The baptism of Christ was performed by John the Baptist at his request. During his baptism on the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. At the same time, a Voice from Heaven declared: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” According to Christian teachings, it was on this day that God appeared in three persons: God the Father in voice, the Son of God in flesh, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. That is why the feast of Epiphany is often called Epiphany. The holiday of Epiphany is very important. It is believed that it was baptism that revealed the Savior to the world, who took upon himself all the sins of mankind. John Chrysostom wrote about this. And it was from the moment of baptism that Jesus began to preach the word of God and enlighten people.

Until now, the main traditions of the Epiphany holiday are associated with water. And the clergy traditionally wear white vestments on the feast of Epiphany.

How to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord

The celebration of Epiphany (January 19) begins the day before - January 18. This day is called Epiphany Christmas Eve, as well as Hungry Kutya. By analogy with Christmas Eve, on the day before the feast of the Epiphany it is necessary keep a strict fast. Also on the eve of the feast of Epiphany, Orthodox prepared Lenten kutya. The festive dinner on Epiphany Eve was called “hungry kutya”. The obligatory dishes of this meal were kutia, pancakes, and oatmeal jelly.

Kutya, kolivo, kanun - a ritual funeral dish of the Slavs, porridge cooked from whole grains of wheat (barley, rice - Saracen millet or other cereals), poured with honey, honey syrup or sugar, with the addition of poppy seeds, raisins, nuts, milk or jam.

How to swim properly at Epiphany

For believers, bathing at Epiphany means communion with the special grace of the Lord, which he sends to all the water on this day. It is also believed that water at Epiphany brings health, both physical and spiritual. At the same time, the church warns against attaching any magical meaning to this tradition.

• Rules for bathing at Epiphany

Epiphany water - wonderful healing properties

In all springs consecrated at Epiphany, the water becomes holy and healing. It is believed, and this has many confirmations, that Epiphany holy water has miraculous and healing properties:

• Believers take it with them - Epiphany holy water has the ability not to spoil for a long time.
• Epiphany water is drunk on an empty stomach throughout the year, it is carefully preserved as a shrine and illnesses, both physical and mental, are treated.
• You can sprinkle your home with holy baptismal water to drive out evil spirits and bring the grace of God into the house.

Where to get Epiphany holy water

If you want to collect blessed Epiphany water after bathing, you don’t have to bring canisters. A small bottle is enough. According to Christian canons, any water can be made holy if you add a little baptismal water to it - from a temple or from Jordan. Festive services will be held in all Orthodox churches on the night from 18 to 19. But it is not necessary to come on this particular day. As explained in the Moscow Patriarchate, water becomes holy after a special water blessing prayer. Access to containers with Epiphany water will be open in churches for several days. In addition, on Epiphany, queues are expected to form for holy water, and it will be difficult to get to the temples. According to safety rules, on major religious holidays, parking near temples within 50 meters is prohibited.

When to collect Epiphany water

The rite of the Great Blessing of Water (Great Agiasma) is performed on Epiphany Eve (January 18) after the Divine Liturgy and on January 19 - on the day of the Epiphany itself. During both days, you can collect Epiphany water in any church. Both times the water is blessed with the same rite, so there is no difference in when to collect the water - on Christmas Eve or on the Feast of Epiphany itself.

If you decide to draw Epiphany water from the tap and want to know when is the best time to do it. It is better to collect water for Epiphany in the time interval from 00:10 to 01:30 on the night of January 18th to 19th. However, you can collect Epiphany water later - until 24:00 on January 19.

What you need to know before collecting water for Epiphany:

• It is better to collect Epiphany water not thoughtlessly, but after participating in a church service (in church) or prayer (at home);
• you need to pour water for Epiphany into a container without any markings - preferably into a special jug or flask purchased at a church store (in no case into a beer bottle)

Epiphany water is believed to have healing properties. You can drink it when you are sick on an empty stomach and wash your face to stay healthy. You need to drink Epiphany holy water with prayer, asking the Almighty for spiritual and physical health. And it is not at all necessary to take it in reserve; there should be a lot of faith, not water.

Baptism - folk traditions

Previously, there were special folk traditions for celebrating the Epiphany or Epiphany. For example, it was customary to release doves at Epiphany - as a sign of Divine grace descending on Jesus Christ. Other folk traditions for Epiphany are known from legends.

In Rus', on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, as soon as the first church bell called for matins, pious believers lit a fire on the shore so that Jesus Christ, who was baptized in the Jordan, could also warm himself by the fire.

They began to prepare the Jordan a week before Epiphany: they cut a hole in the river, sawed out a large cross and placed it over the hole. The throne was also cut out of ice. The “royal doors” were decorated with Christmas tree branches.

On the morning of the holiday, after the service, everyone went to the river. After the blessing of the water in the river, all those gathered collected it in their dishes. It was believed that the sooner you scoop it up, the more holy it will be. There were brave souls who swam in the Jordan, remembering that it was impossible to catch a cold in the blessed water.

Then everyone went home. And while the women were setting the table, the eldest man in the family sprinkled the entire household with Epiphany water. Before eating, everyone drank consecrated water. After eating, the girls hurried to the river to wash in “Jordanian water”, “so that their faces were pink.”

