Baptism of the Lord. Epiphany

The Baptism of the Lord is one of the main Christian holidays. The holiday of Epiphany ends the Christmas holidays, which last from January 7 to January 19.
The holiday begins on the evening of January 18, when all Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany Eve. The beginning of the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord dates back to apostolic times.
He is mentioned in the Apostolic Constitutions. From the 2nd century, the testimony of St. Clement of Alexandria on the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord has been preserved
and the night vigil performed before this holiday. The Feast of Epiphany is also called Epiphany because at the Baptism of the Lord the Holy Trinity appeared to the world -
God the Father spoke from heaven about the Son; The Son by baptism from the Baptist John, and the Holy Spirit by descending on the Son in the form of a dove. Since ancient times this holiday was called
the day of Enlightenment and the Feast of Lights, because God is Light and appeared to enlighten “those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16) and to save the fallen by grace
human race. On the day of the holiday and on the day of Epiphany, the Great Blessing of Water is performed! It is believed that holy water does not spoil and helps the sick with illnesses!

A font is a large bowl-shaped vessel. Serves to carry out the sacrament of baptism in the Christian Church. The font can be made of various materials and plays an important
role in creation interior decoration church premises. Often the font is a work of art. The font is also called “Jordan” - an ice hole,
in which they bathe on the feast of the Epiphany.

Feast of the Epiphany

Holy water: church traditions and parachurch superstitions

How to spend Epiphany Christmas Eve

Will holy water cleanse us?

The meaning of the holiday of Epiphany.

Baptism of the Lord - before entering a new life, you need to repent

Traditions, memories, miracles.

The Feast of the Epiphany, or Epiphany, is also called the Day of Enlightenment and the Feast of Lights - from the ancient custom of celebrating it on the eve of it (on Vespers)
baptism of catechumens, which is, in essence, spiritual enlightenment. A description of the event of Baptism is given by all four Evangelists
(Matt. 3, 13-17; Mark 1, 9-11; Luke 3, 21-23; John 1, 33-34),
as well as in many stichera and troparia of the holiday. “Today the Creator of Heaven and earth comes in flesh to the Jordan, asking for Baptism, the sinless one... and is baptized by a slave
Lord of all..." “To the voice of him crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord (i.e. to John), you have come, O Lord, taking on the form of a servant, asking for Baptism,
ignorant of sin." The baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ is in the closest connection with His entire theanthropic work of saving people; it constitutes a decisive
and the full commencement of this ministry.

Christ the Savior in Baptism bestows (by water) grace “decisive for soul and body together.” The Baptism of the Lord in the redemption of the human race had
great salutary ontological significance. Baptism on the Jordan exudes to mortals forgiveness, remission of sins, enlightenment, restoration of humanity
nature, light, renewal, healing and, as it were, a new birth (rebirth).

“New creators of the earth, New Adam was the Creator, performing a strange rebirth and wonderful renewal with fire and Spirit and water...” Baptism of Christ in the waters of Jordan
had not only the meaning of a symbol of purification, but also a transformative, renewing effect on human nature. By His immersion in the waters of the Jordan, the Lord sanctified
“the whole nature of the waters” and the whole earth. Here the Lord reveals Himself as the Founder of a new, blessed Kingdom, which, according to His teaching, cannot be entered without Baptism
(Matthew 28:19-20)

“Whoever comes down with Me and is buried in Baptism, with Me he will enjoy the glory and resurrection,” Christ now proclaims.”

The threefold immersion (of every believer in Christ) in the sacrament of Baptism depicts the death of Christ, and the coming out of the water is communion with His three-day Resurrection.

At the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan, true worship of God (religion) was revealed to people, the hitherto unknown secret of the Trinity of the Divine was revealed,
the mystery of the One God in three Persons, and the worship of the Most Holy Trinity was revealed.

Having been baptized by John, Christ fulfilled “righteousness”, i.e. fidelity and obedience to the commandments of God. Saint John the Baptist received the command from God to baptize the people as a sign
cleansing of sins. As a man, Christ had to "fulfill" this commandment and therefore be baptized by John. By this He confirmed the holiness and greatness of John's actions,
and for all eternity he gave Christians an example of obedience to the will of God and humility.

Forefeast

Since ancient times, Epiphany has been one of the great twelve holidays. Even in the Apostolic Constitutions (Book 5, Chapter 12) it is commanded: “Let you have the day of great respect,
in which the Lord revealed the Divinity to us.”
This holiday in the Orthodox Church is celebrated with equal grandeur as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, connected by “Christmastide” (from December 25 to January 6),
make up, as it were, one celebration.
The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. The services of Vespers and the holiday itself are in many ways similar to the services of Vespers and the holiday
Nativity of Christ.

On the Eve of Epiphany, January 5 (as well as on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes strict fasting: eating food once after the blessing of water.

“Wash yourselves and you will be clean” (Isa. 1:16-20).

