How to celebrate Epiphany. The Feast Of The Baptism Of The Lord

Each religious holiday has its authentic rituals and special traditions. Is no exception and on January 19 – an important event in the Orthodox world when the faithful early in the morning to go to Church with carafes filled with water, decorated with green branches and elegant ribbons. How to celebrate Epiphany? What to do in this day? Let's try now to reveal all the secrets of the holiday.

A Little history

Epiphany is often referred to as people celebrate Epiphany. As noted by the event Christians, knows every Orthodox Christian who regularly attends Church. In this day the Church glorifies Jesus Christ, who was the rite of consecration and adopted the faith. Baptism – one of the oldest festivals: the written mention of it Dating to the II century. It used to be celebrated together with Christmas – 25 Dec. Nowadays in some countries left is a combination of dates. For example, Indians and Armenians continue to celebrate the Epiphany on January 6.

The Bible says that the baptism of Jesus held John the Baptist. During the sacrament the Savior the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, at this moment a heavenly voice proclaimed that this man-the Son of God, beloved and the only one that brings the world to His favor. So if you don't know how to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, refer to the gospel. There are details told that the holiday is closely associated with water, so its sanctification, and swimming in the hole – the main traditions of the festive events.

Christmas Eve

It is the night before the momentous day when we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. How to celebrate this event, which is also important for Christians? First, the tradition of Christmas eve is very similar to Christmas: walk the streets costumed and singing carols. People the whole day fasting, and only in the evening, the family gathers around the table, which presents meatless dishes. Is the Christmas pudding, traditionally made from rice or wheat, honey, raisins, poppy seeds and nuts. Girls wonder at her spouse, young people put on the so-called farewell Christmas carols.

Secondly, it is believed that the night before the Baptism on the street you can find the evil spirits. She is trying to enter a home in any guise. To avoid this, the Orthodox draw chalk crosses on window frames and doors. The sign has long been considered a reliable defense against everything supernatural. Our ancestors said that a particularly dangerous werewolf "Fiery serpent”: he is usually unmarried girls in the form of a beautiful boy. He enchants his victim, and that love is considered incurable.

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Epiphany water

It is a symbol of the holiday. Early in the morning on 19 January, people rush to the Church for the consecration of this source of life. Pour it in specially prepared pots that are decorated with bows and flowers. Some people use for these purposes, Christmas tree rain, removed from the Christmas tree. Epiphany-the last day when she pleases of the household with its beauty. Immediately after the Baptism the tree decided to burn, and toys to hide in the attic until next winter.

If you have the opportunity to sanctify the water in the river, people try not to miss. The father sends the service just near the hole, and then from it they get liquid. They carry her into the house, and starts a real holiday. No one goes, because the work is considered a great sin. After the water blessing Orthodox celebrate Epiphany at the table in the center of which the place of honour is blessed water. It takes by the throat every family member and guest. The mistress of the house treats present a delicious meal: porridge seasoned with butter, jelly, nourishing soup and square pancakes – that had a lot of money.

How to draw water

Sanctified water January 18 Christmas Eve, and also on the 19th after the divine Liturgy. A real treat for all believers becomes a service on Epiphany in Russia. Tradition, as noted by the event that you need to do that day, says the priest in the sermon. He focuses people's attention on the fact that you dialed the water in these two days has special properties, and there is no difference, you scored 18 or January 19.

By the Way, if you can not see the consecrated liquid from the river or bring out of the Church, you can use an ordinary water tap or well. Need to recruit her in the night of Epiphany, between 00:10 to 01:30. Remember: it will be sure to stock up before you celebrate. Epiphany-a religious holiday, so sincere prayer is a necessary part of the rite. Pouring water into the jar or jug, read the Holy words from the Bible. Before the procedure you should also pray, asking for God's forgiveness for sins and give thanks for his mercy.

Healing properties

Epiphany water has a special force. First, it does not spoil. Try to pour plain water and hold it for a month in a sealed container: SIP sipping after a while you will feel the bitterness or hints of mold in the liquid. But the water accumulated before January 19, will be fresh even years later. Secondly, it protects against evil forces. Bringing her out of the Church, the people in the first placesprinkled the liquid of the walls and corners of the home, to protect him from devils and demons.

