The Baptism of the Lord: how to collect sacred water, traditions and customs of the holiday. When to collect baptismal water? Animated greeting cards

The feast of the Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 19, has another name - Epiphany. A legitimate question may arise: why is it not the day of the birth of Jesus Christ that is called Theophany, but this particular day. The answer is simple: the real day is not the one on which Christ was born, but the one on which he was baptized and blessed the water.
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Christians have been celebrating the Epiphany since apostolic times. The testimony of St. Clement of Alexandria from the 2nd century about the night vigil, which is performed before the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, has been preserved.

Starting from the III century, Gregory the Wonderworker, the martyr Hippolytus and all the great fathers of the Church held special conversations with the flock on the day of the holiday, in which they explained its meaning.

Unlike many other holidays that combined folk and church traditions, this is a purely Christian holiday, it came to us with the introduction of Christianity.

When Jesus Christ was thirty years old, he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Christian traditions tell that when the Son of God came out of the water, the heavens opened up, and at that very moment a dove landed on his shoulder. It was the Holy Spirit. This is where the tradition of baptism in water began.

By His baptism in the Jordan, the Savior began the Sacrament of Baptism - one of the seven main sacraments of the Church, through which a person is, as it were, born again for life in Christ.

In honor of the gospel event on this day, as well as on the eve / on Epiphany Christmas Eve / in all Orthodox churches the rite of the Great Blessing of Water is performed. By the way, all more or less significant church holidays are accompanied by the blessing of water.

The first time a person is immersed in holy water is at baptism, usually shortly after birth. In this way, a person is “renewed” for a future worthy life.

Holy water must be present during the consecration of churches, residential and commercial buildings, as well as all items used during worship.

The question may arise, why is it necessary to sanctify water again and again every year? The answer is pretty simple. Our world is full of sins, and the church, sanctifying the water, returns the water element to its original purity. Priests emphasize that God does not work miracles where a person expects them simply out of curiosity, without a sincere intention to use them for their own salvation. In order for holy water to be beneficial, you need to take care of cleanliness own thoughts and deeds.

But let us return to the description of the feast of Epiphany.

On the eve of the holiday, a strict fast is established. This holiday is the oldest Christian holiday. This holiday has been established since the time of the apostles. Initially, this holiday was called "Epiphany", translated as "appearance", or "Theophany" "Theophany".

Also, this holiday had the name "Holy Lights", later Svyatki. According to legend, the Lord comes on this day to shed Unapproachable Light on the world.

The word "baptism" is of Greek origin: to baptize means to immerse in water. But in order to fully understand the meaning of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, one must first understand the symbolic sacrament of water in Old Testament.

Water is life. Water, fertilized by the life-giving Spirit, will give rise to all living things. However, water can not only generate, but also destroy, such as, for example, the flood, which destroyed all human sins. Therefore, the water in which Jesus was baptized is designed to wash away all the bad and revive all the good.

On Epiphany, the Orthodox clergy make a procession: the consecration of natural reservoirs.

The day of January 18 was revered in Russia and was considered the eve of one of the greatest holidays. Church ministers call this day the Eve or Epiphany Christmas Eve.

The word "Christmas Eve" or "Novel" is associated with a special lenten dish, cooked from honey and raisins - sochivo. On this day, they usually baked vegetable pancakes or pancakes, baked juices with fruit. In general, flour vegetable and fruit dishes are eaten on this day.

The main event of Baptism is the blessing of water. To do this, a week before the holiday, men are cut down from river ice cross big size, doused with red paint or just beetroot kvass. This hole is called Jordan, in honor of the sacred river. In the hole, which is pre-consecrated exactly at midnight, it is customary to swim. According to belief, bathed in ice water a person gets rid of sins and diseases for the whole year.

It is also believed that on this night the sky opens and "what you pray to the sky will come true."

Also, a throne near the cross is cut out of ice. The festive composition is completed by pine or spruce branches in the form of an arch - this is royal doors».

