Theophany Jan 6 at 7 am

"Christ is born!"

—"Glorify ye Him!"

On the Epiphany or Theophany, January 6th, at 7:00 a.m. we will sing the service of the Typica, with the Hours' Prayers and the Festal Antiphons, and concluding before 8:00 a.m.

Falling on a Thursday this year, this is one of the twelve Great Feasts of the Church.

A descriptive note on the Feast is given at the end of this article.
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Our services for the next five weeks thus are scheduled as follows:

Sunday, Jan. 2nd, the usual 10:00 a.m. Hours' Prayers & Typica & homily, followed about 11:20 a.m. by refreshments.

THURSDAY, Jan. 6th, at 7:00 a.m., the Hours' Prayers & Typica, with the festal antiphons, for the Great Feast of the Theophany (the Epiphany), concluding before 8:00 a.m.

Sunday, Jan. 9th, the usual 10:00 a.m. Hours' Prayers & Typica & homily, followed about 11:20 a.m. by refreshments.

SATURDAY, Jan. 15th, at 5:00 p.m. our semi­-monthly Great Vespers, concluding about 5:40 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 16th, the usual 10:00 a.m. Hours' Prayers & Typica & homily, followed about 11:20 a.m. by refreshments.

Sunday, Jan. 23rd, the usual 10:00 a.m. Hours' Prayers & Typica & homily, followed about 11:20 a.m. by refreshments.

SATURDAY, Jan. 29th, at 5:00 p.m. our semi­-monthly Great Vespers, concluding about 5:50 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 30th, at 9:40 a.m. the Hours' Prayers and at 10:00 a.m. the Divine Liturgy, followed about 11:30 a.m. by lunch.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2nd, at 7:00 a.m., the Hours' Prayers & Typica, for the Great Feast of the Presentation (or Meeting) in the Temple (Candlemas), concluding by 8:00 a.m.

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Jessica & Christopher Simmons we thank for their time & work in studying & practicing the music (especially the Matins canon for the Nativity) for our two evening services last weekend, in the absence of our main music leaders, and we thank Chris Berry for his time likewise in leading those rehearsals.

Fr. Andrew & Mo. Katrina we thank for their willingness to spend Christmas in Edenton and to enable us to have four Nativity services, from Christmas Eve through Sunday morning.

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Our St. George's wall calendars for 2011, again published in full color by St. Tikhon's Seminary & Monastery, of South Canaan, Penna., are available for purchase after services.

Besides daily scriptural readings, saints commemorated, and fast days, each month features a full­-color print of a seasonal icon together with descriptive notes.
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Our Sunday services continue each week at 10:00 a.m., followed by refreshments.

All of our services are held in our church building, at 300 East King Street, on the corner of Oakum Street, in Edenton; and visitors are always invited and welcome.

A household willing to furnish a particular Sunday's refreshments or lunch may volunteer by e­-mail reply or by calling our office at 482–2006.

There was no newsletter last week, at Christmas, and there might be none next week, on account of the mid­-week Theophany service.

Our prayers are requested for Fr. Edward, for Mo. Katrina, for Jessica, for Chris's uncle Randall, and for their health; for Barbara's grandnephew Will, as he tests his monastic vocation; for Marcia, for James & Kate, for Joshua & his family, and for Kelly & her family; and for other households for whom our prayers are asked.
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The Feast of the Holy Theophany of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ (known as the Epiphany, in the West) will be celebrated on January 6th as always, at 7:00 a.m. at St. George's Church, falling this year on a Thursday.

In accord with the Church's ancient practice, this Feast, immediately following the Twelve Days of Christmas, annually commemorates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan by St. John the Baptist & Forerunner, son of the high priest Zacharias.

(Both names for the Feast are based on the Greek verb "phaínein," meaning "to show," or "to appear." Thus the Western term Epiphany [with the "epi-" prefix] means literally the "showing forth," or the "manifestation." And the Eastern term Theophany [with "Theós," or "God"] means literally the "appearing of God," or "revelation of God.")

The significance of the name Theophany, or "appearance of God," is that all three persons of the Trinity are manifested simultaneously: above God the Son, standing in the river, there is heard the voice of God the Father speaking, and there is seen the Holy Spirit descending as a dove.

Its observance on January 6th being attested since the second century at Alexandria, the Theophany is one of the twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, it being one of the few events recorded in all four Gospels: in Matthew 3: 13–17, in Mark 1: 9–11, in Luke 3: 21–22, and in John 1: 28–37.