Epiphany on what day they dive the hole. Where to swim on Epiphany - Eastern District of the East Administrative Okrug

What date to swim at Epiphany in 2019? Since for many people this church holiday is connected precisely with visiting the font, this question is one of the most popular the day before. As in the case of Easter, Merry Christmas, believers celebrate Epiphany on the night of January 18 to January 19.

In addition to the fact that the holiday is called Epiphany, it has a second name Epiphany. It means that in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended into the water in the form of a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven.

Interesting! After the sacrament of baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus Christ received the remission of all the sins that he had during his life on earth. He revived for a new spiritual life.

In honor of how Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River, today on the feast of the Epiphany, many decide to swim in the ice hole. It is important to understand that swimming is not the most important thing to do. It is more important on the eve of this sacrament to confess, as well as to take communion.

When they bathe at Epiphany

, of course, occurs according to all the laws of the church only after the service ends, and the priest blesses the water in the hole or font. The first time this happens on the evening of January 18th. All together, the faithful and the priest leave the temple, go to the hole (it is called "Jordan"). There, prayers are read over the water, and then, in honor of the consecration of the waters, a silver cross is lowered into them.

When a person enters the water, he must read a prayer, dive three times with his head and after each time be baptized. To yourself or aloud, you should say the words: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." If possible, you should swim not in swimwear, but wearing a shirt or a long T-shirt on top.

It turns out that baptism has two dates. You can dive already on the evening of January 18 on Christmas Eve, after the evening service. At this time, the first Epiphany consecration of water is held, you can also plunge into the hole throughout the day on January 19. It is not so much the date and time that is important here, but the correct spiritual preparation. Only she will help during the winter bath to cleanse the body and soul of sins, to take the right path of the Orthodox righteous life.

Interesting! On Epiphany Christmas Eve, when a person returns home from the church, take the festive table. Traditionally, they put juicy on it. This is a special porridge made from wheat or barley seeds or rice with honey, nuts and dried fruits. Perfect for any holiday table.

Signs and traditions for Baptism

It would also not be superfluous to talk about other traditions, folk and church, that are directly related to this holiday.

It was believed that if in the period from Epiphany to Maslenitsa to play a wedding, then this would bring happiness in the union to the young. Matchmaking in Baptism is another very good omen for a long and happy life. If the frosts on Epiphany are stronger than on Christmas, then in Rus' they believed that this was a clear sign of a good harvest.

It happens that on the 19th the water in the hole reaches the very edges. This means that in the spring you should expect floods. When the weather on the day of the holiday is clear and icy, this indicates a dry summer. But if it snows at Epiphany, moreover, in large flakes, this is an important sign that this year's harvest will be excellent. Another sign is to say that a child born on the day of the Baptism of the Lord will be happy and blessed in life. It is recommended to give him a jade stone as a talisman.

Having become a tradition over the centuries, swimming in the hole made in the pond during the ancient Christian holiday of Epiphany raises many questions among people of different confessions and non-believers. This is really a way of physical and spiritual purification of a person, or a beautiful tribute to fashion. What happens at the time of immersion in an ice font and who will benefit from such a procedure.

Traditions of the Feast of the Epiphany

Epiphany on January 19 and the very tradition of dipping into an ice font dates back to 988, since the introduction of Christianity in Kievan Rus. According to the biblical story, Jesus, at his personal request, was baptized on this very day. During the ceremony by John the Baptist, Jesus was in the waters of the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and a voice from above, proclaiming him the son of God. This event became the basis of the holiday. The very word baptize in translation from ancient Greek means directly immersion in water. It is believed that God made holy water with his baptism, that is, it has special healing properties. Considering that water in the Old Testament is considered the basis of all life, the importance of this tradition becomes clear.

After the Divine Liturgy, water is blessed in all churches. At this time of the Blessing of Water, all water elements are also endowed with miraculous qualities. For the Epiphany bathing in the cruciform hole, crowded processions are made, in Christianity called the Procession to the Jordan. It is believed that a body washed with holy water, like a purified soul that believes in the Savior, will receive health and blessings, and will join the sacrament of the Holy Trinity. In addition to the Christian overtones, the tradition of such bathing has been known since the time of the ancient Scythians and earlier pagan rites. In this way, they were initiated into warriors, healed, tempered newborns to adapt to the harsh climate.

