Sunday, January 5, 2001
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Sunday, January 5, 2001 |
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Epiphany marks end of holidays By PAT NEWMAN The 12th day of Christmas will be observed today at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the feast of the Epiphany beginning at 5:30 p.m. A traditional "burning of the greens" will follow the service, a custom which marks the close of the Christmas season. According to the Rev. Bob Hudak, pastor at the Church of the Nativity, the burning of the greens is an Anglican tradition which traces its origins back to an agrarian society. The greens, in essence, are being returned to the earth. A small amount of greenery will be burned symbolically, and the live fir tree which graced the sanctuary of the church, will be planted outside, Hudak said. This is the congregation's first Christmas in its new building. Hudak's research revealed a Christian observance on Jan. 6 occurred as early as the end of the second century in Egypt. "The name Epiphany is derived from the Greek word meaning manifestation or appearing. In the Anglican tradition, this feast is also called the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, a reference to the story of the wise men from the east," Hudak explained. Eastern rite churches recognize the Epiphany as the anniversary of the Baptism of Christ. It is on this day that holy water is blessed, a ritual which takes place on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter Sunday, in the Catholic Church. The eve of the Epiphany is often called Twelfth Night, with the actual day referred to, not surprisingly, as Twelfth Day. In England, the queen commemorates the day by offering gold, frankincense and myrrh, at the altar in the Chapel Royal at Saint James's Palace. Everyone is welcome to attend the Sunday evening service at the Church of the Nativity, which is at 130 Antioch Road. This church is part of the 93 parishes in the Diocese of Atlanta (www.episcopal-atl.org) and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. To contact Hudak at the church office, phone 770-460-6390 or e-mail him at bhudak@mindspring.com.
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