Very soon in a round dance New Year's holidays will visit us on a special day that Orthodox Christians are looking forward to. It is customary to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on the night of January 18-19 and the entire next day. The tradition of swimming in an ice hole is associated with this truly wonderful holiday. This ritual is carried out by praying and making the sign of the cross. According to Orthodox canons You need to dive into the hole three times, head first.
Not everyone is able to withstand with dignity such a difficult test of the strength of the human body and sincere faith in God. If you have a desire to take a swim in the icy Jordanian plunge pool, we advise you to carefully read a few simple but effective rules for behavior in the cold.
Water hardening is indicated for those who do not suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, diabetes, conjunctivitis and a number of acute and chronic diseases. Ask your doctor if you can swim in ice water and whether it will harm your health.
Remember that Epiphany water is healing, but it is not a guarantee of the prevention of ARVI. For water to be a source of health and vitality, take care right place for swimming.
You need to plunge into the ice hole in a proven place; the depth of the reservoir should be no more than 1.8 m. We advise you to choose a fenced swimming pool, without dangerous whirlpools, springs and cliffs.
Take with you a warm terry robe, a large towel and comfortable shoes, but not with slippery soles. Before proceeding to comprehension beneficial properties water for Epiphany empirically, rub and warm up the body properly.
Going underwater with your head is correct, but not necessary. Take care of your health - you are unlikely to be able to dry your wet hair sufficiently.
Even if you are an experienced walrus and regularly carry out hardening procedures cold water, you shouldn’t stay in the ice hole for too long. When immersed in scalding cold waters, a person experiences a feeling of euphoria. We hasten to warn you: this is not exactly God’s grace, but rather the work of the hormones of the human body. Don't stay in the ice hole for more than a couple of minutes.
After bathing, be sure to dry and massage your body thoroughly and drink a glass of sweet tea from a thermos. Dress quickly, otherwise you will be exposed to hypothermia. You can't drink alcohol before swimming! The most you can afford is a little church cahors after the dive.
The structure of water continues to amaze graduate physicists from different countries. Many believe that at Epiphany “living” water becomes especially sensitive to the information field. Take advantage of this and go into the water with sincere prayer. Ask ice water save you from problems, diseases and fill you with health.
January 19 is one of the days on which all Orthodox churches are filled to capacity, because it is on this day that the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ and, according to ancient tradition, the consecration of water is performed, which is called the Great Blessing of Water. Unfortunately, this one religious holiday accompanied by a trail of various folk superstitions that have no basis in church tradition. Together with the cleric of the Saratov Church of the Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul, priest Vasily KUTSENKO, we will try to consider the most common superstitions in order to understand how to treat holy water and what to do with it according to church tradition.
1. There is “Epiphany” water (blessed on January 18, on Epiphany Eve) and “Epiphany” water (blessed on January 19, the very day of the Epiphany).The Great Blessing of Water is performed twice, this is true. The first blessing of water is on the eve of the Epiphany holiday, January 18, on Epiphany Eve, and the second on the day of the holiday itself. But there is no difference in this water, because on both January 18 and 19 the same rite (that is, sequence of prayers) of water blessing is used. Water consecrated according to this rite is called the Great Agiasma, that is, the Great Shrine. There is no separate “Epiphany” and separate “Epiphany” water, but only the Great Hagiasma. In the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church the feast of the Epiphany is called “ Holy Epiphany"Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ." The word "Epiphany" is a short expression of the events that occurred during the Baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist on the Jordan River. The Gospel of Matthew describes it this way: “Having been baptized, Jesus immediately came out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and descending on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). That is, Baptism was a manifestation of Divine glory and confirmation of the Sonship of God of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is difficult to accurately answer the question of what the practice of two water blessings is connected with. It is known that already in the 6th century in Palestine there was a tradition of consecrating water in the Jordan River on the eve and on the day of the feast of Epiphany. IN Ancient Rus' There was a custom, which is still preserved in some places, to perform the Great Blessing of Water on January 18 in the temple, and on January 19 - outside the temple, organizing a procession to a specially prepared ice hole - Jordan.
2. On the day of the Baptism of the Lord, having plunged into an ice font or doused yourself with water, you can consider yourself baptized and wear a cross.
Indeed, there is a tradition of swimming in an ice hole on the feast of the Epiphany. But this is precisely bathing, and not the Sacrament of Baptism. Although, if you get acquainted with the history of the feast of the Epiphany, you can see that this particular day used to be the day on which adults were baptized. A person who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for a certain time prepared to accept the Sacrament of Baptism, which was a new birth for life with God and entry into the Church. Such people were called catechumens. They studied the Holy Scriptures and the foundations of the Christian faith and prepared to repent of all their sins before receiving Baptism, because the adoption of Christianity must begin with repentance, that is, with a change in life. Therefore, Baptism without repentance was simply impossible. And so, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the bishop performed the Sacrament of Baptism for adults. Such baptisms were also performed on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, on Holy Saturday (the Saturday before Easter), on Easter itself and on the Feast of Pentecost, which is also called the day of the Holy Trinity or the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Great Blessing of Water on the day of the Epiphany is a reminder for modern Christians of the ancient baptism of catechumens. But we must remember that the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism was preceded by preparation, repentance of sins and confirmation of the sincerity of one’s intentions before the church community. Therefore, it cannot be said that plunging into the Jordan hole and receiving Baptism are the same thing.