Third, the water has healing properties. Reading old archival data about how celebrated the Epiphany in Russia, you can find evidence of the use of fluids in the hospital. Patients were allowed to drink in three SIPS, to deliver them from the hated ailment. Over the years the water was used by those who have been the victim of any disease and not only physical but also spiritual. The liquid delivered people from damage and the evil eye, soothing for nervousness and insomnia, deduced from the state of apathy and depression.

Swimming

Dive into the hole – another popular tradition that came to us from immemorial. In Russia, the celebration, about three thousand of the so-called Jordan, dive in which believers begin Christmas Eve. During the procedure, all the participants smile, dipping three times. After basking in the bath or with hot tea, which carefully bring in thermoses. Often the hole made in the form of a cross, which gives the process a great atmosphere of a Christian holiday.

Severe frosts usually hit at the Baptism of our Lord. How to celebrate a significant event, and in the polynya to visit and avoid? Experts recommend to start to consult with your doctor. For example, people suffering from arrhythmia, kidney disease and diabetes, to jump into the icy water impossible. If you are completely healthy and special there are no contraindications, to prepare the body for a possible stress still need: a month before the swim start to harden, enrich the diet with foods rich in vitamins and trace elements. And read the instructions how to enter the icy water and what to do after a swim in the ice-hole.

Traditions

A lot of Them. Learn about how to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany in Russia, foreigners usually shrug: so rich event with different rituals and distinctive customs. One is the releasing of doves into the wild. Opening cages, which were concluded poultry, specially prepared for the holiday, people say thank God for his mercy and protection. Also birds are a symbol of God's grace that descended on the Savior of mankind-Jesus – in the day of his baptism in the Jordan.

On the Morning of 19 January, once in the temple ringing the first bell, the Orthodox bred on the shores of the nearest body of water on the fire, for Christ could get warm by the fire after a swim. Girls on the dawn run to the river or the lake to wash with cold water. It is believed that she bestows youth and beauty. After Baptism it is also forbidden to wash in water. There is a belief that, immersing the cross in the water, the priest casts out demons from the water, which, after sitting on the Bank waiting for the person with dirty Laundry. As soon as it is immersed in water, the devils back. So said, the later women will start to wash, the more the evil forces will perish from Epiphany frosts.

Divination

A Very popular pastime, without which it is difficult to imagine the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As noted by archival sources, the rite not religious, but pagan. Despite this, girls prefer this type of pastime, using any items: wax, coffee grounds, mirror or snow. For example, a very famous Christmas divination on the slipper, it was used even by our grandmothers in ancient times. They went out into the yard and, turning to face the threshold, throwing the boots over his left shoulder, which has pointed toe, and from there will come the in-laws.

Instead, to know the future tried using paper and candles. The piece of paper tightly clutched in the hands, put on a saucer and set on fire. When the paper burned, in her shadow, is located on the wall, trying to find out what surprises fate in the coming year.

Word of divination very much. In the authenticity of the rites, of course, believe optional, but worth a try: it's fun and entertaining. In the Russian provinces still do not understand how to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord without the mysterious rituals and divination. Because they are an important part of the holiday.

National signs

Being observant, our ancestors also developed a system of prediction of ordinary weather. They argued that the summer will be dry, if the Baptism is cold and clear and rich in the harvest, when the sky is cloudy. Full month heralded a big spring flood, and the starry night – a good collection of berries and peas. Summer of the storm said the South wind, on the successful year – snow, especially if it began during the divine Liturgy. The barking of dogs signaled the hunters about the successful season that awaits them in the near future.

Let's make a conclusion. As Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany? Fun and ease. They use not only Christian traditions, but pagan rites, making it even more colorful and unusual. Epiphany – the last major event, the final day of the whole cycle of winter and Christmas time. After him there came a temporary lull, people are preparing for lent and waited for the next auspicious date – Easter, which are also associated with manywill. But that's another story.