The Epiphany. For my friends on the Old Calendar, Theophany
(called Epiphany in the West) was this past week. I get the headlines from the Russian News Agency (thanks Alana Juliana for the link) and this lovely photo gallery was included late last week. Check out the size of that Holy Water Vat that Patriarch Alexsy is blessing.

Anyway, my mom and I were discussing the meaning of the word epiphany

e•piph•a•ny ??p?f ? ni - Show Spelled Pronunciation[i-pif-uh-nee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -nies.
1. (initial capital letter ) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
2. an appearance or manifestation, esp. of a deity.
3. a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
4. a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.
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[Origin: 1275–1325; ME epiphanie < LL epiphan?a < LGk epipháneia, Gk: apparition, equiv. to epi- EPI- + phan- (s. of phaínein to appear) + -eia -Y3 ]

especially definition #3 as she and I were working through an issue that both of us are having regarding an upcoming family event. It helped both of us to realize what the issue was (and for each of us, it was slightly different) which helps us realign our reaction to it.

And, while in the East, it is most often called Theophany (meaning specifically the manifestation of God) this is something that the feast
does teach us – how do we react to God, in the Flesh, baptizing and sanctifying creation.

May we apply this lesson throughout the year.