On the bank of the river, again at the ice cross, another short festive service takes place, then the priest plunges the cross into the river water (in the hole, Jordan) to the singing of the choir “In the Jordan I am baptized to you, Lord ...”.

Now the water is considered to be consecrated, and people collect from the hole in the dishes brought with them holy water. After all the procedures, the community returns home.

According to popular beliefs, when a priest lowers a cross into an ice-hole, an evil spirit jumps out of the river, and it walks on the ground until some woman washes clothes in the river. The hostesses were in no hurry to return the evil spirits to the water - let more of it die from severe frosts.

According to legend, on Epiphany, the water in the river turns into wine for a moment. Bringing holy water home, the owner sprinkles everything in the house and household. The whole family sits down at the table, drinking holy water before eating. After dinner, the girls go to the river to wash themselves with Jordanian water - for beauty and health.

On the morning of January 19, a religious procession is held in the church, a prayer service is read, and “holy water” is distributed to believers. This water can remain fresh for several years.

The miraculous power of water, according to believers, has healing properties. There is also a belief that whoever draws water at Baptism will be very successful in business and household.

On the morning of January 19, believers usually pray and take holy water on an empty stomach. It is believed that it is under this condition that it has the greatest power. TO magical properties Holy waters include the ability to suppress passions, drive away evil spirits from the house, give the patient recovery ... often even from incurable diseases. Some priests are convinced that there is no better medicine for holy water

That's just during the reception of baptismal water, you should not swear and think badly, otherwise all the power of the water is lost.

Baptism should be celebrated with a lot of treats from vegetables, cereals, honey and meat.

It has long been in Russia that a whole piglet was baked on this day, cookies were baked in the form of crosses. The girls were guessing at the betrothed, to festive table All friends and relatives were invited.

Cookie crosses were eaten first on an empty stomach, washed down with Epiphany water, followed by pancakes and pancakes cooked with honey. It was believed that the more a person eats such pancakes, the more money he will have in the new year.

In some places, the custom is preserved to sing laudatory songs to the owner of the house:

"Hey, my lord, In the house, as in paradise: You have the will of half, You have golden plows, You have yards of cedar, You have tables of kalinovia ..."

Magnificent songs are suitable to end with wishes for good, happiness, harmony and wealth, for example, such:

"Hey, my Lord, Good luck, God, along the Jordan, And with water, and with the queen, with the whole house, with all the good, And with the sons-falcons, And with the daughters-Chichka ... "

In response to such a generous wish of all the best, the owner of the house endows the singers with money.
Jordanian traditions
After the consecration, all people return to their homes ...
While the mother or eldest daughter serves dinner on the table, the father takes it because of the image Mother of God a bunch of dry cornflowers, soaks them in holy water and sprinkles everything in the house and in the household, then takes more chalk and writes crosses on images, bastards, doors and a closet. Having dealt with this, the father sits down at the table, and the whole family follows him.
After dinner, the girls run to the river to wash in the "Jordanian water" - "so that there are pink faces." In the Hutsul region, the guys take their girls into the hole - "so that the si will wash and be red."

WITH THE BAPTISM OF YOU, DEAR!!

Baptism is one of the 12 most important Orthodox holidays, the final period of Christmas time, which began with the Nativity of Christ on January 7th.

As with any holiday on Epiphany, there are a lot of traditions, customs and signs. However, the most important thing on this day is water, because it was in it that Jesus Christ was baptized.

The editors of the site have prepared for you the most important customs and traditions that must be observed on this day.

history of the holiday

Orthodox Christians have been celebrating Epiphany for more than 2,000 years in a row since John the Baptist baptized the son of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

It is believed that after the rite of baptism was completed, the holy spirit descended to the people in the form of a dove and everyone listened to God's voice, which said: "You are my beloved son; my good will is in you!"

After baptism, Jesus set out on a journey. For 40 days he wandered in the desert, preparing himself for a sacred duty. Returning back, the son of the Lord sacrificed himself for the sake of the people and resurrected on the day that is now commonly called the Resurrection of Christ or Easter.

