What is baptism? Where to bathe in Epiphany

Baptism in translation from Greek means "immersion in water." All peoples adhere to this holiday. In the Church it is considered one of the main holidays of Baptism. What? It takes place on January 19, when people cover tables, go swimming in the hole or pour water. There is an opinion that the time of Epiphany on the night of January 18-19 is the time when the tap water flows from the tap. We invite you to get acquainted with this remarkable holiday.

What is God's Baptism?

On this day, many Christians, not only from Russia, but also from around the world, recall what a holiday came about. Let's remember - Baptism, what is it? On January 19, John the Forerunner (Baptist) in the Jordan River christened Jesus Christ.

It is from this holiday that the New Year begins according to old traditions.

Today, the day of Epiphany is celebrated on the night of January 18-19. People celebrate it almost as much as Easter. Prepare a delicious dinner, go to the Church in the morning and water, and not only. Some people like to sanctify and different foods, such as sausage, cheese and kutya.

Many people like to walk the morning of January 19 to the ice-hole, where they bathe. There is an opinion that even if it's frosty outside, it's not cold anyway. Some are afraid to swim, believe that you can get a bad cold, because in the street the temperature is below zero.

In order to let go of sin on the Feast of Baptism, it is desirable to fast for a day. That is, do not eat meat and fatty foods. It is necessary to give preference to lean food.

Features of the Epiphany of Epiphany

On this day, the priest and all the ministers of the church are dressed in white cassocks. In Baptism, what is water? It gives a powerful energy to a person and cleanses it of sins. However, only if you follow all the rules.

The very first feature on the day of Baptism is the consecration of water.

Even if it is from a tap, nothing will happen to it. Holy water will not deteriorate very long. It is often used for the recovery of a person, evil eye, cleansing, etc.

Service in the church begins in the evening on January 18. The next day the priest also holds a service. Anyone who desires who purifies himself and sanctifies the water in the church usually goes first to the Divine Service. After the service has passed (2-3 hours), people can collect holy water in the church or wait for the priest to sanctify it.

On the day of Epiphany, you can not quarrel and swear. It is advisable to read as many prayers as possible from January 18 to 19. If you do not know them, then just turn to God. He can not be asked in prayers for money and fame. After all, this is a non-financial God. Ask him not to be ill so that you can make money for your own needs. You will see, if you speak from the heart, he will give you health.

Eating before Epiphany

On the eve, that is, on January 18, you need to adhere to a light diet. Necessarily on this day you need to eat kutya, which is prepared from cereals, honey and raisins. Some add nuts and sugar to it.

Of course, not only kutya need to eat in baptism. What is tasty and interesting yet? Probably nothing. On this day, try to exclude pork, eggs, fish and dairy products.

Try to cook soup on January 18 without roasting vegetables. Put into the water potatoes, carrots and onions (all raw). Salt very little. One day on such a lean soup you can sit. In addition to the first dish, make porridge (buckwheat, wheat or rice). They will even make you happy for this day. After all, as you know, porridge is very useful for the human body.

But January 19, arrange a holiday. You can cook chicken in the oven, different salads, cutlets and much more.

Traditions of Epiphany

Any church holiday is intertwined with folk traditions. Baptism in Russia was given special significance. The girls stopped guessing and testing their destiny. They began to go to church, pray and stand in the service.

Girls believed that holy fortune-telling is a sin. Therefore they knew that after visiting the church they were cleansed.

Today all the people are preparing for the holiday in advance. People make a menu, buy food and prepare a variety of food. They do not change old traditions and also come to church for purification. As in Russia, and now the priest sows the water two times. The first in the church itself in the font, and the second - in the pond for bathing.

If a person for some reason could not come to church, he is cleansed by bathing in the hole. However, remember that this tradition is optional. There is a risk, so you need to take care. If you have a sick heart, weak vessels of the brain or chronic bronchitis, then it is better to avoid swimming in the frost.

In Russia it was forbidden to wash clothes on the day of Baptism, not only at home, but also in the river, because the water is considered holy.

Where to bathe in Epiphany

Many citizens are interested in Baptism, where to swim? The choice is very large. You can swim anywhere, where there are special equipped places. For this there must be special steps, from which a person can easily descend. There can also be tables where a person can put their clothes on. In special places on the day of Baptism, rescuers are on duty. After all, anything can be. They help in unforeseen situations. In these places you can go through the whole rite of bathing.