3. By swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany night, you can get rid of all diseases, sins and the evil eye. If you get sick during the year, you need to drink Epiphany water for healing.
It is necessary to place emphasis: separately - illness and sin, separately - the evil eye. The evil eye, damage and the like are superstitions. And you need to get rid of only one thing - belief in superstition. Christians believe in God, and not in evil eyes, damage, love spells, etc. When we turn to God in prayer, we ask that God protect us from evil. For example, in the prayer “Our Father” there are the words: “Deliver us from the evil one,” that is, from the devil. The devil is a fallen angel who opposes God and wants to turn man away from God, which is why we ask God to deliver us from the devil and all the evil that he tries to sow in people. If a person sincerely believes in God, in the fact that the Lord God protects believers from all evil, then at the same time it is impossible to believe in damage, the evil eye, and the like.
By accepting Epiphany water (like any other shrine, for example, prosphora or blessed oil), a person can pray to the Lord that this shrine would serve him as a means of healing from illnesses. In the rite of the Great Blessing of Water there are the following words: “Let us pray to the Lord for the gift of this water of consecration, for the removal of sins, for the healing of soul and body, and for every good benefit” (Russian translation: “So that this water of consecration may become a gift, deliverance from sins, for healing of soul and body and fit for every useful work, let us pray to the Lord." We ask that through the use of agiasma a person receives the grace of God, cleansing sins and healing mental and physical infirmities. But all this is not some kind of mechanical or automatic action: I drank water - and everything immediately became fine. What is needed here is faith and hope in God.
If we understand some words (for example, “today - that is, today, now - the waters are sanctified by nature ...") from the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters in a broad sense, then we can say that the consecration of all waters actually occurs. But again, it is important to understand that this does not happen on its own, but through the prayers of the Church. The Church asks that the Lord God sanctify the waters, give His grace-filled power to cleanse and sanctify the nature of the water. Unfortunately, it often happens that many come to the temple specifically for water, without participating in the service of the feast of the Epiphany. It turns out that Epiphany water becomes an end in itself. And this is wrong. First of all, we must glorify God for his good deeds to the human race, which He revealed through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, because it is in memory of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan that the consecration of water is carried out.
5. Epiphany water never spoils.
There is testimony from St. John Chrysostom, who lived in the 4th century: “On this holiday, everyone, having drawn water, brings it home and keeps it all year... The essence of this water does not deteriorate from the length of time, but... whole year, and often for two or three years it remains intact and fresh, and after such a long time it is not inferior to waters just taken from sources.” But it also happens that Epiphany water can spoil. This happens either due to careless storage, an irreverent attitude towards the shrine, or due to some other completely natural reasons. In this case, you need to pour holy water into an untrodden place (in churches there are special “dry wells” for this purpose).
6. You need to add Epiphany water to the bath in which babies are bathed so that they do not get sick.
I think this is also one of the superstitions. Every person can get sick. And great saints suffered from physical illnesses. For example, Venerable Seraphim Sarovsky could not straighten his back due to the injury. He was attacked by robbers and severely beaten. Saint Matrona of Moscow was blind from birth until the end of her days. No one forbids giving holy Epiphany water to infants (it is still better to drink holy water), including during illness. But once again we need to be reminded that the use of a shrine is not a mechanism, but an action that requires faith and hope in God.
There is a tradition: to sprinkle houses, plots and everything that is there with water taken from the temple on the day of the Epiphany. Therefore, it is quite possible to sprinkle Epiphany water and your home and household things. At the same time, you can sing or read the troparion (the main hymn) of the holiday: “I am baptized in the Jordan, Lord...”.
It is forbidden. This superstition is probably also due to a misunderstanding of church traditions. Water consecrated on the feast of Epiphany, even being a Great Shrine, as has already been said, still cannot replace the communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although, for example, there are certain similarities in the practice of Communion and drinking agiasma - you need to take communion and drink agiasma on an empty stomach. This emphasizes the special attitude towards water blessed for Epiphany. According to the rules of the Church, the Great Hagiasma was recommended to be used as spiritual consolation for people who, for various reasons, were excommunicated from the Sacrament of Communion, that is, it was not a question of a complete and equivalent replacement, but only of spiritual consolation.
