And when they bathe for baptism. Swimming is just the beginning

With the Baptism of Rus' (in 988), it gradually spread among our ancestors. The blessing of water can only be performed by a priest - by reading the appropriate prayers and immersing the cross in water three times. On reservoirs, for this purpose, an ice hole is made in advance - “Jordan” - usually in the shape of a cross. Usually bodies of water - ponds, rivers, lakes - are consecrated on the feast of Epiphany itself, after the liturgy. Epiphany water is a shrine that is used for healing and to strengthen the mental and physical strength of us and our loved ones.

From some churches and on Epiphany Eve after the service, solemn processions are made to the ice holes in the reservoirs, they are blessed. Orthodox Christians scoop up holy water from this ice hole, wash themselves with it, and the bravest “dive” into the ice hole. Russian traditions of swimming in ice holes go back to the times of the ancient Scythians, who dipped their babies into icy water, accustoming them to the harsh nature.

When swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany

On January 19, 2016, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Epiphany. The holiday also has the name Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19th. Epiphany is one of the most ancient and revered holidays among Christians.

Brief history of the holiday Epiphany

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 the 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 to the world...

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 Epiphany is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in hot Africa, America, and Australia. After all...

While swimming in the icy Epiphany font, a person experiences approximately the same stress as during a parachute jump. To prevent such a test from resulting in a subsequent decrease in immunity, it is necessary to prepare for the dive in advance, gain a positive attitude and overcome the fear of icy water. If everything is done correctly and taken care of in advance warm clothes, a soft towel and hot tea, Baptism will become one of the most joyful and unforgettable days of your life.

What you should know

Only healthy and seasoned people can swim in the ice hole. People with obesity, diseases of the cardiovascular system, arterial hypertension, respiratory diseases, chronic skin diseases and inflammation of the genitourinary system should not dive into Jordan. Swimming in ice water will not benefit people suffering from insomnia, as well as people with mental disorders. Such categories of citizens can perform the ritual at home by simply taking a contrast shower.

Orthodox people celebrate Epiphany, or Epiphany, on January 19, and the day before, on the 18th, they celebrate Epiphany Eve. There is a popular tradition among believers - to swim on this day. How to plunge into an ice hole at Epiphany without harming your health? We will try to sort this out.

Baptism is an important event in the Orthodox religion

On this day, believers celebrate two events in the history of religion at once - the baptism of the Son of God by John the Baptist in the waters of the river called Jordan, and the appearance of the Trinity of God, that is, the Epiphany. They say that from the moment of Baptism, Jesus Christ began to come out to people.

Epiphany completes the cycle of Christmas holidays and requires special preparation. Just as a strict fast is observed before Christmas, so on the eve of Epiphany it is necessary to adhere to the same strict Epiphany Eve.

Swimming in Jordan - healing the soul and body

For the holiday, they make an ice hole in the shape of a cross and call it “Jordan”...

One of the traditions at Epiphany is swimming in an ice hole. It is believed that water on Epiphany Eve, January 18, acquires healing properties. As a rule, on Epiphany Christmas Eve special illumination of the ice hole is carried out. For Epiphany, the pond is made in the shape of a cross and it is called “Jordan”, after the name of the river in which Jesus Christ was baptized.

Epiphany water is a shrine for Orthodox believers. They drink it to heal illnesses and strengthen physical and mental strength. Not everyone can decide to swim in an ice hole on Epiphany - not everyone can withstand the frost and icy water. If you decide to swim in an ice hole on Epiphany on January 18-19, then we suggest that you first familiarize yourself with the recommendations and rules for performing this ritual.

Rules for swimming in an ice hole for Epiphany

Swimming in an ice hole is a three-time immersion in water with your head. In progress…

On January 19, one of the most significant Christian holidays begins, and many cannot imagine it without personal participation - that is, immersion in icy Epiphany water in special ice holes. In Russia, on Epiphany, it is customary to bless water, including in natural reservoirs, for which a cross-shaped hole - a Jordan - is cut in the ice. Previously, those who participated in Christmas fortune-telling and mummery plunged into the ice hole primarily to wash away their sins. It was also believed that evil spirits, who freely walked the earth all Christmastide, were leaving for the Jordan. Water consecrated at Epiphany is considered healing. The clergy wear white robes for this holiday.

