Baptism of the Lord

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord recalls Jesus's baptism by John in the Jordan River, the event that inaugurated his public ministry. As Jesus came up out of the water, the Gospels describe the heavens opening, the Spirit descending like a dove, and a voice from heaven declaring him God's beloved Son, a moment many theologians point to as one of the clearest scriptural revelations of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit present together. In Western churches, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and others, the feast falls on the Sunday after Epiphany and closes the Christmas and Epiphany season before Ordinary Time begins. In the Orthodox Church, this same event is central to the feast of Theophany, celebrated January 6, one of the most important feasts of the year, commemorating God's self revelation to the world through Christ's baptism.

Matthew 3:16-17

“Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'”

Many Western churches use the feast as an occasion for the congregation to renew their own baptismal vows, often accompanied by the blessing and sprinkling of water. Infant baptisms are sometimes scheduled to coincide with the feast. Orthodox churches celebrate Theophany with the Great Blessing of Waters, and in many countries the faithful process to rivers, lakes, or the sea for an outdoor blessing of natural water, sometimes including the custom of retrieving a cross thrown into the water.

Baptism of the Lord is one thread in the wider rhythm of the church year. See how it sits alongside the other feasts on the full Christian holiday calendar, or read more about Reformation Day and Christ the King. To understand how these observances shaped the nation, visit our Faith & America hub, and keep the Christian glossary close for any unfamiliar terms.