8. And a simple person can sanctify water on his own by reading prayers over it.
Indeed, the prayers of the Great Blessing of Water, like all other church prayers, are performed on behalf of the entire Church. The priest, calling believers to prayer, says: “Let us pray to the Lord in peace!” (Russian translation: “In peace, that is, in a peaceful state, let us pray to the Lord!”) - we will pray, that is, all those who are at the service. Believers are not observers of what is happening, but living participants in worship, together with the clergy, offering a single prayer to God. Therefore, we can say that each believer participates in sanctification through his own prayer, which becomes the single prayer of the entire Church. Therefore, in order to participate in the Great Blessing of Water, each of us can come to the church service on January 19.
Newspaper "Saratov Panorama" No. 2 (930)
What should you do at Epiphany and what should you not do? Epiphany prayers. Water spells for well-being.
The word "baptism" is translated from Greek as "immersion." Once upon a time, the Jews, according to the commandment of their God the Father, had to come to the Jordan River and wash away their sins in order to appear before the Messiah renewed and clean. This term was first mentioned in the Bible in close connection with the name of John the Baptist. Further in the article we will understand in detail what needs to be done on Epiphany and how exactly this holiday is celebrated in Russia.
History of the sacrament
According to the plan of God the Father, the Messiah, before beginning his journey dedicated to the salvation of the world, had to, like all Jews, wash himself in the waters of the Jordan. John the Baptist was sent to earth to perform this sacrament. When Jesus was 30 years old, he came to the Jordan River. At first, John the Baptist refused to perform the ceremony, considering himself unworthy. However, Jesus insisted, and the sacrament of Baptism was performed on him. When Christ emerged from the water, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. In honor of this event, the church holiday of Epiphany is celebrated.
Fasting before Epiphany
First, let's look at what needs to be done before Baptism. The 11 holiday days of Christmas Eve preceding Epiphany are considered modest according to church tradition. That is, at this time you can take any food you want. The last 12th day - the eve of Epiphany itself - is fast. On January 18, you cannot eat fast food, and you are also supposed to pray fervently.
Blessing of water before Baptism
On the eve of the holiday, according to tradition, the church holds a very important preparatory sacrament. On the evening of January 18, at the end of the liturgy, the rite of blessing of water is performed. This tradition also has ancient roots. According to the views of the church, by entering the Jordan, Christ forever sanctified all the water on earth. However, since humanity continues to commit sins, periodic cleansing by the church is still necessary.
Therefore, you can even collect holy water from the tap late in the evening of January 18th. The second great blessing of water takes place on Epiphany itself - during the procession of the cross. what to do at baptism
How is the holiday celebrated?
Now let's figure out what needs to be done at Epiphany. Unlike Christmas, there are no noisy celebrations, songs and dances associated with this holiday. Almost all baptismal rites are based on the tradition of consecrating water in lakes, ponds and rivers. Before Epiphany, a hole in the ice is made in the form of a cross, called the Jordan in memory of past biblical events. The church service in honor of the holiday begins at approximately 12 o'clock at night on January 19 and continues until the morning. You can defend it, or you can just come to the ice hole in the morning. On Epiphany, priests and residents of a city or village gather around it. Usually an ice hole is made at the one closest to the church or locality body of water A procession of the cross takes place around it, and then a prayer service is served. This is followed by the blessing of water. Then the believers collect it directly from the ice hole into the containers they brought with them. Epiphany water is considered healing. It is given to sick family members to drink, pets are treated with it, and premises are sprinkled with it. It is also believed that Epiphany water is capable of driving away evil spirits, removing evil eyes and damage. what to do before baptism
What else should you do on Epiphany?
Modern believers, as in past centuries, very often plunge straight into the ice hole, even despite the frost. Of course, it is not necessary to do this according to church traditions. Typically, such a procedure is performed only by sick people who want to be cured.
Of the healthy people, traditionally only those who have performed some kind of fortune-telling, rites or rituals, dating back to pagan times, are plunged into the ice hole. Blessed water washes away all sins associated with communication with evil spirits.
Of course, you need to be a very brave person to decide to plunge into an ice hole in the cold. However, as many have noticed, not one of those who have ever bathed at Epiphany has ever gotten sick.
What to do after Baptism
After the end of the ceremony, the believers go home, taking with them what they collected from the ice hole into the water. What to do upon arrival from church service? When you come home, you must first sprinkle all the corners in the room with the water you brought. According to the old belief, such an action will help rid the home of negativity and bring order and peace to it. Those who live in the village should also sprinkle everything outbuildings. It would be a very good idea to pour some blessed water into the well. what to do after baptism
There is another pretty interesting tradition. On the eve of Epiphany, especially believers buy a couple of doves somewhere. Having returned from service, they release the birds to freedom. This rite is performed in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit on Christ during his Baptism in the Jordan. If you have the heart to carry out such a ceremony, it will certainly also be an excellent answer to the question of what needs to be done at the Epiphany of the Lord.
It is traditionally believed that the water in the ice hole, near which the religious procession was held, remains consecrated for another week after the holiday. If desired, you can plunge into it during this time to relieve illnesses and failures.
