Science has confirmed the miracle of baptismal water. Unique properties of baptismal water

It's believed that water in Baptism becomes holy. Every year, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord from January 18 to 19, thousands of people go to churches in order to draw holy water, because, according to the Orthodox Church, these days it acquires healing properties.

Around Epiphany water phenomenon there is still a lot of controversy going on. Some argue that such water acquires healing properties only after illumination in the church, others say that on the day of Epiphany, any water, even tap water, becomes healing. Does water really become miraculous in Baptism, and is it possible to draw it from a tap?

Properties of baptismal water. Truth or myth

According to the Gospel, on the night of January 18-19 (according to the old style - from January 5 to 6), Jesus Christ entered the Jordan River, thereby consecrating the waters with his entry. According to the ministers Orthodox Church, the water in Baptism really has healing properties. It can be applied to sore spots, drunk, wiped and washed. Epiphany water has no shelf life - it can be stored forever.

The clergy deny the fact that in Baptism all water becomes healing. Miraculous properties are acquired only by the water that was consecrated in the church. On Epiphany, water is distributed completely free of charge, especially since, according to the church, it is enough to take one small bottle home and then dilute it with plain water - this will not make it lose its properties.

Science has confirmed the healing properties of Epiphany water

Holy Epiphany water for a long time has been the subject of research by many scholars. Experts from the Research Institute of Ecology and Environmental Hygiene came to the conclusion that at Epiphany the water really becomes healing, and not only in the church.

According to the research of scientists, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, water throughout the planet changes its properties. It has to do with the position of the earth. Our planet at this time falls into a point of strong influence of external flow particles. Water reacts to them and changes. talking plain language, at Baptism, the water becomes softer, and any- from a source, from a tap, in reservoirs. Scientists even determined the approximate time for the change in the structure of water: from 6 pm on January 18 until lunch on January 19.

Despite the scientific explanation of the phenomenon of Epiphany water, scientists do not deny the impact of church rites of consecration on water. The water responds to prayers and the immersion of the silver cross. It has long been proven that water capable of changing its structure under the influence of human speech, thoughts and energy. So the water, "charged" with faith, kindness and love, really becomes healing.

How to use Epiphany water

• Epiphany water is recommended to drink on an empty stomach, preferably every day. According to scientists, this will significantly increase immunity and make a person resistant to any kind of infectious diseases.
• Epiphany water is also used for calming. It is considered an excellent psychotherapeutic tool for relieving anxiety, irritability, and nervous tension. One glass of holy water is able to balance the state of mind.
• The water collected at Baptism is also used to heal wounds, burns, and relieve pain. It is sprinkled at home to bring prosperity and protection from disasters.

And if you swim in Epiphany water, you can recharge your batteries with health and positive energy for the whole year. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

17.01.2015 09:18

In Orthodoxy, there are twelve most significant holidays - this is a dozen especially important events church calendar, in addition to the dominant ...

The well-being of a person largely depends on the gift received for christening, because this day is one ...

From ancient history It is known that the Patriarch of Constantinople, the great theologian, Ecumenical teacher and saint, John Chrysostom spoke about the Epiphany holy water in his sermons. It turns out that until the XII century in Ancient Russia there was no tradition at all to sanctify water. It appeared only after the Jerusalem liturgical charter began to operate in the Russian Orthodox Church, which was criticized and canceled more than once. But the reformer Patriarch Nikon generally forbade in 1655 to bless the water on the feast of Epiphany. In 1667, the Great Moscow Cathedral lifted the ban. Now it’s worth dealing with a huge number of questions: when can you take baptismal water, how to use it, why it doesn’t deteriorate, etc.

The use of Epiphany water in Christianity dates back to the 2nd century. In the Church there was then a special rite, which had the name - Blessing of Water. He was associated with the Old Testament traditions and biblical history, telling about how John baptized Christ himself in the Jordan River. Archaeological excavations of the East and West filled the world's museums with rare specimens of special clay vessels in which the ancient Christians kept the holy baptismal water.

Three ranks of water blessing

Now let's dwell on when they take baptismal water. But first you need to familiarize yourself with the fact that in Orthodoxy there are three ranks according to which they sanctify water. The first rite is held on Epiphany Christmas Eve, January 18, and on the day of Epiphany - January 19. It is on this day that procession"to the Jordan", to the local reservoir, for the traditional blessing of water.

The second rank is an abbreviated Great Blessing of Water. It is performed before a person is baptized. And the third rank is a small consecration of water, it is carried out according to special public holidays when special prayers are read.

