The Baptism of Our Lord, Jesus Christ - The Manifestation of God - January 19

The Holy Day of the Lord's Baptism is observed on the 6th/19th of January. St. John the Baptist was sent by God to be the Forerunner of Christ and to prepare men to believe in Him. Thousands of people came to him for spiritual advice. He preached to them: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3 : 2). Those who repented, confessing their sins, were baptized by John in the River of Jordan.

"Though Jesus was sinless yet He came to St. John to be baptized of Him, so as to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3 : 13-15). Jesus Christ was 30 years old when He was baptized by St. John in the Jordan River. During His baptism, a miracle happened. The Heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. God's voice was heard from above saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3 : 16-17).

It is evident that at Christ's Baptism a proof was given by God the Father His (Christ's) divinity. It means that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and, at the same time, being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, through the Holy Spirit He also is "the Son of Man" (John 5 : 26-27).

Baptism is one of the seven Sacraments of the Eastern Orthodox Сhurch No man can be a Christian except he be "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3 : 5); and, secondly, only he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. The Feast Day of Christ's Baptism is also called the Manifestation of God because during this event the Holy Trinity appeared: God the Father, Whose was heard; God the Son, Who was baptized in the Jordan River, and God the Holy Spirit, Who appeared in the form of a dove.

In commemoration of Christ's Baptism, the Great Blessing of water is per­formed at all Orthodox Churches on that day for home use of the faithful.