It is not the day on which the Savior was born that should be called an appearance, but the day on which He was baptized. He did not become known to everyone through His birth, but through Baptism, which is why the Epiphany is not called the day on which He was born, but the day on which He was baptized

BAPTISM OF THE LORD - HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAY

Epiphany water can be stored in food containers for a whole year. If you treat it correctly, the water does not spoil, does not bloom or smell.
The vessel into which Epiphany (or any holy) water is collected must be clean; it is advisable to store it in a dark place without access to sunlight. If there is any label on the bottle (for example, “Lemonade”), it must be removed. There is evidence that Epiphany water, which was stored in such containers with inscriptions, began to bloom and mold appeared. But, despite this, it still does not lose its beneficial properties; it can be sprinkled on your home. In this case, it is better to collect other baptismal (or consecrated) water from the church, and the one that has spoiled can be watered at home flowers, or poured into a pond.

As the Tradition says, all aquatic nature is sanctified on the night of Epiphany and becomes similar to the Jordanian waters, directly related to the Baptism of the Lord. The Holy Spirit sanctifies all the water with His breath; at this moment it is believed that it is holy everywhere, and not just where the priest sanctified it. Consecration itself is a visible solemn rite that reminds us that God is here, next to us on earth.

It is customary to drink Epiphany or other blessed water, together with a piece of prosphora, in the morning on an empty stomach before meals, after reading the prayer:
« Lord my God, may Your gift of holy prosphora and Your holy water be for the forgiveness of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, according to Your boundless mercy through Your prayers Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen«.

In case of illness or temptation, you must drink this water. Moreover, if you add a little Epiphany water to a carafe of ordinary water, then all of it becomes holy.
And she said that you can pour a little Epiphany or consecrated water into the bottom of a mug or glass, dilute it with regular water and pour it over yourself while taking a shower or bath.

We must not forget that consecrated water is a church shrine, which has been touched by the grace of God, and which requires a reverent attitude.

THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD ON THE FEAST OF BAPTISM

The magnification of Jesus Christ our Lord on the day of His Epiphany:

We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, for our sake now baptized in the flesh by John in the waters of the Jordan.

VIDEO

Video about the feast of Holy Epiphany, Epiphany

Epiphany is one of the most important and symbolic holidays in Orthodoxy. Many church and folk traditions and signs are associated with this day.

Do not confuse the holiday of January 19 with the baptism of Rus'. The feast of the Epiphany has a completely different meaning, which can only be understood by knowing the biblical story about the beginning of the earthly journey of Jesus Christ. The rite of baptism was given to us by Jesus himself. The Savior showed how it is possible and necessary to introduce people to faith in God.

History of Baptism

Many have heard the name of the holiday as Epiphany. This name shows us even better the secret meaning of everything that happens on January 19 from year to year. Around this time, Jesus Christ turned 33 years old. He decided to declare himself openly to the world, so he accepted the sacrament of baptism. Like all children or adults who are initiated into the faith, Jesus plunged into water. It was the Jordan River, and the baptism was performed by the prophet John the Baptist, also called the Baptist in the Bible.

At first the prophet was discouraged by the appearance of the Savior, for even the most believing people have the weakness of doubting what Scripture says. The prophecy came true - John said that he did not dare to fulfill what was written, for he was unworthy of such an honor. Jesus answered: “We must fulfill all righteousness.” After these words, John the Baptist agreed to do what was destined for him from above.

Jesus plunged headlong into the water of the Jordan, thereby not only receiving baptism, but also making all the waters holy and healing. It was a kind of baptism of humanity, a mutual favor - we accepted Jesus as God, and he accepted us as people worthy of living forever in Heaven.

After this, he had two disciples - the first of the 12 apostles of Christ. The first sermon was preached, so Christ’s earthly journey as a prophet and teacher begins with Baptism. This was the appearance of God to the people, his unity with them. Jesus said that anyone can be baptized because he himself has been given that honor.

Feast of Epiphany in 2017

On January 19 of each year, Orthodox people around the world read prayers, visit churches, perform the sacraments of communion and confess their sins. On this day there is a church tradition of collecting blessed water to use for food throughout the year. Church workers say that water from any source becomes holy at Epiphany, but many people specifically go to church to scoop up water for themselves and their loved ones.

In Rus', this tradition originated almost a thousand years ago. It is still relevant today. You can collect water on Epiphany Eve on January 18, after the pre-holiday liturgy.

At Epiphany, Christians plunge into water, which greatly strengthens health and faith. This is a relatively young, but very widespread and beloved tradition by believers. On January 19, 2017, many will plunge into Jordan to cleanse themselves spiritually and find inner harmony.

At home, people celebrate Epiphany and Epiphany with a festive table with fish and wine. People take care of each other and try not to sin on this great day. They meet with loved ones and friends, give each other gifts, enjoying life and praising the Savior.

Epiphany on January 19 is one of the 12 main Orthodox holidays that everyone should remember. Many clergy say that the Feast of the Epiphany is almost as important as Easter or Christmas. It strengthens the body, spirit and unites all people, giving them hope for a bright future in 2017. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

17.01.2017 03:23

The Baptism of the Lord is often called the Epiphany. Many people believe that different names mean the same thing...

On the night of January 18-19, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Epiphany (Holy Epiphany). What should you do at Epiphany? How to celebrate the holiday correctly? What rituals need to be performed? What signs should you pay attention to? How to congratulate your family and friends?

Epiphany is one of the main Christian holidays. The holiday of Epiphany ends the Christmas holidays, which last from January 7 to January 19.

This holiday was established in memory of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, when he was 30 years old. It is known from the Gospel that John the Baptist, calling the people to repentance, baptized people in the waters of the Jordan. The Savior, being sinless from the beginning, had no need for John’s Baptism of repentance, but out of His humility accepted Baptism with water, thereby sanctifying His watery nature.

The Feast of Epiphany is also called the Feast of Epiphany, because at the Baptism of the Lord the Holy Trinity appeared to the world: “God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the holy Forerunner of the Lord John, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove”.

Epiphany. Holy Epiphany

On the eve of Epiphany, January 18, believers fast- they don’t eat anything until the evening, and in the evening they celebrate the second Holy Evening or “Hungry Kutya”. Lenten dishes are served for dinner - fried fish, dumplings with cabbage, buckwheat pancakes with butter, kutya and uzvar.

The whole family, as before Christmas, gathers at the table, to which Only Lenten dishes are served; kutia (sochivo) is prepared from rice, honey and raisins..

That evening, returning from church from a prayer service, people placed crosses over all windows and doors with chalk or soot from candles.

After dinner, all the spoons are collected in one bowl, and bread is placed on top - “so that bread is born.” The girls used these same spoons to tell fortunes: they went out on the threshold and knocked with them until a dog barked somewhere - the girl would go in that direction to get married.

The main tradition of the Epiphany holiday is the blessing of water.

On the morning of January 19, water is blessed - either in a church, or, where possible, near a lake, river or stream. It is believed that on Epiphany, from midnight to midnight, water acquires healing properties and retains them throughout the year. It is given to seriously ill people to drink, and temples, houses and animals are blessed with it. It remains a mystery to science that Epiphany water does not spoil, has no odor and can be stored for a year or longer.

In the old days, on the eve of Jordan, a large cross (“Jordan”) was cut out in the ice and installed vertically next to the hole. The ice cross was decorated with periwinkle and pine branches or doused with beet kvass, which turned it red.

Water is sanctified in springs, and where this is not possible - in the courtyard of the temple. Blessing the water, the priest lowers the cross into a special baptismal hole called the “Jordan”; the blessed water is called the “great agiasma,” that is, the great shrine.

It is believed that Epiphany water has the same miraculous power as the waters of the Jordan into which Jesus Christ entered.

On the day of Epiphany, after a prayer service, the sick bathe in the ice hole - to recover from illness, and those who dress up in masks for the New Year - to cleanse themselves of sin.

On the day of the holiday and on the day of Epiphany Eve, the Great Blessing of Water is performed. There are long queues for holy water in the courtyards of temples.

If a person for some serious reason cannot go to the service, he can resort to the healing power of simple water taken from an ordinary reservoir on Epiphany night. It is believed that Epiphany water gains special strength and healing properties. They treat wounds with Epiphany water, sprinkle every corner of their home - there will be order and peace in the house.

Has survived to this day tradition of plunging into an ice hole at Epiphany- the one who dared to do this believed that the healing Epiphany water would give him health for the whole year. And today there are brave souls who, even in severe frost, jump into icy water. Everyone who wants to join them should remember that they need to plunge into the Epiphany ice hole, not trying to “accomplish a feat,” but remembering the religious meaning of this action - it is best to take a blessing from the priest before doing this. You also need to know that washing in Epiphany water does not “automatically” cleanse you of all sins.

After the celebration of Epiphany, a new wedding season begins, which continues until Lent. In the old days it was a time of fun and leisure. Young people gathered for evening parties, families organized pools and visited each other.

Epiphany holy water

On Epiphany you can drink Epiphany water all day long. But then it should be consumed on an empty stomach or for special needs (for example, in case of a sudden illness). In addition, on the day of the holiday, we sprinkle holy water throughout the entire home, including latrines and those rooms where our pets live. You can sprinkle your office, your place of study, and your car.

And if you see that there is not as much water as you would like, you can dilute it with simple clean water, and it will all be as full of grace as before, and will not spoil.

Therefore, there is no need to strain yourself by taking a canister of a dozen or two liters from the temple on this day. It is enough to take a small bottle and there will be enough water for you and your loved ones until the next Epiphany.

But the miraculous preservation of Epiphany water is not guaranteed to a person who does not treat it reverently.

It is better to pour the water from a plastic container into a glass one and store it next to the icons. Also You should drink this water with prayer so that this gift of the Lord will be to us for the health of soul and body.

Epiphany water can stand for years without spoiling.

Fortune telling for Epiphany

On Epiphany evening, the girl must leave the house and walk down the street. If she meets the first young and handsome man on her way, there is a high probability that she will get married this year. If the passerby is old, then marriage is not soon.

At Epiphany, in addition to traditional New Year's and Christmas fortune-telling, from ancient times they practiced special fortune-telling - with kutya.

Its essence was that the fortune tellers, having captured hot kutia in a cup and hidden it under an apron or scarf, ran into the street and threw the kutia in the face of the first man they came across, asking his name.

Another type of special Epiphany fortune-telling is even more original: on Christmas Eve, after sunset, the girls went out naked into the street, “hoeed” the snow, threw it over their shoulders and then listened - in which direction they heard something, in that direction and they would marry them off.

Epiphany signs

♦ If the trees are covered with frost at Epiphany, in the spring you need to sow winter wheat on the same day of the week - the harvest will be rich.

♦ If there is a shovelful of snow on Epiphany, it means a good harvest.

♦ If it’s clear and cold on Epiphany, it means a bad harvest, a dry summer.

♦ If there is a starry night on Epiphany, there will be a good harvest of nuts and berries.

♦ If a lot of fish are visible at Epiphany, bees will swarm well.

♦ If after Baptism there is a full month in the sky, a flood is possible in the spring.

♦ If dogs bark a lot - there are a lot of animals and game in the forest.

♦ To find out how warm the rest of the winter will be, on the night of Christmas Eve before Epiphany, you just need to look at the sky. If the stars shine brightly, then summer will be dry and hot, and spring will begin early. Moreover, autumn will also be warm and long. Also, bright stars in the sky on Epiphany indicate that the year will be calm, without political or economic turmoil.

♦ If there is a full moon on the night of Epiphany, then in the spring you should be wary of strong river floods.

♦ It’s not very good if it’s warm at Epiphany: signs indicate that there will be health problems in the coming year. On the contrary, if there is a lot of snow on Epiphany, this means good health.

♦ If you hear dogs barking on Epiphany, this promises good financial condition in the coming year. It is believed that dogs call for a hunt, which promises excellent prey.

Congratulations on the Epiphany of the Lord

♦ May it be frosty at baptism
Bring blessings
Warmth, comfort, your home -
Let it be filled with goodness
Thoughts, feelings and hearts.
Let the relatives gather.
Let the fun come to the house
On this holiday at Epiphany.

♦ Let the Epiphany frosts
They will carry away trouble and tears
And they will add fun to life,
Happiness, joy, luck!
Get ready for the holiday -
Very cheerful, healthy,
To swim in an ice hole
And stay healthy!

♦ Let the Epiphany frosts
Your sorrows will go away.
Let there be only tears of happiness,
Let the good news come.
I want you to laugh more often
And they were never sad!
To be admired by love,
And they were always happy!

♦ For the people at Epiphany
Renewal is coming.
Jumped into the hole headlong -
Life becomes different.
And then you step onto the ice,
You will turn towards the sunrise.
Raise your hands in the air boldly,
So that your soul sings.

♦ I would like to wish you a holiday on Epiphany,
There are more poems, less prose in life,
Let life be such that you don’t suffer,
Love is stronger than Epiphany frost.
Hope, beauty and kindness,
And, of course, a sea of ​​positivity,
Strive for the heights of your dreams
For life's eternal motives.

♦ With Holy Epiphany
Congratulations, friends!
Cast away all doubts
Be happy, love!
Don't be afraid of all sorts of wickedness,
And wash yourself with holy water!
Tell your fortune for love...
The holiday is coming to us again!