How not to behave
So, we found out what needs to be done at Epiphany and after it. A believer should fast on May 18 and go to church by 12 o'clock. Now let's see what you absolutely cannot do on this holiday. Let's start with the fact that on Epiphany you should not draw too much water from the ice hole. A can or a couple will be enough plastic bottles. You should also not quarrel or swear during a service, religious procession or prayer service. The collected water should be brought home and used only for treatment and removal of negativity. It must not be diluted with any other liquids. Including ordinary water. This counts bad omen. It is also worth knowing that, due to very ungodly thoughts, Epiphany water brought from the ice hole may, after some time, lose all its healing properties.
Sacrament of Baptism
You now know what to do on Epiphany. Next, we will consider what rules exist for conducting the ceremony of accepting children into Christianity. Baptism, as already mentioned, dates back to ancient times. Go through this ritual in mandatory everyone who wants to become a Christian should. Young children are baptized very often these days. Therefore, below we will give some advice to parents on how to properly prepare for this sacrament, how to behave during it and how after it. baptism of a child what to do
Preparation
Some time before the appointed day of the sacrament, godparents should be chosen for the baby. These can be absolutely any people, at the parents' choice, except:
- planning to get married;
- young children;
- Gentiles;
- complete strangers;
- women who are about to enter their period at the time of the ceremony.
Before the sacrament, the chosen godparents must undergo a three-day fast. They also need to confess and receive communion. The godmother traditionally buys a new shirt or undershirt for the baby, and Godfather- cross. Parents will need to purchase a rizqa. This is the name given to the baptismal swaddling cloth with lace in which the child is received after he is immersed in the vat. The rozqa is not washed after the ceremony. It is folded and put in the closet. Traditionally, it should accompany a Christian throughout his life.
Among other things, parents and godparents must learn the “Creed” prayer. In some churches, after baptism, priests give it to read from a piece of paper, but not in all. You can also make a “cheat sheet” yourself in advance. what to do for the baptism of the Lord
Carrying out the ceremony
Now let's see what needs to be done at the Baptism of a child? This sacrament takes place in the following order:
The priest asks questions to the child for whom they must answer God-parents. Next, he anoints the baby with oil. The baptism ceremony itself is carried out. The girl must be brought to the font by the godfather, the boy - godmother. The second godfather takes the child from the hands of the priest after the immersion and dresses him in the purchased shirt. The priest performs the anointing with Chrism. A lock of hair is cut from the baby's head. She is subsequently left in the church. On final stage During the ritual, the prayer “Creed” is recited.
This is how a child is baptized. “What should be done?”, as you can see, the question is not too difficult. Parents just need to choose godparents and tell them what actions will be their responsibilities during the ceremony.
What to do after baptism
After the child officially becomes Orthodox Christian, he will need to receive communion regularly in church. Until the age of seven, this ritual is performed without confession. The sacrament of Baptism of a child itself, of course, should end with a solemn feast at home.
This holiday is actually very important for all Christians without exception - Epiphany on January 19th. You now know what to do on this day according to church tradition. We hope that our article will also help to properly prepare for the Baptism of a child. In any case, on such important sacred days, you need to try to throw away all negative thoughts and tune in only to the good.
What to ask for?
You know, it’s probably more important to understand exactly how to address the Almighty. The fact is that our education, to put it mildly, is far from ideal. Many people think that prayer for Epiphany (January 19) is almost like a magical conspiracy. And they generally don’t delve into the essence of the holiday and the rituals associated with it. It seems to people: you say a few special words at a certain moment, and life will become like in a fairy tale! But prayer is, first of all, the work of the soul. Naturally, it needs to be done. And don’t talk about time and a lot of things to do. You can find a couple of minutes in any bustle and read in detail about the source of the holiday, try to feel the state ordinary person who understood his Divine origin. This will be the preparation. Then any prayer will help. baptism prayer for holy water
For baptism on January 19, in order to answer the question posed, they ask only for good things. That is, it is not recommended to remember plans for revenge or insidious plans. Leave questions of reward and punishment to the Lord. He knows better.
When to pray for Epiphany
The holiday itself lasts the whole day. This confuses some comrades. In fact, it is recommended to pray when the soul is ready for this process. It is useful to go to bed later at night to get water. And they do this just after midnight. There is a legend that is indirectly confirmed by scientists. She talks about the heavens opening at midnight. From there the goodness of the Lord descends to earth. She makes all the waters that are in the open air holy. And science, for those who are interested, confirms this. Water collected on Epiphany night does not spoil. But you and I are wondering what needs to be said when we collect it or plunge into the hole.
Epiphany prayers
It is believed that when bathing you must say “Our Father”.
The process is as follows: go into the water, read a prayer, cross yourself and plunge headlong. This should be repeated three times. And if you don’t have enough health, you can douse yourself in the bathroom. But also pray before that. It would also be good to contact open skies. Say this: “Lord, my protection and support! Strengthen the faith in my soul, help me pass all the tests and appear before Your Throne at the appointed hour! God! Protect from misfortunes and enemy curses, from illness and unbelief, from the passions of the devil and despondency! Amen!" In addition, ask in your own words for what you want. Just remember to have positive intentions. You should not demand punishment from the Almighty for enemies or envious people. He'll figure it out himself.
