THE CEREMONY
OF THE GREAT BLESSING OF WATER
OF EPIPHANY
The Great Blessing of Water is performed on the eve of Epiphany at the end of the Divine Liturgy, after the Ambo Prayer and: Blessed be the name of the Lord… and on the day of the feast at the end of Matins, after the final: Holy God… of the Great Doxology.
We process to the place where the vessel of water is prepared, the Deacon in front of the Priest, the latter holding a cross and aspergillum in his right hand and the Gospel book in his left. They stand before the vessel of water facing east, as the choirs sing the following hymns:
CHOIR
Mode pl. 4.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, crying out and saying, “Come all, and receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, yes, of Christ, who has come in His epiphany.” [GOASD] (3)
Today the substance of water is made holy, for the Master is washed in the Jordan. When the River sees Him, it stops its flow and bursts forth. [GOASD] (2)
You have come to the River as a man, O Christ our King; and You urgently request to receive a Baptism befitting a servant, at the hands of the Forerunner, all because of our sins, O good and benevolent Lord. [GOASD] (2)
Glory. Both now. Mode pl. 4.
When You had taken the form of a servant, O Lord, You approached John, the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” and You requested Baptism, although You were without sin. The waters saw You and were afraid. The Forerunner trembled in reaction, and he cried out and said, “How can I, who am the lamp, illumine You, who are the Light? How can I, the servant, lay my hand on You, my Master? I pray You sanctify me and the waters, O Savior, who takes away the sin of the world!” [GOASD]
The Readings
READER
The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Is 35:1 – 10
Thus says the Lord: Be glad, you thirsty desert, and rejoice exceedingly, and let the desert blossom as a lily. The desert places of the Jordan shall blossom abundantly and rejoice exceedingly. The glory of Lebanon and the honor of Carmel shall be given to it, and My people shall see the glory of the Lord and the majesty of our God. Be strong, you relaxed hands and feeble knees. Be comforted, you fainthearted. Be strong, do not fear. Behold, our God renders judgment and will render it. He will come and save us. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will speak clearly. For water shall burst forth in the desert, and a valley in the thirsty land. The waterless desert shall become meadows, and the thirsty land springs of water. There will be the gladness of birds, a habitation of reeds and marshes. A pure way shall be there, and it shall be called a holy way. No unclean man shall pass through there, neither shall there be an unclean way there. But those dispersed shall walk in it, and they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous animals go up on it, nor at all be found there. But the redeemed shall walk in it, and those gathered by the Lord shall return and come to Zion with gladness, and with everlasting gladness over their head. For praise and exceeding joy will be on their head, and gladness shall possess them. Pain, sorrow, and sighing fled away. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Is 55:1 – 13
Thus says the Lord: “You who are thirsty, go to the water, and all who have no money, go and buy wine and fat, and eat and drink without money and price. Why do you value at the price of money, and give your toil for what does not satisfy? Listen to Me and eat good things, and your soul will delight in good things. Incline your ears and follow my ways. Listen to Me, and your soul shall live in good things; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the holy and faithful things of David. Behold, I made him a witness among the Gentiles, a ruler and commander to the Gentiles. The Gentiles, which did not know you, shall call upon you, and the peoples who did not understand you shall take refuge in you, because of your God, the Holy One of Israel; for He glorified you.” Seek God, and when you find Him, call upon Him when He draws near to you. Let the ungodly man abandon his ways, and the lawless man his counsels; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; for He shall forgive your sins abundantly. “For My counsels are not as your counsels, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “But as heaven is distant from earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My mind. For as rain comes down, or snow from heaven, and does not return until it saturates the earth, and it brings forth and produces, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so shall My word be, whatever proceeds from My mouth. It shall not return until it accomplishes whatever I willed, and I shall prosper your ways and My commandments. For you shall go forth with gladness and shall be taught with joy, for the mountains and hills shall exult to receive you with joy; and all the trees of the field shall applaud with their branches. Instead of the broom-tree shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and the Lord shall be for a name and for an everlasting sign, and He shall not fail.” [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Is 12:3 – 6
Thus says the Lord: You will draw water with gladness from the wells of salvation. In that day, you will say, “Praise the Lord; call upon His name. Declare His glorious things among the Gentiles and make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the name of the Lord, for He has done great things. Declare this in all the earth. Exult and be glad, O inhabitants of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is exalted in her midst.” [SAAS]
The Epistle
DEACON
Let us be attentive.
