January 05 & 06

The Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The Service for the Great Sanctification of Water
IDIOMELA IN TONE EIGHT
The voice of the Lord upon the waters crieth aloud, saying: Come ye all, and receive the Spirit of
wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of the fear of God, from Christ Who is made
manifest.

Today the nature of the waters is sanctified, and the Jordan is parted in two; it holds back the
stream of its own waters, seeing the Master wash Himself.

O Christ the King, thou hast come unto the river as a man, and in thy goodness thou dost make
haste to receive the baptism of a servant at the hands of the Forerunner, for the sake of our sins, O
Thou Who lovest mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of
ages. Amen.
At the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” thou hast come, O
Lord, taking the form of a servant, and thou who knowest not sin dost ask for baptism. The waters
saw thee and were afraid; the Forerunner was seized with trembling and cried aloud, saying, “How
shall the lamp illuminate the Light? How shall the servant set his hand upon the Master? O Savior
Who takest away the sin of the world, sanctify both me and the waters.”

 NOTE: Either during the reading of the Old Testament passages, or the intonation of the
Augmented Great Litany by the Deacon, the Priest says QUIETLY the first prayer: “O Lord
Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son…” on Page 5.

THE OLD TESTAMENT READINGS

The First Passage
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading from the prophecy of Isaiah. (35:1-10)
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Be glad, thou thirsty desert; let the wilderness exult, and flower as
the lily. And the desert places of Jordan shall blossom, and be exuberant, and shall be exceedingly
glad; and the glory of Lebanon hath been given to it, and the honor of Carmel; and my people shall
see the glory of the Lord, and the majesty of God. Be strong, ye slackened hands and palsied knees.
Comfort one another, and say unto the fainthearted in understanding: Be strong, fear not; behold,
our God rendereth judgment, and He will render it; He Himself will come and save us. Then shall
the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then shall the lame man leap
as a hart, and the tongue of the stammerers shall speak plainly; for water hath burst forth in the
desert, and a channel of water in a thirsty land. And the dry land shall become pools, and a fountain
of water shall be poured into the thirsty land; there shall be a joy of birds, habitations of song-
birds, and reeds and marshes. There shall be there a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way;
and there shall not pass by there any unclean person, neither shall there be an unclean way; but the

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 1 Theophany of Christ

dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray. And there shall be no lion there, neither
shall any evil beast go up upon it, nor at all be found there; but the redeemed and gathered on the
Lord's behalf, shall walk in it, and shall return, and come to Sion with joy and exceeding gladness,
and everlasting joy shall be over their head; for on their head shall be praise and exultation, and
joy shall take possession of them: sorrow, and pain, and sighing are fled away.

The Second Passage

Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading from the prophecy of Isaiah. (55:1-13)
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Ye that thirst, go to the water, and all that have no money, go and
buy; and eat and drink wine and fat without money or price. Wherefore do ye value at the price of
money that which is not bread, and give your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken to Me,
and ye shall eat that which is good, and your soul shall delight itself on good things. Give heed
with your ears, and follow My ways; hearken to Me, and your soul shall live amid good things;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have made
him a testimony among the nations, a prince and commander among the nations. Behold, nations
which know thee not, shall call upon thee, and peoples which are not acquainted with thee, shall
flee to thee for refuge, for the sake of the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel; for He hath
glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord, and when ye find Him, call upon Him; and when He shall draw
nigh to you, let the ungodly leave his ways, and the lawless man his counsels; return to the Lord,
and ye shall find mercy; and cry out, for He shall abundantly pardon your sins. For My counsels
are not as your counsels, nor are My ways as your ways, saith the Lord. But as the heaven is distant
from the earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My mind. For as
rain shall come down, or snow, from heaven, and shall not return until it have saturated the earth,
and it bring forth, and bud, and give seed to the sower, and bread for food; so shall My word be,
whatever shall proceed out of My mouth, it shall by no means turn back void, until all the things
which I willed shall have been accomplished; and I will make My ways and My commandments
to prosper. For ye shall go forth with joy, and shall be taught with gladness; for the mountains and
the hills shall leap for joy, welcoming you in gladness, and all the trees of the field shall clap with
their branches. And instead of the bramble shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall
come up the myrtle; and the Lord shall be for a Name, and for an everlasting sign, and shall not
fail.
The Third Passage
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading from the prophecy of Isaiah. (12:3-6)
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: Thus saith the Lord: Draw ye forth water with joy out of the well-springs of salvation.
And in that day thou shalt say: Sing to the Lord, call aloud upon His Name, proclaim His glorious
deeds among the nations; make mention that His Name is exalted. Sing praise to the Name of the
Lord; for He hath done exalted things; declare this in all the earth. Exult and rejoice, ye that dwell
in Zion; for the Holy One of Israel is exalted in the midst of her.