It is believed that Epiphany water brings spiritual and physical health; About 600,000 people take part in Epiphany bathing in Russia on January 18 and 19 during the day.

The “great consecration of water” takes place in all churches. According to church canons, on Epiphany Eve a believer must come to church, serve in the service, light a candle, dial...

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

Holiday Epiphany

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

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

Epiphany 2017, when to swim from January 18 to 19? Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany itself every year on the same date - January 19. Swimming in the consecrated ice holes begins after the service in the church, Epiphany Christmas Eve. That is, already on the night of January 18-19 you can plunge into the ice hole.

Read more about when to swim in the ice hole on Epiphany

January 18 is Epiphany Christmas Eve. The time before Epiphany or Epiphany, as this holiday is more popularly called. After the service that night, a great purification of water takes place in all churches. Every believer, according to church laws, on Christmas Eve of this holiday must hold a service, light a candle and draw blessed water.
No church rules force people to plunge into an ice hole at Epiphany.

Especially if a person is not ready for this. But, in most Russian cities, people actively join the tradition when they swim at Epiphany on January 18 or 19. You can swim in…

If you decide to swim in an ice hole on Epiphany, you need to find specially equipped swimming holes not far from the shore. You also need to be sure that you are under the supervision of rescuers.

The ladder for descending into the water must be stable.

Warm up

Before you plunge into the icy water, you should warm up. To do this you need to perform a complex physical exercise. It is advisable to run, swing your arms and legs.

This will reduce the stress on the body that comes from swimming in an ice hole. Read more about this HERE.

Gradually cool down

The body needs to get used to the temperature change. Therefore, you should undress gradually: take off your hat, after a few minutes - your scarf, jacket, clothes, then your shoes.

Dip correctly

You need to plunge up to your neck without getting your head wet. This way you can avoid reflex vasoconstriction...

The great holiday of Christians - Epiphany, in memory of Jesus Christ's acceptance of the sacrament of baptism on the Jordan River, is celebrated on January 19 and which ends the Christmas holidays. People believe that at Epiphany, when water is blessed in churches and monasteries, it becomes incorruptible and may not deteriorate for many years, even if it is in a closed container. And this happens every year, and only on the day of Epiphany. It has already become a widespread tradition among Kiev residents to plunge into the icy Dnieper waters during the celebration of the Epiphany during a special ceremony by the clergy. On this day, ministers of Kyiv churches illuminate the Dnieper River and reservoirs, and also bless people for swimming in Jordans - specially carved in the ice and blessed ice holes.

Recently, bathing at Epiphany has become more and more popular. If someone decides to participate in the sacrament of Epiphany bathing, they should prepare in advance and take into account...

What date is Epiphany in 2017? This very important day for believers is celebrated in our country on January 19 every year. This is a holiday in memory of the event in which Jesus Christ sanctified water with his baptism, and also showed that He is both man and God. Distinctive feature On this winter day there is a blessing of water, in all churches, as well as in some open reservoirs, a great blessing of water is performed. In addition to the fact that everyone on the day of Epiphany strives to bring a vessel with Holy water from the church, another tradition of this holiday is swimming in an ice hole, and there are also special signs for Epiphany.

After a cheerful week and a half since Christmas, with fortune telling and dressing up as mummers, people would like to wash away these sins, and some dare to dive into the ice hole, despite the frosty days. In addition, Epiphany water has healing powers, and swimming in the consecrated ice hole promises good health for the whole year. Water tends to remember information, so after absorbing...

To answer the question about when to swim in the ice hole at Epiphany 2017, just look at church calendar to see what day it falls on big holiday. Orthodox calendar indicates that Epiphany in 2017, like other years before, is celebrated on January 19.

