http://copticchurch.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/no-sign-shall-be-given-ex/

The term Theophany is synonymous with Epiphany in the Coptic Orthodox Church (as well as all Orthodox churches). Derived from the Greek terms “Theo” for God and “phaneia” for revelation or manifestation, Theophany is the Revelation or Manifestation of God. The term Epiphany is a more general term for revelation, but is not exclusive to God’s revelation of Himself. Thus, Theophany is the more appropriate term, but Epiphany is the more common term due to its usage in the wide spread Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church does not celebrate the same event as their day of Epiphany—On January 6th, the Catholic Church commemorates the visitation of the Magi to the Lord Jesus Christ in the manger. Apparently, the Eastern Orthodox churches, such as Greek Orthodox, celebrate on the same day as the WesternChurch, on January 6th, but rather than celebrating the day of the Magi, they commemorate with the Oriental Orthodox (of which Coptic Orthodox belong) the day of Christ’s baptism by St. John The Baptist.

What is celebrated

On this feast day, the church commemorates the baptism of Christ by St. John the Baptist, but not for the sake of the baptism, but for the revelation made there. There have been many significant events in Christ’s life. This particular one was an event of teaching, for Christ being sinless had no need of repentance. The baptism of St. John was one of repentance, calling Jews to repent their sins and to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Later, after the salvation obtained through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this baptism became a washing away of original sin and the beginning of our new lives as children of God. Our Lord did not need this baptism as He was sinless and there was nothing for Him to repent. But this event is significant in the church for it was at this moment that the Holy Trinity was revealed and from here much of the Trinitarian Dogma is derived. On the 11th Day of Toba (commemorated date, probably not actual date) of the year 31 AD, the Son stood in the Jordan River while the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove and the Father Almighty spoke from heaven saying “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”( Matthew 3:16-17). This day is equivalent to the 20th of January and is a fixed feast date (does not change as Easter does).

Rules concerning Paramouni of Holy Theophany

The Paramouni refers to the eve of the feast day of Theophany (or feast day of Christmas/Nativity as well). On this day, the church tradition is for the congregation to fast in the manner of the Holy Lent (vegan style) until dusk. If the Paramouni falls on the weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, the Friday before is to be fasted.

The feast day of Theophany is a feast day of the Lord and, even if it falls on a Wednesday or Friday, it is to be celebrated as one of the Holy Fifty days in that no fasting or abstaining is observed on that day. The feast day overrides the usual fasting of a Wednesday/Friday.

Blessing of Water in Coptic Church
Blessing of the water

Lak’an (pronounced “la-ann”) is the Arabic term to indicate the service of blessing water and “anointing” of the congregation. In this service, the priest will anoint the forehead of the congregants with a cloth dipped in the water.
Resources & Links

Chiefs and Endians
Coptic Orthodox Church synexarium resource
Ecumenical Councils of the Early Christian Church (1 of 3: Nicea)
Greek Orthodox Church resource

Jan 15 – Feast of the Circumcision (one of seven 7 Minor feasts of the Lord celebrated with morning liturgy)- Luke 2:21-39
Jan 20 – Feast of the Epiphany (one of seven 7 Major feasts of the Lord celebrated with evening Liturgy night before) – Jn 1:18-34
Jan 22 – Feast of Wedding at Cana (One of Seven Minor feasts of the Lord celebrated with morning liturgy ) – Jn2:1-11

The church celebrates with joyful tunes!!!!!

http://copticchurch.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=347&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2

The Servant of the LORD

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
5 Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
6 “ I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the LORD, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Praise to the LORD

10 Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise from the ends of the earth,
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
You coastlands and you inhabitants of them!
11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice,
The villages that Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,
Let them shout from the top of the mountains.
12 Let them give glory to the LORD,
And declare His praise in the coastlands.
13 The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man;
He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.
He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud;
He shall prevail against His enemies.

Promise of the LORD’s Help

14 “ I have held My peace a long time,
I have been still and restrained Myself.
Now I will cry like a woman in labor,
I will pant and gasp at once.
15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills,
And dry up all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers coastlands,
And I will dry up the pools.
16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them.
17 They shall be turned back,
They shall be greatly ashamed,
Who trust in carved images,
Who say to the molded images,
‘ You are our gods.’

Matthew 12:18-21

15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes[a] followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18 “ Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,
My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!
I will put My Spirit upon Him,
And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust

Servants song:
http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/isa42v1.html