Los Angeles, California - Epiphany means shining forth or manifestation. The feast is often called, as it is in the Orthodox service books, Theophany, which means the shining forth and manifestation of God. The emphasis in the present day celebration is on the appearance of Jesus as the human Messiah of Israel and the divine Son of God, One of the Holy Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Thus, in the baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus identifies himself with sinners as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ( John 1:29 ), the "Beloved" of the Father whose messianic task it is to redeem men from their sins ( Luke 3:21, Mark 1:35 ). And he is revealed as well as One of the Divine Trinity, testified to by the voice of the Father, and by the Spirit in the form of a dove.
On Sunday and Monday, January 18th and 19th, the Faithful of Los Angeles celebrated the Feast of Theophany. Bishop Maxim served the Divine Liturgy with the local priests. The Faithful people joyously sang the hymns and troparion: "When thou, 0 Lord, wast Baptized in the Jordan the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bore witness to thee His beloved Son! and the spirit, in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of his word. 0 Christ, our God, who hast revealed thyself and has enlightened the world, glory to thee!"