Epiphany, also known as Theophany, is observed in the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Oriental Orthodox denominations worldwide every January 19. This significant Christian feast celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ, specifically commemorating His baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The event is part of the Twelve Great Feasts in the Orthodox liturgical calendar and is marked by the Great Blessing of Waters, where holy water is blessed and believed to be imbued with special powers. The ceremony includes Scripture readings and prayers, and the priest blesses the congregation with the newly consecrated water. In some regions, this blessing extends to nearby bodies of water, with a cross-shaped hole cut into ice in colder climates for the ritual. Additionally, some parishioners immerse themselves in the blessed water, symbolizing the washing away of sins and spiritual rebirth.