Secrets of Epiphany Water

Today people come to the church to collect Epiphany water there. Then the question quite logically arises: when can I take baptismal water and for what? People believe that after a special ceremony and prayers, water begins to show some of its special properties and does not deteriorate at all, which, by the way, does not always happen. Yes, indeed, a special Blessing descends on the water of the Epiphany, and Divine power begins to be stored in it. This is the whole secret of baptismal water. Therefore, people who will use it with reverence will indeed receive sanctification and grace.

How to bless an apartment with baptismal water

On the great feast of Epiphany, according to tradition, baptismal water is collected, and with the prayer “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, the walls of the dwelling, various objects and even animals are consecrated.

Then how to bless the apartment Epiphany water right? To do this, a special sprinkler (broom) is bought in a shop or an ordinary twig from a tree or bush is used, and everything is sprinkled with consecrated water. And a special troparion is also pronounced.

People, when they take baptismal water, for some reason begin to be deeply mistaken in this question: is water the most healing on January 18 or 19? The main thing is to understand for yourself that the water on these two days is sanctified in the same way. In most temples, therefore, consecrated water is poured for several more days in a row.

Properties of Epiphany water

Many people are very interested in Epiphany water and its properties. People are trying to use it as a pill for all sorts of diseases, like drinking - and immediately cured. The secret of baptismal water lies in the fact that, collected on the feast of Epiphany, it really has powerful healing properties, but it is always accepted with prayer and faith, and only then can you get real healing. During the consecration of water, according to the Christian tradition, the grace of the Holy Spirit is invoked on it, which endows it with powerful healing power.

Epiphany water. How to use

They drink this water not to quench their thirst, but to get strengthening of faith, healing of the soul and body. Good power is baptismal water: its properties are really healing, it is mainly used to restore mental and physical strength. And it is recommended to drink a small cup of water on an empty stomach. But the holy fathers of sick people blessed Epiphany water to drink one tablespoon every hour. It turns out that even a few drops of water taken during an illness could change the course of the disease. The Monk Seraphim Vyritsky claimed that consecrated oil and water help better than all medicines. He advised to sprinkle food with it.

People are always interested: how is baptismal water useful, how to use it? It is able to strengthen the immune system, and a person will be resistant to infections and will become less likely to catch a cold. She needs to wash. Ambrose of Optina sent a bottle of consecrated water to a terminally ill man, and, to the astonishment of doctors, incurable disease retreated.

Based on the opinion of Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, it is imperative to understand for yourself that on monthly days a woman cannot only partake of the Mysteries of Christ. Such a temporary state of her remains full-fledged for serving God. And this means that she can at any time touch the shrines and kiss them, smear herself with fragrant oils and drink holy water.

Holy water from the tap

Many believe that Epiphany tap water on the holiday is also holy. However, all this, first of all, depends on the faith of the person himself. If he comes to the sacrament of Baptism completely unprepared and unbelieving, then he will not receive anything good. And a deeply and truly believing person will really see that even Epiphany tap water can work miracles, and due to its unique properties it will not deteriorate at all, it will be well stored and help for a whole year. But due to the fact that the faith of people is generally very weak, you should take blessed water in the church.

Answering the question of when you can take baptismal water, the Orthodox Church claims that all water on earth on January 18 and 19 is sanctified and purified in the same way.

Epiphany water of rivers and lakes

There are many questions about this. For example, is it possible to drink or cook food from water taken from water bodies baptized on the feast, or where and when can one take baptismal water?

There are, of course, reservoirs with clean water, from which you can drink, but the bulk of rivers and lakes are still undrinkable. Any Epiphany nature does not necessarily need to be drunk, it is cleansed and sanctified, and therefore everything must always be treated reasonably. In baptismal reservoirs they bathe, sprinkle objects, houses, animals, and so on. But this water should not be used for drinking. sea ​​water we, with all our desire, will not drink, therefore it is best to collect consecrated water in our church and not experiment.

How to properly store baptismal water

First of all, we must always remember that even Epiphany water in all its physical parameters still remains water. But according to the metaphysical, after the baptismal rite, it acquires the divine power of consecration. However, to keep this water for a long time, some care will also be required.

In order to have enough water for the whole year, you should not strain and drag it with whole tubs. In fact, just a small amount is enough to last until the next Baptism. After all, this water has one special property: diluted with ordinary water, it sanctifies it all. It is advisable to store this water near the icons and away from sunlight, and it is better to sign it immediately so as not to accidentally use it for other purposes.

reverent storage

A case was recorded when one old woman had kept holy water since 1947 and was fit for use, because it did not deteriorate at all, as it was guarded with reverence and great love.

But the painful state of a person's soul can also affect the water. Water does not stand well where people quarrel and utter abusive words, where there is fornication and adultery. Through the water, God can show all this disgusting desolation in the house. Now the answer to the question why baptismal water does not deteriorate is clear enough.

