Web Site Home - Theology Home - Hierarchy Home - Locations Home - Education Home - Stewardship Home - Links Home - Vendors Home - Alphabetical Index Home - Thesaurus Home - Sitemap Home - Arabic fonts Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information CenterGreat Feast of the Holy Theophany of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ - Celebration Great Blessing of Water
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 WaterThe Great Blessing of Water immediately follows the Divine Liturgy. Some people said that it is the end of the Divine Liturgy. Web Site Home - Theology Home - Hierarchy Home - Locations Home - Education Home - Stewardship Home - Links Home - Vendors Home - Alphabetical Index Home - Thesaurus Home - Sitemap Home - Arabic fonts Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center Martha Liles Web URL address: Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center or https://www.mliles.com/melkite/ E-mail: mliles@mliles.com or mliles@mliles.com Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is
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