Baptism of the Lord: traditions and customs. The Baptism of the Lord - the history, traditions and customs of the Orthodox holiday

On January 19, 2015, the Orthodox celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The holiday also has the name Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19th. The Baptism of the Lord is one of the most ancient and revered holidays among Christians.

A Brief History of the Feast of the Epiphany

The rite of baptism of Christ at his request was performed by John the Baptist. During the baptism in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. At the same time, a Voice from Heaven proclaimed, "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 the voice, the Son of God - in the flesh, the Holy Spirit - in the form of a dove. Therefore, the feast of Baptism is often called the Epiphany. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord 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 on the feast of Epiphany, according to tradition, dresses in white robes.

How to celebrate the Epiphany

The celebration of the Epiphany (January 19) begins the day before - January 18. This day is called Epiphany Christmas Eve, as well as Hungry Kutia. 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 the Epiphany, the Orthodox prepared lean kutya. The festive dinner on Epiphany Christmas Eve was called "hungry kutya". Kutya, pancakes, oatmeal jelly were an obligatory dish of this meal.

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

important event The Baptism of the Lord and Theophany is blessing of water. On a river or on a lake, a cruciform polynya, called the Jordan, is cut in advance in the ice. With the onset of midnight, the priests bless the water in the polynya, and the faithful take a bath in the blessed water. People are not afraid of the cold because bathing at christening- this is a symbolic cleansing from sins, spiritual rebirth. The faithful are looking forward to the Feast of the Epiphany, and when the Baptism of the Lord comes, the Orthodox go to church to remember the miraculous event that changed the world.

How to bathe on Epiphany

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

Bathing rules for baptism

Ice-holes or Jordans, in which they bathe at Epiphany, are consecrated. There are no hard and fast rules for those wishing to plunge into Jordan for Epiphany. But still, it is customary to quickly dive headlong into the water 3 times, while being baptized and saying: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Traditionally, it is believed that on Epiphany you should bathe in shirts, and not in swimsuits, so as not to flaunt your bodies.

Epiphany water - wonderful healing properties

In all the springs consecrated in the Baptism of the Lord, 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 deteriorate for a long time.

Epiphany water is drunk throughout the year on an empty stomach, it is carefully kept as a shrine and diseases, both bodily and mental, are treated.

Saint Epiphany water you can sprinkle a dwelling to drive out evil spirits and bring the grace of God into the house.

Where to get baptismal holy water

If you want to collect consecrated baptismal water after bathing, it is not necessary to come with 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 of 18 to 19. But it is not necessary to come on this particular day. As explained in the Moscow Patriarchate, the water becomes holy after a special prayer service for the blessing of water. Access to containers with baptismal water will be open in churches for several days. In addition, queues are expected to line up for holy water at Epiphany, and it will be difficult to drive up to the temples. According to the safety rules, on the days of major religious holidays, parking near temples closer than 50 meters is prohibited.

When to collect baptismal water

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

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

What you need to know before collecting water for Baptism:

It is better to collect baptismal water not thoughtlessly, but after participating in church service(in church) or prayers (at home);

you need to pour water for Baptism into dishes without any marking - it is better in a special jug or flask bought in a church shop (in no case in a beer bottle)

It is believed that baptismal water has healing properties. It can be drunk with an illness on an empty stomach and washed to be healthy. You need to drink baptismal 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 not of water, but of faith.

Baptism - folk traditions

Previously, there were special folk traditions celebration of the Baptism of the Lord or Epiphany. For example, it was customary to release doves at Epiphany - as a sign of Divine grace that descended on Jesus Christ. Other folk traditions for Baptism are known according to legend.

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

The Jordan began to be prepared a week before Epiphany: they cut through the wormwood on the river, sawed out a large cross and placed it over the hole. The throne was also sawn out of ice. Christmas tree branches decorated the "royal gates".

On the morning of the holiday, after the service, everyone went to the river. After the consecration 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 holier it will be. There were brave souls who swam in the Jordan, remembering that one cannot catch a cold in the consecrated 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. Everyone drank holy water before eating. After eating, the girls hurried to the river - to wash in the "Jordanian water", "so that their faces were pink."