♦ I hasten to congratulate you on your Baptism
And wish you purity
All thoughts and all aspirations,
Health, happiness and love!
May the Angels protect you
And guard your sound sleep
Let loved ones not know grief
And the Lord will be nearby!

♦ On the bright day of the Epiphany of the Lord
I wish you all earthly bounties.
May souls and bodies be cleansed
On this day it will come down to you from heaven.
The blessings of earthly and God's grace
I want to wish you now.
Let everything be on time and by the way,
May the Lord protect you.
May everything in life be easy for you,
And may the Epiphany water
What is pouring from everywhere today,
Will wash away all the bad forever!

♦ Let holy water
Your sin will wash away any
Let any trouble
Will bypass.
Let it be revealed to you
Pure light and love
And the temple of your soul
Reborn again.

♦ Happy Epiphany Day
Congratulations today!
Let the house not become scarce,
The world will become kinder for you.
Let the help be noticeable,
Your happiness will not fade.
Love from loved ones and support
Let them become stronger over the years!

Holy Epiphany. Baptism of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ

Historical content

The establishment of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. Until the 4th century, in the Eastern and Western Churches, the feast of the Nativity of Christ was celebrated on January 6, was known under the name of Epiphany and initially related to the Baptism of the Savior.

The main and initial purpose of establishing the holiday is to remember and glorify the event of the appearance in the flesh of the Son of God. But there was another reason and purpose for establishing the holiday. Somewhat earlier than in the Orthodox Church, the celebration of Baptism was introduced by the Gnostic heretics (Ebionites, Docetes, Basilidians), because they attached the greatest importance in the life of the Savior to His Baptism. Thus, the Ebionites taught that Jesus was the son of Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary and that Christ was united with Him at Baptism; The Docetes recognized human nature in Christ as only illusory; finally, the Basilidians did not recognize the incarnation and taught that “God sent his Mind, the first outflow of the Divinity, and he, like a dove, descended in the Jordan on Jesus, who before was a simple man, susceptible to sin” (). But nothing drew Christians into heresy, especially into Gnosticism, so much as the Gnostic worship service, full of harmonious and beautiful songs. It was necessary to oppose the Gnostic holiday with one of our own.

And so, the Orthodox Church established the solemn holiday of the Baptism of the Lord and called it the Epiphany, instilling the idea that on this day Christ did not become God for the first time, but only revealed Himself as God, presenting himself as One of the Trinity, the Son of God in the flesh. In order to undermine the false thinking of the Gnostics regarding the Baptism of Christ, the Church began to add to the remembrance of Baptism the remembrance of the Nativity of Christ. And thus, in the 4th century throughout the East, Epiphany and Christmas were celebrated on the same day, namely January 6, under the common name of Epiphany. The initial basis for celebrating the Nativity of Christ on January 6 (as well as Epiphany) was not the historical correspondence of this date to the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was not exactly known in ancient times, but a mysterious understanding of the relationship between the first and second Adam, between the culprit of sin and death and the Director of life and salvation. The second Adam - Christ, according to the mysterious contemplation of the Ancient Church, was born and died on the same day on which the first Adam was created and died - on the sixth, which corresponded to January 6, the first month of the year.

The Feast of the Nativity of Christ was first separated from Epiphany in the Roman Church in the first half of the 4th century (under Pope Julia). By moving the holiday to December 25, the Church intended to create a counterbalance to the pagan cult of the sun and protect believers from participating in it. Moving the holiday to the 25th and celebrating it solemnly was intended to provide a counterbalance to pagan superstitions and thereby turn the hearts of people to the knowledge of the true God. It is known that the Romans had a pagan holiday in honor of the winter solstice on December 25 - the day (birth) of the appearance of the invincible sun, which winter could not overcome and which from now on goes towards spring. This holiday of the renewed “sun god” was a day of unbridled amusements for the people, a day of fun for slaves and children, etc. Thus, this day itself could not be more appropriate for remembering the event of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, Who in the New Testament is called the Sun of Truth, Light of the world, Savior of people, Conqueror of death.

The celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25 in the Eastern Church was introduced later than in the Western Church, namely in the second half of the 4th century. For the first time, separate celebrations of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord were introduced in the Church of Constantinople around 377 at the direction of Emperor Arcadius, according to the custom of the Roman Church and thanks to the energy and power of the eloquence of St. John Chrysostom. From Constantinople, the custom of celebrating the Nativity of Christ on December 25 spread throughout the Orthodox East.

The establishment of the celebration of the Nativity of Christ on December 25 had another reason. According to the thoughts of the Church Fathers of the 3rd and 4th centuries. (St. Hippolytus, Tertullian, St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Blessed Augustine), the 25th day of December historically most corresponds to the day of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Of the stichera and troparions considered in this service dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, the most ancient, presumably, are the 1st stichera on “Lord, I cried,” kontakion and ikos. Kontakion and Ikos were composed in the 6th century by St. Roman Sladkopevets. He compiled 24 ikos, of which the modern service retains only the first two (kontakion and ikos). The troparion and luminaries of the holiday are also very ancient.

Already in the VII-VIII centuries. Menaions with services to the Nativity of Christ are known in their entire form. In the 10th century there were already pre-celebration and post-celebration services. And in the XI-XII centuries. The service dedicated to the Nativity of Christ takes on the same form in the east in its changing parts, just like the modern service.

The compilers of the modern service for the Nativity of Christ are mainly songwriters of the 6th-9th centuries: St. (kontakion and ikos), St. (stichera on praise), St. (a series of stichera on “Lord, I cried” and stichera on the litia), St. (many of the stichera of Vespers, canon), St. (canon) and others.

Epiphany

Our Lord Jesus Christ, upon his return from Egypt, stayed in Galilee, in his city of Nazareth, where he was raised, hiding from people the power of His Divinity and wisdom until the age of thirty, for among the Jews it was not possible for anyone before the age of thirty to accept the rank of teacher or priest Therefore, Christ did not begin His preaching and did not reveal Himself as the Son of God and "the great high priest who passed through the heavens"(), until he reaches the specified age. In Nazareth He stayed with His Most Pure Mother, first with His imaginary father, Joseph the woodworker, while he was alive, and did carpentry work with him; and then, when Joseph died, He Himself continued the same work, obtaining food for Himself and for the Most Pure Mother of God through the labor of His hands, in order to teach us hard work (). When the thirtieth year of His earthly life was completed and the time of His Divine appearance to the people of Israel had come, then, as the Gospel says, "the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness"(), - a verb that sent him to baptize with water and announced to him a sign by which John was supposed to recognize the Messiah who had come into the world. The Baptist himself speaks about this in his sermon in these words: “He who sent me to baptize in water said to me: on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” ().

So John, heeding the word of God, went throughout the whole country of Jordan, preaching "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins"(), for He was the One about whom Isaiah predicted: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight the paths of our God in the desert.”(; cf). And the entire Jewish country, including the people of Jerusalem, came out to him, and they were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins (). Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him (). He came at the time when John announced Him to the people, saying: “He who is mightier than I is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down to untie; I baptized you with water, and He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (). After this announcement Jesus came to be baptized. Although He had no need for this, as sinless and immaculate, born of the Most Pure and Most Holy Virgin Mary and Himself the source of all purity and holiness, but, since He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, He came to the river to cleanse them through baptism. He came to be baptized, and in order to sanctify the nature of water, He came to be baptized, so that he could also build a font of holy baptism for us. He came to John also so that he, seeing the Holy Spirit descending on the baptized person and hearing the voice of God the Father from above, would be a true witness about Christ.

“John restrained Him and said: I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”() He recognized in spirit the One about whom for thirty years "jumped joyfully" in the womb of his mother (), therefore he himself demanded baptism from Him, as being under the sin of disobedience, which passed from Adam to the entire human race. But the Lord said to John: “Leave it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” ().

By truth, Saint Chrysostom here means the commandments of God, as if Jesus were saying: “since I have fulfilled all the commandments that are given in the law, and only one remains - regarding baptism, then it is fitting for Me to fulfill this one too.” The Baptism of John was also a Divine commandment, as can be seen from the words of John: "He who sent me to baptize in water told me"(). Who sent it? Apparently God Himself: "was- it is said in the Gospel, - word of God to John"(). And also because Jesus was baptized when he was thirty years old, because the age of thirty, according to Chrysostom and Fephylact, is susceptible to all sin. For the age of adolescence is subject to the fire of carnal passions, but at the age of thirty - the time of full revelation of male powers - a person is subject to the love of gold, vanity, rage, anger and all kinds of sins. That is why Christ the Lord delayed accepting baptism until this age, in order to fulfill the law at all ages of human life and sanctify our entire nature and give us the strength to overcome passions and beware of mortal sins.

After receiving baptism, the Lord immediately, without any delay, came out of the water. There is a legend that Saint John the Baptist immersed every person baptized by him up to the neck and held him like that until he confessed all his sins; After this, the person being baptized was allowed to leave the water. Christ, who had no sins, was not detained in the water, and therefore the Gospel added that He came out of the water immediately ().

When the Lord came out of the water, the heavens opened above Him, a light flashed from above in the form of lightning, and the Spirit of God in the form of a dove descended on the Baptized Lord. Just as in the days of Noah the dove announced the diminishing waters of the flood, so here the likeness of a dove predicted the end of the sinful flood. And in the form of a dove, the Holy Spirit appeared because this bird is pure, loves people, is meek, gentle and does not tolerate anything stinking: so the Holy Spirit is the source of purity, the abyss of love for mankind, the teacher of meekness and the organizer of the world: moreover, He always moves away from man , creeping in the stinking mire of sins. When the Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Christ Jesus from heaven, a voice was heard saying: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"(). And to him belongs glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Word of Saint John Chrysostom on the Epiphany of the Lord

I want, beloved, to celebrate and triumph, for the holy day of enlightenment is the seal of the holiday and the day of triumph. He captures the Bethlehem den, where the Ancient of Days, like a baby at his mother’s breast, lay in a manger; He also opens the Jordanian springs, where the same Ancient of Days is now baptized with sinners, granting the measure of His most pure body the remission of sins. In the first case, he who came from the womb of the Most Pure Virgin appeared to infants as a baby, to the mother as a son, to the Magi as a gift to shepherds - as a good shepherd, who, according to the word of Divine Scripture, lays down His soul for the sheep (). In the second case, it is at His baptism that He comes to the Jordanian waters in order to wash away the sins of tax collectors and sinners. Speaking about the extraordinary miraculousness of such an event, the wise Paul exclaims: "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people"(). For now the world is enlightened in all its parts: first of all, the sky rejoices, conveying to people the voice of God descending from the heavenly heights, the air is sanctified by the flight of the Holy Spirit, the nature of water is sanctified, as if learning to wash souls along with bodies, and all earthly creation rejoices . The devil alone weeps when he sees the holy font prepared to drown his power.

What else does the Gospel say? “Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. John restrained Him and said: I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” (). Who saw the Master standing before the slave? Who saw the king bowing his head before his warrior? Who has seen a shepherd to whom a sheep would show the way? Who has seen the head of a race who would receive a reward from someone practicing on the run? “I need to be baptized by You,” i.e. teach me, O Lord, You Yourself the baptism that You want to teach the world. I need You to baptize me, since I am under the burden of ancestral sin and carry the serpentine venom within me. I need to wash away the filth of an ancient crime, and for what sins did You come to be baptized? The prophet also testified about You, saying: “for He committed no sin, and no lie was found in His mouth.”(). How, by giving deliverance yourself, do you seek cleansing? Those who are baptized, according to custom, confess their sins; What do you have to confess when You are completely sinless? Why do You demand from me what I have not been taught? I do not dare to do anything that exceeds my strength; I don’t know how to wash the light; I don’t know how to illuminate the sun of truth. The night does not illuminate the day, gold cannot be purer than tin, clay cannot correct the potter, the sea does not borrow streams from the source, the river does not need a drop of water, purity is not sanctified by filth, and the condemned does not set the judge free. "I need to be baptized by You." A dead man cannot raise a living man, a sick man cannot heal a doctor, and I know the weakness of my nature! “A student is not higher than a teacher, and a servant is not higher than his master.”(). The cherubim do not approach me with fear, the seraphim do not bow to me and do not proclaim the trisagion. I do not have heaven as a throne, I was not foreshadowed by a star to the Magi, Moses, Thy saint, was barely worthy to see "behind you"(), how can I dare to touch Your most holy head? Why do You command me to do something that exceeds my strength? I do not have a hand with which I could baptize God: “I need to be baptized by You.” I was born of an old woman, for nature could not contradict Your command. Being in the womb of my mother and not being able to speak myself, I then took advantage of her lips, and now with my own lips, I will glorify You, the Incontainable One, Whom the virgin ark contained. I am not blind, like the Jews, for I know that You are the Master, Who only temporarily took on the form of a slave in order to heal man; I know that You appeared to save us; I know that You are a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, a stone in which he who believes will not be deceived. I will not be deceived by the visible signs of Your humility, and I understand in spirit the greatness of Your Divinity. I am mortal, you are immortal; I am from a barren woman, and You are from a virgin. I was born before You, but not above You. I could only go out to preach before You, but I do not dare to baptize You: I know that You are the ax lying by the tree (), the ax that cuts down the barren trees of the Judean garden. I saw a sickle ready to cut off passions and proclaimed that soon sources of healing would open everywhere, for what place would remain inaccessible to Your Jews? You will cleanse the lepers with one word, the flow of blood will stop through one touch of the hem of Your garments, from Your one command the paralytic will again be strengthened with strength. You nourish the daughter of the Canaanite woman with grains of Your miracles, You open the eyes of the blind with clay. How then do You ask me to lay hands on You? “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? Looks at the earth, and it shakes”( ; ), they walk on the waters as on earth, - You, about whom I exclaimed many times during the sermon: “He who is mightier than I is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down to untie!”() I rely only on Your ineffable goodness and hope on Your immeasurable love for mankind, according to which You allow even a harlot to wipe Your most pure feet and touch Your most holy head.

