Η Βάπτιση του Χριστού
The Early Years of Christ
After Christ's birth, Mary and Joseph went to live in Nazareth. There Christ was growing up being obedient to His All Holy Mother and Joseph, and learning the trade of the carpenter near Joseph.
When Christ was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for an important feast. When all the services and the festivities, that lasted a few days, ended, Mary and Joseph joined the crowds on the road to return to their home. Suddenly they realized that Jesus was not following them.
They looked everywhere to no avail, so they decided to return to Jerusalem. There in the Temple they found young Christ standing in front of a crowd of Teachers and Priests and explaining the Holy Scriptures in front of their astonished eyes! They were all were amazed asking one another, "Isn't this the son of Joseph the carpenter? Where did He learn all this, that He surpassed even the educated teachers and priests?"
Panagia approached Christ and asked Him why He had caused them such anguish when they had to search for Him everywhere. He replied meekly, "Why were you worried about Me? Don't you know that this is where I belong, in the House of My Father?"
The Baptism of Christ
When Christ became thirty years old He started His public ministry. At that time there was a great ascetic and prophet, John the Forerunner, who lived all his life in the desert in fasting and prayer. All the people would go to find him and hear his preaching about repentance. They would confess their sins and then St. John would baptize them in the Jordan River to cleanse the people of their sins.
St. John the Forerunner would tell the people humbly that he was but a simple man sent to prepare the way for Christ, the Messiah. He would add, "I baptize you in water but He Who is coming after me will be much greater, and I am not even worthy to untie His sandals; He will baptize you in water and the Holy Spirit."
Christ came to the desert and approached John the Baptist. He asked John to baptize Him, but St. John said, "I am in need of Baptism by You, not the other way around!" But Christ insisted and walked into the water of the Jordan river. Immediately the river changed its course and Christ was lifted above the waters, as being without sin. When John touched His head a dove came down and hovered above Christ's head. At the same time a thunderous voice was heard saying, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It was the voice of God the Father, confirming the truth that Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah everyone had been waiting for. This feast is called Theophany (Θεοφάνεια) because God the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) was revealed to the world on this day: Father - God's voice from Heaven, Son - Christ in the Jordan river, and the Holy Spirit - in the form of a dove.
The Blessing of the Waters
Click the image above to see the different parts of the service!
On this day in all Orthodox lands there is a very important service, the Blessing of the Waters, that takes place in the church right after the vigil. This holy water is used by the faithful, who keep it in their homes as a blessing throughout the year, drinking of it every morning after their prayers before breakfast, and blessing their homes and their families with it.
Αt the end of the Divine Liturgy in the morning of the Feast of Theophany, together with the clergy and all the altar boys holding the fans and candles, leads the whole congregation to the nearest body of water, such as a lake, a river or the sea, where another service takes place, the Blessing of the Waters out in nature. It is a festive day, with all the people gathered together chanting "When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord." At that moment, the bishop throws the Cross in the water to bless the waters and all nature. Then altar boys brave the cold waters and dive to find the cross. The person who finds the Cross brings it to the Bishop and receives a blessing.
Theophany or Φώτα is a great feast because on this day Christ through His baptism blesses the waters, which is the source of life for all nature. With this blessing Christ renews all of nature by His Incarnation and Baptism. It is called Theophany, which means Appearance of God, because on this day for the first time the three Persons of the Holy Trinity appeared to the world: Jesus the Son, being baptized in the Jordan by St. John the Forerunner, the Holy Spirit over His head in the form of a dove, and at the same time God the Father's voice was heard from Heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.
Click the image to the left to see photos of the different parts of the service!
