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Epiphany

Sean Fletcher finds out how Greek Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany, and the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin explains its meaning. Hymns are on the theme of Epiphany.

Sean Fletcher finds out how Greek Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany, and the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin explains its meaning. In Durham, Christian astronomer the Rev Professor David Wilkinson talks to the Rev Kate Bottley about the scientific theories behind the star of Bethlehem. And in Coventry, at a baby baptism service in the Greek Orthodox tradition, a member of the congregation explains why baptism is so important to their faith. Hymns come from around the UK on the theme of Epiphany.

Music:
O Worship the Lord from St Michael's Southampton
Brightest and Best from Church of St Cross, Winchester
Be Still for the Presence of the Lord from St Elisabeth's Church, Reddish
Indescribable from Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester
Lord I Lift Your Name on High from LSO St Lukes London
Shine Jesus Shine with Graham Kendrick from St David's Exeter
All Night Vigil performed by Katie Melua and Gori Women's Choir.

34 minutes

Stories

The Meaning of Epiphany
The Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin explains the meaning of Epiphany  - the ‘showing’ of Christ to the world - which includes celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus when he was young to give him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. For some Christians Epiphany also marks The Baptism of Christ, another time when Christ was revealed to the world.

Greek Orthodox
Sean Fletcher is shown around the beautifully ornate Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom, St Sophia, in London.  One of its priests, The Very Rev. Archimandrite Dr Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos, explains to Sean how Greek Orthodox Christians mark Epiphany with prayers and dipping a cross icon into baptismal waters. Sean also explores the presence and role of icons in the Greek Orthodox Church and hears how it is connected to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Scientific reasons for the star over Bethlehem
The Rev. Kate Bottley meets the Rev. Professor David Wilkinson of St John’s College Durham – an astronomer and theologian. He shares his passion for historical figure the Rev. Temple Chevallier, who pioneered explorations of the stars and space, alongside his Christian faith. David goes onto explain the scientific theories behind the star which led the Wise Men to Bethlehem. He describes how scientists believe it can be interpreted as a natural physical phenomenon related to the stars and planets, or that it could have been a supernatural event created by God.

Baptism Services

With Baptism playing a key role in the Greek Orthodox celebration of Epiphany, Coventry based Christian Eleni Maoudis explains how her small church community began, and how they conduct baptism services. We see one family’s experience as their baby son is immersed in the water three times to represent baptism in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sean Fletcher
Presenter Kate Bottley
Executive Producer Cat Lewis
Executive Producer Emyr Afan
Producer Mark Warburton
Series Producer Matthew Napier
Production Company Avanti Media

Broadcast