Post by neferetus on Dec 30, 2006 14:27:42 GMT -5
THE EPIPHANY
For those of you who celebrate the twelve days of Christmas, Saturday, January 6, 2007 is the feast of the Epiphany. Ephinany is celebrated on January 6 each year. The Eastern Church recognizes Epiphany as the anniversary of the baptism of Christ. In the Western churches, Epiphany commemorates principally the revelation to the Gentiles of Jesus Christ as the Savior, as portrayed by the coming of the Three Wise Men. In both the Eastern and Western churches the feast secondarily commemorates the marriage at Cana, at which Christ performed his first miracle. The official Christmas season, popularly known as either Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas, extends from the anniversary of Christ’s birth on December 25 to the feast of Epiphany on January 6. Epiphany is derived from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearance".
So what's with this new catch-phrase use of "Epiphany" already? People right and left and especially in the news media say "I just had a epiphany!" What? they were just visited by three wise men and received gifts of gold, frankinsence and myrh? I never heard of such a thing. When epiphany has been run into the ground, what will the new catch- phrase, be you think? "I just had an annunciation?" or perhaps, I just had a pentecost!". One things for sure, no one is going to be shouting to the highest heights, "I just had a circumcision!" Certainly not something to crow about, in my opinion, anyhow.