Although, the question of swimming in an ice hole among believers arises due to the fact that holiday services are held in churches on the 18th and the blessing of water, including in the ice hole, is carried out precisely at night from January 18 to 19. Well, since the consecration has taken place, and the day of the Epiphany holiday itself has arrived, then you can, among other things, plunge into the ice hole during the night from the 18th to the 19th.

Jordan - an ice hole for Baptism

In addition to the fact that it is important to determine when to swim in the ice hole at Epiphany 2017, it is important to remember other important traditions and features of the holiday. In particular, on the day of Epiphany (the second name of the holiday of Epiphany in honor of the fact that when...

For many unchurched people, Baptism is only the blessing of water and swimming in an ice hole. This is partly true, because everyone comes to swim in the ice hole on this day every year. more people: believers and undecideds, baptized and atheists, hardened and afraid of the cold, healthy and sick. Having plunged into the icy January water, everyone emerges from the ice hole happy, inspired, and warmed up. Because, they say, at Epiphany the water in the ice hole is “warm.”

What date to swim in 2017

This Christian Orthodox holiday belongs to the permanent twelve holidays and is celebrated every year on the same day - January 19. And in 2017, to the question, baptism 2017 on what date to swim, the answer remains the same - January 19.

In fact, swimming begins in the evening of January 18th. Immediately after the evening service, the priest, together with the parish, goes on a religious procession to the reservoir to bless the water. On the night of January 18-19, there was water in all rivers, lakes, seas...

The holiday of Epiphany is celebrated every year on January 6 for Catholics and January 19 for Orthodox believers, according to the official modern calendar. This holiday is associated with the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

The holiday begins on the evening of January 18, when all Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany Eve.
The Feast of Epiphany closes the twelve holy days. On this day, the Church celebrates the entry of Jesus Christ onto the path of serving people and the beginning of his preaching.

Christmas and Epiphany, connected by Christmastide, constitute a single celebration - the Feast of Epiphany. It is in the unity of these holidays that all three faces of the Holy Trinity appear to us.

On the day of Epiphany, everywhere in churches, on rivers, lakes, a water blessing is performed, a ritual of consecrating water in an ice hole made in the form of an Orthodox cross.

Blessing of water for Epiphany

The Lord created water as an element of life, but human sin made it a source of death. When human sin increased by...

We've come to the end new year holidays. Tomorrow is Epiphany. And although the weather outside my window is not Epiphany weather at all - there are puddles on the asphalt from the night rain, which means that

the temperature outside is above zero - for me Epiphany remains one of the most mysterious and enigmatic holidays. On this day, the Universe lifts the curtain and we can find out our future, solve seemingly insoluble problems, and get answers to questions that concern us.

If anyone doesn’t know, Epiphany as a holiday was established in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The ritual of baptism itself implies repentance, deliverance from sins. And although Jesus had nothing to repent of, he, showing humility, accepted Baptism from John and thereby sanctified the watery nature. Since then, on the day of Epiphany, all the world’s waters, the waters of the entire Earth - from a small stream to the oceans - become holy on this day. This also applies to tap water. You don't have to go to church to get holy water...

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 whole year talk about their “feat”. 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 gangplank, a warm place for undressing and dressing, 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're talking about not 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 internal organs- 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 consumption of alcohol or acute intoxication in warm water constantly leads to misfortunes, let alone 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 Orthodox person swim in icy water on Epiphany when it’s thirty degrees below zero outside?

Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko:- We need to differentiate 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 historical literature about Ancient Rus', I didn’t read in my memoirs about pre-revolutionary Russia that somewhere on Epiphany they cut through the 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 in this way he 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 bathing 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 sacrament of consecration of water itself, 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 too far 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 can’t 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.

Answering the question about when to bathe on Epiphany on January 18 or 19, we can safely say that both dates are suitable. Only on January 18 - Epiphany Christmas Eve, you can plunge into the ice hole only after the evening service. As for January 19, the day of Epiphany itself, you can plunge into the ice hole throughout the day.

So, swimming in the ice hole for Epiphany begins on Christmas Eve, January 18th. In the evening, believers go to church for a festive service. After it, the water is blessed, as well as the ice holes. As a rule, this action takes place closer to midnight, and after that you can swim in the ice hole.

