Swimming for Epiphany: Everything you need to know if you decide to plunge into the ice hole. Recommendations for those who want to plunge into icy water on Epiphany night

The baptism of Christ was performed by John the Baptist at his request. During his baptism on the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. At the same time, a Voice from Heaven declared: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” According to Christian teachings, it was on this day that God appeared in three persons: God the Father in voice, the Son of God in flesh, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. That is why the feast of Epiphany is often called Epiphany. The holiday of Epiphany is very important. It is believed that it was baptism that revealed the Savior to the world, who took upon himself all the sins of mankind. John Chrysostom wrote about this. And it was from the moment of baptism that Jesus began to preach the word of God and enlighten people.

Until now, the main traditions of the Epiphany holiday are associated with water. And the clergy traditionally wear white vestments on the feast of Epiphany.

How to celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord

The celebration of Epiphany (January 19) begins the day before - January 18. This day is called Epiphany Christmas Eve, as well as Hungry Kutya. By analogy with Christmas Eve, on the day before the feast of the Epiphany it is necessary keep a strict fast. Also on the eve of the feast of Epiphany, Orthodox prepared Lenten kutya. The festive dinner on Epiphany Eve was called “hungry kutya”. The obligatory dishes of this meal were kutia, pancakes, and oatmeal jelly.

Kutya, kolivo, kanun - a ritual funeral dish of the Slavs, porridge cooked from whole grains of wheat (barley, rice - Saracen millet or other cereals), poured with honey, honey syrup or sugar, with the addition of poppy seeds, raisins, nuts, milk or jam.

How to swim properly at Epiphany

For believers, bathing at Epiphany means communion with the special grace of the Lord, which he sends to all the water on this day. It is also believed that water at Epiphany brings health, both physical and spiritual. At the same time, the church warns against attaching any magical meaning to this tradition.

• Rules for bathing at Epiphany

Epiphany water - wonderful healing properties

In all springs consecrated at Epiphany, the water becomes holy and healing. It is believed, and this has many confirmations, that Epiphany holy water has miraculous and healing properties:

• Believers take it with them - Epiphany holy water has the ability not to spoil for a long time.
• Epiphany water is drunk on an empty stomach throughout the year, it is carefully preserved as a shrine and illnesses, both physical and mental, are treated.
• You can sprinkle your home with holy baptismal water to drive out evil spirits and bring the grace of God into the house.

Where to get Epiphany holy water

If you want to collect blessed Epiphany water after bathing, you don’t have to bring canisters. A small bottle is enough. According to Christian canons, any water can be made holy if you add a little baptismal water to it - from a temple or from Jordan. Festive services will be held in all Orthodox churches on the night from 18 to 19. But it is not necessary to come on this particular day. As explained in the Moscow Patriarchate, water becomes holy after a special water blessing prayer. Access to containers with Epiphany water will be open in churches for several days. In addition, on Epiphany, queues are expected to form for holy water, and it will be difficult to get to the temples. According to safety rules, on major religious holidays, parking near temples within 50 meters is prohibited.

When to collect Epiphany water

The rite of the Great Blessing of Water (Great Agiasma) is performed on Epiphany Eve (January 18) after the Divine Liturgy and on January 19 - on the day of the Epiphany itself. During both days, you can collect Epiphany water in any church. Both times the water is blessed with the same rite, so there is no difference in when to collect the water - on Christmas Eve or on the Feast of Epiphany itself.

If you decide to draw Epiphany water from the tap and want to know when is the best time to do it. It is better to collect water for Epiphany in the time interval from 00:10 to 01:30 on the night of January 18th to 19th. However, you can collect Epiphany water later - until 24:00 on January 19.

What you need to know before collecting water for Epiphany:

• It is better to collect Epiphany water not thoughtlessly, but after participating in a church service (in church) or prayer (at home);
• you need to pour water for Epiphany into a container without any markings - preferably into a special jug or flask purchased at a church store (in no case into a beer bottle)

Epiphany water is believed to have healing properties. You can drink it when you are sick on an empty stomach and wash your face to stay healthy. You need to drink Epiphany holy water with prayer, asking the Almighty for spiritual and physical health. And it is not at all necessary to take it in reserve; there should be a lot of faith, not water.

Baptism - folk traditions

Previously, there were special folk traditions for celebrating the Epiphany or Epiphany. For example, it was customary to release doves at Epiphany - as a sign of Divine grace descending on Jesus Christ. Other folk traditions for Epiphany are known from legends.

