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The Theophany Feast

“For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

(2 Peter 1:17)
Icon of Theophany

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The Major Feasts of the Lord

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates seven Major Feasts of the Lord, which are the main events related directly to our salvation. These feasts are: Annunciation, Nativity, Epiphany (Theophany), Palm Sunday, Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost.

Celebrating spiritual feasts is God’s commandment in the Old Testament (Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, Numbers 28, Deuteronomy 16:26). And the Lord Jesus Himself was celebrating all the Jewish feasts according to the Law of Moses (Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16, Luke 22:7-13, John 2:13, 5:1, 7:14, 13:1-5)

In our Coptic church, we gather on the occasions of these feasts to experience fellowship and collective worship in a unique liturgical atmosphere. We draw theology in the prayer of the gathered Church and its living biblical and patristic service; so that our presence and experience are real and permanent, illuminating and developing our lives. Only in this way does the feast achieve its meaning and effectiveness, considering that prayer is a reflection of doctrine; and our gathering fulfills the coming of the Kingdom of heaven on earth and the actual presence of God among His people.

The Significance of the Epiphany

Through the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by the hands of St. John the Baptist, God established for us the gate of salvation through the birth of water and the Spirit.

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

(John 3:5)

The feast name “Epiphany” or “Theophania” means “the Manifestation of God” as the Holy Trinity appeared at the same time:
+ God the Father calling from heaven:

"This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,”

(John 3:5)

+ God the Son being baptized in the water,
+ God the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16-17).

In the Feast of Epiphany we celebrate the establishment of the new creation (birth) of the human nature that was corrupted by sin. And as the first creation was done by the Holy Trinity;

”Let Us make man in Our image”

(Genesis 1:26)

(the plural pronouns referring to the Holy Trinity), the new creation is also done by the Holy Trinity.
In the Old Testament, the circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and His people, and that was a symbol for baptism, which is the new covenant of our sonship to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ, though not in need, followed both rites humbly to carry us, in Him, from the old covenant of the flesh to the new covenant of grace.

The Rituals of the Feast

The Coptic Church celebrates the feast of Epiphany (Theophany) on January 19th, Tobe 11th every year. The Arabic name of the feast of Epiphany is “El-Ghetas” which means “Immersion” referring to baptism by immersion according to the Coptic Orthodox faith.

The day before the feast is called “Paramoun”, a Greek term meaning watch or vigil. It is a day of preparation to the feast by strict fasting, where abstaining and prostrations are practiced on this day.

On the eve prior to the feast, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, proceeded by a special prayer; ‘the Liturgy of Blessing the Water” also called “Lakkan Prayer.”

Using different elements like water, oil, and wine, is a common practice in the rituals of the Coptic Orthodox Church. As the inner life of the Church - the life of prayer and worship - is what makes the Church offer to God in thanksgiving all the elements of creation, so that God may sanctify them by the Holy Spirit and return them back to us to be a means of blessing, purification and salvation.

Rites of Lakkan Prayer

The word “Lakkan” is a Coptic word which means “basin.”
The Lakkan prayer takes place on three different events: The Feast of Epiphany, Covenant Thursday and the Feast of The Apostles.

Prophecies

Prophecies from the Old Testament (from Habakkuk, Isaiah, Baruch and Ezekiel) are read during the Lakkan prayer, talking about the water in the Holy Bible as a symbol of purification, new life, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Hymns

Special hymns are chanted to honor St. John the Baptist; “A proud name is your name.”

Readings and Litanies

The Gospel reading is about the baptism of our Lord Jesus in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:1-17).

Special litanies are for blessing the water to be a source of purification and blessing to the congregation.
The prayer is concluded by chanting Psalm 150.

The readings of the Divine liturgy focus on the manifestation of God and the work of the Holy Trinity in us through baptism.

Spiritual Application

Baptism is the practice of regeneration, of rebirth, of putting off the old man and putting on the new one. Let us put away all filthiness of the flesh and all fleshly desires and walk with Him as a new creation. Let us take this time to appreciate our regeneration in Christ and the spirit of sonship that He has given to us all. After receiving our new nature through the incarnation of the Logos, let us now take this Feast of Theophany as a reminder to be continually renewed as a new creation in Christ.

References

Lakkan Liturgies- Coptic Treasures

Covenant Thursday Lakkan- Monastery of St. Macarius the Great

Theophany Feast- St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church

Major Feasts of the Lord in The Coptic Church: Theophany- St. Takla.Org