What does the Lord say to him? “Leave now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”(). Serve the Word like a human voice, work like a slave to the Lord, like a warrior to the king, like clay to the potter. Do not be afraid, but boldly baptize Me, because I will save the world; I give myself to death in order to revive the mortified human nature. You, despite My command, are still slow to stretch out your hand, but the Jews will soon not be ashamed to stretch out their unclean hands against Me in order to betray Me to death. “Leave it now, for it must be so.” Out of My love for mankind, I, before all ages, decided to save the human race. For the sake of people I became a man. What could be more surprising than the fact that I, as a simple person, come to be baptized? I do this because I do not despise the creation of my hands, I am not ashamed of earthly nature. I remained the same as I had been from time immemorial, and took on a new nature, and yet My being remained unchanged: “I will leave you now.” For the enemy of the human race, having been cast out of heaven and expelled from the earth, nests in the watery nature, and I came from there to drive him out, as I announced to the prophet about Me: "You crushed the heads of the serpents in the water"() Leave now." For this enemy wants to tempt Me as a man, and I endure this in order to prove his powerlessness, for I will say to him: "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" ( ; ).

Oh new miracle! O ineffable grace! Christ accomplishes the feat, and I receive honor; He fights with the devil, and I turn out to be the winner; He crushes the snake's head in the water, and I, as if a real wrestler, am crowned: He is baptized, and the filth is removed from me; The Holy Spirit descends on Him, and remission of sins is given to me; the Father testifies of Him as His beloved Son, and I become the son of God for His sake; The heavens were opened to him, and I entered into them; before Him, the baptized one appears the kingdom on high, and I receive it as an inherited possession: the voice of the Father turns to Him, and together with Him I am called; The Father favors Him, and does not reject me either. For my part, I glorify the Father, who gave His voice from heaven, the Son, who was crucified on the earth, and the Spirit who descended like a dove, the one God in the Trinity, Whom I will always worship. Amen.

Word on the Epiphany of the Lord

Saint Demetrius of Rostov

As we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on the waters of the Jordan, let us remember that the Lord our God had previously appeared above the waters in order to do various wondrous deeds. So when He appeared over the waters of the Black Sea, “the depths hid the entire bottom” and led His people on dry land; when he crossed the Jordan in the ark, he returned the waters of this river back: “The Jordan,” it is said, “turned back.”(). Finally, in the beginning, when the Spirit of God rushed “above the water,” God created the sky, the earth, birds, animals, man, and in general the entire visible world.

And now over the waters of the Jordan there appears one God in the Trinity: the Father in the voice, the Son in the flesh, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. What does He produce in this appearance of His? He creates a new world and renews everything, just as in the pre-holiday troparion he creates a new world, different from the first. "The ancient things have passed away,- says Scripture - everything is new now"(). The first world was heavy by nature, could not ascend to the sky and needed land on which it could stand, as if erected. And the new world, brought out of the waters of the Jordan, is so light that it does not need dry land, is not built on earth, has no “barriers, but seeks heights,” rushes quickly from the water to the heavenly doors open above the Jordan: “Jesus immediately came up out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him.”(). For the first world, burdened with everyday burdens, if it wanted to reach heaven, it would need a ladder established on earth, the top of which would reach heaven - but even that was only contemplated by Jacob, he himself did not ascend her, - for the new world, ascent to heaven is possible without a ladder. How? Behold, instead of a ladder, the Spirit of God, in the form of a dove, flies over the waters. And that means the following. The human race is no longer like a reptile that creeps on the earth or a crawling animal, but like a feathered bird emerges from the water of baptism; therefore, the Holy Spirit appeared over the waters of baptism like a bird in order to raise His chicks, which He gave birth to in the bath of baptism, to heaven without a ladder. And the words of the song of Moses are sung here: "flies over her chicks"(), or, as Jerome’s translation reads, calls his chicks to fly. It is precisely this new world that God creates by His appearance on the waters of the Jordan, which does not cling to the earth, but like a feathered bird strives on its wings to the open sky.

Let us recall here the expression of Scripture: “And God said: Let the waters produce, let the birds fly in the firmament of the sky.”(), and let us see how one of the persons of the Holy Trinity, who has now appeared over the waters of the Jordan at the renewal of the world, brings his spiritual chicks out of the water of baptism and calls on them to fly, so that they may ascend on their wings of virtue to the heavens that have opened above the Jordan. But before considering this, let us be convinced, on the basis of the teachers of the Church, that every person born of water and spirit is a heavenly chick. St. John Chrysostom says: “it was previously said: yes, “the water will bring forth reptiles, a living soul”; and since Christ entered the Jordanian streams, the water no longer produces “reptiles, a living soul,” but rational and spiritual beings - souls, which do not crawl on the ground, but like birds soar to the sky. Therefore David said: "Our soul is like a bird"(). This bird is not earthly, but heavenly, for our life, which is prepared for us starting from baptism, is, according to the word of Scripture, in heaven." Saint Gregory of Nyssa, reproaching those who, after receiving baptism, turn to their former evil deeds, says: " shameless people who have been baptized, driven, by unknown means, into a frenzy, lose the salvation received by the waters of baptism, although, having been buried in the body of Christ, they have been clothed with the wings of an eagle and through this have the opportunity to fly up to those birds of heaven, which are fearless spirits." Let us pay attention to these words: “having been buried in the body of Christ (through baptism), they were clothed with the wings of an eagle, so that they could fly.” By this, this holy teacher convincingly proves that people emerging from the waters of baptism are birds soaring to the sky. But we will also see this from history.

The Venerable Nonnus, Bishop of Ilipolis, when he was supposed to convert the obvious sinner Pelagia to God in Antioch, saw the following vision in a dream at night: he imagined that he was standing in the church at the liturgy - and then some kind of black dove, stained with dirt, began to fly near him ; he took it, washed it in the font, and after that the dove immediately became as pure as snow and beautiful, and flew straight from here to the sky. This vision indicated that this blessed father would turn the sinner to the Lord and enlighten her with holy baptism. So, the waters of holy baptism are so powerful that they can turn a person into a bird of heaven. The Jordanian waters also do this, giving a person wings on which he could fly into the “heaven that opens before him.” But not only the renewal of human nature in the waters of the Jordan is depicted in the phenomenon, but also the three venerable Persons of the Divine who appear take on the likenesses of various birds. So we know that Holy Scripture likens God the Father to an eagle: "like an eagle calls its nest"(). We also read that the Son is like a kokosh to God: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem,- He says, - how often have I wanted to gather your children together, as a bird gathers its young under its wings"(). We finally know that God the Holy Spirit appeared over the Jordan in the likeness of a dove. So, why are the Persons of the Holy Trinity likened to the aforementioned three breeds of birds? Truly because They flocks of the same chicks spiritually remove from the water of baptism, that is, they make people spiritual chicks, some like an eagle, some like a cocosh, and some like a dove.

The Church, triumphant in heaven, divides the faithful servants of God, who come from the militant Church, in the heavenly village into three special faces: the face of teachers, the face of martyrs and the face of virgins. We will not be mistaken if we say that these three faces are three flocks of chicks born and hatched from the water of baptism. The face of the teachers is a flock of eagles that soar in the sky and, without crossing their eyes, look at the sunshine; for holy teachers, meaning God, fly high, as if having wings, and with a bright mind, as if contemplating with an eye the light of the Tri-radiant Deity, they enlighten themselves and others with wisdom. The face of the martyrs is a flock of many-children, for through the shedding of their blood for Christ they gave birth to many other children of Christ: the blood of the martyrs indeed gave birth to many children for the primacy of the Church, of whom there were more than the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. The face of virgins has become like pure doves, for they offer themselves entirely as a living sacrifice to God and take care not to please the flesh, but the one and only Lord. These three flocks of spiritual birds said we were born in the water of baptism. Let's look at how this happens.

The book of Song of Songs says: "Turn your eyes away from me, for they trouble me"(). This means: look at me, Lord, with your merciful eyes and do not turn them away from me, for, by your mercy, I become a bird climbing to heaven. And in His appearance on the Jordan, God looked upon human nature: God the Father looked upon him, opening the heavens over the Son; God looked upon the Son, coming from Nazareth of Galilee to be baptized by John on the Jordan - he looked upon, I say, for all the filth of Adam’s sin, all the weaknesses of our nature He collected and brought here in order to wash them and cleanse us from our sins - God also despised The spirit descending on the divine man who was baptized. Having looked upon us, the one God in the Trinity has not revealed human nature? Truly he opened, for through this divine charity immediately flocks of eagles and doves appeared, that is, the faces of teachers, martyrs and virgins. Let us explain this on the basis of Holy Scripture.

The theologian saw in the revelation that came to him, before the throne of God, a glass sea, as if made of crystal (); this sea signified the mystery of holy baptism, for between the throne of God and the person who intends to approach the throne of God, there is the water of baptism, and no other way can anyone approach God, who sits on the heavenly throne, than by first crossing the sea of ​​baptism, according to the Scriptures : "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God"(). But why is this sea, which signifies the mystery of baptism, glass and crystal? We know that interpreters of Divine Scripture will say that it is glass because it contains purity that cleanses the soul of a person receiving baptism, and crystal because it gives hardness to a person’s heart. Another reason it is glass and crystal is that, just as a ray of sunlight passes through glass and crystal, so the grace of God penetrates through the mystery of baptism, and with it it comes to a person and enlightens the temple of his soul. Finally, for this reason, the sea, which is in front of the Throne of God and signifies the mystery of baptism, is glass and crystal, so that the Most Holy Trinity sitting on the throne is reflected and visible in it, as in a glass and crystal mirror, for in holy baptism the image of the Trinity appeared. “Go therefore,” said Jesus Christ, “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”(). Humanly speaking, if God the Father sat on His throne like an eagle, then in the sea, which is the throne, as if in a glass and crystal mirror, the image of an eagle should have been reflected. If God the Son is on the throne like a kokosh - for He calls Himself that way in the Gospel - then in that sea that was in front of the throne, it was as if in a mirror, the image of the kokosh would appear. If the Holy Spirit sat on that throne like a dove, then the image of a dove should have appeared in that sea. But let us explain the spiritual meaning of these images. We said that the sea seen before the throne of God signifies the mystery of holy baptism, in which our baptized nature is purified like glass, "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit"(), but our soul is strengthened and enlightened, like crystal. And when God in the Trinity looks at this mysterious glass and crystal during our baptism, then truly the image of the Trinity appears in it. Whether God the Father looks like a spiritual eagle or God the Son like a spiritual kokosh, or God the Holy Spirit looks like a spiritual dove, always the mysterious glass and crystal, that is, our baptized nature, reveals in itself a reflection of these spiritual birds and becomes an eagle chick or a kokosh or a dove, that is, a child of God, one in the Trinity - Father and Son and Holy Spirit, as it is said: "to those who believe in His name, He gave power to become children of God"(). The Most Holy Trinity looked upon human nature, those who were baptized in the waters of the Jordan, and was reflected in it, providing it, like a chick, with the spiritual wings of an eagle, a kokosh and a dove, that is, it multiplied in the militant church teachers, martyrs of virgins. So, it is clear that each person of the Most Holy Trinity brought out its special spiritual chicks from the waters of the Jordan. God the Father, like an eagle, brought spiritual eagles, that is, church teachers, out of the Jordan. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem says: “the beginning of the world is water, the beginning of the gospel is the Jordan. From the water the light of day shone, for the Spirit of God, rushing at first “above the water,” commanded the light to shine from the darkness. From the Jordan the light of the holy Gospel shone. The First Teacher of the whole world , Christ is God's power and God's Wisdom, where did He begin His teaching? Was it not from the waters of Jordan? "Since then,- it is said in the Gospel, - Jesus began to preach and say: Repent"(). And immediately many teachers appeared after Him - these were the holy apostles whom He sent to preach. Thus, the waters gave life to both natural birds () and spiritual birds. For where were Peter and Andrew, James and John () called to the apostolic and teaching ministry? Isn't it from the water? The Lord chose His apostles from among the fishermen. Where did the Samaritan woman come from as a preacher about the true Messiah in her city? Is it not from the water of Jacob's spring (). Where did the blind man, who received his sight, come forward as a witness of the miraculous power of Christ? Is it not from the water of the pool of Siloam ()? All this was a foreshadowing of holy baptism, in which spiritual blindness is healed, sinful defilements are washed away, and church teachers receive divine wisdom. For through baptism that grace is given to a person, with the help of which he can acquire great understanding, and from there spiritual wings grow from the teachers of faith, according to the word of scripture: “They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary” ().