In Rus', on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, as soon as the first church bell called for matins, pious believers lit a fire on the shore so that Jesus Christ, who was baptized in the Jordan, could also warm himself by the fire.

They began to prepare the Jordan a week before Epiphany: they cut a hole in the river, sawed out a large cross and placed it over the hole. The throne was also cut out of ice. The “royal doors” were decorated with Christmas tree branches.

On the morning of the holiday, after the service, everyone went to the river. After the blessing of the water in the river, all those gathered collected it in their dishes. It was believed that the sooner you scoop it up, the more holy it will be. There were brave souls who swam in the Jordan, remembering that it was impossible to catch a cold in the blessed water.

Then everyone went home. And while the women were setting the table, the eldest man in the family sprinkled the entire household with Epiphany water. Before eating, everyone drank consecrated water. After eating, the girls hurried to the river to wash in “Jordanian water”, “so that their faces were pink.”

After Epiphany, it was forbidden to wash clothes in the river. According to legend, when a priest immerses a cross in water, all the evil spirits jump out of fear, and then sit on the shore and wait for someone to appear with dirty laundry. As soon as the laundry is lowered into the river, along it, like a ladder, all the evil spirits go into the water. Therefore, it was believed that the later women began to wash, the more wickedness would freeze out from the Epiphany frosts.

Fortune telling for Epiphany

There were other traditions - it was believed that miracles happened at Epiphany midnight: the wind subsided for a moment, complete silence reigned and the heavens opened. At this time, you can express your cherished wish, which will definitely come true.

There is another tradition at Epiphany, which, however, is not approved by the church. On January 19, Christmastide ends - the period of fortune telling in Rus'. On Epiphany night, the girls sought to understand what awaited them in the future, whether they would get married, whether the year would be successful.

Baptism - folk signs

Since ancient times, many folk signs have been associated with Epiphany. Many of them were related to the economic activities of peasants or predicted the weather. For example, folk signs for Epiphany read:

• If the weather is clear and cold at Epiphany, the summer will be dry; cloudy and fresh - to a bountiful harvest.
• A full month for Epiphany means a big spring flood.
• Starry night on Epiphany - the summer will be dry, there will be a harvest for peas and berries.
• There will be a thaw at Epiphany - for the harvest, and a clear day at Epiphany - for the harvest failure.
• The wind will blow from the south on Epiphany - it will be a stormy summer.
• If it snows during the liturgy, especially while going to the water, then next year is expected to be fruitful, and there will be many swarms of bees.

When is Epiphany The dogs were barking a lot, waiting for a successful hunting season: If dogs bark a lot on Epiphany, there will be plenty of all kinds of animals and game. Chickens are not fed at Epiphany so that the gardens are not dug in the summer and the seedlings are not spoiled.

The Russian folk calendar associates the holiday of Epiphany with frost. Epiphany frosts: “Cracking frost, not crackling, but Vodokreshchi has passed.

How to swim properly at Epiphany so as not to get sick

Both old and young swim at Epiphany. But without special preparation, swimming can be dangerous for children and the elderly. It is better to prepare in advance by gradually hardening yourself by pouring cold water at home in the bathroom. Precautionary measures must be observed by everyone who decides to swim at Epiphany. Doctors warn people with hypertension, rheumatism, atherosclerosis or tuberculosis from swimming at Epiphany. Swimming at Epiphany is also unacceptable for other acute chronic diseases. Doctors warn that swimming in ice water can lead to negative consequences. After all, winter swimming in an ice hole puts all the mechanisms of human thermoregulation into maximum tension and this can cause shock.

Well, if you are healthy, then follow these recommendations: how to swim properly at Epiphany:

• You can swim on Epiphany only in an ice hole where there is a special entrance to the water;
• never go swimming at Epiphany alone, there should be a person nearby who can help if necessary;
• Alcohol and cigarettes are prohibited before swimming; do not swim on an empty stomach or immediately after eating;
• Bring a blanket with you, as well as clothes that are comfortable for changing.

Epiphany is a holiday with history and rich traditions. But the main thing, of course, is not the ritual, but the great meaning that it carries. The Orthodox holiday of Epiphany is of great importance for believers, because this is the day when a person’s spiritual renewal occurs.

