Today is Epiphany, the day the Western churches celebrate the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem and the Eastern churches commemorate Christ’s baptism. The word epiphany means a revelation. For the Western churches, the epiphany is the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. For the Eastern churches, it is the revelation of Christ as the Son of God. (Western churches commemorate Jesus’ baptism and the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle where he “manifested his glory,” on Epiphany as well, but these are secondary to the story of the Magi.)

From here, the church calendar turns to focus on the life of Christ, leading to Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter, and the Ascension.

I had planned to write about Twelfth Night (the last day of Christmas, January 5) and Epiphany traditions, but I spent last week preparing for a conference in Maryland this past weekend, so I didn’t have time to write. So instead, I’ll simply share a 10 minute video I recorded for Reflections Ministries last year about the significance of Epiphany.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

The prayer at the end is the Orthodox Troparion of the Nativity. (A troparion is a short hymn.) Since the Orthodox churches celebrate the coming of the Magi at Christmas, they use this then, but for the Western church, it is appropriate for Epiphany. Here are the words:

Your Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the Light of knowledge; for by it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You, the Dayspring from on High. O Lord, glory to You!

Amen, and happy Epiphany!