God the Son, like a kokosh, gathering scattered children under His wings, brings forth from the water of baptism His chicks - the holy martyrs, Himself, first of all, giving His flesh, baptized in water, to the wounds, Himself, first of all, laying down His life for us on the cross, so that we too were ready to die for Him. Let us remember here the words of the apostle: "We who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death"(). This means almost the same as if the apostle had said: everyone who is baptized into Christ must die for Him, must "to be united to Him in the likeness of His death"(). And who was so baptized into His death if not the holy martyrs who said: "For Your sake we are killed every day"()? Who else was like this "united with Him in the likeness of His death"(), to which He "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter"(), like not the holy martyrs, saying: "they consider us to be sheep doomed to the slaughter"(). That is why they sing: “having preached the lamb of God, be doomed to the slaughter like lambs.” Forty-nine saints were baptized in his death, as well as ten thousand martyrs who, with Saint Romilus, were crucified on the same day in the Armenian desert. And all the holy passion-bearers who shed their blood for Christ approached “in the likeness of His death,” as those who were baptized into His death. Even in the water of their baptism they were already predestined to the crown of martyrdom. The common kokosh has the custom of choosing the best grains for food and, having found them, calls its chicks to itself. Having accepted as true that all virtues are spiritual food, everyone must admit that there is no better grain, or no higher virtue, than love: "but love is greater than all"(), - and it is precisely this kind of love that lays down its soul for its beloved: “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”(). This grain of love was found and pointed out to His chicks by the spiritual kokosh - Christ the Lord, laying down His soul for his friends: "You,- He said to the apostles, - my friends"(). Called chicks - holy martyrs - flocked to this grain and began, prompted by love, to lay down their souls for the Lord, as one martyr speaks to the Lord: “I love you, my bridegroom, and for you I will accept suffering,” martyrs who, having been cast with the saint Callistratus into the lake, “united with Him in the likeness of His death,” , . Where were these spiritual chicks called to the seed of love? Was it not from the water of baptism, in which they were baptized into his death? Let us listen to Saint Anastasius of Sinaiti, who, about the prudent thief, for whom the water flowing from the ribs of Christ became the water of baptism, says: “to these birds (i.e., to the heavenly spirits) the holy thief flew from the life-giving water that flowed from all the birds, soaring along air in a swarm of birds together with the king - Christ."

God the Holy Spirit, like a dove, brings forth from the water of baptism its chicks - pigeons pure in body and soul, i.e. virgins. For until human nature in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, through the condescension and action of the Holy Spirit, was united with the Divinity and washed by the Jordanian waters, until then marriage was higher than virginity, until then there was little about virgin purity, observed for the glory of God. where it was known. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh"(). Then the flesh alone gave birth, but the spirit remained barren, which is why God once said: "My Spirit will not forever be despised by men, because they are flesh"(). When human nature descended onto the Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descended on it, then suddenly from the Spirit the highest life of marriage, virginity, was born, striving not for the carnal, but for the spiritual, according to the words of John the Theologian: "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"(). And since the spirit has greater honor than the flesh, then virginity, united into one spirit with the Lord, has become more honorable than a carnal marital union. Our nature, having ascended into a spiritual marital union with Christ in the Jordan, became fruitful and produced whole virgin faces. And such a spiritual marriage cannot produce anything other than virginity, as the prophet Zechariah pointed out when he said: "Wine belongs to the young women"(). By virgins the prophet means virgin faces. The Holy Spirit, according to the word of the prophet, is poured out like wine and produces virgins, for where the Holy Spirit pours out His grace, there virginity cannot but be born. Blessed Jerome, in his translation of the Holy Scriptures, successfully conveys the meaning of the said passage with the words: “wine that produces virgins.” In fact, that wine of grace of the Holy Spirit once poured out on the apostles and intoxicated them so much that to some they seemed drunk with wine and made them such virgins that no blemish remained in them and they became pure and whole as doves. On the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Church sings: “the spirit of salvation creates pure apostolic hearts.” So now, this wine is poured onto the waters of the Jordan, and who doubts that the waters of baptism, mixed with the wine of the Holy Spirit, produce virginity, according to the words of the prophecy: “wine that gives birth to virgins,” and moreover, such virgins as the apostle speaks to : “I have betrothed you to one husband in order to present you to Christ as a pure virgin”()? From the spiritual marriage of our nature with God, virginity is born from the Spirit, which the Holy Spirit, having brought forth from the water of baptism, introduces it into the heavenly abode.

Thus, each Person of the Most Holy Trinity, who appeared on the Jordan, from the waters of baptism his special spiritual chicks and, having brought them out, calls on them to fly on the wings of virtue given to them into the openings of heaven.

Firstly, God the Father, as a spiritual eagle, calls His chicks to flight - spiritual eagles, i.e. teachers, as having special wings, about which the Church sings: “God distributed to the chicks that arrived, and they ascended to heaven.” What kind of wings do those chicks have? There is no doubt that, in addition to other virtues common to all, there are two: deed and word. He is a church teacher, he is a high-flying eagle, who himself actually does what he teaches others in words. And that the wings of spiritual eagles really are word and deed, this is clearly shown in the book of Ezekiel the prophet, who once saw four animals with four wings each, driving the chariot of God. Those animals made noise with their wings: “And as they walked, I heard,” says the prophet, “the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty (i.e., the almighty or, but Symmachus’ translation, like the thunder of the mighty God), a loud noise, like noise in a military camp" (). Truly a great voice, an extraordinary song! However, what is surprising is not so much the voice itself, but where this voice came from. This voice did not come from the larynx, the word did not come from the tongue, the song did not come from the lips, but from the wings of these animals. The prophet says: “I heard the sound of their wings.” They sang, but not with their larynx, they praised God, but not with eloquent and verbose lips and tongue, but with the same wings on which they flew: “I heard the sound of their wings.”

What secret is hidden here? This secret is this: the animals driving God's chariot meant church teachers, who are vessels chosen to spread the name of God throughout the universe, and with their teaching they draw the Church of Christ, as if God's chariot, onto the straight road leading to heaven , in which there are many tens of thousands of believing souls. The wings of these animals, emitting a voice and singing, signify the deed and word of the teacher. The wings, which make it possible to fly, indicate that the church teacher himself must first show himself as a model of virtue, he himself must first, in his God-pleasing life, soar to the sky, as if feathered. The voice coming out of the wings of these animals means a teaching word; the teacher must emit a voice that is consistent with the strength of his flight, that is, he must teach the herd and at the same time he himself must live as he teaches. For the voice of a teacher does not bring such benefit when the wings of a godly life are not visible. Only that teacher ascends directly to the open sky above the Jordan, who flies not on one wing of the word, but also on the other wing - a virtuous life, who at the same time teaches in word and deed. It is not so easy for both teacher and student to be lifted to heaven by an intricately left word or a sweet-voiced mouth or a loud larynx, like the wings of good deeds.

God the Son, like a spiritual kokosh, calls His chicks - the holy martyrs - to fly. And the wings of virtue, which belong to them alone besides other common virtues, are the following two: faith and confession. About these martyr's wings the Apostle says: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confesses unto salvation.”(). Unshakable faith in the heart is one wing; bold confession with the lips of the name of Christ before kings and tormentors is another wing. The first spiritual bird to fly into heaven, the prudent thief who suffered with Christ on the cross, flew precisely on such wings of Faith and Confession. For at the time when our Lord, who voluntarily suffered for us, was abandoned by everyone, and when even Peter, who promised to die with Him, denied Him, one thief believed in Him with his heart and confessed with his lips, calling him King and Lord: “Remember me, Lord,” he said, “when you come into your kingdom.” How great was this faith of the thief when it became scarce in all the disciples of Christ ()! When all those who believed were offended by Christ, He alone was not offended, but prayed to Him with faith, which is why I heard these words from Him: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise"(). Saint Ambrose speaks about it this way: “at that hour when heaven accepted Christ, it also accepted the thief, but this glory was bestowed upon the thief by faith alone.” So it is clear that this bird, that is, the martyr crucified with Christ on the cross, flew into paradise not on any other wings than by faith confessed with the lips. “This glory,” says Saint Ambrose, “was bestowed upon the robber by faith alone.”

Finally, God the Holy Spirit, appearing in the form of a dove, calls on His chicks - virgins - to fly, for it is His nature to make man a winged bird that could penetrate into the highest regions. Saint Damascus sings, calling the spiritual doves, the holy virgins, to fly. Those doves have special wings of virtue: mortification of flesh and spirit. And that mortification of the flesh is one of the wings that lifts a person to heaven, about this Saint Ambrose (of Milan), interpreting the words of the Gospel: "you are better than many birds"(), says this: “the flesh, disposed to fulfill the Law of God and put off by sin, in purity of feelings is likened to the nature of the soul and ascends to heaven on spiritual wings.” Here the holy teacher of the Church speaks of assimilation to the nature of the soul, meaning mortification, of which the actual nature of the flesh, as it were, passes into the nature of the soul, when the worst is subordinated to the best and the flesh is enslaved to the spirit, when a person is freed from sin and purifies his feelings, which is not possible without killing. Having mortified his flesh, a person becomes light and feathered like a bird, and ascends to the sky on spiritual wings. So, the mortification of the body for virginity, soaring to heaven, is the first wing, for whoever wants to maintain purity must first of all mortify his flesh, as indicated by the words of the prophet David when the Holy Spirit turns to Christ with these words: "All Your garments are like myrrh and scarlet and casia"(). Here the interpreters of the Divine Scripture mean by myrrh - mortification of passions, by stactas - humility, by cassia - faith. These fragrances come from the clothes of Christ, that is, from his holy Church, from the believers, in whom He put on as a garment, taking on His flesh and indwelling those who live purely and holy. So the Holy Spirit seems to say this: mortification of passions, humility and faith, like precious aromas, are fragrant before Your Father from Your Church, from pure and virgin people who preserve the indicated virtues in their hearts, as if in vessels for preserving aromas. But let us ask: why does the Holy Spirit, glorifying the Church of Christ for various virtues, first of all praise it for mortifying the passions of believers, placing myrrh in the first place? In truth, in order to show that after the suppression of lawless lusts, after the cessation of carnal lust, after the mortification of the body, all other virtues follow, as if following their leader. So, the spiritual chicks of the Holy Spirit, that is, virgins who want to have heaven as their nest, first of all, need to have this wing, that is, mortification of the flesh.

Their second wing is mortification of the spirit, which consists of not only not committing sin in deed, but also not desiring it in the spirit, not thinking about it in the mind. You can be clean in body, but at the same time have various inappropriate desires, enjoying thoughts of the unclean. It is not in vain that the apostle exhorts: "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit"(). These words clearly indicate that there is extreme filth - uncleanness of the flesh and uncleanness of the spirit. For the flesh is accustomed to manifest itself in deeds, and the spirit in the thoughts and dispositions of the heart. It is in vain that it boasts of its purity and hopes to achieve heavenly glorification, that virginity, which keeps only the body uncorrupted, but does not try to cleanse the soul, defiled by thoughts and desires. For just as a bird cannot fly on one wing, so a virgin with only bodily purity, without spiritual purity, will not enter the palace of heaven. The one who carefully preserves both purities, like a dove, will fly in the wake of the One who appeared “in the form of a dove.”

And so we heard what God did, one in Three Persons, who appeared on the waters of the Jordan during the renewal of the world - how He brought out from the waters of baptism the spiritual chicks of the church - teachers, martyrs, virgins and called them "into the open heavens." May there be, both from teachers, martyrs and virgins, and from us sinners - to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - to God who appeared on the Jordan, honor, glory, worship and thanksgiving, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

To the right of Christ (to the left, when viewed from the side of the pilgrim) - on the banks of the Jordan - is the figure of the Forerunner of the Lord. One of his hands is depicted placed above the Savior’s head - a sign that he performed Baptism. In the other hand a cross may be depicted - a symbol of the suffering of the Cross and the death of Christ and at the same time a sign of victory over the devil, hell and death. Through this, a semantic connection is revealed between the Baptism of the Lord and the subsequent suffering on the Cross and the death of the Savior (remember that John pointed to Christ as the (sacrificial) Lamb ()). In another version of the image, John’s second hand is turned with the palm facing Heaven, which emphasizes his spiritual, grace-filled connection with God, his obedience to God. As a rule, John the Baptist is depicted as standing above Christ, which, when interpreted literally, is explained as follows: he is on the shore, while the Savior is in the waters of the river. At the same time, the pronounced bending of John’s figure emphasizes that in spiritual terms he is not “higher” than Christ: Christ is the Son of God, and he is the servant of God.

Often bright angels are depicted on the opposite side of John. Outwardly, they resemble recipients during the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism in the Church (note that the Baptism of the Lord in a certain respect is an example of the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism).

At the top of the icon is a ray pouring out from the Heavenly sphere, penetrating into a small sphere, inside which is a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit - and then diverging into three rays. A single ray points to the One God, to the unity of Divine action, while three rays point to the Three Divine Hypostases.

The shoreline of the Jordan is usually depicted in such a way that the river resembles a break in the surface of the earth. This can be seen as an indication of Christ’s upcoming descent into hell (in relation to the time of Baptism). This idea is emphasized even more expressively in those sacred images where the waters are depicted in dark colors (on some icons under the feet of Christ there is an image reminiscent of the image present on the icons of the Resurrection of Christ - the image of the crossed gates of hell).