Great Blessing of Water Orthodox Church has been performed since ancient times, and the grace of consecrating water on these two days is always the same. Blessing of water on the holiday itself
got its start in the Jerusalem Church in the 4th - 4th centuries. took place only in it alone, where there was a custom of going out to the Jordan River for the blessing of water in memory of the Baptism of the Savior.
Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the blessing of water on Vespers is performed in churches, and on the holiday itself it is usually performed on rivers, springs and wells
(the so-called “Walking to the Jordan”), for Christ was baptized outside the temple.
The Apostolic Decrees also contain prayers said during the blessing of water. So, in the book. The 8th says: “The priest will call on the Lord and say:
“And now sanctify this water, and give it grace and strength.”

The process of the great consecration of water consists of invoking the blessing of God on the waters and immersing them three times Life-giving Cross The Lord's.

Epiphany holy water is called in the Orthodox Church the great Agiasma - the great Shrine.

TO blessed water Christians have had great reverence since ancient times. The Church prays:
“To be sanctified by these waters, and to be granted to them the grace of deliverance (salvation), the blessing of Jordan, by the power and action and influx of the Holy Spirit...”
“About the existence of this water, the gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, for the healing of the soul and body of those who draw from it and eat it, for the sanctification of houses..., and for every good (strong) benefit...”

The holiness of water is obvious to everyone in the fact that it long time kept fresh and undamaged. Back in the 4th century this was discussed in the 37th conversation
St. spoke at the Epiphany of the Lord. John Chrysostom: " Christ was baptized and sanctified the nature of the waters; and therefore, on the feast of Epiphany, everyone, having drawn water at midnight,
They bring it home and store it all year round. And so the water in its essence does not deteriorate from the continuation of time, drawn now for a whole year, and often two and three years
remains fresh and intact, and after such a long time is not inferior to the waters just drawn from the source».

In the Russian Orthodox Church and the people, such an attitude towards Epiphany water has developed that it is taken only on an empty stomach as a great Shrine, i.e. like antidor,
prosphora, etc.

The Church uses this Shrine for sprinkling temples and dwellings, during incantatory prayers for expulsion evil spirit, as medicine; prescribes drinking it to those
who cannot be admitted to Holy Communion. With this water and the Cross, the clergy used to visit the homes of their parishioners on the feast of Epiphany, sprinkling them
and dwellings, and thus spread blessing and sanctification, starting from the temple of God, to all the children of the Church of Christ.

As a sign of special veneration of the Epiphany water as a precious, great Shrine, a strict fast was established on Epiphany Eve, when or not at all
eating food before Epiphany water, or taking a small amount of food is allowed. However, with due reverence, with sign of the cross and with prayer you can drink
holy water without any embarrassment or doubt, both to those who have already tasted something, and at any time as needed. Church in the liturgical Charter (see: Typikon, January 6)
gives clear and definite instructions and explanation on this matter: those who excommunicate themselves from holy water for the sake of eating food prematurely “do not do good.”
“It is not from eating for the sake of eating (food) that there is uncleanness in us, but from our bad deeds; cleanse this holy water from these stumps without a doubt.”

The ritual of bathing at Epiphany is written in the Gospel. On this day, it is customary to plunge three times into the ice hole (Jordan). From the Jordan the light of the Holy Gospel shone, for “from that time”
that is, from the time of Baptism, Jesus began to preach.
Usually at night after the Divine Liturgy, parishioners together with the rector procession of the cross and while singing the festive troparion they go to the river or lake to the font. The font is often made
In the form of a cross on a shallow (chest-deep) place, a wooden gangway was built, and the ice on the gangway and along the edges of the font was covered with straw. The abbot stands at the edge, three times with his head
immerses a person in the pre-sanctified water of a reservoir. Sometimes the gangplank is not built, and the sufferers are also dipped three times on a pole. In some settlements Epiphany bathing church
is not practiced and then residents organize “wild” unorganized swimming.

In general, it is believed that in Epiphany night All water is holy, so if you don’t have a font, you can just get in the shower or splash yourself with a bucket of water three times.
May the power of the Lord, the Faith of the Lord, Hope and Love be with you!

Don’t yawn at Epiphany,

Dip your body into the hole.

So that until the new baptism

the sensations remained.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany, or Epiphany, on January 19. On this day, the church remembers the gospel event - how the prophet John the Baptist baptized the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. We will talk about the history, traditions and meaning of the holiday.

What is the Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ is also called the Epiphany. On this day, Christians around the world remember the events described by all four evangelists - the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The Savior was baptized by the prophet John the Baptist, who is also called Baptist.

The second name, Epiphany, was given to the holiday in memory of the miracle that occurred during baptism. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven on Christ in the form of a dove.

The Epiphany of the Lord is the twelfth holiday. The twelfths are holidays that are dogmatically closely connected with the events of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God and are divided into the Lord's (dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ) and the Theotokos (dedicated to Mother of God). Epiphany is the Lord's holiday.

Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg

When is the Epiphany celebrated?

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany on January 19 according to the new style (January 6 according to the old style).

The Feast of the Epiphany has 4 days of pre-celebration and 8 days of post-celebration. Forefeast - one or several days before a major holiday, the services of which already include prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebrated event. Accordingly, after-feasts are the same days after the holiday.

The celebration of the holiday takes place on January 27 according to the new style. The celebration of the holiday is the last day of some important Orthodox holidays, celebrated with a special divine service, more solemn than in ordinary days after-celebrations.

