Swimming in an ice hole for baptism - when. Recommendations for those who want to plunge into icy water on Epiphany night

The first swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany arose as a tradition after the adoption of Christianity in Kievan Rus in 988. On January 19, the church holiday is the Epiphany of the Lord; during the Divine Liturgy, the great consecration of water, which has healing powers, is performed. It is generally accepted that all water elements on this day acquire miraculous properties that strengthen bodily and mental strength.

What does swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany mean?

The ice hole in which people swim is called the Jordan; people come to it after a solemn service; it is not customary to plunge into the water without the prayer of the priest. The priest blesses those who wish to perform the ritual of bathing at Epiphany - he reads a prayer before the wormwood and immerses the cross in it three times, only after completing the prayers can the ritual be performed. Prescribing to tradition the property of cleansing and washing away sins is wrong; in order to get rid of sins one must repent and...

Where did swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany come from?

The holiday to which the tradition is attached is the most ancient - the Epiphany of the Lord was introduced as a separate event in church service around 377. On this day, ancient Christians came to the Jordan, the place where Jesus Christ was baptized. The rite of Epiphany bathing is a folk tradition that a person performs according to his personal desire; there are no church regulations on this issue. Water blessed on this day has special properties, which has been proven by scientific research.

What benefits does swimming in an ice hole give at Epiphany?

If we consider the question of what bathing at Epiphany gives, we should understand what a person expects to receive from such actions. Taking a dip in the water in the Epiphany frosts is not so easy, even with a strong desire. The main thing is to have faith that water has the ability to heal ailments, and the procedure will not cause harm; the desire to pray is to entrust one’s needs into the hands of God.

Swimming in cold weather helps improve immunity - sudden changes in temperature activate the release of hormones into the blood that have a protective effect on negative changes in the body's functioning, blood pressure decreases, and a surge of energy comes. Marking yourself with a cross three times before diving into the ice hole is a mandatory condition.

Epiphany bathing - pros and cons

The tradition of bathing at Epiphany is a test of a person's willpower. Doctors state the fact that the percentage of people who get sick after such “procedures” is insignificant. According to the stories of those who have swum, in the first few minutes a person is seized by euphoria, the body becomes unusually light, grace is felt in the soul, and a rush of special indescribable sensations comes.

Risking poor health for unforgettable dives is prohibited. The Church does not oblige or order believers to perform such a ritual; it is not part of the holiday. By skipping a swim, a person does not lose grace. On the day of the Baptism of the Lord, you need to come to church for prayer, you can confess and take communion, sprinkle yourself and your home with sacred water brought from the temple.

When do they swim in the ice hole at Epiphany?

January 18 - Epiphany Eve, it is generally accepted that after the consecration of water in churches on this day, it becomes healing in all water sources, and retains such properties for several subsequent days. The bathing itself at Epiphany does not begin without the blessings of the priest; the consecration of places for immersion occurs after the festive services on the morning of January 19.

How to prepare for swimming at Epiphany?

Some tips on how to prepare for Epiphany swimming in the ice hole. For an unhardened person, such a dive is stressful; the effects of exposure to cold water can be minimized by pre-hardening the body. A few days before, it is advisable to take it, go out onto the street or balcony for a few minutes in summer clothes - shorts and a T-shirt, rub down with a damp towel dipped in cold water, practice dousing with low-temperature water.

Epiphany bathing - rules

The rules for bathing at Epiphany can be divided into parts. The first and most important point is that when performing such an act, a person must pray: for the salvation of the soul, for loved ones, ask for God’s help for healing from illnesses. Dipping into water for fun or under the influence of alcohol, to experience thrills is wrong; expecting healing of the body and soul as a result is unacceptable.

There are a lot of medical advantages that bathing at baptism is beneficial for - increased ability to work, allergic reactions in the body, depression, insomnia, pain in the joints and back. Attacks of bronchial asthma are significantly reduced, blood circulation is normalized. When diving, the body temperature approaches forty degrees; in a few minutes, numerous armies of viruses and bacteria die in the body - the functioning of the immune system increases.

Is it possible to get sick while swimming at Epiphany? Yes, because stressful immersion in water can cause a number of unpleasant consequences in a weakened body. Diabetics experience a sharp increase in blood sugar levels, heart patients experience attacks of arrhythmia and hypertension, and cancer patients experience unwanted suppression of the immune system. Swimming is prohibited for those suffering from flu and acute respiratory infections.

Is it dangerous to swim in an ice hole on Epiphany?

