THE FEAST OF EPIPHANYTIDE AND THE BLESSING OF THE WATERS OF THEOPHANY (JAN 6TH)

LITURGICAL PROPERS ACCORDING TO THE USE OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF THE WEST 

INTROIT

Behold, the Lord the Ruler hath come: and the kingdom is in His hand, and power, and dominion. Give the King Thy judgments, O God: and Thy righteousness unto the King’s Son.  

(Malachi 3:1 and Psalm 72:1)  

COLLECTS

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest Thine Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may after this life behold Thy glorious Godhead; through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.  

O Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Thine Only-begotten Son in the River Jordan didst manifest Him to be the Light of the world and the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world: Mercifully grant that we, being cleansed by the washing of regeneration and renewed by the Holy Ghost, may be sanctified through this water, which Thou hast hallowed by Thy divine power; that we may evermore abide in the light of Thy truth and walk in the way that leadeth to life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty God, Who didst shine the brilliant light of Thy Holy Gospel upon the Far East through the life and work of St. Alopen, mercifully grant that we Thy servants may ever be illumined by his example and helped by his intercessions, that we also might be faithful scholars, priests, and missionaries in the service of Thy Holy Church in East Asia. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

EPISTLE

A READING FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH (ISAIAH 60:1–6)  

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.  

GRADUAL

All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and incense: and showing forth praise to the Lord. Arise, shine, O Jerusalem: for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Psalm 72:10-11 and Isaiah 60:1)  

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia. We have seen His star in the East: and are come with gifts to worship the Lord. Alleluia.  

GOSPEL

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW (MATTHEW 2:1–12)  

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel." Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  

OFFERTORY

The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give presents: the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts. All kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall do Him service. (Psalm 72:10-11)  

SECRET

Accept, O Lord, the gifts we bring to the altar on this festival of Thine Epiphany, and grant that as we now offer Thee our earthly devotion, so we may come to receive Thy heavenly reward; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

COMMUNION

We have seen His star in the East, and are come with gifts to worship the Lord. (Matthew 2:2)  

POSTCOMMUNION

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have been made partakers of Thy heavenly banquet may seek Thee and worship Thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.  

THE GREAT BLESSING OF THE WATERS AFTERSERVICE

OPENING

Priest: Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  

Choir: Amen.  

ANTIPHONS

Reader: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundered; the Lord is upon many waters. (Psalm 29:3)  

Bring unto the Lord, ye sons of God, bring unto the Lord glory and honor. (Psalm 29:1)  

Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us. (Psalm 118:26–27)  

DIACONAL LITANY

Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord.  

Choir: Lord, have mercy.  

Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.  

Choir: Lord, have mercy. 

Deacon: For the sanctification of these waters by the power, operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.  

Choir: Lord, have mercy! 

Deacon: For this water to be a source of healing, renewal, and sanctification, let us pray to the Lord. 

Choir: Lord, have mercy! 

TROPARION FOR THEOPHANY 

Chanted:

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan,  

The worship of the Trinity was made manifest.  

For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee,  

Calling Thee His beloved Son.  

And the Spirit in the form of a dove  

Confirmed the truth of His word.  

O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself,  

And hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!  

EPISTLE 

Deacon: Let us attend!  

Reader: The reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to Titus.  

Deacon:Let us attend!  

Titus 2:11–14; 3:4–7

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  

But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  

GOSPEL 

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.  

Priest: Peace be unto all.  

Choir: And to thy spirit.  

Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.  

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.  

Matthew 3:13–17

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?” And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.  

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 

Priest: Great art Thou, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works, and there is no word sufficient to hymn Thy wonders. (Repeated three times)  

For by Thy will Thou didst bring all things from non-existence into being; by Thy power Thou dost uphold creation, and by Thy providence Thou dost direct the world. Thou hast established the earth upon the waters, and hast encompassed the sea with bounds. Thou didst call forth water from the rock, and didst satisfy Thy people in the wilderness. And in the fullness of time, Thou didst sanctify the waters of the Jordan by sending down from heaven Thy Holy Spirit upon Thine Only-begotten Son.  

CONSECRATION OF THE WATERS 

Priest: Do Thou now, O Master, sanctify this water by the indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit.  

(Repeated three times)  

IMMERSION OF THE CROSS

The priest immerses the cross three times into the water, chanting:  

"The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. Today the nature of the waters is sanctified..."  

BLESSING OF THE PEOPLE 

The priest sprinkles the faithful and the surroundings with the blessed water, proclaiming:  

"Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance."  

FINAL DISMISSAL

Priest: May Christ our true God, who deigned to be baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.  

Choir: Amen.