Theophany , also known as Epiphany, is the great annual Christian feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.

Holy Lord, Holy in Your creation:

what You created by Your Word only, You sanctified them by the Spirit,

Powerful Lord, Powerful through Your Passion:

for the sake of the world, You were led to Your death

-for the sake of the world You were Resurrected.

Immortal Lord, with our voices We praise You:

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – God, have mercy on us!

-The Father, Who appeared above the Jordan as the Voice

– The Son, Who was baptized by the Prophet John

-The Spirit, Who soared like a white dove

Three rays of Light, One Light shone.

‘Oh, Three revealed, with three voices we praise You:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – God , have mercy on us!

At the moment of our baptism, we throw away the clothes of the old man and wear the clothes of the new man, the Renewed Man in Christ.

On the day of the Holy Epiphany, the Great Sanctification is performed in the temples, and then with a procession, we have the Sanctification of the waters in the sea where it exists, or in lakes, or in rivers.

The reason why Christians throw the cross into the Sea/lakes/rivers is to purify the waters.

During the consecration of the waters of the Sea, the Cross is caught by swimmers, whereas during the ceremony of the Diving of the Holy Cross, mainly young people dive into the icy waters to catch the Cross and receive the blessing of the priest, but also to receive the praise and wishes of their fellow citizens.

The Voice of the Lord was heard over Jordan when Saint John baptized the Savior of the world.

And it came to pass, when there was a great storm in the sea of Galilee, that the voice of the LORD was heard, and the storm ceased, and the winds ceased.

When will people be as obedient to the Voice of the Lord as the non-logical elements of nature?

Again, the “waters” must be interpreted as “people” – who obey the Voice of the Lord – i.e. the Apostles and Saints. Like water, they covered the earth with the preaching of Christ our God. Like water, they quenched the thirst of the thirsty world from the fountain of eternal life, and the world was restored and flourished. In them, just as in ordinary water, innumerable miracles were revealed, because they submitted to the will of God, and obeyed the voice of the Lord, just like water.

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to obey Your voice. Help us to humble ourselves by seeing the inanimate elements obey You better than we do. To You belongs Praise, Glory.

(St. Nicholas Velimirović, The Prologue of Ahrid, October, ed. Athos, pp. 134-136)

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus, when He was baptized, immediately came out of the water (because He had no sin to confess, while the others remained in it, as long as their confession lasted). And, behold, the heavens were opened for His sake, and He saw the Spirit of God descending in the form of a dove, and alighting on Him. And, behold, the Voice of God and the Father was heard from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son (the only begotten Son of God, and the Absolutely sinless man), in Whom I am always well pleased”.

Carols of Theophany ~

Today is the day of lights and the lightings,
the joy is great and the sanctification.

Down the River Jordan
Our Lady, Holy Mary Mother of God, Is sitting.

Good morning, Good Evening.
Good day, master with your lady. (x2)

He holds an instrument, He holds a candle
and  He begs Saint John.

Saint John the Baptist
baptize me too, a child of God.

To ascend to heaven
to pick up roses and incense.

Good morning Good Evening,
Good day, master with your lady. (x2)