But some negligent owners spoiled the water stored in the dishes, on which the old labels from alcoholic or carbonated drinks remained. Even if the water has deteriorated, this is not a reason to pour it out, you can no longer drink it, but you can sprinkle it. But the priests still recommend not to be lazy, go to church and collect other blessed water.

They tell one case connected with sacred water. The woman secretly put divination cards in the Easter basket, for she was told that they would be better at telling the truth. But when drops of consecrated water fell on them, they literally burned through the paper, like hot melted tin particles. Therefore, people need to beware and not use the shrine for their magical purposes, since God can shame for this in the most unexpected way.

The concept of "Holy water"

It turns out that the very concept of "holy water" is incorrect, there is correct word- consecrated. FROM Greek"Megalo agiasma" means "great shrine", but not "holy" ("Agia"). The word "holy" speaks of the holiness of the object, but does not make it holy, for "One is holy, one is the Lord ...". By virtue of the image and likeness, a person can be holy, or Gifts and temples, because this can be a place of special stay of the Lord. And water can only be consecrated or holy. She is consecrated with great solemnity, she is given many honors and great importance.

Many do not know what to do if baptismal water is spilled, and whether it can be poured into the sink. Spilled consecrated water is wiped off with a clean towel and squeezed into a pot with a house plant or into a pond, or simply poured into the ground, but not into a sink and into a public sewer, where it is simply unacceptable to pour it.

Deteriorating or not deteriorating

Some people wonder why baptismal water does not spoil? As mentioned earlier, water can still deteriorate, primarily due to the fact that it is taken and poured into an insufficiently clean vessel or drawn from a polluted source, or stored in the sun or in a hot place. Such an attitude in hagiasma, when the water has a musty smell, greenery, sediment, mold, can serve as a reason to shame dishonorable people.

Consecrated water can heal only by the will of God, and not because it has some magical power. The Lord influences a person through the consecrated water element. And He does this in a variety of manifestations - he gives a blessing to someone for healing, and he will admonish someone right up to illness.

real christian

Epiphany water, prayer and faith are the real weapons of a true Christian. Orthodox believers always have a need to pray, to sanctify their homes and everything around, and thereby devote their lives to serving the Lord. Therefore, in the house of a Christian, there are always icons, vessels with consecrated water, blessed oil, and an antidoron is kept in the tueska for everyday drinking of water, and this is always done with prayer. Such communion with shrines makes it possible to feel the true Divine power, which strengthens and protects.

If we recall the Gospel stories, then the Lord did not just heal people, but breathed, spat, anointed the eyes of a blind man, made clay or put His fingers into the ears of a deaf person.

Double rank of Great Consecration

In general, this double rite of the Great Blessing of Water has long traditionally existed only in the Russian Orthodox Church. In ancient churches, water is consecrated only on Christmas Eve, that is, just before the feast of Epiphany. On Christmas Eve, Vespers of the Feast of the Enlightenment is directly served, this great day is also called that. And then, at the end of Vespers, a passage is made to the source for the Great Blessing of Water.

The tradition of the double rank of consecration of water dates back to the 15th century, at that time not all villages had churches, and therefore the priests traveled from village to village to bless the water there on the very day of Epiphany. So this tradition was canonized - to bless water on the feast of Epiphany, although today there is no such need for this. Now the answer to the question, when they take baptismal water, will be more understandable. And therefore, it is most likely to draw water on the Eve of Epiphany - January 18 (January 5), and whoever could not do it on Christmas Eve comes a day later - January 19. The properties of water on Christmas Eve and on the day of Epiphany are the same, so you should not draw it twice.

Epiphany water, prayer and faith are the real weapons of a true Christian.

First, don't worry. Often an Orthodox Christian takes prosaic and everyday things as bad or good signs. For example, the priest accidentally dropped an engagement ring at a wedding - the young will not live. Or: when he prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos for something to be fulfilled, he saw how a ray of sunshine fell on his face and the image seemed to smile, then the desired will come true; Epiphany water has deteriorated - the grace of God has departed from home, expect trouble. This, of course, is superstition, that is, a vain belief. The Holy Fathers unequivocally say: do not look for signs, do not indulge in superstitions and do not inflame either positive or negative thought-emotional attitudes on this matter. Everything should be accepted with indifference, as if it never happened.

All the will of God. And trust her, based primarily on the commandments of the Lord and the advice of the holy fathers. It is necessary, as they say, not to panic and not to panic, but to clearly and soberly realize that our salvation depends on the will of God and on how zealously we work on ourselves to eradicate sin and purify and sanctify our own inner man.

It is very easy to dispose of holy water that has gone bad. Pour it somewhere under a bush or tree, on grass or the ground in a clean place where there is no garbage. If this is an apartment, then pour it into a flowerpot, but not into the sewer, so that the shrine does not interfere with sewage. If the holy water was stored in a plastic bottle, then it is better to burn it in a clean place, and if in a glass container, it can be rinsed well several times and also poured into a clean place.

