theophany

A theophany is a manifestation of GOD or more literally a "GOD appearance" as coming from Greek.

In a sentence it could be employed thusly: Abraham experienced a theophany in the plains of Mamre - see Gen. 18.

A theophany is the visible appearance of God generally in human form.

Why this is important? Not sure, but we can learn from theophanies that God communicates with man.

A Theophany is a mystical event in which earthly objects interact with heavenly events. for example, the star the Wise Men followed to find Jesus was a Theophany and the water in which Jesus was baptised and the blessed Trinity appeared was a Theophany. An Epiphany is a mystical event when a heavenly event occurs on earth such as the Transfiguration. In this sense, the "overshadowing" of the BVM by the Holy Spirit as well as Pentacost could be considered epiphanies as well.

it was first used when the baptism of Jesus has begun.