After Baptism, it was forbidden to wash clothes in the river. According to legend, when the priest plunges the cross into the water, all the evil spirit jumps out of fear, and then sits on the shore and waits for someone with dirty linen to appear. As soon as the linen is lowered into the river, along it, like a ladder, all the evil spirits go into the water. Therefore, it was considered that later women will begin to erase, the more wickedness will freeze from Epiphany frosts.

Divination for Baptism

There were other traditions - it was believed that miracles happen at Epiphany midnight: the wind subsides for a moment, complete silence reigns and the heavens open. At this time, you can say cherished desire which will surely come true.

There is another tradition at Baptism, which, however, is not approved by the church. On January 19, Christmas time ends - the period of fortune-telling in Russia. On Epiphany night, the girls tried to understand what awaits them in the future, whether they will get married, whether the year will be successful.

Baptism - folk signs

Since ancient times, many things have been associated with Baptism. folk signs. Many of them were associated with economic activity peasants or predicted the weather. For example, folk signs for baptism read:

If the weather is clear and cold on Epiphany, the summer will be dry; cloudy and fresh - to a bountiful harvest.

full month at Epiphany - to the big spring spill.

Starry night on Epiphany - the summer will be dry, the harvest for peas and berries.

There will be a thaw at Epiphany - for the harvest, and a clear day for Epiphany - for crop failure.

The wind will blow from the south to Epiphany - it will be a thunderous summer.

If during the Liturgy, especially while walking on the water, it snows, then next year it is expected to be fertile, and the bees will make many swarms.

When to baptism dogs barked a lot, waiting for a successful hunting season: If dogs bark a lot at Epiphany, there will be plenty of every beast and game. Chickens are not fed on Epiphany, so that gardens are not dug in the summer and seedlings are not spoiled.

The folk Russian calendar connects the Feast of Epiphany with frosts. Epiphany frosts: “Crack frost, don’t crack, but Vodokreschi passed.

How to bathe on Epiphany so as not to get sick

At Epiphany, both old and young bathe. But without special preparation, swimming for children and the elderly can be dangerous. It is better to prepare in advance by gradually hardening by pouring cold water bathroom at home. Precautions must be observed by everyone who decides to bathe at Baptism. Doctors warn against bathing at Epiphany for people with hypertension, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, or tuberculosis. Bathing 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 brings all the mechanisms of human thermoregulation to maximum stress and this can cause shock.

Well, if you are healthy, then follow the following recommendations, how to bathe on baptism:

you can swim in Epiphany only in the 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 bathing; you should not swim on an empty stomach or immediately after eating;

Take a blanket with you, as well as comfortable clothes for changing.

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

EPIPHANY

Baptism. Intercession-on-the-Nerl

HOLY WATER

The descent of the Holy Spirit on water is nothing but the irradiation of water with positive, pure information.
Water collected on Epiphany night from 18 to 19 January, from 24.00 to 4.00 in the morning is "Living Water".
Researches of scientists have shown that already on January 17, the electromagnetic activity of water begins to increase, and reaches its peak by the evening of January 18. By the morning of January 19, the electromagnetic activity of water is significantly reduced and continues to fall..

« living water» (catholyte, alkaline water, biostimulant) - a very soft, colorless liquid with an alkaline taste. After the reaction, precipitation falls in it - all water impurities, incl. and radionuclides and water is purified. This water is an excellent stimulant, restores the immune system of the body, provides antioxidant protection to the body, especially in combination with the use of vitamins, a source of energy. It is not in vain that it was called "living water". It activates the body's bioprocesses, increases blood pressure, improves appetite, metabolism, food passage, and general well-being. It quickly heals various wounds, incl. gastric and duodenal ulcers, bedsores, trophic ulcers, burns. This water softens the skin, gradually smoothes wrinkles, eliminates dandruff, makes hair silky, etc. Withered flowers and green vegetables quickly come to life in the “living water” and are preserved for a long time, and the seeds, after soaking in this water, germinate faster, more amicably, and when watered, they grow better and give a greater yield.
Epiphany water is stored for a year until the next water blessing. It does not deteriorate and does not become cloudy, so they usually store it for future use, scooping up whole buckets. Epiphany water is drunk during illness, and it is also sprinkled with it at homes and churches.
Epiphany snow was also collected at midnight. It was believed that the water melted out of it could treat convulsions, dizziness, numbness in the legs and other ailments, and poured into the well, it makes it inexhaustible throughout the whole summer, even if not a single drop of rain falls in the summer.

