Iordan - Feast of Jordan/Feast of the Epiphany

[Boethius]

In the Julian calendar, today is Iordan - the Feast of Jordan, or the Feast of the Epiphany.  It celebrates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.  Orthodox Christians will attend a liturgy which concludes with the blessing of water by a priest, who makes the sign of the cross in the water with his cross and a trysvichnyk (triple pronged candle).  The priest then uses his kropylo (holy water brush) to sprinkle water on the congregants.  After this, congregants line up to receive holy water in jars, which they will use in their homes throughout the year.

[msmob]

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Bogoyavleniye / Богоявление ( God's appearance ?) in Russian

Epiphany originates from Greek, yet the Catholic (Latin) word 'Manifestatio' seems to be the origin for the Russian term?

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Got this from the Russian version:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/russian-epiphany

[Boethius]

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Bogoyavleniye / Богоявление ( God's appearance ?) in Russian

Богоявление is the appearance of Christ before John the Baptist.

Yes, in Western Ukraine, it is called Iordan (Feast of Epiphany).  In Eastern Ukraine and Russia, it is called "Khreshcheniye." 

There is a very famous painting of Bogoyavlenive by Ivanov, The Appearance of Christ Before the People.  If you haven't seen it, go see it at the Tretyakov Gallery.  It is awe inspiring.