Pafos Press 6 January 2024
Epiphany is a major Christian holiday, commemorating the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by Saint John the Forerunner (or Baptist). Celebrated every year on January 6th, it is the third and last feast of the Twelve Days, which begins with Christmas. Also called Surfaces and Lights.
The name of the holiday comes from the manifestation of the three persons of the Holy Trinity, which according to the Scriptures happened during the Baptism of Jesus. In the Western Churches, Epiphanies are more closely associated with the coming and prostration of the Three Wise Men at the Manger where Jesus was born.
The story of the Epiphany
When Jesus was 30 years old he was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, who was six months older than him and was an ascetic in the desert, preaching the baptism of repentance. At the moment of the Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove on Jesus and at the same time a voice was heard from heaven saying: "This is the beloved Son of God, through whom it pleased God to save sinners." This fact has been recorded by three of the four Evangelists, Mark, Matthew and Luke. This is not the first and only appearance on Earth of the Holy Trinity, according to the Scriptures.
According to the sansimera, when it was established to celebrate Epiphanies is not known with certainty. Clement of Alexandria mentions that some heretical Gnostics celebrated the Baptism of Jesus from the beginning of the second century, according to others on January 6, according to others on January 10.
John Chrysostom admits and describes the holiday as an ancient festival in Antioch the Great and that the Gnostics took it from there. During the fourth century, the feast of Epiphany is now celebrated with splendour throughout the Church as the feast of the illumination of humanity through Holy Baptism, hence the name "The Lights", feast "of Lights".
The ceremonies
There are two main rites of the Epiphany:
- The Great Consecration, which takes place inside the Churches.
- The Immersion of the Holy Cross, which follows the Great Consecration.
The Cross dives in sea space within ports, on the banks of rivers or lakes and, if necessary, in water tanks, as in Athens, in imitation of the Baptism of the God-Man. This event in our country also has a political character, as the Authorities of each region are present. In the capital, the official diving was set to take place from 1900 in Piraeus in front of the old royal dock or the old City Hall, today in front of the Church of Agios Spyridon. Similar ceremonies are held in all prefectures of the country.
The Epiphany carols
Today the lights and lighting
great joy and sanctification.
Down to Jordan the river
Our Lady Panagia is seated.
An organ weighs, a candle holds
and Ai-Yannis he begs.
Saint John, master and baptist
baptize me also child of God.
To ascend to the sky
to gather rhododendron and frankincense.
Good morning Good morning,
Have a good day master and lady.