Like Christmas, the feast of Epiphany has its own Christmas Eve. It is also called the hungry holy evening. The fact is that at this time it is already necessary to fast and all the dishes on the table should be lean. On this day, the last kutya is prepared, which ends the Christmas holidays. In addition to it, uzvar, dumplings, pancakes should be present on the table.

Traditions and customs

As already mentioned on this day, all traditions are connected with water. Now, of course, everyone will say that on Baptism it is necessary to plunge into the hole and draw sacred water.

Let's start with swimming. It is considered that best time for bathing is the night of January 19, when the priest, after the evening service, blesses the water in the pond. However, those who did not have time to swim can do this throughout the entire feast of Epiphany.

At the same time, you also need to dive into the hole wisely. This is done only after a special Jordan in the form of a cross is cut through the ice, and the priest lowers the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer. You need to dip three times, but preferably not with your head, otherwise it can lead to a sharp decrease in temperature and pressure drop.

Bathing in reservoirs on this day cleanses the soul and body, protects a person from various evil spirits, as well as diseases.

So that the water does not lose its sacred power, it also needs to be dialed correctly. Our ancestors believed that at midnight on Epiphany, in general, all water becomes holy. If you collect it, then such water will stand for a whole year and not lose its healing properties.

The main rule in this case is the purity of the container into which water is collected. It should not be stored in liquor or plastic bottles. Previously, the housewives had a special jug where they collected baptismal water, clogged the vessel and carried it out to the cellar. She was used for a whole year for any illnesses, and she always helped.

What not to do on a holiday

Along with the traditions of Baptism, there are many prohibitions. The main one is a ban on any work - you can’t cook, clean, build, and so on, as well as do needlework. The whole holiday should be devoted to cleansing the soul from all the sins that have accumulated over the year.

It is also imperative not to swear, not to gossip, not to slander, and not to complain about your fate and the people around you. it is not recommended to arrange wild festivities and magnificent feasts, since the Epiphany fast is one of the most stringent and must be adhered to.

It was believed that after Epiphany, the winter frosts were already on the wane. Ukrainians liked to say at this time: "Three, do not tremble, but Vorokhreschi have already passed!"

Folk omens

On this day, people especially watched the weather, and from it they could determine what the whole coming year would be like. Wherein folk beliefs they say that the signs noticed in Baptism are the most faithful and everything that happens on this day must be paid special attention.

Among the most common signs are:

• if the weather is clear and frosty on this day, we should expect a drought in the summer;
• if it is cloudy and snowing outside, then a bountiful harvest awaited people;
• if at Epiphany noon blue clouds were observed in the sky, then the year should again be fruitful;
• if a full moon fell on Epiphany, then until the end of January the weather will be the same as the next three days after the holiday;
• if it rains, then the end of January will be cloudy and rainy;
• a cross painted on the door of the house will protect the family from evil spirits;
• barking dogs at night is a harbinger of good news.

Epiphany divination

The favorite entertainment of unmarried girls at Epiphany was fortune telling. Now they say that you can’t guess on this holiday, since you can guess fate for the worse. We will give you some of the most common ways to find out your fate, and it’s up to you to choose whether you do it at Baptism or not.

Divination with sounds. On a moonlit Epiphany evening, the girls went to the church and listened to the silence under the door. If they heard a wedding choir, it was worth waiting for an imminent wedding, and if a funeral service - a funeral.

There is a similar divination, but a bell is used for it. By its sound, they determined what the next year promised. So, if the ringing was sonorous, then this is for marriage, deaf - for imminent death.

Divination on bread with a ribbon. In an empty pot you need to put a piece of bread and a ribbon. Whatever you pull out blindfolded first is waiting for you this year. The ribbon symbolizes the arrival of matchmakers, and the bread means that the fortuneteller will sit in girls for another year.

Divination on paper. A sheet of paper must be crumpled and then set on fire. After it completely burns out with a candle on the wall, you need to create its shadow. What it will look like, this year, you have to wait.