Where to swim in Moscow on Epiphany

Epiphany bathing will take place from 6 p.m. on January 18 to noon on January 19. There is no provision for mass exits of people onto the ice. The thickness of the coating currently does not exceed 15 - 20 centimeters. All swimming areas are equipped with safe approaches and descents to the water. For a comfortable ceremony, heated locker rooms, toilets and lighting are installed. Swimming participants will be provided with hot drinks and places to warm up.

If you are choosing places to swim for Epiphany by district, read below:

Where to swim on Epiphany - Central District of the Central Administrative District

• font in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Chisty Vrazhek;

Where to swim on Epiphany - Northern District of the Northern Administrative District

• Big Garden Pond;
• Coastal passage, 7;
• Water stadium "Dynamo";

Where to swim on Epiphany - North-Eastern District of North-Eastern Administrative District

• Palace Pond (1st Ostankino, near no. 7).

Where to swim on Epiphany - Eastern District of the Eastern Administrative District

• Babaevsky pond, st. Kurganskaya, 5 - 9
• Red Pond, Izmailovsky Forest Park
• Font “Vernissage in Izmailovo”, Izmailovskoye sh., 73Zh
• Maysky Pond (formerly Sobachy), Sokolniki Park, st. Sokolnichesky Val, 1, building 1
• Beloe Lake, st. B. Kosinskaya, 46
• Lake Svyatoe, st. Oranzhereynaya, 18
• Terletsky Ponds, Svobodny Prospekt, 9
• Deer Pond;

Where to swim on Epiphany - South-Eastern District of the South-East Administrative District

• Upper Kuzminsky pond, st. Kuzminskaya, 10, near the dam
• Lower Lublinsky Pond, st. Shkuleva, ow. 2b, near the Ministry of Emergency Situations station
• Shibaevsky pond, st. Zarechye, vl. 14, near the rescue station

Where to swim on Epiphany - Southern District of the Southern Administrative District

• Borisovskie ponds, st. Borisovskie Prudy, 2g
• Upper Tsaritsynsky pond, st. Dolskaya, 1
• Pond Beket, Zagorodnoye sh., no. 2

Where to swim on Epiphany - Southwestern District of the South-Western Administrative District

• Vorontsovsky Pond (Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Vorontsovo, Ak. Pilyugina St., 1)
• Pond of the sanatorium “Uzkoe” (Temple of the “Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Uzkoe”, Profsoyuznaya str. 123B)
• Troparevsky Pond (Recreation area “Troparevo”, Academician Vinogradov St., 7)
• Pond on Nakhimovsky Prospekt (Nakhimovsky Prospekt, building 8 (near the Church of Euphrosyne
  Moscow)
• Chernevsky Pond (decorative pond No. 1) (Church of the Nativity of Christ in Chernevo, Yuzhnobutovskaya St., 62)
• Pond on the territory of the Temple (Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “Znamenie”, Shosseynaya St., 28 “a”)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Western District of the Joint-Stock Company

• Meshchersky Pond (Voskresenskaya St., Za)
• Pond in the village of Rublevo / Village of Rublevo, (Botyleva St., near house 41)
• Moscow River (Filevsky Boulevard, opposite No. 21)
• Moscow River (B. Filevskaya St., 40a)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Northwestern District of the Northwestern Administrative District

• Baryshikha River (Landscape Park, Baryshikha St. 4)
• Pond in the village Rozhdestveno (Pond in the village of Rozhdestveno (behind the Church of the Nativity), Mitino district
• Derivation canal (opposite the house at the address: Malaya Naberezhnaya str. 3, building 1)
• Khimki Reservoir (Moscow River) st. Svobody 56, PKiO "Severnoye Tushino"
• Stroginskaya floodplain (Tvardovsky street, 16 building 3)
• Kirov floodplain (Isakovskogo st. 2)
• Lake Bezdonnoye (Tamanskaya st. 91)
• Moscow River (Karamyshevskaya embankment, 13-15)
• Moscow River (Aviatsionnaya Street, 79)
• Derivation canal (Lodochnaya st. 19)

Where to swim on Epiphany - Zelenograd

• Black Lake, on the western side of the reservoir, Lesnye Prudy alley, 6th microdistrict
• Shkolnoye Lake, on the western side of the reservoir, Panfilovsky Prospekt, bldg. 1001