READER
Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 26.
The Lord is my light and my savior.
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life. [SAAS]
DEACON
Wisdom.
READER
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.
DEACON
Let us be attentive.
READER
1 Cor. 10:1 – 4
Brethren, I want you to know that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. [RSV]
PRIEST
Peace be with you the reader.
CHOIR
Alleluia. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: The God of glory thundered upon the waters.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
DEACON
Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.
PRIEST
Peace be with all.
CHOIR
And with your spirit.
DEACON
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
PRIEST
Let us be attentive.
CHOIR
Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
DEACON
Mk. 1:9 – 11
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” [RSV]
PRIEST
Peace be with you who read the Gospel.
CHOIR
Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
DEACON
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water become holy by the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity descend upon these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
That the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan be sent upon them, let us pray to the Lord.
That we be illumined with the light of knowledge and right belief through the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water become the gift of sanctification, redemption from sins, for the healing of soul and body, and for every beneficial purpose, let us pray to the Lord.
That it become water welling up to eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.
That it effect the averting of every plot of visible and invisible enemies, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who are sprinkled with it and take it for the blessing of homes, let us pray to the Lord.
That it effect purification of soul and body for all who take and drink it with faith, let us pray to the Lord.
That it be granted us to be filled with sanctification through drinking this water, by the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God listen to the voice of the prayer of us sinners and have mercy on us, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
The Priest says the following prayer quietly.
When there is no Deacon, by necessity the Priest reads this prayer while the Prophecies are being read.
PRIEST (inaudibly)
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, true God, the source of life and immortality, light from light, who came into the world to enlighten it: Illumine our mind, by Your Holy Spirit, and accept us, as we ascribe to You greatness and gratitude, for the mighty miracles You performed from the beginning, and for Your plan for salvation in these last times. According to this plan, You, the King of the universe, put on our infirm substance and assumed the position of servitude, and even accepted to be immersed in the River Jordan by the hand of a servant, so that You who are sinless might sanctify the element of water and pave the way for our rebirth through water and the Spirit and restore us to our original freedom. As we celebrate the commemoration of this divine mystery, O benevolent Master, we entreat You: Sprinkle cleansing water, the gift of Your tender mercy, on us Your unworthy servants, according to Your divine promise, so that the prayer of us sinners over this water be well received by Your goodness, and so that Your blessing be granted through it to us and to all Your faithful people, to the glory of Your holy and worshipful name.
PRIEST (aloud)
For all glory, honor, and worship belong to You and Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
After the Priest has quietly said, “Amen,” and the Deacon has completed the Great Litany, the Priest commences reading aloud the preamble of the Epiphany prayer.
This preamble is not said on the eve of the feast, so the prayer commences with, “You are great, O Lord!” below. This preamble is said on the day of the feast of Epiphany.
By Sophronios Patriarch of Jerusalem.
PRIEST
Trinity, superessential, surpassingly good, supremely divine, omnipotent, omniscient, invisible, inconceivable, Creator of spiritual entities and intelligent beings, intrinsic goodness, unapproachable light that enlightens every man coming into the world, shine in me Your unworthy servant; illumine the eyes of my mind, so that I may dare to extol Your immense beneficence and power. May this supplication of mine for the people here present be well received, and let not my offences prevent Your Holy Spirit from being here. Rather permit me now to address You blamelessly, and to say to You, O supremely good God: We glorify You, benevolent Master, pre-eternal King and Ruler over all! We glorify You, the creator and maker of all! We glorify You, only-begotten Son of God, born from Your Mother without a father, and from Your Father without a mother. In the previous feast, we saw You, the infant; and in this one we see You, the mature adult, our perfect God from perfect God, who appeared on earth.
Today, the season to celebrate is upon us. In church with us is the host of Saints, Angels and humans celebrate together. Today, the grace of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon the waters. Today, the unsetting Sun arose, and the world is brightened by the light of the Lord. Today, the moon, along with the world, is illuminated by the brilliant rays. Today, the stars are sparkling and they adorn the earth with shining radiance. Today, the clouds are sprinkling on mankind the heavenly rain of righteousness.
