1 The Epiphany of the Lord

“Epiphany of the Lord”, Russian Icon, mid-late 20th century
Size: 121⁄4”x101⁄2”

Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened[a] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.”

This Icon depicts the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River. In the Eastern Churches it is referred to as the Epiphany of the Lord. Read vertically we have the revelation of the Holy Trinity with God the Father represented in Heaven (something uncommon in the iconographical tradition), the Holy Spirit represented by the descending dove, and the incarnate Christ being blessed and baptized by John the Baptist. Read horizontally we have John the Baptist, Christ being baptized in the Jordan River and the four Angels with their hands covered in reverence to receive the body of Christ when he comes out of the river.

Genesis tells us that when God created the earth, He created a ‘space between the waters.’ God brings order, the earth, out of chaos, the waters. In Christ’s baptism, he descends into the waters once again, and brings out eternal life. “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3.