Where to swim on Epiphany - Trinity and Novomoskovsk districts

• MUSP Fishing and Sports (Troitsk Island, Desna River in the Zarechye recreation area).
• Pond in the village Pokrovskoye (Voronovskoye settlement, Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pokrovskoye village).
• Pond near the Archangel Michael Church (Krasnopakhorskoe village, Bylovo village).
• Pond in the village of Filimonkovskoye, in the village of Knutovo.
• Pond p. Shchapovskoe, village. Oznobishino, Holy Trinity Church.
• Pond in Voskresenskoye settlement, territory of the Voskresenskoye village, dam 1.
• Pond settlement Marushkinskoye, village. Big Svinorye.
• Pond in the village of Moskovsky, village of the Ulyanovsk forest park, LLC “Gloria”, temple-chapel of the icon of the Mother of God “Unfading Flower”.
• Pond Moskovsky village, Govorovo village, pond No. 2, st. Central.
• Pond of the Mosrentgen village, middle pond of the Troitsky Estate cascade.
• River p. Rogovskoye, village Vasyunino, 100 m from the Church of the Holy Trinity on the river.
• Font of Vnukovskoye village, village. DSK "Michurinets", st. Zheleznodorozhnaya, 1. Kupel near the river. Setun.
• Font of Marushkinskoye village, Marushkino village, Rucheyok park.
• Font Klenovskoye village, Tovarishchevo village, r. Liver.
• Font of Desyonovskoye village, Evseevo-Kuvekino village.
• Font of Pervomaiskoe village, Puchkovo village, Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
• Font of Mikhailovo-Yartsevskoe village, Shishkin Les village, p. 43, Temple of the New Martyrs.

16 places in specially protected natural areas of Moscow:

• PIP "Bitsevsky Les", apt. 7, st. Sanatorium Alley, sanatorium “Uzkoe”, Fourth Pond in Uzkoe (with the participation of the Yasenevo District Administration)
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 9, Shibaevsky pond, Kuzminki district, Zarechye street, possession 14
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 33, Nizhny Lyublinsky pond, Tekstilshchiki district, Shkuleva street, possession 2B
• PIP "Kuzminki-Lublino", Apartment 9, Verkhniy Kuzminsky pond, Kuzminki district, Kuzminskaya st., building 7
• PP "Serebryany Bor", Lake Bezdonnoe, near st. Tamanskaya, 91
• PP "Serebryany Bor", Lake Bezdonnoe, near st. Tamanskaya, 91 (opposite shore of the lake)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Kirovskaya Poima, Isakovskogo St., 2-4 (Strogino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Tvardovskogo St., 16 (Strogino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Zhivopisnaya St., 56 (Shchukino District Administration)
• PIP "Moskvoretsky", Karamyshevskaya embankment 15 (Khoroshevo-Mnevniki district administration)
• PIP “Izmailovo”, Terletsky forest park, 2/6, Alder pond
• PIP “Izmailovo”, forest park “Izmailovo”, Izmailovskaya Apiary village, 1, Krasny Pond (Izmailovo District Administration)
• PIP "Kosinsky", st. Zaozernaya, 18, Beloye Lake (Kosino-Ukhtomsky District Administration)
• PIP "Kosinsky", st. Orangereynaya, ow. 24., building 1, Lake Svyatoe (Kosino-Ukhtomsky District Administration)
• Landscape reserve "Teply Stan", recreation area "Troparevo" St. Academician Vinogradova vl. 12, recreation area "Troparevo"
• PT Zelenograd, Forest Ponds alley, recreation area “Black Lake” (Savelki District Administration)

Map of the location of the fonts for Epiphany bathing in 2018

The Orthodox world celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany on the night of January 18-19. In Moscow, about 60 swimming pools and ponds will be equipped for swimming. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the addresses of the placement of Epiphany fonts in Moscow in 2018. In order to view the map in detail and find out where you can swim on Epiphany on the night of January 18-19 in Moscow, click on the zoom button in the lower right corner of the map.

Every year, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate one of the most significant holidays - Epiphany. This holiday is the final and third in the Christmas cycle, and is also one of the twelve most important religious holidays. Today we will talk about the history of the holiday and how to prepare for the ritual of swimming in an ice hole today.

One of the great holidays is the Epiphany. This holiday is one of the few that is celebrated annually and its date does not change. In 2020, the Epiphany of the Lord will be celebrated on the 13th day after Christmas, namely January 19, Saturday.

