The Feast of the Epiphany is
one of the seven principal Feasts of the Church Calendar. (See Prayer Book,
page 15.) "The name 'Epiphany' is derived from a Greek word meaning
'manifestation' or 'appearing.' Anglican Prayer Books interpret the word with
an alternative title 'The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles' The last
phrase, of course, is a reference to the story of the Wise Men from the East.
"A Christian observance on
January 6 is found as early as the end of the second century in Egypt. The
Feast combined commemorations of the visit of the Magi, led by the star of
Bethlehem; the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the River Jordan; and Jesus
first recorded miracle, the changing of water into wine at the marriage of Cana
of Galilee - all thought of as manifestations of the incarnate Lord.
"The Epiphany is still the
primary Feast of the Incarnation in Eastern Churches, and the three-fold
emphasis is still prominent. In the West, however, including Anglican Churches,
the story of the Wise Men has tended to overshadow the other two events."
Recent liturgical reforms have recovered the original emphases by recalling the
three themes close to each other in the liturgical calendar. [source -
Lesser Feasts and Fasts - 1994, p. 116]