Recommendations for those who want to plunge into icy water on Epiphany night. When (what time) do they bathe for baptism?

In Rus', it was believed that swimming in ice water could heal a person’s body and soul and cleanse them of all sins committed in the past year. Of course, it will not be possible to cleanse yourself of sins with the help of an ice hole alone. But the tradition is long-standing and many believers observe it. Therefore, we must do it correctly.

The baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the twelve most important Orthodox holidays within a year. The day when they swim in the ice hole on Epiphany 2018 is, rather, the night from the 18th to the 19th, as well as the entire day of Epiphany itself, a few days after the holiday.

A little history of the holiday

John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ on the Jordan River. During this holy act, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus Christ in the form of a dove. It is for this reason that after the consecration of the ice hole on the night of Christmas Eve, it is customary to release two doves into the sky. In the old days they still shot blank cartridges into the sky after releasing the doves. But now the ritual of shooting has not been preserved. Plus, very rarely, the ritual of releasing doves is now used.

On the day of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, God appeared in three of his faces at once. It was God the Father - the voice, God the Son - the flesh, and God the Holy Spirit - the dove. For this reason, the feast of Epiphany is often called Epiphany. Only after the moment of his baptism did Jesus Christ begin to preach the word of God on earth and actively educate people.

Celebration of Epiphany

The day of January 19 is the time when they dive into the ice hole for Epiphany in 2018. But it should be remembered that the priests especially emphasize this; this is not the only tradition big holiday. The celebration begins on the evening of January 18 - Christmas Eve. The traditions of Christmas Eve at Epiphany are in many ways similar to the traditions of Christmas Eve at Christmas. Kutya must be served on the table; you must go to church. Kissel and pancakes are also served on the table on Christmas Eve.

Blessing the water, and then taking the holy water home or swimming in an ice hole is the most important part of the celebration of Epiphany. A cut in the form of a cross is cut out on a river or lake near the church. The cross is placed next to the ice hole and doused with beet juice. People are not afraid of the cold during Epiphany and actively plunge into the ice hole. After all, it is believed that water from this day onwards is not capable of harming a believer and spiritual person. Swimming in an ice hole brings a person at Epiphany not only health of the body, but also health of the soul.

Rules for swimming in an ice hole

So, swimming in an ice hole is an introduction to the grace of God. But you can’t force yourself and force yourself to get into the water if you don’t want to. Those who suffer from certain diseases should especially refrain from swimming in the ice hole.

Those who decide to plunge into the ice hole should know how to do it correctly. Jordan must be consecrated, but there are simply no strict rules on how to swim. Basically, it's quickly immersing your head in water three times. You need to be baptized and say the words of prayer. You should swim in shirts, not swimsuits. It is considered inappropriate to expose your body during the immersion process.

Epiphany water has its own healing properties. It is for this reason that many believers are attracted to the ice hole. But you should remember what to feel healing properties Holy water can also be used simply for ablution.

What can you do with holy water:

• The water does not spoil throughout the year. You can use it during illness: drink a sip in the morning on an empty stomach, immediately after prayer.
• The water should be stored in a tightly closed container next to the icons. This is not just a liquid, but a religious relic.
• You can sprinkle your home with this water to drive out evil spirits.

Folk traditions of Epiphany

What other ones existed? folk traditions except for plunging into an ice hole at Epiphany? Traditionally, as already mentioned, pigeons were released. They were a sign of Divine grace, which descended on him during the baptism of Jesus Christ.

Also in Rus', at the first ringing of the bell, believers lit a fire on the river bank. It was kindled so that Jesus, after baptism, could warm himself by the fire. In general, this day was connected will accept more than believe. After Epiphany, it was forbidden to wash clothes in the river.

Whether to swim in an ice hole at Epiphany or not, every believer must decide this question for himself. But it is important to believe in what you are doing and to be close to God not only with your actions, but also with your thoughts. Only with such a combination can holy water bring a person the miracles that he expects.

Because for many people this church holiday associated specifically with visiting the font, this question the day before is one of the most popular. As in the case of Easter, Merry Christmas, believers celebrate Epiphany on the night of January 18 to January 19.

