The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is one of the most significant Orthodox celebrations, called the twelve. Thanks to this, the divine service for Baptism is performed with special solemnity.
The time of the beginning of the festive service in honor of the event of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River may vary (the parish rector has the right to appoint the time for the beginning of the service). Most often, the service on this day is performed in the likeness of the divine service of the Nativity of Christ, starting at 11 o'clock in the evening on January 18th. At the same time, the all-night vigil is combined with the central service of the daily circle - the liturgy. In some churches, the vigil service starts at five or six o'clock in the evening, and the liturgy is served on the holiday itself at approximately 9 o'clock in the morning.
The service for Epiphany begins with the Great Compline, most of the prayers of which are read by the reader. However, in this part of the service, the choir sings the hymns of the prophetic words of Isaiah that the Savior appears into the world, "a mighty God and Sovereign", who will be called Emannuel (meaning "God is with us"). The chant itself is called according to the first words of the prophecy - "God is with us." Of the festive hymns of the great feast, it is worth highlighting the troparion and kontakion of the Baptism of the Lord.
The Supper turns into litiya - part of the service, during which the priest reads a prayer for the consecration of wheat, vegetable oil (oil), wine and bread. At the end of the litiya and the festive stichera, Matins begins, sent according to the usual vigil on the great Orthodox holidays.
At Matins, after singing the troparion three times and reading the Psalter, the choir sings the hymn "Praise the name of the Lord", called polyeleos. The very name "polyeleos" from the ancient Greek language is translated "a lot of mercy". This chant glorifies the great mercies of God to man. Further, the clergy and the choir in a special chant (magnificence) sing the praises of the now baptized Christ.
The polyeleos is followed by the reading of the Gospel conception about the baptism of Christ from the prophet John in Jordan, the festive canon. At the end of Matins, the choir performs a festive great praise, which is customarily sung according to the charter at all solemn services.
At the end of Matins, the first hour is subtracted. If the liturgy is combined with the vigil, then the first hour is followed by the third and sixth hours, during which the priest at the altar in the altar performs proskomedia, preparing the substance for the sacrament of the Eucharist.
The liturgy on the day of the Baptism of the Lord is distinguished by its solemnity. At the very beginning, the choir sings short Epiphany antiphons, the ancient hymn dedicated to the Savior, "The Only Begotten Son", repeats the troparion of Baptism several times (the main short hymn of the celebration, reflecting its essence).
Further, the liturgy is followed according to its order. After the end of the service, believers do not go home, because on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, water is blessed. Most often, the rite of the great consecration of water is performed in the temple, but there is a practice after the liturgy to consecrate water directly at the springs.
After the completion of the rite of consecration of water, believers collect holy water and go home in peace, spiritually celebrating in honor of the great Christian holiday.
