Prayer before bathing on Epiphany (January 19)

A great and bright holiday The baptism of the Lord is always filled with special grace and joy. All Orthodox Christians celebrate it on the evening of January 18 (on Christmas Eve) and the whole day on January 19. This holiday is associated with one very important Biblical event that occurred on the Jordan River when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. It was about two thousand years ago.

The Mystery of the Holy Trinity

The biblical event describes that when Jesus Christ came out of the water, at the same instant Heaven was opened and a voice was heard: "You are my beloved's son, in whom is my blessing." It was at this moment that the great mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed to people. After Christ, Christ commanded his apostles to go and teach all nations. Now everyone is baptized with this sacrament.

Prayer at the Baptism of the Lord before bathing. When to recruit water?

God with his Baptism sanctified all the water, and now these days all Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate the holiday of the Water Consecration. At this time in all Orthodox churches, water is consecrated, and then in rivers and other water bodies. Further, there are whole processions, which have the name of the procession on the Jordan. All this is done to consecrate the natural source of water.

Cleansing from sins

It is believed that on Baptism the body, washed by water, is thus purified, just like the repentant soul, who believes in the Lord, will be saved by Him. Therefore, prayer before bathing at Epiphany is very powerful.

Bathing in the ice hole in winter was included in the Christian tradition and in the culture of the Slavic peoples. And today the bravest people on this holiday like to plunge into the water and thus clean up. A special prayer before bathing at Epiphany helps people get rid of heavy sins. Therefore, a cure comes from the bodily and spiritual diseases. But this is affected not so much by the water itself, as by the state of the human soul, which seeks to be closer to God.

Prayer before bathing at Epiphany

Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the fight against evil forces. Prayer before bathing on Epiphany on January 19 is necessary, as well as the fact that on Epiphany Eve, one must observe the strictest fast and eat only bread and water, which contribute to the purification of the soul and body.

From the ancestors of the Gentiles, we inherited the tradition of guessing, although, as you know, this is not at all a charitable work. But the young girls at all times were burning with curiosity and wondering at the suitors, but in the morning they had to pray diligently to be forgiven of these sins.

There are several interesting traditions. For example, on the morning of January 19, you need to go out into the yard early in the morning, wipe yourself with clean snow and thus clean yourself. It is believed that if the sky on this day will be without clouds, then every prayer before bathing at Epiphany will be heard. But again, all prayers must always be spoken with great attention and reverence, and not chatter them, as a well-learned text.

Bathing on Epiphany

The Feast of Baptism is also called the Epiphany. The Lord himself on this day revealed to the world the Light Unapproachable. The very word "baptize" in Greek means "plunge into the water." To correctly answer the question of what prayer is read before bathing on Epiphany on January 19, you first need to delve into the very essence of the holiday. First of all, it is necessary to understand the symbolic meaning that water in the Old Testament possesses. After all, it denotes the beginning of life, all living beings came out of it. Where there is no water, there is no life, and besides the water, when there are many, can destroy. One can recall the times of the Great Flood - so one day God became angry and destroyed all sinners.

Baptism of Russia

The tradition of the water consecration appeared in our country in 988, when Rus baptized the Great Prince of Kiev, Vladimir. Only the priest can perform the Rite of Sanctification. First, a special prayer is read before bathing on Epiphany on January 19, and at the same time a trip to the water of the Cross is done three times. This happens right after the festive liturgy. According to custom, an ice hole is prepared in advance, which usually looks like a cross and has the symbolic name of the Jordan.

Very often, questions can immediately arise about exactly what prayer is read for the Epiphany before bathing, when you collect water on Baptism, when it is curative, and many others.

To begin with, it is still necessary to learn that in Baptism, water becomes a real shrine, which heals and gives strength. Therefore, such a long procession of water consecration in the church. All the Orthodox who come on this day to the feast, get water or wash, and the bravest ones want to swim in the ice hole. Epiphany water can already be recruited on Christmas Eve on January 18, and on the day of Epiphany on January 19 - it will be the same in properties and holiness.

The pagan tradition of bathing

Let's return to the history of our ancestors (the ancient Scythians). They dipped their babies in the hole and thereby tempered them. In addition, according to pagan traditions, swimming in the hole was completed rite of initiation into the soldiers. So in Russia it was led to heat bathhouses, to rub with snow and to jump into a cold hole. And to this day, some pagan rituals have been preserved. Now we bathe in the ice of the Epiphany water and celebrate Shrove Tuesday, which means the beginning of Lent.

Do I have to bathe in Epiphany?

Carefully dealing with the questions about what prayer is needed for the Epiphany before bathing, when to collect water and which day it is best to do (January 18 or 19), it should be noted that according to church rules, the Great Sanctification of the water occurs on the Epiphany Eve on January 18 . Believers go to work first, and then they recruit Epiphany water. Bath and water can be recruited from the evening of January 18.

Dipping into the hole is not required, only on their own. The main thing is that the ice-hole was specially equipped, there was a warm place for changing clothes, hot tea was prepared, etc. At the same time it is a mistake to think that if a person is redeemed on this day, all sins are forgiven.

Returning to the theme "Praying for the Baptism of the Lord before bathing", in order to correctly approach this process of making Epiphany water, one must first hold fasting, then confess and receive communion. You should also ask for the blessing of the priest. Before swimming in the hole, a person must understand that this is primarily a risk to his health, which means that it is necessary to have all the medical indicators in the norm, that is, at least to consult a doctor. It is simply necessary here.

Prayers for Epiphany

And now you can answer the question: "What is the prayer for the Baptism of the Lord before bathing, to whom is the Orthodox person praying?"

At Baptism, such prayers are read:

• Troparion of Epiphany.
• Voice 1 st begins with the words "In the Jordan you are baptized ...".
• Kontakion of Epiphany.
• Voice 4-th: "Thou hast appeared more and more ...".

The glory of the Epiphany of the Lord is also read: "We magnify thee, Zivodavche Christ ...".

Before you plunge into an ice hole, you must say this prayer three times. The first time plunging - "In the name of the Father," the second time - "And the son," the last - "And the Holy Spirit! Amen".

It must be understood, however, that prayer for the Baptism of the Lord is strong before bathing. Which is better to read, of course, you need to know, but most importantly - with what soul and with what heart these words are pronounced. After all, our external observance of church rules does not always play an important role, the main thing is the spiritual and moral education of every Christian. It is from this and we must always begin. And this means that we must accept and repent, forgive all our enemies, ask forgiveness from those who have themselves been hurt, help the needy, repent of their sins and try to do more good deeds. And then the world around will become much kinder and more merciful.