Denaha - Epiphany- Theophany
Fr. M.S. Skariah, Abu Dhabi.,( January 2003 ICON Posting)
The festival of Epiphany falls on the thirteenth day after Christmas every year. It is on 6th January for all who observe Christmas on 25th December and on 19th January for those who observe Christmas on 7th January every year. The word Epiphany originates from the Greek word Epiphanco, which means to shine/to illuminate.
In Syriac it is known as Denaha, which also means to shine. The Orthodox tradition and faith prefer to name it as Theophany.
In the western Theology Epiphany commemorate the arrival of the three wise men from the East at the time of the incarnation of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. In the Eastern tradition, it is the celebration of our Lord's baptism in the river Jordan. Epiphany is marked by a distinctive ceremony of the great blessing of water. Christ's baptism at the hands of John the Baptist is seen as anticipation of our own baptisms and is given at the same time a cosmic significance: saviour, himself sinless enters the streams of river Jordan, thereby cleansing the water and so imparting Grace and redemption to the entire mankind and material creation.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem says: " In the beginning of the world we find water and in the beginning of gospel we find the water of river Jordan".
At the baptism of our Lord in the water, that mystery that God is Trinity in nature was revealed to the world that which was predicted in the Old Testament and fabled in ancient Egyptian and Indian civilizations.
Water, in the Holy Bible, as in the Indian and other traditions, is a symbol of God's life giving, purifying, thirst slaking and cleansing functions. It is being used in the Holy Bible as a means of God's vivifying power. Many chapters of the Holy Bible are dedicated to explain how water has become the means; the occasion of His Grace outpoured on humanity. Our Lord Jesus Christ made the church cleanse by washing her in water so that she would be glorious, with no wrinkles but pure and holy. It is for a bath of regeneration. St. John the Baptist used the water of Jordan, which had formerly cleansed Naaman the Leper. (2 Kings 5:10-14)
Fr. M.S. Skariah, Abu Dhabi.,( January 2003 ICON Posting)
The festival of Epiphany falls on the thirteenth day after Christmas every year. It is on 6th January for all who observe Christmas on 25th December and on 19th January for those who observe Christmas on 7th January every year. The word Epiphany originates from the Greek word Epiphanco, which means to shine/to illuminate.
In Syriac it is known as Denaha, which also means to shine. The Orthodox tradition and faith prefer to name it as Theophany.
In the western Theology Epiphany commemorate the arrival of the three wise men from the East at the time of the incarnation of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. In the Eastern tradition, it is the celebration of our Lord's baptism in the river Jordan. Epiphany is marked by a distinctive ceremony of the great blessing of water. Christ's baptism at the hands of John the Baptist is seen as anticipation of our own baptisms and is given at the same time a cosmic significance: saviour, himself sinless enters the streams of river Jordan, thereby cleansing the water and so imparting Grace and redemption to the entire mankind and material creation.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem says: " In the beginning of the world we find water and in the beginning of gospel we find the water of river Jordan".
At the baptism of our Lord in the water, that mystery that God is Trinity in nature was revealed to the world that which was predicted in the Old Testament and fabled in ancient Egyptian and Indian civilizations.
Water, in the Holy Bible, as in the Indian and other traditions, is a symbol of God's life giving, purifying, thirst slaking and cleansing functions. It is being used in the Holy Bible as a means of God's vivifying power. Many chapters of the Holy Bible are dedicated to explain how water has become the means; the occasion of His Grace outpoured on humanity. Our Lord Jesus Christ made the church cleanse by washing her in water so that she would be glorious, with no wrinkles but pure and holy. It is for a bath of regeneration. St. John the Baptist used the water of Jordan, which had formerly cleansed Naaman the Leper. (2 Kings 5:10-14)
In the Hindu tradition it is always through water a man feels that he is purified. May the waters, the mothers, purify us (Tait Samlita 1:21) and again "Hail to you, divine unfathomable, all purifying waters" (T.Ts 1:2-3) In the Rig Vedic Hymn (VII.49) to the divine waters, if possible to find a prefiguring of Lord Jesus in the waters: In the midst of waters, the Lord is moving surveying men's truths and men's lies. How sweet are these waters, crystal clear and cleaning. Now may these
divine waters quicken me" (v.3)
divine waters quicken me" (v.3)
The significance of Christ's Baptism- why was Christ Baptized?
The waters of Jordan were to be the venue of an introduction to Christ's public ministry. A beginning for a beginning. His baptism in the Jordan is a manifestation of God to the word. To reveal Him to Israel that I come baptizing with water. (St. John 1:31) St. John the Baptist recognized Him-
Him whom the world did not recognize (St. John 1:15) for He was sent to baptize with water had said to me "you will see the Spirit come down and stay on man, he is the one who baptize with the Holy Spirit". (V-33)
(a) For the sake of sinful Humanity.
Our baptism is for the remission of our sins as we confess in the Creed. (We confess that Baptism for the remission of our sins is only once) In Baptism we are purified and cleansed a sinless with an eligibility to enter the kingdom of God as a member of the body of Christ. But what need had Christ
who is sinless to undergo Baptism in the river Jordan? Though he is God, He needs no cleansing, yet for the sake of fallen Humanity He is cleansed in the Jordan. (Remember the testimony of St. John the Baptist about our Lord -"He is the lamb who bears the sins of the world")
In reality it was not Christ who is cleansed in the Jordan, but us. Our Lord assumed a representation at His incarnation and became the New Adam, summing up the whole human race in Him as the first Adam summed up and contained all mankind in him at the fall. He was cleansed for humanity's sin as on the Cross-. He suffered and died for the sins of the entire humanity. Our Lord's baptism is continuation of His salvic act commenced with His Incarnation.
We pray in the Epiphany prayer (Ethro - the prayer with incense):"Come, you Holy Church, and worship the only begotten God who came and redeemed thee by His Baptism and sanctified the baptismal font for you"
We pray in the Epiphany prayer (Ethro - the prayer with incense):"Come, you Holy Church, and worship the only begotten God who came and redeemed thee by His Baptism and sanctified the baptismal font for you"