Fortune telling in the snow. This year, some snow fell in Ukraine, so you can try to tell fortunes on it. In the evening, the girls fell backwards into the snow. Already in the morning they looked at the left trace. If it was smooth and even, then the character of the future husband will be good. If the snow turned out to be cut, then the spouse may turn out to be pugnacious.

Fortune telling on buns. A group of girls gathered in the house, you had to have a bun with you. The pastries were laid out in one row and launched into the room to the guessing hungry dog. Whose bun he eats first, she will marry this year.

The Baptism of the Lord is one of the largest Orthodox holidays. This day in our country is celebrated annually on January 19.

In Russia it significant event It is celebrated quite widely, there are services in all churches, and people, believers and non-believers, visit churches to pray and collect blessed water.

From the history of the event

According to the Gospel, when Jesus Christ was 30 years old, he found John the Baptist, who was in those days in the city of Bethabara near the Jordan River. Then many people were baptized by John in the Jordan River, as they believed in his prophecies, including the imminent appearance of the Messiah.

The rite of baptism in the Jordan River for John and his followers symbolized renewal, the replacement of the old law with the new one that the Messiah would bring with him.

On the day when Christ himself appeared to the prophet to undergo the rite of Baptism, John the Baptist did not believe that the Messiah himself had visited him. And Jesus humbly answered that he had to fulfill the truth and received Baptism from the prophet.

They say that on the Day of the Baptism of the Lord, unprecedented events took place, or rather, the sky opened, and a voice was heard from heaven.

It was after this event that Christ was followed by his first disciples Andrew, Simon, Philip, Nathanael, who later became apostles. And the baptized Jesus went to the desert for 40 days, where he fervently prayed and fasted, being tempted by the Devil. After that, he returned to the world to fulfill his destiny.

It is not known for certain when Jesus lived, was born and baptized. Theologians believe that he lived in the 1st century BC, was born from 12 to 4 BC, and was baptized 30 years after his birth. At 33, Jesus was crucified on the cross.

Christ was baptized in the Yardenit backwater, where it merges sacred river Jordan with Lake Tiberias. Many true believers now want to be baptized there.

The first mention of Epiphany as a holiday

But at first, two holidays, Christmas and Epiphany, were not separated, they were celebrated on the same day on January 6, and the event was called Epiphany.

Only at the end of the 4th century AD did the Baptism of the Lord become an independent date. But a certain unity between these two events has still been preserved, the day before Christmas and Epiphany it is necessary to observe fasting, and the evening on the eve of both church holidays is called Christmas Eve.

Good to know: Christmas and Epiphany are connected by the period from January 7 to 17, which is called Christmas time.

Traditions and customs of Baptism

On the eve of Epiphany, you need to fast all day, and in the evening, with the appearance of the first star, you can only eat meatless dishes. You should sit down to eat only after prayer.

On the eve of Christmas Eve, Christians thoroughly cleaned the house. They washed all the corners, and where, according to popular beliefs, there could be evil spirits, they painted crosses in the windows, corners. It is believed that on the evening before Epiphany, evil spirits are especially dangerous.

One of the main traditions on the Epiphany evening is washing in the hole. It is believed that in this way a person washes away all his sins with holy water, is charged with health and strength for the coming year. Girls and women on this holy day dipped in sacred water viburnum or coral and washed with that water so that the face looked healthy and the cheeks were ruddy.

It is believed that from 00.00 at night until 24.00 on January 19, holy water comes from all sources, which has powerful healing properties. According to beliefs, holy water can cure many diseases, fight spoilage, the evil eye, etc. Services are held in the churches on the morning of January 19, the water is additionally blessed. Holy water keeps its healing properties exactly a year.

Believers traditionally go to church on this day, and not only in the morning for the blessing of water, but throughout the day. On this day, you need to pray and devote yourself to spiritual enlightenment. In the temple, people wash themselves, drink holy water.

On the table on this great feast, according to custom, it is necessary to put a dozen dishes. It can be cereals, jelly, meat, pancakes, etc. After eating, all family members, young and old, thank the Lord for the bread and set off to release the pigeons.

