Theophany Season
Theophany,
sometimes called Epiphany, is upon us (Богоявление in Russian, Θεοφάνεια in
Greek). The sixth of January is the
official date that the baptism of Christ is celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox
Church. It is not to be confused with
the Western holiday also called Epiphany which is a celebration of the magi
presenting the baby Christ with their gifts.
The word
Theophany means “Revelation of God;” Theophany therefore marks the revelation
of the Trinitarian nature of God when Jesus was baptized. Those who witnessed heard the Father’s voice
from Heaven, saw the Spirit descending upon Jesus, and could see Jesus in the
flesh, whom God confirmed to be His Son with His voice.
Theophany Icon
The
symbolism of this icon is deep and rich.
There is one particular part I want to focus on for this blog entry.
Christ is
purposely depicted with little or no clothing.
But why is that significant?
All
throughout the creation narrative in Genesis we see God creating and then
saying it is “good.” Man and woman were
created together in God’s image. They
were both beautiful, and while they lacked physical garments, they were clothed
in the glory of the “image” and “likeness” of God. However, when they fell into sin, they hid in
shame until God brought them garments of skin to wear (which symbolizes the
sinful tendency that now obscures our true nature). Their natural beauty was transformed into an
object of shame. Adam and Eve fell, and
with them fell creation.
Now, enter Jesus Christ: he represents the second Adam (1 Cor 15). In shame and nakedness, Adam hid. Yet Christ comes in his majesty, both as God
and man, both in glory and nakedness completely unashamed, representing the
beauty of the undefiled human made possible through Him (and in the subsequent
centuries, Christians were often baptized without any clothing, shedding the
garments of the “old man” to die in Christ and be resurrected in Him). But why
was Christ baptized if He had no sin?
While
Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, it was really the Jordan and all of
creation that was baptized in Christ. As
Canticle Four of Compline of Theophany states, At Thine appearing in the body,
the earth was sanctified, the waters blessed, the heaven enlightened, and
mankind was set loose from the bitter tyranny of the enemy.
We see
the beginning of a new creation in Theophany.
Things are being set right.
Christ has come not only to cleanse and restore mankind, but to adopt us
as heirs into his Kingdom. And when we
receive His glory, not only are we redeemed, but we draw all of creation with
us into the final restoration. That is
why “creation groans” in eager expectation, awaiting the glorification of the
children of God. (Rom 8)
A few
other notes about the Icon:
- At the top the Holy Spirit is descending upon
Jesus as a dove, the Holy Spirit is depicted in a Mandorla. In this manner, The Father, using His own
pre-eternal and consubstantial and subracelestial Spirit as His finger, crying
out and point from heaven, openly declared and proclaimed to all that the one
then being baptized by John in the Jordan was His beloved Son, while at the
same time manifesting His unity with Him.” (St. Gregory Palamas, Homily
60.15). St. John Chrysostom also
emphasizes that the Gospels state the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descends
upon us so that we can ascend with Christ and the Spirit to the Father in
Heaven. For the first time since the fall
of mankind, the Heavens were opened to us.
- The angels on the right side are waiting to
attend and dress him after the baptism is over.
- John the Baptist, while baptizing Jesus is
usually turned away or looking at the Spirit descending upon Christ. This signifies that Theophany is about
elevating Jesus Christ. If this were an
Olympic race, it would be as if the Old Testament (John the Baptist and all
before him) were passing the baton to the New Testament (Jesus Christ and all
of the saints).
- There is an axe near John the Baptist, which
reflects his warning that our lives must bear the fruit of the Spirit or else
we will be removed. We cannot get
comfortable or spiritually lazy.
- Jesus is not submerged in the water, for
creation was baptized in Him, not vice versa.
- Lastly, the strange little creatures riding
fish at the bottom represent the Jordan River and the Sea, both fleeing at the
sight of something much bigger and greater than themselves entering the
water. As the Psalms say:
- Psalm 73:14 –Thou did establish the
sea by Thy might, Thou did break the heads of the dragons in the water.
- Psalm 76:15 – The waters saw Thee, O
God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid; the abysses were troubled.
- Psalm 113:3 – The sea beheld and
fled, [the River] Jordan turned back.
Theophany Music
There are
several hymns sung during this season, but the forefeast Troparion hymn
confirms some of the things I write about here: O Adam, be glad with our first
mother, Eve; hide not as you did of old in Paradise. Seeing you naked, He has
appeared now to clothe you in the first robe again. Christ has appeared, for He
truly wills to renew all creation. If
you can get a copy of The Festal Menaion produced by Mother Mary and Met.
Kallistos Ware (St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press), then you will find nearly 100
pages of deep theology regarding this feast day.
Theophany Celebrations
During
this time of the year, a beautiful ceremony is carried out and holy water is
prepared in each parish. Congregants are
free to take the holy water home with them.
A portion is kept and used by the church throughout the year.
Also,
house blessings are completed during the subsequent weeks using the holy water
prepared during the Feast of Theophany.
It is not unusual to give a small gift to the priest who has blessed the
home (many priests do not receive a salary and these types of events help carry
them financially through the year) and/or you may cook a meal for him. Don’t take offense though if he has several
house blessings lined up for that day and does not have time to sit down for a
full meal.
Source: http://www.orthodoxroad.com/theophany-icon-explained/
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