Often two allegorical figures are marked near the feet of the Messiah. One of them represents the Jordan, and the other the Red Sea. This is due to the fact that the miraculous passage of the Jewish people through the Red Sea, as well as the miraculous passage of the Jews across the Jordan, prefigured the Sacrament of Baptism. This symbol corresponds to the biblical verse: “The sea saw and ran; Jordan turned back" ()

The composition can be supplemented with private details, for example, those depicted near Christ, in the water, fish and/or people.

Liturgical (liturgical) features

The evening before, an all-night vigil is held. See in.

Epiphany is one of the great twelve holidays. In the Orthodox Church it is celebrated with grandeur equal to the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, united by Christmastide (from December 25 to January 6), constitute one majestic and soul-saving celebration.

The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. Its services are similar to the service of the Eve of the Nativity of Christ.

On the Eve of Epiphany, January 3 (as well as on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes strict fasting: eating food once after the blessing of water. If the Vespers happens on Saturday and Sunday, the fast is made easier: eating food is allowed twice - also after the Liturgy.

Canons and Akathists

Song 1

Irmos: He opened the bottom of the depths, and draws in His dry land, covering the contrary in it, the Lord, mighty in battle, is glorified.

Chorus:

Adam, who has decayed, is renewed by the streams of the Jordan, and the heads of the nesting serpents are crushed by the King of ages, the Lord, because he has become glorified. ( Twice.)

Glory: Having clothed himself with the immaterial fire of the Divine in material flesh, he is surrounded by the water of the Jordan, incarnated from the Virgin, as if the Lord was glorified.

And now: Wash away the filth of men, and hereby cleanse yourself in the Jordan, having desired to become like Him, even as He abided, enlightening those in darkness, as if He were glorified.

Song 3

Irmos: The Lord give strength to our kings, and lift up the horn of His anointed ones, who are born of the Virgin and come to baptism. To this faithful we cry: He is holy, as is our God.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

Barren in ancient times and childless in rage, today the Church of Christ rejoices: for by water and by the Spirit you were born a son, crying out by faith: He is not holy like our God. ( Twice.)

Glory: With a great voice in the desert the Forerunner cries: Prepare the ways for Christ, and make right the paths of our God, crying out by faith: there is no one as holy as our God.

And now: Same.

Lord have mercy. ( Three times.) Glory, and now:

Ipakoi, voice 5th

When You have enlightened all things by Your appearance, then the dark sea of ​​unbelief ran away, and the long-flowing Jordan returned, lifting us up to heaven: but keep the height of Your Divine commandments, O Christ our God, with the prayers of the Mother of God, and have mercy on us.

Song 4

Irmos: Having heard, O Lord, Thy voice, which Thou didst proclaim, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, as Thou didst thunder over many waters, Thou testifying unto Thy Son, having been all the descended Spirit, cry out: Thou art the Christ, God's Wisdom and Power.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

Who sees the sun being cleansed, the preacher crying out, luminous by nature? May You have the radiance of glory with the waters, I will wash the image of the Ever-present Father, and I will touch Your Divinity with the hay of the fire; For you are Christ, God's Wisdom and Power. ( Twice.)

Glory: Reveal the Divine, Moses, who had reverence, came to You: for from the bush, having cried out to You in your mind, Abi turned away your face; How can I see you clearly? Or how will I put my hand on you? For you are Christ, God's Wisdom and Power.

And now: When I do spiritual things, I am ashamed of the soulless, and with the word venerable. Even if I baptize You, the mountain is smoking with fire, the sea runs away in two, and this Jordan returns; For you are Christ, God's Wisdom and Power.

Song 5

Irmos: Jesus is the leader of the belly, to resolve the condemnation that is coming on the first-created Adam, but as if God did not require cleansing, He cleanses the fallen in the Jordan; Having killed enmity in him, he bestows peace upon all minds.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

To those who gathered without number to be baptized by John, he himself was in the midst of a hundred of them, and proclaim to those present: who showed you, disobedience, anger, to turn away from wanting to be? Create fruits worthy of Christ, for those who stand now will bestow peace. ( Twice.)

Glory: The Maker and Creator stand in the middle, as He alone tests all hearts; he takes the cleaning shovel with his hand, separates the world threshing floor with all wisdom, scorches barrenness, and bestows eternal life on the fertile.

And now: Same.

Song 6

Irmos: Voice of the Word, lamp of Light, star of the Sun, Forerunner, in the desert, repent, cries out to all people, and be purified: behold, Christ is coming to deliver the world from aphids.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

Born incorruptibly from God and the Father, from the Virgin, in addition to filth, Christ is incarnated: His belt, even the words of reckoning from us, teaches the Forerunner to resolve inconvenience, delivering earth-born from flattery. ( Twice.)

Glory: Christ baptizes with finite fire those who oppose Him, and not those who reason with God; With the Spirit He renews His Divinity with the water of grace, delivering Him from sins.

And now: Same.

Lord have mercy. ( Three times.) Glory, and now:

Kontakion, tone 4

Thou hast appeared this day to the universe, and Thy light, O Lord, has appeared upon us, in the minds of those who sing Thee: Thou hast come, and Thou hast appeared, the Unapproachable Light.

Ikos

Galilee of the pagans, Zebulun of the land and Naphtali of the earth, as the prophet said, Christ has risen as a great light. To the darkened the bright dawn has appeared, shining from Bethlehem, and even more so from Mary the Lord, the rays of the entire universe are shining, the Sun of Truth. The same people as from Adam, come, let us all put on Him, that we may be warmed; covers the bare and enlightens the dark. You came, and you appeared as the Unapproachable Light.

Song 7

Irmos: The pious youths, who have partaken of the fiery furnace, preserve the rustling dewy spirit unharmed, and the descent of God's Angel. In the same way, sprinkled with flames, I sang in gratitude: O blessed of the fathers, O Lord and God, blessed art thou.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

As in heaven I stand with awe and wonder, in the Jordan the forces of Angels, watching a fraction of God’s descent: as if you hold the composition of the highest waters, in the waters the Flesh Bearer stands, the God of our fathers. ( Twice.)

Glory: The ancient cloud and the Divine sea are a prototype of the miracle of baptism, in which the ancient people were baptized, proceeding from the law. The sea is the image of water, and the cloud of the Spirit: in the image of whom we do, blessed art thou, we call, Lord God, forever.

And now: Let us glorify all the faithfulness, in Him we have received, theologically and silently with the Angels, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; Behold, the Trinity is Consubstantial with Hypostases, and One God, to Him we sing: Blessed art thou, O Lord God, unto the ages.

Song 8

Irmos: The glorious mystery of the Babylonian cave was revealed, pouring out dew, as if with streams the name of the immaterial Fire was perceived by the Jordan, and embraced in the flesh of the baptized Creator; People will bless Him and praise Him forever.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

Put aside all fear, the Deliverer of the Forerunner said, obey Me, as the Good One, come to Me, for this was by nature. Submit to My command and baptize Me who came down: He will be blessed by people and exalted to all ages. ( Twice.)

Glory: Hearing the words of the Baptist of the Lady, he stretches out his hand with trembling: but with his hand touching the top of his Creator, He who was baptized cried out: sanctify me, for You are my God, Whom people will bless and exalt for all ages.

And now: The Trinity appeared in the Jordan, so the Divine nature itself, the Father, cried out: This is the baptized Son, my beloved; The Spirit came to something like this, and people will bless Him and extol Him to all ages.

Song 9

Irmos: Every tongue is perplexed to praise according to its inheritance, but the mind and the worldly praise of Thee, Mother of God, are astounded. Moreover, being a Good being, accept faith, for our love is divine: You are the Representative of Christians, we magnify You.

Glory, Lord, to Your holy Epiphany.

David, come in spirit to those who are enlightened, now come, sing to God by faith, saying: Be enlightened, this poor man cried out to Adam in his fall; For the Lord heard him, and came with the streams of the Jordan, and renewed him that was corruptible. ( Twice.)

Glory: Isaiah, wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, he says, leave wickedness before the Lord, let those who thirst for living water come: for Christ sprinkles water, renewing those who come to Him in faith, and baptizes with the Spirit to an ageless life.

And now: We are observed by the grace of faith and the seal: for the destroyer of the Bezhasha, the Jews of Prague were bloodied from ancient times. This is also the original Divine for us, and there will be a bathhouse again. From here also the Trinity we will see the Light that never sets.

Zadostoynik

Oh, more than the mind of Your Christmas miracles, All-Pure Bride, Blessed Mother! Having received all-perfect salvation, we worthily praise him as the Benefactor, bearing the gift of a song of thanksgiving.

Audio:

Kontakion 1

Chosen by the Voevodo, the King of heaven and earth, You, our Enlightener, were seen in the Jordan by a slave who was baptized, the heavens were horrified, and the whole earth trembled, the angels were surprised and all creation rejoiced. We, who are unworthy, cry out in gratitude to You: You appeared to sinners and publicans, and washed away the sins of men with waters.

Ikos 1

Today the angelic forces are coming, the Lord Christ is seen, to the Jordanian streams of the coming to cleanse Adam's sin, and looking at the great mystery of God, with fear glorify His great condescension, as God became like man and does not at all know sin comes, as the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the whole world. For this reason, glorifying the Divine appearance of Christ, sing to Him as in Bethlehem the doxology:

Glory to You, Son of God, who came from the Father from heaven to this world.

Glory to Thee, Most High God, who even descended to the level of a slave.

Glory to Thee, Savior of the world, as a man came to John to be baptized.

Glory to You, the Enlightener of creation, like the new Adam of fallen Adam, who bore the sins of Himself.

Glory to Thee, beginningless Light, the great dawn of enlightenment for the whole world to dawn on the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, Sun of righteousness, the luminous morning of grace granted to man in Thy Epiphany.

Glory to You, the world has been washed away from ancient charms by the One who has come.

Glory to Thee, who showed us the great piety of the sacrament.

Glory to You, who has created great miracles for us with many waters.

Glory to You, who enlightened the heavens and the whole earth with the light of reason.

Glory to You, who drowned the mental Pharaoh in the streams of the Jordan.

Glory to You, who brought new people to eternal life in the waters of baptism.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 2

Seeing in spirit your Divine Forerunner, O Christ, coming into the world, coming from the desert to the Jordan, the people cried brightly: Come near and our Redemption has appeared, repent and be cleansed with water, and strive to meet Him, so that with pure thoughts enlightened, pure souls and undefiled lips with joy sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Revealing the heavenly mind within yourself, the lamp of Light, the great Forerunner, cry out to people: Cleanse yourself, for Christ is coming to deliver the world from aphids, to resolve the condemnation of the primeval Adam. Let the desert of Jordan rejoice and prosper like a creen, and let the whole earth now, as prophesied, rejoice. Prepare the way of the Lord and make the right paths of our God; all of you cry out to Him with joy:

Glory to Thee, ineffable Light, presented to the world from the lamp.

Glory to Thee, incomprehensible Word, foretold by Thy voice by the Forerunner.

Glory to Thee, purifying Fire, whose action consumes all impurity.

Glory to You, Source of grace, by Whom all human nature is sanctified.

Glory to Thee, Creator of heaven and earth, who desired to be baptized by a slave.

Glory to You, Only Begotten Son, you were willing to appear on the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, the King of Truth, the Worthless Forerunner allowed the strap of his boot to be afraid.

Glory to Thee, Master of creation, in Whom the whole human race rejoiced in Thy baptism.

Glory to Thee, Eternal God, for Thy appearance enlightens and instructs infants.

Glory to You, Light of the world, for Your coming enlightens and makes the blind wise.

Glory to You, for You are the source of life.

Glory to You, for in Your light we will see light.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 3

The Forerunner, realizing the power of Your Divinity, Christ, when she came to the Jordan with fear, rejoices in her soul and trembles, showing Thee with her hand, and says to people: This is the one who delivers the world from corruption. This - free us from sorrow. This one, instead of slaves, will make us sons of God. This one, instead of darkness, enlightens people with the water of Divine baptism. Behold, the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world, Who taketh away, crying: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the wealth of mercy, you came to the Jordan River as a sinner and tax collector, O Jesus, for you did not endure to see the human race tormented by the devil, but you came and again said to the fallen Adam: “Where are you? Don't hide from Me. I want to see you, even though you are naked and poor, and thus become like you, so that you are not ashamed.” For this reason we preach Your great condescension, crying out to You like this:

Glory to You, good Shepherd, seek the lost sheep of your will.

Glory to You, Only Begotten Son, who came to bear this.

Glory to Thee, immeasurable Mercy, to the fallen people.

Glory to You, Unspeakable Love, people who have brought despair and grief.

Glory to Thee, strengthen the weak hands of the poor.

Glory to Thee, you heal the weak knees of the poor.

Glory to Thee, thirsty desert like joyful Lebanon.

Glory to Thee, O desert of the Jordan, as Carmel grew forth.

Glory to Thee, O Merciful One, as smoking flax does not go out.

Glory to You, Long-suffering, for you do not destroy broken reeds.

Glory to You, you who came to seek and save the lost.

Glory to Thee, you wished to call upon the rejected Adam.