After Epiphany, it was forbidden to wash clothes in the river. According to legend, when a priest immerses a cross in water, all the evil spirits jump out of fear, and then sit on the shore and wait for someone to appear with dirty laundry. As soon as the laundry is lowered into the river, along it, like a ladder, all the evil spirits go into the water. Therefore, it was believed that the later women began to wash, the more wickedness would freeze out from the Epiphany frosts.

Fortune telling for Epiphany

There were other traditions - it was believed that miracles happened at Epiphany midnight: the wind subsided for a moment, complete silence reigned and the heavens opened. At this time, you can express your cherished wish, which will definitely come true.

There is another tradition at Epiphany, which, however, is not approved by the church. On January 19, Christmastide ends - the period of fortune telling in Rus'. On Epiphany night, the girls sought to understand what awaited them in the future, whether they would get married, whether the year would be successful.

Baptism - folk signs

Since ancient times, many folk signs have been associated with Epiphany. Many of them were related to the economic activities of peasants or predicted the weather. For example, folk signs for Epiphany read:

• If the weather is clear and cold at Epiphany, the summer will be dry; cloudy and fresh - to a bountiful harvest.
• A full month for Epiphany means a big spring flood.
• Starry night on Epiphany - the summer will be dry, there will be a harvest for peas and berries.
• There will be a thaw at Epiphany - for the harvest, and a clear day at Epiphany - for the harvest failure.
• The wind will blow from the south on Epiphany - it will be a stormy summer.
• If it snows during the liturgy, especially while going to the water, then next year is expected to be fruitful, and there will be many swarms of bees.

When is Epiphany The dogs were barking a lot, waiting for a successful hunting season: If dogs bark a lot on Epiphany, there will be plenty of all kinds of animals and game. Chickens are not fed at Epiphany so that the gardens are not dug in the summer and the seedlings are not spoiled.

The Russian folk calendar associates the holiday of Epiphany with frost. Epiphany frosts: “Cracking frost, not crackling, but Vodokreshchi has passed.

How to swim properly at Epiphany so as not to get sick

Both old and young swim at Epiphany. But without special preparation, swimming can be dangerous for children and the elderly. It is better to prepare in advance by gradually hardening yourself by pouring cold water at home in the bathroom. Precautionary measures must be observed by everyone who decides to swim at Epiphany. Doctors warn people with hypertension, rheumatism, atherosclerosis or tuberculosis from swimming at Epiphany. Swimming at Epiphany is also unacceptable for other acute chronic diseases. Doctors warn that swimming in ice water can lead to negative consequences. After all, winter swimming in an ice hole puts all the mechanisms of human thermoregulation into maximum tension and this can cause shock.

Well, if you are healthy, then follow these recommendations: how to swim properly at Epiphany:

• You can swim on Epiphany only in an ice hole where there is a special entrance to the water;
• never go swimming at Epiphany alone, there should be a person nearby who can help if necessary;
• Alcohol and cigarettes are prohibited before swimming; do not swim on an empty stomach or immediately after eating;
• Bring a blanket with you, as well as clothes that are comfortable for changing.

Epiphany is a holiday with history and rich traditions. But the main thing, of course, is not the ritual, but the great meaning that it carries. The Orthodox holiday of Epiphany is of great importance for believers, because this is the day when a person’s spiritual renewal occurs.

Where to swim in Moscow on Epiphany

Epiphany bathing will take place from 6 p.m. on January 18 to noon on January 19. There is no provision for mass exits of people onto the ice. The thickness of the coating currently does not exceed 15 - 20 centimeters. All swimming areas are equipped with safe approaches and descents to the water. For a comfortable ceremony, heated locker rooms, toilets and lighting are installed. Swimming participants will be provided with hot drinks and places to warm up.

If you are choosing places to swim for Epiphany by district, read below:

Where to swim on Epiphany - Central District of the Central Administrative District

• font in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Chisty Vrazhek;

Where to swim on Epiphany - Northern District of the Northern Administrative District

• Big Garden Pond;
• Coastal passage, 7;
• Water stadium "Dynamo";

Where to swim on Epiphany - North-Eastern District of North-Eastern Administrative District

• Palace Pond (1st Ostankino, near no. 7).

Where to swim on Epiphany - Eastern District of the Eastern Administrative District

• Babaevsky pond, st. Kurganskaya, 5 - 9
• Red Pond, Izmailovsky Forest Park
• Font “Vernissage in Izmailovo”, Izmailovskoye sh., 73Zh
• Maysky Pond (formerly Sobachy), Sokolniki Park, st. Sokolnichesky Val, 1, building 1
• Beloe Lake, st. B. Kosinskaya, 46
• Lake Svyatoe, st. Oranzhereynaya, 18
• Terletsky Ponds, Svobodny Prospekt, 9
• Deer Pond;

Where to swim on Epiphany - South-Eastern District of the South-East Administrative District

• Upper Kuzminsky pond, st. Kuzminskaya, 10, near the dam
• Lower Lublinsky Pond, st. Shkuleva, ow. 2b, near the Ministry of Emergency Situations station
• Shibaevsky pond, st. Zarechye, vl. 14, near the rescue station