Events of the Epiphany

Baptism of the Lord
Russia, XIX century. Private collection

After fasting and wanderings in the desert, the prophet John the Baptist came to the Jordan River, in which the Jews traditionally performed religious ablutions. Here he began to talk to the people about repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and baptize people in the waters. This was not the Sacrament of Baptism as we know it now, but it was a type of it.

The people believed the prophecies of John the Baptist, many were baptized in the Jordan. And then, one day, Jesus Christ himself came to the banks of the river. At that time He was thirty years old. The Savior asked John to baptize Him. The Prophet was surprised to the core and said: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Christ assured him that “we must fulfill all righteousness.” During baptism, the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove, and there was a voice from heaven, saying: You are My Beloved Son; My favor is in You!(Luke 3:21-22).

The Baptism of the Lord was the first appearance of Christ to the people of Israel. It was after the Epiphany that the first disciples followed the Teacher - the apostles Andrew, Simon (Peter), Philip, Nathanael.

In the two Gospels - Matthew and Luke - we read that after Baptism the Savior withdrew into the desert, where he fasted for forty days in order to prepare for his mission among people. He was tempted by the devil and did not eat anything during these days, and after they were over, he was finally hungry (Luke 4:2). The devil approached Christ three times and tempted Him, but the Savior remained strong and rejected the evil one (as the devil is called).

What can you eat on Epiphany?

There is no fasting on the feast of Epiphany. But on Epiphany Eve, that is, on the eve of the holiday, Orthodox Christians observe strict fasting. The traditional dish of this day is sochivo, which is prepared from cereals (for example, wheat or rice), honey and raisins.

Epiphany of the Lord - the history of the holiday

The Epiphany of the Lord began to be celebrated even when the apostles were alive - we find mention of this day in the Apostolic Decrees and Rules. But at first, Epiphany and Christmas were a single holiday, and it was called Epiphany.

Starting from the end of the 4th century (in different places in different ways), the Epiphany of the Lord became a separate holiday. But even now we can observe echoes of the unity of Christmas and Epiphany - in worship. For example, both holidays have a Eve - Christmas Eve, with strict fasting and special traditions.

In the first centuries of Christianity, converts were baptized on Epiphany (they were called catechumens), so this day was often called the “Day of Enlightenment”, “Feast of Lights”, or “Holy Lights” - as a sign that the Sacrament of Baptism cleanses a person from sin and enlightens with the light of Christ . Even then there was a tradition to bless water in reservoirs on this day.

Iconography of the Baptism of the Lord

In early Christian images of the events of the Baptism of the Lord, the Savior appears before us young and without a beard; later He began to be portrayed as an adult man.

Since the 6th-7th centuries, images of angels have appeared on icons of Baptism - most often there are three of them and they stand on the opposite bank of the Jordan from the prophet John the Baptist. In memory of the miracle of Epiphany, an island of sky is depicted above Christ standing in the water, from which a dove in rays of light descends to the Baptized One - a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The central figures on all icons of the holiday are Christ and John the Baptist, who lays on his right hand ( right hand) on the head of the Savior. The right hand of Christ is raised in a blessing gesture.

Features of the Epiphany service

The clergy on the feast of the Epiphany are dressed in white vestments. Main feature The Epiphany service is the blessing of water. The water is blessed twice. The day before, January 18, on Epiphany Eve, there was the Rite of the Great Blessing of Water, which is also called the Great Hagiasma. And the second time - on the day of Epiphany, January 19, on Divine Liturgy.

The first tradition most likely dates back to the ancient Christian practice of Baptism of catechumens after the Morning Service of Epiphany. And the second is connected with the custom of Palestinian Christians to march on the day of Epiphany to the Jordan to the traditional site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ.

Epiphany Prayers

Troparion of the Baptism of the Lord

Voice 1st

In the Jordan, I am baptized to You, O Lord, a trinitarian adoration appeared: for the voice of the Parents testified to You, naming Your beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove, the affirmation known to Your words. Appear, O Christ God, and enlighten the world, glory to Thee.

Translation:

When You, Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Most Holy Trinity appeared, for the Voice of the Father testified to You, calling You the Beloved Son, and the Spirit, appearing in the form of a dove, confirmed the truth of this word. Christ God, who appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!

Kontakion of the Baptism of the Lord

Voice 4th

Thou hast appeared this day to the universe, and Thy light, O Lord, has appeared upon us, in the minds of those who sing Thee: thou hast come and appeared, the unapproachable Light.

Translation:

You have now appeared to the whole world; and Your light, Lord, is imprinted on us, consciously chanting You: “You came and appeared, Unapproachable Light!”

The Greatness of the Baptism of the Lord

We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, for our sake now baptized in the flesh by John in the waters of the Jordan.

Translation:

We glorify You, Christ, giver of life, because You have now been baptized in the flesh by John in the waters of the Jordan for us.

Epiphany Cathedral in Elohovo

Epiphany Cathedral is located in Moscow, on Spartakovskaya street, 15, near the Baumanskaya metro station. In the XIV-XVII centuries the village of Eloh was located here.

In the second half of the 15th century in the parish of the local church Vladimir icon The famous Moscow saint, St. Basil the Blessed, was born to the Mother of God.

