Eastern Europe celebrated January 6, Epiphany, which is a Greek word meaning "appearance" or "manifestation."
Also called Three Kings Day, it recalled the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus in Bethlehem when the holy family had moved from the manger to a house--His "manifestation" to the Gentiles, as foretold in Isaiah 49:6:
"I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth."
In addition, Epiphany commemorates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River, as recorded in John 1:29-34:
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world ... that he should be made manifest to Israel.
And John bare record, saying ... He that sent me ... said ... Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
Also called Three Kings Day, it recalled the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus in Bethlehem when the holy family had moved from the manger to a house--His "manifestation" to the Gentiles, as foretold in Isaiah 49:6:
"I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth."
In addition, Epiphany commemorates Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River, as recorded in John 1:29-34:
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world ... that he should be made manifest to Israel.
And John bare record, saying ... He that sent me ... said ... Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."