History of Baptism

After long wanderings in the desert, according to the Gospel, the prophet John came to the Jordan River, in which the Jews traditionally performed purification rites. Here he began to baptize people in the waters of the river, telling them about baptism and repentance.

When the Messiah turned 30 years old, he also came to the Jordan River and asked the prophet to baptize him. After the ceremony, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on young Jesus in the form of a dove. Then the words of the Lord were heard, saying that Jesus was his son.

The event itself pointed out to John and all those who were at the river at that moment the Divine dignity of Jesus’ baptism. History says that it was then that the Holy Trinity was revealed to the people: God - by voice, God the Son - Jesus and the Holy Spirit - a descending dove...

When did the tradition of swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany appear?

Swimming in an ice hole for baptism is nothing more than a folk tradition, and it has absolutely nothing to do with worship or the Gospel. In Moscow, this tradition became widespread only in the 90s. Church ministers say that Orthodox Christians do not have such a duty as plunging into a winter ice hole. This is something of an extreme, personal tenacity to prove that a person can fight nature even in such harsh conditions.

This tradition still exists today in Russia, Ukraine and other countries. In Greece, for example, on this day the Bishop sanctifies the sea, throws the cross, reading a prayer far into the sea, and Christians dive after him in order to get the cross. This is also a folk custom.

In Russia, on Epiphany, a Jordan is cut down - an ice hole in the shape of a cross, after which the water is blessed in it. For centuries, water was blessed by the church in springs, and then ordinary people took water from the font. Some wanted to testify to their strength in faith, and they decided to plunge into the ice hole. This is where this tradition originates.

How to prepare an ice hole?

It should be noted that the ice hole for mass swimming is prepared by specially trained teams. The swimming area is cleared of snow, and then a cross is cut out of the ice using a chainsaw and safety ropes. Blocks of cut ice are sent either further along the river or taken out using special equipment.

People who live in the private sector and have a swimming pool cut an ice hole directly in their pool, also using a chainsaw. You will learn more about how to prepare an ice hole in the video.

From what time can you swim in the ice hole for Epiphany 2020?

Mass bathing occurs in the evening of the 18th and early in the morning of the 19th. However, before you try your hand at fighting nature, you need to attend a service in the temple, as well as take communion. After the evening service on January 18, you can already swim. The ideal time period is 00-1:30 on the night of the 18th to 19th. It is generally accepted that during this period the healing properties of Epiphany water are the strongest and are capable of healing any ailment. Swimming in big cities takes place until lunchtime on the 19th, as a lot of people come.

Baptism swimming in an ice hole, video

How to prepare for swimming in an ice hole?

Doctors recommend preparing for swimming in an ice hole well in advance. Swimming in ice water in deep frosts is a huge stress for the body, and in order for your body not to fail, you need to carefully prepare and harden yourself. It is better to start preparing in the summer, gradually day after day, doing douches.

2 days before Epiphany, you need to start the morning with a contrast shower. Be sure to do some exercise before your shower. It is recommended to repeat this procedure several times a day.

The day before swimming, you need to increase your exposure to a contrast shower. It is advisable that you stand under cold water completely for 5-7 minutes, but no more, and the water should not be colder than 15 degrees.

You need to approach swimming in an ice hole with all responsibility, and even if you are a person of deep faith, but have health problems from the list below, then refuse to dive into the Jordan.

You should not take a dip if you have the following health problems:

• heart diseases;
• obesity;
• hypertension;
• epilepsy;
• arrhythmia;
• tendency to seizures;
• respiratory diseases;
• private sinusitis, sinusitis and sinusitis;
• asthma;
• skin diseases (eg eczema and psoriasis);
• prostatitis;
• gynecological diseases;
• diabetes;
• cataract;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• neurotic diseases.

Also, Epiphany bathing will not benefit those who suffer from insomnia.

If you still decide to swim, despite all the prohibitions, then you must understand that you take responsibility for your life only on yourself. Eat a hearty meal a couple of hours before swimming. Bring dry clothes, a towel and a thermos of hot tea.

Immediately upon arrival, you cannot plunge into a sudden plunge; you must cool down gradually. First take off your outerwear, after a few minutes your shoes, then undress to the waist and only then start swimming.

What do girls and women wear in the ice hole, and what do men wear?

There are no special restrictions on clothing for swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany for either men or women. Most of the fair sex swim in swimsuits or nightgowns, while the stronger half wear swimming trunks.

Do they go to the ice hole barefoot or in shoes?