Features of swimming in the hole

On the day of the Feast of the Epiphany, for accessibility to everyone, specially equipped in accordance with all safety rules, ice holes are specially arranged in the reservoirs in the form of a cross. After the consecration of the hole, people can draw water, wash themselves, and the most determined ones can take a dip. If the body is relatively adapted to the cold, then the mood before bathing is of great importance. The living structure of water is able to change under the influence of certain information, therefore, plunging into the hole, you need to tune in only to a positive influence. Directly during immersion in the human body, many processes take place at lightning speed:

• under short-term exposure to cold, the cerebral cortex and central nervous system are mobilized, which is positive for the body;
• a stressful situation leads to a jump in immunity, pain relief, removal of inflammation, spasms, edema;
• under the influence of cold water, internal forces are released, the body temperature can reach 40 ° for a few seconds, causing the death of pathogenic microbes, viruses, cells;
• the thermal conductivity of water is 28 times greater than air, which gives a huge hardening effect.

Considering the listed advantages of the procedure of dipping in cold water, we can confidently talk about its benefits. Despite the fact that in principle, special physical preparation for such a bath is not required, in some cases there may be a number of difficult moments. Without fear, official medicine recommends dipping to middle-aged men and women without complex pathologies. In any case, the sacrament of bathing at Baptism is a deeply individual decision for each person.

How to properly bathe in Epiphany

In addition to the appropriate mood, such bathing requires compliance with certain rules that help to conduct the ceremony correctly and safely. The main point, especially in case of mass holding, is the presence of a specially equipped hole. The ice-hole should be arranged at a water depth of not more than 1.8 m, well fenced to avoid accidental falls, equipped with steps and handrails for descent. Everyone who wants to plunge into the hole should have a swimsuit or swimming trunks, a warm bathrobe, a towel, a set of dry clothes, underwear, slippers or woolen socks.

Before starting, it is recommended to warm up a little, for example, to jog, do squats or simple exercises. In this case, the body should not be sweaty, but only hot. To prevent a sharp narrowing of the vessels of the brain, it is not necessary to wet the head, but it is better to dip only on the neck. You can’t jump into the hole, you have to start diving from your feet. Swimming is not recommended, after 3 dipping it is better to immediately go out and not be in the water for more than 1 minute. Immediately after bathing, you need to rub yourself with a towel, put on dry linen and clothes without delay. Often a towel may not even come in handy, as the skin dries out instantly. But following church rules, when swimming in the Epiphany hole, you must plunge headlong three times. At the same time, there should be a short sincere prayer addressed to God, according to the Orthodox, this charges the water with tremendous power.

Bathing contraindications

It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages immediately before bathing and after it. Alcohol in the blood has a bad effect on the state of thermoregulation of the body, sometimes with unforeseen consequences. Under its influence, the vessels dilate, increasing the flow of heat. Some time after use, a person may feel a surge of heat, but then, the opposite effect occurs abruptly and you can seriously catch a cold. Also, you can not smoke, as blood circulation is disturbed. Immediately after dipping, it is better to drink herbal decoction or hot tea. Swimming in a cold hole on a full or empty stomach is harmful.

With the obvious benefits of Epiphany bathing, the category of contraindications includes the presence of chronic or acute diseases. These include disorders of the cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous systems, as well as all kinds of inflammation of the genitourinary system, nasopharynx, otitis media. It is not recommended to plunge into the ice hole if you have suffered injuries of encephalitis, epilepsy and other complex pathologies. To avoid harm and get only benefit, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

We know exactly the answer to the question of when to bathe at Epiphany. If you decide this year to perform such a risky, but important action, then you need to prepare either for Epiphany Christmas Eve or for Epiphany itself.