Where to swim on Epiphany - Southern District of the Southern Administrative District

• Borisovskie ponds, st. Borisovskie Prudy, 2g
• Upper Tsaritsynsky pond, st. Dolskaya, 1
• Pond Beket, Zagorodnoye sh., no. 2

Where to swim on Epiphany - Southwestern District of the South-Western Administrative District

• Vorontsovsky Pond (Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Vorontsovo, Ak. Pilyugina St., 1)
• Pond of the sanatorium “Uzkoe” (Temple of the “Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Uzkoe”, Profsoyuznaya str. 123B)
• Troparevsky Pond (Recreation area “Troparevo”, Academician Vinogradov St., 7)
• Pond on Nakhimovsky Prospekt (Nakhimovsky Prospekt, building 8 (near the Church of Euphrosyne
  Moscow)
• Chernevsky Pond (decorative pond No. 1) (Church of the Nativity of Christ in Chernevo, Yuzhnobutovskaya St., 62)
• Pond on the territory of the Temple (Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “Znamenie”, Shosseynaya St., 28 “a”)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Western District of the Joint-Stock Company

• Meshchersky Pond (Voskresenskaya St., Za)
• Pond in the village of Rublevo / Village of Rublevo, (Botyleva St., near house 41)
• Moscow River (Filevsky Boulevard, opposite No. 21)
• Moscow River (B. Filevskaya St., 40a)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Northwestern District of the Northwestern Administrative District

• Baryshikha River (Landscape Park, Baryshikha St. 4)
• Pond in the village Rozhdestveno (Pond in the village of Rozhdestveno (behind the Church of the Nativity), Mitino district
• Derivation canal (opposite the house at the address: Malaya Naberezhnaya str. 3, building 1)
• Khimki Reservoir (Moscow River) st. Svobody 56, PKiO "Severnoe Tushino"
• Stroginskaya floodplain (Tvardovsky street, 16 building 3)
• Kirov floodplain (Isakovskogo st. 2)
• Lake Bezdonnoye (Tamanskaya st. 91)
• Moscow River (Karamyshevskaya embankment, 13-15)
• Moscow River (Aviatsionnaya Street, 79)
• Derivation canal (Lodochnaya st. 19)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Zelenograd

• Black Lake, on the western side of the reservoir, Lesnye Prudy alley, 6th microdistrict
• Shkolnoye Lake, on the western side of the reservoir, Panfilovsky Prospekt, bldg. 1001

Where to swim on Epiphany - Trinity and Novomoskovsk districts

• MUSP Fishing and Sports (Troitsk Island, Desna River in the Zarechye recreation area).
• Pond in the village Pokrovskoye (Voronovskoye settlement, Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pokrovskoye village).
• Pond near the Archangel Michael Church (Krasnopakhorskoe village, Bylovo village).
• Pond in the village of Filimonkovskoye, in the village of Knutovo.
• Pond p. Shchapovskoe, village. Oznobishino, Holy Trinity Church.
• Pond in Voskresenskoye settlement, territory of the Voskresenskoye village, dam 1.
• Pond settlement Marushkinskoye, village. Big Svinorye.
• Pond in the village of Moskovsky, village of the Ulyanovsk forest park, LLC “Gloria”, temple-chapel of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower”.
• Pond Moskovsky village, Govorovo village, pond No. 2, st. Central.
• Pond of the Mosrentgen village, middle pond of the Troitsky Estate cascade.
• River p. Rogovskoye, village Vasyunino, 100 m from the Church of the Holy Trinity on the river.
• Font of Vnukovskoye village, village. DSK "Michurinets", st. Zheleznodorozhnaya, 1. Kupel near the river. Setun.
• Font of Marushkinskoye village, Marushkino village, Rucheyok park.
• Font Klenovskoye village, Tovarishchevo village, r. Liver.
• Font of Desyonovskoye village, Evseevo-Kuvekino village.
• Font of Pervomaiskoe village, Puchkovo village, Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
• Font of Mikhailovo-Yartsevskoe village, Shishkin Les village, p. 43, Temple of the New Martyrs.

16 places in specially protected natural areas of Moscow:

• PIP "Bitsevsky Les", apt. 7, st. Sanatorium Alley, sanatorium “Uzkoe”, Fourth Pond in Uzkoe (with the participation of the Yasenevo District Administration)
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 9, Shibaevsky pond, Kuzminki district, Zarechye street, possession 14
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 33, Nizhny Lyublinsky pond, Tekstilshchiki district, Shkuleva street, possession 2B
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 9, Verkhniy Kuzminsky pond, Kuzminki district, Kuzminskaya st., building 7
• PP "Serebryany Bor", Lake Bezdonnoe, near st. Tamanskaya, 91
• PP "Serebryany Bor", Lake Bezdonnoe, near st. Tamanskaya, 91 (opposite shore of the lake)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Kirovskaya Poima, Isakovskogo St., 2-4 (Strogino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Tvardovskogo St., 16 (Strogino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Zhivopisnaya St., 56 (Shchukino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Karamyshevskaya embankment 15 (Khoroshevo-Mnevniki district administration)
• PIP “Izmailovo”, Terletsky forest park, 2/6, Alder pond
• PIP “Izmailovo”, forest park “Izmailovo”, Izmailovskaya Apiary village, 1, Krasny Pond (Izmailovo District Administration)
• PIP "Kosinsky", st. Zaozernaya, 18, Beloye Lake (Kosino-Ukhtomsky District Administration)
• PIP "Kosinsky", st. Orangereynaya, ow. 24., building 1, Lake Svyatoe (Kosino-Ukhtomsky District Administration)
• Landscape reserve "Teply Stan", recreation area "Troparevo" St. Academician Vinogradova vl. 12, recreation area "Troparevo"
• PT Zelenograd, Forest Ponds alley, recreation area “Black Lake” (Savelki District Administration)

