Baptism - Orthodox holiday January 19: the essence and history of the holiday, traditions, customs, rituals. Epiphany Eve, Epiphany bathing in the ice-hole, water lighting, signs, divination by Epiphany

We will tell you about the history of the appearance, traditions and sense of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The baptism of is one of the main winter holidays to which Christmas Christmas trees end. The most important symbol of this day is water. It is believed that on this day it becomes salubrious and life-giving, so anyone who bathes in it will be able to regain health and prolong their life.

Baptism - a great Orthodox holiday January 19: the essence and history of the holiday

The history of the holiday

• The beginning of such a favorite holiday in our country takes in the most ancient times. As the old chronicles say, he appeared immediately after Jesus Christ passed the baptismal rite in the clear waters of the Jordan. We all know that in the infancy the future Savior was not baptized, so he decided to do it already at a conscious age. At the moment of baptism, Jesus Christ is already 30 years old.

• In order for his soul to receive the Guardian Angel, he went to the city of Bethawar, where he met Ionne the Baptist. This holy man invited him to repent of all his sins and promise himself and God that in the future he will do all that is destined for him by fate. And most importantly, he will faithfully and faithfully serve people, especially those in need of his help. After this, John the Baptist consecrated the waters of the Jordan and held a baptismal ceremony over Jesus Christ.

• As soon as the Savior emerged from the water, a snow-white dove sat on his shoulder and pronounced in a human voice: This is my son, who has my blessing in his soul. After that, everyone around them realized that there was a righteous man in front of them and started asking him for God's mercy. But since Jesus believed that his soul was not yet ready for divine service, he left for a full forty days in the desert and all this time he prayed to God without water and food.

• And only after feeling that his soul and body were cleansed from all bad things, he returned to people and began to serve them. For the modern person, the essence of this holiday has not changed either. People continue to believe that if you swim in the water on January 19, you can get rid of all the sins that have been committed throughout the year. Therefore, a sufficiently large number of believers go to the water that day and cross themselves, dip into it three times.

Epiphany Eve 18 January - Epiphany evening: traditions, customs, rites

The Epiphany Eve

• The Epiphany Eve is a rather important stage in the preparation for the celebration of Epiphany. In the old days this day was called The Hungry Kutya. It was believed that on this day, in general, you can not eat anything until the appearance of the first star in the sky. Moreover, the fast before the Epiphany was so strict that even water was allowed to drink in the most minimal quantities. Our ancestors believed that such a restriction helps their soul and body to be cleansed of their ills and bad thoughts, and to get as close as possible to God.

• Therefore, in those days, women strictly watched that none of the family members on the day of Epiphany Christmas Eve did not eat even a tiny bit of food. The exception was made only for old people, sick people and small children. They were allowed to eat low-fat lean food. Another important tradition of Christmas Eve was cleaning the house. From the very morning all the housewives, without exception, began to clean the house of garbage. On this day, floors were necessarily washed, all furniture was wiped, and festive embroidered towels were put on the image.

• Also on the eve of Christmas Eve it was customary to take out Christmas decorations from the house. After the whole house was cleaned, the hostess began to prepare a festive dinner. As a rule, it consisted of fasting pancakes, vareniki, kvartar, peas or beans and, of course, kutya. After the dinner was cooked all the members of the family from small to large went to church for service. After the festive service, the priest consecrated the water and people gathered liquid in glass containers, carried it home. Crossing the threshold, they immediately took in hand wheat spikelets or just dry grass and carefully sanctified the water every corner of his home.

• After the house was cleaned the same procedure was given with all the outbuildings. The remaining water was put on the table and waited for the first star to appear in the sky. When she appeared, the family began to eat. At first, all members of the family drank consecrated water, a knot and necessarily ate a spoonful of kutya. And only after all this it was possible to start eating the rest, standing on the table dishes. Yes, and do not forget, although dinner on Christmas Eve should be modest, it should consist of 9-12 dishes.

