On Theophany, we remember Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, where the heavens opened, and the waters were sanctified. As it is written:

“Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him” (Matthew 3:16, NKJV).

By plunging into the cold waters, we are not merely reenacting an event—we are participating in the mystery of death to the old self and rising anew. The icy shock becomes a living symbol of repentance, courage, and spiritual awakening.

As the frigid waters surround us, we remember that the Christian life begins with a plunge—an act of courage that breaks through cowardice and complacency, marking the start of our ascent toward God.