January 5th: The Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ
Apolytikion
River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.
Significance:
The Theophany is the revelation of God Himself at Christ’s baptism, where the Father’s voice, the Son in the waters, and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove make the Holy Trinity manifest. Christ enters the Jordan not to be cleansed, but to cleanse the waters and all creation, beginning the healing of a world wounded by sin and death. By standing in the depths without being overcome, He sanctifies matter, redefines baptism as real participation in His life, and reveals salvation as God’s loving descent into our brokenness. Theophany proclaims that creation is redeemable, healing is real, and God does not save from afar but enters fully into the world to restore it.
Today we are called to fast according to our strength, as a reminder that the soul is immortal and that true joy and sanctification are not found in indulgence of the fallen flesh, but in the healing of the soul as it draws nearer to our Lord and Savior.
Glory to You, our Lord Jesus Christ. On the eve of Theophany, we wait with patient joy to celebrate the first manifestation of the Holy Trinity upon the earth. You revealed Your awesome presence with great power and perfect humility, descending from on high into the depths of creation in order to save us, though we are unworthy. We pray to You—alleluia!