Christians celebrate the Feast of Epiphany or Epiphany every year on January 19. It belongs to the twelve feasts of the Orthodox Church and has a permanent date. On this day, clergy and parishioners remember the event described in the Gospel - how John the Baptist performs the baptism ceremony over the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacred River Jordan.
Few people know, but Epiphany is not one day, but 4 days of pre-celebration and 8 days of post-celebration. These days, prayers dedicated to these dates are heard in churches. The celebration of the holiday takes place on January 27, ending with a solemn service. But the laity do not go into such details, and the church itself does not insist, because it is a rare person who can find the time to attend services for 12 days in a row.
The most significant rituals of this day are the blessing of water and swimming in an ice hole. First, a person must cleanse himself from the inside, attend the all-night vigil, pray for health and repent of his sins, otherwise salvation of the soul is impossible. The clergy recommend their parishioners to follow the basic rules, for example, avoid noisy celebrations on this day, devote time to family, do not wash or clean, it is better to do this ahead of time. It is useful to refresh your memory about the Holy Day, find out what traditions and customs are associated with it, and also find out the places where you can swim.
History of the holiday Epiphany 2021
This holiday began to be celebrated even at the time when the apostles were alive, therefore some mentions of it can actually be found in the Decrees and Rules. Previously, Christmas and Epiphany were celebrated on the same day, but had a name - Epiphany. Only at the end of the 4th century, Vodokhreshcha became a separate holiday. Now one can notice only minor references to the unity of these dates, for example, in Divine services.
This historical summary helps to understand why both holidays have pre-holiday days - Christmas Eve.
On these dates, it is important to observe strict fasting, adhere to special traditions, and visit the temple to cleanse the body and soul. During the period of early Christianity, the holiday had a different name: “Day of Enlightenment”; it was dedicated to the baptismal rites of converts. The Sacrament delivered a person from sin and enlightened him with Light. Already at this time, the traditional ceremony of consecrating water in reservoirs took place. Attention!
The tradition of sprinkling all corners of the house with holy water and drinking it for personal cleansing began many years ago. It was believed that such a ritual helps drive away evil forces from a person.
Who Baptized the Prudent Thief?
“...the thief received the sprinkling of remission of sins through the sacrament of water and Blood flowing from the side of Christ” (Venerable Ephraim the Syrian).
“Therefore, do not doubt, beloved: the grace of God is perfect; the place does not interfere, whether you were baptized here, or on a ship, or on the way. Philip baptized during the journey, Paul - in prison; Christ baptized the thief on the cross from his wound, and he was immediately worthy to open the doors of heaven” (St. John Chrysostom). For more information, see The Prudent Robber.
Signs and rituals, traditions and customs of the Baptism of the Lord
All holidays with a long history are shrouded in signs and superstitions. The majority of them have survived to this day thanks to their ancestors living in villages and hamlets - they paid attention to all the signs of fate, memorized them, recorded them and passed them on from generation to generation. The weather was considered the best predictor; it was used to determine what the coming year would be like and what it would bring.
Basic signs related to the weather:
- wind and frost - a lean year;
- a gusty wind from the south promised a rainy summer;
- a clear starry sky guaranteed a good harvest of all crops;
- a young growing month in the sky is a harbinger of spring flood;
- there are many bright stars in the sky - early warming in the spring, there will be no return frosts;
- snowfall - to the harvest of grain crops and, in particular, wheat;
- sudden warming on Epiphany on January 19 is a bad sign, promising wars, uprisings, natural disasters;
- A sunny but frosty day promises an early, hot summer.
Signs passed down by our forefathers do not recommend taking out trash from the hut on January 19th. According to one of the predictions, there will be discord in the family, according to the second, its members will be overtaken by illness. It is better to follow this simple rule, providing yourself with proper protection.
The Orthodox Church recognizes and provides for two baptismal rites: the blessing of water and swimming in a cold ice hole. The latter is becoming more of a tribute to fashion, and the clergy do not insist on the need for parishioners to participate. The mentors assure that it is more important to fast, honor the Lord and believe in him, pray, take communion and confess. Other rituals are common among the people. People, resorting to the help of higher powers, try to attract happiness, prosperity, love and prosperity into their lives. The Church views these actions as sinful.
