A theophany is a visible manifestation of God to humans. For example, in the Bible in Isaiah 6, the story of Isaiah seeing the Lord sitting upon a throne is called a theophany. According to the philosopher Philo, God is purely transcendent, so his interactions with the material world are through an expression of himself, his Logos, or Word. It was through this Word that God created the world. Perhaps the best known example of theophany in Western religion is from the Torah where God appears to Moses and, by many a ...

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A Christian theological definition of Theophany according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

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Theophany

See also: Theophany, Christianity, Body Mind and Soul)

Theophany [from Greek theophaneia from theos god + phainesthai to appear]

The appearance of a god; a degree in the ancient Mysteries, where the candidate was illumined by his own inner god, and differing from epiphany in being of a more lasting nature. In Christian ecclesiasticism, used for the incarnation of the Christos. In the outer or Lesser Mysteries it meant the showing of representations of the gods to the people -- as at the festivals held at Delphi.

See also THEOPATHY; THEOPNEUSTY

(See also: Theophany, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Metatron (alternate spelling: Metraton, sometimes referred to as the Latin Metator) is the name of an angel in Judaism and some branches of Christianity. However, there are no references to him in the Jewish Tanakh (Old Testament) or the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) and there is no consensus as to his genesis or the role that he plays in the hierarchy of Heaven and Hell. A mysterious figure, Metatron is identified with the term, "lesser YHVH" in a Talmudic version read by the Karaite scholar Kirkisani. Interestin ...

Including:

• Metatron - Metatron's Cube
• Metatron - Metatron in popular culture

Read more here: » Metatron: Encyclopedia - Metatron

Advent Christmastide Epiphany Pre-Lent Lent Eastertide Ascension Day Pentecost Ordinary Time Pre-Advent Feast of Cross Nativity Fast Nativity Theophany Great Lent Pascha Pentecost Transfiguration Dormition Intercession The Christian doctrine of the Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to heaven following his resurrection. This is affirmed by Christi ...

Including:

• Ascension - Biblical Accounts
• Ascension - Feast
• Ascension - Superstitions

Read more here: » Ascension: Encyclopedia - Ascension

Baptism is any water purification ritual practiced in any of various religions including Christianity, Mandaeanism, and Sikhism, and has its origins with the Jewish ritual of mikvah. The word baptize derives from the Greek word βάπτειν (the infinitive; also listed as the 1st person singular present active indicative βαπτίζω), which loosely means "to dip, bathe, or wash". To some groups it is a matter of religious conviction to assert that baptism is precisely equivalent to, to plunge something entirely into th ...

Including:

• Baptism - Background in Jewish ritual
• Baptism - Explanation
• Baptism - Ecumenical statement
• Baptism - Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Lutheran Anglican and Methodist baptism
• Baptism - Baptism and salvation
• Baptism - Conditions of the validity of a baptism
• Baptism - Baptism by other denominations
• Baptism - Who may administer a baptism
• Baptism - Baptist and other Protestant baptism
• Baptism - Reformed and Covenant Theology view
• Baptism - Latter Day Saint baptism
• Baptism - Baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Baptism - Jehovah's Witnesses
• Baptism - Baptism in Churches of Christ
• Baptism - Other baptisms
• Baptism - Non-christian religions
• Baptism - Non-religious baptism
• Baptism - Related articles and subjects
• Baptism - People and ritual objects
• Baptism - Resources

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The state of ‘’baqâ’’ ( permanency), is life with God, through God, in God, for God. It is the summit of the mystical manazil ( Abodes ) . Here there are three degrees, each one referring to a particular aspect of the divine theophanies as principle of existence and its qualitative evolution: faith - knowledge - grace. Baqaa - Aspects. Baqaa - First aspect: The level of acts. The first aspect of the Sufi permanency is situated at the level of acts. The action of the Suf ...

