Despite its brevity, the Synaxarion of January 6th gives us the full meaning of the great feast of the Epiphany (translation in modern Greek): Since the Son and Word of God clothed Himself in the old Adam, that is, became man, and after fulfilling all that was prescribed by the Jewish Law, He went to John, the great prophet, to be baptized.
However, John raised objections, saying: "I need to be baptized by You, who are sinless, and You come to me to be baptized?" (Matthew 3:14). But when he heard the Lord say to him, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15), he allowed Him to be baptized.
As soon as Christ was baptized, He sanctified all the nature of the waters, and after burying in the currents of the Jordan all the sin of mankind, He came up immediately out of the water. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ renewed and recreated the man who had grown old through sin and granted him the Kingdom of Heaven.
The great feast of the Epiphany, or Lights, is also called Theophany. However, as explained by Saint John Chrysostom in one of his sermons, it is not a single Theophany but two: one, that of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River, and the Second, which is to occur gloriously at the end of the world.
One of the reasons for which the first Theophany took place is highlighted by the Apostle Paul (in the reading of the day): The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. This grace instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13).
The Holy Trinity, which was revealed at the Baptism of our Lord, may it sanctify every person and the nature that He created "very good," to become the dwelling place of our race.