Discussions about the dangers of swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany are a serious issue. The organization of the venue is the main selection criterion for those wishing to take the plunge. Coming alone to unprepared, sparsely populated ice holes is undesirable, this is a direct threat to human health and life; in the event of an unexpected reaction of the body to cold water, there must be people ready to provide qualified assistance. Tips on how to properly swim in an ice hole at Epiphany:

• undressing is carried out in several stages - remove outer clothing, allow the body to adapt, then undress to a swimsuit;
• walk in the snow - give a signal to the body, through the receptors of the feet, to turn on a protective reaction to the cold;
• after being in the water, change clothes; you cannot put dry clothes on top of wet ones;
• Drinking alcohol to warm up after the procedure is not recommended.

When to swim on Epiphany - January 18 or 19- this question is asked very often on the days of Epiphany and Epiphany.

The most important thing you need to know about the Baptism of the Lord is not when to swim (it is not at all necessary to plunge into an ice hole on this day), but that on this day the Lord Jesus Christ himself was baptized. Therefore, on January 18 in the evening and January 19 in the morning, it is important to be in church for the service, confess, take communion and take holy water, the great agiasma.

They bathe, according to tradition, after the evening service on January 18 and on the night of January 18-19. Access to the fonts is usually open on January 19 throughout the day.

Common questions about bathing at Epiphany

Is it necessary to swim in an ice hole at Epiphany?

Is it necessary to swim at Epiphany? And if there is no frost, will bathing be Epiphany?

In any church holiday, it is necessary to distinguish between its meaning and the traditions that have developed around it. The main thing in the feast of the Epiphany is the Epiphany, the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, the voice of God the Father from heaven “This is my beloved Son” and the Holy Spirit descending on Christ. The main thing for a Christian on this day is presence at church services, confession and Communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and communion of baptismal water.

The established traditions of swimming in cold ice holes are not directly related to the Feast of the Epiphany itself, are not mandatory and, most importantly, do not cleanse a person of sins, which, unfortunately, is discussed a lot in the media.

Such traditions should not be treated as magical rites - the holiday of the Epiphany is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in hot Africa, America, and Australia. After all, the palm branches of the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem were replaced by willows in Russia, and the consecration of grapevines on the Transfiguration of the Lord was replaced by the blessing of the apple harvest. Also, on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord, all waters will be sanctified, regardless of their temperature.

Archpriest Igor Pchelintsev

Probably, we should start not with swimming in the Epiphany frosts, but with the most blessed feast of Epiphany. By the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, all water, in all its forms, is sanctified, because for two thousand years the water of the Jordan River, which touched the blessed body of Christ, rose to the heavens millions of times, floated in the clouds and again returned as raindrops to the earth. What is it in - in trees, lakes, rivers, grass? Pieces of her are everywhere. And now the feast of Epiphany is approaching, when the Lord gives us an abundance of consecrated water. Concern awakens in every person: what about me? After all, this is my chance to cleanse myself! Don't miss it! And so people, without hesitation, even with some kind of despair, rush to the ice hole and, having plunged, then talk about their “feat” for a whole year. Did they partake of the grace of our Lord or did they gratify their pride?

An Orthodox person walks calmly from one church holiday to another, observing fasts, confessing and receiving communion. And he prepares for Epiphany slowly, deciding with his family who, after confession and communion, will be honored to plunge into the Jordan, according to the ancient Russian tradition, and who, due to being a child or indisposed, will wash their face with holy water, or take a bath at a holy spring, or simply take holy water with prayer as a spiritual medicine. Thank God, we have plenty to choose from, and we don’t need to take risks thoughtlessly if a person is weakened by illness. The Jordan is not a Pool of Sheep (see John 5:1-4), and must be approached with caution. An experienced priest will not bless everyone for a bath. He will take care of choosing a place, strengthening the ice, a gangway, a warm place to undress and dress, and the presence of one of the Orthodox medical workers. Here, mass baptism will be appropriate and beneficial.

Another thing is the mass of desperate people who decided, without a blessing or just basic thought, to swim “for company” in icy water. Here we are not talking about the strength of the spirit, but about the strength of the body. A strong spasm of skin vessels in response to the action of cold water leads to the fact that a mass of blood rushes into the internal organs - the heart, lungs, brain, stomach, liver, and for people with poor health this can end badly.

The danger especially increases for those who were preparing for “purification” in the ice hole by smoking and alcohol. The flow of blood to the lungs will only increase chronic inflammation of the bronchi, which always accompanies smoking, and can cause swelling of the bronchial wall and pneumonia. Long-term use of alcohol or acute intoxication in warm water always leads to misfortunes, to say nothing of swimming in an ice hole. The arterial vessels of an alcoholic or a domestic drunkard, even if he is relatively young, are not able to respond correctly to massive cold exposure; in these cases, paradoxical reactions can be expected, including cardiac and respiratory arrest. With such bad habits and in such a state, it is better not to approach the ice hole.

