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- The most important holiday on January 19 - Epiphany: miracles of holy water, prohibitions and omens
The most important holiday on January 19 - Epiphany: miracles of holy water, prohibitions and omens
On Sunday, January 19, believers celebrate one of the main feasts of the Church - the Epiphany of the Lord. The feast is dedicated to the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist, during which a great Christian miracle took place - the appearance of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On the day of the holiday, solemn services are held in churches, and on the reservoirs organize baptismal bathing and consecrate water. When the holiday appeared, what is its significance and how to properly celebrate the Epiphany in 2025 - in the material "Izvestia".
Epiphany: what is the church holiday Holy Epiphany January 19
Epiphany, or Epiphany, is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, dedicated to the solemn baptism of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospel, at the age of 30 Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John the Baptist, and after that he began to preach. The rite of washing the Messiah took place in the Jordan River.
The detailed history of the baptism of the Son of God was described by the apostles Luke, Mark and Matthew - the closest predecessors of Jesus Christ. According to their Gospels, the prophet John the Baptist, who foretold the coming of the Messiah to earth, preached for a long time in Bethlehem. He urged everyone to prepare for the appearance of the saint by purifying themselves from their sins through the rite of baptism with water, which he conducted in the Jordan River. One day Jesus Christ himself appeared to the shore and asked the prophet to baptize him. But John declared that he could not do so, for he considered Jesus Christ to be the true God.
"I need to be baptized of You, and do You come to me?" - he said in surprise.
However, Jesus insisted, and John the Baptist agreed to baptize the sinless Son of the Lord. According to church tradition, at the moment of baptism a miracle occurred: the heavens above the Jordan opened and the voice of the heavenly Father was heard:
"This is my beloved Son," said the Lord.
Then the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the form of a white dove. This event symbolized the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ and the manifestation of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In honor of these events the celebration received its second name - Epiphany.
According to a number of linguists, in the original text of the Gospel, written in Greek, the baptism of the Messiah was called by the word βάπτισμα (from Greek "immersion, washing, dousing, sprinkling"). In Russia it was replaced by the Old Slavonic word "kreshchati", which also means "to wash, wash, immerse in water". This is how the term "baptism" appeared, which later, because of the consonance of the words in popular tradition, became associated both with the holy "cross" and with Jesus Christ Himself.
In the first centuries of Christianity, two events were celebrated on a festive date: the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord. The feast was called Theophany, or Theophany, which meant the appearance of God to people.
The church holiday included the whole palette of Christmas and Epiphany events, including the worship of the Magi to the newborn Messiah, the appearance of Christ and the appearance of the Trinity in the waters of the Jordan River. Later, separate days were established for these events, but the Epiphany is still referred to as Epiphany in some sources.
Also this celebration is called the Day of Enlightenment, the Feast of Lights or the Holy Lights. All these names indicate that the sacrament of Baptism enlightens a person with the marvelous light of Jesus Christ, cleansing him from sins. The Epiphany of the Lord is among the Twelve Great Feasts and is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on January 19 (January 6, O.S.).
Traditions and customs of celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord
Traditions associated with the Feast of the Epiphany in Russia were formed under the influence of both Christian faith and folk customs. A few days before major church holidays, believers begin a special preparation - the pre-holiday. In 2025 the Epiphany pre-holiday lasts four days - from January 15 to 18.
On the eve of Epiphany, believers celebrate Epiphany Eve, which is also called the Eve of Epiphany. Like Epiphany, Christmas Eve is a non-transient holiday, so every year it is celebrated on a fixed date - January 18. In the evening on this day, churches hold the liturgy of St. Basil the Great - a special long service. At this time, all New Testament and Old Testament passages are read, telling about the events that are connected with the coming feast.
The liturgy is followed by the great consecration of water, or water blessing, which is the main tradition of Epiphany and is performed in churches and at water bodies. Water is consecrated twice: on the eve of the feast and on the day of Epiphany itself. Epiphanyor Epiphany water is called hagiasma, which means "holy" in Greek.
During the rite of the great water consecration read the festive troparion, the words of which are as follows:
"At Thy baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was revealed: for the voice of the Parent testified of Thee, calling Thee beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed His word immutability. O Christ God, who has appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!"
According to the clergy, regardless of which of the two days the ritual was performed, the water will have equal grace. It is believed that sanctified water has miraculous powers. Believers drink it to heal from illnesses and purify from sins, sprinkle it on houses and temples, and give it to people who cannot be admitted to Holy Communion.
