When to collect Epiphany water. Is it necessary to add Epiphany water to the bath in which babies are bathed so that they do not get sick?
The Epiphany or Epiphany is the twelfth permanent holiday. This means that it is celebrated on the same day every year, January 19th. In 2017, January 19 falls on Thursday.
On January 18, Orthodox Christians will celebrate Epiphany Eve, and on the night of January 19, believers perform the ritual of immersion in sacred water, collect holy water and celebrate the feast of the Holy Epiphany of the Lord, gathering with the family at a lush table with various delicacies. Epiphany Christmas Eve and Epiphany of the Lord are considered very strong days according to its energy, therefore during this period you should adhere to certain rules of behavior.
History of the holiday: from the biblical past to the present day
The roots of the holiday of Epiphany (translated from Greek “baptism” means immersion) go back to the distant biblical past, when the Son lived and walked the earth God's Jesus Christ. By Christian tradition On January 19, Jesus Christ was baptized, and on this day the Epiphany is celebrated, when the Almighty appeared to the world in three forms. As the history of the holiday says, on this day God the Son, who turned 30 years old, was baptized in the Jordan River. At this time, the Holy Spirit appeared to him in the form of a dove, and God the Father gave a sign that Jesus Christ was his son. This is how the second name of the holiday of Epiphany appeared - Epiphany.
Since then, in churches on the day of Epiphany, holiday services. Doves are also released into the sky as a symbol of the Spirit of God descending from heaven. And a hole is cut in the ice in the form of a cross, the clergyman marks the hole with a cross and reads prayers. Then everyone (this ritual is not obligatory) plunges headlong into the hole three times, making the sign of the cross and saying: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Nowadays, during Epiphany bathing, saviors and doctors are always on duty near the Jordanians. In 2016, out of 60 thousand people who plunged into the ice hole on the Epiphany holiday in St. Petersburg, only two turned to doctors for help. In 2017 in Northern capital 24 places have been identified for Epiphany bathing, and in Moscow – 59.
It is believed that Epiphany water (even that which flows from ordinary water taps) becomes holy, washes away sins and helps to cleanse yourself: if you swim in an ice hole at Epiphany, you will not get sick all year. By the way, at Epiphany they stored holy water for a year in advance. It was kept in the red corner near the icons and used as needed. It is worth noting that medicinal properties You may lose water if, while collecting or taking it, you quarrel with someone or have bad thoughts.
Also stored in advance Epiphany water consecrated their home to ensure peace and order in it.
And for healing it is necessary to take consecrated Epiphany water On an empty stomach, take a teaspoon every hour.
If you swim in an ice hole at Epiphany, you won’t get sick all year
How to celebrate the holiday of Epiphany, signs, fortune telling
On the eve of the holiday, on Epiphany Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians observe fasting and serve exclusively Lenten dishes. This could be kutia made from rice, millet or barley, dumplings with cabbage, fish dishes, lean pancakes from buckwheat, oatmeal jelly. Additives in the form of honey, jam and nuts are not prohibited.
And already on January 19th Holy Epiphany The Lord's holiday is celebrated on a grand scale - many delicious and varied dishes are prepared, pies with meat and berry fillings are baked, and sweet dishes are prepared.
On the feast of Epiphany, as on any other major church holiday stop all housework (cleaning, washing, sewing). Also, you cannot ask to borrow money for Epiphany, otherwise you will continue to do this all year. And on January 19, you cannot touch scissors (get haircuts, manicures, pedicures, visit a beauty salon), so as not to cut your destiny and introduce negativity into it - quarrels, illnesses, gossip, and so on.
There are other signs associated with Baptism.
- If the newlyweds agree on a wedding on this day, then this will mean a happy and strong family.
- Does the wind on Epiphany blow from the south? Expect a stormy summer.
- Cold and clear weather on January 19 foreshadowed a dry summer, while warm and cloudy weather promised a rich harvest.
- If it snows on Epiphany night, there will be a good grain harvest.
- To be beautiful, girls wash themselves with snow at Epiphany.
At Epiphany, fortune telling was allowed. Most often, girls wondered about their betrothed. They took a bag of grain and put several rings in it, and then took them out one by one. A copper ring meant a poor groom, a silver one spoke of the average income of the betrothed, and a gold one promised a rich soul mate.
