Today is the Paramony of the Theophany. Wikipedia does an admirable job in explaining it below.
The Eve of the Feast is called Paramony (Greek: παραμονή, Slavonic: navechérie). Paramony is observed as a strict fast day, on which those faithful who are physically able, refrain from food until the first star is observed in the evening, when a meal with wine and oil may be taken. On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated, thus tying together the feasts of Nativity and Good Friday. The Royal Hours are followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with the Divine Liturgy. During the Vespers, fifteen Old Testament lections which foreshadow the Baptism of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. If the Feast of the Theophany falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Royal Hours are chanted on the previous Friday, and on the Paramony the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated and the fasting is lessened to some degree.And now I feel obliged to explain some more terminology for those not already acquainted.
What is Royal Hours?
It is a very solemn and penitential celebration of the "little hours" (daily prayers for specified hours of the day) celebrated only three times a year - Eve of the Nativity, the Eve of Theophany, and Great Friday. In Greek practice it is called "Great Hours" as it is covers the four offices of the day. It is said to get its name from the fact that the Byzantine Emperor and his court would come to the great church of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, with 'Many Years' sung to him (a traditional and festive sounding song entreating God's blessing on the person sung for). The service itself is full of psalms, beautiful and inspiring stichera (hymns), and readings from the Old Testament, apostolic writings, and the Gospel.
Here is an example sticheron of the Sixth Hour:
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You may be interested to know that the Sephardic Jews, have a tradition of going to a body of water, during Rosh Hashanah. The water should preferably contain living fish. At the waters edge they pray the Tashlich. Going down into the water usually followed vs 9, which says, "And cast into the depths of the sea all their sins." The prayer is taken from Micah 7:18-20; Ps 188:5-9 and Ps 33 and recalls Abraham and David. The last line says, "It is better to take refuge in Hashem (the Name) than to rely on kings." Kings were crowned at the waters edge during this time in ancient days.
ReplyDeleteThis custom may explain why all those folks from Jerusalem including Kohanites and Levites and Pharisees came down to the river for John's baptism what gives deeper meaning to Jesus' own baptism. Indeed he was crowed at the waters edge by the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for the excellent comment. That's worth a post in itself and may end up being one.
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