site.btaPatriarch Daniil: Epiphany Is One of Christianity’s Greatest Feasts

Epiphany is one of the greatest Christian feasts and a day of profound spiritual meaning for believers, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil told reporters on the occasion of the holiday on Tuesday. He held a festive Divine Liturgy for Epiphany at the Patriarchal Cathedral St Alexander Nevsky in Sofia.

According to Patriarch Daniil, Epiphany is a "manifestation of God’s love", through which God reveals Himself to humanity. "There is no person who has not asked the questions: who am I, why do I live? There is no one who has not wished for God to reveal Himself. This feast is the answer to that innate longing and to why we experience love, because God has not abandoned us," he said.

The Patriarch recalled the biblical event at the River Jordan, where Christ was revealed and testified as the Son of God. The Lord not only reveals Himself, he added, but also shows the way He reaches human hearts.

Patriarch Daniil also highlighted the message of St John the Baptist, which he said remains relevant today. "Prepare the way of the Lord, that is, straighten the paths of the Lord to our hearts," he said, stressing that this call is addressed to all people, regardless of their status or position.

After the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Daniil will officiate the Great Blessing of the Waters in front of the Patriarchal Cathedral, followed by the blessing of the battle flags, banners and sacred standards of the Bulgarian Army.

January 6 commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, in the River Jordan by St John the Baptist. On this day, the Great Blessing of the Waters is performed in churches and at rivers, lakes and the sea. The consecrated water is used to bless believers, their homes and workplaces and is kept throughout the year as a sign of purification from sins and God’s blessing.