Map of the location of the fonts for Epiphany bathing in 2018

The Orthodox world celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany on the night of January 18-19. In Moscow, about 60 swimming pools and ponds will be equipped for swimming. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the addresses of the placement of Epiphany fonts in Moscow in 2018. In order to view the map in detail and find out where you can swim on Epiphany on the night of January 18-19 in Moscow, click on the zoom button in the lower right corner of the map.

- If God sanctifies all water life on earth on January 19, why then does the priest sanctify water on this day?

The Lord sanctifies us and everything that surrounds us, not only on the feast of Epiphany. Throughout the year He gives us gracious help and His sanctifying grace. And the established statement that at Epiphany all aquatic nature is sanctified comes from the fact that in all Orthodox churches, where conditions permit, the rite of the Great Blessing of Water is performed on lakes and rivers. It is not the priest who sanctifies the water, but the Lord Himself - by the grace of the Holy Spirit, descending through the prayers of the priest and all praying people onto the watery nature and the sanctifying water.

It must also be said that sometimes there are situations in life when a person, for objective reasons, cannot attend a divine service. For example, a grandmother who cannot leave the house without help, or a person who lives very far from the temple. In such cases, a person who has faith in Christ and with all his heart desires to join the blessed source of water, but cannot physically be at the place of its consecration, can draw water for himself from the nearest well, spring, or even water pipe, and according to his faith he will not receive just a liquid, but the water of great sanctification. But if a person thinks that the Lord sanctifies all watery nature on this day, which means that he can not go to church for service and stay at home, sleep or watch TV, and then open the tap and pour water for himself, then such a person is deeply mistaken. He will pour water for himself, but will not receive grace-filled help through it.

There is no difference between water consecrated on the eve of the holiday on Epiphany Eve or consecrated on the feast of Epiphany itself. The rite of blessing water is performed in churches on these two days in exactly the same way. Water has the same grace-filled power of God, which is sent by the Holy Spirit through a person’s faith. In ancient times, on the eve of the feast of Epiphany, a general baptism was performed for all those who were preparing to become Christians for this holiday. Therefore, on this day the priest performed the rite of blessing the water in which all those preparing were baptized. Subsequently, the practice of general baptisms was used less and less, but the tradition of blessing water on the eve of the holiday remained and organically merged into our liturgical practice.

- John the Baptist performed a ceremony called “baptism.” But the very concept of the cross, as a symbol of Christianity, from which the word “baptism” comes, came with the crucifixion of Christ, that is, later than the death of John the Baptist. Then why did John have “baptism” and not, for example, “washing”?

It is necessary to remember here that almost the entire New Testament was originally written in Greek. In the original Greek, baptism is indicated by the verb "babtizo" - to immerse. Turning to the Latin translation, we see that the same verb is used here. Already in the Slavic translation, and then in Russian, this action was filled with Christian content, since baptism is immersion in the death of Christ, in order to die to sin and be resurrected with Christ for eternal life. Since from the 1st century of Christianity the apostles and their successors performed the Sacrament of Baptism commanded by the Lord, accordingly this event in translations was associated with this sacrament.

- On the day of the Baptism of the Lord, having plunged into an ice font or doused yourself with water, can you consider yourself baptized and wear a cross?

Of course not. Baptism is performed by a priest and is a sacrament. There are exceptions when a person is in mortal danger or dying, and there is no priest nearby. Then he can be baptized not by a priest, but simply by a believer, a Christian. But there is no self-baptism. The Church has never known anything like this, since it is impossible to baptize oneself. The Sacrament should not be confused with the pious custom of plunging into the font on the day of Baptism in remembrance of the fact that the Lord entered the waters of the Jordan on that day.

- Was it correct that they told me 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?

A person comes to church for various reasons: someone comes simply out of curiosity, someone wants to satisfy their aesthetic hunger, someone wants to listen to singing or see the beautiful decoration of the temple. And it also happens that a person comes to church to condemn someone and thereby simply find an excuse for his unbelief. People come to the temple with joys and sorrows, thanking God and repenting to Him of their sins, asking for help for their loved ones and praying for the repose of the dead...

