January 6: Epiphany

Happy Epiphany everyone! Depending on who you ask, January 6 is either the last day of the Christmas season (aka, the twelfth day of Christmas) or it’s the day after the last day of Christmas. Then, in western Christianity, Epiphany commemorates the day the magi found and worshiped the baby Jesus. On the other hand, in Eastern Christianity, this holiday celebrates Jesus’ baptism.

However, Christians across the globe recognize Epiphany (also called Theophany or “vision of God”) as celebration of God as man, when God came to earth as a man and “tabernacled” with us. One of my favorite terms in relation to this is Immanuel, God with us.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14a

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:4-11

January 19: Theophany

People gather to celebrate Timket in Gondor, Ethiopia. Photo by Jialiang Gao

Eastern, Oriental, and Ethiopian Orthodox churches celebrate Theophany, Epiphany, or Timkat on January 19. In this tradition, Theophany (the appearance of God) marks the baptism of Jesus.

In the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, this festival is known as Timkat, which means baptism. During Timkat, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, called a Tabot, is wrapped in cloth and taken to river or pool. The service is celebrated by the river in the early morning, and the day is spent in celebrating with songs, dancing, and feasting.

An Ethiopian Orthodox priest holds a Tabot during a Timket ceremony. Photo by Jialiang Gao

Mark 1:9-11

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

This January 19 celebration should not be confused with the Epiphany (when the Magi found the child Jesus) celebrated on January 6 by Catholics, Anglicans, and many Protestant traditions.