Archpriest Sergiy Vogulkin, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Vsetsaritsa” in the city of Yekaterinburg, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor:

– Explain, after all, why an Orthodox person needs to bathe in ice water on Epiphany when it’s thirty degrees below zero outside?

Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko:– It is necessary to distinguish between folk customs and church liturgical practice. The Church does not call believers to climb into icy water - everyone decides for themselves individually. But today the custom of plunging into a frosty hole has become something newfangled for non-church people. It is clear that on major Orthodox holidays there is a religious surge among the Russian people - and there is nothing wrong with that. But what is not very good is that people limit themselves to this superficial ablution. Moreover, some seriously believe that by bathing in the Epiphany Jordan, they will wash away all the sins that have accumulated over the year. These are pagan superstitions, and they have nothing in common with church teaching. Sins are forgiven by the priest in the sacrament of Penance. In addition, in the search for thrills, we miss the main essence of the holiday of Epiphany.

Where did the tradition of diving into an ice hole at Epiphany come from? Is it necessary for every Orthodox Christian to do this? Do priests bathe in ice water? What is the place of this tradition in the Christian hierarchy of values?

Archpriest Vladimir Vigilyansky, rector of the Church of the Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University:

Faith is not tested by swimming

- at Epiphany - a relatively new tradition. Neither in the historical literature about Ancient Rus', nor in the memoirs of pre-revolutionary Russia did I read that somewhere on Epiphany they cut through ice and swam. But there is nothing wrong with this tradition itself, you just need to understand that the Church does not force anyone to swim in cold water.

The consecration of water is a reminder that the Lord is everywhere, sanctifying the entire nature of the earth, and the earth was created for man, for life. Without understanding that God is with us everywhere, without spiritual understanding of the feast of Epiphany, Epiphany bathing turns into a sport, a love of extreme sports. It is important to feel the presence of the Trinity, which permeates all natural nature, and to join precisely this presence. And the rest, including bathing in a consecrated spring, is just a relatively new tradition.

I serve in the center of Moscow, far from the water, so swimming is not practiced in our parish. But, for example, I know that in the Trinity Church in Ostankino, which is located near the Ostankino ponds, they consecrate water and wash themselves with it. Those who have been swimming for more than a year should continue to swim. And if a person wants to join this tradition for the first time, I would advise him to think about whether his health allows him, whether he tolerates the cold well. Faith is not tested by bathing.

Archpriest Konstantin Ostrovsky, rector of the Assumption Church in Krasnogorsk, dean of churches in the Krasnogorsk district:

The spiritual meaning is in the blessing of water, not in bathing

- Today the Church does not prohibit swimming in reservoirs, but before the revolution it had a negative attitude towards it. Father Sergius Bulgakov in his “Handbook for a Clergyman” writes the following:

“...In some places there is a custom of bathing in rivers on this day (especially those who dressed up, told fortunes, etc., bathed during Christmas time, superstitiously attributing to this bath a cleansing power from these sins). Such a custom cannot be justified by the desire to imitate the example of the Savior’s immersion in water, as well as the example of Palestinian pilgrims who bathe in the Jordan River at all times. In the east it is safe for pilgrims, because there is no such cold and such frosts as ours.

The belief in the healing and purifying power of water, consecrated by the Church on the very day of the Savior’s baptism, cannot speak in favor of such a custom, because swimming in winter means demanding a miracle from God or completely neglecting one’s life and health.”

(S. V. Bulgakov, “Handbook for priests and church ministers”, Publishing department of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1993, reprint of the 1913 edition, p. 24, footnote 2)

In my opinion, if you do not associate bathing with pagan beliefs, there is nothing wrong with it. Those who are healthy enough can take a dip, but don’t look for any spiritual meaning in it. Epiphany water has spiritual significance, but you can drink a drop of it, or sprinkle it on yourself, and it is absurd to think that the one who has bathed will necessarily receive more grace than the one who drank a sip. Receiving grace does not depend on this.

Not far from one of the churches of our deanery, in Opalikha, there is a clean pond, I know that the clergy of the temple sanctify the water there. Why not? The Typikon allows this. Of course, at the end of the liturgy or, when Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, at the end of Great Vespers. The consecration of water by the Great Rite at other times is permissible in exceptional cases.