It is better to store holy water not on the window and not in a place where direct sunlight falls on it. This can also ruin it. On the other hand, you need to understand that initially in the consecrated water there may be seeds of aquatic plants, from which the water can “bloom”. There are many natural options when holy water can go bad.

When holy water becomes unfit for drinking, you can sprinkle your home, children, relatives with it from the palm of your hand. And in this way, use the shrine for its spiritual purpose, so that the baptismal water, by the power of the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, sanctifies, cleanses our home, and our souls and bodies receive the saving and life-giving power of God's grace.

You can replenish the stocks of baptismal or other holy water (from prayer services) in the temple. You can store it all year round, adding plain water to the shrine according to the principle "a drop of holy water sanctifies the sea." In a similar way, baptismal water is stored in the temple.

It is pleasant to watch when you enter a different house and see holy water and a cup standing next to it, and a bag of prosphora. And you already know that this person regularly eats holy water and prosphora. And sometimes you can see that a person brings baptismal water into the house on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, put it closed in a closet and gets out of there only the next year on January 19th. It is poured out or replenished with fresh Epiphany water. This, of course, is sad. Because baptismal water should serve us for good. It can and should support our spiritual and bodily strength if used properly every day. It is a means of sanctifying our spiritual and bodily nature. And therefore it is desirable that the day Orthodox Christian started with her. After all, water, among other means consecrated by the Church, helps us fight sin and draw closer to God. The great shrine-aghiasma is a symbol of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. God has appeared to His people and remains among them forever... Therefore, after the morning rule on an empty stomach, consumption of prosphora and holy water with a certain prayer is a kind of echo-symbol of the Liturgy, a kind of very important point our personal home worship, in which God sanctifies both us and the coming day, teaching us His blessing in it.

January 19 is one of the days in which everyone Orthodox churches overflowing, because it is on this day that the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ and, according to ancient tradition, the blessing of water is performed, which is called the Great Blessing of Water. Unfortunately, this particular church holiday is 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 First 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 (consecrated on January 18, on Epiphany Christmas Eve) and “Epiphany” (consecrated on January 19, on the very day of the Epiphany).

The Great Blessing of Water takes place twice, it is true. The first consecration of water is on the eve of the Feast of Epiphany, on January 18, on Epiphany Christmas Eve, and the second on the very day of the holiday. But this water has no difference, because on January 18 and 19, the same rite (that is, the sequence of prayers) of water consecration is used. The water consecrated according to this order is called the Great Agiasma, that is, the Great Shrine. There is no separate “Epiphany” and separately “Epiphany” water, but only the Great Agiasma. In the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord is called "Holy Theophany, the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ." The word "Theophany" is a brief expression of the events that took place during the Baptism of Jesus Christ from John the Baptist on the Jordan River. In the Gospel of Matthew, this is described as follows: “Having been baptized, Jesus immediately went up out of the water, and lo, 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 saying: 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 a confirmation of the Sonhood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is difficult to accurately answer the question of what the practice of two blessings of water is connected with. It is known that already in the VI century in Palestine there was a tradition of consecrating water in the Jordan River on the eve and on the very day of the feast of Epiphany. In Ancient Russia, 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, arranging a procession to a specially prepared ice hole - Jordan.

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

Indeed, there is a tradition of bathing in the 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 Baptism of the Lord, you can see that this particular day was earlier than the day on which adults were baptized. A person who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ was preparing for a certain time to receive 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 Scriptures and the basics Christian faith and prepared before accepting Baptism to repent of all their sins, because the adoption of Christianity must begin with repentance, that is, with a change in life. Therefore, Baptism without repentance was simply impossible. And on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the bishop performed the Sacrament of Baptism for adults. Such baptisms were also performed on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of Christ, on Holy Saturday (the Saturday before the feast of 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 Baptism of the Lord is a reminder for modern Christians of the ancient baptism of the catechumens. But it must be remembered that the acceptance of the Sacrament of Baptism was preceded by preparation, repentance for sins and confirmation of the sincerity of one's intentions before the church community. Therefore, it cannot be said that plunging into the hole-Jordan and being baptized is one and the same.

3. Having bathed on Epiphany night in the hole, you can get rid of all diseases, sins and the evil eye. If you get sick during the year, you need to drink baptismal water for healing.

It is necessary to place accents: separately - diseases and sin, separately - the evil eye. The evil eye, corruption and the like are superstitions. And you need to get rid of only one thing - from belief in superstition. Christians believe in God, and not in evil eye, corruption, love spells, etc. Turning to God in prayers, we ask God to 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 a person away from God, which is why we ask God to deliver us from the devil and all the evil that he is trying to sow in people. If a person sincerely believes in God, that the Lord God protects believers from all evil, then at the same time it is impossible to believe in corruption, the evil eye, and the like.