The very fact of a person coming to church in no way makes a baptized person from an unbaptized person and a believer from an unbeliever. Everything depends on the internal state of a person, on the state of his soul, whether he wants to follow the Divinely revealed truth that the Lord left us, so that we can build our lives correctly, building up our personality, and not destroying it. Otherwise, it turns out that a person entered the church with his body, but his soul is outside these walls and outside of what is happening there. Regarding whether it is possible for an unbaptized person to go to church, it should be said that, naturally, no one interferes with this desire. And tourists come to the temple, and Jews, and Muslims, and absolutely non-believers. And if a person behaves decently, no one will kick him out of the temple. But the person himself, of course, must think about the meaning of his life and find a conscious path to the temple.

- Is it possible to throw the glass bottle in which holy water was stored into the trash can? If not, what to do with it?

If the bottle in which the holy water was stored is empty, then, naturally, it should be refilled with holy water taken from the church or from a holy spring. If the container in which holy water or blessed oil was previously stored has become unusable, then it should not be disposed of like ordinary garbage. There is a good, pious tradition according to which everything that was connected with the shrine - the pieces of paper in which the prosphora was wrapped, vials of holy oil or holy water and other items purchased in the church and for various reasons became unusable - are not thrown away together with garbage, but are burned. And those objects that do not burn are buried in the ground in an untrampled place, for example, in your garden.

- My daughter is 6 months old, and when I bathe her, I add holy water to the bath. Is it possible to drain this water later?

I would not recommend adding holy water to the bath, since there is the Sacrament of Baptism, in which the Lord places the seed of eternal life into a person’s soul. The sacrament of Baptism is unique. The holy water that we take from the temple throughout the year can be drunk, you can wash your child with it, but you shouldn’t add water during bathing, because, as you yourself have noticed, it has to be poured into the sewer. It is necessary for the child to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. Then a person will develop spiritually correctly. This is especially necessary for a child, since in the first five years a person receives 50% of all the information that he perceives throughout his life. And parents are responsible before God for the child, which path he will take. Only by drawing closer to God, to Christ, is the harmonious development of personality, mental and spiritual abilities possible. This is exactly how the Lord intended man to be.

- Is it necessary to swim at Epiphany?

Swimming, or, more precisely, immersing yourself in water on this day, of course, is not necessary, since this is not stipulated by church rules, but is only a pious tradition. This tradition - immersion in water at Epiphany - is ancient, and in Rus' it has been around for many centuries. Believers want to plunge into the waters of the Jordan together with Christ. Although we are historically and geographically distant from the time and place where the Lord Jesus Christ entered the waters of the Jordan in His flesh, nevertheless, on the day of the Baptism of the Lord we can, according to our faith, join this event. However, no clergyman should force anyone to participate in this traditional Epiphany immersion. The initiative must come from the person himself, who wants and has the determination to join this tradition.

- And if there is no frost, will bathing be Epiphany?

Where the Lord received Baptism, frosts are generally rare. Our faith or disbelief does not depend on climatic conditions, on what the weather is like outside. If a person with faith and with the awareness that by this action he remembers and, as it were, partakes of what was accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of our Jordan for the sake of salvation, then this water immersion will be meaningful and will bring spiritual joy to the person.

Articles about Baptism
Font of Salvation
From water and spirit
Orthodox Sacrament of Baptism
Questions related to the feast of the Epiphany and the blessing of water (to the top of the page)

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The holiday of Epiphany is already unthinkable without swimming in an ice hole and without supplies of holy water. What is the meaning of bathing, how to do it correctly, what is holy water for, when and where is it better to stock up on it? Is there anything else you need to know about the holiday? Let's figure it out.

Where and when is the best time to get holy water?

In the coming days, blessed Epiphany water can be taken from Orthodox churches without much difficulty. On January 18 and 19, of course, there will be many people interested. But in most churches, water is blessed in abundance and distributed to those who wish after the holiday.

Christians do not distinguish Epiphany water either by the date of consecration (January 18 or 19), or by place (Cathedral of Christ the Savior or a tiny chapel in a maximum security colony in the Kostroma region), or by the name of the priest (His Holiness Patriarch Kirill or a young priest , who came only from the seminary), nor by source (pipe or spring). The main thing is that this water should be consecrated by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of the Baptism of the Lord. The blessing of water is a church Christian event. It cannot happen outside the church.

The vast majority of our citizens have the opportunity to come to the temple, pray and take water. Therefore, it is obvious that simply water from rivers, lakes, springs or from the shower cannot in any way be considered holy Epiphany water, either on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany, or at midnight, or on the feast itself.

How much water should I take?

It is quite understandable that many people want to stock up on Epiphany water for the year ahead and drink it every day. There is a belief that this water will not bloom and will remain as clean and tasty for many months. For some, this is an additional reason to stock up.

And yet there is no point in large supplies of consecrated water. Christians are sure that God is not and cannot be connected in any way with the amount of water drunk. God does not charge the water, does not saturate it with anything. He acts through her Himself. This means that one sip or a few drops is enough if they are drunk with faith in Christ and hope for help.

Some believers, based on the idea that “a drop of holy water can sanctify the sea,” simply “dilute” the blessed water as it is used. And this seems wiser to me than multi-liter annual reserves. I know from experience that one and a half to two liters of blessed water is a sufficient supply for a year for an entire family.

How to use holy water?

The best answer is this. Do you want to drink holy water? Have a drink. There are no special discipline or restrictions.