Every person from childhood is familiar with the phrase “ living water" According to stories, such water can perform real miracles, treat many diseases and save human souls. And many Orthodox people are confident in the authentic existence of just such water, only it needs to be collected in certain time, and, as a rule, under open air.
Of course, everyone Orthodox people known wonderful properties namely Epiphany water. The holiday associated with the Epiphany of the Lord, according to Orthodox calendar celebrated on January 19, has long become a symbol of purification and enlightenment for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. According to legends, it is the water that is in the open air on the night of January 18-19 that has incredible healing and cleansing properties. It is believed that water, in order to obtain all its wonderful properties, simply needs to come into contact with nature itself - with clean air, sky and stars - this is the kind of water that can bring health, well-being, and peace of mind.
It is interesting that even scientists recognized the miraculous properties of Epiphany water, but no reasons were found to scientifically explain such miracles. This once again confirms that a correctly performed ritual of collecting such water will have a positive effect on a person’s life.
Properties of Epiphany water
It is believed that their wonderful healing properties water receives with the help of energy generated by the position of the planets at a certain date and time. Surprisingly, such water absolutely never spoils - and even after a long period of time it retains its healing properties. Epiphany water seems to “remember” all the information received and retains it for many years.
Among the many types healthy water", which is recommended for use by the most qualified doctors, Epiphany water is the most optimal - its qualities have a positive effect on the work of everyone internal organs human, renew and cleanse the skin. Moreover, precisely because such water does not spoil, it is worth giving preference to it.
In addition to collecting water for consumption, there is another important tradition. In cold areas, where bodies of water freeze in the winter and are covered with a layer of ice, from time immemorial there has been a ritual of bathing in icy Epiphany water. On the night of January 18-19, daredevils who are ready to plunge into really cold water gather around the ice holes and plunge into the water. Surprisingly, such bathing not only does not cause colds and other diseases, but, on the contrary, improves health.
When and where to collect Epiphany water
Most believers visit the temple on the feast of the Epiphany and collect healing water there, but on this holiday this is not at all necessary. On the night of January 18-19, it is enough to place a container of water on open space under the night sky, and overnight the water will acquire all those healing properties that are so necessary. At the same time, you can “charge” absolutely any amount of water in this way - there are no restrictions on this. Already in the morning, the water will acquire its wonderful qualities and will never spoil - just like the water collected in the temple.
Surely, many are wondering when to collect water for Epiphany on January 18 or 19, 2019. Like last year, water must be collected on the night of January 18-19.
On the night of January 18-19, 2018, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate one of their most revered holidays - the Epiphany, also called Epiphany.
So, if you are tormented by illnesses, stock up on healing Epiphany water.
This water, collected on the night of January 18-19 from 0:10 to 1:30 or a little later, has been considered miraculous since time immemorial. At this time, “the sky opens” and the prayer addressed to God will be heard.
Our grandparents used it for treatment, cleansing, expelling evil spirits and bad thoughts, splashing it in a person’s face or in the corners of the house. Want to check? It's not difficult. Just try to do everything exactly according to the rules, carefully preserved in people's memory.
It is believed that water collected at Epiphany midnight from any source (even from the tap) has healing properties. Speaking modern language, Epiphany water is structured. Researchers believe that every year, starting from fifteen minutes past midnight on January 19, a person can draw water from the tap at any time during the day for subsequent storage and use as bioactive throughout the year.
“...On Epiphany, water is blessed in churches, wells, rivers and lakes. If for some reason a person cannot go to service or lives a thousand kilometers from the nearest church, he can resort to healing power simple water taken from an ordinary reservoir on Epiphany night, although such water cannot actually be considered holy. On the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the water in churches is consecrated according to a special rite - the great Jordanian consecration and is called Epiphany. There is a Greek word - “agiasma”, which is translated as shrine. And the attitude towards it, towards the great shrine, should be special” (S. Shulyak “Orthodox Holidays”).
On Christmas Eve, January 18, you cannot eat anything until the first stars appear in the sky. Drink only clean water, try to spend the whole day quietly and calmly, without getting irritated, without entering into conflicts, bring cleanliness and order to the house. In the evening, after the first star, you can have dinner.
Prepare glass containers with lids, such as 3-liter jars or bottles. Sterilize them thoroughly. In the Temple, holy water is also collected in very clean containers. You shouldn’t be blasphemous and take vodka or beer bottles for this, especially if there are still labels on them.
After 0 hours 10 minutes, fill this container with water from a well, spring or other clean source. You can just do it from the tap. It is advisable to pass it through a cleaning filter, but this is not prerequisite. Fill the water and close the jars with lids.
HOW AND HOW LONG TO STORE BAPTISTIC WATER
If the water collected on the night of the Baptism of the Lord is stored away from human eyes and empty conversations - in a quiet and dark place - (believers store it in home iconostasis), then it retains its healing properties all year round.
Epiphany water stored in glass containers can be used for a year or even longer.
This is a very strong energy water, so drinking it constantly is not recommended.
But to take it as a medicine, if you are unwell, add it to the bath (from one teaspoon to one glass per bath), rinse your mouth, wash your face, spray your face, eyes, whole body - it is very useful. I remind you: there is no need to dry yourself.
It is better to store Epiphany water in a dark, quiet place.
It is believed that holy water does not spoil, so there is no need to put it in the refrigerator.
The Orthodox keep it in the Red Corner next to the icons. In addition, a drop of shrine sanctifies the sea. You can take ordinary, unconsecrated water and add a drop of Epiphany water to it, and it will all be sanctified.
Epiphany water is best stored in glass containers.
From time to time, water is poured from a bottle or three-liter jar into a smaller bottle for use.
It is believed that you should not open the water container too often or keep it open. You should not keep Epiphany water in open buckets and pans for a long time. The water in ponds and rivers also soon after Epiphany night becomes the same.
And if in the future for some reason you want to pour this water, then under no circumstances pour it into the toilet or sink. Dilute with plain water and then pour or water the plants (by the way, it has been noted that undiluted Epiphany water has different effects on plants: some bloom, others, on the contrary, die. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and act carefully).
HOW TO TAKE A BATH FOR BAPTISM 2018?
This night, pour yourself with Epiphany water three times or take a bath.
Between 0:10 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., fill the bathtub cold water from the tap.
Cross the water and yourself three times, read the prayer and knock with your fist right hand across the chest three times to cause the body to vibrate in harmony with the vibrations of the water.
Then, without screaming or making noise, sit in the bath and plunge your head three times, hitting your chest each time.
Silently leave the bath (if someone else in your household wants to swim in Epiphany water, fill the bath with new water).
Do not dry yourself immediately; let the water absorb into the skin. At this time, perform self-massage or vigorously tap your fingers all over your body from head to toe.
Then put on warm clothes, underwear, socks, everything new and always washed and ironed. Have a drink herbal tea with honey.
IS YOUR WATER “BOILING”?
scares you cold water? Are you afraid of a cold? There, dilute the cold Epiphany water with hot water to the temperature you can withstand.
Children and the elderly can take a warm bath during the day rather than at night, but water still needs to be drawn from 0:10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
While bathing, pay attention to how the water behaves in the bath. If, when immersed in it, the water “boils” or bubbles appear, it means that the cleansing process is very active, the evil eye is removed, and negative energy comes out.
January 19 is a great holiday in the life of a Christian. It is dedicated to the events when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River at the age of 30. This day is called the Epiphany and Epiphany. The blessing of baptismal water has already become a tradition, since baptismal water is unique water. There are many beliefs that such water can heal and purify. Even scientists, after numerous studies, have confirmed that Epiphany water is similar in composition and properties to the waters that flow in the Jordan River, where Jesus was once baptized. Take it with you.
That is why most believers go to church and consecrated open springs for Epiphany to draw water from them. Considering that January 18 is also a holiday, Epiphany Eve, and in the evening of this day services and lighting of water are held in churches, the question arises: when to collect Epiphany water on January 18 or 29?
The difference between Epiphany water on January 18 and 19
The first illumination will take place on the evening of January 18, closer to midnight. The second illumination takes place on January 19th. At this time, you can come with your own container and collect Epiphany water for storage at home. When answering the question of when to collect Epiphany water on January 18 or 19, it should be noted that the lighting of the water in the evening of January 18 and January 19 is exactly the same. The blessing of water is carried out in one order, the same prayers are used, so there is no difference between Epiphany water on January 18 and 19. Water reserves in different days have the same properties and are suitable for use for the purpose of cleansing and healing.
