Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of the Christ (or the Baptism of Christ), or Theophany, is the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Originally the baptism of Christ was celebrated on Epiphany, which commemorates the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and the wedding at Cana. Over time in the West, however, the celebration of the baptism of the Lord came to be commemorated as a distinct feast from Epiphany. It is celebrated in the Catholic Church as well as the Anglican and Lutheran Churches on the first Sunday following The Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6).

Baptism of Christ fresco by Giotto di Bondone, c. 1305 (Cappella Scrovegni, Padua, Italy).

Celebration in the Eastern Christian Churches

In the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated as an integral part of the celebration on January 6, the Great Feast of the Theophany. For those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, January 6 falls on January 19 of the modern Gregorian Calendar (see Epiphany (holiday) and Theophany for details).

Celebration in the Western Christian Churches

Roman Catholic Church

The Baptism of the Lord is observed as a distinct feast in the Roman rite, although it was originally one of three Gospel events marked by the feast of the Epiphany. Long after the visit of the Magi had in the West overshadowed the other elements commemorated in the Epiphany, Pope Pius XII instituted in 1955 a separate liturgical commemoration of the Baptism.

The Tridentine Calendar had no feast of the Baptism of the Lord for almost four centuries. Then the feast was instituted, under the denomination "Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord", for celebration on 13 January as a major double, using for the Office and the Mass those previously said on the Octave of the Epiphany, which Pius XII abolished; but if the Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord occurred on Sunday, the Office and Mass were to be those of the Feast of the Holy Family without any commemoration.[1]

In his revision of the calendar five years later, Pope John XXIII kept on 13 January the "Commemoration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ", with the rank of a second-class feast.

A mere 14 years after the institution of the feast, Pope Paul VI set its date as the first Sunday after January 6 (as early as January 9 or as late as January 13) or, if in a particular country the Epiphany is celebrated on January 7 or 8, on the following Monday.[2]

Pope John Paul II initiated a custom whereby on this feast the Pope baptizes babies in the Sistine Chapel.

Lutheran Churches

In the past, the Lutheran Churches as with other Western Christian Churches, commemorated the Baptism of the Lord on the octave of the Feast of the Epiphany.[3]

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated today in many Lutheran parishes as a separate feast, on the first Sunday after the feast of the Epiphany.

Anglican Communion

In the Church of England, Epiphany may be observed on January 6 proper, or on the Sunday between January 2 and 8. If Epiphany is observed on a Sunday on January 6 or before, the Baptism of Christ is observed on the following Sunday. If the Epiphany is observed on January 7 or 8, the Baptism of Christ is observed on the following Monday. In the Church of England, Ordinary Time does not begin until the day after the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

In the Episcopal Church [USA], Epiphany is always celebrated on January 6, and the Baptism of the Lord is always celebrated on the following Sunday. It is not clear as to whether or not the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord[4] is the end of Christmastide for the Episcopal Church. On one hand, the Prayer Book refers to the "Twelve Days of Christmas,"[5] and clearly distinguishes the Christmas and Epiphany seasons, the latter extending until Ash Wednesday.[6] On the other hand, the Prayer Book allows for the continued use of Christmas prayers and readings on the weekdays following the Epiphany and leading up to the Baptism of our Lord.[7] Further, the Epiphany and the Baptism of Christ are viewed as specially connected,[8] allowing the interpretation that Christmastide does extend through and end with the Feast of our Lord's Baptism on the Sunday following the Epiphany.

Methodist Churches

Traditionally, the Methodist Churches partake in a covenant renewal liturgy during watchnight services held on New Year's Eve.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated in many Methodist parishes on the second Sunday in January, after the feast of the Epiphany has already occurred.[9]

gollark: Probably both work to some extent for different people.
gollark: It's not really "motivated" as much as "don't hate it enough to go through the social awkwardness of going through the process of switching options", though.
gollark: I can't get motivated to exercise without being required to by school (since I picked "fitness" as one of my sports options), since it's one of those things I probably should do but don't like doing.
gollark: that moment when you actually do regular exercise at home(other people do, I mean)
gollark: I don't see myself doing that, since I basically only do exercisey things through a combination of being required(ish) to due to picking "fitness" as one of my sport options, some concern for my health, and the fact that it's in the sport-y environment at school and during a timeslot when there aren't really many other options.

References
  1. Decree "Cum nostra hac aetate" (De rubricis ad simpliciorem formam redigendis) of 22 March 1955, in Acta Apostolicae Sedis 47(1955), pages 218-224, Title II: Changes in the calendar, 15-16
  2. Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), pp. 61 and 112
  3. Pfatteicher, Philip H. (2013). Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical Year. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-999713-8.
  4. The Book of Common Prayer, 312
  5. The Book of Common Prayer, 43, 80
  6. The Book of Common Prayer, 31
  7. The Book of Common Prayer, 162, 214
  8. The Book of Common Prayer, 43, 81
  9. Rebeck, Victoria (2015). "To Be United Methodist: 'I can't remember my baptism.'". ResourceUMC. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
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