Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany of the Lord: how to correctly collect sacred water, traditions and customs of the holiday
Traditional dishes on the feast of Epiphany
How to swim in an ice hole correctly?
When and how can you collect holy water?
What prayers to read for Epiphany on January 19
Conspiracies for Epiphany January 19
Baptism of a child on Epiphany January 19
Signs and beliefs
What not to do at the Baptism of Christ
How to make a wish for Epiphany on January 19
Is it possible to guess on this day?
How to make a wish prophetic dream from 18 to 19 January
Yuletide dreams by day
Pictures and cards with the Epiphany of the Lord on January 19
Poems for Epiphany January 19
SMS congratulations
Why is Epiphany on January 19?
At the end of the 4th century the first ancient tradition violated in Rome when they began to celebrate in different days. Then other cities and countries picked up this innovation.
January 19th falls on January 6th Julian calendar, When Patriarch of Constantinople sanctifies the waters of the Hellespont.
Celebration period: 4 days before and 8 days after.
Where did the date January 19 and the Orthodox holiday of Epiphany come from? The history of the holiday of Epiphany on January 19.
January 19 is the day of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the sacred waters of the Jordan River. This is the 13th day from the birth of Jesus Christ. This answers the question: what is Jordan water on January 18th.
The Baptism of the Lord is also called Epiphany. In the time of the apostles, this holiday was called “Epiphany” or “Theophany”.
Icon of the Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord)
Previously, Christians celebrated only the Resurrection of the Lord. After the Baptism of Rus', pagan rites and Christian customs were mixed. Therefore, today we observe various traditions, fortune telling with elements of paganism.
Rituals and rituals for Epiphany on January 19
The ritual of bathing in a very cold water came from the ancient Scythians. They plunged into ice water their children for the purpose of hardening and it was pagan rite. After the Baptism of Rus', it was associated with Christianity and called Baptism.
Even before the adoption of Christianity in Rus', it was believed that water cleanses and protects from harm, and gives life. Water was called Mother, Queen. The source of water was associated with the goddess Mokoshi and she was worshiped. After the Baptism of Rus', Saint Paraskeva and Nicholas the Wonderworker became the patrons of the water element.
Fasting for baptism
Before the Orthodox holiday strict fast Christmas Eve.
It is prepared juicy - hungry kutia, it is prepared lean without adding oil. All day in Epiphany Christmas Eve They don’t eat anything, and after the first star appears, the meal begins.
They start eating with kutya; most of the other dishes on the table are lean. Pies, pickles, pancakes, meat dishes and many other dishes are prepared.
Traditional dishes for the feast of Epiphany
King festive table a pig appears, this dish is placed in the center of the table. The owner, who is also the head of the family, distributed pieces to everyone, breaking them off from the whole dish. Under the table, the youngest member of the family grunted.
In the morning, on an empty stomach, Lenten cookies baked in the shape of a cross were consumed and washed down with holy water. At the same time, unsuccessful baked goods were not eaten by people, but were given to street birds as food.
A successful cookie meant good things, and an unsuccessful one meant problems or misfortune. I think we can remind you that successful baked goods are not burnt or cracked. Should be golden brown and well baked.
Then they were served at the table mandatory honey pancakes or pancakes. Eating such pancakes meant attracting large quantity money.
On this day, Divine services are held in open reservoirs and rivers. To do this, men cut a hole in the shape of a cross. The name of such an ice hole is Jordan. The priest blesses the water. If it is not possible to bless the water in the reservoir, the service takes place near the temple.
The ice hole is decorated, chapels are built from ice.
When does swimming in the ice hole take place on Epiphany?
On the morning of January 19, after the Epiphany Liturgy ends, many priests go to bless rivers or lakes that are nearby.
The rite of water blessing consists of reading prayers and immersing the cross in water three times.
How to swim in an ice hole correctly?
- Swimming is allowed only in an ice hole with a built entrance to the water.
- You can only do it when there is a person nearby who will help you at any time.
- Cannot be consumed alcoholic drinks and smoke.
- You cannot swim on an empty stomach.
- You should not take a dip immediately after eating food.
- You need to take a warm blanket, blanket and clothes for changing with you.
- You need to reach the last step of the Jordan stairs.
- Then cross yourself and plunge your head into the hole three times.
- At the same time, pronounce the words: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Water is a miraculous power that heals and helps all believers. This was believed in ancient times and now everyone more people swim in an ice hole and cross themselves.
In addition to the ritual of bathing (Baptism), many Orthodox Christians collect water in their dishes for storage.
At the end church rite Doves are released - a symbol of the renewal of the old and the end of the holiday.
When and how can you collect holy water?
Water is considered consecrated from January 18 on Epiphany Eve on the eve of Epiphany in the church from 18 o'clock, and on January 19, when it is consecrated living water in open sources. The water remains holy until lunchtime on January 19th. Then rivers and lakes become normal.
In the temple you can collect holy water not only on the day of consecration, but also on other holidays during the week (the number of days the holiday lasts according to the church charter).
You can also get holy water from your tap at home. Best time for this from 00.10 hours to 01.30 hours on the night from January 18 to January 19.
You cannot be greedy and take too much baptismal water in reserve.
What prayers to read for Epiphany on January 19
Troparion, tone 1
In the Jordan, baptized to You, Lord, Trinitarian adoration appeared: for the voice of your parents testified to You, naming Your beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, announced your words of affirmation. Appear, O Christ our God, and the world is enlightened, glory to Thee.
Kontakion, tone 4
Thou hast appeared this day to the whole universe, and Thy light, O Lord, has appeared upon us, in the minds of those who sing Thee; You came and you appeared, the unapproachable Light.
Greatness
We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, for our sake now baptized in the flesh by John in the waters of the Jordan.
Troparion for the Blessing of Waters, tone 8
The voice of the Lord cries out on the waters, saying: Come, all of you, receive the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding. The Spirit of the fear of God, who appeared as Christ.
Today the waters are sanctified by nature, and the Jordan is divided, and its streams return, the Lord is baptized in vain.
As a man came to the river, O Christ the King, and sought to receive servile baptism, O Blessed One, from the hand of the Forerunner, a sin for our sake, Lover of mankind!
Glory, even now: To the voice of him crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, you have come, O Lord, taking on the form of a servant, asking for baptism, not knowing sin. Seeing Thee the waters and being afraid, the Forerunner was trembling and cried out saying: How will the lamp of Light illuminate, how will the slave lay his hand on the Master? Sanctify the waters for me, O Savior, take away the sin of the world.
Read conspiracies for Epiphany on January 19 with a pure heart
Epiphany spells for health on water
Bring snow into the house on the night of Epiphany and wash yourself with melt water, asking the Lord to grant healing from illnesses, health and strength. At the same time, say: “Cleanse and protect Jordanian water!”
If a relative is sick, wash his clothes in melt water and ask for a cure.
Speak about your intention for the water in your own words or by reading a special prayer or the Lord’s Prayer. In a health spell, ask for everything related to health. Thoughts must be pure and full of faith.