Taking baptismal water (like any other shrine, for example, prosphora or consecrated oil - oil), a person can pray to the Lord that this shrine would serve him as a means of healing from illnesses. In the order of the Great Blessing of Water there are the following words: “For the existence of this water of sanctification for free, deliverance of sins, for the healing of the soul and body, and for every good good, let us pray to the Lord” (Russian translation: “So that this water of sanctification becomes 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 receive the grace of God, which cleanses sins, heals spiritual and bodily infirmities. But all this is not some kind of mechanical or automatic action: he drank water - and everything immediately became good. It requires faith and hope in God.

If we understand some words (for example, “today - that is, today, now - nature is sanctified by water ...”) from the order of the Great Blessing of Water in a broad sense, then we can say that the sanctification of all waters really takes place. But again, it is important to understand that this does not happen by itself, but through the prayers of the Church. The Church asks that the Lord God sanctify the waters, give His grace-filled power, purifying and sanctifying the nature of water. Unfortunately, it often happens that many come to the temple just for water, without participating in the divine service of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It turns out that baptismal 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 Jordan that the blessing of water is performed.

By the way, the famous Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto came to the conclusion that any water “hears”, perceives and absorbs information: if it plays music, speaks kind words, reads prayers, then its structure becomes more harmonious and cleaner.

Ukrainian scientist Mikhail Kurik also studied water not only from church sources, but also from lakes, ordinary bottled, tap water.

- All our experiments have shown that any water collected on the morning of January 19 is subject to the "Epiphany" phenomenon - that is, it has increased energy.

And the specialists of the laboratory of drinking water supply of the Moscow Institute. Sysina began to observe the water from January 15th. The water collected from the tap was defended, and then the amount of radical ions in it was measured. In the course of the study, the number of radical ions in water has been creeping up since January 17th. At the same time, the water became softer, its pH increased, which made the liquid less acidic. The water reached its peak of activity on January 18, in the evening. Due to the large number of radical ions, its electrical conductivity was really like that of water saturated with electrons. At the same time, the pH of the water jumped over the neutral one by 1.5 points. The researchers also studied the degree of structure of Epiphany water. They froze several samples - from the tap, from the church spring, from the river. So, even the water from the tap, which is usually far from ideal, when frozen, was a harmonious spectacle under the microscope. The curve of the electromagnetic activity of water began to decline already in the morning of January 19 and by 20 took its usual form.

Water "charges" space

To understand why it is on Epiphany that water becomes bioactive, scientist Mikhail Kurik decided to go further. He began to collect water samples from December 22 - the day winter solstice to more accurately trace why and how water changes its structure on January 18–19.

And he came to the conclusion that the properties of water are influenced by the energy fields of the Earth, the Moon, the Sun, the fields of the planets of the Solar System, and various cosmic radiations.

“Everything is explained by the laws of nature,” says Mikhail Vasilyevich. - Every year on January 19, the Earth, together with the Solar System in Space, passes through the rays of special radiation, as a result of which all life on Earth comes to life, including the increase in the bioenergy of all the waters of the Earth. It is on January 18–19 that water receives additional energy due to changes in the gravitational field in galactic space. What for? Everything is simple! After all, spring is approaching, and all living things need energy to be born again.

But according to the results of research by the Russian physicist Anton Belsky, in space before January 19, for a number of years, intense bursts of the neutron flux were recorded, exceeding background levels by 100-200 times. The highs were on both the 18th and 17th, but sometimes exactly on the 19th.

The energy channel structures the water

Astrologers also adhere to the "cosmic" theory of the origin of baptismal water.

- On this day, the water becomes clean, carries a charge of holiness and rejuvenation. And it's not just like that, - says Pavel Mikhlin, candidate of technical sciences, astrologer.

It is believed that the Sun, the Earth, the center of the galaxy are located in such a way that on January 18-19 a communication line between our planet and the center of the galaxy opens, everything begins to interact. The Earth falls under an energy channel that structures everything, including water on Earth. In addition, there are usually frosts at Epiphany, and the frozen water absorbs and “preserves” positive energy during worship and prayers. And during the consecration, people themselves charge the water with their positive energy, because they really believe that the water should become healing, sanctified.

By the way

Many people ask: they say, if a person is 70% water, can our bodies be cleansed of everything bad on Epiphany night and immediately be cured of all diseases? But no, it's impossible, the churchmen say.

“There is nothing automatic in religion. A person consists not only of water and protein - the body, it also has a soul, - says Abbot Eustratius. “And it’s not easy to cleanse the soul. You can even lie in holy water all day long, you won’t become a saint. To cleanse the soul, you need to live righteously and pray. And holy water is just a blessing for that.

How to use holy water

Often we ourselves do not know how to use holy water, although we collect it in the church literally in liters. But it is not necessary to do so. Abbot Yevstratiy, press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, told BLIK about these subtleties and some secrets.

They drink holy water during illness and every day on an empty stomach a little - 60-100 grams.

They store it in a glass vessel near the icons so that no light enters.

You can enhance the effect of water by reading a prayer over it, for example - "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Holy water cannot be used for domestic purposes - to wash dishes, make tea, cook something, and even take a bath from it. After all, it is impossible for her to go to stock.

It is not necessary to take the consecrated "temple" water, you can bring your own for consecration - even tap water.

It is advisable to take clean and high-quality water for consecration, because physical dirt will not go anywhere.

Consecrated water can be diluted with ordinary water, such water acquires the qualities of a saint. Don't bring fizzy drinks mineral water, it is better to take the usual.

Epiphany water can be sprinkled on a dwelling.

Usually, baptismal water is stored for a year until the next Epiphany. But few people know that such water can stand for longer - and three, and even ten years.

“My Epiphany water stood for three years - and did not deteriorate, did not bloom,” says Father Varsonofy, treasurer of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. “I got it from our holy well of Anthony. After I drank it, I felt a surge of strength and a blessing all day long. I know that scientists came and even collected water for experiments from the source of St. Anthony. After all, studies have shown that the optical density of baptismal water is higher than water from the same sources on ordinary days. Moreover, it is close to the optical density of water from the Jordan River.

But hegumen Yevstratiy, press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, told BLIK that he knows a case when Epiphany water stood for 10 years and did not deteriorate!

Epiphany magic will preserve beauty and fulfill wishes

The main thing is to remember the dream

Everyone knows about baptismal divination. But ordinary dreams on the night of Epiphany are also “letters from the future.” Before falling asleep, you need to ask a question about your fate, which interests you the most. Unmarried girls in the old days put a comb or a king of diamonds under their pillows and asked to dream of their betrothed. The evening before, spend as calmly as possible, go to bed early, and wake up on the morning of the 19th not at the wake of the alarm clock. In this case, it is more likely to see a prophetic dream and not forget it right there. They say that a dream will be brighter and better remembered if you eat something salty at night, but do not drink water. Put a pen and a notepad next to the bed, and when you wake up, immediately write down the dream or tell someone right away - this way you are more likely to remember.

most cherished

It is believed that the night from the 18th to the 19th is the ideal time for making the most secret desires. It is believed that the sky at this time hears best what people ask for, and requests are fulfilled. Only one main condition: you need to make wishes with a pure soul. And only good ones! Before asking for something for yourself or your loved ones, it is better to first, at least mentally, ask for forgiveness from those whom you have hurt for a year, and whom, even reluctantly, have harmed. And also - thank God for all the good things in life. And only after that, with an open heart, make wishes. How? Yes, even just going out on the balcony and looking at the sky! You can write 12 wish notes, put under the pillow. And when you wake up in the morning, pull out three of them. They will definitely come true.

Wrinkle free all year round

And here is a tip for ladies who want to keep their youth for a long time. Early in the morning on December 19, pour Epiphany water into a bowl and look at your reflection. You need to examine yourself very carefully, noticing wrinkles and flaws, after which you wash your face three times with your hands. Water the flowers with the rest of the water. The effect will increase if the water is from the river, where the woman herself goes for it early in the morning. But, if you believe that in Baptism all water gains strength, ordinary water left overnight under the sky may also do. They say that after such a magical procedure, your face will be fresh and attractive all year long.

Why is holy water used to consecrate temples, houses and vital objects? How is Epiphany water different from the water consecrated at the prayer service for the blessing of water, and from the water in holy springs, springs and wells? How are prosphora consecrated and what is the difference between antidoron and arthos?

And finally, what is the significance of these shrines in the life of an Orthodox believer, and how should they be treated?

You will find answers to all these questions in this book.

See also books section pantry of nature- there are interesting publications about water and its properties.

One of the main traditions of Baptism is a set of holy water, which on this day acquires special properties. It must be collected at a strictly defined time.

Alternative name for Baptism Epiphany, since it was on this day that God revealed himself to the world in three forms. Jesus Christ accepted the sacrament of baptism in the Jordan River, but this ceremony had a completely different meaning - the Savior thus blessed all the waters on the globe so that we can dip in holy water on the same day. This day in Orthodoxy is January 19. It is unchanged from year to year.

Properties of baptismal water

Epiphany water has many properties. They are explained by the special symbolism that the rite of baptism has. It is not just water, but a source of holiness. You can just drink it, but many people save it for the whole year to use in various situations.

Epiphany water heals diseases. It's no secret that taking holy water helps people recover from any ailments. The stronger your faith, the more likely you are to be healed. For people who are far from religion, this may seem strange, but for believers, the power of baptismal water is not in doubt. Medicine still cannot explain why holy water has such an effect on people.

Epiphany water cheers up, relieves depression. The mechanism of action in this case is the same, but only the water acts not on the body, but on the soul. Mental wounds are sometimes deeper and more serious than bodily ones. They also need to be treated in time to make life brighter. When you feel that your faith is weakening, when the soul turns into a clot of dark threads, then taking baptismal water will help to unravel the tangle of doubt and despondency.

Consecrated water banishes evil, cleanses the room from negative energy. Those who believe in God also believe in the Devil, who greedily takes away for himself what God cannot take. If you feel that some strange entities have wound up in your house that haunt you, then simply sprinkle the room with holy water. If inexplicable things happen to you or dream bad dreams, then sprinkle water on the bed and on its headboard. Wash your face with water before going to bed and read the Our Father to drive away evil spirits.

It is worth noting that Epiphany water does not deteriorate - it can be stored indefinitely. It is better to use it according to church rules on an empty stomach.

When to Collect Holy Water

The holiday itself is celebrated on January 19, but you can draw water after the evening liturgy on the evening of January 18. Water becomes sacred after a special prayer service.

If you did not attend the service on the 18th, then do so on January 19th. Attendance at the liturgy is considered mandatory if you have the opportunity. You can come and just draw holy water, but this is absolutely correct. There is no difference between water collected on Christmas Eve on the 18th or on the holiday itself.

It is very important to remember that it is not necessary to pour a hundred liters of water in order to have enough for you and all your relatives. According to the rules of the church, any drinking water, into which you pour holy water in a small amount, will also become consecrated. If you do not want to collect a large amount of water, then you can take a liter and pour it into larger containers already at home.

Do not forget that the sacrament of confession and communion received on the feast of Epiphany has a very high spiritual value. Treat this day as a great holiday that requires good deeds and prayers from us!

In addition to questions about the properties of Epiphany water, believers are also interested in information about how many days Epiphany water remains holy, when should water be drawn? Church workers say that Epiphany water counts on the night of January 18-29. But, this is not the only time when water sanctifies in the temple. This is how it has historically been. That two liturgies are held in honor of Baptism: in the morning and in the evening, and therefore the water is consecrated twice. It is for the poet that Epiphany water can be collected within two days, and not only on the night of January 18-19.

About the properties of Epiphany water

about healing and amazing properties Epiphany water, many know firsthand. After all, it is this water that is considered the most powerful and healing, which is not denied even by doctors who are accustomed to relying on scientific facts.

If we talk about human health, then Epiphany water and its properties have a positive effect on:

Immunity;
nervous system;
endocrine system.

At the same time, Epiphany water does not need to be prepared in any special way, to insist, it is enough just to collect it in the temple on Epiphany and drink it daily. There are other health problems that baptismal water can help heal, as its properties affect both the brain and the respiratory system. For alcoholics, Epiphany water helps to get rid of delirium tremens, restores the ability to coordinate the body.

Interesting! According to the reviews of the people and centuries-old practice, there were cases when just a few drops of water helped people get out of a coma, avoid anaphylactic shock. There are many such cases that are difficult to explain in a logical way.

Even if there are no health problems, it is useful to drink baptismal water as a preventive measure. To do this, you need to start your day with taking Epiphany water on an empty stomach, as well as wash it in the morning, which has a beneficial effect on the skin.

Despite all its strength, baptismal water is not suitable for constant use. In order for it to give all its unique properties for the benefit of a person, it is enough to drink it in the morning, but do not make tea or coffee with it, or fill it in bottles in order to quench your thirst during sports. It is also appropriate to drink some medicines with Epiphany water, but nothing more.

Other recommendations on the use of baptismal water by priests include the need to sprinkle food on the table with it, and women must wash their faces with such water in order to preserve their youth and beauty. If a person is sick, then he can use baptismal water as a medicine, because the properties of baptismal water, as has already been found out, have a beneficial effect on health.

A few facts about Epiphany water

Church officials claim that baptismal water has such strong properties because it contains divine power. But, it is human nature not to trust such statements, and to look for a catch in everything or remain skeptics.

However, even in scientific circles, numerous studies of the properties of baptismal water were carried out, and here is an interesting observation made by scientists who, by the way, are also skeptical: the water that was taken from the reservoir on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord stood in the laboratory for 4 years. During this time, neither the structure of the water, nor its properties have changed, not to mention the fact that the water from the reservoir for so many years has never even bloomed. It is important to note here that, for example, tap water is not suitable for consumption after 2 months. From this follows another curious and mysterious property of baptismal water: it never spoils.

Scientists have found the answer to why baptismal water does not deteriorate. The fact is that it is this water that is different high level energy. Moreover, it is on Epiphany that the water becomes softer, the pH level in it rises by one and a half points. At the same time, no logical explanation for this phenomenon has been found so far, and therefore so many secrets and mysticism go around this little water.

It is best to collect Epiphany water in churches on the eve of Epiphany on January 18 after the Divine Liturgy, or throughout the day on January 19.

But, at the same time, it can be noted that Epiphany water changes its properties on a holiday, regardless of where it is located. The question of faith plays a very important role here, if you really believe in the properties of Epiphany water, then it will certainly become an elixir.

There are three rules to follow here:

If you do not believe in the power of Epiphany water, then it simply will not help;
The water collected for Baptism should be stored closer to the icons, in glass or plastic containers;
Epiphany water should be treated with respect, as a shrine, drink it only with good positive thoughts, and also rub it and sprinkle the house.

Of course, it is difficult to believe in such a miracle, and many questions remain. But there are facts that are confirmed by scientists: Epiphany water is different from other water and really has inexplicable properties. But to believe in it or not is a personal matter for everyone.

WHAT THE STUDIES HAVE SHOWED

There is only one solution to the mystery of baptismal water - its divine origin, my grandmother inspired me. We mortals are not supposed to know more...

But, apparently, this is how we mortals are arranged - we always want to taste the forbidden fruit. A sensational discovery was made by physicists from the Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene. Sysina RAMN. During the period Epiphany holidays employees of the institute examined the water taken from the tap day after day. So, the phenomenon is scientifically confirmed - the water in Baptism differs from the usual high level of energy. Moreover, the occurrence of this unusual property Baptism is influenced by... interplanetary magnetic fields.

That heals, extinguishes the flame of passions and drives away evil spirits, the church has informed from time immemorial. But what exactly makes it so magical? This question has been asked by many scientists. Specialists of the laboratory of drinking water supply of the Institute. Sysin did not begin to guess, but simply took and conducted a serious scientific study.

First of all, it was necessary to fix the phase of the transition of water to an unusual state, - says one of the participants in the experiment, candidate of technical sciences Anatoly STEKHIN. - We began to “follow” her already from January 15th.
- How?
- Yes, they simply drew water from the tap, defended and measured the amount of radical ions in it . In Baptism, water changes properties in all sources, including plumbing. So, the number of radical ions in water has been creeping up since January 17th. Along with this, the water became softer, its hydrogen index (pH level) increased, which made the liquid less acidic. The water reached its peak of activity, as expected, on January 18 in the evening. Due to the large number of radical ions, its electrical conductivity was really like that of an artificially created catholyte (water saturated with electrons). At the same time, the pH of water jumped over neutral (7 pH) by 1.5 points.
- We also studied the degree of structure of Epiphany water, - explains Stekhin. To do this, we had to freeze several samples - from the tap, from a church spring, from the Moskva River. So, even tap water, which is usually far from ideal, when frozen, was a harmonious spectacle under the microscope. Curve of electromagnetic activity of water began to decline already in the morning of January 19 and by the 20th took its usual form.
- So what caused such a sharp increase in the electromagnetic activity of water in Epiphany?
- A large accumulation of radical ions in the Earth's lithosphere, - Stekhin answers. - After all, it is a real reservoir of electrons and transfers most of them to the water. On ordinary days, the amount of energy in the water varies depending on the time of day. From 7 pm to 9 am, the water is most active (but not to the same extent as Epiphany). This is the best time to wash and stock up for household needs. When the sun rises, a large number of radical ions "fly away" from the water to the upper atmosphere. Such channels through which energy “runs away” from us are all vortex processes in the atmosphere.

It is not without reason that during the activity of cyclones, many people feel worse.. We simply do not have enough water electromagnetic energy. But the most extreme phenomenon, which literally devastates the Earth energetically, is earthquake.
As for the three Epiphany days, this, according to Stekhin, is an “anomalous” period when an anticyclone always dominates the Earth. And electrons, obeying some kind of cosmic influence, quietly "sit" in the lithosphere and water and saturate us with healing powers. The only explanation for this can be a special redistribution of the poles of the magnetic field that exists between the Sun and the Earth. It is the cosmic forces that hold the energy on Earth during Baptism.
- By the way, in past years, when we did one-time measurements of indicators of Epiphany water, its activity was higher than in the current, the scientist notes. The decrease in parameters was certainly influenced by the many cyclones that raged on Earth before Epiphany, and warm weather. Probably in this way nature “hints” to us that over time it can generally deprive sinful humanity of its favor.

EXPERT OPINION