From our ancestors

Despite the fact that swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany is not a mandatory church ritual, many believers try to strictly observe this custom. It is quite ancient; in villages, on the eve of Epiphany, an ice hole in the shape of a cross was often cut down.

There are no special rules for swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany. But there are also traditions here. You need to plunge headlong into the ice hole three times. After each time, cross yourself and say: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Consecration of the ice hole

Now you know exactly when to swim in the ice hole on Epiphany - this can be done after the evening service on Christmas Eve on January 18. All night from January 18 to 19, as well as the entire day of Epiphany and even several days after the holiday. Water collected on this day in a consecrated ice hole or simply in church vessels retains its healing properties for the whole year and even longer.

After the end of the service, the priest goes to an ice hole near the church. An ice hole in the shape of a cross has already been cut there. Moreover, the cross itself, made of ice, according to an already established tradition, is placed next to it and poured with kvass or beet juice. The priest reads prayers over the water, and then lowers a silver cross into the water. From this moment on, the ice hole is considered sacred and you can swim in it. Of course, after the service, the priests do not have time to go around all the ice holes, therefore, the blessing of water continues the next day.

What to do with blessed water

From the moment the priest illuminated the water, it is no longer just a liquid, but an important shrine. It must be treated with caution and attention. Blessed Epiphany water is charged with strong energy, which provides it with healing properties.

In the morning, on the day of Epiphany, you need to pray and then drink a few spoons of holy water. On critical days, women should not drink holy water, with the exception of periods of illness. In general, since Epiphany water has strong energy, then you don’t need to drink it every day. But during periods of weakened condition or illness, you need to drink this water. You can store holy water from Epiphany in a glass vessel next to the icons.

The first thing, when a person comes from church with Epiphany water, is to consecrate his apartment. To do this, all corners of the home are sprinkled in the shape of a cross. It is believed that such a ritual will help protect the house. You can also wash yourself with holy water and let all your loved ones do this.

Bath instead of an ice hole

If you don’t want to risk your health and swim in an open ice hole, then you can set up a font in your bathroom with holy water brought from the church. You need to fill the bathroom with cold water and pour out a glass of blessed water. After this, read the prayer three times, hit yourself on the chest three times with your fist. Next, get into the bath and plunge your head three times, saying: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen". After this, every family member who wishes can bathe in the same home font.

Very soon, on January 19, Orthodox Christians will celebrate one of the main church holidays - Epiphany. In the minds ordinary people Even those who are far from believing in God, this celebration is associated with washing in fonts, which are usually cut in open reservoirs. But is it necessary to observe this ritual? The correspondent of the website portal addressed this question to the rector of the Khabarovsk Transfiguration Cathedral, Archpriest Georgy Sivkov.

Swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany is not a mandatory ritual.

- Tell us about the traditions of celebrating Epiphany. How did it all start?

- The tradition dates back to the first centuries of Christianity. They celebrated with prayerful communication with the Lord. Initially, the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany of the Lord were celebrated on the same day, although the difference between these events is 30 years. Later they were separated, and the time period between us was called Christmastide. Each of these holidays was preceded and is now preceded by a one-day fast - Christmas Eve. It is needed in order to reverently prepare oneself for the meeting of these events in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In general, anyone church holiday is based on some individual examples from the life of the Lord, the Mother of God or saints. All this is connected with the salvation of man. The Baptism of the Lord is remembered for us by the fact that Jesus Christ showed us an example of accepting this sacrament. He did not need to wash away his sins, since he himself was sinless, but he did this out of obedience to the law and rules of God. The Lord sanctified the water with his nature and now his followers have the opportunity to touch him.

If a person does not believe in God, but at the same time takes part in the baptismal bath, will he feel any changes in himself?

If you take water or are baptized in Jordan without faith in the Lord, then a person will not feel any spiritual cleansing. If there is faith, then together with the water he receives the grace of God. For a Christian, this can become a new starting point, because he leaves behind everything that was before. Epiphany water is connected to by god's grace, but I repeat, it is accepted only when a person believes.