There are some prohibitions on this great divine holiday. So, on January 19, you can’t do physical labor, you should clean up in advance, in extreme cases, you can do this before lunch. But washing is strictly prohibited not only on January 19, but also within 2 days after.

On the day of Epiphany, you can not drink alcohol, it is permissible to use only a glass of Cahors. You should definitely not guess at Epiphany, be rude, greedy and rude on this day.

sermon for baptism

Traditionally January 19 in Russia holy patriarch performs a solemn long liturgy in the temple and addresses the faithful with words of prayer and sermon. The service is televised.

The Epiphany of the Lord is one of the most revered religious holidays among Russians. Visiting churches, temples, jumping into the hole, collecting holy water have become folk traditions on this day.

Baptism is popularly called Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19, in 2018 this date falls on Friday. In Russia, this event is not included in non-working days although it is an official holiday.

The ancient and revered by all Christians feast of the Baptism of the Lord is becoming one of the most anticipated events in the entire church year. Everyone knows about this holiday who has ever heard of Orthodox faith, which is why it is not surprising that even in modern world people continue to adhere to the strict canons of celebrating this wonderful day.

Epiphany 2018: The history of the holiday

This church holiday has been celebrated exactly since more than 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River. It is believed that after the baptism itself, the holy spirit descended from heaven in the form of a white dove. All heard the voice of God, which said: “You are My Beloved Son; My favor is in you!" Starting from that day, Jesus began his earthly mission, which ended, as everyone knows, with the resurrection, which became the progenitor of the Easter holiday. After baptism, Jesus Christ went into the desert, where he remained for 40 days and nights, preparing himself for the fulfillment of his sacred duty.

Epiphany 2018: Traditions of the holiday. Do's and Don'ts

Over time, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord has acquired a huge number of traditions that are sacredly revered by people to this day. Perhaps the most significant of them is the rite of bathing in the hole, the features of which should be known to everyone who wants to perform this action. Before bathing, a hole is cut through the ice, which is commonly called the Jordan in honor of the river in which Jesus was baptized. The priest dips the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, which sanctifies this place for further rites. You should plunge three times with your head, after which it is customary to read a prayer and get out of the water. It would seem, why expose your body to such stress on days when the Russian winter is especially fierce? However, bathing in the hole at Epiphany is an ancient and wise tradition. It is believed that it is on this day that water in natural springs acquires special properties: after bathing in such water, not only diseases, ailments, evil eyes are washed away, but also sins, of which a lot could have accumulated by this moment ...

1. People with diseases of the heart, nervous and vascular systems, as well as pregnant women and children should not enter the water. This is especially true for the latter, since childhood the process of thermoregulation has not yet been formed, which is why the children's body is at risk of getting serious complications.
2. You can not swim while intoxicated - because it is life-threatening!
3. You can have a hearty meal before diving, but at the same time - do not overeat, and after that - drink hot tea.

If you follow all the rules, then this procedure at the Baptism of the Lord will certainly have a beneficial effect on your well-being: both physical and spiritual.

Epiphany 2018: Tradition to collect Epiphany water

Of course, not everyone will be able to plunge into the hole on January 19, 2018, but at the same time, each of us will be able to collect holy baptismal water for ourselves, and we will tell you further how, where and when it is best to collect baptismal water.

It should be noted that the consecration of water in churches takes place on January 18 on Epiphany Christmas Eve (after Divine Liturgy), and on the feast of the Epiphany itself. On these two days, you can collect baptismal holy water, while there is no difference when it is collected in the temple - on January 18 or 19. If you decide to draw water from the tap, then, accordingly, the best period for this will be the period from 00:10 to 01:30, which falls on the night of January 18-19, while water you can also dial later, throughout the 19th (until 24:00).

It is forbidden to quarrel and do bad deeds when holy water is in the hands.

