A Joyful Epiphany Celebration at Norwich Cathedral
Despite the biting cold of a winter morning, the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich was filled with warmth and devotion as the Diocese of East Anglia gathered to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Bishop Peter Collins led the solemn Mass, drawing together faithful from across the region in a celebration that perfectly captured the essence of this important feast. The cathedral, with its magnificent architecture providing a fitting backdrop to the proceedings, resonated with beautiful music and heartfelt prayer as the community marked this significant moment in the liturgical calendar. The Epiphany, commemorating the revelation of Christ to the nations symbolized by the visit of the Magi, offered a powerful opportunity for reflection at the beginning of a new year. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, inside was a scene of community and shared faith, with familiar faces and newcomers alike joining in a celebration that has been observed by Christians for centuries.
The first reading from Isaiah 60:1-6 set a luminous tone for the entire celebration, beginning with the powerful exhortation: “Arise, shine out, your light has come.” These words seemed especially appropriate within the cathedral setting, where stained glass windows filtered the winter sunlight into colored beams that played across the gathered assembly. Isaiah’s ancient vision of Jerusalem glowing with divine presence and drawing peoples from distant lands perfectly prefigured the Epiphany narrative and its significance. For those present, this reading carried particular resonance at the start of a new year, suggesting the possibility of renewal and the persistent hope that light will always overcome darkness. The prophet’s words, spoken centuries before Christ, seemed to bridge past and present, reminding worshippers that they stand within a tradition of faith that has consistently proclaimed that God’s light continues to shine in human history, calling all to awakening and transformation.
The second reading expanded this universal vision, with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (3:2-3, 5-6) emphasizing that God’s revelation in Christ breaks down barriers between peoples. Paul’s declaration that Gentiles are “coheirs, members of the same body” resonated deeply with the feast’s celebration of Christ’s manifestation to all nations. Within the diverse congregation, this message of inclusion and shared inheritance felt particularly powerful. The Magi from the East—outsiders who nonetheless recognized the significance of Christ—stand as enduring symbols that salvation extends beyond any single group or nation. As Bishop Collins proclaimed these words, many reflected on their own journeys to faith, the different paths that had led them to this shared moment of worship. The reading challenged the gathered faithful to consider how they might embody this inclusive love in their own lives and communities, especially in a world still divided by prejudice and misunderstanding.
The Gospel account from Matthew 2:1-12, recounting the journey of the wise men to Bethlehem, formed the heart of the celebration. Bishop Collins offered a thoughtful homily on this beloved passage, inviting the congregation to identify with these ancient seekers who followed a star with courage and openness. He highlighted how the Magi demonstrated remarkable persistence, navigating both celestial guidance and human obstacles, including the duplicitous King Herod. Their gifts—gold acknowledging Christ’s kingship, frankincense recognizing his divinity, and myrrh foreshadowing his sacrificial death—revealed their profound understanding of the child they had journeyed so far to worship. The Bishop challenged those present to consider what gifts they might bring to Christ in the coming year: perhaps the gold of their time, the incense of their prayers, or the myrrh of their willingness to share in the world’s suffering. Throughout the cathedral, people listened attentively, many visibly moved by this timeless story and its implications for their own spiritual journeys.
The liturgy itself became a sensory manifestation of Epiphany themes—light, revelation, and worship. Incense rose in fragrant clouds, its ascending smoke symbolizing prayers rising to heaven, while candles illuminated the sacred space with gentle light reminiscent of the star that guided the Magi. The cathedral choir offered sublime musical selections that enhanced the reverence of the occasion, their voices blending in harmonies that seemed to transcend the ordinary. During Communion, a profound silence settled over the congregation, punctuated only by footsteps as people moved forward to receive the Eucharist. In this sacrament, the parish community experienced their own epiphany—Christ revealed and received in bread and wine. The sense of unity was palpable, a lived expression of Paul’s words about being members of the same body. Faces that might normally pass each other unknowing on Norwich streets were here connected in a moment of shared worship, demonstrating how liturgy creates community across differences of age, background, and experience.
As the celebration concluded and worshippers prepared to depart, there was a tangible sense that they carried something of value back into the world. Just as the Magi returned to their homeland “by another road,” those leaving the cathedral would return to their daily lives transformed in subtle but meaningful ways. The Bishop’s final blessing sent them forth with a commission to be bearers of Christ’s light in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Conversations lingered on the cathedral steps despite the cold, as people exchanged new year greetings and reflections on the service. The Epiphany celebration had accomplished what the best liturgies do—it had connected ancient story with present experience, universal truth with personal meaning. As Norwich continued its winter day outside the cathedral walls, those who had gathered for this feast took with them a renewed sense of purpose and the warming conviction that the light celebrated at Epiphany continues to shine in the darkness, guiding all who seek it with sincere and open hearts.
