A blessed Theophany to you! What did your parish/you do?

[Woodstock]

A blessed Theophany to all here! How did your parish celebrate? Did you do anything personally? Will you have your house blessed this year?

• And 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: {17} And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. * (Mat 3:16-17)

 

[Alexius]

We’re behind you. It’s Christmas now So, what can I look forward to for Theophany

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[BeeSweet]

Today is Epiphany in the Latin tradition. I brought a king cake to my CCD class to celebrate, and we made little paper stars of Bethlehem (I teach kindergarten). My husband and I saved our gift giving for today and last night and today we’re having a nice meal to celebrate (paella last night, and pot roast tonight). I received some fabulous new cookware and I gave my husband a new bathrobe and two books on cd. We gave a huge tub of giant leggos to our son. Oh, and I just made some oatmeal raisin cookies, my husband’s fave cookie.

We decided last year we would celebrate Epiphany since Christmas is usually spent with my parents or his family (we switch each year). I think I’m gonna like this tradition!

So what did you do to celebrate the Theophany?

 

[Woodstock]

Today is Epiphany in the Latin tradition.

Theophany means manifestation of God and Epiphany means means manifestation. We celebrate Christ’s baptism as one of the manifestations of the Trinity in the world.

• And Jesus [SON], 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 [HOLY SPIRIT] descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. **[FATHER] *** (Mat 3:16-17)

Other theophanies include Moses and the burning bush, Abraham and Sarah entertaining the three angels, and Christ’s transfiguration.

So what did you do to celebrate the Theophany?

We ended our Christmas feasting by fasting yesterday and we again feast today. We bless and drink from the Jordan (baptismal) waters. The funniest thing I’ve ever seen is individual sized sealed water bottles being blessed and the parishioners taking those. I took a thermos to collect water. I will ask the priest to come bless my home between now and the beginning of Lent and he will use the water from today to do so.

 

[ELEUTHERIUS]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

Theophany Eve is a day of fasting in our church. Yesterday evening we celebrated a Vesper Divine Liturgy, with the blessing of water. Following the Divine Liturgy we recieved blessed bread and drank a glass of the newly blessed holy water. We also took holy water home to drink through the year.
Finally we gathered for a meatless meal in the church hall.
Father will now be blessing houses.

Yours in Christ,
Father Deacon Paul

 

[Freshman88]

Sadly I am not with my family this year because I’m now at university, and school started on the third, so I had to be here. Though I connected with my family via web chat, and had a shot of vodka with the family via webcam .

Baba is sending me a care package, full of pedha, kootja (sp?), holopci and all sorts of goodies. Can’t wait till it gets here.

I may go to the Divine liturgy tonight, since I was raised Latin Catholic, I’ve never gone to the Christmas service.

Sad to have my first Eastern Christmas alone, but I know my family is missing me too!

 

[Patchunky]

We blessed the water, then the church and the congregation was blessed.

Following Divine Liturgy, everyone split up and took down the Christmas decorations or went and started stuffing envelopes for our Easter Bazaar mailing list.

We did have good doughnuts and kolachy for the coffee social…

I brought home water to mix my psyanky dyes in a couple of weeks…

 

[Alexius]

Sadly I am not with my family this year because I’m now at university, and school started on the third, so I had to be here. Though I connected with my family via web chat, and had a shot of vodka with the family via webcam .

Baba is sending me a care package, full of pedha, kootja (sp?), holopci and all sorts of goodies. Can’t wait till it gets here.

I may go to the Divine liturgy tonight, since I was raised Latin Catholic, I’ve never gone to the Christmas service.

Sad to have my first Eastern Christmas alone, but I know my family is missing me too!

I wish I could start my second semester of college already. I have to wait 'til the 15th. I just want to get it over with!

I also go to Eastern Liturgy by myself, but that’s life

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[kaygee]

We bless and drink from the Jordan (baptismal) waters. The funniest thing I’ve ever seen is individual sized sealed water bottles being blessed and the parishioners taking those. I took a thermos to collect water. I will ask the priest to come bless my home between now and the beginning of Lent and he will use the water from today to do so.

Why is that so silly? We distribute individual bottles of blessed water for people to use at home. Not everyone remembers to bring a thermos:shrug: . We use the full blessing of waters service – to the point that the western parish that allows us to use their facilities was a little annoyed that we ran so late:blush: Our priest keeps his own stash of blessed water to use for home blessings throughout the season.

 

[Harpazo]

Last night at the Divine Liturgy at my Maronite parish, Abouna blessed the water by tossing in three hot coals, symbolizing the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. I forgot my container for getting Holy Water… But Abouna will be coming to bless houses, and I’m going to have him bless ours. My Protestant parents probably won’t understand, but hopefully through God’s grace, it will plant some seeds!

Pace e Bene
Andrew

 

[Alexius]

Last night at the Divine Liturgy at my Maronite parish, Abouna blessed the water by tossing in three hot coals, symbolizing the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. I forgot my container for getting Holy Water… But Abouna will be coming to bless houses, and I’m going to have him bless ours. My Protestant parents probably won’t understand, but hopefully through God’s grace, it will plant some seeds!

Pace e Bene
Andrew

Should be an interesting experience for you and your parents…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[Woodstock]

Why is that so silly? We distribute individual bottles of blessed water for people to use at home. Not everyone remembers to bring a thermos:shrug: . We use the full blessing of waters service – to the point that the western parish that allows us to use their facilities was a little annoyed that we ran so late:blush: Our priest keeps his own stash of blessed water to use for home blessings throughout the season.

I am used to seeing the candles placed into the large urn of water and that’s not possible when all of the blessed water is from Aquafina.

I didn’t say it was bad. I thought it smart, but amusing.

 

[kaygee]

I am used to seeing the candles placed into the large urn of water and that’s not possible when all of the blessed water is from Aquafina.

I didn’t say it was bad. I thought it smart, but amusing.

Oh, that is amusing – we fill and seal the small individual bottles afterwards. . . it never occurred to me that commercial, pre sealed bottles would be used.

 

[Patchunky]

I talked with friends who belong to a parish outside of Pittsburgh. Yesterday, after Divine Liturgy, the entire ECF marched to a local stream carrying banners, processional cross, ikons, candles, etc and Fr. Tom blessed the water in the stream. He used an ice cross (candy mold that he filled with water and froze) for the blessing and then tossed the cross into the water afterwards.

I’m just glad that the kids didn’t dive into the water to retrieve the cross as the water is only about 9" deep where he did the blessing

 

[Diak]

We will have Royal Hours on the 18th; Great Compline in the evening of the 18th hopefully followed by some more carolling; and on the 19th Divine Liturgy with the Great Blessing of Water followed by a potluck and the start of home blessings.

In many of our parishes there is an outdoor Great Blessing of Waters. This is from my favorite parish

saintelias.com/ca/feastday/theophany.php

 

[Patchunky]

In many of our parishes there is an outdoor Great Blessing of Waters. This is from my favorite parish

I just won a postcard on eBay that shows a Theophany scene circa 1920 from the village of JASINA in Western Zakarpatia complete with wooden church and a cast of Hutzul men and women…

AWESOME!