The Theophany at the Jordan is liturgically connected with the Feast of the Nativity. In her celebration of both these events, Church tradition emphasizes that both the Incarnation and the Baptism of the Lord are when God appears (in Greek, theophania). In accordance with the text of the Great Blessing of Water at Theophany, “in the preceeding feast we have seen you as a babe, and in this present feast as perfect human, appearing as our perfect God.” At the Nativity, God the Word “was born,” but now he “appears in the flesh to the human race.” At the Nativity, the “Sun of Righteousness” rose, and now it “shines forth.” In the liturgical tradition of the Church, the feast of Theophany is also called the feast of Illumination. The sticheras of the feast of Theophany elucidate the bond between the feasts of the Nativity and Theophany: What was announced by the angel is now announced to the people by the Baptist; the spilling of infant blood caused Bethlehem to become childless, but through the sanctified waters of baptism, the Jordan now has many children. What was announced by the star to the Magi in Bethlehem is now revealed to the world by the Father himself. (Christ our Pascha, 197-198)

Carnation is the flower for the month of January. Different colors convey different meanings. White carnations symbolize pure love, yellow means “wish you were here” and pink says “you’re unforgettable.” Snowdrops, which indicate hope and beauty, are also flowers for this month.

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