Blessed water for Christians is nothing more than blessed water. In the hierarchy of Christian values, it occupies far from the first place. Church people have some discipline in preparing for the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. But this or a similar discipline in no way refers to holy water or prosphora.

Some Christians first read a prayer, asking God for health, strength, forgiveness of sins and help. Some people drink consecrated water on an empty stomach, others only when sick or in grief. And yet, we must understand that restrictions or the lack thereof is everyone’s personal matter.

Is it necessary to swim on holiday and how to do it correctly?

Swimming on the eve or on the day of the Epiphany holiday in an ice hole is an ancient Russian custom. True, it has never been and is not part of a Christian celebration. Swimming in an ice hole is not mandatory for Christians and is not regulated anywhere; it has nothing to do with communion with God, health improvement, or the fulfillment of desires. This is just a kind of winter fun for strong-willed and strong-bodied people. By the way, pouring water at home in the bathroom on the night before the feast of Epiphany is neither understandable nor explainable today.

Proper bathing means bathing in compliance with all safety measures and doctor's instructions. Under no circumstances should you swim alone or in places unprepared for this; it is unacceptable to swim while intoxicated; it is important to have a towel and dry clothes with you for changing clothes. If your health is poor, it is better not to dive headlong; you should get out of the water carefully so as not to slip.

How to properly celebrate the holiday?

Since the Epiphany of the Lord is a church holiday, its correct understanding and celebration is the work of Christians. Non-Christians can do whatever they want on this day, as long as they do not break laws or harm other people.

For Christians, the most important thing is common prayer in church, remembrance of the events of the holiday, that is, some episodes from the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, and joint communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. All this happens at the festive service on the eve and on the very day of the holiday, the most important part of which is the Liturgy. Communion in the Church is called the Lord's Table. Blessed water, in this case, so to speak, is nothing more than a cherry on this spiritual meal.

Epiphany. What you need to know

How is water sanctified?

The blessing of water in memory of the Baptism of the Lord is performed twice: on the eve and on the day of the holiday itself. That is, on January 18th and 19th, immediately after the morning service - Liturgy. The liturgical rite of blessing water is identical in both cases, that is, it consists of the same prayers, chants and actions. The fact is that initially, in the fourth century, when this tradition was formed, the consecration of water was performed only on the eve of the holiday, and this was associated with the baptism of newly converted Christians. Subsequently, for various reasons, including for the convenience of the people, the water began to be blessed twice.

The rite of blessing water consists of several parts. For Christians, it is important to remember the Old Testament prophecies and the words of the evangelists about the Baptism of the Lord. Before the blessing of water, relevant passages from biblical books and the Gospel are read. In his prayers, the priest invokes God’s blessing on the water: “Thou, O Lover of Mankind, come now, through the influx of Thy Holy Spirit, and consecrate this water.” After which the cross is immersed in water three times. The priest sprinkles blessed water on all those praying in the temple, after which they begin to distribute the water to those who wish.

Where did the holiday of Epiphany come from?

The Feast of the Epiphany, which is often called Epiphany, is one of the oldest Christian holidays. On this day the following event is remembered. Jesus, having reached the age of 30, began his preaching. For this, he chose not some official place, but the Jordan River, where at that time many people flocked to see the prophet and God's chosen one, John, nicknamed the Baptist. John preached the imminent coming of the Messiah, that is, the Savior, and called the Israelis to repentance - renunciation of evil, unrighteous deeds and deeds. As a sign of repentance, according to ancient custom, John dipped those who came into water, which was called immersion, and subsequently baptism.

John considered his main ministry to be the glorification and guidance of Christ to people. This is what happened when Jesus, among others, entered the waters of the Jordan. According to John himself and eyewitnesses, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a pure white dove, and a voice came from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” After this, John announced to his disciples and followers that his mission was completed, that now they and all the Israelis should follow Jesus and become his disciples.

Everything that has been said for Christians is not a legend or a myth. This is part of the gospel story, part of the narrative that Jesus' disciples left us.

What is the meaning of the holiday?

It is clear that whether to trust the words of the evangelists or not is everyone’s business. It is important to understand and recognize that for Christians the holiday of Epiphany consists, first of all, in the recollection and joyful experience of three mysteries, which are very deeply connected with the very essence of Christianity as a religion. I have tried to explain these mysteries in the above articles. Here I will limit myself to listing. The events of the Baptism of the Lord reveal the Trinity of the Divinity: God Himself reveals Himself, as they say, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We also learn about the God-manhood of Christ: the Father testifies that Jesus, the son of Mary, is also the Son of God. And finally, we learn about the mission of Jesus: He came to take away the sin of the world in order to save people. It is important for us that Christians see in the baptism of Jesus evidence of the appearance of the One who is not afraid to share with people not only the joy of life, but also the consequences of sin and even death itself.

What is holy water for?

Christianity is incompatible with magic. For Christians, there are no self-sufficient shrines with healing properties. We also know from the Bible that God can and often does act through matter, including through water. The task and function of holy water is that Christians have the opportunity in everyday life to join God’s grace through its use, that is, to give God the opportunity to do what He wants. Of course, requests and prayers for anything are possible here, including health, but the use of consecrated water is justified and makes sense only if you trust the God whom Christians call upon to bless and sanctify this water.