Today, the Uncreated is intentionally touched by the hand of His creature. Today, the Prophet and Forerunner approaches the Lord, but he serves Him with trembling, beholding God’s condescension to us. Today, by the presence of the Lord, the Jordan’s waters are transformed into cures. Today, all creation is watered by mystical streams. Today, people’s failures are wiped out in the waters of the Jordan. Today, Paradise is opened to people, and the Sun of Righteousness shines on us.
Today, the bitter water during the time of Moses is made sweet for the people, because of the Lord’s presence. Today, we are liberated from the old lament, and, as the new Israel, we are delivered. Today, we are rescued from the darkness, and we are illumined by the light of divine knowledge. Today, the mist over the world is removed, because of our God’s appearance. Today, the brilliant light from on high shines on all creation. Today, error and delusion are quashed, and the Master’s advent opens for us the way of salvation.
Today, heaven celebrates with earth, and earth converses with heaven. Today, the sacred assembly of the Orthodox is resoundingly celebrating. Today, the Master comes to be baptized, in order to lift human nature to heaven. Today, the unbowed Master bows before His servant, in order to free us from slavery. Today, we have purchased the kingdom of heaven. The Lord’s kingdom shall have no end. Today, earth and sea share the joy of the world, and the world is filled with gladness.
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid. The Jordan turned back, when it saw the fire of divinity bodily go down and into it. The Jordan turned back, when it saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove come down and hover over You. The Jordan turned back, when it saw the Invisible visible, the Creator incarnate, the Master in the form of a servant. The Jordan turned back, and the mountains skipped, when they saw God in the flesh; and the clouds uttered their voice, as they watched their Master’s assembly at the Jordan today, and they marveled at You who came, light from light, true God from true God; when in the Jordan You buried the death that resulted from disobedience, the sting of error and delusion, and the shackles of Hades, and You presented saving baptism to the world.
And now I, a sinner and Your unworthy servant, retell Your mighty works and miracles; and overcome by fear and awe, I solemnly cry out to You and say:
Then, in a louder voice:
PRIEST
You are great, O Lord! Marvelous are Your works! There are no words sufficient to extol Your wonders! [GOASD] (3)
CHOIR
Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
PRIEST
You intentionally brought the universe from nothing into being. You hold creation together by Your power. You govern the cosmos by Your providence. When You constituted the created world out of the Four Elements, You crowned the cycle of the year with four seasons. All the spiritual hosts tremble before You. The sun extols You. The moon glorifies You. The stars converse with You. Light obeys You. The depths shudder at You. Springs and fountains serve You. You stretched out the heavens like a curtain. You made firm the earth on the waters. You surrounded the sea with a wall of sand. You poured out the air for all to breathe.
Angelic powers minister to You. Hosts of Archangels worship You. The many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, standing around You and flying about, cover themselves in awe of Your unapproachable glory.
You who are God, uncircumscribed, without beginning, and ineffable, came to earth, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, because in Your tender mercy, O Master, You did not bear to see the human race being tortured by the devil; so You came and saved us. We acknowledge Your gift, we proclaim Your mercy, we do not hide Your goodness. You freed the offspring of our nature. By being born You sanctified a virgin womb. All creation extolled You at Your epiphany. You, our God, were seen upon the earth and lived among men. When You sent down Your all-holy Spirit from heaven and crushed the heads of the dragons who were lurking in the water, You sanctified the River Jordan.
And so we pray, benevolent King, come now through the descent of Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water. [GOASD] (3)
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST
Infuse it with the grace of redemption, the blessing of the Jordan. Make it a source of immortality, a bestowal of sanctification, expiation of sins, defense against disease, deadly to demons, unapproachable by hostile forces, and filled with angelic might. So that all who draw this waster and drink it may use it for cleansing of soul and body, healing of illness, house blessings, and any other beneficial purpose.
You are our God, who by water and the Spirit renewed nature that was worn out by sin. You are our God, who by the flood waters in the days of Noah washed away sin. You are our God, who through the sea by Moses freed the Hebrew people from slavery to Pharaoh. You are our God, who split the rock in the desert, and waters flowed, and brooks flooded, and You gave the people water to drink and satisfied them. You are our God, who with water and fire by Elijah disabused Israel of the deceit of Baal.
