ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="doctitle" --> <title>The Voice Of Orthodoxy</title> <style type="text/css"> <!-- body { background-color: #ecedf2; } .style81 {color: #0C5ADC; font-weight: bold; } .style82 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; } --> </style></head> <BODY LEFTMARGIN=0 TOPMARGIN=0 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0> <table width="784" height="111" border="0" align="center" bordercolor="#E9E9E9" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td height="45" bgcolor="#9999FF"> <p align="center"><font size="+6" COLOR = #990000> THE VOICE OF ORTHODOXY</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="45" bgcolor="#9999FF" valign="top" > <p align="center"><b><font size="+2"> <i>A Bimonthly Conservative Journal To Defend The Apostolic Faith, Morals And Canons Of The Ancient Orthodox Church.</b></i> <strong> <table width="784" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td align = "left">Volume : XIV</td> <td align = "center">JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2010</td> <td align = "right">Issue : 1</td> </tr> </table> </strong> <marquee scrollamount="2" direction="left"><i>ORTHODOXY: THE TRUTH BEARER; FOR REQUESTS CALL: 773-480-7273</i></marquee> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="784" height="758" border="0" align="center" bordercolor="#E9E9E9" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="164" height="182" rowspan="2" valign="top" bgcolor="#9999FF"><br /> <table width="96%" height="75" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#9999FF"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="153" valign="top"> <table> <tr> <p><img src="../../images/st.mary.jpg" width="153" height="209" /></p> </tr> </table> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eef5f9"> <td bgcolor="#ecedf2" height="14"><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="98%" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> 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bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="EditRegion13" --> <table width="620" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td width="614" height="476" valign="top"> <p align="center"><font size="6" face="Palatino"><b>THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD</b></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b>By Tenny Thomas</b></font> <br> <br> <br></p> <p align="center"><a name="0.1_graphic02"></a><font size="2" face="Times"><center> <img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=vahi&amp;view=att&amp;th=126337a43108d12b" height="1" width="1" alt="Your browser may not support display of this image."></center> </font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">During the Theophany Liturgy The Orthodox Syrians sing in Syriac:</font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i> Nuhro bashmay yurdnon dona% </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>wmolé  olmo %adutho </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>wkenshé tohrin wnahro rota% </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>b den%o datlithoyutho. </i></b></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i> Bro dqoyem beth shef é d mayo </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>wmen iday  abdeh  omed </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>w ru%qudsho no%to men shmayo </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>w abo dhonaw ber sohed .</i></b></font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>  Ba modokh mor %alel mad ayn </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>dnehwun nawsé lrabuthokh </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>wabden%okh anhar kul zaw ayn </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b><i>dnawdé lokh  al taybu-thokh .</i></b></font> <br> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">Translation: </font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The skies above the river smiled, </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">filling the world with joy. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The crowds are amazed; </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">the river agitated by </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">the manifestation of the (Holy) Trinity. </font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The Son is standing in the moving waters, </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">being baptized by His servant; </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The Holy Spirit descending from heaven; </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">and the Father testifying:  This is My Son . </font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">By Your baptism, O Lord, purify our minds </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">to be a place for Your majesty. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">And by Your manifestation, enlighten our senses </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">that we may thank You for Your goodness.</font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">Ephrem the Syrian wrote a hymn on  The Day of Theophany saying:</font> <br></p> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The heavens He has renewed,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> for that fools worshiped all the luminaries: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>He has renewed the earth, for that in Adam it was wasted. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>That which He fashioned has become new by His spittle:</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and the All-Sufficing has restored bodies with souls. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Gather yourselves again sheep and without labor receive cleansing!</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>For one needs not an Elisha to bathe seven times in the river,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> nor again to be wearied as the priests are wearied with sprinklings. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Seven times Elisha purified himself in a mystery of the seven spirits;</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and the hyssop and blood are a mighty symbol. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>There is no room for division;</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> He is not divided from the Lord of all,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> Who is Son of the Lord of all.</i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Moses sweetened in Marah the waters that were bitter</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> because the People complained and murmured: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Thus he gave a sign of baptism</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> wherein the Lord of life makes sweet them that were bitter. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The cloud overshadowed and kept off the burning heat</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> from the camp it showed a symbol of the Holy Spirit,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> which overshadows you in baptism tempering the flaming fire</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> that it harm not your bodies. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Through the sea the People then passed,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and showed a symbol of the baptism wherein you were washed.</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> The People passed through that and believed not: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the Gentiles were baptized in this and believed</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and received the Holy Ghost.</i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The Word sent the Voice to proclaim before His Coming, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>to prepare for Him the way by which He came</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and to betroth the Bride till He should come </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>that she might be ready </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>when He should come and take her from the water. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The voice of prophecy stirred the son of the barren woman</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and he went forth wandering in the desert and crying,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>  Lo! The Son of the Kingdom comes! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Prepare the way that He may enter</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i> and abide in your dwellings! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>John cried,  Who comes after me, He is before me:</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>I am the Voice but not the Word;</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>I am the torch but not the Light, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the Star that rises before the Sun of Righteousness. </i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>In the wilderness this John had cried and had said,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>  Repent you sinners of your evils </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and offer the fruits of repentance;</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>for lo! He comes that winnows the wheat from the tares. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The Light giver has prevailed and marked a mystery, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>by the degrees he ascended: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Lo! There are twelve days since he ascended,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and today this is the thirteenth:</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>a perfect mystery of Him, the Son, and His twelve! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Darkness was overcome to make it manifest </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>that Satan was overcome </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and the Light prevailed that he should proclaim </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>that the Firstborn triumphs: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>darkness was overcome with the Dark Spirit, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and our Light prevailed with the Light giver. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>In the Height and the Depth the Son had two heralds. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The star of light proclaimed Him from above; </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>John likewise preached Him from beneath: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>two heralds, the earthly and the heavenly.</i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The star of light, contrary to nature, shone forth </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>of a sudden less than the sun yet greater than the sun. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Less was it than he in manifest light </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and greater than he in secret might because of its mystery. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The star of light shed its rays among them that were in darkness </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and guided them as though they were blind</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>so that they came and met the great Light: </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>they gave offerings and received life and adored and departed. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The herald from above showed His Nature to be from the Most High; likewise he that was from beneath showed His Body</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>to be from humankind; mighty marvel!</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>that His Godhead and His Manhood by them were proclaimed!</i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Thus whoso reckons Him as of earth,</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the star of light will convince him that He is of Heaven:</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and whoso reckons Him as of spirit, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>this John will convince him that He is also bodily. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>John drew near with his parents and worshipped the Sun </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and brightness rested on His Face. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>He was not moved as when in the womb. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>Mighty marvel! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>That here he worships and there he leaped! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The whole creation became for Him as one mouth </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>and cried out concerning Him. </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The Magi cry out in their gifts; </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the barren cry out with their children the star of light, lo!</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>It cries out in the air,  Behold the Son of the King! </i></font> <br></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The heavens are opened, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the waters break forth, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the dove is in glory! </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>The voice of the Father is stronger than thunder </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>as it utters the word,  This is My Beloved ;</i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the Watchers brought the tidings, </i></font></p></blockquote> <blockquote><p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><i>the children acclaimed Him in their Hosannas.</i><sup><i>1</i></sup></font> <br> <br> </p></blockquote> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The Feast of Theophany is a celebration of an historic event, the Baptism of Christ, celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were made manifest. Thus, the name of the Feast is Epiphany, meaning manifestation, or Theophany, meaning manifestation of God.</font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The Biblical story of the Baptism of Christ is recorded in all four of the Gospels: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-9, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:31-34. In accordance with the Gospel this is the first revelation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the Holy Trinity. The Father and the Holy Spirit give testimony to the appearance of the Son of God in the flesh among mankind. </font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The Scriptures tell us that Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Initially, John would not do this, saying that Jesus should baptize him. Jesus said to John,  Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness (3:15). John consented and baptized Jesus.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">When Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened suddenly, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. The Bible records that the Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus. When this happened, a voice came from heaven and said,  This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. This was the voice of God the Father.</font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b>Festival of Lights:</b></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The theme of  manifestation or  revelation is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing,  Christ has appeared and enlightened the world. Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.</font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">By descending into the waters, Christ has enlightened all creation, and has crushed the heads of the serpents. And now all are glorified in Him who is the Savior, the Enlightener of our souls.  Light is a prominent image in the service of Epiphany, and many of the hymns refer to it:  Thou, who hast created the world, art made manifest in the world, to give light to those that sit in darkness. Glory to Thee, who loves mankind. <sup>2</sup></font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b>Prefiguration of Christ s Death:</b></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">As Theophany is the feast of Christ s baptism  and baptism, St. Paul tells us is a baptism into the death of Christ. His Baptism is a prefigurement of His death.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">Thus the waters of the Jordan become symbolic of Hades. Christ s descent into the waters becomes his descent into Hades where he  leads captivity captive (Ephesians 4:8) and sets free those who have been held in bondage to death.<sup>3</sup> </font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b>Blessing of Water:</b></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">By blessing the water we acknowledge that Christ in His baptism purified the nature of the waters. He came to redeem not only human beings but, through them, the entire material created world. The waters become the means of healing and grace. But not only waters-any other material thing may be a bearer of the Spirit. No matter can be excluded or considered trivial,  for the redemptive and transforming grace of the Savior extends to all things.... <sup>4</sup></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"> <br> The feast of Epiphany thus speaks of the restoration of the pure human image, as well as of all material nature. The true nature of water has its destiny in the salvation of man and the world. Creation  will be set free from its bondage and will obtain  the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:20). All things are to be set aright. They are to be permeated by the light, love, grace, and glory of God. In the feast, the Church reminds its members of the historical character of the Incarnation and the goal of Christian existence: to  become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).</font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino"><b>Road to Calvary:</b></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">The day of the Epiphany is the day when the whole world is being renewed and becomes a partaker of the holiness of God. But at the same time, it is the day when Christ enters on the way to Calvary. He came to John the Baptist on Jordan, not in order to be cleansed, because he was pure of sin. Christ did not need cleansing. But by entering the waters of Jordan, Lord Jesus Christ merges Himself on that day, taking upon Himself the mortality resulting from the sin of man. He vests Himself with the mortality of the sinful world. This is the beginning of the way to Calvary. This is a day when we marvel at the infinite love of God.<sup>5</sup> </font> <br></p> <p><font size="3" face="Palatino">Let us therefore today wonder and marvel, and worship this love of God. <b><i>kul-khun  ammé, taw nebruk w nesghud leh</i></b> (All you people, let us bow and worship him). Amen!</font> <br></p> </table> </body> <!-- InstanceEnd --></html>