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 2 Theophany of Christ

 THE EPISTLE
Deacon: Let us attend!
Reader: The Lord is my Light and My salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the
Protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (10:1-4)
Deacon: Let us attend!

Reader: Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant, that all our ancestors were under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all
ate the same spiritual meat; and all drank from the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Priest: Peace be to thee that readest!

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

THE GOSPEL
Deacon: Wisdom! Attend! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (1:9-11)
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Deacon: Let us attend!

Priest: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit
descending upon Him like a dove; and a voice came from Heaven: “Thou art My beloved Son;
with Thee I am well pleased.”

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

THE AUGMENTED GREAT LITANY (FOR THE BLESSING)

Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the Holy Churches of God,
and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 3 Theophany of Christ

Deacon: For this Holy House, and for those who with faith, reverence, and fear of God, enter
therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our father and Metropolitan N., (for our Archbishop N. or Bishop N.), for the
venerable Priesthood, the Deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let
us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John, and for their quick release from
captivity and safe return, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: (In the United States) For the President of the United States, for all civil authorities,
and for our Armed Forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
(In Canada) For Her Majesty, the Queen, for the Prime Minister of Canada, for all
civil authorities, and for our Armed Forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city, and for every city and land, and for the faithful, who dwell therein, let
us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For healthful seasons, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful
times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For travelers by sea, by land, and by air; for the sick and the suffering; for captives
and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That this water may be sanctified by the power and operation and descent of the
Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That upon this water there may descend the cleansing operation of the super-
substantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That it may be given the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan, let us
pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be enlightened by the light of knowledge and piety, through the
descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 4 Theophany of Christ

Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That this water may become a gift of sanctification, a deliverance from sins, unto
healing of soul and body and unto every expedient purpose, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That this water may spring up unto life everlasting, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That it may serve to the averting of every plot of the enemies, both visible and
invisible, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For those who draw of it and take of it unto the sanctification of their homes, let us
pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That it may become a cleansing of the souls and bodies of all those who in faith
draw and partake of it, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be made worthy to be filled with sanctification through the partaking
of this water, by the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the
Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That the Lord God may hearken unto the voice of supplication of us sinners and
have mercy on us, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to
the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady
Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints let us commend ourselves and
each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

Priest: (QUIETLY) O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, Who art in the bosom of the Father,
true God, the Fountain of life and of immortality, Light of Light, Who camest into the world to
enlighten it: Illumine our minds by thy Holy Spirit, and receive us who offer unto Thee
magnification and thanksgiving for Thy wondrous, mighty works, which are from all ages, and for
Thy saving dispensation in these latter ages, in which Thou hast clothed Thyself in our weak and

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 5 Theophany of Christ

poor nature and hast condescended to the stature of a servant, Thou who art King of all, and yet
didst deign to be baptized in the Jordan at the hands of a servant, that having sanctified the nature
of water, O sinless One, Thou mightest lead us unto a new birth through water and the Spirit and
restore us again to our first freedom. Celebrating the memory of this divine mystery, we pray Thee,
O Lord Who lovest mankind, sprinkle upon us, thine unworthy servants, according to Thy divine
promise, cleansing water, the gift of thy tenderness. And may the supplications of us sinners over
this water be well pleasing unto Thy goodness, and may Thy blessing through it be bestowed upon
us and upon all Thy faithful people, to the glory of Thy holy and adorable Name.

(ALOUD) For unto Thee, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy and good and
life-giving Spirit, belong all glory, honor and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THE BLESSING OF THE WATER

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Trinity, transcendent in essence, in goodness and in divinity, the Almighty Who
watcheth over all, invisible and incomprehensible; O Creator of intelligent essences, rational
natures, the goodness of the utter and unapproachable Light, that enlighteneth every man that
cometh into the world: Enlighten me also, Thine unworthy servant. Illuminate the eyes of my
understanding that I may venture to praise Thy countless benevolences and Thy might. Let my
beseeching on behalf of this people be wholly acceptable, so that my transgressions may not
prevent the descent here of Thy Holy Spirit; that I may be allowed to cry to Thee without
condemnation and say, O most good One: We glorify Thee, O Master, Lover of mankind, the
Almighty King before eternity. We glorify Thee, O Creator and Fashioner of all. We glorify Thee,
O only-begotten Son of God, Who art without father from Thy Mother, and without mother from
Thy Father; for in the previous feast we beheld Thee a babe, and in this feast we behold Thee
perfect, O our perfect God, appearing from the Perfect; for today we have reached the time of the
feast, and the rank of saints gathereth with us, and angels celebrate with men.

