Today, January 5, 2011, we are on the Eve of the Holy Theophany. This major feast is celebrated tonight and tomorrow. It is hard to understand for us, but it is considered a more important feast than Christmas (it is "ranked" only after Easter and Pentecost). This hymn explains it all:
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,
calling 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
Theophany has become one of my favorite feast days, the songs we will sing tonight bear this out for me. Amazingly rich in meaning. Here is another, one of the many we will sing tonight:
What wonder, to look down in the river
and see the Maker of heaven and earth standing naked.
Like a servant at the hands of a servant
he accepts to be baptized for our salvation.
The choirs of angels are astounded,
overwhelmed with fear and joy.
With them we worship You; save us, O Lord!
