The Epiphany Feast Day
Today special liturgical services and holy masses are being held in churches throughout Jerusalem, all of which are to honor the feast day of the Epiphany. This ancient feast day in Christianity has metamorphosed as it traveled throughout the world, from east to west, to commemorate different events: In the east, the Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, while in the west the holiday commemorates the coming of the Magi. But ultimately, east and west come together, as both regard the holiday as having to do with the manifestation of Jesus in the physical world.
The word “epiphany” is Greek for “to manifest” or “to show,” and these meanings reveal the essential concept behind the feast day: that of the manifestation of God in human form.
The feast day originates in the traditions of the Eastern Church, with the focus being on various childhood events in the life of Jesus. These events include the visit of the Magi (the three wise men) from Persia to Bethlehem, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and the miracle at the marriage of Cana in the Galilee, when Jesus is reported in the Gospel of John to have turned water into wine.
But the primary focus of the celebration is on the baptism of Jesus, to the extent that hundreds of pilgrims visit Israel at this time to baptize themselves in the Jordan River.
Western and Eastern churches dramatically differ in their practice, with the Eastern churches performing much more elaborate ceremonies. In the Western Church, the priest wears white vestments and solemnly blesses the Epiphany Water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. The chalk is used to write the initials of the three Magi over the doorways of churches and homes.
In Eastern Church liturgical practice, the day of Epiphany is also known as Theophany. It is a day that involves many liturgical recitations and includes a blessing over living water, in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. The eve of Theophany is called Paramony, which some observe as a day of fasting.
2000+ tips and recommendations
Alright, we'll be the first to admit it. Jerusalem's often chilly and often damp winters don't exactly exude...
In a region known for being one of the first in which early humans settled after leaving Africa, and in a city populated...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find...
Jewish tradition holds that in the times of the First and Second Temples, all the Jewish people would gather in Jerusalem...
Technically, it's possible to visit Jerusalem without going to the Old City, but it would be hard to say you'd...
Looking for a place to begin your morning in luxury and style? Look no further than the American Colony Hotel, which offers...
The faithful may rhapsodize about the spiritual highs to be reached in the Old City; culture cognoscenti groove on the...
Once upon a time, options for eating out in Jerusalem were limited to local common phenomena such as falafel and schwarma,...
No results to show
|
Text text text
|
||
