TheophanyTheophany

The Festival of LightsThe Festival of Lights

Feast of the Holy Theophany of ChristFeast of the Holy Theophany of Christ

The icon of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ , The icon of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ ,

depicts His Baptism by St. John the Baptist, depicts His Baptism by St. John the Baptist,

who served as the Forerunner, who came to who served as the Forerunner, who came to

prepare the way for “who is mightier than I, prepare the way for “who is mightier than I,

whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop

down and loose. I indeed baptize you with down and loose. I indeed baptize you with

water, but He will baptize you with the Holy water, but He will baptize you with the Holy

Spirit.” Spirit.” Mark 1:7-8Mark 1:7-8

In the icon, we see the Feast which celebrates In the icon, we see the Feast which celebrates

the Baptism of Christ and the divine the Baptism of Christ and the divine

revelation of the Holy Trinity. During the revelation of the Holy Trinity. During the

Baptism of Christ, the three persons of the Baptism of Christ, the three persons of the

Holy Trinity are revealed or manifested : God Holy Trinity are revealed or manifested : God

the Father, God the Son and God the Holy the Father, God the Son and God the Holy

Spirit. This commemoration is celebrated Spirit. This commemoration is celebrated

yearly on January 6yearly on January 6thth..

Another interesting picture depicted in this icon is the tree Another interesting picture depicted in this icon is the tree

and hatchet on the lower left portion. The tree and and hatchet on the lower left portion. The tree and

hatchet refer to the verse in Matthew 3:10:hatchet refer to the verse in Matthew 3:10:

““And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut

down and thrown into the fire.” down and thrown into the fire.”

This tells us that if we do not live a fruitful life, This tells us that if we do not live a fruitful life,

including repentance, confession and baptism, then our including repentance, confession and baptism, then our

lives are ‘fruitless’. The hatchet at the bottom of the tree lives are ‘fruitless’. The hatchet at the bottom of the tree

represents Christ chopping down a ‘fruitless life’. represents Christ chopping down a ‘fruitless life’.

In this section of the In this section of the

icon, we see St. John the icon, we see St. John the

Baptist conducting the Baptist conducting the

Baptism of our Lord.Baptism of our Lord.

The icon shows the The icon shows the

water above Christ’s water above Christ’s

head, which signifies the head, which signifies the

form we use during our form we use during our

Orthodox baptism; by Orthodox baptism; by

complete immersion, not complete immersion, not

sprinkling. sprinkling.

St. John, the Forerunner, who came before St. John, the Forerunner, who came before

Christ, taught repentance and told of “the One Christ, taught repentance and told of “the One

who would come after him”, and “Who would who would come after him”, and “Who would

baptize, not with water but with the Holy Spirit”. baptize, not with water but with the Holy Spirit”.

He is seen dressed in camel’s hair clothing. He He is seen dressed in camel’s hair clothing. He

lived in the desert for many years and has the lived in the desert for many years and has the

look of the wilderness upon him.look of the wilderness upon him.

He is seen reverencing Christ, and beckons He is seen reverencing Christ, and beckons

others to Christ. Christ can be seen blessing the others to Christ. Christ can be seen blessing the

waters of the River Jordan with His right hand.waters of the River Jordan with His right hand.

As Christ is being As Christ is being

baptized, the Heavens baptized, the Heavens

open up, the Father’s open up, the Father’s

voice is heard: “This voice is heard: “This

is my Son, of Whom I is my Son, of Whom I

am well pleased.” We am well pleased.” We

also see the Holy also see the Holy

Spirit in the form of a Spirit in the form of a

dove, descending over dove, descending over

our Lord.our Lord.

At the top of the icon, we can see the At the top of the icon, we can see the

opening of the Heavens, the revelation opening of the Heavens, the revelation

of the Holy Spirit and hear the voice of of the Holy Spirit and hear the voice of

God the Father, proclaiming Jesus to be God the Father, proclaiming Jesus to be

His Son “of Whom He is well pleased/”His Son “of Whom He is well pleased/”

Here, we are shown Here, we are shown

that Angels of the Lord that Angels of the Lord

have gathered on the have gathered on the

shore of the River shore of the River

Jordon to give praises Jordon to give praises

to Christ.to Christ.

In the part of the icon showing the Angels of In the part of the icon showing the Angels of

God looking on as Christ is baptized and God looking on as Christ is baptized and

waiting for Christ to emerge from the River waiting for Christ to emerge from the River

Jordan, we see the love and reverence shown Jordan, we see the love and reverence shown

to our Lord. The Angels bow their heads in to our Lord. The Angels bow their heads in

worship and awe for all they have witnessed. worship and awe for all they have witnessed.

Even the Heavenly Host show their belief in Even the Heavenly Host show their belief in

our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This portion of the This portion of the

icon reveals an Angel icon reveals an Angel

of the Lord awaiting to of the Lord awaiting to

receive Christ as He receive Christ as He

comes out of the River comes out of the River

Jordan.Jordan.

Each Epiphany, as many young men dive for the Cross Each Epiphany, as many young men dive for the Cross

of our Lord, they all will chant the Troparion, which of our Lord, they all will chant the Troparion, which

explains all that occurred on this Blessed Day:explains all that occurred on this Blessed Day:

Apolytikion: (First Tone)

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the

worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice

of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved;

and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the

certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God,

who appeared and enlightened the world.