At that time Epiphany Cathedral was an ordinary rural church. In 1712-1731 it was rebuilt in stone, bricks were donated personally by Emperor Peter I. The new building was consecrated in 1731.

At the end of the 18th century, the Pushkin family became parishioners of the Epiphany Church. It is known that great poet born in the German settlement and was baptized in the old Epiphany Cathedral in 1799. The successors were the grandmother, Olga Sergeevna, nee Chicherina, and Count Vorontsov, the grandson of the minister Artemy Volynsky, who was martyred under Biron.

The old Peter's Cathedral stood until the middle of the 19th century. In the 1830s, the famous Moscow architect Evgraf Tyurin received an order for its reconstruction. The renovated cathedral was consecrated in 1853.

In the years Soviet power the temple did not close. On the Feast of the Presentation in 1925 solemn Liturgy His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon served in it. In 1935, the Baumansky district council decided to open a large cinema in the Epiphany Cathedral, but the decision was soon reversed.

And a few more facts from the history of the temple. In the Epiphany Cathedral rest the relics of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, and are buried His Holiness Patriarch Sergius of Moscow and All Rus' and His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus'. In 1992, the Epiphany Cathedral became a cathedral.

Shrines of the cathedral: The miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the relics of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” particles of the relics of St. John Chrysostom, Apostle Andrew the First-Called and St. Peter of Moscow.

Folk traditions of Epiphany

Every church holiday is reflected in folk traditions. And the richer and ancient history people, the more complex and interesting interweavings of folk and church are obtained. Many customs are far from true Christianity and close to paganism, but they are nevertheless interesting from a historical point of view - in order to get to know the people better, in order to be able to separate the essence of this or that holiday of Christ from the colorful flow of folk imagination.

In Rus', Epiphany was the end of Christmastide, girls stopped fortune telling - a purely pagan activity. The common people were preparing for the holiday, which was believed to cleanse them of sins, including sins Christmas fortune telling.

At Epiphany, a great blessing of water was performed. And twice. The first one is on Epiphany Christmas Eve. The water was blessed in the font, which stood in the center of the temple. The second time the water was blessed on the feast of Epiphany itself - in any local body of water: river, lake, well. They cut a “Jordan” in the ice - a hole in the form of a cross or a circle. Nearby they placed a lectern and a wooden cross with an ice dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Not only rural reservoirs were blessed, but also rivers in big cities. For example, here is a story about how water was blessed in Moscow on the Neglinnaya River on January 6, 1699. Emperor Peter I himself took part in the ceremony. And the Swedish envoy to Moscow Gustav Korb described the event: “The Feast of the Three Kings (Magi), or rather, the Epiphany of the Lord, was marked by the blessing of the Neglinnaya River. The procession moved to the river in the following order. The procession was opened by the regiment of General de Gordon... Gordon's regiment was replaced by another, called Preobrazhensky, which attracted attention with new green clothes. The captain's place was occupied by the king, who inspired tall respect for your Majesty. ...a fence (theatrum, Jordan) was built on the solid ice of the river. Five hundred clergy, subdeacons, deacons, priests, archimandrites (abbates), bishops and archbishops, dressed in vestments befitting their rank and office and richly decorated with gold, silver, pearls and precious stones, gave the religious ceremony a more majestic appearance. In front of the wonderful golden cross, twelve clerics carried a lantern in which three candles burned. An incredible number of people crowded from all sides, the streets were full, the rooftops were occupied by people; spectators also stood on the city walls, huddled closely together. As soon as the clergy filled the vast space of the fence, the sacred ceremony began, many candles were lit, and first of all the invocation of the grace of God followed. After duly calling on God’s mercy, the Metropolitan began to walk around the entire fence with censing, in the middle of which the ice was broken with an ice pick in the form of a well, so that water was discovered. After censing her three times, the Metropolitan consecrated her by immersing a burning candle three times and the usual blessing. ...then the patriarch, or in his absence the metropolitan, leaving the fence, usually sprinkles on His Royal Majesty and all the soldiers. To finally complete the festive celebration, a salvo was fired from the guns of all regiments. ...before the start of this ceremony, a vessel covered with red cloth was brought on six white royal horses. In this vessel the blessed water was then to be transported to the palace of his Royal Majesty. In the same way, the clergy carried a certain vessel for the patriarch and many others for the boyars and Moscow nobles.”

Holy Epiphany water

Water is blessed twice on Epiphany. The day before, January 18, on Epiphany Eve, there was the Rite of the Great Blessing of Water, which is also called the “Great Hagiasma.” And the second time - on the day of Epiphany, January 19, at the Divine Liturgy. The first tradition most likely dates back to the ancient Christian practice of Baptism of catechumens after the Morning Service of Epiphany. And the second is connected with the custom of Palestinian Christians to march on the day of Epiphany to the Jordan to the traditional site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ.

According to tradition, Epiphany water is stored for a year - until the next Epiphany holiday. They drink it on an empty stomach, reverently and prayerfully.

Is all the water for Epiphany holy?

Archpriest Igor Fomin, rector of the Alexander Nevsky Temple at MGIMO, answers:

I remember that as a child, we left the church for Epiphany and took with us a three-liter can of Epiphany water, and then, at home, we diluted it with tap water. And all year they accepted the water as a great shrine - with reverence.