The charmed water can be added in small portions, almost drops, to the bathtub. It is believed that it restores the energy shell, washes away bad energy from another person, and is capable of healing.
Charmed water removes damage and the evil eye. Therefore, it is added to the baby’s bathtub.
It is best to take water blessed at the temple. But that gained during the Baptism of Jesus Christ has no less power.
A ritual of cleansing the home from negative energy in case of many problems and bad events.
Take holy water and walk around all the corners of the rooms, sprinkle them (spray a small amount liquids). It is believed that evil spirits hide in the corners. You can cross these corners at the same time. Speak the words that you consider necessary according to your circumstances and from the bottom of your heart.
This will bring prosperity, luck, health to the residents of the house and cleanse them of accumulated negativity.
Start from the front door and end front door.
Epiphany water from the temple (it is good to collect from 7 temples) removes damage and the evil eye.
Say these words while dousing yourself with holy water:
"The Lord was born,
Baptized at Epiphany,
Became famous for the name
Jesus Christ.
Like this water
Dripping off me
So that
And all the damage
She left me.
Now and forever
And forever and ever. Amen".
A spell on an Epiphany candle, or a talisman against the evil eye and disease.
Light a few candles in the church. At home, melt one candle until soft. Make a cake from a piece of the Epiphany candle and stick it on the bed at the head of the bed. This will be a talisman for health and recovery.
Evil eye spell for children
With the help of the Epiphany candle, they protect the baby from damage and the evil eye in the same way, by sticking a piece of the candle at the head of the crib. You can also talk baby's lungs life.
Conspiracy words:
“Ivan the Baptist baptized Christ, and Christ blessed the whole world.
This child will grow up not knowing any serious illnesses.
His troubles will pass and they will not hold any grudges against him.
People will love him, angels will protect him.”
Plot for an easy life for a baby
Attach part of the candle to the diaper and say:
“Lord, the child is in his first year of life, give him many easy paths in life. Give the savior angel, the guardian angel the best, with your holy hand bless the Servant of God (name) good hour, good bye. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen."
The charmed diaper hides from everyone so that it does not catch anyone’s eye.
Good luck spell for family
On the night of Epiphany, bring all shoes into the apartment. Place a bowl of water near the door next to your shoes. In the morning, in this water, wash all shoes that carry negativity from outside.
Pour out the water and say: “The evil spirit is underground, and the good spirit is on the earth.” In your house, water spills out where no one goes. There is a sewer in the apartment.
Ritual and conspiracy for wealth and money
There is also a conspiracy for good luck and financial prosperity, which is read on January 19 when leaving the church with blessed water:
“I’m going home with holy water,
And you, money and luck, are behind me.
All the troubles and losses
Go to the other side.
Key, lock, tongue.
Amen. Amen. Amen."
Conspiracy for wealth and financial well-being.
Take blessed water from the church and walk through all the rooms, chanting the water with the words:
“Holy water came to the house and brought me prosperity.
There will be losses in this house,
there will be abundance coming every day.
Luck will accompany me in everything,
I will never fail in anything, I know.”
Then place this water overnight in the most important place in the apartment, and wash your face with it in the morning.
Conspiracy while the snow melts:
“Fire will melt pure snow and turn it into Jordanian water.
Ivan the Baptist will sanctify the water and bless it with God’s grace.”
Baptism of a child on Epiphany January 19
You can baptize a child on Epiphany (January 19). There are no prohibitions in the church regarding this matter. But you need to check the daily schedule with the clergy and sign up in advance.
On this day there are many people who want it, and besides, the priests bless the water and you need to find someone who can baptize the child.
How do people spend this day and what traditions do they support?
On this day, people do not work as usual, but dedicate it good deeds, prayers.
Baptism ends the Yuletide period.
After the service, everyone went home, where they tried kutya. Moreover, the first person to taste kutya is the last family member to arrive. Therefore, we tried not to delay so that the whole family did not have to wait for one.
Housewives sprinkled their homes with holy water to ward off evil spirits for the whole year.
Snow was endowed with the same properties as water. It was thrown into drying wells and washed with it to give health and beauty to the skin. Women washed themselves with holy water and believed that it would preserve their beauty.
If you are in church on the 19th, light a candle in a quiet corner. This will bring good luck to you and your family.
Celebration traditions
If Christmastide is a fun celebration with folk festivities and fortune-telling, then Epiphany is the final day of celebration.
On this last day of celebration, young people go home and sing carols, show small theatrical performances and recites rhymes and sings songs. For this they receive treats from the owners of the house.
Merry celebrations were also organized, where the girls were especially elegant and beautiful.
Signs and beliefs for Epiphany on January 19
There are folk signs that have been tested for centuries. Many are connected with the weather and predicting it by what the weather is like on the day of Epiphany. Usually this day is the most severe frost.
Warmth on this day means a health problem.
If there is a lot of snow, then this is for good health.
Here are some weather-related signs:
If it is clear and cold on the day of Epiphany, then the summer will be dry.
If it is cloudy and fresh, then expect a bountiful harvest this year.
A thaw means the harvest.
A clear day means a bad harvest.
If it snows near the pond during the service, then the year will be fertile and the bees will produce a lot of honey.
The trees are covered with frost - in spring it is better to sow winter crops on the same day of the week.
There are many stars in the sky - the summer is dry, berries and peas will give a rich harvest.
If the wind is from the south, then summer will be with thunderstorms.
If the sky is bright and starry, then summer will be hot, spring will be early, and autumn will be warm and long this year.
Bright stars in the sky also foretell a calm year in all respects.
For love and relationships, creating a family.
On this day, it is a good omen when a wedding is agreed upon. There is a saying: “Epiphany handshake leads to a happy family.”
Find out about marriage
On Epiphany evening, a girl needs to go out and if she meets a young handsome guy or man, she will soon get married.
It is also good to baptize a person on this day. The person will be happy.
You can also plunge into the ice hole after the 19th - this will wash away the sin committed the day before.
A bird knocking on the window reminds you to pray for the dead.
This night you will have a prophetic dream and you will have the opportunity to find out the future and avoid making mistakes if the dream was not very positive. The dream may come true after many years, so you will have time to work on your mistakes in advance.
Barking dogs mean money and prosperity.
What not to do at the Baptism of Christ
You cannot swear with holy water in your hands, otherwise it will lose its power. And in general, at this time everyone should be surrounded by harmony and peace.
You cannot spill water and fall with it, this will lead to a short life.
You cannot do laundry at home for 2 days after Epiphany and in rivers for 2 weeks.
You cannot feed chickens on the day of Epiphany and then they will not rake the beds in the spring and summer.
The Christian holiday prohibits any physical labor.
You can't get drunk on this day, but you are allowed to warm up a little.
The dead are not remembered at Epiphany, so as not to invite death. There is a special day of remembrance for this. And no matter how good and bright your memories are, leave them for another time.
You should not shed tears on this day, otherwise you will cry all year.
