There are unusually many people in churches on this day. There are even those who have not remembered God throughout the year. And all because in the Baptism of the Lord is blessed. Everyone wants to have at least a little holy water, about whose wonderful properties so much has been said. They even say that it’s worth taking medicine to make it work better. But why is this day so remarkable?
The Baptism of the Lord is the third most important holiday for Orthodox Christians. Only Easter and Christmas are more important. The holiday is also called the Epiphany, because during the baptismal rite that John the Baptist performed over the Lord Jesus Christ , a dove appeared in the air and the voice of God was heard from heaven: "Behold my beloved son." It is believed that it was at that moment that the triune essence of God appeared, in which Jesus - God the Son, the voice from heaven represents God the Father, and the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
In Russia, the Baptism of the Lord has overgrown with many of its own traditions. So, on this day it is customary to dive into an ice hole with freshly blessed water. At this time, there are the most severe frosts in the winter, but this does not stop believers. Holy water will not only prevent you from catching a cold, but also protect you from illness for the whole year.
As already mentioned, in Baptism, they collect holy water in a special reservoir near the church. Where there are no rivers and it is impossible to cut a cruciform ice hole, water blessing is carried out in special tanks. But many argue that healing water on this day can be literally typed at home from the tap. For one day, the water becomes holy in all reservoirs, just pick it up and save it. If you type it not in the temple, but at home, then you need to do this on the night before Baptism.
The Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 (January 6 according to the old style). The period from Christmas to Baptism is called the Holy Week. At this time, according to legend, evil is released from Hell. On Holy Week, take fortune telling and arrange masquerades - dress up. Previously, it was believed that devils can sometimes come in the form of mummers, and vice versa, mummers will take mummers for their own and do no harm. It should be noted that the church condemned many of the folk entertainment taking place on Holy Week. Most likely, they came from the depths of centuries.
Baptism is celebrated by special
services in the church and the procession. On the evening of January 18,
Epiphany Eve begins
, when it is customary to fast. After the service, which ends on the morning of January 19, you can already send each other congratulations on the Baptism of the Lord. Now poetic greetings are popular, which can be written on a postcard or sent via SMS.
Congratulations on the Baptism of the Lord:
With poems we send to each house.
With holy water today
We will bring health and luck.
The party goes through all the hardships
They argue in our hands
So that in frosty Epiphany weather
Faith revived in my heart!
And according to the national calendar, Baptism is the beginning of the agricultural year. On this day, the weather noted whether the year will be fruitful. A clear starry night foreshadowed a good harvest of berries and nuts, high snow drifts and generally bad weather during the day meant that there would be a high grain yield. But a clear and warm Epiphany day, according to signs, meant that the harvest would be bad.