The Revelation of Saint John speaks of the tree of life. Christ referring to the angel of Ephesus, says among other things: "To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

Some troparia (hymns) of the Christmas feast say that Christ, through His incarnation, is the tree of life. The dismissal hymn of the forefeast of Christmas is characteristic: It says: "Make Bethlehem ready, Edom has opened to all, prepare Ephratha, now in the cave the tree of life has blossomed from the Virgin. And Paradise, that womb in which the divine plant, to eat of which we shall not die like Adam, has been made known. Christ is born, resurrecting the image which had previously fallen".

The person who played a major role in Christ's Baptism is the Worthy Forerunner, John the Baptist. He is a great Prophet, a great character placed between the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Prophets of the Old and the first of the Prophets of the New Testament.

On the day following the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany), in accordance with ancient tradition, the Holy Church of Christ convenes her children for the Synaxis of the holy, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, John. The word Synaxis means an assembling or an assembly, in this case, a convocation in church, at which God is hymned and praised and the great John, the Forerunner and Baptist is lauded.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, our Holy Orthodox Christian Church during this blessed period of Christmas feasts, in which we celebrate the revelation of our God to us, a) by the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ b) with the Baptism of Christ when the Three Persons are manifested, wants to address to her children and to inform them about the Great Blessing of Waters, which is celebrated on the 5th and 6th January. Many are those who ask, if this blessed water is consumed, or is used for the sprinkling, or is kept at their homes and if it replaces Holy Communion.

"...As we said before, one of the aims of Christ's Baptism was also to be both a model and an example for us, since by His example Christ decreed the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism. Thus through Holy Baptism, which is regarded as an introductory Mystery (Sacrament), we are admitted into the Church. Just as Christ's work of saving the world began with Baptism, which was followed by all the other things, the Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, so also this spiritual life begins with the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism.