Epiphany in the Orthodox Church

On Epiphany day, January 6^th, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, by John the Baptist.  This day is also known as Theophany, which means the showing of God to mankind.  It refers to the appearance, for the first time, of the Holy Trinity at the baptism of Jesus.

On this day the Orthodox church also performs a ‘blessing of the water’. After the church service, the clerics proceed to the nearest body of water, perform a short service and then throw a cross into the water.  Volunteers brave the cold water to try and retrieve the cross.  The person who gets the cross first will receive a special blessing for himself and his family.