In addition to the fact that the holiday is called Epiphany, it has a second name, Epiphany, which means that in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended onto the water in the form of a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven.

Interesting! After the sacrament of baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus Christ got rid of all the sins that he acquired during his life on earth. He came to life for a new spiritual life.

In honor of how Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River, today on the feast of Epiphany many decide to plunge into an ice hole. It is important to remember that swimming is not the most important thing to do. It will be more important on the eve of this sacrament to confess and receive communion.

Immersion in the ice hole, of course, is carried out according to all the laws of the church only after the service is over and the priest has blessed the water in the ice hole or font. The first time this happens is on the evening of January 18th. All believers, together with the priest, leave the temple and go to the ice hole (it is called “Jordan”). There, prayers are read over the water, and after that, in honor of the consecration of the waters, a silver cross is dipped into them.

When a person plunges into water, he must read a prayer, plunge headlong 3 times and cross himself after each time. Silently or out loud, you must say the words: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” If possible, you should not swim in a swimsuit, but put on a shirt or long T-shirt on top.

It turns out that baptism has 2 dates. You can take a dip on the evening of January 18th, Christmas Eve, after the evening service. At this time, the first baptismal blessing of water is held, and you can also dive into the ice hole throughout the day on January 19th. What is important here is not so much the date and time as the appropriate spiritual preparation. Only it will make it possible, during winter swimming, to rid the body and soul of sins, and to take the right path of an Orthodox righteous life.

On Epiphany Christmas Eve, when a person goes home from church, a festive table is usually set. According to tradition, they bet on it juicily. This is a special porridge made from wheat or barley seeds, or rice with the addition of honey, nuts and dried fruits.

It would also be good to talk about other traditions, folk and church, directly related to this holiday.

There was such a belief that if you have a wedding during the period from Epiphany to Maslenitsa, it will bring happiness to the newlyweds. Matchmaking on Epiphany is another very good omen for a long and happy life. If frosts on Epiphany are greater than on Christmas, then in Rus' they believed that this a clear sign excellent harvest.

Sometimes, on the 19th, the water in the ice hole reaches the very edges. This suggests that in the spring you need to wait for the flood. When the weather on the day of the holiday is clear and icy, this indicates a dry summer. But if it snows on Epiphany, and in large flakes, this is an important sign that this year’s harvest will be magnificent. Another sign indicates that a child born on the day of the Epiphany will be happy and blissful throughout life. It is recommended to give such a child a jade stone as a talisman.

You need to remember not only the dates, what date to swim for Epiphany 2018, but also how to properly prepare for this important, primarily church event. No drinking, swearing or loud laughter. This is a sacrament that must take place between man and God.

Baptism is popularly called Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19; in 2018, this date falls on Friday. In Russia, this event is not considered a non-working day, although it is an official holiday.

The ancient and revered holiday of the Epiphany by all Christians is becoming one of the most anticipated events in everything church year. Everyone who has ever heard of this holiday knows about this holiday. Orthodox faith, which is why it is not surprising that even in modern world people continue to adhere to strict canons for celebrating this wonderful day.

Epiphany 2018: History of the holiday

This church holiday has been celebrated exactly since Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River more than 2000 years ago. It is believed that after baptism itself, the holy spirit descended from heaven in the form of a white dove. Everyone heard the voice of God, which said: “You are My Beloved Son; I am well pleased with you!” Starting from this day, Jesus began his earthly mission, which ended, as everyone knows, with the resurrection, which became the progenitor of the Easter holiday. After baptism, Jesus Christ went into the desert, where he stayed for 40 days and nights, preparing himself to fulfill his sacred duty.

Epiphany 2018: Holiday traditions. Do's and Don'ts

Over time, the holiday of the Epiphany has acquired a huge number of traditions that are sacredly revered by people to this day. Perhaps the most significant of them is the ritual of swimming in an ice hole, the features of which should be known to everyone who wants to perform this action. Before swimming, a hole is cut in the ice, which is usually called the Jordan in honor of the river in which Jesus was baptized. The priest dips the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, thereby consecrating this place for further ritual. You should plunge headlong three times, after which it is customary to read a prayer and get out of the water. It would seem, why expose your body to such stress on days when the Russian winter is especially severe? However, swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany is an ancient and wise tradition. It is believed that on this day, the water in natural sources acquire special properties: after bathing in such water, not only illnesses, illnesses, evil eyes are washed away, but also sins, of which a lot could have accumulated by this time...