Unlike clothing while swimming, you should not forget about shoes. You need to approach the ice hole in non-slip and easily removable shoes, so as not to freeze your feet while you move to the swimming area. In order to get to the ice hole, woolen socks and special rubber slippers are also suitable. When walking to the swimming area, remember that the path will most likely be slippery.

How to swim in an ice hole correctly: how many times should you plunge, do you need to plunge headlong or not?

The tradition of swimming in an ice hole involves immersing your head three times. However, it is best to plunge up to your neck without getting your head wet, this will avoid constriction of the blood vessels in the brain. You should also refrain from jumping into the water, this can lead to shock from loss of temperature from the cold.

Can Muslims swim in an ice hole on Epiphany?

Despite the fact that Epiphany is an Orthodox holiday, the church does not in any way regulate the behavior of representatives of other religions. If you are a Muslim and want to take part in the Epiphany bath, visit the Imam and ask him this question. The Church does not prohibit representatives of the Muslim religion from swimming in ice holes.

Do Catholics swim in the ice hole at Epiphany?

As mentioned above, the Orthodox Church does not prohibit representatives of other religions from bathing at Epiphany, so if you are a Catholic and want to join the Orthodox tradition, then feel free to go to places specially designated for swimming.

How many days do they swim in the ice hole for Epiphany?

As mentioned above, the immersion in Jordan occurs on the night of the 18th to the 19th. In fact, they swim in the ice hole for 2 days: January 18 and 19.

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

Before deciding to take such a step, each person needs to understand that bathing at Epiphany is nothing more than just a tradition and has nothing to do with the Gospel, as mentioned above. If you have not been tempering yourself for a year, but have decided to tickle your nerves and get your dose of adrenaline, then it is important to understand that an unprepared body can react to such a temperature change with illness, and in some cases people have a stroke. Therefore, after weighing only all the pros and cons, go to conquer Jordan. The benefits of such an event are very doubtful; you are unlikely to be able to “wash away” your sins, but it will be enough to cause health problems.

For many, the holiday of Epiphany is just a tradition of swimming in an ice hole, but we should not forget about its true meaning. Only faith in God can heal!

Swimming for Epiphany. Photo: sanrussia.ru

Epiphany is a great Orthodox holiday that has a long history, its own rituals, rules and traditions. It is this holiday that ends the Christmas holidays, which last from January 7 to January 19.

The history of the holiday goes back to the distant past, when God's son Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. This is where the integral tradition of swimming in an ice hole came from.

Every year the number of people who want to plunge into the ice-hole is only growing. However, not everyone knows the basic rules that must be followed when immersing in ice water.

When is the best time to swim?

Many people wonder when it is better to swim - on the eve of the holiday on January 18, or on the Epiphany itself on January 19.

It is believed that January 18 is the best time to go to church for an evening service. There you must read a prayer and take home holy water. However, in this case, you cannot take water from plastic or alcohol bottles. Holy water must have its own container, first washed well.

After the festive evening service, you can swim in the ice hole. The best time for this action is considered to be from 00:00 to 01:30. It was at this time that Epiphany water has the most powerful healing properties that help against any ailments. Of course, not everyone can get up at such a time to swim, so this can be done at any time as early as Epiphany itself on January 19th.

How to plunge into an ice hole correctly

You can plunge into the ice hole only in specially designated areas and under the supervision of rescuers. Initially, a special Jordan in the form of a cross should be carved into the ice; after the priest lowers the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, you can swim in it.

You can't just go into the water. The body will already be in a state of shock, and if certain rules are not followed, the consequences can be disastrous:

• An hour before swimming, you must eat, but do not drink alcoholic beverages;
• before swimming you need to warm up your body, do a warm-up, go for a run;
• clothes should be simple so that they can be easily taken off and put on;
• You can’t go to the ice hole barefoot, it’s best to wear boots or good woolen socks, you need to wear them so as not to slip;
• check the stability of the ladder or descent into the water;
• You need to enter the water gradually, do not do it abruptly, otherwise you can provoke problems with pressure. Diving into the water is also not recommended, as a state of shock may occur;
• the maximum time spent in water should not exceed 30 seconds, this is enough to take a dip three times;
• You can’t plunge headlong; it’s best to do it only up to your neck. If you plunge headlong, the blood vessels can sharply narrow, this will lead to a sharp drop in temperature and a state of shock in the body;
• try not to swim in cold water, your limbs may cramp;
• if you have a child with you, keep an eye on him; in a state of shock from cold water, he may forget that he can swim;
• when leaving the water, hold the handrails not with wet hands, but with a dry towel;
• After swimming, dry yourself again with a towel;
• To warm up, herbal or berry tea is best, but again, never alcoholic drinks.

