Feast of Epiphany at HMB Church

The eve of the Feast of Epiphany was celebrated with vespers and the blessing of water followed by Schedry vechir

            "St. John the Baptist was the last and the greatest of the Prophets of the Old Testament. John is called “the Forerunner”. He had come to fulfill what the Prophet Isaiah had foretold, that there would be one who’d come to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. He would be messenger, one sent by God to prepare the path, the way of the Lord. (Mark 1:2-3)

      John acknowledges that that there is One mightier than he. He considered himself not worthy to even untie, stoop and loosen, the thongs of Our Lord’s sandals. (v.7) John lived in the desert and was clothed in camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. His was a very simple and humble life. He ate locusts and wild honey.

         John was a preacher. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John had baptized the people from the Judean countryside and also the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He baptized them in the River Jordan with water as they confessed their sins. Jesus would come and baptize the people with the Holy Spirit. (v.8)

         John the Baptist’s ministry was one of humble service. He acknowledged that Jesus was mightier than he. The baptism that the Lord confers will impart grace, the Holy Spirit.  

     Every Tuesday of the week, the liturgical propers for the weekday are dedicated to honoring St. John the Baptist for his participation in salvation history as Forerunner of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. In the Gospel for the weekday (Tuesday), John acknowledges that Jesus is “the Lamb of God” John 1:29)_ and “the Son of God.” (John 1:34)

       Our Ukrainian Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Theophany on January 6th on the Gregorian calendar and on January 19th on the Julian calendar. The Feast is a celebration and commemoration of Our Lord’s Baptism in the River Jordan by John. This event in the life of Christ is the first revelation of God as the Blessed Trinity: three divine persons in One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Icon of the Theophany, Jesus’ body is totally immersed. The Lord’s right hand is shown blessing the waters of the River Jordan. This signifies the sanctification and purification of the waters by Christ".

Father D. George Worschak