1. People with diseases of the heart, nervous and vascular systems, as well as pregnant women and children should not enter the water. This applies especially to the latter, because in childhood The process of thermoregulation has not yet been formed, which is why the child’s body is at risk of serious complications.
2. You can't swim in drunk- because it is life-threatening!
3. You can have a hearty meal before diving, but don’t overeat, and drink hot tea after.

If you follow all the rules, then this procedure on the Baptism of the Lord will definitely have a beneficial effect on your well-being: both physical and spiritual.

Epiphany 2018: Tradition of collecting Epiphany water

Of course, not everyone will be able to plunge into the ice hole on January 19, 2018, but at the same time, each of us will be able to collect holy Epiphany water for ourselves, and we will tell you how, where and when is best to collect Epiphany water.

It should be noted that the blessing of water in churches occurs on January 18th on Epiphany Eve (after Divine Liturgy), and on the feast of the Epiphany itself. On these two days you can collect Epiphany holy water, and there is no difference when you collect it in the temple - January 18 or 19. If you decide to draw water from the tap, then accordingly best period for this, there will be a time period from 00:10 to 01:30, which falls on the night of January 18th to 19th, while water can also be collected later, throughout the entire 19th (before the 24th :00).

It is forbidden to quarrel and do bad things when holy water is in your hands.

Epiphany 2018: Signs

This holiday has many signs, both regarding everyday life and nature:

It's a bad omen to dilute blessed water;

Starting from Christmas Eve, it is not recommended to lend money. Otherwise, the culprit may lack money for a year;

You cannot perceive a holiday only as entertainment to plunge into an ice hole;

A good sign for Epiphany is the completion of some task;

Any agreement on this day necessarily ends in success;

Nature at Epiphany also says a lot:

Heavy snowfall and dark clouds on Epiphany foretell a rich harvest in the fall;

Barking dogs at night is good news;

A cross painted on the doors can protect the house from evil spirits;

During the holidays, nothing can be taken out of the house, otherwise there will be material losses.

The Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany, or Epiphany, on January 19 (new style). This is the most ancient holiday among Christians, and its establishment goes back to the times of the disciples and apostles of Christ. It also has ancient names: “Epiphany” - phenomenon, “Theophany” - Epiphany, “Holy Lights”, “Feast of Lights” or simply “Lights”, since it was the Lord Himself who came into the world on this day to show him the Light Unapproachable.

Feast of Epiphany

The word “baptize” or “baptize” is translated from Greek as “immersing in water.” It is almost impossible to understand the importance and the very meaning of what Epiphany bathing is without having an idea of ​​what symbolic meaning has water in the Old Testament.

Water is the beginning of life. It was she who fertilized all living beings that came from her. Where there is no water, there is a lifeless desert. And water can destroy, as during the Great Flood, when God flooded the sinful lives of people and thereby destroyed the evil that they did.

God made water holy with His Baptism, and now the Blessing of Water is traditionally celebrated in memory of this event. At this time, the water in all Orthodox churches, and then in rivers and reservoirs.

Jordan

On this day there is traditionally a popular procession called " Procession of the Cross to the Jordan,” in order to bless the water and then arrange an Epiphany swim in the ice hole. John's baptism meant that just as a body washed with water is cleansed, so a repentant soul who has believed in God will be cleansed of sins by the Savior.

The biblical story tells how Jesus came from Nazareth in those days and John baptized him in the Jordan River. When Jesus came out of the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended on Him like a dove. And a voice was heard from heaven: “You are my beloved son, in whom is my blessing.” Epiphany revealed to people the great mystery of the Holy Trinity, to which everyone who is baptized joins.

Then Christ told his apostles to go and teach this to all nations.

Epiphany bathing

Traditions The tradition of blessing of water among our ancestors appeared from those ancient times, when in 988 Prince of Kyiv Vladimir baptized Rus'. Now only a priest can perform the rite of blessing of water, since at this time special prayers are read with the cross being immersed in water three times. This is done on the feast of Epiphany itself after the liturgy. But first, before this, an ice hole is made in the reservoir, usually in the form of a cross, called “Jordan”.

