Epiphany

In the observance of Epiphany we confront the choice of following the historical pattern set by the church at Rome in making it a missionary festival of the gospel’s being carried to the Gentiles; or observing the Eastern Orthodox practice of celebrating Epiphany as the manifestation of God in Christ to the world. The differing emphases were a result of a complex historical development. The festival of Epiphany predated the observance of Christmas. It was originally not a festival of the birth of Christ, but a celebration of the "shining forth" (Epiphany) of God in Christ. The Eastern Orthodox churches adopted the Western Christmas observance as a festival of the birth of Christ in addition to their older Epiphany season.

When the festival of Epiphany was carried to the church at Ro…