Prayer for Epiphany using holy water
This ritual helps to bring prosperity into the home. They spend it with holy water. It is collected either in a church or in an open reservoir. At home, pour the water into a bucket. Attach a cross and three lit candles to it. Read these words: “On Epiphany night I will sanctify the house with holy water, I will let the Angels inside. Let them pray to the Most Holy Theotokos to remain here with her kindness. So that the Lord would not reject me, He gave me His intercession and sanctified my soul with a second baptism. Cleanse me from sin, sanctify me with Your light for centuries! Amen!" So let the water sit all night. And in the morning sprinkle all the rooms with it. Store the rest respectfully and carefully. You can drink Epiphany water or wash your face with it when you feel unwell.
Let's talk about conspiracies
People do not only pray at Epiphany. There are many known folk traditions which are based on conspiracies. They came to us from our ancestors. Thus, it is believed that a conspiracy to attract money, pronounced on Epiphany night, will help to cope with many problems. Try it yourself, not forgetting the holiness of this holiday. After all, a person builds everyday events with his soul. If you get angry, you won’t expect any good, and vice versa. But you are probably more interested in exactly how to perform the rituals and what to say. Let's look at ways to attract money and good luck.
Conspiracy for Epiphany
On Epiphany night a stream of well-being is created for the whole year. Does it like this. After midnight you need to draw water from an open source. If there isn't one nearby, it doesn't matter. Place a bucket of water outside. And when the time comes, take it home. Take some holy water into a glass (many people perform the ritual with church water). Walk around all the rooms with it in your hands clockwise. Dip your fingers into the water and cross all the corners and openings. Spray the walls and floors while pronouncing the words of the spell. They are as follows: “Holy water came into the house! Joy will not be easy. Prosperity and good luck will be here, no other way! Prosperity will begin to arrive, we will no longer know poverty and evil in the house! Amen!" Don't skimp on the water. Let it remain on the floor and walls. Nothing bad will come from her. And in the morning, be sure to wash your face with the water you collected at night and drink. Keep the rest. When you feel that your wealth is leaving you, spray the house again in a cross shape, reading the words of the conspiracy
To prevent money from being transferred
There is a ritual with coins. They carry it out in different ways. However, in each option there is money conspiracy on Epiphany night. For the whole year, this ritual provides, so to speak, protection of income. For example, if one source dries up, another will appear. Or the one that now exists will become more powerful. Everyone has their own ritual. Practice it yourself and you will see. And you need to collect water from a river or lake immediately after midnight. Bring it home. Throw twelve coins into the container of different denominations. Light the same number of candles, placing them around the container. Say this: “The holiday is great! The moment of the Lord's presence has come! We'll bring holy water to the tower. Along with her, wealth will come to the house. Gold will grow and luck will bloom. I will pray to the Lord and confess my sins. I will invite wealth into the house so that it will remain in it forever! Amen!" Leave the coins in the water until the morning. Then dry and store, do not waste. They will protect you from loss and poverty.
We have collected for you answers from experienced priests to the most interesting and pressing questions about holy water and Baptism.
On January 19, the Orthodox Church remembers the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. The event of the Baptism of the Lord is also called the Epiphany, for at this moment the manifestation of the Fullness of the Divinity took place - the appearance of all the Persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, who testified about the Son with a voice from Heaven, the Son who received Baptism, and the Holy Spirit, who descended on the Son in the form of a dove.
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1. Holy water is called both Epiphany and Epiphany water - we are talking about the same water. Some people think that Baptism and Epiphany are not the same thing, and that the water that is blessed on Christmas Eve and on the day of the holiday itself is not the same. This is superstition!
The grace of sanctification given to water is the same.
On January 18 and 19, water is blessed with the same rite, so they should not be distinguished.
In our time, performing the rite of the Great Blessing of Water twice has become a statutory tradition. In the ancient Church there was an important reason for this: on the eve of this holiday, the baptism of catechumens took place. For the sake of this sacrament, the first great blessing of water was performed in memory of Baptism, which the Lord received in the waters of the Jordan at the hand of St. Prophet John the Baptist. The difference between the first and second consecration is that on the Eve of Epiphany the blessing of water was performed in churches where catechumens were baptized, and on the day of the feast of Epiphany they went to the Jordan River.
2. Epiphany and Epiphany are different holidays or one and the same?
The Baptism of the Lord is also called the Epiphany, because at the Baptism on the Jordan God appeared in three persons, Holy Trinity: God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son, the Son of God was baptized by John and was witnessed by God the Father, the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove.
