Epiphany

Epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphania” which means “divine manifestation” and is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches traditions, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. It is celebrated on January 6 in Western traditions and on January 19 in some Eastern traditions.

For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi and in some traditions is known as “Twelfth Night” or “Three Kings’ Night”, with a minor reference to the baptism of Jesus and the miracle at the Wedding at Cana as the manifestation of the start of Christ’s public ministry.

For Eastern Christians, the feast celebrates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan and the manifestation of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and is also known as the “Festival of Lights” – the revelation of Christ as the Light of the world.

In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ as fully God and fully human and the Savior of the world.