Glory to you, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and enlightened the whole world, glory to you.

Kontakion 4

The Forerunner, Christ the King, was filled with a storm of doubtful thoughts when You, as a man came to the river and You wanted to receive slave baptism from him, saying: Stretch out your hand and touch My top and shake off all the horror, doing what was commanded. Then the Forerunner was trembling and cried out, saying: Why did you come to the servant, without filth, Lord? What do you command us, who are above me? The heights of the heavens are not the same number as any of the stars, nor have I measured the earth below. How can I baptize the creature who carries a handful? How will the lamp of Light illuminate? What hand will a slave lay on the Master? I demand to be baptized by You, so that I may sing to You: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing the Lover of Mankind, the Lord of the humble Forerunners, the height of the verb and seeing his fear, he spoke to him: Good, O John, for you are in reverence before Me, but leave now and put aside your fear, you must serve Me, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness, that in Me people's sins will be cleansed. We heed this philanthropic word of Yours, and cry out to You with love:

Glory to You, Christ, True Light, for mercy and truth have been revealed to You.

Glory to You, the King of Truth, for the truth and the world have embraced you.

Glory to Thee, Sweetest Jesus, for Thy truth rose up from the earth in Bethlehem.

Glory to Thee, Most Merciful Savior, for Thy righteousness in the Jordan came from heaven.

Glory to Thee, our purification, as with the waters of baptism you make us whiter than snow.

Glory to Thee, our Enlightenment, for through the streams of grace you create a pure heart within us.

Glory to Thee, who bowed the heavens with condescension, and bowed Thy head under the hand of the Forerunner.

Glory to Thee, covering Thy most exalted waters, plunging into the waters of the Jordan with favor.

Glory to Thee, Lord of hosts, Whom everyone fears and trembles, great fear of the Forerunner to postpone the command.

Glory to You, generous Father, whose mercy is immeasurable and unexplored; with Your mercy you are willing to cover the sins of the world.

Glory to Thee, born of the Virgin, our Savior, visit us with Thy ineffable condescension.

Glory to You, appear to the whole world, Christ our God, sanctify us with Your Divine appearance.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 5

God-flowing stream of goodness, Lord, you ascended into the streams of the Jordan, so that you washed away human sin with its waters. It was horror to see the Creator of heaven and earth naked and receiving baptism from a slave. The angelic powers marveled, but the Jordan River returned its streams, unable to endure the fire consuming its waters, as it is not usual for it to wash away the Pure and wipe away the Sinless. For this reason, let the Jordan River rejoice, and let the springs and lakes rejoice, and all the abysses and seas, for the watery nature is sanctified today, freed from the prince of darkness lurking there, and let all creation sing with us in joy: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen Thee, the Divine John, the Master of creation, immersed in the waters, and submerged the sins of the whole world, and, having been naked, and clothed Adam’s nakedness again in the garment of glory, trembled in soul and cried out to Thee, the Lamb of God, who cleanses the sins of the world: “I dare not touch Thy top, Master.” “Sanctify and enlighten me, for You are the Life and Light and Peace of the world.” Moreover, according to Thy word, with fear, lay Thy right hand on Thy Divine head, and having baptized Thee, O sinless being, cry out to Thy face with joy:

Glory to You, Lamb of God, who came to take upon Yourself the sins of the whole world.

Glory to Thee, O merciful Savior, you willed to drown the sins of all people in the waters of the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, having washed us from the filth of sin.

Glory to You, you who solved Adam’s crime.

Glory to Thee, by Thy Manifestation of God on earth all men rejoice.

Glory to You, who enlightened the whole world with Your Baptism in the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, for the sake of us, to the image of a slave, impoverished.

Glory to You, Who has enriched us through Your poverty.

Glory to Thee, who by Thy humility have completely overthrown the enemy's dominion.

Glory to Thee, Who began to build the Kingdom of God in Thy baptism on earth.

Glory to You, who showed the path of Salvation on the Jordan to fallen people.

Glory to Thee, the Light of the knowledge of God who has risen there to Thy faithful.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 6

The wondrous preacher and Forerunner John spoke many things to the people who came, in order to prepare the way for You, O Lord, keep silent, I came to You to the Jordan, before You Yourself proclaimed to him: “I do not say to you: what words have I spoken to the wicked and taught to sinners, only to baptize I'm silent." It is not fitting for a human voice to shout when the Word of God has come and such a mystery is taking place, when the Angels of God stand with fear and all creation trembles. For this reason, we, in deep silence and with much reverence, cry out in our hearts: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

A great enlightenment and a terrible mystery appeared on the Jordan for the whole world, when, Lord Christ, having been baptized by John, You arose from the water, “bringing up the world with You,” and behold, the heavens were opened to You, even as Adam of old closed for himself and for those who are from him, yes Once reborn by You, people will ascend to the heavenly abodes, where with joy they will sing to You:

Glory to You, King of the world, who destroyed the mediastinum of the enemy.

Glory to Thee, the Giver of mercy, who closed paradise through disobedience, and opened it again.

Glory to Thee, heaven closed by sin, who once again showed the opening on the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, the angels ascending and descending from here to appear to the one who promised.

Glory to Thee, Who by Thy descent has bowed the heavens to the earth.

Glory to You, who raised the earth to heaven through Your baptism.

Glory to Thee, who revealed the inexpressible mysteries of God to the whole world by the revelation of heaven.

Glory to Thee, by the appearance of the heavenly world, God’s most holy blessing has been given to all the faithful.

Glory to Thee, who closed the heavens with Elijah, do not close the doors of Thy mercy to us.

Glory to You, who opened the heavens on the Jordan, open to us the entrances of Your Divine Palace.

Glory to Thee, who revealed to us the abyss of humanity at Thy baptism, raise from the abyss of the earth all those who have reached despair to the enemy.

Glory to Thee, Who hast created the rise to the third heaven of Thy chosen ones, lift us up to the heavenly abodes, too, who have fallen to the depths of sin.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 7

Although the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, saves the world that is perishing in sins, He revealed His great mystery of the Trinity Epiphany, and just as at the beginning of worldly existence the Spirit of God hovered on top of the water, like the Giver of life, so also at Your baptism, Lord, when on the River Jordan you wanted to renew and enlighten the perishing. the human race and all creation groaning with us, the same Holy Spirit again descended from heaven in the form of a dove and rested upon You, Lord, as upon the new Adam, who will henceforth abide in the new people who have been reborn by the washing of water, so that they have been endowed with power from above in renewal of the spirit will begin to walk, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

You showed a new creation, Master of creation, in Your saving baptism from John, just as at Noah you drowned the sins of the first world, so in the waters of the Jordan you again drowned the sins of the whole world, for you created new things on earth with fire and Spirit and water, bringing about a strange rebirth and wonderful update. For with the Spirit you renew the souls, and with water you sanctify the body, edifying man, and thus, mysteriously from water, you have made through the Spirit the many-children Church, so that we always cry out to You like this:

Glory to Thee, Creator of creation, who bowed the heavens and descended onto the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, Savior of the world, who opened the heavens and showed us the Divine Spirit.

Glory to Thee, O All-Blessed One, for Thy Good Spirit will guide us to rightness on earth.

Glory to You, All-Bountiful One, for Your Spirit will also cleanse us from all filth.

Glory to You, through water and Spirit, who has renewed our nature, worn out by sin.

Glory to Thee, who through the fire of the Divine in the streams of the Jordan bestowed much-lighted enlightenment.

Glory to Thee, Christ, all the Divine powers, even to life and piety, who were imparted by Thy Holy Spirit at baptism to the faithful.

Glory to Thee, Jesus, who through the descent of Thy Holy Spirit made us partakers of the Divine nature.

Glory to You, who has rested on You with the Spirit of wisdom and reason and revealed pure knowledge of God to people.

Glory to Thee, by the descent upon Thee of the Spirit of God, the spirit of counsel and strength, knowledge and piety, and the spirit of the fear of God, pouring out unto us.

Glory to Thee, who scorched the heads of the serpent with the Jordan stream.

Glory to Thee, by the manifestation of the Spirit of God in the form of a dove, who called us to dove meekness and virgin purity.

Kontakion 8

It was strange and wonderful to see the appearance of the Holy Trinity on the Jordan: first the Beloved Son appeared in the flesh from a baptized servant, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and then the Divine Father cried out from heaven, testifying: “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” . Oh, great and glorious mystery: “The Lord and the Most High will roar from heaven,” may the prophecy of David the forefather be fulfilled: “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of Glory will roar, the Lord upon many waters.” The Voice of the Lord is in strength, The Voice of the Lord is in splendor.” For this reason, with unworthy lips we cry out to You from the depths of our souls: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You are all in the highest, Jesus, I am a neighbor with the Father in heaven, but you also in no way depart from the lower ones, born in the flesh of the Pure Virgin in Bethlehem, now appearing on the Jordan to the whole world, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death with the light of Your Epiphany. For this reason, enlightened by the light of the Trinity Revelation, we cry out to You, who appeared to God, and was seen on earth and enlightened the world:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, worshiped in the highest with the Father and the Spirit.

Glory to Thee, Son of the Father, Glorified by the Forerunner from below.

Glory to Thee, gray-haired at the right hand of the Father, preached by a Fatherly voice from heaven.

Glory to Thee, who became incarnate for our sake, called the beloved Son of God from Him to the whole world.

Glory to Thee, revealed in the streams of the Jordan, the Light of the Trinity shown in Thy baptism.

Glory to Thee, baptized into the hand of a servant, making us sons of God, who are in the washing of rebirth, sons of God.

Glory to Thee, Source of life and immortality, who brought us by birth by water and Spirit to the first nobility of paradise.

Glory to Thee, Creator of heaven and earth, by fiery baptism the new heaven and earth of Thy righteousness are to be built.

Glory to Thee, the East of the east, in the darkness and shadows sleeping, enlightened by Thy baptism.

Glory to You, Light from Light, the invisible Light of Your Spirit shining in our souls.

Glory to You, the beginningless King, with the pure streams of Your baptism, ancestral sin is completely washed away.

Glory to Thee, Lord of creation, who richly gives thirsty people the water of eternal life to drink.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 9

The whole angelic nature was amazed at Thy great Epiphany sacrament: Thou didst renew Adam, who had decayed through sin, with the streams of the Jordan, and Thou shattered the heads of the invisible serpents nesting there in Thy baptism, and so Thou didst open the “depths of the abyss of Satan”, and deliver us from it. “deep waters,” and may you begin to build Your Kingdom, which is not of this world, about which the prophet David prophesied, saying: “Your Kingdom is the kingdom of all ages and Your Dominion is in every generation and generation,” which we glorify with howls from heaven cry out to you: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The Divine Vitas and the Angel of God, prophesied by Malachi, the great Forerunner alone was granted by man, Lord, in Your baptism of the Spirit to see the coming and hear the voice of the Father from heaven, testifying to Your Sonship of God, may he be the first preacher of the Trinity Epiphany to the whole world. That morning she testified to people, saying: “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and remaining on Him... And I saw and testified that this is the Son of God.” We listen to this revealed testimony and glorify Your Epiphany, O Christ, singing to You like this:

Glory to Thee, Eternal God, testified from heaven by the appearance of the Holy Spirit.

Glory to Thee, Immaculate Lamb, preached to the earth by the voice of the Forerunner.

Glory to Thee, the highest Fortress, who opened the closed heavenly gates to us by opening the heavenly gates above the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, Eternal Mercy, Who through Thy baptism brought forth a new world from the waters of the Jordan to man.

Glory to You, the King of the world, who proclaimed peace and salvation on earth.

Glory to Thee, the Sun of righteousness, the light of Thy righteousness that has risen in our souls.

Glory to You, Who revealed the Holy Spirit in Your Epiphany, so that with a pure spirit we may descend into Your heavenly palace.

Glory to You, the Heavenly Father who showed us in Your baptism, so that His sons who believe in You will have all the rights.

Glory to Thee, in Dus and fire, our nature, darkened by sin, is gloriously enlightening.

Glory to Thee, who most brightly cleanses our weakness, corrupted by passions, through water and the Spirit.

Glory to You, God revealed in flesh, who renewed the whole world in the streams of the Jordan.

Glory to You, who took upon yourself the sins of the world, who drowned the ancestral sin in the waters of Baptism.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan, and the whole world has been enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 10

Although you might save our fallen and impoverished nature, O Christ the Savior, you came to the Jordan River as a sinner and publican and received baptism from John, when all people were baptized, so that you may take upon yourself all the sins of men, immersed there in the waters, as the Lamb of God and May you now be ready, by your will, to slaughter your mother-in-law, to atone for the sins of the whole world with Your precious blood. For this reason, you immersed yourself in the Jordanian streams, and having buried yourself there, you prepared yourself for mortal baptism, about which you proclaimed the suffering that was coming: “The imam will be baptized with baptism and how I languish until they are exhausted.” For this reason, we sing in gratitude to You: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

To the Eternal King Christ Jesus! You came to the Jordan as a manifestation to the whole world, and may you resolve the condemnation of the primordial Adam, as the all-merciful Judge, who alone tests the hearts of all, and may you give new life to man. For this reason, you took the cleaning shovel with your hand, you cleansed the world threshing floor with all wisdom, separating, like a Shepherd, the sheep from the goats. Grant us also, baptized in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, to seek the gums of those being saved in this life in every possible way, so that our prayer to You may be pleasing to You:

Glory to Thee, Bishop, who passed through the heavens, and in Thy baptism made the whole earth numb.