There are customs of our ancestors that have lost their significance over the years. For example, previously the housewife had a clean jug, which was used only for collecting holy water. On the night of January 18-19, they collected snow in it, waited for it to melt and took it to the cellar. The liquid was then used for cleansing and healing rituals. All actions with holy water must be accompanied by prayer, and then they thank the Lord for the help provided.
An equally widespread tradition that still exists is sprinkling the home with fresh Epiphany water on the holiday. The ritual must be performed by the head of the family, preferably a man or an older woman. To do this, they use willow branches brought into the house from the church from last year's Easter service. They are soaked in water and the cross is sprinkled on every corner in the house, moving clockwise from the threshold.
Attention!
Christians are accustomed to celebrating all Orthodox holidays in a narrow family circle, therefore, according to tradition, everyone gathered at the table on Epiphany Eve.
Fortune telling
Fortune telling at Epiphany in the old days was perhaps the most popular entertainment. Although fortune telling is not a religious custom at all and has nothing to do with the feast of the Epiphany itself, but goes back to paganism, nevertheless young people still do it to this day.
They guessed on absolutely everything that came to hand - it could be objects and animals, sounds, shadows. Interpreting what a girl sees in water, a mirror, on a wall or in snow was an art. In an ordinary drop of wax at the bottom of a saucer, especially impressionable people could see the whole story of their life.
Addressed
There was fortune telling, which both boys and girls enjoyed doing. They asked the name of passers-by: for women - male, for men - female. It was believed that this would be the name of the future groom or bride.
Shoe by shoe
“Once on Epiphany Eve the girls were wondering: they took a shoe off their foot and threw it behind the gate.” Fortune telling with a shoe (shoe, felt boot) is the most common. It was believed that in which direction the toe of a shoe that fell to the ground points, the betrothed will take the bride there. The shoe must be removed from the left foot. If the shoe falls with its toe towards the house, marriage is not expected this year.
To bed
This is one of the most common fortune telling. The girl puts a comb under the pillow, saying: “Mummer, comb my head.” The one she sees in her dream will be her groom.
On wax
This is fortune telling for those who have a remarkable imagination. When the candle is lit, tilt it over a bowl of water and let a few wax drops fall into the water. If you get several small round shapes, this means money. And large figures can be interpreted as follows:
grapes mean love, friendship, luck, prosperity;
mushroom – vitality, perseverance, longevity;
bell - lead: straight - to the good, crooked or chipped - to the bad, several bells - alarm;
an apple is a symbol of life, wisdom, health. If it is too crooked, it means a temptation that is better not to succumb to.
But remember: during fortune telling, a person’s soul is in the hands of evil spirits, which is why fortune telling has always been condemned by the church. That is why in the old days those who fortune-told the next day, on Epiphany, always plunged into the ice hole, thus washing away their sins.
Blessing of water on the date of Epiphany
The rite of blessing of water is carried out twice on January 18 and 19. First, the clergyman sanctifies the water in the temple, says special prayers and immerses the cross in it three times. Later, the ritual is repeated, but not inside the temple, but at sources: rivers, lakes, any reservoirs with a created font.
Many parishioners bring bottled water with them to church - this is acceptable, although not justified, because according to the Holy Scriptures, on this day water in all sources becomes Holy. The main thing is that you cannot use bottled or mineral water, it must be ordinary tap water.
You can take holy water from the tap late in the evening, closer to midnight on January 18th. After the first consecration ritual in the church. It is also permissible to do this on January 19th, in this case the water will be Epiphany, and collected on the 18th is considered Jordanian. If there is no opportunity to visit church on the bright holiday of the Epiphany, do not be upset. The preparation that saves you from disease can be made at home by drawing water from the tap, but it is better to choose the time from midnight on January 19 to 6-7 in the morning. It has been proven that it is at this time that the structure is maximally changed and charged with energy.