Including:

• Baqaa - Aspects
• Baqaa - First aspect: The level of acts
• Baqaa - Second aspect: The level of qualities and attributes
• Baqaa - Third aspect: The level of the essence
• Baqaa - Resource

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Marian apparitions are events in which the Virgin Mary is purported to have supernaturally appeared to one or more persons, typically but not always Christians, often Catholics in various settings. They are often given names based on the town in which they were reported, or on the sobriquet which was given to Mary on the occasion of the apparition, or on her reported clothing and hairstyle. They have been interpreted as psychological (pareidolia), and as religious phenomena, occasionally as theophanies. Apparitions sometimes recur at ...

Including:

• Marian apparitions - List of Marian apparitions
• Marian apparitions - Papal Marian apparitions
• Marian apparitions - Criticism and Controversy

Read more here: » Marian apparitions: Encyclopedia - Marian apparitions

The word Transfiguration means a changing of appearance or form. In Christianity The Transfiguration is a miraculous event in the Synoptic Gospel accounts of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–6, Mark 9:1–8, Luke 9:28–36): Jesus led three of his apostles, Peter, John, and James, to pray at the top of a mountain, where he became transfigured, with his face shining like the sun, and with brilliant white clothes; Elijah and Moses appeared with Jesus, and talked with him, and then a bright cloud appeared overhead, and a voice from cloud pro ...

Including:

• Transfiguration - Christian commemorations of the Transfiguration
• Transfiguration - Raphael's Transfiguration see Transfiguration Raphael

Read more here: » Transfiguration: Encyclopedia - Transfiguration

Epiphany (Greek: επιφάνεια, "the appearance; miraculous phenomenon") is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the 'shining forth' or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. The observance had its origins in the eastern Christian churches, and included the birth of Jesus; the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) who arrived in Bethlehem; and all of Jesus' childhood events, up to his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The feast was initially based on, and viewed as a fulfillment of, the Jewis ...

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Yaqeen is the summit of the Stations, by which the path of ‘’walaya’’ is fully completed. This is the repository of liberating experience in Islam. In relation to the exoteric religious life Certainty is the sister of religious life in its perfection ‘’(ehsân)’’, that is to say the adoration of God - may He be exalted - according to the visionary way; through this channel it is the pillar of Islam in the accomplishment of its external practices, as it is the foundation of faith’’ (imân)’’ in its internal dogm ...

Including:

• Yaqeen - Stages
• Yaqeen - Ilm al-yaqîn the knowledge of Certainty
• Yaqeen - Ayn al-yaqîn the Eye of Certainty
• Yaqeen - Haqq al-yaqîn the total reality of Certainty
• Yaqeen - Resource

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Liturgical colours are colours of vestments and church decorations within a Christian liturgy. The symbolism of purple, white, green, red, gold, black, and rose may serve to underline moods appropriate to a season of the liturgical year or may highlight a special occasion. Liturgical colours - Roman Catholicism. Generally, in the Roman Catholic Church: green, symbolizing life, growth and hope, is worn during Ordinary Time; violet or purple, symbolizing penance and ...

Including:

• Liturgical colours - Roman Catholicism
• Liturgical colours - Anglicanism
• Liturgical colours - Protestantism
• Liturgical colours - Eastern Orthodoxy

Read more here: » Liturgical colours: Encyclopedia - Liturgical colours

The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and some Eastern-Rite Catholic churches. By extension, this term is sometimes applied to the eucharistic liturgies of the Western Rite Orthodox churches, however the term Mass may be more appropriate here. Also, the Oriental Orthodox usually employ the term "holy offering" (qurbono qadisho in Syriac, surb bada ...

Including:

• Divine Liturgy - Structure

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A baptismal font is an article of church furniture used for the baptism of children and adults. It is typically intended for baptisms using a non-immersion method. The simplest of fonts has a pedestal (about 1.5 metres tall) with a holder for a basin of water. The materials vary greatly consisting of carved and sculpted marble, wood, or metal. The shape can vary. Many are 8-sided as a reminder of the "new creation" and as a connection to the practice of circumcision which traditionally occurs on the 8th day. Some are 3-sided as ...