Glory to You, great Shepherd of the sheep, who came to Your flock at the Jordan.

Glory to You, who founded the earth on the waters, renewing all our land on the waters of the Jordan with the grace of the Spirit.

Glory to You, you established a second sky above the waters, a new sky, creating Your Church with the waters of baptism.

Glory to Thee, the Source of our life, Who has called Thy thirsty people to the sources of salvation.

Glory to You, Preacher of eternal righteousness, quenching our spiritual thirst without price or silver.

Glory to You, for You are rich in mercy, for You have loved us with great love.

Glory to Thee, for Thou hast revived us, who were dead in our sins, with the waters of baptism.

Glory to You, who was buried by the streams of the Jordan, so that we too may be buried by You in baptism into death and resurrection.

Glory to You, the waters of the Jordan, as if clothed with a robe, so that we too may be clothed in the bright robe of truth and purity by You.

Glory to You, who destroyed the mediastinum of enmity with Your flesh, and made us, who are far away in the sea, close to You.

Glory to You, who reconciled your people in your one body, and created us strangers and strangers into the one Church of God.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 11

Let all creation sing to You, Christ, who was born of the Virgin and today baptized in the Jordan, and let all people rejoice spiritually, glorifying the triumph of our bright enlightenment and sing with the divine Gregory, saying: “The time of rebirth - let us be reborn from above, the day of rebirth - let us put on the new Adam, the holiday of enlightenment - let us be divinely enlightened,” and let us begin to walk in renewal of the spirit, taking out the Angels singing a heavenly song: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Bright and self-radiant Light, Christ, co-essential with the Light of the Consubstantial Father! You have kindled Your most pure flesh in the middle of the Jordan, like a lamp, You have shone like the sun and You have given to the universe in Your baptism the great and invisible light of Your grace and truth, enlighten every person coming into the world, so that people sitting in darkness and the shadow of death will see the light great and they will follow it. Enlighten us, then, on the great day of lights, who are still wandering in the darkness of sin, so that, enlightened, renewed and exalted, we will sing to You like this:

Glory to You, the Enlightener of the world, who came to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Glory to You, the Savior of sinners, who wanted to raise us from the depths of sin. Glory to you, beginningless and ever-present Light, cleanse the filth of our souls with the waters of baptism.

Glory to Thee, Light that exceeds all lordships, illuminating the faithful in the lordships of Thy saints.

Glory to Thee, Glory of the Father's Radiance, who dispersed the darkness of ignorance by Thy appearance.

Glory to Thee, in the living light, unapproachable, the light of the knowledge of God shining through Thy baptism.

Glory to You, Light from Light in the darkness, cleanse us from the darkness of sins.

Glory to Thee, Sun of righteousness, proclaiming the morning of salvation, instruct us in the light of good deeds.

Glory to Thee, never-evening Light, shining in the Jordan, in Thy light shine upon us the unstoppable light of the Most Holy Trinity.

Glory to Thee, the most luminous image of the Father’s hypostasis, lead us to the wonderful ageless life through the bath of rebirth.

Glory to Thee, Destroyer of Death, deliver us from eternal death.

Glory to Thee, Master of life, guide us to eternal life.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 12

The saving grace of God for all mankind has appeared today in Your baptism, Christ the Savior: for You came to the Jordan, the Only Pure One, to cleanse human sins and crush the heads of the serpents nesting there, so that You may grant the decisive grace of baptism to our souls and bodies. For this reason, with piety, let us diligently draw upon the most pure spring, so that we may draw with joy the water of life, for the grace of the Spirit is invisibly given to all who faithfully draw it, and the secret gift and the Spirit of knowledge, O Savior, let us all sing gratefully to You: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing, O Christ, Your saving Epiphany, we all glorify Your Divine Baptism in the Jordanian waters from John, we worship Your ineffable condescension towards fallen man and believe with the Forerunner that You are truly the Lamb of God, take away from the waters of the Jordan the sins of the whole world, and wash away and redeem them with Your Most Pure Blood. For this reason, we pray to Thee: bear also our countless sins and do not deprive us on the great day of the Lights of Thy gracious rebirth, and with a pure heart we cry out to Thee in gratitude:

Glory to You, Son of God, great light for the enlightenment of the whole world in the waters of the Jordan.

Glory to Thee, Eternal God, Who showed great grace and love for mankind in Thy Baptism to all mankind.

Glory to Thee, Savior of the lost, who have come to seek the Jordanian streams as they have lost their way.

Glory to Thee, the Conqueror of life, grant a new pure life not according to the flesh, but for the renewal of the spirit to the one who has favored.

Glory to Thee, Lord of life and death, who has dulled the sting of death and who has risen up with the appearance of imperishable life.

Glory to Thee, Creator of heaven and earth, the heavens above and the earth on the banks of the Jordan, who made glad in Thy baptism.

Glory to You, the King of those who reign, for the kingdom of this world from now on begins to be transformed into Your Kingdom.

Glory to Thee, Lord of lords, for today the heavens are opened to all who want to be saved and our whole nature begins to become white.

Glory to You, our Savior, who came to the Jordan, save us not from works of righteousness, but according to Your great mercy.

Glory to Thee, Christ God, who sanctified the watery nature, watered my thirsty soul for piety with waters according to Thy ineffable goodness.

Glory to You, Only Begotten Son and Word of God, nourish my heart with the manifestation of Your words.

Glory to You, Almighty God, You alone work miracles, warm my cold soul with the understanding of Your miracles.

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan and the whole world was enlightened, glory to Thee.

Kontakion 13

Oh, Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, who came to the Jordan to take away the sins of the whole world! Accept this little prayer that we bring to You with all our souls, and enlighten us in the darkness of the sins of those who sit with Your saving baptism from John, so that through Your redemption from mental and physical illnesses, in the renewal of life, let us begin to walk the right way, and with all the saints, let us sing to You: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born from the Father before all ages, Light from Light, enlightening everything, in the last year of the Most Holy Virgin Mary incorruptible incarnate and coming into this world for our salvation! You did not suffer to see the human race tormented by the devil, and for this sake, on the bright day of Your Epiphany, you came to the Jordan to a sinner and a publican to be baptized by John, sinless, that you might fulfill all righteousness and take away the sins of the whole world in the waters of the Jordan, like a Lamb God, what I have to bear on Myself and atone for with Baptism of the Cross, Thy Most Pure Blood. For this reason, I immersed You in the waters, the heavens enclosed by Adam were opened to You, and the Holy Spirit descended on You in the form of a dove, bringing enlightenment and deification to our nature, and Your Divine Father proclaimed His favor to You with a heavenly voice, You have already done His will and man has accepted His sins. and You have already prepared for Yourself the slaughter, just as You Himself declared: “For this sake the Father loves Me, because I lay down My soul, that I may receive it again,” and so on this all-bright day, You, Lord, laid the foundation for our redemption from the Fall ancestral For this reason, all the powers of heaven rejoice and all creation rejoices, expecting their liberation from the work of corruption, saying: Enlightenment has come, grace has appeared, deliverance has come, the world has been enlightened and people are filled with joy. Let heaven and earth rejoice now, and let the whole world play; let the rivers splash; May springs and lakes, abysses and seas rejoice, for their nature has been sanctified today by Divine Baptism. Let the assembly of men rejoice today, for their nature has now returned to the first nobility, and let them all sing with joy: It is time for the Epiphany. Come mentally to the Jordan, we will see a great vision in it: Christ is coming to Baptism. Christ comes to Jordan. Christ buries our sins in water. Christ comes to look for the stolen and erring sheep and, having found it, brings him into paradise.

As we celebrate the remembrance of this Divine Sacrament, we earnestly pray to Thee, O Lord who loves mankind: grant us, who thirst at Thy voice, to come to Thee, the Source of ever-living water, so that we may draw the water of Thy grace and the remission of our sins and renounce wickedness and worldly lusts; Let us live chastely and virginally, and righteously and piously in this present world, awaiting the blessed hope and the manifestation of Thy glory, the Great God and our Savior, who may save us not from our deeds, but by Thy mercy and by the renewal of Thy Holy Spirit by the washing of regeneration, which is abundantly Thou hast poured it out, so that, having been justified by His grace, we will be heirs of eternal life in Thy Kingdom, where, with all the saints, grant us to glorify Thy all-holy Name with Thy Beginning Father and with Thy Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Song 1

Irmos: A turbulent sea storm is moving, and the dry land of Israel has appeared. The black pontoon of the Egyptian tristata is completely covered, the coffin is covered with water, by the power of the strong right hand of the Lady.

I now appear as a luminous man from the desert to the morning, you bowed to the waters of the Jordan, King of the sun, Your neck, to snatch away the dark face of the ancestor, and to cleanse all filthiness from creation.

Without beginning, in the streams buried by You, the Word, you bring forth the new, decayed by flattery, This indescribable reception from the Father of the voice of the powers: This beloved, the Youth is equal to Me in nature.

Song 3

Irmos: The ancient nets of the lions, erased by the limbs, rejoice and widen our mouths, weaving the word from the words of sweet singing, in which we enjoy the gifts.

The killing of the first planted creature, the villainous beast imagined into nature, is darkened by the carnal coming: I will appear in the morning, commanding the Lady to crush her hostile head.

It draws to itself the God-created nature, the womb of the tormentor, the buried limits; a pack of earth-born Renewal is born, the Lord accomplishing the work in a mighty manner: when he comes, he will cleanse that at least.

Ipakoi, voice 5

When You enlightened all things with Your appearance, then the glorious sea of ​​unbelief ran away, and the Jordan, which had flowed for a long time, returned, lifting us up to Heaven. But keep the height of Your Divine commandments, O Christ our God, with the prayers of the Mother of God and have mercy on us.

Song 4

Irmos: Having been purified by the fire of secret vision, singing the prophet of men's new action, the voice proclaims, splashing with the Spirit, the embodiment of the ineffable Word, which has shaken off the mighty powers.

Sent from the Father, the all-bright Word, to drive away the evil desire of the night, and to eradicate the sins of men to come, and to attract sons, by Your Baptism, O Blessed One, bright from the streams of the Jordan.

Having already foreseen the spoken Word, the preacher clearly cries out to the creation: This one is before me, the second is conformed to the flesh, asking by Divine power to take away our hostile sin.

Carrying the life-giving pasture with Himself, He catches the serpents, flowing into the nests with many nets, overthrowing, God the Word, stumbling the wounded world race, this consumption, delivers the creature.

Song 5

Irmos: The enemy of the dark and defiled poison, by the cleansing of the Spirit, has come to a new unblemished path, leading to unapproachable joy, I alone will approach, to whom God is reconciled.

Having seen the Creator in the darkness of sins with the inevitable captivity of his fingers, he places a frame on both sides, erecting a mountain, now in the multi-flowing waters, washing away the chill of the ancient Adam’s evil disposition.

With piety, diligently following the most pure source of the flow of salvation, the Word, discerning from the Imperishable, drew the thirst of the Divine, sweetly healing the ailment with peace.

Song 6

Irmos: The longed-for, appearing with an all-blessed voice, the Father, Whom I will burp from the womb: to her,” he says, “This is a natural Son, He who is luminous, uttered from the human race: But My Word is living and Man is providential.”

From the deep lion, the three-night strange prophet in the inner wallowing, abye came into existence, bringing salvation from the murderous serpent to everyone in the last summer.

Having opened to Heaven the all-bright writings, the disciple sees the Spirit sent from the Father, the Spirit abiding on the Most Pure Word, having found like a dove in an indescribable way, and appears as a people who have come to the Lady.

Kontakion, tone 4

Thou hast appeared this day throughout the universe, and Thy light, O Lord, has appeared upon us, in the minds of those who sing Thee: Thou hast come and Thou hast appeared, the Unapproachable Light.

Ikos

The Galilees of the pagans, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, as the prophet said, A great light has arisen, Christ. To the darkened the bright Dawn has appeared, shining from Bethlehem, and even more from Mary the Lord, the rays of the Sun of Truth are shining throughout the entire universe. Therefore, all of you who are from Adam, come, let us put on Him, let us be warm, He covers the naked and enlightens the dark. You came and you appeared, the Unapproachable Light.

Song 7

Irmos: The serpent's heads fell like a stream, the high flames of the cave, the young men wearing pious ones, calming the uncontrollable darkness of sin, washed everything with the dew of the Spirit.

You have delivered the terrible Assyrian flame to you, turning it into dew; In the same way, water now, like a flame, clothes harmful malice, Christ, scorches the hidden one, calling from the creeping path.

I divided the Jordan of old, the people of Israel passed on dry land, to You, the Most Powerful, keeping the creation inflexibly, now writing in the waters, to the imperishable and more useful path.

Vema, first of all, the all-disastrous flood will mercifully bring you all into aphids, oh, great creation and strange! Now, Christ, sin has been drowned for mercy and human salvation.

Song 8

Irmos: The creation is free and the sons of Light are known before being darkened; one representative of darkness will stand. Now let him diligently bless the previously accursed tongues of all inheritance.