What to do if the name of the person being baptized is not in the calendar?
If the name of the person being baptized is not in the calendar, during Baptism the person will be renamed in order to gain an Orthodox heavenly patron. In this case, a person’s name can be double: one for everyone and for general use, and the other for religious life. At Baptism, the name that is closest in sound is chosen. So, Yana is most often baptized with the name John, Ilona or Nelly - Elena. Some names in the church tradition have a different sound, for example, Svetlana is Photinia (from the Greek photos - “light”), and Victoria is Nike, both names mean “victory” in Latin and Greek. However, you can choose a name for yourself that is not necessarily consonant with the worldly name of the person being baptized.
Congratulations on the holiday of Epiphany + pictures
It’s not difficult to choose the best congratulations in pictures on Epiphany for your family and friends. We recommend viewing the following gallery. She will help you choose the appropriate postcard. Pay attention to the options with ready-made wishes in poetry and prose. Remember that the main thing is attention and you need to be able to show it correctly.
Send some of your warmth along with a beautiful image by writing a few beautiful lines from yourself. You can save congratulations in the form of pictures to your smartphone, and then send them to your friends in instant messengers or through social networks. The image should have something symbolizing the holiday: a temple, a font, angels.
Beautiful cards for the Epiphany of the Lord (can be downloaded for free)
Epiphany of the Lord is a bright Orthodox holiday, on which it is customary to congratulate on January 19th. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to meet everyone in person and convey congratulations due to life circumstances or living in different cities. The Internet and telephone communications come to the rescue. It is appropriate to send a beautiful postcard to relatives, friends and acquaintances, the main thing is to choose the words and make the congratulation sincere.
Sending an email message to friends is very simple. It doesn’t take much time, but this way you can show attention, albeit in the mildest form. For representatives of the older generation, a postcard in a message is not enough; personal congratulations are more valuable to them, even over the phone, so do not forget to call your parents and grandparents.
What you can and cannot do on the day of the Epiphany
The Church imposes prohibitions associated with Orthodox holidays. They are necessary for a person to draw closer to the Lord. So, on Epiphany, as well as on other twelfth holidays, it is not recommended to do household chores; everything must be completed the day before so that there is time left for attending services and prayer. But this is not a fundamental prohibition, because working is never a sin.
Attention!
The main prohibition is associated with scandals and quarrels. On this day, you should not react to provocations from friends and strangers, and you should not take anything to heart.
There are other prohibitions that clergy highlight:
- listening to music at high volume, watching entertainment programs or horror films;
- violent display of emotions and foul language;
- paying attention to handicrafts, especially if it is a hobby;
- washing - all water on this day is Holy, and the process defiles it;
- gluttony and alcohol abuse;
- condemnation, gossip, bad thoughts;
- any acts that could cause harm to anyone;
- selling valuables from home.
Another prohibition is a sign. Everyone, and especially girls, should not cry on the bright holiday of Epiphany. According to the observations of ancestors, if you spend this day in tears, the whole year will pass, and the causes of suffering can be serious. It's better not to attract misfortune.
On this day, as on any religious holiday, you can visit the temple, honor the Lord and rejoice. Celebrations and gatherings with family at the festive table are acceptable. It is better to celebrate baptism in a warm family circle, then the coming year will be successful. You can visit, but only by invitation and to close relatives.
It is better to spend the day doing good deeds: helping the poor, visiting a children's boarding school or an animal shelter. You can provide all possible help to someone who finds themselves in a difficult situation, but actions must come from the heart. Doing something for the sake of a “tick” is pointless.
There is a certain ban on doing household chores and handicrafts. But now the church classifies it as relative. Women can sew and embroider if this is their regular work, not creativity, and the need for money forces them to do it. You can also clean, but it is not recommended to waste holy water on washing things, as we defile it.
Is it possible to be baptized a second time?
Baptism is a spiritual birth, and it, like a physical one, can only be one. The Orthodox Creed clearly states: “I confess one (one) baptism...”.