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Zeitoun, also El-Zeitoun or Zeitun, is a town near Cairo, Egypt. It is noted for its Marian apparitions. According to purported witnesses, the Virgin Mary appeared in different forms over the Coptic Virgin Mary Church at Zeitoun for a period of 2–3 years beginning on April 2, 1968. The apparitions lasted from a few minutes up to several hours and were sometimes accompanied by dove-shaped luminous bodies. They were purportedly seen by millions of Egyptians and foreigners, including Copts, Orthodox and Roma ...

Read more here: » Zeitoun: Encyclopedia - Zeitoun

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catho ...

Including:

• Liturgical year - Western Christianity
• Liturgical year - Advent
• Liturgical year - Christmas
• Liturgical year - Ordinary Time Time after Epiphany and Septuagesima
• Liturgical year - Lent
• Liturgical year - Easter
• Liturgical year - Ordinary Time Time After Pentecost
• Liturgical year - Anglican and Protestant churches
• Liturgical year - Eastern Orthodox Church
• Liturgical year - The twelve Great Feasts
• Liturgical year - Resources

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A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic, usually expounding on a type of belief or law. Sermon - The delivery of sermons. Sermons are usually, but not always, delivered in a house of worship, most of which have a pulpit or ambo, an elevated architectural feature from which sermons are given. Sermons are occasionally known as homilies, especially in the Roman Catholic Church and similar traditions. The word "sermon" comes ...

Including:

• Sermon - The delivery of sermons
• Sermon - Famous preachers of sermons
• Sermon - The sermon takes center stage in Protestantism
• Sermon - Notable preachers of sermons
• Sermon - Types of sermons
• Sermon - Delivery methods
• Sermon - Sermons and sexual psychology

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Some Roman Catholics believe that water from Lourdes and other holy wells and shrines has supernatural powers, such as for healing. This water, technically, is not holy water since it has not been consecrated by a priest or bishop. Other Christian groups have sold water from the Jordan River and called it holy water as well, since this is the location of the baptism of the Christ. The Sikhs prepare a sort of holy water, which they cal ...

See also:

Holy water, Holy water - Roman Catholic holy water, Holy water - Varieties of holy water, Holy water - Rituals and uses of holy water, Holy water - Eastern Orthodox holy water, Holy water - Blessing of holy water at Theophany, Holy water - Other consecrated waters, Holy water - Holy water in popular culture

Read more here: » Holy water: Encyclopedia II - Holy water - Other consecrated waters

Holy water is used in Orthodox rites of blessing and exorcism, and is the water normally used for baptisms. A quantity of holy water is typically kept in a small font placed near the entrance of the church where it is available for anyone who needs it. Orthodox Christians most often bless themselves with holy water by drinking it, and they normally keep some at home for this purpose. Holy water is also sometimes sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed, as part of the prayers of blessing. For instance, in Alaska, the fishing boats are sprinkled with holy water at the start of the fishing sea ...

See also:

Holy water, Holy water - Roman Catholic holy water, Holy water - Varieties of holy water, Holy water - Rituals and uses of holy water, Holy water - Eastern Orthodox holy water, Holy water - Blessing of holy water at Theophany, Holy water - Other consecrated waters, Holy water - Holy water in popular culture

Read more here: » Holy water: Encyclopedia II - Holy water - Eastern Orthodox holy water

Holy water is used in Orthodox rites of blessing and exorcism, and is the water normally used for baptisms. A quantity of holy water is typically kept in a font placed near the entrance of the church where it is available for anyone who needs it. Holy water is sometimes sprinkled on items or people when they are blessed, as part of the prayers of blessing. For instance, in Alaska, the fishing boats are sprinkled with holy water at the start of the fishing season as the priest prays for the crews' safety and success. Orthodox Ch ...

See also:

Holy water, Holy water - Roman Catholic holy water, Holy water - Varieties of holy water, Holy water - Rituals and uses of holy water, Holy water - Eastern Orthodox holy water, Holy water - Blessing of holy water at Theophany, Holy water - Other consecrated waters, Holy water - Holy water in popular culture

Read more here: » Holy water: Encyclopedia II - Holy water - Eastern Orthodox holy water