Epiphany, Epiphany or Jordan: how to properly name the feast of the baptism of Jesus

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On Monday, January 6, one of the most important Christian holidays is celebrated. The third holiday in the winter cycle of holidays is Epiphany. There are many different names for this holiday among the people, so it is worth figuring out which one is correct.

According to official documents and dictionaries, the normative name of the holiday is “Epiphany”. This is the form recorded by the Great Explanatory Dictionary of the Modern Language, the Orthographic Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language, and the Dictionary of Church and Ritual Terminology.

In the genitive case, it is correct to use the form “Epiphany”: “celebration of Epiphany”, “traditions of Epiphany”. Philologists emphasize the importance of the correct stress – it should fall on the second syllable: VodOkhreshche.

At the same time, there are other names for the holiday in the Ukrainian language:

• Vodokhrescha;
• Vodokhreschi;
• Vodokhryschi;
• Vodokhryscha;
• Vodokhrestya;
• Vodosvyattya;
• Vodoosvyatchennia;
• Jordan (also Yerdan, Ordan, Ordan).

The last name of the holiday was given in honor of the Jordan River, where, according to biblical legends, Jesus Christ was baptized.

All these options are actively used in colloquial speech and fiction. They can be used in informal communication and personal correspondence.

At the same time, the famous priest-blogger Oleksiy Filuk says that it is better to use the term “Theophany” rather than “Epiphany”. He talked about this in his blog.

Traditionally, the celebration begins on January 5 with the second Christmas Eve, when Hungry Kutya is prepared. The next day, believers go to churches for divine services and the blessing of water.