What you need to have with you

In order for swimming in the Epiphany ice hole to be successful, you need to have a number of seemingly everyday, but in this case very necessary items with you.

These include:

• towel and terry robe;
• a set of dry clothes;
• swimsuit or change of underwear (you are also allowed to take a dip in it);
• slippers to prevent slipping on ice, and wool socks are best;
• a rubber cap so as not to get your head wet and then not freeze in the cold;
• willpower and desire.

Contraindications

As it turns out, in the case of swimming in an ice hole, there are many contraindications that can not only spoil the effect of this action, but also lead to exacerbations of diseases.

• with the cardiovascular system;
• with the central nervous system - epilepsy, consequences of severe skull injuries; cerebral vascular sclerosis in an advanced stage, syringomyelia; encephalitis, arachnoiditis;
• with the peripheral nervous system - neuritis, polyneuritis;
• with the endocrine system - diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis;
• inflammatory processes of the nasopharynx;
• with the organs of vision - glaucoma, conjunctivitis;
• with the respiratory system - pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma;
• with the genitourinary system - nephritis, cystitis, inflammation of the appendages, inflammation of the prostate gland.

Maria Babich

Bathing in the wood is an ancient ritual that many people in our country perform every year. Soon you will be able to join the favorite Russian tradition, and from this article you will learn when is the best time to do so.

Even though the New Year celebrations are over, the series of holidays is not over yet. According to tradition, on January 19, believers celebrate the great Orthodox holiday of the Epiphany. There are many traditions and rituals associated with this day, and the most popular of them is swimming in an ice hole. Every year, thousands of people take a bath in blessed water to ensure their health and cleanse their souls of sins. We invite you to find out when is the best time to perform the ritual of bathing on Epiphany.

Swimming in an ice hole January 19, 2018

The Baptism of the Lord is one of the most revered Orthodox events. Over time, this holiday acquired many traditions, and one of them was swimming in the wood. Everyone who decides to perform this ritual is simply obliged to know about its features so as not to harm their health.

Before the consecration of water, a hole called a Jordan is cut through the ice. It received this name in honor of the river in which the Son of God was once baptized. After this, the clergyman lowers the crucifix into the water and says a prayer. A person who decides to perform the ritual of ablution must plunge his head into the ice hole three times, but before doing this he must pray.

It is believed that with the help of Epiphany water you can get rid of ailments and sins. However, this ritual is not performed by all believers, because not everyone can expose their health to such a risk.

When is the best time to swim in an ice hole at Epiphany?

When to swim in an ice hole on Epiphany - on the eve of the holiday or on the day of the event itself? This question worries many people who want to swim in an ice hole. It is believed that on the evening of January 18, it is best to visit the church, pray and take holy water home.

At the end of the evening service, on the night of January 19, everyone can plunge into the already blessed water. The most suitable time period for this is considered to be the period from 00:00 to 01:30. According to legends, it was at this time that water acquires strong healing properties, which have repeatedly helped people get rid of diseases.

If for some reason you do not have the opportunity to perform the bathing ritual at night, then you can do it in the morning, afternoon or evening of January 19th. If, due to your health condition, you do not have the opportunity to plunge into ice water in mid-January, then simply wash your face with Epiphany water collected in an ice hole.

After bathing, do not forget to say a prayer again so that the ritual will benefit not only your body, but also your soul. Our ancestors attached special significance to such great Orthodox events as the Baptism of the Lord. Despite the fact that this holiday is of a religious nature, many folk superstitions are associated with it, which people previously preferred to believe.

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

Jordan is not a Pool of Sheep (see John 5:1-4), and must be approached with caution

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:

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.

– 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?

Faith is not tested by swimming

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

Bathing at Epiphany is 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.

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

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

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 to bathe in rivers on this day (especially those who dressed up, told fortunes, etc., bathed during Christmastide, 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 cleansing 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 your 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, whether he receives 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 the biography of the righteous Alexy Mechev, 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.

Swimming is just the beginning

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

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.

And what does Baptism have to do with it?

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

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.