Lighting the water on the baptism in the church and its medicinal properties

Lighting the water on the baptism of

• Those who carefully read the Holy Scripture know that the water in it is described as a healing fluid that can heal the soul and body and return the mind to the person. Actually, therefore, the majority of believers on this day try to stock up on healing water. And although throughout the year the priests periodically venerate the water, it is believed that it is the baptismal who is able to protect from adversity and the person and his home.

• Winter vaulting is considered great for the reason that directly on this day in the waters of the Jordan God dipped in the guise of a man. That's why all the water on this day becomes curative, helping the needy and the lost to find health, peace and confidence in the future. As a rule, in the church water begins to be consecrated as early as January 18, immediately after the festive service.

• Water is distributed on this day completely free of charge, thereby helping to ensure that even the poorest person can feel God's grace on himself. If we talk about the beneficial properties of Epiphany water, even the scientists agreed that its structure on this day is changing. It becomes much softer and tastier, and such metamorphosis occurs not only with consecrated water, but even with the one you will type from a well or from a tap. It is believed that the baptismal water is able to relieve pain, regain composure and expel the sickness from the body.

• But in order for it to have a positive effect on your body, you should drink it on an empty stomach and be sure to pre-read the prayer before the images. Also with the help of such water it is possible to protect infants from spoilage and evil eye. It is checked if you wash the baby with the baptismal water, then all the bad things that he wanted to bypass him.

Epiphany bathing in the hole

Epiphany bathing in the ice-hole

• Many people decide on Baptism to swim in the ice-hole. It is considered that if you plunge into the waters of the river that day, it will help you to be cleansed of all sins and make a person stronger spiritually. In order for such a ritual to bring benefits to human souls, clergymen begin to prepare for it from Christmas Eve. First they spend a festive service in the temple, and then go to the river and begin to prepare a hole for bathing.

• For this, a cross is cut in the thickness of the ice( it is also called Jordan), and then this place is once again consecrated. After these actions, the water in the ice-hole becomes curative, so every person who swims in it feels a surge of strength both physically and spiritually. In addition, having plunged into the Jordan, you will show to the Almighty that you are ready to follow him and adhere to all his commandments. Immediately I want to say, if you do not believe that the baptismal water is able to perform miracles or is simply an atheist, then do not even try to swim.

• This action still does not benefit you or your body. The same people who believe with their whole soul in God and the useful properties of water, are simply obliged to plunge into the holy Jordan. But still, and such people swim in the ice hole must be able to correctly. First, you can not get drunk and full in the baptism of the water. Since drunkenness and gluttony are considered quite serious sins, the Almighty will still not send you his blessing. Secondly, before bathing, you must go to the temple and pray to God.

• On this day, it is not necessary to address him with any specific prayers. You can simply tell him about what's bothering you, ask him for forgiveness and health for yourself and your loved ones. After that you can go to the river and dive into the hole. And do not forget that it is a sin for a woman to enter the holy water in an open swimsuit or underwear. Do it best in a closed shirt and preferably a new one. After you remove it, you can dry and dress when you are ill or just feel bad. The grace that descended on her while swimming in the ice-hole will protect you until the next Baptism.

Folk signs on the baptism of

People's signs on the baptism of

Our ancestors believed very much in baptismal signs, that's why they were very observant on this day. At Baptism, they tried to find out what the year would bring them, and what would happen with the weather and the harvest.

Popular signs:

• If there are no clouds and stars visible on the Epiphany night in the sky, then this is a sure sign that the spring will be early, and summer and autumn are very warm and rainy.

• Windless weather and clear skies predict a calm year without any unpleasant shocks. This means that you can safely start something new, for example, build a house, open your business or start a family. If you take all these decisions in a balanced way, then they will definitely bring you happiness.

• If the Baptism of the Lord coincided with the full moon, then this is a sure sign that the spring may begin with strong floods and flooding of rivers.

• If this winter holiday is celebrated on a new moon, then this is also not a good sign. As a rule, such a position of the heavenly body indicates that the spring will be very late and frosty, and after it a cold and excessively rainy summer will come.

• A good sign is a large snow cover or snowfall on Christmas Eve. This weather behavior indicates that before the next Epiphany, no terrible epidemics and illnesses are foreseen.

