Celebrating the Epiphany: When Are We Supposed to Do That?
Seasons and Saints is a weekly devotional reflections by the Reverend Susan Montague Koyle
Celebrating the Epiphany on the Sunday Before the Epiphany
Many of our churches will be celebrating The Epiphany of the Lord—a 
Principal Feast of the Church—on Sunday, January 4. This celebration may be observed in addition to celebrating Epiphany on its actual day, January 6.
Worshipping on days other than Sunday sends an important signal—to our own inner lives and to others—that Jesus Christ is of primary importance. This is why I will be holding a worship service and feast on the actual day of Epiphany, for anyone in the area who wishes to attend.
Despite being Christians, we often find ourselves adhering to a secular calendar. For example, how many of us continue to celebrate Christmas—outside of worship—until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord? Does Christmas begin to feel “over” by Boxing Day?
At Epiphany, the Wise Men make their way into the crèche, and I hope you hear a fabulous sermon on the inclusivity of the saving power of the newborn King of all creation. Epiphany is an essential moment in the overall arc of the Christmas season, which culminates on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. I’ll leave you hanging for now on why that day is so important…
Epiphany House Blessings
Are you familiar with Epiphany house blessings?
Traditionally, chalk is blessed at the Epiphany liturgy and used to mark a blessing above the main door of worshippers’ homes. In some places, clergy even visit homes on the Feast of the Epiphany to perform these blessings.
If you’re interested in learning more, the Diocese of Montreal offers a helpful “do-it-yourself” blessing leaflet here:
https://www.montrealcathedral.ca/2016/01/epiphany-prayer-for-home-blessing-chalking-the-door
To avoid confusion caused by older examples online, the chalk inscription for 2026 would read:
20 + C + M + B + 26
The + signs represent crosses, and the letters stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat — Christ bless this house.
Celebrating Epiphany After the Epiphany?
No way. No how.
Under no circumstances is the Feast of the Epiphany moved to the Sunday after January 6.
While it may be tempting in years when January 6 falls close to the following Sunday, our liturgical rubrics are very clear. The Epiphany may be observed on the Sunday before January 6 if January 6 is a weekday. It may also be celebrated on the actual day—even if it has already been observed on the preceding Sunday.
The Sunday after the Epiphany is always, always, always the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As mentioned earlier, this feast is a climactic moment in this portion of our salvation story. Jesus’ baptism marks a pivotal turning point, emphasized by the Church’s baptismal theology as reflected in the liturgical calendar.
I’ll say more about this next week.
For Your Devotions
Tuesday, January 6
The Epiphany of the Lord (Principal Feast)
Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the Wise Men, who recognized a strange star in the night sky as a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews and were drawn to worship him.
Their attentiveness to the created order enabled them to respond to divine revelation. Saint Paul speaks of God being revealed in creation (Romans 1:20) and chastises those who fail to respond. The Wise Men show us that no truth or wisdom in the created order is contrary to the revelation of God in Christ.
They also witness to God’s purpose of drawing all nations together in reconciliation through Christ.
For further reading, see For All the Saints, p. 42:
https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/For-All-The-Saints.pdf
Saturday, January 10
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury (d. 1645)
William Laud, religious advisor to Charles I, was both brilliant and austere—and not especially well liked, even by those who agreed with him. Nevertheless, much of how our Church looks and functions today is due to his reforms and strict adherence to ecclesial order.
For example, Laud introduced altar rails—partly because local dogs were wandering into churches, and partly because clergy were using the Holy Table as a desk when it was not in use for the Eucharist.
Love him or hate him, Laud deeply loved God and the Church. During the English Civil War, however, his persecution of the Puritans returned to haunt him, and he was eventually beheaded.
For more information:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Laud