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Feast of the Holy Theophany – Blessing of the water following the morning festal Divine Liturgy!
January 5 @ 9:00 am
KONTAKION OF THE FOREFEAST OF THEOPHANY IN TONE FOUR
(**On this day Thou hast appeared**)
In the running waters of * the Jordan River, * on this day the Lord of all * crieth to John: Be not afraid * and hesitate not to baptize Me, * for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
THE EPISTLE
(For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ)
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, O my God.
The Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy. (4:5-8)
My child Timothy, be watchful in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the season of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, and I have guarded the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will reward me at that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved His appearing.
THE GOSPEL
(For the Sunday before the Theophany of Christ)
The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:1-8)
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”