When mixing "living" and "dead" water, mutual neutralization occurs and the resulting water loses its activity.

Prayer

Before taking "Holy water" a prayer is read:
"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 spiritual and bodily strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, through Your boundless mercy, with the prayers of the Most Pure Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen".

JORDAN SHADE XVII century

City of Suzdal

The only surviving example in Russia. The canopy was erected on the Kamenka River on the feast of the Epiphany, dedicated to the baptism of Christ in the Jordan. On this day, to the "Jordan" committed procession, and the priest lowered the cross into the hole three times, consecrating the water, and after that everyone could take a bath. As they say, the water in the Epiphany font is crystal clear and has great healing power.
It was assembled annually on the feast of Epiphany, and the rest of the time it was kept disassembled. The canopy is made of 260 parts, cut down and hewn with an ax from pine logs, it is a canopy in the form of a five-domed tent on four round carved pillars. The height of the tent is 8.5 meters. The canopy and the fence are painted with “herbs”: an ornament of woven branches, leaves, flowers, and floral curls. The painting was made with tempera paints at the end of the 17th century.
Cm.
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About Water and Rod.
Water "Zam-Zam"

Copyright © 2015 Unconditional Love

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is one of the most ancient in the Christian Church. According to biblical tradition, on this day Jesus, still little known in Judea, came to the banks of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist taught. The baptism of Jesus Christ was marked by a miraculous sign: the heavens opened, and from there a dove descended on Christ.

The word "baptize" in Greek means "I immerse in water." And here leading role water plays, namely, its symbolic meaning.

A significant day preceding the Epiphany is the Eve, celebrated on January 18th. Before him, all living quarters are thoroughly washed, removed from debris. This is done in order to sprinkle everything clean with consecrated water brought from the church from the festive service, which will protect from evil spirits. After all, Baptism in Russian folk life meant the end of Christmas time and was considered a day intended for the expulsion of unclean people who supposedly appeared on earth during these two weeks, as well as the day of cleansing people from sins.

By the way, the consecration of water is the main event of Baptism. On Epiphany Christmas Eve, water was consecrated in a font installed in the middle of the temple, and on the Feast of Epiphany - in a river, lake, or near a well.

This water was considered holy. It was collected directly from the reservoirs, brought home, drunk and used to make homemade medicines. It is believed that it has healing properties, and is also able to restore vitality, scare away evil spirits, protect from sin.

The owner or hostess, crossing herself, reading prayers, sprinkled windows, doors, corners, all cracks with a wet broom, expelling evil spirits, not allowing her to hide in the house. After that, crosses were placed on the windows and doors. They were drawn with chalk and charcoal or made from thin chips and nailed into right places. The crosses were supposed to block the entrance of the expelled evil spirits.

Baptism was considered among the people a special day that can bring happiness. For example, they believed that the life of a child baptized on this day would pass in contentment and joy; the matchmaking will be successful, and the wedding arrangement made at Baptism will ensure peace and harmony in the family.

For me, January 19 was a special date all my life. Because it's my birthday. They say that those who were born on Epiphany have a special destiny. Or maybe people themselves came up with it in order to somehow distinguish themselves? Although every year brings me pleasant surprises.

There is also a belief that on the night of January 18-19, the heavens open and all people's prayers reach "directly" to God. And the desires or requests that a person sends to heaven on this night will certainly be heard. I don't know if this is true or not. But it works for me.

Today, after more than two thousand years, not everyone understands the spiritual implication of the holiday. But those who want to "dive" into the Epiphany hole - despite the traditional Epiphany frosts- more than enough every year. After all, the font is also a symbol, and you need to plunge into it with a certain spiritual attitude, if I may say so.

Tomorrow, January 19, 25 fonts will be waiting for Omsk residents. For the safety of people, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, emergency rescue and medical services, the police department, and the traffic police will also be there.

