CHURCH YEAR/SEASONAL DESCRIPTIONS

Epiphany

January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany. “Epiphany” means “showing forth,” and the feast commemorates the first showing forth of Christ to the world, when His presence was revealed to the three Magi.

In the season of Epiphany we also:

· remember the revelation of Christ to John the Baptist, to the disciples, and to all Christians;

· remember Christ’s baptism and our own, together with the ways in which Christ was revealed to humankind, especially in the healing miracles; and,

· ponder the ways in which we ourselves are called to being Christ to the world.

The predominant symbol of the season is Light—the light from the Star of Bethlehem and the Light of Christ spreading throughout the world. The liturgical color of the Epiphany Season is green, but white is the liturgical color for Epiphany, January 6 and the First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The number of Sundays in the Epiphany season varies from four to nine according to the date of Easter Sunday (which is a movable feast derived from the lunar calendar). You will see green altar cloth and green vestments every Sunday through the last Sunday in Epiphany.

Previous Season: Christmas

Next Season: Lent

Proper Preface: Preface of the Epiphany

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