3. When does the tradition of blessing water begin?
Since apostolic times, the Holy Church has been celebrating the day of Holy Epiphany, commanding in its decrees: “May you have great respect for the day on which the Lord revealed the Divinity to us.” The festive blessing of water originates from the tradition of the Jerusalem Church, where already in the first centuries of Christianity a festive exit to the Jordan River and blessing of water took place in memory of the Baptism of the Savior. Since ancient times, in the Russian Church, imitating that of Jerusalem, the solemn blessing of water is performed on the eve of the holiday and on the day of Epiphany itself.
4. Is tap water blessed at Epiphany?
A question that can be encountered very often. In the popular book of Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) “Unholy Saints” we can find a story about how the new martyrs and confessors of Russia performed Divine Services. One of them was asked: “But how, father, did you consecrate the water on the day of Epiphany? After all, prayers for Epiphany are read once a year and they are very long?” To which we received the following answer: “But we didn’t need to remember these prayers. After all, if at least in one place in the Universe in Orthodox church The rite of the great consecration of water is performed, then through the prayers of the Holy Church “the nature of all waters” is sanctified - all the water in the world becomes baptismal and holy.
On this day we took water from any source, and it was incorruptible, grace-filled, baptismal. And, like any baptismal water, it did not spoil for many years.”
But if all the water is blessed on this day, is it necessary to go to the temple? It seems to us that from this story it is impossible to conclude that those who have the opportunity to visit the temple of God can simply get water from the tap. The water is blessed by the prayer of the entire Church and for the faithful children of the Church, so everyone who has the opportunity to come to church must do so. If this is not possible, you need to ask someone to go to the temple for water, but if there is no temple nearby, then only in this case can you use the example of the new martyrs.
We will also listen to the opinion of Fr. Maxim Kozlov:
"On the feast of the Epiphany tap water, contrary to popular belief, does not become a saint.
In the majority of churches not only in Moscow, but also in any city, the water for consecration on the feast of Epiphany is taken from the water supply, and is not brought from the Jordan on special flights. So the consecration of water is not a process of changing its biochemical composition, we are talking about the spiritual component. If we are talking about whether it is possible to run a bath at home from the 18th to the 19th and consider that this is the same water blessed in the church, then this is not so. Because that which is sanctified in the church is perceived as sanctified in the church. Orthodoxy does not know miracles as tricks, and does not practice them,” the priest believes.
He urged those who want to collect holy water not to be lazy and go to the nearest temple to get it.
“By the way, it is distributed, firstly, completely free of charge, that is, for nothing, and secondly, it allows for dilution; its properties do not depend on concentration. So, it’s enough to collect a small bottle in the temple,” the priest noted.
Some Orthodox Christians actually believe that at Epiphany all water becomes holy, including that which flows from the tap.
5. Good afternoon! Please tell me, is it true that if an unbaptized person comes to church on January 19 and attends the entire service, then after that he can consider himself baptized and can wear a cross and go to church? And in general, can an unbaptized person go to church? Thank you very much, Elena
Hello, Elena!
An unbaptized person can go to Church, but he cannot participate in Church Sacraments (confession, Communion, weddings, etc.). In order to become baptized, it is necessary that the Sacrament of Baptism be performed on a person, and not attend a service on the feast of the Epiphany. After the service, approach the priest and tell him that you want to be Baptized. This requires your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the desire to live according to His commandments, as well as some knowledge about the Orthodox doctrine and the Orthodox Church. The priest will be able to answer your questions and help you prepare for the Sacrament of Baptism. God help you!
On the Feast of the Epiphany, Orthodox Christians go to church and participate in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion.
If it is not possible to come to the temple, you can ask your family or friends about it.
There is no need to rush or jostle while queuing for water. It will be much more helpful to pray in reverent silence.
6. Holy water can be diluted with plain water clean water, and she will also be full of grace. Therefore, there is no need to stress yourself out taking a 30-liter canister from the temple. It is enough to take a small bottle and use it evenly throughout the year.
7. You can store holy water in either plastic or glassware, placing it, for example, next to icons. With reverence, holy water remains fresh and pleasant to the taste. for a long time. Cases have been noted more than once when water, blessed in the same place by the same priest, spoiled for some, while for others it stood for a long time.
Epiphany water is such from the moment of its consecration and for a year, two or more, until its reserves at home run out. Taken from the church on any day, it never loses its holiness (Archimandrite Ambrose (Ermakov)).
8. You can sprinkle your home, place of work and study, car and other things with holy water with the prayer “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”.
9. It is customary to take holy water on an empty stomach along with prosphora after reading morning prayers. You should drink it reverently, with prayer, so that this gift of the Lord will be for the health of soul and body. In case of illness, you can drink holy water as needed (you can also drink Epiphany water in an effort to get rid of strong action any passion or sorrow).
10. Father, I have a 6-month-old daughter, and when I bathe her, I add holy water to the water. Is it possible to drain this water later or not?