You cannot sew, pick up a needle and thread or knitting needles, cut, or wash.
How to make a wish for Epiphany on January 19
The time of Epiphany is the most fortunate hour when you can make a wish and it will be heard and fulfilled. Therefore, you also need to prepare for this sacrament and correctly formulate your aspirations and dreams.
When does the sky open for Epiphany at what time?
On this night of January 19, the heavens open and your every word and prayer will be heard and fulfilled. After the heavens open, the priests begin the blessing of water.
How to prepare for making a wish?
- Ask for forgiveness from those you have ever offended. You can do it mentally.
- Thank God for supporting your entire life and for all the good things.
- Before appearing before open air In the evening, put a bowl of water at home and say the following words: “at night the water itself will sway.” At midnight, watch the water and when it really ripples, immediately go outside and ask God for what is most cherished and desired. They say that it will definitely come true.
Ways to make a wish for Epiphany
- Scatter a handful of any small objects and make a wish. Then count their number. An even number means the fulfillment of a wish.
- The day before, write 12 wishes on pieces of paper and place them under your pillow at night. In the morning, draw 3 of them at random. These will come true.
- On the night before Epiphany, I have prophetic dreams. Before going to bed, say out loud “Saint Samson, show your holiday dream your Desire.” If you see in a dream what you wished for, then it will come true.
- On Epiphany, pour water into a bowl and after it begins to sway, go outside and make your wish while looking at the sky. Ask God for the most secret things.
- Another method is with water. Attach folded (so that what is written) small pieces of paper with your wishes are folded up to the edge of the dish with water. Place a non-sinking candle (tea candle) in the water. Whichever leaf the candle floats to will come true.
- Call your pet and see which paw it crosses the threshold with. If left, then what you want will come true.
- Write your aspirations on the mirror with a piece of soap and place it under your pillow at night. Check the mirror in the morning. If there is nothing, then this wish will come true. It has been heard.
- You can make a wish while swimming in an ice hole. When diving, wish for what you want. And the next day, January 20, at three o’clock in the morning, going outside, ask again.
- Take an aquamarine stone for a swim in icy water. He is like a bright flash - imagine it and throw him into the hole.
Most importantly, know that it is not the performance of rituals that is important, but the belief that everything will be as you want and faith in God, in the Higher Powers.
- Just go out onto the balcony, outside and looking at the starry sky, make a wish and everything will come true. This may be the first star that opens to you. Believe in good things!
And remember that you only need to wish for good things that do not harm other people.
How and when do they tell fortunes for Epiphany on January 19? Is it possible to guess on this day?
Question: When do they tell fortunes for Christmas or Epiphany?
Answer: For Christmas.
On this day of Epiphany, the 19th, you cannot guess in any way, otherwise it portends trouble. After January 19, you can’t do it for 8 days either.
Last day for Christmas fortune telling is January 18th until midnight. Therefore, do everything from Christmas from January 6 to 7 to January 18. And on the night from 18 to 19 it will no longer be possible.
Better make a wish for what you want to receive from God and the Universe. And you will get everything!
How to make a prophetic dream from January 18 to 19 and during Holy Week
Prophetic dreams are considered true, made from Thursday to Friday and on the eve of major church holidays, including Epiphany.
How to prepare for a prophetic dream
In order for such a dream to have meaning, you need to focus on what you want to know. The emotional mood is important. Decide for yourself what you want to see. State the question clearly and repeat it to yourself several times. Go to sleep with this thought.
It is better to go to bed immediately after you have done all your household chores. Do not watch TV, otherwise the impression from the film or program you watched may appear in a dream. Your state is peaceful and calm. are you ready to accept important information about your future.
It wouldn’t hurt to ventilate the room before going to bed and add a little aroma using aromatic oils. Light an aroma lamp with the calming properties of lavender oil (good for meditation), ylang-ylang with a sedative effect. Patchouli, orange, rose, sandalwood oils have the same properties. nutmeg, chamomile, bergamot, fennel. This method is called relaxation therapy. In a relaxed state, a person is able to read cosmic information.
It is also advisable to sleep alone in a separate room and bed.
In the morning, immediately remember your dream in the smallest detail, since it can be easily forgotten. Then interpret it in relation to your question. It is useful to put paper and pen next to you in the evening. As soon as you wake up, you can write down what you dreamed. Then you definitely won’t forget small details. Dream books and your intuition will help with interpretation.
Remember that a dream that you don’t like is not programming for the future, but a warning of what to be wary of and what not to do. Therefore, perceive any dream positively and positively.
There are also special conspiracies for prophetic dreams.
- “I go to bed on the night of (day of the week) under the Siamese Mountain. Three angels overhead: one hears, the second sees, the third will tell me.”
- Place a small round mirror under the pillow, saying the words: “As light and shadow are reflected in it, so the answer to the question will be reflected in my dream.”
Yuletide dreams by day - what dreams we see during the Yuletide week.
From January 9 to 10 - about well-being, fulfillment of desires, about the family hearth. The answer to the question about the fate of loved ones.
From January 11 to 12 - about financial difficulties or vice versa about wealth, about a promotion at work.
From January 16 to 17, they don’t make any wishes. The dream itself will tell you what awaits you and what difficulties you will encounter.
Pictures and cards with the Epiphany of the Lord on January 19
Download for free beautiful pictures, photos, postcards and send them to your loved ones and friends with congratulations. Below are verses that you can use in your letters.
Beautiful cards with congratulation text and poems
Animated greeting cards
Poems for Epiphany January 19
Congratulations on Epiphany on January 19, cool and funny
Get ready for the holiday -
Very cheerful, healthy,
To swim in an ice hole
And stay healthy!
Happy Epiphany Day
Everyone who honors him!
And we wish you good health,
Joy, everything...
On this day, grab a keg,
Rush to church quickly
And blessed water
Pour from the heart!
Don’t yawn at Epiphany,
Dip your butt into the hole!
Let Epiphany water
Will give you health for years!
Happy Baptism of the Lord!
Happy Baptism to you, people!
Fuck you all on a platter!
To hell - little pig,
Vodka for the pig,
For vodka - caviar,
For caviar - bread crust,
Spread the bread with butter,
And may God bless you!
Don't yawn at Epiphany
Dip your butts into the hole,
So that until the new Epiphany
The sensations remained!
Happy Baptism of the Lord!
On Epiphany Day, smile
Rejoice at the holy water
But don't get carried away too much
You are icy water!
May the Lord bless
But don't get bronchitis!
Happy Baptism of the Lord!
Girls jump into the ice hole at night,
Naked butts loom!
The men follow them
So the old grandfather climbed in!
After all, the water is holy now,
Useful for your health!
And the Epiphany frosts
Brings laughter through tears!
Happy Baptism of the Lord!
I wish you light and love in your family,
With friends of kindness and understanding,
Find solutions in Epiphany,
May God appreciate your efforts.
Beautiful congratulations on your baptism on January 19, short SMS in verse in four lines
SMS congratulations on the Epiphany of the Lord
Congratulations on your Baptism,
With spiritual ablution!