On the night of the Lord’s baptism, indeed, as Tradition says, all aquatic nature is sanctified. And it becomes like the waters of the Jordan, in which the Lord was baptized. There would be magic if the water became holy only where the priest consecrated it. The Holy Spirit breathes wherever it wants. And there is an opinion that at any moment of Epiphany, holy water is everywhere. And the blessing of water is a visible, solemn church rite that tells us about the presence of God here on earth.

Epiphany frosts

The time of the Epiphany holiday in Rus' usually coincided with severe frosts, so they began to be called “Epiphany”. People said: “It’s crackling frost, not crackling, but VodoKreshchi has passed.”

Swimming in an ice hole (Jordan) for Epiphany

Jordan - an ice hole in the shape of a cross

In Rus' ordinary people They called the Epiphany “Water Kreshchi” or “Jordan”. Jordan is an ice hole in the shape of a cross or a circle, cut in any body of water and consecrated on the day of the Epiphany. After the consecration, the brave boys and men plunged and even swam in the icy water; It was believed that this way one could wash away one’s sins.

Epiphany Christmas Eve

The Feast of Epiphany is preceded by Epiphany Eve, or the Everlasting Epiphany. On the eve of the holiday, Orthodox Christians observe strict fasting. The traditional dish of this day is sochivo, which is prepared from cereals (for example, wheat or rice), honey and raisins.

Sochivo

To prepare sochiva you will need:

wheat (grain) - 200 g
peeled nuts - 30 g
poppy seed - 150 g
raisins - 50 g
fruits or berries (apple, blackberry, raspberry, etc.) or jam - to taste
vanilla sugar - to taste
honey and sugar - to taste
cream - 1/2 cup.

Wash the wheat well and pour hot water, covering the grain, and cook in a saucepan over low heat until soft (or in a clay pot, in the oven), adding periodically hot water. Rinse the poppy seeds, steam with hot water for 2-3 hours, drain the water, grind the poppy seeds, add sugar, honey, vanilla sugar or any jam, chopped nuts, raisins, fruits or berries to taste, add 1/2 cup of cream or milk or boiled water, and combine all this with boiled wheat, place in a ceramic bowl and serve chilled.

Folk signs and sayings about the Baptism of the Lord

Epiphany frosts: “Cracking frost, not crackling, but VodoKreshchi has passed.”
The sun plays five times a year: at Christmas, Epiphany, Annunciation, Bright Resurrection, and the Birth of John.
If during the liturgy, especially while going to the water, it's snowing, That next year it is expected to be fertile, and there will be many swarms of bees.
There will be a thaw - for the harvest.
Until three days, before the first Savior and after Epiphany, the linen is not rubbed.
When on open water there will be fog, then there will be a lot of bread.
The wind will blow from the south - it will be a stormy summer.
If dogs bark a lot on Epiphany, there will be plenty of all kinds of animals and game. If the weather is clear and cold on this day, the summer will be dry; cloudy and fresh - to a bountiful harvest.
A full month means a big spring flood.
Starry night - the summer will be dry, there will be a harvest for peas and berries.
A clear day means a bad harvest.
They don’t feed the chickens so they don’t dig the gardens.

Sermons

What kinds of life-giving and what kind of terrible waters there are... At the beginning of the Book of Genesis we read about how the breath of God hovered over the waters and how all living beings arose from these waters. During the life of all mankind - but so brightly in Old Testament- we see water as a way of life: they preserve the life of a thirsty person in the desert, they revive the field and forest, they are a sign of the life and mercy of God, and in the sacred books of the Old and New Testaments, water represents an image of cleansing, washing, renewal.

But what terrible waters there are: the waters of the Flood, in which everyone who could no longer resist the judgment of God perished; and the waters that we see throughout our lives, terrible, destructive, dark flood waters...

And so Christ came to the Jordanian waters; into these waters no longer of a sinless land, but of our land, defiled to its very depths by human sin and betrayal. People who repented according to the preaching of John the Baptist came to these waters to wash themselves; how heavy these waters were with the sin of the people who washed themselves with them! If only we could see how the waters washing these gradually became heavier and became terrible with this sin! And Christ came to plunge into these waters at the beginning of His feat of preaching and gradual ascent to the Cross, to plunge into these waters bearing the entire burden of human sin - He, the sinless one.

This moment of the Baptism of the Lord is one of the most terrible and tragic moments of His life. Christmas is the moment when God, out of His love for man, wants to save us from eternal destruction, puts on human flesh, when human flesh is permeated by the Divine, when it is renewed, becomes eternal, pure, luminous, that flesh which through the Cross, Resurrection , the Ascension will sit at the right hand of God and the Father. But on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, this preparatory path ends: now, the Lord, already matured in His humanity, having reached the full measure of His maturity, the Man Jesus Christ, united by perfect love and perfect obedience with the will of the Father, goes with his free will, freely to fulfill what the Eternal Council has ordained . Now the Man Jesus Christ brings this flesh as a sacrifice and as a gift not only to God, but to all humanity, takes on His shoulders all the horror of human sin, human fall, and plunges into these waters, which are now the waters of death, the image of destruction, they carry within themselves all evil, all poison and all sinful death.

