Benedicamus Domino!
Tomorrow, January 6-Julian and January 19-Gregorian, is the day on which the parish to which I belong celebrates Theophany, also called The Feast of Lights. While in the western tradition it is called Epiphany and celebrates the coming of the wise men to adore Christ, Christ's baptism by John in the Jordan and the miracle of the water and the wine at the Wedding at Cana, the East focuses exclusively on Christ's baptism. His baptism in the Jordan and the subsequent manifestation of his divinity by the Spirit's descending on Him as a dove and the Father's voice signifying that He is indeed His Son is the first full revelation of God as Trinity. Also, this is a foreshadowing of how Christ's death and resurrection will sanctify all of creation and give man a way out of his fallen state. Consequently, it is celebrated with both great solemnity and great joy!
My history with this date is rather an interesting one. First of all, it is my half-birthday. We celebrated half-birthdays in my first year of university if a person on our floor had a birthday in the summer, and since then, I've always thought of this day as somehow special, if only in my own mind. Then, it was also the date of a very important right of passage for me: my formal initiation as a Witch. I recall telling a friend when the date would be and her remarking that that was the date of Theophany. It was the first time I'd ever heard that term, and when she described the wonderful traditions of that day, my heart missed a beat. Could there really be a kind of Christianity which honoured creation in such a positive way? Still, my heart was set and my intention firm, and so I was initiated, and I remember that the next day, it was as though all the world was filled with light and life for me. I did truly feel reborn that day! Still, I recall bestowing a thought or two on what my friend had told me, and what she had told me was this.
It is customary, on the day of Theophany, to perform a blessing of waters at a river or some other living and moving body of water. For when Christ was baptized in the Jordan, He sanctified the water by His mere presence. So, on this day, Eastern Orthodox churches perform a blessing of actual living water soas to honour that sanctification of all of creation which Christ accomplished. For me, who was brought up on hymns and preaching, this very experiencial aspect of Christianity had never entered my head, and it was this wondrous and living act which awaited me at the entrance to my current path as an Orthodox Christian.
When I was inquiring into the faith and had not yet taken my first steps as a catechumen, I recall a time when my priest was describing Theophany to us by describing the icon which depicts Christ's baptism. Here was I, fresh from Paganism, and suddenly being told about the one festival which seemed to make sense to my body, mind, heart and soul, and ever since then, I have reverenced this Feast almost on the same level as Easter/Pascha! This, for me, is the feast of my redemption--not a redemption from Paganism exactly, but a redemption from the despair which led me to step away from Christ in the first place. This was the Feast which answered all my questions and doubts, which brought Christ down out of the clouds and directly into contact with myself and all that I sought to somehow honour and to bless in the world around me. Theophany is a Feast I feel very possessive about. It was the doorway, the gateway I needed, but only God knew when and how to present it to me, and I still find it a marvel to think about! Glory to God for all things!
Here, I will present a trinity of poems about the Theophany of Christ. I meant them to function as little word-icons. They are sonnets.
Poems Upon Christ's Baptism in the Jordan
I.
When Thou, O Lord, didst unto Jordan's stream
Betake Thyself in poor and humble guise,
To those who looked on Thee with mortal eyes,
Thou wast like them, a man of low esteem.
Yet, unto one who as a fleeting dream
Did hold all earthly cares, Thou didst arise
As doth the spring vault to the desert skies,
And thus, more fair than any fount doth seem.
As he could see Thy truth, who had no thought
For worldly things, and Witnessed Thee with force
To all who sought release from sin that day,
So may I come to see Thee, who know nought
But dreams which fall to dust. O, keep my course,
My Christ, upon the steep and narrow way!
II.
The depths of Jordan trembled at Thy touch,
As did the baptist when with fear and dread
He took Thy hallowed hand and gently led
Thee forth unto the water's side, in such
A fright to see his Master's sacred head
Now sink beneath the flood, which leapt and fled
Away, lest it should kill Thee with its clutch.
But at the last did John perform Thy will,
Baptizing Thee as Thou didst Him command.
The waters too did honour Thee aright,
And closed themselves upon Thee, standing still
And silent, waiting for the mighty hand
Of God to draw Thee out into His light.
III.
From Jordan's ancient stream didst Thou arise,
As doth the sun from out the misty east
When dawn doth break, and night's dark grasp hath ceased
To hold dominion o'er the earth and skies.
And after Thy fair rising did the eyes
Of all assembled there behold a feast
Of wonders, when from heaven was released
A dove which was the Spirit, true and wise.
It lit on Thee, and then there came a voice
Which called Thee "Son," and thus made manifest
The full and awesome splendour of the King
Of all creation, who by His own choice
Did condescend to dwell on earth as guest
In mortal form, and dedden death's cruel sting.
Deo Gratias!
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