*Photos by Paul W. Wang • See story below. Click on photos to enlarge.
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- Zachary Giannakopoulos, winner of the 2015 Annual Diving for the Cross, displaying the Cross thrown into the frigid Raritan Bay directly across the street from the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church with Reverend Father Angelo J. Michaels.
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- Parish Council Member George Petrakakis with Carolyn Maxwell
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- Rev. Father Angelo J. Michaels, Carolyn Maxwell, holding the coin of the Vasilopita. The Greek word Vasilopita is directly translated as “Sweet Bread of Basil.” When the bread is prepared, a coin is baked into the ingredients. Sweet flavoring is added to the bread which symbolize the sweetness and joy of life everlasting. It also symbolizes the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, liberty, health, and happiness for all who participate in the Vasilopita Observance. Stella Wacker and Honorable Marina Corodemus Parish Council President.
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- Honorable Marina Corodemus Parish Council President, Stavros Tsapatsaris, the Chantor of St. Demetrios who found the second gold coin, and Rev. Father Angelo J. Michaels
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- Helen Suravlas, Chairperson of the cutting of the Vasilopita and luncheon, Stella Wacker; Treasurer, Metropolis of NJ Philoptochos Society; President of St. Demetrios Philoptochos Society. Rev. Father Angelo J. Michaels, Zachary Giannakopoulos, Dean Giannakopoulos and Honorable Marina Corodemus, Parish Council President
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- Reverend Father Angelo J. Michaels of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Perth Amboy, Zachary Giannakopoulos and his brother, Dean Giannakopoulos
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- Children sing for the Epiphany
Feast of the Holy Theophany of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ
celebrated on January 6
PERTH AMBOY – The Feast of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the Baptism of Christ and the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were made manifest. Thus, the name of the Feast is Epiphany, meaning manifestation, or Theophany, meaning manifestation of God.
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. Initially, John would not do this, saying that Jesus should baptize him. Jesus said to John, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness (3:15). John consented and baptized Jesus.
When Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened suddenly, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. The Bible records that the Spirit descended like a dove and alighted on him. When this happened, a voice came from heaven and said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” This was the voice of God the Father.
Christ’s baptism in the Jordan was “theophany,” a manifestation of God to the world, because it was the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. It was also a “theophany” in that the world was granted a revelation of the Holy Trinity. All three Persons were made manifest together: the Father testified from on high to the divine Sonship of Jesus; the Son received His Father’s testimony; and the Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, descending from the Father and resting upon the Son.
The theme of “manifestation” or “revelation” is also expressed in Scripture with the symbolism of light. In the hymn of the Feast we sing, “Christ has appeared and enlightened the world.” Thus, January 6 is also known as the Feast of Lights. The Church celebrates on this day the illumination of the world by the light of Christ.
On January 6, the day of the Feast, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is conducted followed by Blessing of the Waters.
The Blessing of the Waters is conducted in the church; however in many places throughout the world services are conducted near open bodies of water. As a sign of blessing as Christ blessed the Jordan, holy water is poured into the body of water. An associated tradition has been the tossing of a cross into the water to be retrieved by divers.
Here in Perth Amboy, the entire congregation of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church gathers cross the street at our beautiful waterfront to conduct the Blessing of the Waters including divers who are blessed by our Priest for their participation in the retrieval of the cross.
The holy water from the church is given to the faithful to consume and to use in blessing their homes. In the weeks following the Feast, clergy visit the homes of parishioners and conduct a service of blessing using the holy water that was blessed on the Feast of Theophany.
Resource: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Website (www.goarch.org)