By the way

Why is it cold in Epiphany?
Frosty Baptism traditions are rooted in climatic features middle of winter. As a rule, during this period, the Asian anticyclone reaches its peak - the mainland high pressure, which covers the whole of Siberia, Yakutia, Central Asia, Far East and, often, the European territory of Russia. Naturally, the coldest thing is in his belly - in Siberia and the territories adjacent to it. Under its influence, relatively dry, calm weather is established in these regions, which contributes to intensive cooling of the surface air layers and, as a result, to increased frost. Even the sun, which begins to rise above the horizon, does not save from the cold. First, it is still very low and cannot interfere with heat transfer processes. And secondly, up to 70% of its radiant energy is reflected by a thick snow cover. As a result, in the second half of January, the temperature continues to drop and, as a rule, reaches a minimum in the annual cycle. Hence the expression: the sun for the summer - the winter for the frost.

January 19th were born:
- scientist James Watt (1736, the unit of power - Watt - is named after him)
- philosopher Auguste Comte (1798)
- writer Edgar Poe (1809)
- artist Valentin Serov (1865)
- poet Mikhail Isakovsky (1900)
- UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar (1920)
- singer Jannis Joplin (1943)
- gymnast Svetlana Khorkina (1979)

January 19 in history:
1919 - composer Ignacy Paderewski became the head of the Polish government
1920 - the laying of a monument to Herzen and Ogarev took place
1955 - US President Eisenhower held the world's first televised press conference
1963 - sensational performance of the Beatles on the stage of the London variety theater "Palladium"
1991 - during Operation Desert Storm in Persian Gulf poured 816 thousand tons of oil

Epiphany or Baptism of the Lord is one of the most important twelfth feasts of Orthodoxy. Read all about the history of this event in the article!

The Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany - January 19, 2019

What holiday is it?

Prefeast of the Epiphany

Theophany has long been among the great twelfth feasts. Even in the Decrees of the Apostles (book 5, ch. 12) it is commanded: "May you have great respect for the day on which the Lord revealed to us the Divinity." This holiday in Orthodox Church is celebrated with equal grandeur, as is the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, connected by "Christmas" (from December 25 to January 6), constitute, as it were, one celebration. Almost immediately after the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of Christ (since January 2), the Church begins to prepare us for solemn holiday Baptism of the Lord with stichera and troparia specially dedicated to the upcoming feast (at Vespers), three hymns (at Compline) and canons (at Matins), and church hymns in honor of Theophany have been heard since January 1: at Matins of the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, the irmos of the canons of Theophany are sung for katavasia: “The depths have opened, there is a bottom ...” and “A sea storm is moving ...”. With her sacred remembrances, following from Bethlehem to the Jordan and meeting the events of Baptism, the Church in the pre-holiday stichera calls on the faithful:
“Let’s go from Bethlehem to the Jordan, where the Light is already beginning to illuminate those who are in darkness.” The nearest Saturday and Sunday before Epiphany are called Saturday and the Week before Theophany (or Enlightenment).

Eve of the Epiphany

The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of the Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. The services of the eve and the feast itself are in many ways similar to the service of the eve and the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On Christmas Eve of the Epiphany on January 5 (as well as on Christmas Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes a strict fast: eating once after the blessing of water. If Eve takes place on Saturday and Sunday, fasting is facilitated: instead of once, eating is allowed twice - after the liturgy and after the blessing of the water. If the reading of the Great Hours from Eve, which happened on Saturday or Sunday, is transferred to Friday, then there is no fast on that Friday.

Features of worship on the eve of the holiday

On all weekly days (except Saturday and Sunday) the service of the Eve of Theophany consists of the Great Hours, pictorial and Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; after the liturgy (after the ambo prayer) there is the blessing of the water. If Christmas Eve happens on Saturday or Sunday, then the Great Hours are celebrated on Friday, and there is no Liturgy on that Friday; the liturgy of St. Basil the Great is transferred to the day of the holiday. On the very day of Christmas Eve, the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom happens in due time, and after it - vespers and after it the blessing of water.

Great hours of the Baptism of the Lord and their content

The troparia point to the separation of the waters of the Jordan by Elisha by the mantle of the prophet Elijah as a prototype of the true Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, by which the watery nature was sanctified and during which the Jordan stopped its natural course. The last troparion describes the trembling feeling of Saint John the Baptist when the Lord came to him to be baptized. In the parimia of the 1st hour, with the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church proclaims the spiritual renewal of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 25).