Baptism of the Lord, in further development events, most closely resembles the horror of the Garden of Gethsemane, the excommunication of death on the cross and the descent into hell. Here, too, Christ is so united with human fate that all its horror falls on him, and the descent into hell is the final measure of His unity with us, the loss of everything - and victory over evil.

That is why this majestic holiday is so tragic, and that is why the waters of the Jordan, bearing all the heaviness and all the horror of sin, by touching the body of Christ, the sinless, all-pure, immortal body, permeated and shining with Divinity, the body of the God-man, are cleansed to the depths and again become primary, primeval waters of life, capable of cleansing and washing away sin, renewing a person, returning him to incorruption, introducing him to the cross, making him a child no longer of the flesh, but eternal life, Kingdom of God.

How exciting this holiday is! That is why, when we consecrate the waters on this day, we look at them with such amazement and awe: these waters, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, become the waters of the Jordan, not only the primeval waters of life, but waters capable of giving life not only temporary, but also eternal; that is why we partake of these waters reverently, reverently; That’s why the Church calls them a great shrine and calls on us to have them in our homes in case of illness, in case of spiritual sorrow, in case of sin, for cleansing and renewal, for introduction to the newness of purified life. Let us taste these waters, let us touch them reverently. Through these waters, the renewal of nature, the sanctification of creation, and the transformation of the world began. Just as in the Holy Gifts, and here we see the beginning of the next century, the victory of God and the beginning of eternal life, eternal glory - not only of man, but of all nature, when God will become all in all.

Glory to God for His infinite mercy, for His Divine condescension, for the feat of the Son of God, who became the Son of man! Thank God that he renews both man and our destinies, and the world in which we live, and that we can still live with the hope of an already won victory and the rejoicing that we are waiting for the great, wondrous, terrible day of the Lord , when the whole world will shine with the grace of the received, and not just given, Holy Spirit! Amen.

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh. Sermon on Epiphany

With what a feeling of reverence for Christ and gratitude to our relatives who lead us to faith, we remember our Baptism: how wonderful it is to think that since our parents or people close to us discovered faith in Christ, vouched for us before the Church and before God, we , By the Sacrament of Baptism, we became Christ’s, we are called by His name. We bear this name with the same reverence and amazement as a young bride bears the name of the man whom she loved for life and death and who gave her his name; How we cherish this human name! How dear it is to us, how holy it is to us, how terrible it would be for us to act, to give it up for blasphemy to ill-wishers... and this is how we unite with Christ, the Savior Christ, our God, who became man, gives us to bear His name. And just as on earth they judge the whole race that bears the same name by our actions, so here they judge Christ by our actions, by our lives.

What a responsibility this is! The Apostle Paul almost two thousand years ago warned the young Christian Church that for the sake of those who live unworthy of their calling, the name of Christ is blasphemed. Isn't that the case now? Aren’t there millions of people all over the world now who would like to find the meaning of life, joy, depth in God, moving away from Him, looking at us, seeing that we are, alas, not a living image of the gospel life - neither personally nor as a society? ?

And on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, I would like to say before God on my own behalf and call on everyone to say to those who were given the opportunity to be baptized in the name of Christ: remember that you have now become bearers of this holy and divine name, that God, your Savior, the Savior of all will be judged by you what if your life is my life! - will be worthy of this gift of God, then thousands around will be saved, and if she is unworthy, they will perish: without faith, without hope, without joy and without meaning. Christ came to the Jordan sinless, plunged into these terrible Jordanian waters, which seemed to become heavy, washing away human sin, figuratively becoming like dead waters - He plunged into them and became familiar with our mortality and all the consequences of human fall, sin, humiliation in order to to make us capable of living worthy of our human calling, worthy of God Himself, Who called us to be His relatives, children, to be His family and our own...

Let us respond to this work of God, to this divine call! Let us understand how high, how majestic our dignity is, how great our responsibility is, and let us enter the year that has now already begun in such a way as to be the glory of God and the salvation of every person who touches our lives! Amen.

Saint Theophan the recluse. Thoughts for every day of the year - Epiphany

Epiphany (Titus 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7; Matthew 3, 13-17). The Baptism of the Lord is called the Epiphany because in it the one true God, worshiped in the Trinity, revealed himself so tangibly: God the Father - by a voice from heaven, God the Son - incarnate - by baptism. God the Holy Spirit descends upon the Baptized One. Here the mystery of the relationship between the persons of the Holy Trinity is revealed. God the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son and does not proceed from Him. It is also revealed here that the incarnate economy of salvation was accomplished by God the Son incarnate, co-inherent with Him the Holy Spirit and God the Father. It has also been revealed that the salvation of everyone can be accomplished no other way than in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, according to the good will of the Father. All Christian sacraments shine here with their divine light and enlighten the minds and hearts of those who celebrate this great celebration with faith. Come, let us spiritually rise to the mountain, and let us immerse ourselves in the contemplation of these mysteries of our salvation, singing: in the Jordan I am baptized to You, O Lord, Triple adoration has appeared, a salvation that arranges for us in a triple way and that saves us in a triple way.

