Orthodox believers are preparing for Epiphany bathing

One of the main annual holidays - the baptism of the Lord - comes for the Orthodox on January 19. But according to tradition, already tonight, after committing the reign of the great consecration of water in the churches and at the reservoirs of the rank of great consecration, the believers will plunge into the Epiphany hole.

In total, about 3.5 thousand places for baptismal bathing will be equipped in Russia, the safety on which will be provided with more than eight thousand employees of the Ministry of Emergencies. Most of these places are in the Central (1047) and the Volga districts (796), as well as about 60 in Moscow and 200 in the region. Doctors and rescuers ask not to plunge in those places where employees of the Ministry of Emergencies and ambulances will not be on duty, TASS reports.

Dip in ice hole is not mandatory for the church tradition. “The body, the body is a vessel of the soul, and of course it should be protected. And therefore, people who have never walked, have not plunged into ice ice drills can harm themselves, for example, inflammation of the lungs or acute arrhythmia may begin,” the priest, a general practitioner, Igor Blinov, told the agency. He noted that only prepared people continue the ancient tradition, imitating the baptism in the waters of the Jordan of Jesus Christ.

“The most important thing is not immersion in water and ablution of the body, but cleansing the heart and conscience through the introduction of sanctified water, called the Great Agiasma (Shrine), as well as participation in the sacraments of confession and communion, performed on the eve of the holiday itself,” the cleric emphasized.

He noted that Christ was baptized in the waters of the Jordan in other conditions: the water temperature was much higher than that at this time in our latitudes.

Water is consecrated according to tradition in temples for two days in a row - January 18 and 19. These days, a prayer is read, through which "the entire water nature" is sanctified. “That is, all the waters are cleared by the prayer of the church,” the priest explained. The consecration of water, recruited in the vessels, as well as various reservoirs, is committed in memory that, according to tradition, the Lord consecrated the whole earth with His coming into the world.

As already reported , the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril this morning will lead the Divine Liturgy of St. Vasily the Great and consecrate water in the Preobrazhensky (lower) church of the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In the evening, the Patriarch will make an all -night vigil in the Epiphany Cathedral. In the same cathedral, from 9.30 Moscow time, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holiness will begin the service and will again perform the rank of great consecration of water.

Epiphany water is used to strengthen spiritual forces and health, dwellings are sprinkled with it. Believers relate to sanctified water as a shrine and drink it throughout the year until the next holiday.

The baptism of the Lord is one of the main Christian holidays. According to the Gospel, in the waters of the Jordan River in the 1st century, the Prophet John the Baptist baptized the Prophet. The holiday is also called the Epiphany, since at the time of the baptism of Jesus God appeared in three hypostases: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.