On the 6th of January, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates the HOLY THEOPHANY of Our Lord and God and Savior JESUS CHRIST.

The Holy Feast of the Theophany or Epiphany, which we celebrate today, took place when Our Lord Jesus Christ HAD LIVED THIRTY YEARS FROM THE TIME HE TOOK FLESH (INCARNATION) AND BECAME Man. Our Lord’s DESCENT INTO THE JORDAN and His Holy Baptism were a patent manifestation of His INCARNATION. We, therefore, cry aloud with the Psalmist David, "Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord…God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us" [Psalm 117:26-27]. This THEOPHANY is fulfilled in the Prophecy of Prophet Baruch: "This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of hin comparison of Him…Afterward did He show Himself upon earth, and conversed with men" (Baruch 3:35-37]. Thus, we chant, "Divinity was seen with flesh by those of the earth" [cf. Baruch 3:37]. "For the grace of God which bringeth salvation appeared to all men" [Titus 2:11]. Saint Hippolytos [170-236] comments that "Christ came down as the rain" [Hos. 6:4], and was known as a spring" [John 4:14], and diffused Himself as a river" [John 7:38], and was baptized in the Jordan" [Matthew 3:13].

The Baptism of John

Saint John Chrysostom says that the Baptism of Christ "partook of the old, and partook also of the new. To be baptized by the Prophet marked the old, but the coming down of the Spirit foreshadowed the new…He hath joined the Old Covenant (Old Testament) with the New, God’s nature with man’s, the things that are His with ours. Therefore the birth was twofold, boht made like unto us, and laos surpassing ours. For to be born of a woman indeed was our lot, but be begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man [cf; John 1:13], but OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, was to proclaim beforehand the birth surpassing us, the birth to come, which He was about freely to give us of the Spirit.

INFANT BAPTISM

Saint Dionysios the Areopagite (1st Century) responds to someone who was dubious about the worth (value) of INFANT BAPTISM and the qualification of the candidate’s, sponsor, writes: "But let me set down what our blessed teachers, in their knowledge of the earliest tradition, have passed down to us. What they say is this, and it is true. Children raised up in accordance with holy precepts will acquire the habits of holiness. They will avoid all the errors and all the temptations of an unholy life. Understanding the truth of this, our divine guides, the Apostles, decided it was a good thing TO ADMIT CHILDREN TO HOLY BAPTISM, THOUGH ON CONDITION THAT THE PARENTS OF THE CHILD WOULD ENTRUST HIM TO SOME GOOD TEACHER WHO IS HIMSELF INITIATED IN THE DIVINE THINGS AND WHO COULD PROVIDE RELIGIOUS TEACHING AS THE CHILD’S SPIRITUAL FATHER AND AS THE SPONSOR OF SALVATION. Anyone thus committed to raise the child up along the way of a holy life is asked by the hierarch to agree to the ritual renunciations and to speak the words of promise. Those who scoff at this are quire wrong in thinking that the one is initiated into the Divine Mysteries instead of the other; for he does not say, ‘I am making the reununciations and the promises for the child.,’ but ‘the child can understand sacred truth…"

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (130-200 A.D.) concures and writes: "The Son of God came TO SAVE ALL PERSONS BY MEANS OF Himself-ALL, I say, who through Him are born again to God–INFANTS, CHILDREN, BOYS, YOUTHS, AND OLD MEN." Saint Hyppolytios of Rome alsay says, "Baptize first the children; and if they can speak for themselves, let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them."

Saint Gregory the Theologian (388 A.D.) urges parents and guardian to baptize their children, saying, "Give your child the Trinity, that great and noble Protector…Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood. From his most tender age, let him be consecrated by the Spirit. Do you fear the seal of baptism because of the weakness of nature? O, what a pusillanimous mother and o of how little faith! But some will say, ‘What do you have to say about those, being children, who are unaware of what is taking place and the grace inherent in the sacrament? Shall we baptize them too? ‘ Certainly, especially if there is any pressing danger. Better that they be sanctified unaware, than that they depart unsealed and uninitiated."

The word BAPTISM [Greek βάπτισις], as Saint Nicodemos the Hagiorite interprets it, WHICH MEANS PLUNGING, is a verbal noun that comes from the verb ‘bapto’, MEANING TO PLUNGE, IMMERSE. Thus baptism is connected with water:
The holy Fathers teach that there are many kinds of baptism, Saint Gregory the Theologian teaches that there are FIVE KINDS. The first is that of Moses, which gives temporary purification. The second is that of the Forerunner, who baptized people with the baptism OF REPENTANCE. The third is Christ’s baptism, through which people become CHRISTIANS, it is performed by the energy of the Holy Spirit. The fourth is that of Martyrdom and blood, and the fifth is that of REPENTANCE AND TEARS. [Source:  The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

Please Note: Holy Water is a source of sanctification for all Orthodox Christians. "That this water may become a source of immortality, a gift of blessing, a loosing from sins, for the healing of soul and body, and to fill every true need, let us pray to the Lord ” (Blessing of Waters at Epiphany). "That we may be found worthy to be filled with sanctification in the partaking of these waters, through the unseen manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord." Also, "Ang give to it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of immortality, a gift of sanctification, for the remission of sins, protection against infirmities, destructive to evil forces, inaccessible to opposing powers, filled with Angelic might." "Again grant to All, whether they touch it or are anointed by or partake of it, SANCTIFICATION, BLESSING, CLEANSING, HEALTH…" "That all who draw from it or partake of it may find in it PURIFICATION OF SOULS AND BODIES, HEALING OF INFIRMITIES, SANCTIFICATION OF HOUSES, EVERY FIT BENEFIT…" [Blessing of Waters at Epiphany]

Our Holy Orthodox Church distributes holy water to the faithful to be used throughout the year as needed. It should be taken reverently, faithfully, prayerfully, and with humility. It is to be used for blessing of all members of the household, for drinking it after one offers his/her prayers and on empty stomach with the utmost respect. At times when one is ill or on items that are necessary for spiritual growth, houses, cars etc. There may be times when one is not prepared to receive Holy Communion or is prevented from Communing because of his/her spiritual status, not that holy water can ever take the place of the holy Eucharist. A person may be on penance from his/her father confessor and must abstain from receiving Holy Communion for a certain period of time.

It is not proper and right for anyone to receive holy water from the Church and to never use it, and then after a year, to return it to the priest asking him, as they say, "it is last year’s holy water" and wants "fresh or new holy water" to take home. Or as some do, to discard it in their garden or flower pot. Holy water NEVER spoils or becomes ‘stale.’ That shows one’s ignorance and lack of faith, understanding, and respect. It is a sin to throw holy water out. It is better NOT to take it at all!

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George