Today the grace of the Holy Spirit hath descended on the waters in the likeness of a dove. Today
hath shone the Sun that setteth not, and the world is lighted by the light of the Lord. Today the
moon shineth with the world in its radiating beams. Today the shining stars adorn the universe
with the splendor of their radiance. Today the clouds from heaven moisten mankind with showers
of justice. Today the Uncreated accepteth of His own will the laying on of hands by His own
creation. Today the Prophet and Forerunner draweth nigh to the Master but halteth with trembling
when he witnesseth the condescension of our God toward us. Today the waters of the Jordan are
changed to healing by the presence of the Lord. Today the whole creation is watered by mystical
streams. Today the stumblings of mankind are blotted out by the waters of the Jordan. Today hath
paradise been opened to mankind, and the Sun of righteousness hath shone for us. Today the bitter
water is changed by Moses to sweetness for the people at the presence of the Lord. Today are we
delivered from the ancient mourning, and like a new Israel we have been saved. Today we have
escaped from darkness and, by the light of the knowledge of God, we have been illuminated. Today
the darkness of the world vanisheth with the appearance of our God. Today the whole creation is

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 6 Theophany of Christ

lighted from on high. Today is error annulled, and the coming of the Master prepareth for us a way
of salvation. Today the celestials celebrate with the terrestrials, and the terrestrials commune with
the celestials. Today the assembly of noble and great-voiced Orthodox rejoiceth. Today the Master
cometh to baptism to elevate mankind above. Today the Unbowable boweth to his servant to
deliver us from slavery. Today we have bought the kingdom of heaven, for the kingdom of heaven
hath no end. Today the land and the sea have divided between them the joy of the world, and the
world hath been filled with rejoicing.

The waters saw Thee, O God; the waters saw Thee and were afraid. Jordan turned back when it
beheld the fire of the Godhead coming down and descending into it bodily. Jordan turned back at
beholding the Holy Spirit descending in the likeness of a dove and hovering over Thee. Jordan
turned back when it saw the Invisible visible, the Creator incarnate and the Master in the form of
a servant. Jordan turned back, and the mountains leaped with joy at beholding God in the flesh.
And the clouds, beholding in the Jordan the Lord’s festal assembly, gave voice, wondering at Him
that cometh, Who is Light of Light, true God of true God, drowning in the Jordan the death of
disobedience, the sting of error and bond of hades, granting the world the baptism of salvation. So
also, I, Thine unworthy and sinful servant, as I proclaim the greatness of Thy wonders, am
encompassed by fear, crying with compunction unto Thee and saying:

 The following is done THRICE.

Priest: Great art Thou, O Lord, and wondrous are Thy works, and no word sufficeth to
hymn Thy wonders.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

 The Priest Continues:

For Thou, by Thine own will, from nothingness hast brought all things into being, by Thy might
Thou dost uphold creation, and by Thy providence Thou dost direct the world. Thou hast fitly
framed the creation out of four elements; Thou didst crown the circle of the year with four seasons.
All the reason-endowed powers tremble before Thee. The sun praiseth Thee, and the moon
glorifieth Thee; the stars intercede with Thee. The light obeyeth Thee. The deeps shudder before
Thee; the water-springs serve Thee. Thou hast spread out the heavens like a curtain. Thou hast
established the earth upon the waters. With sand hast Thou walled in the sea. Thou hast poured
forth the air for breathing. The angelic powers serve Thee. The choirs of the archangels worship
Thee. The many-eyed cherubim and the six-winged seraphim, as they stand round about and fly,
cover themselves in fear before Thine unapproachable glory. For thou, the God Who is
uncircumscribed, without beginning and ineffable, didst come down upon earth, taking on the form
of a servant and being made in the likeness of man. For Thou couldst not endure, O Master, because
of Thy tender mercy, to behold the race of men beneath the tyranny of the devil, but Thou didst
come and didst save us. We confess Thy grace. We proclaim Thy mercy. We conceal not Thy
beneficence. Thou hast set free the offspring of our nature; by Thy birth thou hast sanctified a
virgin’s womb. All creation singeth praises unto Thee, Who didst reveal Thyself. For Thou, our
God, didst appear upon earth and didst dwell among men. Thou didst sanctify the streams of
Jordan, in that Thou didst send down from heaven Thine all-holy Spirit and didst crush the heads
of the serpents that lurked there.

