Today will more than likely go by with little or no significance to my Baptist brethren, but, all around the world, January 6,2015 is being celebrated as the DAY OF EPIPHANY.
The Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate with feasts and commemorative services the birth of Christ, the Nativity and everything up to Jesus' baptism by John where God, the Father, announces him to be his Son. This 'Epiphany' or 'Manifestation' of the divine to Earth takes center stage and explains the title of the holiday. However, most Christian Catholics and Protestants center their festivities on the arrival of the Magi to the side of Christ. All across Europe and into North and South America, the believers take a moment to remember the 'three kings' worshiping at the foot of their Lord.
But this celebration takes many different forms all over the world:
The Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate with feasts and commemorative services the birth of Christ, the Nativity and everything up to Jesus' baptism by John where God, the Father, announces him to be his Son. This 'Epiphany' or 'Manifestation' of the divine to Earth takes center stage and explains the title of the holiday. However, most Christian Catholics and Protestants center their festivities on the arrival of the Magi to the side of Christ. All across Europe and into North and South America, the believers take a moment to remember the 'three kings' worshiping at the foot of their Lord.
But this celebration takes many different forms all over the world:
The Eve of the Epiphany was called at one time in Western Tradition, Twelfth Night; commemorating the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the winter festival that started way back on All Hallows Eve aka Halloween. It was a time when the world turned upside down. The kings and those of lofty position switched with the commoners and a 'King of Fools' was elected through finding a bean cooked into a cake. However, in Eastern Orthodox, they observed the Eve as Paramony and commemorated it with fasting until the first star of the evening. At this time, they would have a great feast.
The Day of Epiphany is a festive day which is usually marked with a procession of the Magi through the streets of the city. Three men dressed as the traditional Magi, Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar, would mount horses and parade through the streets. Most cities have an exact route much like the ancient procession in Florence, Italy, put on by the rich and powerful Medici family who were so enamored with the Magi that they decorated their personal chapel with a rendition of the procession.
Eastern Orthodox also celebrate the day with a blessing of the waters. Most will have two: one early in the day at the baptismal fount of the church and one later on at the main body of water in the vacinity. Once a procession between the church and the body of water is over, the priest throws a cross into the water. A group of men then dive in after the cross and the one to retrieve it gains the blessing. It is also the traditional day to perform baptisms. Imagine, being baptized on a day celebrating the baptism of our Lord!
On the day of Epiphany, priests would make the rounds to their parishioners to bless their houses which, according to how big the parish is, could take until Lent.
In areas like Argentina and Uruguay, children will leave their shoes by the door along with grass and water for the camels in anticipation of the day and night 'of Kings'. In the morning, they get presents just as the Magi brought presents to Jesus. This is a traditional time to put away Christmas decorations and enjoy a ring-shaped 'Epiphany cake'.
There are many ways believers celebrate the day of Epiphany. But, in the end, it is, much like the name 'Epiphany' suggests, a time to remember when God manifested himself to man as a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Emanuel, 'God With Us'. The Biblical inclusion of the kings or Magi has been seen as God welcoming the pagan, gentile world to come and bow before him much like his chosen people, the Jews. I have been challenged by some that say that the Magi who came to Bethlehem were idolaters and astrologers. Maybe so. But, I believe the story reveals men ready to sacrifice all to make the journey of their lives and WORSHIP the Christ child. No, I think the star becomes a symbol of the call of God and the Magi, a symbol of our reluctant and clumsy quest to seek him.
On the day of Epiphany, priests would make the rounds to their parishioners to bless their houses which, according to how big the parish is, could take until Lent.
In areas like Argentina and Uruguay, children will leave their shoes by the door along with grass and water for the camels in anticipation of the day and night 'of Kings'. In the morning, they get presents just as the Magi brought presents to Jesus. This is a traditional time to put away Christmas decorations and enjoy a ring-shaped 'Epiphany cake'.
There are many ways believers celebrate the day of Epiphany. But, in the end, it is, much like the name 'Epiphany' suggests, a time to remember when God manifested himself to man as a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Emanuel, 'God With Us'. The Biblical inclusion of the kings or Magi has been seen as God welcoming the pagan, gentile world to come and bow before him much like his chosen people, the Jews. I have been challenged by some that say that the Magi who came to Bethlehem were idolaters and astrologers. Maybe so. But, I believe the story reveals men ready to sacrifice all to make the journey of their lives and WORSHIP the Christ child. No, I think the star becomes a symbol of the call of God and the Magi, a symbol of our reluctant and clumsy quest to seek him.