't do that. We

make a cross out of ice with flowers embedded in the frozen water and we toss the ice cross in and it melts in the river."

In addition to the services and the blessing of the river, Bittle will also bless the homes of parishioners over the coming weeks. At each home, he'll lead a short prayer service and walk throughout the home sprinkling holy water, paying special attention to portals to the house, such as doors and windows.

Verdaris will also be busy blessing the homes of Annunciation parishioners after celebrating the Feast of Theophany. He will lead a short service at each home and ask God to bless the house and those who live and visit there.

"We'll go through the house singing hymns and sprinkle the home with holy water," he said. "We have a connection between the church people go to on Sunday and also the little church we believe is present in the house where family members pray and live their life. They are not separate entities but connected to the grace of God, and the blessing extends from the church to people's homes."

In times past when people lived in smaller villages and towns, a priest could bless all the parishioners' houses in one day, Verdaris said. These days the goal is to bless all the houses before the end of January -- if the weather cooperates.

"God is gracious and his grace knows no time limit," Verdaris said.

As for the celebration of the feast day, the parish will have services at 9:30 a.m. on the eve of Theophany, as well as on the day of the feast, also at 9:30. Both services will include the blessing of waters and on Thursday, parishioners will honor and remember John the Baptist. The church is at 1100 Napa Valley Drive and the public is welcome.

"One of the highlights of the celebration of Theophany is what is called the blessing of the waters, in which we ask the Lord and the Holy Spirit as he descended on the waters in the River Jordan to ascend and bless the waters here as well," Verdaris said. "Thus you have a visible manifestation of God's grace."

Parishioners take home small bottles of the blessed water and anoint their houses with it. Some consume the holy water while asking for God's grace for their health.

"It's that connection with the events that unfolded on the banks of the River Jordan and a reminder that God is also present here and now," Verdaris said. "In faith we see in this blessed water a sign of God's love for humanity in the present day."

Religion on 01/02/2016

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