The Apostle and the Gospel proclaim the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, who testified to the eternal and Divine greatness of Christ (Acts 13:25-32; Matt. 3:1-11). At the 3rd hour in special psalms - the 28th and 41st - the prophet depicts the power and authority of the baptized Lord over water and all the elements of the world: “The voice of the Lord is on the waters: God of glory will thunder, the Lord is on the waters of many. The voice of the Lord in the fortress; the voice of the Lord is in splendor ... ”The usual 50th psalm joins these psalms. In the troparia of the hour, the experiences of John the Baptist are revealed - trembling and fear at the Baptism of the Lord - and the manifestation in this great event of the mystery of the Trinity of the Godhead. In parimiya we hear the voice of the prophet Isaiah, heralding spiritual rebirth through baptism and calling for the acceptance of this sacrament: "Wash yourself, and you will be clean" (Is. 1, 16-20).

The Apostle tells about the difference between John's baptism and baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-8), while the Gospel tells about the Forerunner who prepared the way for the Lord (Mark 1:1-3). At the 6th hour in Psalms 73 and 76, King David prophetically depicts the Divine majesty and omnipotence of the One who came to be baptized in the form of a slave: “Who is a great god, like our God? You are God, do miracles. Seeing You the water, O God, and fearful: the abyss was troubled.

The usual, 90th psalm of the hour also joins. The troparia contain the Lord's answer to the Baptist to his bewilderment about Christ's self-abasement and indicate the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Psalmist that the Jordan River stops its waters when the Lord enters it for Baptism. The parimia speaks of how the prophet Isaiah contemplates the grace of salvation in the waters of baptism and calls on believers to assimilate it: “Draw water with joy from the source of fear” (Is. 12).

The apostle inspires those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-12). The gospel announces the appearance of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of the Savior, about His forty-day feat in the wilderness and the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 1, 9-15). At the 9th hour, in Psalms 92 and 113, the prophet proclaims the royal majesty and omnipotence of the baptized Lord. The third psalm of the hour is the usual 85th. With the words of parimia, the prophet Isaiah depicts the inexpressible mercy of God to people and the grace-filled help for them, manifested in Baptism (Is. 49: 8-15). The apostle announces the manifestation of the grace of God, “saving to all men”, and the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the believers (Tit. 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7). The Gospel tells about the Baptism of the Savior and Theophany (Matthew 3:13-17).

Vespers on the Day of the Feast of the Feast

Vespers on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany is similar to the one that happens on the eve of the Nativity of Christ: the entrance with the Gospel, the reading of the parimia, the Apostle, the Gospel, etc., but the parimii at the Vespers of the Epiphany Eve is read not 8, but 13.
After the first three paroemias, the singers sing to the troparion and verses of the prophecy: “Let you shine in the darkness of the sitting one: Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.” After the 6th Parimia - a refrain to the troparion and verses: "Where Thy light would shine, only on those who sit in darkness, glory to Thee."
If on the eve of the Epiphany Vespers is combined with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), then after reading paroemias, a small litany follows with the exclamation: “For thou art holy, our God ...”, then the Trisagion and other following of the liturgy are sung. At Vespers, which is celebrated separately after the Liturgy (on Saturday and Sunday), after parimiias, a small litany, and the exclamation: “For thou art holy…” is followed by a prokeimenon: “The Lord is my enlightenment…”, Apostle (Cor., end 143rd) and the Gospel (Luke 9th).
After that - the litany "Rzem all ..." and so on.

Great consecration of water

The Church renews the remembrance of the Jordanian event with a special rite of the great consecration of water. On the eve of the feast, the great consecration of water takes place after the prayer behind the ambo (if the liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served). And if Vespers is celebrated separately, without connection with the Liturgy, the consecration of water takes place at the end of Vespers, after the exclamation: "Be the power ...". The priest, through the royal gates, while singing the troparions "The voice of the Lord on the waters ...", goes out to the vessels filled with water, carrying on his head Honest Cross, and the consecration of water begins.

