Prayer of the Novena

O holy Magi,
who were gladdened by the reappearance
of the star which led you to Bethlehem,
obtain for us from God the grace that,
remaining always faithful to Him in afflictions,
we may be consoled in time by His glory.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Theophany in the Eastern Catholic Church

This holy day is one of the earliest Great Feasts of the Eastern churches, dating back to the 2nd century, with a significance attributed to it greater than Christmas.  The feast commemorates Christ’s baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. The literal translation of the word Theophany is the manifestation of God. It is the manifestation of Christ’s Divinity in the revelation of the Holy Trinity.   Belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is what identifies all Christians as “Christian”.

Theophany in the Eastern churches is associated with spiritual enlightenment, renewal of all creation, and most importantly, the sanctification of the Jordan water, as in the water for all to be saved through baptism.  Baptism is the victory over the darkness of sin, in which the elements of light and water are the visible outward symbols of spiritual illumination, purification, and cleansing.

An alternate name sometimes used interchangeably with Theophany is Epiphany.  This also refers to a manifestation, in this case, the prefix “epi” meaning above, as a manifestation from above.  The only distinction usually made between Theophany and Epiphany is one of emphasis.   The primary focus of Epiphany in the Latin rite differs from the primary focus of Epiphany or Theophany in the Eastern rite.  The term Epiphany is mainly associated in the Latin rite (Roman) church with the appearance of the Magi to the Christ Child.  Many simply refer to it as “Three Kings”.   The Roman Catholic church adopted the feast from the Eastern origins of the Church, and in current practice in the United States celebrates on the Sunday between Jan 2 and 8.

The Eastern churches have retained the significance of the feast as described by the early church Fathers (Christ’s baptism) and keep it as an immovable feast, always on January 6.   In fact, all feast days in Eastern churches are celebrated on the exact date and never moved to a different day of the week.   Among the church fathers, St. John Chrysostom and St. Clement of Alexandria referred to Theophany in association with Christ’s baptism.  It is interesting to note that at one time both the Nativity and Baptism of Christ were celebrated together on January 6; then later in development, the feasts were separated with the Nativity moving to December 25.

Theophany is a holy day that reminds us of our eternal salvation and the solid foundations of our faith.  We hear the words chanted in the Gospel reading of Matthew 3:16:  “After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the water.  Suddenly the sky opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and hover over him.  With that, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is my beloved Son.  My favor rests on Him.”

It is a tradition in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches to bless water on the Feast of Theophany. The blessing takes place after Divine Liturgy and the elaborate and poetic prayers recited by the priest invoke the Holy Spirit to sanctify and purify the water being blessed.  Afterward, the priest blesses all the faithful present and the entire church. The faithful are invited to consume the blessed water and to take it home for reverent use and to bless their homes.  It is traditional in the Carpatho-Rusyn tradition to bless any nearby river or stream as Christ blessed the water of the Jordan with his baptism.  The faithful may request to have their homes blessed by the parish priest following Theophany.

Troparion, Tone 1

When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You and called You His beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself and have enlightened the world, glory to You!

Kontakion, Tone 4

Today You have shown forth to the world, O Lord, and the light of Your countenance has been marked on us. Knowing You, we sing Your praises. You have come and revealed Yourself, O unapproachable Light.

Prayer for the blessing of the homes

O God, our True Light and Savior, You have deigned to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist to renew all men by the cleansing water of regeneration (Tit. 3:5) and to enter under the roof of Zacchaeus, bringing salvation to him and his house (Lk. 19:9), now, You, O Lord, protect also all those who dwell in this house from all harm and injury; grant them Jordan‘s blessing, purification of soul and body, and good health, and hear all their supplications, which are for their salvation and life eternal.
For blessed are You, O Lord, together with Your Eternal Father and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Special petitions in the Ektenia of Peace

They are attributed to St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 7th century, and they are intonated upon the blessing of the water. 

Today the grace of the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon the waters.
Today there shines the Sun that never sets, and the world is sparkling with the light of the Lord.
Today the moon shines upon the world with the brightness of its rays.
Today the glittering stars adorn the universe with the radiance of their twinkling.
Today the clouds from heaven shed upon mankind a shower of justice.
Today the Uncreated One willingly permits the hands of his creature to be laid upon Him.
Today the Prophet and Forerunner comes close to the Master, and he stands in awe, a witness of the condescension of God towards us.
Today through the presence of the Lord the waters of the Jordan River are changed into remedies.
Today the whole universe is refreshed with mystical streams.
Today the sins of mankind are blotted out by the waters of the Jordan River.

Picture: Byzantine icon featuring the Theophany of the Lord - CC0 Public domain.