Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany
Orthodox Christians that follow the Julian Calendar observe Epiphany on January 19. It is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God made Man in the person of Jesus Christs.
Usually called the Feast of Theophany, it is one of the Great Feasts of the liturgical year, being third in rank, behind only Easter and Pentecost in importance.
This feast emphasises the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Second Person of the Trinity at the time of his baptism. It is also celebrated because, according to tradition, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist marked one of only two occasions when all three Persons of the Trinity manifested themselves simultaneously to humanity: God the Father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Thus the holy day is considered to be a Trinitarian feast. The Orthodox Churches perform the Great Blessing of Waters on Theophany. The blessing is normally done twice: once on the Eve of the Feast—usually at a Baptismal front inside the church—and then again on the day of the feast, outdoors at a body of water.
At the end of the ceremony, the priest blesses the waters. The water blessed on this day is known as "Theophany Water" and is taken home by the faithful and used with prayer as a blessing. People not only bless themselves and their homes by sprinkling with Theophany Water but also drink it. On Epiphany, the people usually eat meat jelly, wheat porridge, forcemeat rolls of cabbage, and fried fish.