• If on Christmas Eve or on Epiphany it rains or blows a very strong wind, then this may indicate that the coming year will be very unsettled both politically and economically. Moreover, such weather indicates that very soon enough tears can shed.

• Unmarried girls and women on this day tried to find out their fate. From the very morning they went out on the road and waited for a passerby. If the first person they saw was a healthy business man, it meant that soon they would meet their second half. A child or an elderly person pointed out that he did not meet a loved one in the near future.

Divination at Epiphany

Divination at Epiphany

This is how a person works, but at any age he wants to know what awaits him in the future. The baptism of the Lord is the most optimal day in order to find out what lies ahead.

Sapozhek

For this divination, you will need boots that you wear most often. Take the left boots and toss it through the gate. In case you live in a multi-storey building, then throw it out the window. Then go and see how it lies. If sock to your home, then next year you will spend in this house. In the event that he shows in the opposite direction, then with a high probability you can say that you very soon will get married.

Chicken prediction of

To begin with, fill a small amount of grain on the floor in the house. To spread it it is necessary on all premise, the small centers nearby from each other. Then start the chicken in the house( you can cock) and see how it behaves. If she immediately begins to walk around the room and peck the seeds, then do not worry, the coming year will bring you prosperity and luck. If the chicken just walks and watches, then this is not a very good sign. It is likely that troubles and setbacks await you.

Divination by desire

So, the first thing you have to do is go to the forest and chop small fir or pine branches. In the evening on Christmas Eve, take the mirror out onto the street and leave it there for an hour or two. After that, bring it into the house and write a finger on it with your finger. Put the mirror under your bed so that the inscription was turned towards you. Cover it with previously harvested twigs and go to bed. If the inscription until the morning disappears, then the desire will come true.

Guessing on other people's conversations

Go to the window or door of someone else's house and listen to what's happening there. If you hear screams and scolding, then until the next Baptism you do not see peace. In case you hear cheerful songs, music or just a conversation behind the wall, you can be calm, all the best is ahead.

Family Traditions at the Epiphany

Family Traditions at the Epiphany

• Epiphany, like all Christmas Roses, is considered a family holiday. Therefore, this day is best spent in the circle of his family. It is believed that if all generations of the same genus gather under the roof of one house, then the whole next year a large family will live in the same composition and, most importantly, in health. It is accepted that relatives should gather at home without having the most senior members of the family. Most often Baptism is celebrated in the house of my grandparents. Usually the younger family members bring home Christmas Eve, and then defending the holiday service, go home to their parents. Entering the house, the guests congratulate each other on a bright day and sit down at the festive table. On the table should be present 12 dishes. Of course, there must be a kutya, a knot and pies with vegetable fillings.

• It's better not to serve alcohol on this Orthodox holiday, if you do not have one noodle, you can also serve berry juice or honey and raspberry tea. After the feast, all present together should thank God, for the bread that is on their table, and then you can go to "let go" Christmas holidays. For this, a white dove is released from the cell.

Is it possible to baptize a child on the Feast of Baptism?

Baptism of a child

• Among young parents for some reason there is an opinion that it is impossible to baptize a baby to the Epiphany. But in fact this statement has no ground. Church rules do not prohibit baptizing children in the great Christian holidays and even fasting. Moreover, some priests, on the contrary, welcome the fact that the Guardian Angel for the baby will be selected for a bright church holiday. If we talk about Baptism, then there's no point in doubting it.

• We all know that the sacrament of baptism of the baby passes exactly in the consecrated water. In order for her to acquire the necessary qualities, the clergyman must conduct a special ceremony on her. And on Christmas Eve, as we know, all the water becomes healing itself, the priest with his prayer simply further enhances her useful properties, making her a saint. Therefore, if you want your little one to receive the most powerful protection from the Almighty, then boldly baptize him at Baptism.

• In principle, no priest has the right to refuse this. You can get a refusal only if there is a very large influx of people on the holiday itself in the church. Therefore, if you want to baptize your child on that day, then be sure to try to agree in advance about the convenient for all time of the rite.

Video: How to swim right in the ice hole at the Epiphany?