Be happy my beloved,
And also healthy, my dear friends!
Congratulations on your Baptism
And I wish you at this hour
Easy cleansing showers
And God's blessing!
Love and Faith will save the world,
Your soul will find peace!
When Baptism occurs,
I congratulate you on your cleansing!
Congratulations
Christ Blessing,
Done today
On the Epiphany of the Lord!
We sincerely congratulate you on your Baptism,
You do good every day,
Always live positively and friendly,
Beautiful, worthy, generous!
Let the Epiphany frosts
They will carry away trouble and tears
And they will add fun to life,
Happiness, joy, luck!
Relatives, friends, sisters, parents and others - for all occasions.
Friends
Today is Holy Baptism,
Washing the body of a sinner,
Congratulations my friends,
And I wish you for the next days
Good health to you,
Live in peace and with love!
More spiritual powers
And that God would forgive sins!
Parents
Mom and dad, my dear people,
Congratulations on your Baptism!
Join you dears
I wish you the sacred sacrament!
To be healthy in soul and body,
So that happiness does not leave you,
And forget about your problems!
Take a dip in holy water once!
Brother
Beloved, my dear brother,
Happy Epiphany to you!
I congratulate you, be glad
You celebrate the whole world, loving!
I wish you happiness, peace and light,
And fulfillment of all desires,
So that you are rich, but at the same time
I haven’t lost my spiritual knowledge!
To my beloved husband
On Epiphany the sky parted,
And God smiled from above!
And wherever you are on holiday,
I wish he touched you
With a light, holy and kind hand,
Beloved, my dear husband!
Don't be afraid to wash your body
And renew your soul with water,
After all, this is a sacred thing,
Be clean at Baptism!
Holy water irrigation
On the days of the feast of Epiphany
Our sins are washed away
And souls are born again!
Congratulations
And God grant you patience!
Faith, truth and health
Congratulations to everyone with love!
I congratulate you on your baptism!
Today water lighting
Help us to be born again!
Wash your faces first,
Then enter the water
Connecting with nature!
Feel free to plunge into it
Healthy soul and body!
Angel touches the soul
When a person dives into water!
On the Epiphany of the Lord,
Which happened today!
Health to you for many years
God's blessings always!
Great happiness, purity,
And may your dreams come true!
To my sister
My dear sister
Congratulations on your Baptism!
May the Lord protect you
Only gives happiness in life!
Lots of joy and health,
So that the soul lives only with love!
Let's take off our clothes
Let's dive into the sacred water
We will always live with hope
That we will find our happiness!
Let your soul be filled with light
And it will become easy in no time!
I ask God about this
Congratulations on your Baptism!
On the bright Epiphany holiday,
Different people meet
Wash yourself with holy water,
Be born again with your soul!
On this day I wish you health
Both for you and for your loved ones,
So that there is no pain in life,
So that there is no risk in life!
Relatives
Congratulations to my family on your Baptism,
With this God's blessing!
Be happy, be kind to people,
Be affectionate and sweet!
Then all the love will return to you,
And it will turn out to be good for you.
Because in Epiphany night,
Everything bad goes away!
Friends
John baptized Jesus
And passed on the ritual to centuries,
And Epiphany became a holiday,
Dive into holy water!
Congratulations my friends,
And I wish you for many days
For the soul peace and happiness,
Don’t encounter bad weather in life!
Send congratulations to others
And may God grant you all patience!
To my sister
On Epiphany, my dear sister
If you believe in a miracle
It will come, I know it
Wishes will come true!
After all, this is a holiday for the soul,
The only good thing, believe me, is
And don’t rush to sleep at night,
Open all the doors to a miracle!
The miracle of spiritual birth,
It takes place on Epiphany!
We will be the happiest
Beautiful in soul and body!
Congratulations on a wonderful holiday
And I wish you not to waste your strength in vain,
And live together with your soul,
And you don’t need more to be happy!
Don't forget about your soul,
She also needs an update
And even when there are not enough days,
Take care of her with inspiration!
And on the Epiphany of the Lord,
You need to give a gift to your soul -
Wash her in water today,
This way you will find happiness!
Congratulations my friends,
Happy Baptism today to me!
Jesus said - accept Baptism,
This is a good purpose
The people responded at once,
And the ice opened up like a cross!
I congratulate you all on this,
And I wish everyone peace!
The good news has spread
The Baptism of the Lord takes place
And there were countless people gathered,
At the holy water today!
I congratulate you on your holiday,
Baptism is a good thing
And I beg God for you,
May he give peace to his soul!
Healthy big body,
There is always forgiveness for misdeeds!
Never be idle
And more communication with friends!
To the holy waters of Jordan
Jesus came in to become baptized,
And under the hands of John
I have found a different soul!
And he advised the people
Receive Baptism by water,
To find freedom for your soul
Healthy body, peace of mind!
And I wish you on this holiday
Find peace and find peace,
So as not to rush around the world,
And don't go astray!
Forget all the sorrows of sadness,
Just wait for happiness ahead,
So that the body of water is cleansed,
Leaving the bad behind!
Parents
My dear parents,
Please accept my congratulations!
On the holiday - Epiphany,
The birth of the human soul!
I wish you well-being
May evil disasters pass you by!
Health, happiness and love,
God bless you and keep you safe!
On Great Epiphany
salvation of our souls,
I wish everyone joy
And be with God in goodness!
So that children are healthy,
May there be peace throughout the whole world!
So that people believe in miracles,
Then we will all be happy!
To loved ones
Baptism occurs
Our souls are washed,
All our sins are forgiven,
Life begins anew!
I wish you this goodness,
I wish you this joy!
Be happy my beloved,
My loved ones, kind, dear!
For those who perform the ritual.
The sacrament is being performed today,
Angels in the sky are singing
Great Epiphany of the Lord
The people are rejoicing!
I warmly congratulate you on this,
And after the great ablution,
I wish your body health
And a great relief to the soul!
Great happiness will come to us,
It will dispel all bad weather,
Through the Baptism of the Lord,
Which will take place today!
And I, friends, congratulate you,
I wish my soul to be born again,
May happiness be with you,
Reward for good deeds!
Receive Christ's blessing
Take a dip in the holy waters
Listen to the chants
Finding freedom for souls!
This holiday is wonderful
Simple and useful!
Despite the severe frosts,
We dive into the depths of the Cross,
Let the water wash away our tears,
We will ask Christ for a miracle!
For your children still health,
May the Lord protect their tender ones!
I congratulate you on your Epiphany with love,
I know that it will bring you happiness!
Let's forget the insults and quarrels,
Unnecessary conversations
Let's wash ourselves in Jordan today
On the day of the Epiphany!
I wish everyone health
And happy holiday to you!
The frost on the street is crackling,
But our people are always in a hurry,
For the holiday - Holy Epiphany,
To perform ablution!
Plunge into icy water
And wake up clean tomorrow!
Please accept congratulations,
Let an angel into your heart!
To be born of water and the Spirit,
Holy water helps!
This is what Jesus said to Nicodemus,
I'm going to tell you.
Don't be afraid of the water in the Jordan,
We will only become healthier!
Feel free to accept Baptism,
And my sincere congratulations!
Epiphany or Epiphany is one of the most important twelve holidays of Orthodoxy. Read all about the history of this event in the article!
Epiphany, or Epiphany - January 19, 2019
What kind of holiday is this?
Forefeast of Epiphany
Since ancient times, Epiphany has been one of the great twelve holidays. Even in the Apostolic Constitutions (Book 5, Chapter 12) it is commanded: “Let you have great respect for the day on which the Lord revealed the Divinity to us.” This holiday in the Orthodox Church is celebrated with equal grandeur as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, connected by “Christmastide” (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 (from January 2), the Church begins to prepare us for the solemn feast of the Epiphany of the Lord with stichera and troparions (at Vespers), three songs (at Compline) and canons (at Matins) specially dedicated to the upcoming holiday, and church hymns in The honor of the Epiphany has been heard since January 1: at Matins of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, the irmos of the canons of the Epiphany are sung on the catavasia: “He has opened the depths, there is a bottom...” and “A stormy storm is moving in the sea...”. With its sacred memories, following from Bethlehem to the Jordan and commemorating the events of Baptism, the Church in the pre-festive stichera calls on the faithful:
“We will go from Bethlehem to the Jordan, for there the Light is already beginning to illuminate those who are in darkness.” The coming Saturday and Sunday before Epiphany are called Saturday and the Week before Epiphany (or Enlightenment).
Eve of Epiphany
The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. The services of the Vigil and the holiday itself are in many ways similar to the service of the Vigil and the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
On the Eve of Epiphany, January 5 (as well as on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes strict fasting: eating food once after the blessing of water. If the Vespers happen on Saturday and Sunday, the fast is made easier: instead of once, eating food is allowed twice - after the liturgy and after the blessing of water. If the reading of the Great Hours from the Vespers, which happened on Saturday or Sunday, is postponed to Friday, then there is no fasting on that Friday.
Features of the service on the Eve of the holiday
On all weekdays (except Saturday and Sunday), the service of the Vesper of Epiphany consists of the Great Hours, Fine Hours and Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; After the liturgy (after the prayer behind the pulpit), the water is blessed. If Christmas Eve happens on Saturday or Sunday, then the Great Hours take place on Friday, and there is no liturgy on that Friday; the liturgy of St. Basil the Great is moved to the day of the holiday. On the very day of Christmas Eve, the liturgy of St. St. John Chrysostom occurs in due time, followed by Vespers and after it the Blessing of Water.
The Great Hours of the Epiphany and their contents
The troparia point to the division of the waters of the Jordan by Elisha with 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 history. The last troparion describes the tremulous feeling of Saint John the Baptist when the Lord came to him to be baptized. In the parimia of the 1st hour, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church proclaims the spiritual renewal of believers 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 - 28 and 41 - 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: the God of glory will roar, the Lord on many waters. The voice of the Lord in the fortress; The voice of the Lord is in splendor...” These psalms are also joined by the usual 50th psalm. The troparia of the hour reveal the experiences of John the Baptist - awe and fear at the Baptism of the Lord - and the revelation in this great event of the mystery of the Trinity of the Divinity. In parimia we hear the voice of the prophet Isaiah, foreshadowing 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 talks about the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-8), and the Gospel talks 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 greatness and omnipotence of the One who came to be baptized in the form of a servant: “Who is a great god like our God? You are God, work miracles. You saw the waters, O God, and you were afraid: the abyss was crushed.”
The usual 90th psalm of the hour is also added. The troparia contain the Lord’s answer to the Baptist to his bewilderment about Christ’s self-abasement and indicate the fulfillment of the Psalmist’s prophecy that the Jordan River stops its waters when the Lord enters it for Baptism. The parimia talks about how the prophet Isaiah contemplates the grace of salvation in the waters of baptism and calls on believers to assimilate it: “Draw up water with joy from the source of fear” (Is. 12).
The Apostle encourages those baptized into Christ Jesus to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-12). The Gospel preaches about the appearance of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of the Savior, about His forty-day labor in the desert 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 greatness 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 towards people and the gracious help for them revealed in Baptism (Is. 49: 8-15). The Apostle announces the manifestation of the grace of God, “saving for all men,” and the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers (Tit. 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7). The Gospel tells about the Baptism of the Savior and the Epiphany (Matthew 3:13-17).
Vespers on the day of the Vespers of the holiday
Vespers on the Vespers of the Feast of the Epiphany is similar to what happens on the Vespers of the Nativity of Christ: entrance with the Gospel, reading of parimia, Apostle, Gospel, etc., but the parimia at Vespers of the Epiphany Vigil is read not on 8, but on 13.
After the first three paremias to the troparion and verses of prophecy, the singers chorus: “May you enlighten those who sit in darkness: Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.” After the 6th parimia there is a chorus to the troparion and verses: “Where would Your light shine, except on those who sit in darkness, glory to You.”
If on the Eve of Epiphany Vespers is combined with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), then after the reading of the proverbs there follows a small litany with the exclamation: “For art thou holy, our God...”, then the Trisagion and other sequences of the liturgy are sung. At Vespers, performed separately after the liturgy (on Saturday and Sunday), the parimia, the small litany and the exclamation: “For you are holy...” are followed by the prokeimenon: “The Lord is my enlightenment...”, Apostle (Cor., part 143) and the Gospel (Luke, 9th).
After this - the litany “Rtsem all...” and so on.
Great Blessing of Water
The Church renews the memory of the Jordan event with a special rite of the great consecration of water. On the Eve of the holiday, the great consecration of water occurs after the prayer behind the pulpit (if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is being celebrated). And if Vespers is celebrated separately, without connection with the liturgy, the consecration of the water occurs at the end of Vespers, after the exclamation: “Be the power...”. The priest, through the royal doors, while singing the troparia “The Voice of the Lord on the Waters...” comes out to the vessels filled with water, carrying the Honorable Cross on his head, and the consecration of the water begins.
The blessing of water also takes place on the holiday itself after the liturgy (also after the prayer behind the pulpit).
The Orthodox Church has been performing the great consecration of water on Vespers and on the holiday itself since ancient times, and the grace of consecrating water on these two days is always the same. At the Forever, the consecration of water was performed in remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, which sanctified the watery nature, as well as the baptism of the orphans, which in ancient times was performed at the Forever of Epiphany (Lent. Apost., book 5, chapter 13; historians: Theodoret, Nicephorus Callistus). On the holiday itself, the consecration of water occurs in memory of the actual event of the Baptism of the Savior. The blessing of water on the holiday itself began in the Jerusalem Church in the 4th - 5th centuries. took place only in it alone, where there was a custom of going out to the Jordan River for the blessing of water in memory of the Baptism of the Savior. Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the blessing of water on Vecherie is performed in churches, and on the holiday itself it is usually performed on rivers, springs and wells (the so-called “Walk to the Jordan”), for Christ was baptized outside the temple.