It has been scientifically proven that Epiphany water does not spoil. You can store it for a long time, it retains its unique properties. This applies to both the water collected on January 18 and the water collected on January 19. Water on January 18 and 19 is baptismal only after the procedure of lighting the water by a clergyman. The services that take place on the evening of January 18 are also festive, like the services that take place on January 19, so you can collect Epiphany water on both days.
There is an opinion that the most valuable Epiphany water, which has strong active properties, is the water that was collected on the night of January 18-19. However, clergy emphasize the fact that there is no difference between the waters, and that you can come and collect water both on the night of January 18-19 and throughout the next day.
It should be remembered that, first of all, the effect of holy water depends on a person’s faith. Since the water on January 18 and 19 is Epiphany, you should understand its meaning in religious world. According to the Bible, water is the personification of all life on Earth. Therefore, one should collect and consume Epiphany water only with bright thoughts, saying prayers mentally.
The blessing of water on the day is similar in its beneficial properties to the blessing of water for the sacrament of Baptism. The consecrated water for the day of Epiphany and the water for the sacrament of Baptism even have the same name - the Great Agiasma.
Every year the water for Epiphany is blessed twice, and there is no difference between such water.
What not to do with holy water
Despite the fact that Epiphany water is universal in use, there are several strict prohibitions when such water cannot be used:
Epiphany water cannot be used for the purpose of fortune telling or performing any magical rituals.
Superstitions associated with holy water cannot be supported by actions. For example, that in order to achieve the highest grace, one should collect baptismal water in three different churches.
You cannot use Epiphany water for the purpose of cleansing from sins. This is only possible in confession.
When Jesus, who did not need to cleanse his soul, entered the Jordan River, he himself cleansed the entire water element, without which life is impossible. human life. Therefore, one should treat Epiphany water and the Feast of Epiphany with respect. And when to collect Epiphany water on January 18 or 19 is decided individually, depending on free time.
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Comments
18.01.2016 / 21:19
Guest
Glory to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God! Glory to Thee!
18.01.2017 / 07:35
EDUARD GRIGORIEVICH KRYUKOV
I personally found this VERY informative article useful.
18.01.2017 / 13:04
Guest
Thank you for the article and for the time you invested in it, but why are you misleading ignorant people? Watch the movie “Stigmata”: “Split a log and I will be there, lift a stone and I will also be there, and not in houses of wood and stone.” The Lord is omnipresent, isn't He? The greatness of this holiday lies in the fact that water miraculously becomes consecrated in ALL bodies of water for all believers, and not only after its consecration by a priest. But baptismal water, consecrated by a priest in a church, undoubtedly has even higher miraculous properties, and even more so water collected in three churches is the law of conservation and accumulation of energy, which explains the phenomenon of ancient miraculous icons prayed to by generations of believers. You are right - the point is in the faith of the person himself, and that is why a true believer can really get rid of his sins at Baptism, subject to sincere repentance - this is also the meaning of this holiday! The priest is the representative of God on earth, but not the Lord himself, only the Lord himself reads in a person’s heart, and the Lord himself can forgive those who sincerely repent on this holiday, for this the Lord gives us a chance to repent of what we have done and be cleansed with baptismal water, blessed by the Lord himself. “According to your faith it will be rewarded to you.” And please correct your spelling - in your article you wrote several times not “blessing of water”, but “illumination of water”, just as in your other article you wrote “silver” with an “e”. I congratulate everyone and wish you success, health and all the best!
18.01.2017 / 23:32
Guest
I agree with the previous comment. my mother was not a Christian. We call it differently. but the belief that the water was special that day was absolute. I collected it at home, from the tap. and I dial the tap. stands and nothing is done with it as with plain water. because it's not ordinary. this is faith.
About Epiphany water
When we come to a festive service in a church, we first of all go to meet God, to meet the joy that, in theory, we should share at this hour with our loved ones and those around us. But does this happen in our real life? It's coming soon Feast of the Epiphany and we will jostle in queues for Epiphany water (we wish we could get it as quickly as possible), plunge into all sorts of ice holes, but why? Just because we're used to it?