Three of God's vision, watered by fires, illuminated by three all-bright shrines, manifestly showing the Supreme Nature by human confusion, scorching with fire dew, mercifully all destructive flattery.

May every earthly nature be whitened, now being raised to Heaven from the fall, by whom everything is preserved, in a word, having been washed by flowing streams, past sins have been taken away, brightly washed away.

Song 9

Irmos: Oh, more than the mind of Your Christmas miracles! The All-Pure Bride, the Blessed Mother, Who has received all-perfect salvation, we worthily praise as the Benefactor who bears the gift of a song of thanksgiving.

Today John baptizes the Vladyka in the streams of the Jordan.

Today the Lord buries human sin with waters.

When Moses was led by the bush, she came, made with strange customs: for she was saved, Bearing Fire, the Virgin, Light-bearing, having given birth to the Benefactor, and was revealed in the streams of the Jordan.

Today the Master from above is testified, the beloved Son.

prot. Alexander Shmeman

Photo of the day

Epiphany or Epiphany is one of the most important twelve holidays of Orthodoxy. Read all about the history of this event in the article!

Epiphany, or Epiphany - January 19, 2020

What holiday is it?

Forefeast of Epiphany

Since ancient times, Epiphany has been one of the great twelve holidays. Even in the Apostolic Constitutions (Book 5, Chapter 12) it is commanded: “Let you have great respect for the day on which the Lord revealed the Divinity to us.” This holiday in the Orthodox Church is celebrated with equal grandeur as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, connected by “Christmastide” (from December 25 to January 6), constitute, as it were, one celebration. Almost immediately after the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (from January 2), the Church begins to prepare us for the solemn feast of the Epiphany of the Lord with stichera and troparions (at Vespers), three songs (at Compline) and canons (at Matins) specially dedicated to the upcoming holiday, and church hymns in The honor of the Epiphany has been heard since January 1: at Matins of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, the irmos of the canons of the Epiphany are sung: “He opened the depths, there is a bottom...” and “A stormy storm is moving in the sea...”. With its sacred memories, following from Bethlehem to the Jordan and commemorating the events of Baptism, the Church in the pre-festive stichera calls on the faithful:
“We will go from Bethlehem to the Jordan, for there the Light is already beginning to illuminate those who are in darkness.” The coming Saturday and Sunday before Epiphany are called Saturday and the Week before Epiphany (or Enlightenment).

Eve of Epiphany

The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. The services of the Vigil and the holiday itself are in many ways similar to the service of the Vigil and the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On the Eve of Epiphany on January 5 (as well as on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes strict fasting: eating food once after the blessing of water. If the Vespers happen on Saturday and Sunday, the fast is made easier: instead of once, eating food is allowed twice - after the liturgy and after the blessing of water. If the reading of the Great Hours from the Vespers, which happened on Saturday or Sunday, is postponed to Friday, then there is no fasting on that Friday.

Features of the service on the Eve of the holiday

On all weekdays (except Saturday and Sunday), the service of the Vesper of Epiphany consists of the Great Hours, Fine Hours and Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; After the liturgy (after the prayer behind the pulpit), the water is blessed. If Christmas Eve happens on Saturday or Sunday, then the Great Hours take place on Friday, and there is no liturgy on that Friday; the liturgy of St. Basil the Great is moved to the day of the holiday. On the very day of Christmas Eve, the liturgy of St. St. John Chrysostom occurs in due time, followed by Vespers and after it the Blessing of Water.

The Great Hours of the Epiphany and their contents

The troparia point to the division of the waters of the Jordan by Elisha with the mantle of the prophet Elijah as a prototype of the true Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, by which the watery nature was sanctified and during which the Jordan stopped its natural flow. The last troparion describes the tremulous feeling of Saint John the Baptist when the Lord came to him to be baptized. In the parimia of the 1st hour, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church proclaims the spiritual renewal of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 25).

The Apostle and the Gospel proclaim the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, who testified to the eternal and Divine greatness of Christ (Acts 13:25-32; Matt. 3:1-11). At the 3rd hour, in special psalms - 28 and 41 - the prophet depicts the power and authority of the baptized Lord over water and all the elements of the world: “The voice of the Lord is on the waters: the God of glory will roar, the Lord on many waters. The voice of the Lord in the fortress; The voice of the Lord is in splendor...” These psalms are also joined by the usual 50th psalm. The troparia of the hour reveal the experiences of John the Baptist - awe and fear at the Baptism of the Lord - and the manifestation in this great event of the mystery of the Trinity of the Divinity. In parimia we hear the voice of the prophet Isaiah, foreshadowing spiritual rebirth through baptism and Calling for the acceptance of this sacrament: “Wash yourself, and you will be clean” (Is. 1: 16-20).

The Apostle talks about the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-8), and the Gospel talks about the Forerunner who prepared the way for the Lord (Mark 1:1-3). At the 6th hour, in Psalms 73 and 76, King David prophetically depicts the Divine greatness and omnipotence of the One who came to be baptized in the form of a servant: “Who is a great God like our God? You are God, work miracles. You saw the waters, O God, and you were afraid: the abyss was crushed.”

The usual 90th psalm of the hour is also added. The troparia contain the Lord’s answer to the Baptist to his bewilderment about Christ’s self-abasement and indicate the fulfillment of the Psalmist’s prophecy that the Jordan River stops its waters when the Lord enters it for Baptism. The parimia talks about how the prophet Isaiah contemplates the grace of salvation in the waters of baptism and calls on believers to assimilate it: “Draw up water with joy from the source of fear” (Is. 12).

The Apostle encourages those baptized into Christ Jesus to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-12). The Gospel preaches about the appearance of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of the Savior, about His forty-day labor in the desert and the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 1:9-15). At the 9th hour, in Psalms 92 and 113, the prophet proclaims the royal greatness and omnipotence of the baptized Lord. The third psalm of the hour is the usual 85th. With the words of parimia, the prophet Isaiah depicts the inexpressible mercy of God towards people and the gracious help for them revealed in Baptism (Is. 49: 8-15). The Apostle announces the manifestation of the grace of God, “saving for all men,” and the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers (Tit. 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7). The Gospel tells about the Baptism of the Savior and the Epiphany (Matthew 3:13-17).

Vespers on the day of the Vespers of the holiday

Vespers on the Vespers of the Feast of the Epiphany is similar to what happens on the Vespers of the Nativity of Christ: entrance with the Gospel, reading of parimia, Apostle, Gospel, etc., but the parimia at Vespers of the Epiphany Vigil is read not on 8, but on 13.
After the first three paremias to the troparion and verses of prophecy, the singers chorus: “May you enlighten those who sit in darkness: Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.” After the 6th parimia - the chorus to the troparion and verses: “Where would Your light shine, only on those who sit in darkness, glory to You.”
If on the Eve of Epiphany Vespers is combined with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), then after the reading of the proverbs there follows a small litany with the exclamation: “For art thou holy, our God...”, then the Trisagion and other sequences of the liturgy are sung. At Vespers, performed separately after the liturgy (on Saturday and Sunday), the parimia, the small litany and the exclamation: “For thou art holy...” are followed by the prokeimenon: “The Lord is my enlightenment...”, Apostle (Cor., part 143) and the Gospel (Luke, 9th).
After this - the litany “Rtsem all...” and so on.

Great Blessing of Water

The Church renews the memory of the Jordan event with a special rite of the great consecration of water. On the Eve of the holiday, the great consecration of water occurs after the prayer behind the pulpit (if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is being celebrated). And if Vespers is celebrated separately, without connection with the liturgy, the consecration of the water occurs at the end of Vespers, after the exclamation: “Be the power...”. The priest, through the royal doors, while singing the troparia “The Voice of the Lord on the Waters...” comes out to the vessels filled with water, carrying the Honorable Cross on his head, and the consecration of the water begins.

The blessing of water also takes place on the holiday itself after the liturgy (also after the prayer behind the pulpit).

The Orthodox Church has been performing the great consecration of water on Vespers and on the holiday itself since ancient times, and the grace of consecration of water on these two days is always the same. At the Forever, the consecration of water was performed in remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, which sanctified the watery nature, as well as the baptism of the orphans, which in ancient times was performed at the Forever of Epiphany (Lent. Apost., book 5, chapter 13; historians: Theodoret, Nicephorus Callistus). On the holiday itself, the consecration of water occurs in memory of the actual event of the Baptism of the Savior. The blessing of water on the holiday itself began in the Jerusalem Church in the 4th - 5th centuries. took place only in it alone, where there was a custom of going out to the Jordan River for the blessing of water in memory of the Baptism of the Savior. Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the blessing of water on Vecherie is performed in churches, and on the holiday itself it is usually performed on rivers, springs and wells (the so-called “Walk to the Jordan”), for Christ was baptized outside the temple.

The great consecration of water began in the early times of Christianity, following the example of the Lord Himself, who sanctified the waters by His immersion in them and established the sacrament of Baptism, in which the consecration of water has been taking place since ancient times. The rite of blessing of water is attributed to the Evangelist Matthew. Several prayers for this rite were written by St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople. The final execution of the rite is attributed to St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The blessing of water on the holiday is already mentioned by the teacher of the Church Tertullian and St. Cyprian of Carthage. The Apostolic Decrees also contain prayers said during the blessing of water. So, in the book. The 8th says: “The priest will call on the Lord and say: “And now sanctify this water, and give it grace and strength.”

St. Basil the Great writes: “According to what scripture do we bless the water of baptism? - From Apostolic tradition, by succession in secret" (91st canon).

In the second half of the 10th century, Patriarch of Antioch Peter Foulon introduced the custom of consecrating water not at midnight, but on the Eve of Epiphany. In the Russian Church, the Moscow Council of 1667 decided to perform double blessing of water - on Vespers and on the very feast of Epiphany and condemned Patriarch Nikon, who prohibited double blessing of water. The sequence of the great consecration of water both at Vespers and on the holiday itself is the same and in some parts is similar to the sequence of the small consecration of water. It consists of remembering the prophecies relating to the event of Baptism (parimia), the event itself (the Apostle and the Gospel) and its meaning (litany and prayers), invoking the blessing of God on the waters and immersing the Life-giving Cross of the Lord in them three times.

In practice, the rite of water blessing is performed as follows. After the prayer behind the pulpit (at the end of the liturgy) or the petitionary litany: “Let us perform the evening prayer” (at the end of Vespers), the rector is in full vestments (as during the liturgy), and the other priests are only in the epitrachelion, shoulder straps, and the rector is carrying the Holy Cross on an uncovered chapter (usually the Cross is placed in the air). At the site of the blessing of water, the Cross is placed on a decorated table, on which there should be a bowl of water and three candles. During the singing of troparions, the rector and the deacon cense the water prepared for consecration (around the table three times), and if the water is consecrated in the church, then the altar, clergy, singers and people also cense.

At the end of the singing of the troparions, the deacon exclaims: “Wisdom,” and three parimia are read (from the book of the prophet Isaiah), which depict the gracious fruits of the Lord’s coming to earth and the spiritual joy of all who turn to the Lord and partake of the life-giving sources of salvation. Then the prokeimenon “The Lord is my enlightenment...” is sung, the Apostle and the Gospel are read. The Apostolic Reading (Cor., section 143) speaks of persons and events that in the Old Testament, during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert, were a prototype of Christ the Savior (the mysterious baptism of the Jews into Moses among the clouds and the sea, their spiritual food in desert and drinking from the spiritual stone, which was Christ). The Gospel (Mark, part 2) tells about the Baptism of the Lord.

After reading the Holy Scriptures, the deacon pronounces the great litany with special petitions. They contain prayers for the sanctification of water by the power and action of the Holy Trinity, for sending down the blessing of the Jordan on the water and giving it grace for the healing of mental and physical infirmities, for driving away all slander of visible and invisible enemies, for the sanctification of houses and for all benefits.

During the litany, the rector secretly reads a prayer for the purification and sanctification of himself: “Lord Jesus Christ...” (without exclamation). At the end of the litany, the priest (rector) loudly reads the consecration prayer: “Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works...” (three times) and so on. In this prayer, the Church begs the Lord to come and sanctify the water so that it will receive the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan, so that it will be a source of incorruption, the resolution of ailments, the cleansing of souls and bodies, the sanctification of houses and “for all good.” In the middle of the prayer, the priest exclaims three times: “You Yourself, O Lover of Mankind, come now through the influx of Your Holy Spirit and consecrate this water,” and at the same time each time he blesses the water with his hand, but does not immerse his fingers in the water, as happens in the sacrament of Baptism. At the end of the prayer, the abbot immediately blesses the water crosswise with the Honorable Cross, holding it with both hands and immersing it three times straight (lowering it into the water and raising it), and with each immersion of the Cross he sings the troparion with the clergy (three times): “I am baptized in the Jordan, O Lord...”

After this, while the troparion is repeatedly sung by the singers, the abbot with the Cross in his left hand sprinkles a cross in all directions, and also sprinkles the temple with holy water.

Glorification of the holiday

On Vecherye, after the dismissal of Vespers or Liturgy, a lamp (not a lectern with an icon) is placed in the middle of the church, before which the clergy and choristers sing the troparion and (on “Glory, and now”) the kontakion of the holiday. The candle here means the light of Christ’s teaching, Divine enlightenment given in the Epiphany.

After this, the worshipers venerate the Cross, and the priest sprinkles each with holy water.