The great consecration of water began in the early times 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 the consecration of water has been taking place since ancient times. The rite of blessing of water is attributed to the Evangelist Matthew. Several prayers for this rite were written by St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople. The final execution of the rite is attributed to St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The blessing of water on the holiday is already mentioned by the teacher of the Church Tertullian and St. Cyprian of Carthage. The Apostolic Decrees also contain prayers said during the blessing 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 strength.”
St. Basil the Great writes: “According to what scripture do we bless the water of baptism? - From Apostolic tradition, by succession in secret" (91st canon).
In the second half of the 10th century, Patriarch of Antioch Peter Foulon introduced the custom of consecrating water not at midnight, but on the Eve of Epiphany. In the Russian Church, the Moscow Council of 1667 decided to perform double blessing of water - on Vespers and on the very feast of Epiphany and condemned Patriarch Nikon, who prohibited double blessing of water. The sequence of the great consecration of water both at Vespers and on the holiday itself is the same and in some parts has similarities with the sequence of the small consecration of water. It consists of remembering the prophecies relating to the event of Baptism (parimia), the event itself (Apostle and Gospel) and its meaning (litany and prayers), invoking the blessing of God on the waters and immersing them three times Life-giving Cross The Lord's.
In practice, the rite of water blessing is performed as follows. After the prayer behind the pulpit (at the end of the liturgy) or the litany of petition: “Let us fulfill evening prayer"(at the end of Vespers) the rector is in full vestments (as during the liturgy), and the other priests are only in epitrachelion, vestments, and the rector is carrying the Honorable Cross on an uncovered head (usually the Cross is placed in the air). At the site of the blessing of water, the Cross is placed on a decorated table, on which there should be a bowl of water and three candles. During the singing of troparions, the rector and the deacon cense the water prepared for consecration (around the table three times), and if the water is consecrated in the church, then the altar, clergy, singers and people also cense.
At the end of the singing of the troparions, the deacon proclaims: “Wisdom,” and three parimia 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 prokeimenon “The Lord is my enlightenment...” is sung, the Apostle and the Gospel are read. The Apostolic Reading (Cor., section 143) speaks of persons and events that Old Testament, during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert, were a prototype of Christ the Savior (the mysterious baptism of the Jews into Moses among the clouds and the sea, their spiritual food in the desert and drinking from the spiritual stone, which was Christ). The Gospel (Mark, part 2) tells about the Baptism of the Lord.
After reading Holy Scripture the deacon pronounces the great litany with special petitions. They contain prayers for the sanctification of water by the power and action of the Holy Trinity, for sending down the blessing of the Jordan on the water and giving it grace for the healing of mental and physical infirmities, for driving away all slander of visible and invisible enemies, for the sanctification of houses and for all benefits.
During the litany, the rector secretly reads a prayer for the purification and sanctification of himself: “Lord Jesus Christ...” (without exclamation). At the end of the litany, the priest (rector) loudly reads the consecration prayer: “Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works...” (three times) and so on. In this prayer, the Church begs the Lord to come and sanctify the water so that it will receive the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan, so that it will be a source of incorruption, the resolution of ailments, the cleansing of souls and bodies, the sanctification of houses and “a good deal of all good.” In the middle of the prayer, the priest exclaims three times: “You Yourself, O Lover of Mankind, come now through the influx of Your Holy Spirit and consecrate this water,” and at the same time each time he blesses the water with his hand, but does not immerse his fingers in the water, as happens in the sacrament of Baptism. At the end of the prayer, the abbot immediately blesses the water crosswise with the Honorable Cross, holding it with both hands and immersing it three times straight (lowering it into the water and raising it), and with each immersion of the Cross he sings the troparion with the clergy (three times): “I am baptized in the Jordan, O Lord...”
After this, while the troparion is sung repeatedly by the singers, the abbot with the Cross in his left hand sprinkles a cross in all directions, and also sprinkles the temple with holy water.
Glorification of the holiday
On Vecherye, after the dismissal of Vespers or Liturgy, a lamp (not a lectern with an icon) is placed in the middle of the church, before which the clergy and choristers sing the troparion and (on “Glory, and now”) the kontakion of the holiday. The candle here means the light of Christ’s teaching, Divine enlightenment given at the Epiphany.
After this, the worshipers venerate the Cross, and the priest sprinkles each with holy water.
The Baptism of the Lord is one of the twelve main Christian holidays. It completes the series of Christmas holidays. The main symbol of the Epiphany holiday is water. Due to the importance of the day, the editors of hochu.ua have prepared information about the traditions and customs of Epiphany.
IN church calendar January there is important date- Epiphany 2018. This holiday, like others during the winter celebrations, is considered a favorite and also has cultural traditions. Due to the increased attention to the day, we are publishing information about the traditions, customs and signs of Epiphany 2018.
It is believed that on the night of the 18th to 19th she acquires special healing properties. On the eve of the holiday, frosts are always expected, which are called “Epiphany” frosts. The days on which Epiphany falls correspond to the end pagan holiday winter solstice, associated with the “birth of a new Sun” - an increase in daylight hours.
Epiphany of the Lord: the history of the holiday
Catholics celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on the 6th, and Orthodox believers on January 19. The holiday was established in the second half of the II century. and at first it was celebrated simultaneously with Christmas. Their separation occurred after the IV century. In Ukraine, Epiphany is first remembered in the Ipatiev Chronicle of 1114. This holiday is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. During his lifetime, more than two thousand years ago, only adults who consciously accepted faith in one God were baptized. In those days, Christians were persecuted and monotheism was rejected.
When Jesus was 30 years old, he came from Galilee to the Jordan River. John the Baptist baptized people in the waters of this river, calling everyone to repent and through this rite to cleanse their soul and body. Christ's baptism meant that he took full responsibility to fulfill what he was destined to accomplish during his earthly life. This event can be considered the first in its social activities. Another name of the holiday is Epiphany, since at the baptism of Christ the world appeared Holy Trinity: “God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the holy Forerunner of the Lord John, and the Holy Spirit descended on the Son in the form of a dove.”
Traditions of celebrating Epiphany
On the eve of Epiphany, January 18, believers fast during the day, and in the evening they celebrate the second Holy Evening or “Hungry Kupya”. The whole family, like at Christmas, gathers around the table. Served for dinner Lenten dishes – fried fish, dumplings with cabbage, buckwheat pancakes with butter, kutya and uzvar. On Epiphany, a festive service is held in the church. According to tradition, during Jordanian worship, doves are released into the sky - they symbolize the Spirit of God, who descended from Heaven to Christ in the form of a dove, and also that the Christmas holidays have come to an end and they should be released into the wild. In memory of the fact that Christ consecrated water with His Baptism, on the eve of the holiday, water is consecrated in churches, and on the feast of Epiphany itself - in rivers or other places where water is taken.