The consecration of water is also performed on the very feast after the liturgy (also after the ambo prayer).

The Orthodox Church performs the great consecration of water on the eve and on the feast itself from ancient times, and the grace of consecrating water on these two days is always the same. On Eve, the consecration of water was performed in remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, which sanctified the nature of the water, as well as the baptism of the ordained, which in ancient times took place on the Eve of Theophany (Post. Apost., book 5, ch. 13; historians: Theodoret, Nicephorus Callistus). On the feast itself, the consecration of water happens in remembrance of the actual event of the Baptism of the Savior. The consecration of water on the feast itself began in the Jerusalem Church and in the 4th - 5th centuries. was performed only in it alone, where it was customary to go to the Jordan River for water blessing in remembrance of the Baptism of the Savior. Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the consecration of water on the eve is performed in churches, and on the feast itself it is usually performed on rivers, springs and wells (the so-called “Journey to the Jordan”), for Christ was baptized outside the temple.

The great consecration of water got its start in the early days of Christianity, following the example of the Lord Himself, who sanctified the waters by His immersion in them and established the sacrament of Baptism, in which from ancient times there is the consecration of water. The rite of consecrating water is attributed to the Evangelist Matthew. Several prayers for this rank were written by St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople. The final design of the rank is attributed to St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The consecration of water on the feast is already mentioned by the teacher of the Church Tertullian and St. Cyprian of Carthage. The Apostolic Decrees also contain prayers that were said during the consecration of water. So, in the book The 8th says: “The priest will call on the Lord and say: “And now sanctify this water, and give it grace and power.”

St. Basil the Great writes: “According to what scripture do we bless the water of baptism? - From the Apostolic Tradition, according to the succession in the mystery" (91st canon).

In the second half of the 10th century, Patriarch Peter Fulon of Antioch introduced the custom of consecrating water not at midnight, but on the Eve of Theophany. In the Russian Church, the Moscow Council of 1667 decided to make a double consecration of water - on the eve and on the very feast of the Theophany, and condemned Patriarch Nikon, who forbade the double consecration of water. The succession of the great consecration of water both on the eve and on the feast itself is the same, and in some parts resembles the succession of the small consecration of water. It consists in remembering the prophecies relating to the event of Baptism (parimia), the event itself (the Apostle and the Gospel) and its meaning (litanies and prayers), in invoking the blessing of God on the waters and three times immersion in them. Life-Giving Cross Lord's.

In practice, the rite of consecration of water is performed as follows. After the prayer beyond the ambo (at the end of the liturgy) or the petitionary litany: “Let us fulfill evening prayer”(at the end of Vespers) the rector in full vestments (as during the celebration of the liturgy), and the other priests only in stole, ensigns and the rector carrying the Holy Cross on an uncovered head (usually the Cross is relied on in the air). At the place of consecration of water, the Cross rests on a well-decorated table, on which there should be a bowl with water and three candles. During the singing of the troparia, the rector with the deacon incense the water prepared for consecration (near the table three times), and if the water is consecrated in the temple, then the altar, clergymen, singers and people are also incensed.

At the end of the singing of the troparions, the deacon proclaims: “Wisdom,” and three parimias are read (from the book of the prophet Isaiah), which depict the blessed fruits of the Lord’s coming to earth and the spiritual joy of all who turn to the Lord and partake of life-giving springs salvation. Then the prokimen "The Lord is my enlightenment ..." is sung, the Apostle and the Gospel are read. The Apostolic Reading (Cor., end 143) speaks of persons and events that, in Old Testament, during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert, were a type of Christ the Savior (the mysterious baptism of the Jews into Moses in the midst of the cloud and the sea, their spiritual food in the desert and drinking from the spiritual stone, which was Christ). The Gospel (Mark 2nd) tells of the Baptism of the Lord.

After reading Holy Scripture the deacon pronounces the great litany with special petitions. They contain prayers for the consecration of water by the power and action of the Holy Trinity, for sending the blessing of the Jordan to the water and granting it grace to heal spiritual and bodily infirmities, to drive away any slander of visible and invisible enemies, to sanctify houses and for every benefit.