 The priest makes the sign of the Cross over the water THRICE, saying each time:

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 7 Theophany of Christ

Priest: Therefore, O King Who lovest mankind, do Thou Thyself be present even now,
through the descent of Thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water.
Choir: Amen.

 The Priest Continues:

And give it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of incorruption, a
gift of sanctification, a remission of sins, a protection against disease, a destruction of demons,
inaccessible to hostile powers, filled with angelic might. And may it be to all those who draw of it
and partake of it unto the cleansing of souls and bodies, unto the healing of passions, unto the
sanctification of homes and unto every expedient purpose. For Thou art our God Who, through
water and the Spirit, hast renewed our nature, grown old through sin. Thou art our God Who with
water didst drown sin in the days of Noah. Thou art our God Who by the sea, through Moses, didst
set free from slavery to Pharaoh the Hebrew race. Thou art our God Who didst cleave the rock in
the wilderness, so that water gushed forth and streams overflowed and didst satisfy Thy thirsty
people. Thou art our God Who by water and fire, through Elias, didst bring Israel back from the
deception of Baal.

 The following is done THRICE.

Priest: Do Thou thyself, O Master, sanctify even now this water by Thy Holy Spirit.
Choir: Amen.

 The Priest Continues:

Grant unto all who touch it, anoint themselves therewith and partake thereof, sanctification,
blessing, cleansing and health.
Save, O Lord, Thy servants, our faithful civil authorities. Keep them under Thy shadow in peace.
Subdue under their feet every enemy and adversary. Grant to them the means of salvation and
eternal life.
Be mindful, O Lord, of our father and Metropolitan N., (for our Archbishop N. or Bishop N.), all
the presbytery, the diaconate in Christ and every priestly order and all thy people here present,
together with our brethren who are absent for just cause, and have mercy on them and on us
according to Thy Great Mercy. That by the elements, by the angels and by men, by things visible
and invisible, Thine all-holy Name may be glorified, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit;
both now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
THE PEACE
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.

 All bow their heads as the priest says the following prayer:

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 8 Theophany of Christ

Priest: Incline thine ear, and hearken unto us, O Lord Who didst deign to be baptized in the Jordan
and didst sanctify the waters. Bless us all who, by the bowing of our necks, signify our servitude;
and make us worthy to be filled with Thy sanctification through partaking of this water and being
sprinkled therewith. And may it be unto us, O Lord, for health of soul and body.

For Thou art the Sanctification of our souls and bodies, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory,
thanksgiving and worship, together with thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy, good and
life-giving Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

 The priest blesses the water in the form of a cross, and immerses the hand cross up and down,
holding it straight, into the water.

APOLYTIKION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE ONE (CHANT) (CHORAL)

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity wast made manifest; for
the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the
likeness of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and
enlightened the world, glory to Thee. (THRICE)

 As the priest sprinkles the Holy Water on all the people, the choir sings the following hymns.

KONTAKION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE FOUR

(**The original melody**)
On this day Thou hast appeared * unto the whole world, * and Thy light, O Sovereign Lord, * is
signed on us who sing Thy praise * and chant with knowledge: Thou hast now come, * Thou hast
appeared, O Thou Light unapproachable.

 At the first Great Sanctification (on the paramon) the following idiomelon is chanted:

IDIOMELON IN TONE SIX

Ye faithful, let us praise the greatness of God’s dispensation toward us. For, becoming man on
account of our transgressions, he who alone is clean and undefiled was cleansed in Jordan that we
might be made clean, sanctifying us and the waters and breaking the heads of the dragons in the
water. Let us then draw water in gladness, O brethren; for upon those who draw with faith, the grace
of the Spirit is invisibly bestowed by Christ, the God and Savior of our souls.

 At the second Great Sanctification (on January 6) the following idiomelon is chanted:

IDIOMELON IN TONE TWO

The Trinity was made manifest in the Jordan. For, supreme in Godhead, the Father proclaimed,
saying, “He Who is here baptized is My beloved Son,” and the Spirit rested upon His Equal in
Godhead, whom the peoples bless and exalt above all forever.

 The Sanctified Water may be distributed amongst the clergy and faithful after The Great
Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy.

January 05 & 06 Water Blessing 9 Theophany of Christ