We were blessed to celebrate Epiphany in the village of Aguacate. The faithful congregation always arrives an hour before the Liturgy in eager anticipation. It is inspiring to witness the vibrancy of their faith. Men, women, and children of every age pack the church. It was a lengthy service, including the blessing of the water and the baptism of two children.
During the many repetitions of the Festal Hymn, wherein the words, “the Spirit in the form of a dove,” are sung, a local chicken wandered into the church. She strutted importantly in front of the iconostas, assuming that on this day, above all others, an avian presence would be acceptable in the church. Respectful of the Orthodox restriction of females in the altar, she avoided entering the Royal Gate. Instead, she settled by the bishop’s throne.
Grabbing the chicken by her wings, a seminarian resolutely escorted her outdoors, accompanied by her vociferous squawks of protest. A few minutes later, the chicken reappeared by the bishop’s throne, determined to fulfill her adoration of Christ’s baptism. Again, she was captured and evicted. Several more times, the chicken entered, only to be taken outside.
Frustrated in her attempts to worship, the chicken found her way into the priest’s home and onto an elaborate nativity scene. After the Liturgy, when we entered the home for lunch, we found the chicken standing victoriously over her gift to the Christ Child. It was the best thing she had to offer — a perfectly formed white egg.
The vibrant Christian faith in the village of Aguacate is not limited to the human population, but extends to the animal kingdom as well. The Liturgy is often visited by dogs, chickens, mice, and a variety of insects. As stated in Psalm 149, verse 6:
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.”
The chicken’s offering to Christ: a beautifully formed egg
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