Baptism 2018: Signs

This holiday has many signs, both in relation to life and nature:

It is bad luck to dilute holy water;

Starting from Christmas Eve, it is not advised to lend money. Otherwise, the culprit may be short of money for a year;

You can not perceive the holiday, only as entertainment to plunge into the hole;

A good sign for Baptism is the completion of some business;

Any agreement on this day necessarily ends in success;

Nature at Baptism also says a lot:

Heavy snowfall and dark clouds at Epiphany portend a rich harvest in autumn;

Barking dogs at night is good news;

A cross painted on the doors can protect the house from evil spirits;

On holidays, nothing can be taken out of the house, otherwise there will be material losses.

The Feast of the Epiphany is one of the most ancient holidays Christian Church. Its establishment dates back to the time of the apostles. The ancient name of the holiday is "Epiphany" - a phenomenon, or "Theophany" - Epiphany, it was also called the "Feast of Lights", "Holy Lights" or simply "Lights". For God comes into the world on this day to reveal to the world the Light of Impenetrable.

Baptism is the beginning of the restoration of the original image of God in fallen man. The great mystery accomplished in baptism does not reach consciousness immediately. Baptism makes us "one branch" with Christ, as it were, grafts us to Him. In the water of baptism, the source of new life, man dies to sin and rises to God. But in order to truly carry out one's baptism, that is, to become the image of Christ, one needs a whole life.

The Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany, is celebrated Orthodox Church January 19, new style. On the eve of the holiday, on January 18, a strict fast was established. The Feast of Epiphany begins on the evening of January 18, when all Orthodox celebrate Epiphany Eve.

This holiday is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. During his earthly life, only adults were baptized, who fully felt the faith in the one God and realized in themselves this, at that time new, religion, because then Christians were persecuted, monotheism was rejected. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jesus Christ was baptized at the age of 30.

In remembrance of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, on the feast of Epiphany, there is a procession to the river to bless the water. This move is called the Jordan move. Blessing of water also happens on the eve of the holiday in temples. WITH holy water priests go from house to house. This is done for the consecration of both houses and those living in them. A similar walk with holy water also happens on other holidays, for example, on temple holidays. Water consecrated on the feast of Epiphany is taken from house to house and stored. It is used to heal the soul and body.

All four Gospels testify to this: “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).

The word "I baptize", "I baptize" means in Greek "I immerse in water". One cannot understand the meaning and importance of baptism without first understanding the symbolic and real meaning of water in the Old Testament. Water is the beginning of life. It is from the water fertilized by the life-giving Spirit that all living beings will come. Where there is no water, there is desert. But water can both destroy and annihilate - as with the water of the great flood God flooded sins and destroyed human evil.
The baptism of John was symbolic and meant that just as the body is washed and cleansed with water, so the soul of a person who repents and believes in the Savior will be cleansed of all sins by Christ. John himself exclaimed: “The strongest of me is coming after me, in whose presence I am not worthy, bending down to untie the strap of His shoes; I baptized you with water, and He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7-8).
And then Jesus of Nazareth comes to him. John, considering himself unworthy to baptize Jesus, began to restrain Him, saying: “I need to be baptized by You, and are YOU coming to me?” But Jesus said to him in answer, “Leave it now; for thus it behooves us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:14-15).

After the Baptism of Christ, baptism for people is no longer just a symbol of purification. Here Jesus revealed Himself to the world as the Christ, the Son of God. “I saw, I testify: He is the Chosen One of God,” confirms John the Baptist. ("Messiah" in Hebrew - the same as in Greek "Christ", that is, "God's Anointed"). Theophany revealed to us the great Divine mystery of the Holy Trinity. Now everyone who is baptized partakes in this mystery, according to Christ's words to His disciples, "Go, make disciples of all peoples, cross them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28, 19).

In memory of the fact that the Savior sanctified the water with His Baptism, there is a blessing of water; on the eve of the holiday, water is consecrated in churches, on the very feast of the Epiphany - in rivers or other places where water is taken. procession to the Jordan is called a procession for the consecration of natural reservoirs. With blessed water, the clergy go from house to house. This is done for the consecration of both houses and those living in them. A similar walk with holy water also happens on other holidays, for example, on temple holidays. Water consecrated on the feast of Epiphany is taken from house to house and stored. It is used to heal the soul and body.