EPIPHANY PROCESSION AT SALISBURY CATHEDRAL - Archived
Issued Thursday 29th December 2005
The Cathedral’s Epiphany Procession, which commemorates the journey of the Magi coming from the East to worship Jesus and follows him through early life into manhood, takes place on Sunday 15 January at 7.00pm.
A special service of words and music, this procession gives those present the opportunity to reflect on the wise men’s journey and a private time to reaffirm one’s personal faith.
Canon Jeremy Davies, Precentor at the Cathedral and responsible for its liturgy and music, explains: “The Feast of Epiphany was, for several hundred years, the celebration of Christmas and for Orthodox Christians it still is. But Epiphany – which is the Greek word for ‘revelation’ or showing forth of God’s glory to the whole world – is also a season that takes us from January 6 to Candlemas (February 2) when the Christmas season comes to a close.
“So our Epiphany Procession at the Cathedral comes well on in the Epiphany season. We focus on the coming of the wise men with their gifts to the baby in the manger. But we also celebrate other revelations - God’s glory in Jesus’ early ministry, his baptism in the River Jordan and his first miracle of changing water into wine at a wedding.”
The Cathedral Choir, directed by David Halls, will sing music by Britten, Howells, Marenzio and Palestrina; Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Music, will play the piano. As in the Cathedral’s Advent and Christmas Processions, there are congregational carols and hymns.
The Epiphany Procession on Sunday 15 January begins at 7.00pm. The service lasts about one hour. It is the third and final of the popular processions held in the Cathedral during the season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.