Everything we do must have some meaning, otherwise it is wasted work.
And, unfortunately, traditions, which were originally intended to have a beneficial meaning, in this regard take on an entertaining connotation. Let's try to figure out what's what. For answers to the most common questions about Epiphany water, we turned to priests Dimitry Baritsky and Andrey Efanov.
Epiphany and Epiphany water
People often ask:
What kind of baptismal water?
Epiphany water is water blessed in Epiphany Christmas Eve and on the Feast itself at the Great Blessing of Water. Often water that was consecrated on January 19 is called Epiphany water, and water consecrated the day before is called Epiphany water. In fact, on these two days the water is consecrated with the same rite, has the same properties and is called the Great Agiasma differently. "Agiasma" is translated from Greek as shrine.
Epiphany and Epiphany are the names of the same holiday. The Church remembers how Christ received Baptism from John the Baptist, and at that moment the Holy Trinity was revealed: the Son of God stood in the waters of the Jordan, the Voice of God the Father sounded from Heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove.
How great shrine believers bring home water from the temple, blessed on the days of celebrating these Gospel events, and store it all year, until the next feast of Epiphany.
Which water is stronger - Epiphany or Epiphany?
Epiphany and Epiphany water are different names the same water, blessed by the rite of the Great Blessing of Water on Epiphany Eve or on the day of Epiphany itself. The Feast of the Epiphany is also called Epiphany - hence the two names of the water. There is no difference.
Why is water blessed twice? On this topic for a long time there were disputes. Only in 1667 did the Russian Church decide to bless water twice - both on Epiphany Eve (the day before the holiday) and on the Epiphany holiday itself. The two blessings of water go back to two different church traditions. The first of them is associated with the early Christian custom of baptizing converts on the eve of Epiphany, on the Eve of the holiday. But subsequently there were so many people who wanted to become Christians that a few days a year were not enough for this. Baptisms began to be performed on other dates. The custom of blessing water on Epiphany Eve has been preserved.
The tradition of consecrating water a second time initially concerned only the Jerusalem Church. There was a custom there to go out to the Jordan on the day of the holiday to bless water in memory of the baptism of the Savior himself. From there, the custom of the second consecration of water gradually spread throughout the Christian world.
Water on Epiphany night
What happens to water in Epiphany night?
It is generally accepted that on Epiphany night all water becomes holy. This is stated in one of the stichera of the holiday: “Today the waters are sanctified.” That is, the entire water element on Earth is sanctified. But this is a one-time manifestation of God’s grace, while water collected after the Great Blessing of Water does not lose its properties over time.
There is evidence of how, during the years of persecution of the Church on Epiphany night, believers collected water wherever they could, and, despite the fact that the priest did not say prayers over it, this water was stored for years and did not spoil. This can only be explained as a miracle: seeing the deep faith of people and their impossibility of being in the temple, the Lord gave them His grace.
There is a popular tradition on Epiphany night to plunge into the Jordan - a specially designated place on the reservoir. Sometimes you can hear the opinion that in this way you can “wash away all your sins.” But the Church reminds us that it is not water that helps to cleanse ourselves of sins, but the Lord through the sacrament of repentance - Confession. And He does this, seeing a person’s sincere desire to change. It is impossible to “renew” by taking a dip, drinking or pouring holy water on yourself.
On the feast of Epiphany, believers remember how Jesus received Baptism from John the Baptist on the Jordan River, and from here, from that very moment, His Path began, ending with the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Only the desire to follow Christ, to be with Him not just one night a year, but every day, the desire to live like a Christian and participation in the sacraments of the Church help cleanse the soul.
Epiphany water can be collected both on January 18, on Epiphany Eve, and on January 19, on the Holiday itself. Water consecrated on Vespers (eve) and on the day of Epiphany itself has the same grace.
Agiasma begins to be distributed to believers after the Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Water. Liturgies are served in the morning of January 18, in the morning of January 19 (or at night from the 18th to the 19th). Epiphany water is also distributed after All-night vigil 18th in the evening.
IN large temples V major cities Water can be collected throughout the day (and even around the clock) on January 18 and 19. But during services (Liturgy and All-Night Vigil on the evening of January 18), water is usually not poured. It is best to clarify in advance how the process of distributing water will be organized in the temple you are going to.