Tell me, is it necessary to plunge into a cold Jordan on a river or some other body of water on Epiphany?

No, it's simple folk tradition which came into our lives. There are no regulations in the church rules about bathing on the feast of the Epiphany. Everything needs to be approached to a certain reasonable extent. But the church meets the wishes of people, but at the same time explaining what framework is necessary for maintaining reverence for holy water.

The Church is against the consecration of any outdoor swimming pools. Such requests come regularly. We explain that there should be no entertainment or public bathing during the celebration of the sacrament. You need to treat the holiday with respect.

- Are there human actions on this holiday that the church does not encourage?

It is not allowed to approach the sacrament of Baptism while intoxicated. Swimming just for the sake of showing off to acquaintances or friends is also frowned upon. In our country, often the first thing people do after dipping is posting photos on social networks. This is some kind of vanity.

- How to properly approach ablution?

You need to be in the mood that you are making an impromptu sacrifice to God, performing a small feat. Good thoughts are important. It is in this mood that it is important to go into the water. It is advisable to avoid swimming in swimming trunks or swimsuits - it is advisable to wear a special long baptismal shirt. They are used for ablutions in holy springs, for example.

Before entering the water, you need to cross yourself once or three times and read a prayer. More knowledgeable people can sing the troparion for the Baptism of the Lord. But all this is a personal desire. In fact, there are no strict rules - only traditions.

- The people have a firmly established opinion that swimming on the feast of the Epiphany cleanses from sins. Is this true?

No, that's not true. There are the sacraments of repentance and confession, to which a Christian, if desired and correcting his life, must resort. A man, in the presence of a priest, asks God for forgiveness, and he reads a prayer of permission over him. This is how they receive forgiveness of sins. Of course, we must personally turn to God. But to go into the water and immediately have all your sins removed, there is no such thing. Without repentance this is impossible.

- If a person wants to take a bath, but the ice hole on the river is not for him, then where else can this be done?

Some churches have their own closed fonts. For example, in the Transfiguration Cathedral there will be free access to it on holidays. Most often people come with children or those who, for health reasons, are not suitable for swimming in open cold water.

- Do the clergy themselves necessarily plunge into the open Jordan on holiday?

Well, if we talk about me, then recent years I didn’t do this for three years, but it happened before. In general, many priests do not and have not immersed themselves at all. In general, it is not customary for us to ask about this - this is a personal matter for everyone.

- Is it possible to plunge into Jordan before it is officially consecrated?

- Well, after all, the main thing is worship. This is the sacrament of confession and communion, and the font is just an addition. And just come and swim... well, let them swim. But this is unlikely to apply to the feast of the Epiphany. One must still think that church is not only mass bathing and the blessing of eggs on Easter - this is all secondary. If you stop there, then you will never get closer to God.

On the day of Epiphany, many people collect water from open reservoirs and sometimes even drink it. Do you somehow warn your parishioners against such actions?

In general, we really do not recommend drinking such water. This liquid is perfect for sprinkling anything. Our open water bodies are now quite dirty. Drinking water You can get it for a donation in churches. For example, this year we will import liquid from an artesian well, bless it and bottle it.

- If I can tell you, what does the amount of donations for the water you pour in the temple consist of?

In fact, we include in the amount of donations just enough to cover the costs - there is no talk of profit. Delivery of water and the bottles in which we bottle it are not cheap. If people are interested at all, then I would like to say that we are completely self-sufficient - we do not receive any subsidies from the state.

We live only on donations. If they don’t exist, then there won’t be a church. For example, in our cathedral alone in winter, we pay more than 200 thousand rubles a month for heat supply. Electricity also costs an impressive amount - sometimes 50 and 60 thousand rubles. In addition, people work in the temple - everyone who serves it must receive a salary.

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 is at this time that Epiphany water has the strongest healing properties that help against any ailment. 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 you do not comply certain rules, the consequences can be dire:

• 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;
• from 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