For Christians, holy water is far from the most important thing in life. They may have it in the house, they may not have it, they may drink it regularly, they may not drink it at all. And all this because they have the One in whom they believe, the One who is always and everywhere with them.

In the coming days, blessed Epiphany water can be taken from Orthodox churches without much difficulty. On January 18 and 19, of course, there will be many people interested. But in most churches, water is blessed in abundance and distributed to those who wish after the holiday.

Christians do not distinguish Epiphany water either by the date of consecration (January 18 or 19), or by location (Cathedral of Christ the Savior or a tiny chapel in a maximum security colony in the Kostroma region), or by the name of the priest ( His Holiness Patriarch Kirill or a young priest who came only from the seminary), nor by source (pipe or spring). The main thing is that this water should be consecrated by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of the Baptism of the Lord. The blessing of water is a church Christian event. It cannot happen outside the church.

The vast majority of our citizens have the opportunity to come to the temple, pray and take water. Therefore, it is obvious that simply water from rivers, lakes, springs or from the shower cannot in any way be considered holy Epiphany water, either on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany, or at midnight, or on the feast itself.

How much water should I take?

It is quite understandable that many people want to stock up on Epiphany water for the year ahead and drink it every day. There is a belief that this water will not bloom and will remain as clean and tasty for many months. For some, this is an additional reason to stock up.

And yet there is no point in large supplies of consecrated water. Christians are sure that God is not and cannot be connected in any way with the amount of water drunk. God does not charge the water, does not saturate it with anything. He acts through her Himself. This means that one sip or a few drops is enough if they are drunk with faith in Christ and hope for help.

Some believers, based on the idea that “a drop of holy water can sanctify the sea,” simply “dilute” the blessed water as it is used. And this seems wiser to me than multi-liter annual reserves. I know from experience that one and a half to two liters of blessed water is a sufficient supply for a year for an entire family.

What is the meaning of the holiday?

It is clear that whether to trust the words of the evangelists or not is everyone’s business. It is important to understand and recognize that for Christians the holiday of Epiphany consists, first of all, in the recollection and joyful experience of three mysteries, which are very deeply connected with the very essence of Christianity as a religion. I have tried to explain these mysteries in the above articles. Here I will limit myself to listing. The events of the Baptism of the Lord reveal the Trinity of the Divinity: God Himself reveals Himself, as they say, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We also learn about the divine humanity of Christ: the Father testifies that Jesus, the son of Mary, is also the Son of God. And finally, we learn about the mission of Jesus: He came to take away the sin of the world in order to save people. It is important for us that Christians see in the baptism of Jesus evidence of the appearance of the One who is not afraid to share with people not only the joy of life, but also the consequences of sin and even death itself.

Photo: www.globallookpress.com

What is holy water for?

For Christians, holy water is far from the most important thing in life. They may have it in the house, they may not have it, they may drink it regularly, they may not drink it at all. And all this because they have the One in whom they believe, the One who is always and everywhere with them.

According to the Orthodox religion, Epiphany water is considered a special shrine. It does not deteriorate for many years. Be sure to stock up on healing Epiphany water on the night of January 18-19, which is rightfully considered miraculous. How to do it correctly, watch!

If on the eve of Epiphany or on the day of January 19 you do not have the opportunity to get consecrated water in the temple, it is believed that even water from the tap on these two days has the same holiness and power. It is allowed to drink Epiphany water, but it is customary to store a certain amount of it throughout the year until the next feast of Epiphany.

Our grandparents used consecrated water for treatment, cleansing, expelling evil spirits and bad thoughts, splashing it in a person’s face or in the corners of the house.
Want to check it out? It is not hard. Just try to do everything exactly according to the rules, carefully preserved in people's memory.

How and when to use Epiphany water

Constant storage of water in reserve is unacceptable. Many people bring it once a year from church, usually at Epiphany, and store it according to the principle “to keep it in the house, because everyone does.” This is completely wrong! In this way, a kind of imprisonment of the shrine occurs. The grace of consecrated water will not decrease, no matter how long it is stored, but those believers who do not turn to the shrine, that is, do not use it, are robbing themselves.Holy water must be drunk regularly.

It perfectly boosts immunity and makes a person resistant to many infections. Epiphany water is a psychotherapeutic agent to relieve increased anxiety and irritability.

Diluting holy water with plain water

By collecting a large amount of holy liquid in a temple, a person automatically becomes hostage to the superstition that water contains magical power and does not think that every drop is full of prayer and is a blessing from God. It is not forbidden to dilute holy water and is only encouraged if a person needs to drink it.

It is enough to bring a small amount of water from the temple in a small container and at home, with prayer, add it drop by drop to ordinary water, it will immediately acquire miraculous properties. But the right advice would be to regularly attend Church and receive new consecrated water.

How to store holy water

There is no need to keep blessed water in the cupboard among the groceries. Moreover, you should not put it in the refrigerator - holy water does not spoil. The container with it should be stored on a separate shelf in a place closed from light, or in close proximity to icons and other consecrated objects.