And so we pray, O Master, make this water holy by Your Holy Spirit. [GOASD] (3)
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST
Give sanctification, blessing, cleansing, and health to all who either touch it, are sprinkled with it, or drink it. Also, Lord, save your servants who govern us, and keep them under Your protection in peace, subdue every enemy and foe under their feet, and grant them their requests for salvation and eternal life. Lord, remember our Archbishop (name), the priests, the deacons in Christ, and all the clergy, and the people here present, and our brethren who are absent with good cause. Have mercy on them and us, according to Your great mercy.
And so Your all-holy name and the Father and the Holy Spirit will be glorified through the elements, Angels, human beings, and everything visible and invisible, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST Peace be with all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
PRIEST
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
The Priest bows his head and prays:
Incline Your ear and hear us, O Lord, who consented to be baptized in the Jordan River and sanctified the waters. Bless all of us, who are bowing our heads to show that we are Your servants. Grant us to be filled with Your sanctification, through either drinking this water or being sprinkled with it; and may it be to us for health of soul and body.
For You, Lord, are the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and we offer up glory, thanksgiving, and worship to You and Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
Then the Priest holds the cross and aspergillum upright and dips them in and out of the water in the form of a cross, as he sings the Apolytikion of the feast one time.
PRIEST
Apolytikion. Mode 1.
When You were baptized in the River Jordan, O Lord, it was revealed why God is worshiped in Trinity. For the voice of the Father, who had begotten You, also bore witness to You, calling You “beloved Son,” and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed that what was said is true. In Your epiphany, O Christ God, You appeared and illumined the world. Glory to You! [GOASD]
The Choirs sing this hymn two more times, and each time the Priest repeats his actions as described above.
CHOIR
Apolytikion. Mode 1.
When You were baptized in the River Jordan, O Lord, it was revealed why God is worshiped in Trinity. For the voice of the Father, who had begotten You, also bore witness to You, calling You “beloved Son,” and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed that what was said is true. In Your epiphany, O Christ God, You appeared and illumined the world. Glory to You! (2)
Then the Priest holds the aspergillum in his right hand and the cross in his left, and he sprinkles crosswise the church and the congregation, as he sings the Kontakion.
On January 5:
Kontakion. For the Forefeast.
Mode 4. You revealed yourself today.
To the flowing streams today * of River Jordan * comes the Lord and cries aloud * to John the Baptist, and He says, * “Be not afraid to baptize me now; * for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.” [SD]
On January 6:
Kontakion. For the Feast.
Mode 4. Automelon.
You revealed yourself today on earth, O Master, * and Your light was stamped on us, who in the knowledge of the truth, * O Lord, extol Your epiphany. * You came; You revealed yourself, O unapproachable Light. [SD]
As each individual in attendance kisses the cross and is sprinkled with holy water, the Choir sings the following hymn:
CHOIR
Mode pl. 2.
Let us the faithful extol the greatness of God’s benevolent deeds concerning us. For He became man in our transgression; and now in the Jordan, He who alone is clean and undefiled is cleansed in the cleansing that is meant for us; and He sanctifies me and the waters, and on the water He crushes the heads of the dragons. Therefore, brethren, let us draw water with gladness. For to those who draw with faith, the grace of the Spirit is invisibly given by Christ, our God and the Savior of our souls. [GOASD]
On the day of the feast, the following hymn is sung (from Ode viii of the Canon).
Mode 2. Of old, the furnace in Babylon.
Μυστήριον παράδοξον.
Uncovered at the Jordan was the presence of the Trinity, the transcendently divine nature. For the Father’s voice declared, “He who is being baptized is my Son. He is my beloved.” There, too, was the consubstantial Spirit. All peoples bless Him as Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [GOASD]
Then, on the eve of the feast, the Priest does the great dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, using the festal introduction: May He who condescended to be baptized by John… But on the day of the feast, the left Choir sings: When You were baptized… But on the day of the feast, the left Choir sings:
PRIEST
Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.
May He who condescended to be baptized by John in the Jordan, for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR
Amen.