During the litany, the rector secretly reads a prayer for the purification and sanctification of himself: "Lord Jesus Christ ..." (without a cry). At the end of the litany, the priest (rector) loudly reads the sanctifying prayer: “Great art thou, O Lord, and marvelous are thy works…” (thrice) and so on. In this prayer, the Church implores the Lord to come and bless the water so that it receives the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan, so that it can be a source of incorruption, the resolution of ailments, the cleansing of souls and bodies, the sanctification of houses, and "to every good good." In the middle of the prayer, the priest exclaims three times: “Yourself, Lover of mankind to the King, come now also by the influx of Thy Holy Spirit and sanctify this water,” and at the same time blesses the water with his hand each time, but does not immerse his fingers in the water, as happens in the sacrament of Baptism. At the end of the prayer, the rector immediately blesses the water with a cross-shaped Honest Cross, holding it with both hands and immersing it straight three times (bringing it down into the water and raising it up), and at each immersion of the Cross, he sings the troparion with the clergy (three times): “In the Jordan, baptized by Thee, Lord ...”

After that, with repeated singing of the troparion by the singers, the rector with the Cross in his left hand sprinkles crosswise in all directions, and also sprinkles the temple with holy water.

Glorification of the holiday

On Eve, after the dismissal of Vespers or the Liturgy, a lamp (and not a lectern with an icon) is supplied in the middle of the church, in front of which the clergy and singers sing the troparion and (on “Glory, and now”) the kontakion of the holiday. The candle here means the light of Christ's teachings, Divine enlightenment, bestowed in Theophany.

After that, the worshipers venerate the Cross, and the priest sprinkles each with holy water.

Traditions this holiday its roots go back to the time of Jesus Christ. Everything that people do at Baptism is closely connected with the life of the Son of God - our Savior. This is one of the three biggest Orthodox holidays, so everyone should know its history and what it symbolizes.

History of Baptism

It is worth starting the history of this holiday with the fact that Jesus, being not only God, but also a man, for a long time He hid his identity and his true purpose from people. According to tradition and holy teaching, Jesus decided to appear to the world at the age of 30. It is from here that the second name of the holiday came - Epiphany. On this day, God decided to show himself to the world by starting his short but difficult journey of saving our souls.

It all started with the first meeting of God with John the Baptist, to whom Jesus came in order to carry out the rite of baptism. Of course, this discouraged the man, because before him stood God himself in the flesh. They exchanged a couple of phrases, after which John realized that he must baptize Jesus, despite the fact that He is already a saint. Jesus told him that it was necessary, because that was the name, that was the tradition that had to be fulfilled.

The rite of the Great Baptism was performed in the Jordan River. At that moment, only Jesus himself understood that this was a two-sided baptism - not only did he accept it, but the water became holy from the touch of God. All modern rites are connected with this fact.

Traditions of baptism on January 19

The most common and well-known tradition is a trip to the temple on the morning of January 19 for holy water. The clergy carry out the rite of consecration of water similar to the very moment when Jesus consecrated the water with his presence. It was thanks to this that it became possible to take a piece divine power to your home, where you can wash or drink it to strengthen your body and spirit. According to tradition, people drink water, reading prayers for the salvation of the soul and for health. Epiphany water healing - it cleanses us of diseases and bad thoughts.

Another fairly common ritual is swimming in the hole. This is very similar to how Jesus himself was baptized. Many people do this year after year, feeling cheerful and energized. Be sure to need the right attitude, which will help not to get sick from ice water. Bathing in the hole is made after the evening service in Epiphany Christmas Eve, January 18.

By ancient tradition people also observe nature and the weather on January 19, drawing conclusions about what the next summer will be like. If at Baptism cold weather without precipitation, the summer will be extremely hot and dry. Otherwise, next summer should please with harvests.

According to tradition, people sprinkle their homes with holy water, reading prayers to cleanse the house from demonic power. This helps get rid of bad dreams, from the feeling of the presence of evil spirits, from the evil eye and curses.

Remember that holy water has power only in one case - if your faith is strong and pure. It is important to do everything from the heart, deeply understanding the whole essence of the holiday. On this day, we are granted to cleanse ourselves and our home from evil, attract happiness by letting a piece of God into our lives. Be healthy, lucky, believe in the Almighty and do not forget to press the buttons and