For example, it happens that one priest is the rector of three rural churches at once. He cannot serve two liturgies a day. And so the priest serves and blesses the water in one temple, and travels to two others, sometimes tens of kilometers away, to bless the water especially for local residents. Then, of course, let's assume the Great Order. Or in a nursing home, if it is impossible to perform the Epiphany liturgy there, you can also perform the Great Blessing of Water.

If, for example, a pious rich man wants to sanctify the water in his pond, there is nothing wrong with this, but in this case it is necessary to sanctify it with the Lesser Rite.

Well, when, as in Opalikha, after the prayer behind the pulpit there is a procession of the cross, the water in the pond is blessed, and then everyone returns to the church and finishes the liturgy, the church rite is not violated. And whether the priests and parishioners will then plunge into the ice hole is everyone’s personal matter. You just need to approach this wisely.

One of our parishioners is an experienced walrus, she even goes to walrus competitions. Naturally, she enjoys bathing at Epiphany too. But people become walruses by gradually tempering them. If a person is not frost-resistant and often catches colds, it would be unreasonable on his part to climb into an ice hole without preparation. If he thus wants to be convinced of the power of God, then let him consider whether he is not tempting the Lord by this.

There was a case when an elderly hieromonk - I knew him - decided to pour ten buckets of Epiphany water on himself. During such a dousing, he died - his heart could not stand it. Like any swimming in cold water, Epiphany bathing requires preliminary preparation. Then it can be beneficial to health, but without preparation it can be harmful.

I'm talking about physical health, perhaps mental health - cold water invigorates - but not spiritual health. There is spiritual meaning in the very sacrament of consecration of water, and not in bathing. It is not so important whether a person bathes in the Epiphany ice hole; it is much more important whether he comes to the festive liturgy or the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Naturally, as an Orthodox priest, I wish everyone not only to come on this day for Epiphany water, but to pray during the service and, if possible, receive communion. But all of us, Orthodox Christians, must treat people who come with love and understanding, with condescension towards human weakness. If someone comes only for water, it is wrong to tell him that he is this and that and will not receive grace. It’s not for us to judge this.

In my life story, I read how he advised one spiritual daughter, whose husband was an unbeliever, that she should give him prosphora. “Father, he eats it with soup,” she soon complained. "So what? Let it be with soup,” answered Father Alexy. And in the end, that man turned to God.

From this, of course, it does not follow that it is necessary to distribute prosphora to all unbelieving relatives, but the example given shows that God's grace often acts in a way that is incomprehensible to us. Same with water. The man came only for water, but perhaps, through these external actions, without realizing it, he is drawn to God and will eventually come to Him. For now, let us rejoice that he remembers the feast of Epiphany and came to church in the first place.

Archpriest Theodore Borodin, rector of the Church of the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian on Maroseyka:

Swimming is just the beginning

The tradition of bathing at Epiphany is a late one. And one should treat it depending on why a person bathes. Let me make an analogy with Easter. Everyone knows that on Holy Saturday tens or even hundreds of thousands of people go to church to bless Easter cakes.

If they really don’t know that this is only a tiny part of the joy that Easter is for a believer, they come to church with reverence and sincerely pray, for them it is still a meeting with the Lord.

If, from year to year, they hear that this is not the most important thing, and the priest, blessing the Easter cakes, each time invites them to come to the night service, to share with everyone the joy of the Risen Lord, explains the meaning of the service, and their communication with the Church still comes down to the blessing of Easter cakes, which is, of course, sad.

The same goes for swimming. If a person, completely unfamiliar with church life, plunges into the water with reverence, turning to the Lord in the way he knows how, sincerely desiring to receive grace, the Lord, of course, will give grace, and this person will have a meeting with God.

I think that when a person sincerely seeks God, sooner or later he will understand that bathing is just the beginning, and it is much more important to be at the all-night vigil and liturgy. If Epiphany bathing serves as a stepping stone to beginning to celebrate this holiday in a truly Christian way, at least in a few years, such bathing can only be welcomed.

Unfortunately, many people treat it simply as one of the extreme sports. Often the bathing of non-church people involves obscene jokes and excessive drinking. Just like the once popular wall-to-wall fights, such fun does not bring a person one step closer to the Lord.

But many of those who do not allow themselves any indecency do not come to the service - they usually swim at night and consider that they have already joined the holiday, sleep off, satisfied with themselves - they have proven that they are strong in body and their faith is strong. They proved it to themselves, but this is self-deception.