Or Epiphany, is one of the main and oldest Christian holidays. The first mentions of it date back to the 2nd century. The holiday was established in honor of an event in gospel history, the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

During baptism, according to all three Synoptic Gospels, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove; at the same time, a voice from heaven proclaimed: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). In this regard, in church tradition the holiday has a second name - Epiphany.

The Gospel of John also speaks of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan and the descent of the Holy Spirit, but not directly, but in the form of the testimony of John the Baptist (John 1:29-33).

The Baptism of the Lord occurred shortly after Jesus turned 30 years old. At this time, the prophet John the Baptist preached in the Jordan desert, calling the Jews to repentance and talking about the long-awaited coming of the Savior. He baptized everyone who came to him in the Jordan. It should be understood that baptism in those days was a ritual ablution as a sign of repentance and cleansing from previous sins.

Christ was sinless and did not need repentance, but came to be baptized by John to give people an example of obedience and fulfillment of the Law.

Where was Jesus Christ baptized?

The exact location of the baptism site of Jesus Christ is unknown. Most early Greek New Testament manuscripts name the site of Jesus' Baptism as Bethany Transjordan (Βηθανία πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου). It is believed that the name Bethavara was first proposed by Origen, but he located it on the west bank of the Jordan. While in the Slavic Bible the place of baptism is called Vifavara on the other side of the Jordan (Vifavara was on the floor of Jordan), that is, on the eastern bank of the river. In Russian synodal translation this place is called Bethabara beyond the Jordan (John 1:28), in the New King James Bible (NKJV) - Bethabara beyond the Jordan, in the Greek Bible and New Vulgate - Bethany beyond the Jordan.

However, differences in understanding remain. For example, on the famous Madaba map of the 6th century - a mosaic panel map, partially preserved in the temple of St. George in the Jordanian city of Madaba and representing the most ancient map The Holy Land, from the Levant in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, the site of the Baptism is depicted opposite Jericho on the west bank of the river, that is, not beyond the Jordan when viewed from the west bank.

There is an assumption that the author of the Madaba map lived on the eastern bank of the Jordan and therefore understood the phrase “beyond the Jordan” in the sense of a place located on the other bank in relation to it, although the author of the Gospel, naturally, understood the preposition for as located on the eastern bank. Pilgrim Theodosius (V-VI centuries) reported that at the site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ there was a marble column topped with an iron cross.

Photo: Mikhail Moiseev In the first centuries of Christianity, the traditional site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ was located on the eastern bank of the Jordan near Jericho. This was confirmed by excavations in the 1990s, when on the eastern bank of the Jordan River an international team of archaeologists discovered the ruins of a Byzantine church and the base of a column that marked the site of the Baptism of the Lord.

Research has shown that over the course of seven centuries, from the 5th to the beginning of the 12th century, five successively replaced each other at the site of the Baptism of the Lord. Christian churches. The first temple was built here under the Byzantine Emperor Anastasia (491-518). It was built on special arches six meters above the ground to avoid destruction during the Jordanian floods. Here the stone skeleton of a chapel was discovered at the place where the Lord took off his vestments before descending into the water.

However, after the Arab conquest of Palestine (640), due to the inaccessibility of the eastern bank, the place of Baptism also began to be considered a place near Jericho, but on the western bank. Over time, the place of Baptism was lost due to the destruction of the churches located there.

Over time, the Jordan River has changed its course, so now the site of Jesus' baptism is on dry land.

The rite of the great consecration of water

According to tradition, on Epiphany Christmas Eve, January 18, and then on the day of the Epiphany itself, January 19 orthodox temple perform the rite of the great consecration of water.

Water consecrated with a great ceremony on the eve of Epiphany and on the holiday itself is called “great agiasma,” that is, a great shrine (from the Greek αγίασμα - shrine). Among some Orthodox believers, there is an opinion that the water consecrated on the eve of the holiday (January 18) differs from that which is consecrated in churches directly on the day of Epiphany. This is a misconception.

One of the first mentions of the special veneration of water collected on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, and of its miraculous properties (primarily the ability not to spoil for a long time) is contained in one of the Antioch sermons of St. John Chrysostom (IV century): “On this holiday, everyone, having drawn water, brings it home and keeps it all year long, since today the waters are blessed; and a clear sign occurs: this water in its essence does not deteriorate over time, but, drawn today, it remains intact and fresh for a whole year, and often two and three years.”

Swimming in Jordan: tradition or innovation?

In the Russian Orthodox Church and some other Local Churches, the custom of swimming in natural reservoirs is known on the eve and on the day of the Epiphany holiday.

In the XVI-XVII centuries. In Russia, the practice of erecting “Jordan Canopies” - temporary chapels on the banks of reservoirs - spread. As a rule, to consecrate water, an ice hole was cut out in the ice (often in the form of a cross), which was called “Jordan.” Believers and clergy came to the place of consecration in religious processions from nearby churches. At the same time, there is no reliable evidence that after the consecration of the water, believers immersed themselves in the font.

