Night Liturgy: Descent of the

Continued 👇🏾 ✍🏾The Night Liturgy and the Symbolism of the Descent of the Ark ✍🏾In the second part of the service, the priests remain throughout the night, offering prayers and preparing for the Divine Liturgy. The liturgy begins at midnight, and by early morning the faithful are gathered in readiness. The baptismal celebration continues on the following day, completing the mystery of the feast. ✍🏾Symbolism of the Feast and the Descent of the Ark ✍🏾The descent of the Ark of the Covenant into the water on the eve of the Feast of Baptism, and the preparation of the Sea (baptismal pool), are not symbolic inventions. They are rooted in biblical history and divine typology. 👉🏾This sacred journey with the Ark began in the time of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, and was fully revealed during the leadership of Joshua, the successor of Moses. 👉🏾Crossing of the Jordan as a Type of Baptism When Joshua led the people of Israel to the Jordan River, the waters of the river were divided, and the flow of the river was stopped by the power of God. “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.” (Joshua 3:8–9) ✍🏾As the Israelites prepared to cross into the Promised Land: 👉🏾 tent was pitched 👉🏾The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside 👉🏾The Levites surrounded it The priests stood 👉🏾ministering, praising God ✍🏾When the priests honored the Ark of the Covenant and stepped onto the bank of the river, the waters that had been flowing like a strong flood stood upright like a wall. The priests carrying the Ark of Zion remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until all the people had crossed safely. Fulfillment in Christian Baptism ✍🏾This event was a foreshadowing of Christian baptism. The Church teaches that: 👉🏾The priests’ feet standing in the waters of the Jordan prefigured baptism 👉🏾The people passing through the river symbolized cleansing and rebirth 👉🏾This type was fulfilled when our Lord Jesus Christ established baptism in the New Testament Thus, what occurred in the days of Joshua was a shadow, and what Christ instituted is the truth. The Church reenacts this mystery each year through the descent of the Ark, proclaiming salvation through water and the Spirit. The Meaning of the Day of Baptism For this reason, our Holy Church calls it Ketera the eve of the baptism for it reveals the mystery of salvation through water and the fulfillment of God’s covenant with humanity. ✍🏾The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan When our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized: 👉🏾The upper part of the Jordan River turned back and flowed upward 👉🏾The lower part retreated 👉🏾The flow of the river was cut off, and the water stood piled up like a heap This mystery was foreseen by Saint David, who spoke prophetically of the waters fleeing before the presence of the Lord. The complete stopping and drying of the Jordan symbolizes the destruction of the curse of Adam. Through the redemption accomplished by Christ, the sin that passed from Adam to all humanity was broken and washed away. Likewise, Israel’s crossing of the Jordan into Jericho is a symbol of the faithful being: 👉🏾Freed from the bondage of sin 👉🏾Cleansed through baptism 👉🏾Set upon the path toward the paradise of rest, the Kingdom of Heaven ✍🏾Symbolism of the Descent of the Ark The descent of the Ark of the Covenant into the water on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord symbolizes Christ’s journey from Galilee to the Jordan on the eve of His baptism by Saint John. In this sacred mystery: 👉🏾Eyasu represents the Lord 👉🏾Israel represents the believers 👉🏾The Jordan River represents baptism 👉🏾(Midre rist) n represents the Kingdom of Heaven 👉🏾The priest who honors the Ark represents Saint John the Baptist 👉🏾The Ark of the Covenant represents our Lord Jesus Christ 👉🏾The faithful who accompany the Ark represent those who came to Saint John to receive the baptism of repentance ✍🏾The lighting of the lamp at the baptismal font symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who descended in the form of a dove upon Christ at His baptism. Continues 👇🏾