Of course, it is not necessary to swim at night, you can after the service. Our church is located in the center, there is nowhere to swim nearby, but some parishioners travel to other areas or to the Moscow region. Sometimes they consult with me, I never object if I see that a person is really doing this for the sake of the Lord. But one priest I know, a very good one, plunged into an ice hole for several years in a row and fell ill every time after that. This means that his bathing was displeasing to the Lord, and the Lord admonished him through his illness - now he does not bathe.

I've never swam either. It’s quite a long way for me to travel to the nearest consecrated reservoirs; if I spend half the night on the road and swimming, I won’t be able to confess to the parishioners and serve the liturgy as I should. But sometimes my mother, my children and I doused ourselves with Epiphany water on the street, in the snow. I live outside the city, and after returning from the all-night vigil, the whole family doused themselves. But it’s possible outside the city; in Moscow you won’t be able to do that.

Archpriest Alexy Uminsky, rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khokhly, confessor of the St. Vladimir Orthodox Gymnasium:

And what does Baptism have to do with it?

I’m somehow not particularly puzzled by the issue of night Epiphany diving. If a person wants to, let him dive; if he doesn’t want to, let him not dive. Just what does diving in an ice hole have to do with the feast of the Epiphany?

For me, these dips are just fun, extreme. Our people love something so unusual. Lately it has become fashionable and popular to dive into an ice hole at Epiphany, then drink vodka, and then tell everyone about your such Russian piety.

This is a Russian tradition, like fist fights on Maslenitsa. It has exactly the same relation to the celebration of Epiphany as fist fights have to the celebration of Forgiveness Resurrection.

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 in the evening of January 18, Christmas Eve, after the 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 she 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 holiday 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 newlyweds. 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.

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 during the 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 used to shoot blank cartridges into the sky after releasing pigeons. But now the shooting ritual 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 of such a 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, it should be remembered that you can feel the healing properties of holy water simply by bathing.

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 folk traditions existed besides the one of 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, more signs than beliefs were associated with this day. 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.

In the coming days, blessed Epiphany water can be taken from Orthodox churches without much difficulty. On January 18 and 19, of course, there will be many people interested. But in most churches, water is blessed in abundance and distributed to those who wish after the holiday.

Christians do not distinguish Epiphany water either by the date of consecration (January 18 or 19), or by location (Cathedral of Christ the Savior or a tiny chapel in a maximum security colony in the Kostroma region), or by the name of the priest ( His Holiness Patriarch Kirill or a young priest who came only from the seminary), nor by source (pipe or spring). The main thing is that this water should be consecrated by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of the Baptism of the Lord. The blessing of water is a church Christian event. It cannot happen outside the church.

The vast majority of our citizens have the opportunity to come to the temple, pray and take water. Therefore, it is obvious that simply water from rivers, lakes, springs or from the shower cannot in any way be considered holy Epiphany water, either on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany, or at midnight, or on the feast itself.

How much water should I take?

It is quite understandable that many people want to stock up on Epiphany water for the year ahead and drink it every day. There is a belief that this water will not bloom and will remain as clean and tasty for many months. For some, this is an additional reason to stock up.

And yet there is no point in large supplies of consecrated water. Christians are sure that God is not and cannot be connected in any way with the amount of water drunk. God does not charge the water, does not saturate it with anything. He acts through her Himself. This means that one sip or a few drops is enough if they are drunk with faith in Christ and hope for help.

Some believers, based on the idea that “a drop of holy water can sanctify the sea,” simply “dilute” the blessed water as it is used. And this seems wiser to me than multi-liter annual reserves. I know from experience that one and a half to two liters of blessed water is a sufficient supply for a year for an entire family.

What is the meaning of the holiday?

It is clear that whether to trust the words of the evangelists or not is everyone’s business. It is important to understand and recognize that for Christians the holiday of Epiphany consists, first of all, in the recollection and joyful experience of three mysteries, which are very deeply connected with the very essence of Christianity as a religion. I have tried to explain these mysteries in the above articles. Here I will limit myself to listing. The events of the Baptism of the Lord reveal the Trinity of the Divinity: God Himself reveals Himself, as they say, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We also learn about the divine humanity of Christ: the Father testifies that Jesus, the son of Mary, is also the Son of God. And finally, we learn about the mission of Jesus: He came to take away the sin of the world in order to save people. It is important for us that Christians see in the baptism of Jesus evidence of the appearance of the One who is not afraid to share with people not only the joy of life, but also the consequences of sin and even death itself.

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What is holy water for?

For Christians, holy water is far from the most important thing in life. They may have it in the house, they may not have it, they may drink it regularly, they may not drink it at all. And all this because they have the One in whom they believe, the One who is always and everywhere with them.