Sins committed after Baptism are washed away in the Sacrament of Repentance (confession). This Sacrament is figuratively called the second Baptism, since with heartfelt repentance of one’s sins, a person receives forgiveness from God himself.
Is it possible to baptize a child at Epiphany on January 19
There are no prohibitions on this matter, but it is better to register in advance for individual or group baptism in a church. Despite the fact that the specifics of the ceremony remain unchanged, there are always many people who want to attend this date. Small churches, in which there are few clergy, may be refused to perform the rite of baptism of a child on this day. This is due to the priest’s heavy workload due to the holiday. In this case, parents will be offered another date appropriate for the ritual.
There is also controversy over another issue. For example, you can often hear that children born on January 19 do not need to be baptized. This is wrong, being born on a holiday does not make a child baptized, so the ritual is necessary.
Baptism rituals for a rich life
You can protect your home from unplanned losses, prevent unintentional expenses and attract wealth into your home using a ritual with holy water. It is not enough to collect it in the water supply; you must visit the temple. Having brought the liquid home, you need to go around all the rooms with the jar. In the process, repeat the sentence: “Holy water has come to the house, there will be no losses in it, prosperity will begin to flow, good luck will accompany the family.”
After these words, you need to find the most important and cleanest corner in the house. Most often this is the one in which the images are placed. An open container of water is placed on a stool and left until the morning. After this, all residents of the apartment wash themselves with the liquid from the jar. It is important to complete this ritual before breakfast and hygiene procedures.
Attention!
The Church does not confirm the effectiveness of such a ritual and does not recommend its implementation. Set goals and follow them, but don't attract magic.
Fruits of the Sacrament of Baptism
In the Sacrament of Baptism, a person receives liberation from the unconditional power of original sin. An unbaptized person, due to original sin, essentially cannot help but sin, and a baptized person, although he can sin, has the power not to sin. Baptism grants a person freedom from the tyranny of the devil, who can no longer rule over us without our will. Baptism does not operate automatically; without our faith and repentance, without keeping the commandments, the seed of eternal life will not sprout, but will perish in us. A baptized person who does not lead a spiritual life is called a fallen one.
About the holiday of Epiphany for children
Children over the age of 5-6 years should be told about the holiday simply, without distorting the facts, the main thing is that they can understand and process what they heard. To begin with, it is useful for parents to re-read this story in the children's Bible. The story should begin with the fact that until the age of 30, Jesus lived in Nazareth together with his Mother, the immaculate Virgin Mary and the elder Joseph. Jesus was engaged in carpentry, making chairs, tables and benches, for which the city residents gave him money.
When he was 31 years old, he went to the banks of the Jordan River to be baptized. At this time, the Forerunner performed the baptism ceremony near the river. The Lord showed John that this was an unusual person, but his Son. John the Baptist in every possible way refused to perform the ceremony, trusting that he himself needed to be baptized by it.
Jesus responded to these words like this: “Do not hold back, we must do everything that the Lord commands,” only then the Forerunner agreed to baptize Jesus.
He entered the river and put his hands on the head of the Son of God, who plunged into the water. When he came out of the water, the sky above him opened, and from there the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a white dove. His voice was heard: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Baptism is the first and most important sacrament in a person’s life. This rite is recognized to varying degrees and with distinctive meaning by all faiths. After passing it, the child or adult becomes part of the church family. The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated by parishioners of the Orthodox Church on January 19. On this day, a service is held in the church, a rite of blessing of water and swimming in an ice hole. The holiday should be spent with family, without lavish festivities.
Bathing
Dipping into an ice hole on the night of Epiphany has also become a national tradition - this custom has a symbolic meaning and reminds people of the great sacrament and the need to cleanse the soul during confession.
Epiphany water is a real shrine that strengthens a person’s mental and physical strength. In general, in Rus' it was believed that swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany promotes healing from many ailments, therefore such a solemn procession of consecration near an ice hole in a reservoir is performed to make swimming on Epiphany accessible to people. But you cannot plunge into the ice hole under duress or for the sake of fashion. Water, as a living matter, is capable of changing its structure under the influence of information, so everything depends on a person’s thoughts.