When bathing your daughter, there is no need to add holy water to the bath: after all, holy water can only be poured into a special place that is not trampled underfoot. It’s better to give your daughter holy water to drink, and also regularly commune her with the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Sincerely, priest Alexander Ilyashenko
Due to various circumstances, although very rarely, it happens that water comes into a state that does not allow consumption. In this case, it should be poured into some untrampled place - into a flowing river, for example, or in the forest under a tree, and the vessel in which it was stored should no longer be used in everyday life.
As priest Mikhail Mikhailov said, one priest I knew, in 1988, had a bottle of water that he had kept since 1953 or 1954...
11. If you have a desire to plunge into an ice hole, then, based on your state of health, ask the priest for a blessing and follow safety measures. Swimming in any water sources is not Church Sacrament, cleansing the soul from sins, this is simply a pious tradition. We must remember that sins are forgiven only in the Sacrament of Confession.
12. The Orthodox Church has a negative attitude towards various types of Christmas fortune telling and asks his children not to commit the grave sins of sorcery. All kinds of fortune telling in " Epiphany evening“- a grave sin for the soul, desecration of a holy day.
Archpriest Alexander Avdyugin warns about other superstitions:
- You cannot pour holy water in the bathtub when bathing in order to get well.
- Cattle (thin animals) and other domestic animals cannot be given this water to drink, even taking into account the fact that some saints have such examples.
- Epiphany water does not help against the evil eye, slander, conspiracy and other eccentricities from the aura of paganism, since it is holiness, and not its own superstition.
- You can and should sprinkle your home with holy water, but paint on door jambs crosses are your personal choice.
- Epiphany water (Agiasma) never spoils either because silver ions from the cross fall into it, but because it is holy.
- It is an absolute superstition and the grin of the evil one that you cannot pour holy water “from yourself,” “through your hand,” or through a funnel, or place a bottle of holy water on the ground.
13. Epiphany Christmas Eve (January 18 - the day before Epiphany), according to the Church Charter, is a day of strict fasting, so it should be spent in prayer. On Christmas Eve they prepare sochivo - boiled grain with dried fruits and honey. Christmastide ends with Epiphany Christmas Eve - holidays after the Nativity of Christ.
14. Is it possible for unbaptized people to use holy water, oil blessed on the relics of saints and prosphora?
On the one hand, it is possible, because what harm could a person do if he drinks holy water, or anoints himself with oil, or eats prosphora? But you just need to think about how this could be useful to him.
If this is a certain approach of a person to the church fence, if he, not yet deciding to be baptized, say, having been a militant atheist in the past, now, through the prayers of his wife, mother, daughter or someone else close to him, no longer rejects at least these external as if signs of churchliness, then this is good and pedagogically it will lead him to what is more essential in our faith - to the worship of God in spirit and truth.
And if such actions are perceived as a kind of magic, as a kind of “church medicine,” but at the same time the person does not at all strive to join the church, to become an Orthodox Christian, he only reassures himself that I am doing something like this and this will serve as something If it is a talisman, then there is no need to provoke this kind of consciousness. Based on these two possibilities, you decide, in relation to your specific situation, whether it is necessary or not to offer church shrines to any of your loved ones (Archpriest Maxim Kozlov).
15. Does it happen that holy water “doesn’t help”?
Saint Theophan the Recluse writes: “All the grace coming from God through the Holy Cross, holy icons, holy water, relics, consecrated bread (artos, antidor, prosphora), etc., including Most Holy Communion The Body and Blood of Christ has power only for those who are worthy of this grace through repentance prayers, repentance, humility, service to people, works of mercy and the manifestation of other Christian virtues. But if they are not there, then this grace will not save, it does not act automatically, like a talisman, and is useless for the wicked and imaginary Christians (without virtues).”
Miracles of healing still occur today, and they are countless. But only those who accept it with living faith in the promises of God and the power of prayer of the Holy Church, those who have a pure and sincere desire to change their lives, repentance, and salvation, are rewarded with the miraculous effects of holy water. God does not create miracles where people want to see them only out of curiosity, without a sincere intention to use them for their salvation. “An evil and adulterous generation,” the Savior said about his unbelieving contemporaries, “seeks a sign; and no sign will be given to him.” In order for holy water to benefit us, we will take care of the purity of our souls and the high dignity of our thoughts and actions.
HOLY WATER (it is also called Epiphany and Epiphany: from the Greek “agiasma”, which means “shrine”) is water that is ordinary in composition and original origin, miraculously acquiring beneficial and healing properties after performing a special prayer service called water blessing (blessing of water). Holy water has special properties to sanctify material objects and heal spiritual and physical ailments. Christians have great reverence for her.
PRAYER FOR ACCEPTING PROSPORA AND HOLY WATER
Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Your infinite mercy, through prayers Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Baptism- a famous church holiday, because it was on this day that Jesus Christ was baptized on the Jordan River. It is celebrated on January 19th. And of course, in every house for the whole year they stocked up with holy Epiphany water, which had miraculous power and healed wounds.
Why is water blessed?