On the eve of the holiday, men cut a hole in the ice in the form of a cross, and the ice cross itself is installed nearby. Sometimes it is decorated with periwinkle and pine needles, or sprinkled with beet kvass, which turns it crimson red, symbolizing fire. The rite of the Jordanian Blessing of Water takes place above the river near the cross. During this ritual, the priest lowers a cross and a lit three candlestick into the hole three times - the water is baptized with fire.
According to tradition, on Epiphany (after Epiphany frosts), young people have fun on the ice: skating and setting up carousels. Since caroling was possible until the Meeting of the Lord (February 15), on this holiday they again went around houses, caroled and sang songs, congratulating each other. After the holiday of Epiphany, boys and girls could again gather at the “evening party”, where young people looked closely at each other and chose a mate. And from Jordan (another name for the feast of Epiphany) until Lent, a new wedding season lasted.
Folk signs for Epiphany
A person baptized on this day will be accompanied by happiness all his life.
It was considered a good omen if on this day they agreed on future wedding. "Epiphany handshake - to a happy family."
Any agreement ending with a handshake promised further support from above.
If shovel snow fell on this day, it foreshadowed a good harvest.
If the trees were covered with frost at Epiphany, in the spring they tried to sow winter wheat on the same day of the week - the harvest would be rich.
A clear day at Epiphany promised, according to popular belief, a lean year.
If there was a full moon on the night of Epiphany, then floods were feared in the spring. This year the holiday of Epiphany falls on 4 lunar phase, i.e. Don't expect a big flood in the spring.
The girls were washing their faces Epiphany ice and snow, they said that then they would be “white without whitening, ruddy without rouge.”
Dreams on Epiphany night were considered prophetic, and fortune telling was similar to Christmas.
Living water
On the morning of January 19, water is blessed - in a church or near a lake, river or stream. It is believed that on this day, from midnight to midnight, water acquires healing properties and retains them throughout the year. It is given to seriously ill people to drink, and temples, houses and animals are blessed with it. Epiphany water is credited with the ability to cleanse and treat diseases of the body and soul, and wash away accumulated negativity. Since ancient times, people have symbolized eternity with water, outer space, the line between worlds (for example, in myths Ancient Greece the dead were transported to the other world across the River Styx with the help of the ferryman Charon).
The symbolic crossing to the other side of the river in the songs and fairy tales of the Slavic peoples means marriage, marriage (a person’s transition from one state to another). This idea was also reflected in one of St. Andrew’s fortune-telling. When water was poured into a bowl, several straws were placed on it, which symbolized a bridge, and left under the bed overnight. Water was attributed with magical and healing actions. Water, like fire, can cleanse on a physical and spiritual level. To calm a person down, they give him a glass of water to drink. If you have a nightmare at night, they advise you to tell it to the water flowing from the tap, which, after listening, will take it out of your life. Pouring cold water can relax and “wash away” certain blocks.
P.S. It is interesting that although river beds (water in motion) need to shape their flow through mountains, canyons, stones, etc., water itself has the ability to shape (for example, the male body). Take a closer look at the structure of professional swimmers and divers; wide shoulders and narrow hips are clearly visible in them. At Epiphany, water is sanctified by fire. The word “baptize”, “baptize” translated from Greek means “immerse in water.” In this ritual, male and female essences meet again. Which once again reminds us that when interacting, two opposites (man and woman) shape and create each other, and are also capable of giving birth to new life.
January 19 Orthodox Church celebrates the great twelfth holiday - the Baptism of the Lord and the Epiphany (Vodokreshchi). On this day Orthodox people recalls the Baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan. The holiday received its second name - Epiphany - due to the fact that at the baptism of the Savior, “the appearance of three persons of the Divine took place: the Father from heaven testified with a voice about the baptism of the Son, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, thereby confirming the words of the Father.”
The people called the holiday Vodokreschi. The name appeared because of the main baptismal rites - blessing of water, or baptism with water.
In the folk calendar, Epiphany was one of the most important holidays from the beginning of the year. From this day on, Christmastide ended, and people's contact with the other world was interrupted. In this regard, the main part of baptismal rites was of a cleansing nature. We prepared for Epiphany the day before: we washed the huts and carefully swept away the rubbish, in which, according to our ancestors, an imp could hide. According to legend, in the morning before the blessing of water, all the little devils must drown in the water. In the evening, if possible, all people went to church for a service, at the end of which the great blessing of water was performed. The peasants considered it a celebration of special importance.
Upon returning from service, people performed cleansing rituals, the whole family drank holy water, sprinkled it on their cattle, house and outbuildings. At Epiphany, snow was collected, and the resulting water was poured into a jug and saved in case of illness. It is believed that this water heals cramps, dizziness, and numbness in the legs. If it's snowy Epiphany water If you spray the canvas, it will whiten it in a way that neither ash nor the sun can do. Epiphany snow was also added to the feed of horses so that they would not get sick, and it was given to chickens so that they would start laying eggs earlier.
By popular ideas, the night before Christmas the skies open. According to legend, this happens at the moment when the Savior enters the river. A sign of this event is the agitation of water in a glass or cup, which most often occurs at midnight. Having waited for this sign, you need to quickly go outside. If a person is lucky enough to see the “open heavens,” then he can ask the Lord for whatever his heart desires.
Baptism: rituals and signs for January 19
The main celebration of the holiday was the blessing of water and the “walk to the Jordan.” To do this, an ice hole was made in one of the reservoirs at a previously established location - Jordan. The whole day of Epiphany for Christians was full of special meaning. They took part in the ceremony procession and receiving holy water. After the prayer service, they bathed in the river to cleanse themselves of sins and be cured of illnesses. Those who dressed up for Christmastide swam in the ice hole to wash off the “demonic mask” from themselves.
The ice hole and the place near it are considered sacred. A stick was stuck into the hole so that pigeons and bees would breed. Cattle were driven to the Jordan, which the priests sprinkled with water blessed in the river.
After mass, the owners in the yard laid out unthreshed sheaves of various crops, bread broken into pieces and rye flatbreads, left for Baptism from the New Year and Christmas holidays. The cattle were released from the barns to the food that had been laid out, and while they were eating, they were sprinkled with water brought from the ice hole. At the same time, the owner who sprinkled the animals put on a fur coat with the fur facing out.
The use of New Year's and Christmas bread, as well as an inside-out fur coat, in the ritual is associated with the idea of offspring: fur and ritual food in the traditional consciousness were endowed with producing powers. Feeding various types of unthreshed bread was carried out so that the livestock would be well-fed all year.
As on Epiphany Eve, so on the day of Epiphany after the blessing of water, a ritual of cleansing of houses and households was carried out. buildings to drive out the Yuletide evil spirits from everywhere. Blessed water was used for this. Young people on horseback rode through the courtyards, hitting all the nooks and crannies with whips and brooms, screaming and squealing, reciting a special spell.
From January 19 and throughout the week, it was forbidden to rinse clothes on the river. According to popular beliefs, the evil spirit that goes into the water after Christmas time can grab hold of the linen and get out.
