January 19 - Epiphany: history and traditions of the holiday, what you can not do
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- January 19 - Epiphany: history and traditions of the holiday, what you can not do
Every year on January 19, Orthodox believers celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord - the most important church holiday dedicated to one of the key events in the life of Jesus Christ. In 2025 it falls on a Sunday. About the history, meaning and traditions of the bright celebration read in the material "Izvestia".
Epiphany: the history of the Orthodox holiday on January 19
Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian celebrations. The first mentions of it date back to the II-III centuries. In this case, until the middle of the IV century, Epiphany was celebrated together with Christmas, on the day of Epiphany. Later, the feasts were separated, while retaining the common motifs of divine service. The days between Christmas and Epiphany became known as Holy Days.
Eventually the Epiphany of the Lord is connected with the arrival of Jesus on the bank of the Jordan and the beginning of his ministry. According to the New Testament, when the Savior was 30 years old, he went to the sacred river where John the Baptist preached. The prophet, who foretold the imminent appearance of the Messiah, called the inhabitants of Israel to repentance and cleansing of sins through baptism with water.
When Jesus asked John to baptize him, the forerunner was astonished, for before him stood the sinless Son of God, from whom, as a believer, he himself should have been baptized. But Christ objected, saying that they "must fulfill all righteousness," that is, keep the divine law.
After Jesus immersed himself in the Jordan, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. Then came the voice of God the Father: "You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased. This was the first appearance of all the persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the feast is also called Epiphany.
Epiphany of the Lord - 2025: the essence of the holiday
Epiphany occupies a special place in the life of Christ. By entering the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus took the first step on the way to the salvation of mankind.
As the clergy explain, after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise, not only people changed: nature also took on the seal of sin and death. When the Son of God immersed himself in the waters of the sacred river and received the grace of the Holy Spirit, he sanctified the entire water nature, and with it the whole world, which returned to its original purity. The Savior took away human sins so that in the future he could atone for them through his sufferings.
In memory of this, on the eve of Epiphany and on the feast day itself, the Orthodox Church performs the Great Water Consecration, a solemn rite of consecration of water. Such water is called hagiasma, which means "holy" in Greek. It is believed that it has special properties: it can heal the sick, strengthen the spirit of believers and protect from the influence of dark forces.
Consecration of water on Epiphany: what you need to know
The consecration of water is the main tradition of the Epiphany celebration. It is held twice: on the eve of the holiday and directly on the day of Epiphany. The liturgical rite remains unchanged on both days, so the water collected on January 18 and 19 will have the same grace.
The consecration of water on Epiphany Eve was established in the V century by the Antiochian Patriarch Peter Knaphe. The custom of drawing water from rivers and lakes on the holiday has existed since the first centuries of Christianity. Initially, the water blessing was performed only once, at midnight before Epiphany. The second time, directly on the day of the feast, the rite began to be held in the Jerusalem Church in the V century. After the adoption of Christianity in Russia, this tradition became part of the statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Believers treat baptismal water with special trepidation: it is carefully kept throughout the year in a separate place, usually next to icons. It is believed that hagiasma can remain fresh until the next Epiphany. It is drunk on an empty stomach to heal from various ailments, used for sprinkling at home and given to people who are not allowed to take communion. It is a great sin to use the consecrated water for household or technical purposes.
If for any reason the holy water has spoiled, the clergy advise to pour it into a pond with running water or into a secluded place where people do not walk and animals do not walk.
Epiphany bathing on January 18-19
Another bright tradition associated with the celebration of Epiphany is bathing in ice-holes (iordani). They are built on the banks of rivers and lakes. It is believed that immersion in icy water helps to cleanse the body and soul from sins. However, clergymen emphasize that baptismal bathing is not mentioned in the church statutes and is not an obligatory part of the celebration. This ritual should not replace believers' prayer in the temple, repentance and confession.
Traditionally, bathing begins in the evening of January 18, after the completion of the first water blessing. Many people try to enter the Jordan exactly at midnight, although the time of immersion does not play a role in the performance of the ritual.
To celebrate Epiphany on the shore of a body of water without shocks, it is important to observe basic safety rules. Rescuers recommend taking a dip only in specially equipped places, where there is a reliable descent and a functioning medical aid station. Homemade ice-holes, especially those located outside the city limits, can be dangerous for a person.
During bathing should not be immersed in water with the head, otherwise there is a risk of fainting from a sharp narrowing of blood vessels. You can stay in the Jordan for no more than a minute to avoid hypothermia. After going on dry land it is necessary to remove wet clothes, dry yourself, put on warm clothes and drink hot tea. It is strictly forbidden to consume alcohol before and during bathing, as alcohol does not warm, but only dulls the feeling of cold.
It is important to remember that baptismal bathing is contraindicated for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, acute respiratory diseases and other ailments. If there are doubts, it is better to consult a doctor in advance.
Epiphany in 2025 - what you can and can not do
On the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, Orthodox believers are recommended to visit the temple and take part in the service. After the service, it is necessary to collect holy water - to do this is allowed in any source. If your health allows, you can take a dip in the Jordan.
There is a widespread opinion that during Epiphany you can not work, but the Church does not strictly prohibit labor. It is quite permissible to do household chores or fulfill your work duties on the holiday. The main thing is not to forget about the spiritual meaning of the celebration, and also to allocate time for prayer and church attendance.
In Russia on Epiphany night often fortune-telling on the betrothed, harvest or fate in general. However, the church considers such rituals to be a relic of pagan times, so it is forbidden for believers to participate in them.
In addition, on Epiphany, as well as in other Christian holidays, you can not wish harm to others, use swear words, gossip, quarrel with loved ones and indulge in despondency.
Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of celebrating Christmas in Russia.