Epiphany Hymn of St. Ambrose

Hymn of St. Ambrose (338-397), used by the Church in Milan

Most High God!
Thou that enkindlest
the fires of the shining stars!
O Jesus!
Thou that art peace and life and light and truth,
hear and grant our prayers.

This present day has been made holy
by thy mystic baptism,
whereby thou didst sanctify
those waters of the Jordan,
which of old were thrice turned back.

It is holy by the star shining in the heavens,
whereby thou didst announce
thy Virginal Mother's delivery
and didst, on the same day,
lead the Magi to adore thee in thy crib.

It is holy too,
by thy changing the water
of the pitchers into wine;
which the steward of the feast,
knowing that he had not so filled them,
drew forth for the guests.

Glory be to thee, O Lord Jesus,
that didst appear on this Day!
And to the Father and to the Holy Spirit,
for everlasting ages. Amen.

The Church in Jerusalem Epiphany Prayer

O God
Who by a star
guided the wise men to the worship of your Son
we pray you to lead to yourself
the wise and great of every land
that unto you every knee may bow,
and every thought be brought into captivity
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East

Blessing of a Home at Epiphany

Leader: Peace be to this house.

All: And to all who live here.

Leader: Bless, O Lord,
this household and family,
and allow all of us who live in this home
to find in it a shelter of peace and health.
Inspire each of us to develop
our individual talents
and to contribute wisdom and good works
for the benefit of the whole family.
Make our house a haven for us all,
and a place of warmth and caring
for all our friends who come to visit us.
Enlighten us with the brilliance
of your Epiphany star,
so that, as we go into the world,
we might clearly see our way to You
and discover You in our work and play.
This we ask to your glory
and in the power of your kingship.

All: For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory now and forever, Amen.

Then, bless the house with the sign of the cross.

After the blessing,
the initials of the Magi
(traditional names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar)
are written with chalk over the main door way of the house, like this:
20 + C + M + B + 09
(the + is a cross; the "09" stands for 2009;
change the year accordingly).
Adapted from commonly used parish prayer

Ambvon Prayer on the Feast of Holy Theophany

From an ancient Ambvon prayer

Ineffable is Thy love towards us,
and boundless is the sea of Thy good will,
O Lord our God;
For it was pleasing unto Thee
for Thine Only-begotten Son
to be born of a chaste woman,
and to become man;
and to be like unto us in all things, save sin:
and to be baptized as a man for our sake by John,
though needing no baptism:
so that, in sanctifying the element of water,
He might grant us rebirth by water and the Spirit.
And in these things discerning Thee to be God eternal,
we worship Thee,
Who hast from the heavens proclaimed Him
that was baptized to be Thy Son.
We glorify Thy Holy Spirit,
Who descended upon Him and revealed Him to John:
for Thou hast sealed us,
and endowed us with the grace of Baptism;
Thou hast made us communicants of Thy Christ:
of Whom deprive not us sinners,
but by His Grace
support us against every force of evil;
and strengthen the Orthodox Christians
against every assault,
and lead us all into Thy Kingdom:
that in us may be glorified Thine all-holy Name,
and that of Thine Only-begotten Son,
together with the most Holy Spirit, now and ever,
and unto ages of ages. Amen.