The Three Epiphanies of Christ

In the Catholic Byzantine Rite and in the Orthodox Tradition, today is the Epiphany, the showing forth of God to all.

Here is a great icon of this event. Christ is being revealed to the world in His Baptism, which is not to take away any sin from Him, the sinless one, but to show up the way to freedom from sin.

Today, God is "shining forth", "being manifested" to the world of the disciples and those who were following John

This Epiphany is one of three: the Epiphany to the Three Kings, this one of the Baptism of Christ, and the third is the Transfiguration.

Meditating on the Three Epiphanies reveals a pattern of God giving His Son to the world at key points in Christ's Life.

The first, at His Birth, emphasizing the Incarnation; the second in the Jordan, emphasizing the proclamation of the Gospel to the world; and the third, the Transfiguration, the announcement of Christ's glory which will happen in the Resurrection from the Dead.

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.

Tropar­ion (Tone 4)

Today the Lord enters the Jor­dan and cries out to John: “Do not be afraid to bap­tize me. For I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.”

Kon­takion (Tone 4)

Pre­pare, O Zebu­lon, And adorn your­self, O Naph­tali; River Jor­dan, cease flow­ing And receive with joy the Mas­ter com­ing to be bap­tized. Adam, rejoice with our First Mother And do not hide your­self as you did of old in Par­adise; For hav­ing seen you naked, He has appeared to clothe you with the first gar­ment. Christ has appeared to renew all creation.