The candle, which was brought along with holy water from the service on Epiphany Eve, was carefully preserved. It was lit during a thunderstorm to prevent fire. She was credited with a protective power against evil spirits. On the day of the first cattle pasture, a piece of this candle was attached to the horses’ mane or bangs, and to cows – between the horns. It was believed that this would help protect cattle from goblin and water spirits.
People believed that a child baptized in Epiphany would become very happy man. And those who dreamed of becoming rich and successful, or of acquiring an invisibility cap, performed a special ritual on Epiphany. It was necessary to dress in everything new and, during the Epiphany blessing of water, bury oneself in a haystack that had been mowed with a completely new scythe on the night of Ivan Kupala (July 6 to 7). Such hay must be collected with a new rake and carried on a new stretcher. While the person is in the heap, the evil one will begin to lure him out of there with various promises. You should go out after the devil gives you the invisibility cap, otherwise he may stab the person with a pitchfork.
Immediately after Epiphany, the meat-eating began - it was time for weddings. Therefore, the “Choice of Bride” ritual was popular on the day of Epiphany. On this day, young people dressed up in their best outfits. The girls wore several shirts with embroidered hems, whitened and blushed. A sundress was worn over the shirts, and on it were 3-4 aprons with abundant embroidery. A sheepskin coat trimmed with marl fur was thrown over the clothes. To larger local centers on the occasion of the “Choice of Brides” ritual for the blessing of water and festive service boys and girls came from neighboring villages planning to start a family in the new year.
They began to look after brides in the church during the service, at the blessing of the water, when the girls stood on a hill above the river, and the boys stood below. The viewing itself took place after lunch. The girls stood in one or several rows near the ice hole or near the church fence, and the guys walked between them.
In addition to the boys, the “brides” were also examined by their parents. They assessed not only the girl’s external qualities (beauty, height, plumpness), but also her ability to weave, spin, sew, lace and embroider, which was revealed when viewing the outfits she was wearing. Attention was also paid to the health of future brides. In addition to external data, the criterion for good health was warm hands: the boys' mothers took the girls by the hands, who remained without gloves during the show (about 2-3 hours). If a girl's hands were cold, then she was considered sick and unsuitable for marriage.
Signs for Epiphany (January 19)
- If there is a snowstorm on Epiphany, then expect a snowstorm at the end of April.
- Cold and clear weather means a dry summer; snowy and cloudy - to a good harvest.
- Cloudy skies, heavy frost and falling snow foretell a fertile year.
- A clear day means a bad harvest.
- At noon, blue clouds mean harvest.
- Strong whirlwinds rise at Epiphany - a good swarm of bees.
- If the day is warm, the bread will be thick.
- Starry night - for the harvest of peas and berries. This is also a sign that the sheep will lamb well this year.
- A full month means high water in the spring.
- If the day is sunny and warm, then the good weather will continue for several more weeks.
- If it rains, it will rain until the end of the month.
- If snow piles up against the fence, the summer will be bad. If there is a gap, then it is fruitful.
- Dogs bark a lot - there will be plenty of game.
- The day is good for fortune telling.
A person born on January 19 will live a long and happy life. He should wear jade.
Video: signs for the Epiphany (January 19)
Epiphany is the end of the New Year and Christmas festivities, but this is not the importance of the holiday. During the period of Christianity, Epiphany acquired enormous significance for people living or striving to live a full spiritual life, and became a sacred symbol of purification for the majority.
Not without the fact that church holiday a lot of people mixed in folk signs and beliefs, which, by the way, tend to come true. There was also magic.
Epiphany turned out to be a holiday with a somewhat liberal slant, allowing fortune telling, the use of spells and analysis of omens. But what you cannot do on Epiphany, January 19, is swear and harbor anger. Actually, similar actions punishable on any day, but especially on Epiphany.
Guessing - only on Christmas Eve
Marriage, health and well-being of loved ones are a familiar set of questions, the solution to which remains relevant for centuries, and you want to know the answer in advance, and so that it is sure to be positive.
You can find out your fate, but not on Epiphany itself, but the evening before, until 00:00 inclusive. Next - taboo. At midnight, a new, festive day starts, and those who did not have time to find out their future are late. Fortune telling will have to be postponed for a whole year. In the old days, girls did just that; they were God-fearing and well aware of what they should not do on Epiphany, January 19th.
Conspiracy conspiracy
Conspiracies can also be classified as fortune telling. Active actions On the part of man, efforts to correct his fate were also undertaken before midnight. But some rituals (for money, for example) were allowed to be performed before dawn, in parallel with collecting Epiphany water.
Analyzing (January 19) - what can be done and what cannot be done - we come to the conclusion that it is possible to wish for yourself and those around you wealth, health, marriage (marriage) and direct all your spiritual, magical and prayerful forces towards this. You can’t think bad things - the boomerang effect on holidays manifests itself more clearly and acts faster.
List of baptism signs
The main signs for Epiphany, January 19 (what you can do and what you can’t do) a hundred and fifty years ago were a program of action that was adopted by everyone, young and old.
Now they are not believed in so widely and are perceived, rather, as entertainment, but they are increasingly noticing that forecasts made on the basis of the fluffiness of the snowfall, the clarity of the stars, and the direction of the wind are not without logic.
They don’t do laundry at home for two days after Epiphany, and for two weeks they don’t do it in an ice hole.
But dipping into the ice hole is welcome. It is especially useful for those who dared to tell fortunes the day before - water will wash away this sin.
You can sprinkle your house with holy water.
Before Epiphany, the hostess is allowed to personally draw small crosses above the windows and front door - this will protect the house from troubles.
If a bird knocks on the window at Epiphany, pray for your deceased relatives; it is their souls asking the living for help and godly deeds.
Why can't you feed chickens?
One of the strange, at first glance, Epiphany prohibitions is on feeding chickens on this day. It would seem that such cruelty to living beings is unacceptable. But zealous rural residents, who count not only every laying hen, but also every sprout in the garden in the summer, take the ban very seriously.
They have well-fed chickens - number one on the list of “What not to do on Epiphany, January 19.” What does the poor bird have to do with it, forced to suffer on this bright holiday? It is not known where this sign came from, but they say that if you do not feed the chickens on Epiphany, in the summer they will not rake the beds and spoil the seedlings.
Physical labor is prohibited
On the big day, all types of physical labor are prohibited. This is probably the most pleasant thing. What can’t you do on Epiphany, January 19? That’s right, work! The time freed from everyday tedious work can be spent pleasantly and usefully - attending a church service, going on a visit, having fun with friends.
Of course, meeting nice people here means “fifty or more.” You can warm your soul a little with alcohol even on Epiphany. What you shouldn’t do on the holy day is get too carried away and “overdo it.” Firstly, the sanctity of the holiday does not save you from hangovers and headaches. Secondly, looking like a famous pet is simply indecent. It’s better to get drunk from a wonderful day, a bright holiday, revel in the faith in a wonderful future predicted on Christmas Eve, and enjoy life for nothing.