Is it acceptable to place water on the floor?

Blessed water is as sacred as icons or other church paraphernalia, and requires due respect. The floor or ground is considered a place where a sinner can pass, and if the vessel is placed on the floor, the water may be contaminated and lose its healing effect.

Before collecting moisture, you should consider where to place the container upon arrival home, without resorting to placing it on the floor.

If the action is forced and short-term, then it is permissible. The only place where you can place dishes with water on the floor is the temple.

If the holy water has spoiled

If you stored holy water correctly, but it still deteriorated, in particular, cloudiness appeared in it, an unpleasant odor, or it acquired a bad taste, you should definitely tell the priest about this. It is better to do this in confession with repentance for the irreverent attitude towards the shrine.

The Church allows pouring spoiled holy water into a river or other natural source. Just don't flush it down the toilet or pour it into the sink!

Watering indoor flowers

Do not use liquid to water flowers. Blessed water, and with proper use and veneration, is able to retain the granted properties for a long time. However, if during long-term storage the water changes color or an unpleasant odor appears, then the parishioner is faced with the question of whether it is possible to water indoor plants or flowers with spoiled water?

The clergy graciously give permission to dispose of water in this way. If there are no plants in the house, then the remaining water can be watered on a tree or shrub on the territory of the Church.

Application to animals: is it possible or not?

It is a sin to feed animals with blessed water. The holy scripture says that animals should not touch the shrine. Therefore, drinking holy water to pets is prohibited.

However, if the animal is facing a fatal disease, and the owner hopes for a better outcome, then a few drops added to the main drink will not be unnecessary. But, by the way, the animal will not be able to appreciate the good liquid, and only the faith of the owner will help overcome the disease.

Sprinkling life-giving moisture on pets is not prohibited. The combination of prayer against illness and sprinkling with holy water will protect your pet from harm.

Using holy water when cleaning the house

Washing floors with blessed water is prohibited; walking on feet after cleaning is considered desecration. Use when washing various surfaces is also not permissible. Sprinkling of the home is permitted, and if moisture gets on the floor in the process, then there is no sin in this. If a container of water falls and spills on the floor, then collect the moisture with a clean napkin, squeeze it into another container and either water the flowers or pour it into running water.

Cooking with holy water

It is prohibited to add shrine to food. Adding holy items to food or tea is unacceptable and is considered a sin. There is no need to combine the desire to turn to God and fill your stomach. Blessed water is intended to relieve spiritual, not worldly problems. It is permissible to sprinkle food items with prayer, faith and gratitude.

Holy water bath

It is prohibited to use holy water for bathing, as it is considered disrespectful for holy water to enter wastewater. Washing in holy water, in the hope of remission of sins, will not bring results; only faith and sincere repentance can cleanse a person. But wetting the body with holy water after taking a bath with ordinary water is allowed. A small amount applied to your palms can be used to wash your face and chest.

Can you bless a gun with holy water?

From a logical point of view, the consecration of weapons is unacceptable, because killing is a sin. But from the position of the Russian Orthodox Church, consecration is permitted and is regarded as a means of forced struggle against evil. A gun kept in the house is consecrated to protect household members from possible attacks by robbers.

Is it possible to sell holy water?

Charging for holy water is considered blasphemy. This is a gift from God and is given free of charge. But if the delivery of the shrine required monetary expenses, then you can reimburse what was spent and call it a donation.

Boiling and freezing holy water

The water becomes consecrated after the priest reads special prayers and immerses the cross. After this, the liquid is filled with God’s grace, cleansed of all negativity and retains its freshness and miraculous properties for a long time. Therefore, boiling is not required.

There is no need to store water in the refrigerator it is desecrated by the food lying nearby. Also not frozen. Under the influence of low temperatures, water changes its structure and loses its healing qualities, and after thawing it quickly becomes unusable.

How to drink holy water

Baptized people should take holy water on an empty stomach, in the morning or evening - just before going to bed.

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If the illness has severely constricted the patient, it is not forbidden to take holy water in unlimited quantities, regardless of food intake, and also to sprinkle it on the entire body or sore spot.

You should know that even if the patient is prescribed medications on an empty stomach, they should be taken only after drinking holy water.

After drinking holy water, it is necessary to pray for healing (only sick people should read this prayer). Healthy people should then read a prayer for accepting prosphora and holy water.

Prayer for accepting prosphora and holy water:

“Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be 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 the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen."

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Holy water should be taken in small sips at a time. You should know that it must be drunk in three sips.

Ordinary believers need to take holy water every morning with a piece of prosphora and reading a prayer for accepting prosphora and holy water. This is how every new day of a Christian believer should begin.

Holy water can be added to ordinary tap water, and then it is believed that all the water is clarified, becomes holy, and acquires healing, beneficial properties.

Daily intake of holy water helps to cure not only skin diseases or stomach diseases, it also allows you to get rid of spiritual ailments.

Holy water is taken for cardiac arrhythmia, enlarged thyroid gland, migraines, toothaches, earaches and many other ailments.

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Truly, the uses of holy water are limitless when used carefully and thoughtfully. It cleanses the soul and body from filth and sin, promotes spiritual enlightenment and bodily healing.