These days, Epiphany water is a real shrine that can heal and strengthen a person’s mental and physical strength. Therefore, such a solemn procession of consecration is carried out near the ice-hole of the reservoir in order to make swimming at Epiphany accessible for people. Orthodox people take water from the ice hole and wash themselves, but the bravest and bravest literally dive into it.

Traditions of ancestors

The Russian tradition of swimming in an ice hole was borrowed from the ancient Scythians, who tempered their babies this way. They just dipped them in cold water and thus accustomed to harsh conditions climate. In addition, the tradition of swimming in an ice hole was also in pagan rituals, this is how initiation into warriors took place. Even today in Rus' they like to rub themselves with snow or jump into cold water after a bathhouse.

Some pagan rituals So they have taken root in our lives to this day. That's why we swim in the ice hole and celebrate Maslenitsa, which is tied to the beginning of Lent.

Epiphany holiday

According to church rules, on Epiphany Eve the “great consecration of water” takes place. Believers come to church services, light candles and draw blessed water. However, there is no need to plunge into the ice hole; this happens by at will person.

In general, in Rus' it was believed that swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany promotes healing from many ailments. Water, like living matter, is capable of changing its structure under the influence of information, so everything depends on the thoughts in a person’s head. In whole folk festivals turn into Epiphany bathing, photographs of this celebration always show how fun and interesting they are.

Bathing at Epiphany. How to do it right

But this fun and harmless, at first glance, activity can lead to a number of unpleasant moments. Special training Epiphany bathing doesn’t really mean anything. The human body is adapted to the cold, and therefore only the attitude is important here.

What can happen to the human body when immersed in an ice hole?

1. When a person is immersed in cold water with his head, he experiences a sharp excitation of the central nervous system and the cerebral cortex, which generally has a positive effect on the entire body.
2. Impact low temperatures is briefly perceived by the body as stress, which can relieve inflammation, swelling and spasms.
3. The thermal conductivity of the air enveloping the body is 28 times less than the thermal conductivity of water. This is the hardening effect.
4. Cold water causes the body to release additional forces, and after contact with it the temperature human body rises to 40 degrees Celsius. And as you know, at such a mark, microbes, diseased cells and viruses die.

Bathing rules

Swimming in Epiphany frosts means following certain rules. The main thing is that the ice hole is specially equipped and all this action takes place under the supervision of rescuers. The public is usually informed about such public places bathing. Swimming in an ice hole requires the presence of swimming trunks or a swimsuit, a terry robe and towel, as well as a set of dry clothes, slippers or woolen socks, a rubber cap and hot tea.

Before you arrange a bath at Epiphany, it is very important to know how to do it correctly. First, you need to warm up a little with exercises, or even better, go for a run.

You must approach the ice hole wearing non-slip, comfortable, easily removable shoes or socks.

It is also necessary to check the stability of the ladder, and to be on the safe side, throw a rope firmly attached to the shore into the water

You need to plunge into the ice hole up to your neck, and it is better not to get your head wet so that the blood vessels in the brain do not narrow. Jumping headlong into an ice hole is also undesirable, as a loss of temperature can cause shock. Cold water will immediately cause rapid breathing, and this is completely normal, this is the body's way of adapting to the cold.

It is dangerous to stay in water for more than one minute; the body may cool down. You also need to be very careful about children who, when frightened, may forget that they know how to swim. You also need to be able to get out of an ice hole so as not to fall, and to do this you need to hold on tightly to the handrails and use a dry rag.

After swimming, you need to thoroughly rub yourself with a towel and put on dry clothes. It is best to immediately drink hot tea from herbs or berries, prepared in advance in a thermos.

On this day, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited, as it negatively affects the natural thermoregulation of the whole body, so the consequences may be different. It is also important to know that swimming on an empty or, conversely, full stomach is also unacceptable.

