Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ

The article below was written by Rev. Fr. James Graham, Pastor of Saint Elias the Prophet Melkite Greek Catholic Mission, San Jose, CA. The article appeared in THE VOICE OF THE PROPHET, News from Saint Elias the Prophet Melkite Greek Catholic Mission, San Jose, CA, Volume 8, Number 1, January 2002

On 6 January, the Church celebrates the Great Feast called Theophany. In Greek, that means "manifestation of God." It is the commemoration of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by the Prophet and Forerunner John. When the Lord went into the water, the voice of God the Father was heard proclaiming Him "My Beloved Son," and the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove over Jesus's head. The Church understands this as the first manifestation or revelation of the Holy Trinity--the Three Divine Persons in the One True God. Christ's entry into the waters of the Jordan River sanctified all the waters of the world and, by extension, the whole creation. To bring that blessing in a physical way into our lives and our homes, we bless water on this feast-day and use it throughout the year for blessings, strength, health, and cleansing--especially of our homes. On this Great Feast of Theophany, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great, followed by the Great Blessing of Water. Special bottles will be available so that you can take the blessed "Jordan Water" home with you.

Great Blessing of Water

The Great Blessing of Water immediately follows the Divine Liturgy. Some people said that it is the end of the Divine Liturgy.

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center
Martha Liles
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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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