Water plays an important role in our Everyday life. However, she also has highest value: characteristic of her healing power, which is repeatedly stated in the Holy Scriptures.
In New Testament times, water serves the spiritual rebirth of a person into a new, grace-filled life, cleansing from sins. In a conversation with Nicodemus, Christ the Savior says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). At the beginning of His ministry, Christ Himself received Baptism from the prophet John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River. The chants of the service for this holiday say that the Lord “grants cleansing with water to the human race”; “Thou hast sanctified the streams of the Jordan, thou hast crushed the sinful power, O Christ our God...”
How is water blessed?
The blessing of water can be small and great: the small is performed several times throughout the year (during prayers, the Sacrament of Baptism), and the great - only on the feast of the Epiphany (Epiphany). The blessing of water is called great because of the special solemnity of the rite, imbued with the memory of the gospel event, which became not only the prototype of the mysterious washing of sins, but also the actual sanctification of the very nature of water through the immersion of God in the flesh.
The Great Blessing of Water is performed according to the Rule at the end of the liturgy, after the prayer behind the pulpit, on the very day of Epiphany (January 19), as well as on the Eve of Epiphany (January 18). On the very day of Epiphany, the blessing of water takes place with a solemn religious procession to the water sources, known as the “walk to the Jordan.”
How to use holy water?
The use of holy water in the daily life of an Orthodox Christian is quite varied. For example, it is consumed on an empty stomach in small quantities, usually together with a piece of prosphora (this especially applies to the great agiasma (water blessed on the eve and on the very day of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord), sprinkled on your home.
A special property of holy water is that, added even in small quantities to ordinary water, it imparts beneficial properties to it, therefore, in case of a shortage of holy water, it can be diluted with plain water.
Although it is advisable - out of reverence for the shrine - to take Epiphany water on an empty stomach, but for a special need for God's help - in case of illnesses or attacks evil forces- You can and should drink it without hesitation, at any time. With reverent attitude, holy water remains fresh and pleasant to the taste for a long time. It should be stored in separate place, better next to the home iconostasis.
And yet, despite the long-standing tradition of collecting Epiphany water, many superstitions and myths still hover around it. We will try to dispel some of them.
The blessing of water is performed according to one rite (the same) on both January 18 and 19. Therefore, it makes no difference when you take the water - January 18 or 19, both of them are Epiphany water.
On the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, having plunged into an ice font or doused yourself with water, can one consider oneself baptized and wear a cross?
No, dipping into an ice hole and dousing oneself is not enough to consider oneself baptized. You must come to the temple for the priest to perform the Sacrament of Baptism.
Is it possible to add holy water to ordinary water when bathing a child?
When bathing children, there is no need to add holy water to the bath: after all, holy water can only be poured into a special place that is not trampled underfoot.
Is it possible to throw away the glass bottle in which holy water was stored? trash can? If not, what to do with it?
It is better to continue to store holy water in this bottle, but if this does not work, then it needs to be dried and then thrown away.
Is it possible to give holy water to animals? If not, why not? After all, they are also creatures of God.
It all depends on the specific situation. Based on the literal interpretation of the words of the Lord: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6), without special need, one should not give holy things to animals . At the same time, in church practice there are cases when, during a pestilence, animals were sprinkled and given holy water. The reasons for such daring must be extremely serious indeed.
Is it necessary to swim at Epiphany? And if there is no frost, will bathing be Epiphany?
In any church holiday, it is necessary to distinguish between its meaning and the traditions that have developed around it. The main thing in the feast of the Epiphany is the Epiphany, the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, the voice of God the Father from heaven “This is my beloved Son” and the Holy Spirit descending on Christ. The main thing for a Christian on this day is presence at a church service, confession and Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, communion Epiphany water.
The established traditions of swimming in cold ice holes are not directly related to the Feast of the Epiphany itself, are not mandatory and, most importantly, do not cleanse a person of sins, which, unfortunately, is discussed a lot in the media.
Such traditions should not be treated as magical rites - the holiday of the Epiphany is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in hot Africa, America and Australia. After all, the palm branches of the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem were replaced by willows in Russia, and the consecration grape vines on the Transfiguration of the Lord - with the blessing of the apple harvest. Also, on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, all waters will be sanctified, regardless of their temperature.
Can I be doused with holy water if I think I've been jinxed?
Holy water is not bathing water, and belief in the evil eye is superstition. You can drink holy water, you can sprinkle yourself with it, you can sprinkle your house and things with it. If you live according to the commandments of God, often visit church for confession and communion, pray and observe the fasts established by the Church, then the Lord Himself will protect you from everything bad.
Can the Grace of God leave baptismal water and consecrated objects because of our sins, or is it impossible?
It all depends on how a person treats holy water and consecrated objects, and whether he reverently keeps the shrine he receives. If yes, then there is no reason to worry; the grace received during sanctification will benefit the person spiritually and physically. And in order for the Lord to protect from all evil, we must live according to the commandments of God.