Many people dive in unofficial places. It is very dangerous. Where there are no rescuers and a special entrance to the water, this place may prove fatal. So do not take any chances. The places of Epiphany are no different, they are equipped in the same way. Therefore, it is not necessary to go somewhere far from your home to plunge into the holy water. If you have a pond for baptism nearby, you can safely go there. It is desirable to know in advance whether there are physicians or rescuers.

If you want to swim on a holy day, go to where specially designated places and a lot of people. If you do not know where to swim at Baptism, ask friends who have tried several options.

Proper Bathing at Epiphany

You can dive into this holiday at any age. Of course, this ritual needs to be prepared both physically and morally. If you are preparing your child for bathing at Epiphany, you need to first season it. Arrange your baby with a contrast shower and dousing with water. First, the water must be warm, gradually turning into a colder one.

If you have rheumatism, heart disease or chronic certain diseases, then you need to first consult with your doctor. After dipping into ice water can cause a person a shock state.

If you are allowed to swim at Baptism, follow the rules:

1. Bathe only in specially designated places.
2. Go dipping in the company of close people, one is very dangerous to dive.
3. Before bathing do not drink alcohol and cigarettes. Vessels are narrowed from them, which can lead to a shock state.
4. Take with you a removable warm clothes.
5. To get to the water unhindered, shoes should not be slippery and comfortable.
6. With a head is better not to dip, as from a sharp narrowing of the vessels can happen trouble.
7. In ice water should not be more than 60 seconds. After all, hypothermia is a very serious test for the body.
8. Where there is ice, it is not worth dipping, it is very dangerous.
9. After bathing in icy water, you should rub your body well with a plaid rug or towel to disperse blood through the body, then dress.
10. To avoid hypothermia, drink hot tea immediately after bathing.

The baptism of the Lord is a holiday that not only cleanses a person, but also renews him spiritually.

Folk features on Epiphany

Since ancient times, attention has been paid to weather and events, to determine what will be spring, summer or autumn. Here are some popular features:

1. If this day is clear, but there is frost - in the summer there will be few rains, but in the fall of the harvest.
2. At Baptism a round full moon - in the spring there will be a spill.
3. The night from 18 to 19 January will be clear and many stars - in the summer a good harvest for berries.
4. If on Baptism there will be a plus temperature - summer and autumn will be fruitful.
5. Southern wind January 19 - summer there will be frequent thunderstorms.
6. Barking dogs at Baptism - the hunting season will be successful.
7. Cours do not feed this holiday. It is believed that if they are full on January 19, they will spoil the garden in the summer.
8. If the baptism turned out to be sunny and frosty, the summer will be very hot and dry.
9. If at 12.00 on the day, January 19, the clouds are blue - in autumn you will gather a rich harvest from the garden.
10. A blizzard on Epiphany means that the spring will not knock at the window.
11. If there is a strong whirlwind on January 19, there will be plenty of honey.
12. The snowstorm at Epiphany indicates that the same weather will be in Shrovetide.
13. Healthy you will be a whole year, if at dawn on January 19 you buy into an ice hole.

All these signs in the people were considered very important. If the weather really said that there will be no harvest, then people are stocked up next year. People over the years have made sure that all the signs are true. Many are interested when Baptism in 2016. This holiday falls from Monday to Tuesday.

Epiphany Water and Its Features

This water is called agiasma. In Greek, it is "holy." For a long time it was considered to be healing. Until now, people remember about it, if someone in the family feels bad, give holy water to drink, wipe their face, hands, feet. There is an opinion that people are being healed. Indeed, it remains a mystery how water can stand for a long time and not spoil.

Scientists have studied the water and the sacred. They proved that the second really approaches in density to the sacred river Jordan. Its curative properties are explained by the fact that it is on Holy Days that the Earth's magnetic field is deviated from the norm and all the water is magnetized. This phenomenon scientists could not prove to the end. It is in the church holidays that a miracle happens. So from a scientific point of view, even the water that flows from the tap on Church holidays becomes perfectly clean and retains its special quality for decades.