According to existing legends, when the Church was persecuted and it was impossible to consecrate water safely in churches, on Epiphany night believers drew water from ordinary water reservoirs or from the tap. And even without church rites, which in quiet times were conducted by priests, this water did not spoil for several years. Believers call it a miracle, believing that in this way God granted his grace to those who managed to keep a deep faith in difficult periods for Christianity.
According to another Orthodox tradition, on the night of January 18-19, Orthodox believers take a dip in special ice-holes, iordany, which are made and consecrated in advance at water reservoirs. It is believed that baptismal bathing also helps to cleanse oneself from sins. However, according to the clergy, this custom is not analogous to repentance or baptism. Before immersing in water, believers pray to God, asking him to heal and strengthen the body and spirit. It is necessary to enter the Jordan quickly and not to stay there for a long time. It is accepted to dip in the water three times, accompanying it with the sign of the cross and the words "In the name of the Father. Amen", "And of the Son. Amen", "And of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Church statutes do not prescribe believers to bathe in an icy ice-hole. This rite arose as a folk tradition, which our ancestors began to carry out annually in memory of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan. The first information about baptismal bathing appeared in the sources of the XIX century, and at that time it was local, not mass cases. But gradually the tradition took root, which allowed it to survive to this day.
The clergymen emphasized that for Christians on Epiphany it is important to try to attend the service in church, confess, take communion and take baptismal water. Bathing in an ice-hole is not an obligatory action on the feast day. In this case, it is worth focusing on your well-being and doctor's recommendations, since bathing in a cold ice-hole can lead to hypothermia and other serious health problems.
What you can not do on Epiphany in 2025
In addition to baptismal bathing and church rituals on the day of the celebration, there are also certain prohibitions that appeared due to folk beliefs that have pagan roots. It is believed that on Epiphany Day it is not necessary to do cleaning, as well as washing dishes, washing, ironing and taking out the garbage. This is due to the fact that the holiday is a special time for prayer, repentance and spiritual purification. The ancestors believed that everyday worries could prevent them from focusing on the spiritual life, so it was forbidden to work at home, in the fields and in the temples.
Also on Epiphany, one should not swear or say evil words. According to tradition, Epiphany is considered a time of union with God and reconciliation with others, so any negative energy, including swearing and scandals, was inadmissible. It was believed that violating this prohibition could lead to serious health problems and overshadow the whole year with great misfortune.
According to omens, on the day of the holiday it is important to restrain yourself from sinful deeds, refuse alcohol, profanity and gossip. Also do not visit the cemetery on Epiphany, unless it is not associated with the desire to honor the memory of a relative who passed away on January 18 or 19. Mourning on the day of the holiday was allowed only for close people, otherwise you could bring trouble on yourself.
Epiphany: folk and weather omens of January 19
In ancient times, people often associated the behavior of nature with the events that took place in their lives. It was believed that weather omens during the holidays could predict the future. Housekeepers and farmers were often guided by natural manifestations, for whom it was important to determine the quality of the harvest.
It was believed that if the night from January 18 to 19 was starry, the berry harvest in the coming season would be good. If a lot of snow fell during the night, expect a rich harvest. Full Moon on the eve of the holiday promised a strong flood in the spring. Snow on Epiphany night foretold a rainy summer, and a clear and starry sky, on the contrary - a dry and hot summer season. If on the night of January 18 to 19 began to thaw, then the year will bring a lot of troubles, with which you will often have to fight. And if you managed to notice a shooting star in the sky, it means that the year will bring a joyful fateful event.
It is believed that on the day of baptismal healing power has not only water, but also snow. According to the belief, if you rub your face and hands with it, you can get beauty and health. Also ancestors believed that windows and doors on Epiphany should be kept open, so that all the bad went away, and the good could find its way into the house.
Young people were often wooed on this day, as it was believed that marriage would be blessed in heaven. According to beliefs, if a child is born on the day of Epiphany, he will have a happy destiny. If a woman met a man with flowers during a walk, the year will be happy. And if an unmarried girl broke dishes, she was prophesied a quick wedding.
Ancestors tried not to quarrel on Epiphany, because even unspoken anger could translate into reality and harm a person in the future. It was also believed that the barking of dogs, heard by a person on the day of the holiday, promises generous enrichment this year.
