Wednesday, 6 January 2027

Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Wednesday of the 32nd week after Pentecost

269 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Major feast Lord · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ The Holy Theophany of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ

‘About the beginning of our Lord’s thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized, and the voice was heard from the Heavens bearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13 17; Mark 1:9 11; Luke 3:1 22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Chist and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called “Theophany,” that is, the divine manifestation, God’s appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven.’ (Great Horologion)

When Thou was baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee. — Troparion of Theophany

‘But Christ’s descent into the river has also a further significance. When Christ went down into the waters, not only did he carry us down with Him and make us clean, but He also made clean the nature of the waters themselves… The feast of Theophany has thus a cosmic aspect. The fall of the angelic orders, and after it the fall of man, involved the whole universe. All God’s creation was thereby warped and disfigured: to use the symbolism of the liturgical texts, the waters were made a “lair of dragons”. Christ came on earth to redeem not only man but through man the entire material creation. When He entered the water, besides effecting by anticipation our rebirth in the font, he likewise effected the cleansing of the waters, their transfiguration into an organ of healing and grace.’ Bishop Kallistos, “Background and meaning of the Feasts” in the Festal Menaion.

The western feast of Epiphany, also on this day, commemorates not Christ’s baptism but the adoration of the Magi.

Synaxis of the Venerable Saints Commemorated in Connection with Theophany

On the feast of the Holy Theophany, the Orthodox Church celebrates not only the Baptism of the Lord and the revelation of the Most Holy Trinity through that divine event, but also commemorates all the venerable saints and ascetics whose spiritual labours and holy lives have been devoted to the pursuit of theosis, the transformation and deification of man in Christ. This synaxis honours those saintly monastics and ascetics who have lived according to the principles revealed at Theophany, striving to become living icons of Christ and bearers of His image through their ascetical struggles and prayer. The Church recognizes in all its venerable children a participation in the same divine illumination that shone forth at the baptism of the Lord in the Jordan.

Venerable Evagrius of Nitria

415

Venerable Evagrius came from Iberia and was the son of a priest. He was ordained as Reader by Saint Basil the Great himself and later as Deacon by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, brother of the great Basil. Evagrius devoted himself to ascetical labours and became one of the great monastic fathers of the desert tradition, dwelling in the monastic community at Nitria in Egypt. Through his wisdom, learning, and spiritual attainment, he became renowned as a teacher of monks and a defender of Orthodox faith and practice. Saint Evagrius reposed in peace in the year 415.

Venerable-Martyr George the Persian

615

Venerable George the Persian was a monk and martyr who lived in the seventh century and suffered for the faith during a time of persecution. His epithet "Persian" designates his geographic origin, and his recognition as a "venerable-martyr" indicates that he combined the ascetical wisdom of monasticism with the ultimate witness of martyrdom. Through his sufferings and faithful endurance, he became a model of Orthodox virtue and steadfast confession of Christ. He lived in the year 615 and is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as one who truly "loved not his life unto death" but followed the Lord in all things.

Daily readings

Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 1.9-11

⁹And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

⁹And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: ¹⁰And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: ¹¹And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹¹and a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

Epistle

— Theophany weekly cycle

Titus — Titus 2.11-14, 3.4-7

¹¹For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹²instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; ¹³looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works. ¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ⁴But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, ⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁵not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁶Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁷That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Gospel

— Theophany weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 3.13-17

¹³Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

¹³Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. ¹⁴But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ¹⁴But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ¹⁵And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. ¹⁵But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. ¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; ¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁷and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Great Blessing of Waters

Isaiah — Isaiah 35.1-10

¹The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

¹The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. ²It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. ²It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.

³Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

³Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. ⁴Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. ⁴Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.

⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. ⁶Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. ⁶Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. ⁷And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. ⁷And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. ⁸And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. ⁸And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein. ⁹No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: ⁹No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: ¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ¹⁰and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Great Blessing of Waters

Isaiah — Isaiah 55.1-13

¹Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

¹Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ²Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. ²Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. ³Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. ³Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. ⁴Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. ⁴Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples. ⁵Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. ⁵Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

⁶Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

⁶Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: ⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ⁷let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: ¹⁰For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; ¹¹so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ¹²For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹²For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands. ¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. ¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Great Blessing of Waters

Isaiah — Isaiah 12.3-6

³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. ⁴And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted.

⁴And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. ⁵Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. ⁵Sing unto Jehovah; for he hath done excellent things: let this be known in all the earth. ⁶Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. ⁶Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.

Great Blessing of Waters

— Epistle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 10.1-4

¹Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

¹For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ²and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ²And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³And did all eat the same spiritual meat; ³and did all eat the same spiritual food; ⁴And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. ⁴and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

Great Blessing of Waters

— Gospel

Mark — Mark 1.9-11