Contraindications for swimming

No matter how useful Epiphany bathing is, there are still contraindications for it. And they concern acute and chronic diseases. This is a disruption cardiovascular system(heart defects, hypertension, heart attacks), central nervous system (skull trauma, epilepsy), endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus), visual organs (conjunctivitis, glaucoma), respiratory organs (asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis), genitourinary system(cystitis, inflammation of the appendages or prostate), gastrointestinal tract (ulcers, cholecystitis, hepatitis), skin and venereal diseases; inflammation of the nasopharynx and otitis, etc.

Doctors' opinion

Medical experts in this area believe that in order for swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany not to bring any unexpected troubles, you need to be absolutely healthy. And this is especially dangerous for those who smoke or drink alcohol, as the flow of blood to the lungs can cause inflammation or even swelling of the bronchi and pneumonia.

In young people, not to mention the elderly, the arteries are not always capable of in the right way react to cold water, and at this moment breathing and then cardiac arrest may occur. If you engage in systematic winter swimming, it will certainly contribute to the health of the body, but when this happens infrequently, then everything will become very stressful for it, so before swimming you need to seriously weigh the pros and cons.

Conclusion

Many people heroically decide to swim in an ice hole at Epiphany, even though this idea may be unsafe. However, the people's Epiphany bathing is very nice, photographs from these holidays turn out to be quite expressive, someone is just getting ready to go into the water, someone is already happy that they took a swim, and someone is already warming up and drinking hot tea.

Many believers believe that swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany is for real Orthodox man- this is a great blessing. And that's how it is. Only the main thing here is to understand whether this faith is strong and deep enough for you to become a real shield from all troubles at the moment when Epiphany bathing occurs.

Oksana Pankova, SYLru

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What date should I swim for Epiphany in 2019? Since for many people this church holiday is associated specifically with visiting the font, this question the day before is one of the most popular. As in the case of Easter, Merry Christmas, believers celebrate Epiphany on the night of January 18 to January 19.

In addition to the fact that the holiday is called Epiphany, it has a second name: Epiphany. It means that in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on the water in the form of a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven.

Interesting! After the sacrament of baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus Christ received remission of all the sins that he had during his life on earth. He came to life for a new spiritual life.

In honor of how Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River, today on the feast of Epiphany many decide to swim in an ice hole. It is important to understand that swimming is not the most important thing to do. It is more important on the eve of this sacrament to confess and also take communion.

When to bathe at Epiphany

, of course, occurs according to all the laws of the church only after the service is over and the priest blesses the water in the ice hole or font. The first time this happens is on the evening of January 18th. All together, the believers and the priest leave the temple and head to the ice hole (it’s called “Jordan”). There, prayers are read over the water, and then, in honor of the consecration of the waters, a silver cross is lowered into them.

When a person enters the water, he must read a prayer, dive headlong three times and cross himself after each time. You should say the words silently or out loud: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” If possible, you should not swim in swimsuits, but wear a shirt or long T-shirt on top.

It turns out that baptism has two dates. You can take a dip already in the evening of January 18th on Christmas Eve, after evening service. At this time, the first baptismal blessing of water is held, and you can also plunge into the ice hole throughout the day on January 19th. What is important here is not so much the date and time as the correct spiritual preparation. Only it will help, during winter swimming, to cleanse the body and soul of sins, and to take the right path of an Orthodox righteous life.

Interesting! On Epiphany Christmas Eve, when a person returns home from church, set the festive table. Traditionally, they put it on it juicy. This is a special porridge made from wheat or barley seeds, or rice with the addition of honey, nuts and dried fruits. Relevant on any festive table.

Signs and traditions for Epiphany

It would also be useful to talk about other traditions, folk and church, that are directly related to this holiday.

It was believed that if a wedding takes place between Epiphany and Maslenitsa, it will bring happiness to the young couple. Matchmaking on Epiphany is another very good omen for a long and happy life. If the frosts on Epiphany are stronger than on Christmas, then in Rus' they believed that this was a clear sign of a good harvest.

It happens that on the 19th the water in the ice hole reaches the very edges. This means that in the spring you should expect high water. When the weather on the day of the holiday is clear and icy, this indicates a dry summer. But if it snows on Epiphany, and in large flakes, this is an important sign that this year’s harvest will be excellent. Another sign is to say that a child born on the day of the Epiphany will be happy and blissful throughout life. It is recommended to give him a jade stone as a talisman.