For example, in St. Petersburg, from the time of Peter the Great until the beginning of the 20th century, the tradition of consecrating water in the Neva was preserved, in which crowned heads of the royal family took part. So, in 1890-1910, in the ice of the Neva opposite Winter Palace an ice hole was cut out, and a canopy with domes and crosses, decorated with gilded images of angels and images, was built over it. An open gallery was arranged around the chapel, where the banners of the guard regiments were brought to be sprinkled with holy water. A prayer service was served in the temple. From the main, Jordan, entrance of the Winter Palace to the ice and further along the ice, gangways and bridges were built, decorated with flags and garlands. Guards units in winter were lined up along them with trellises. full dress uniform without overcoats, soldiers without gloves - that was the tradition.

After mass in the palace, the highest clergy went out to the Jordan to serve a prayer service with the blessing of water. The royal family also took to the ice.

The Metropolitan lowered the cross into the water, and at this time 101 shots were fired from the cannons of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Believers believed that after this the water in the Neva instantly became holy, and they took turns coming up to drink this water. Moreover, even in those years, the sanitary inspection already prohibited drinking raw Neva water due to its contamination wastewater. After the blessing of water, the tsar received the Epiphany Parade - the troops present in the Jordan passed by in a ceremonial march.

There is also no evidence of the bathing of believers in the Neva font.

Photo: Balkanregion (CC by-sa 3.0) However, this custom has spread widely in Russia in recent years. As a rule, today places of mass bathing are arranged at active participation local authorities, and the bathing itself takes place in the presence of employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and medical workers.

In Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece, after the blessing of water, solemn processions with banners are organized to the reservoir. There is a custom of throwing a wooden cross into the water and then diving for it. Catching a cross from the water is considered honorable. The popular name of the holiday in Bulgaria is “Jordanovden”, and in Macedonia it is “Voditsa”.

The Baptism of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ is one of the most important Christian holidays. On this day, Christians around the world remember the gospel event - the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

The Savior was baptized by the prophet John the Baptist, who is also called the Baptist.

The second name, Epiphany, was given to the holiday in memory of the miracle that occurred during baptism. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven on Christ in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven called him Son. Evangelist Luke writes about this: The sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove, and there was a voice from heaven, saying: You are My Beloved Son; My favor is in You!(Matt. 3:14-17). This is how the Holy Trinity was revealed in visible and accessible images to humans: the voice - God the Father, the dove - God the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ - God the Son. And it was testified that Jesus is not only the Son of Man, but also the Son of God. God appeared to people.

twelfth holiday. The twelfths are holidays that are dogmatically closely connected with the events of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God and are divided into the Lord's (dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ) and the Theotokos (dedicated to the Mother of God). Epiphany is the Lord's holiday.

When is the Epiphany celebrated?

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany on January 19 according to the new style (January 6 according to the old style).
The Feast of the Epiphany has 4 days of pre-celebration and 8 days of post-celebration. Forefeast - one or several days before a major holiday, the services of which already include prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebrated event. Accordingly, after-feasts are the same days after the holiday.

The celebration of the holiday takes place on January 27 according to the new style. The celebration of the holiday is the last day of some important Orthodox holidays, celebrated with a special service, more solemn than on ordinary days of post-feast.

Events of the Epiphany

The people believed the prophecies of John the Baptist, many were baptized in the Jordan. And then, one day, Jesus Christ himself came to the banks of the river. At that time He was thirty years old. The Savior asked John to baptize Him. The Prophet was surprised to the core and said: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Christ assured him that “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” During baptism, the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove, and there was a voice from heaven, saying: You are My Beloved Son; My favor is in You!(Luke 3:21-22).

In the two Gospels - Matthew and Luke - we read that after Baptism the Savior withdrew into the desert, where he fasted for forty days in order to prepare for his mission among people. He was tempted by the devil and did not eat anything during these days, and after they were over, he finally became hungry (Luke 4:2). The devil approached Christ three times and tempted Him, but the Savior remained strong and rejected the evil one (as the devil is called).

What can you eat on Epiphany?

Epiphany of the Lord - the history of the holiday

In the first centuries of Christianity, converts were baptized on Epiphany (they were called catechumens), so this day was often called the “day of Enlightenment”, “feast of Lights”, or “holy Lights” - as a sign that the Sacrament of Baptism cleanses a person from sin and enlightens with the Light of Christ . Even then there was a tradition to bless water in reservoirs on this day.

Iconography of the Baptism of the Lord

In early Christian images of the events of the Baptism of the Lord, the Savior appears before us young and without a beard; later He began to be portrayed as an adult man.

The central figures on all the icons of the holiday are Christ and John the Baptist, who places his right hand (right hand) on the head of the Savior. The right hand of Christ is raised in a blessing gesture.

Features of the Epiphany service

Clergy on holiday Epiphany dressed in white robes. The main feature of the Epiphany service is the blessing of water. The water is blessed twice. The day before, January 18, Epiphany Eve - the Rite of the Great Blessing of Water, which is also called the Great Agiasma. And the second time - on the day of Epiphany, January 19, at the Divine Liturgy.

The first tradition most likely dates back to the ancient Christian practice of baptizing catechumens after the morning service of Epiphany. And the second is connected with the custom of Palestinian Christians to march on the day of Epiphany to the Jordan to the traditional place of the baptism of Jesus Christ.