To answer the question of when they bathe on Epiphany on January 18 or 19, 2018, you need to understand the essence of the holiday. It is installed in the Orthodox Church in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

In the evening on Christmas Eve, believers gather for a service in the church. A festive service takes place, which ends with the fact that the priest begins to bless the water. This applies to the water in the vessels, which is already collected and every believer can take water in any quantity. An ice-hole is also consecrated, in which believers, at their request, then bathe. That is, in principle, you can swim after midnight on Christmas Eve on the night of January 18-19. Many people do just that. If it is not possible to go to church on Christmas Eve and swim after the service, then throughout January 19 - the very feast of Epiphany, you can also plunge into the hole.

Why do people bathe in the hole at Epiphany

Now you know when they bathe in the hole for Epiphany 2018. You can do this at night from January 18 to January 19, or already on the feast of Epiphany on January 19. It is believed that Epiphany water has amazing healing power. Interestingly, scientists once conducted a study on the composition of baptismal water and its structure. They decided that the water after this night of consecration, in fact, is charged with strong energy.

Even our grandmothers, and with them great-grandmothers and more ancient ancestors, believed that Epiphany water relieves ailments. Moreover, we are talking not only about the ailments of the body, but also the soul. Of course, you can simply wipe yourself with holy water or create your own font at home. But the most effective, as folk signs say, is dipping into the hole. The clergy emphasize that today, unfortunately, the meaning of baptismal bathing is misinterpreted. Many swim in the hole, but they do it with fun, even with a mother.

In fact, Epiphany bathing, if you just jump into the water and get a rush of adrenaline, will not improve your health and, moreover, will not get rid of all the sins that a person has accumulated over the year. In order for the ritual to bring its power, which our ancestors have been talking about for centuries, you need to be a true Orthodox believer. This means observing church laws, going to church and praying, confessing, taking communion. Only in this way, and in addition to this, and swimming in the hole, it will be possible to add the maximum healing effect of Epiphany water.

It is clear that it is important not only when to swim from January 18 to January 19 at Epiphany 2018, but also how to do it correctly. With what feelings, faith and prayer. Otherwise, an important ceremony will turn into a simple way of hardening.

How the hole is blessed

After the service on Christmas Eve, the priest blesses the vats of water that are in the church. Then he goes to the hole cut in the nearest river, pond or lake and sanctifies the water there. The consecration takes place in a rather traditional way for Orthodox priests. First, prayers are read, then a silver cross is lowered into the hole.

You can not only swim in the consecrated water in the hole. It can also be taken home to bless your home and be treated throughout the year if you are overcome by some kind of ailment. The most important thing is faith, and even scientists have already proven that baptismal water, in fact, has healing power and a special structure.

How to swim

It has already been noted above that dipping into an ice hole cannot be called an obligatory tradition of the feast of Epiphany among the Orthodox Slavs. But this is a pretty strong ritual that people believe in and that is bearing fruit. Usually, you need to plunge into the hole with your head three times, reading a prayer after each time and being baptized.

It is best, on the first dive in life, not to spend a lot of time in ice water. If you then have to get home by public transport, you should not risk your health and plunge into the hole with your head. An important healing power of Baptism is, first of all, faith, and not fun diving into an ice hole.

Also on the feast of the Epiphany, water is collected and used to cure diseases throughout the year.

The Orthodox Church on January 19 (according to the new style) celebrates Epiphany, or Epiphany. This is the most ancient holiday among Christians, and its establishment goes back to the time of the disciples-apostles of Christ. It also has ancient names: “Epiphany” - a 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.

Feast of Epiphany

The word "I baptize" or "I baptize" is translated from Greek as "I immerse in water." It is almost impossible to understand the importance and the very meaning of what baptismal 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 originated from her. Where there is no water, there is a lifeless desert. And water is capable of destroying, as in the time of the Great Flood, when God flooded the sinful life of people and thereby destroyed the evil that they did.

God made the water holy with his Baptism, and now the Blessing of the Water is traditionally celebrated in memory of this event. At this time, water is consecrated in all Orthodox churches, and then in rivers and reservoirs.

Jordan

On this day, a traditional procession called the "Procession to the Jordan" is traditionally carried out in order to bless the water and then arrange an Epiphany bathing in the hole. The baptism of John meant that just as a body washed with water is cleansed, so a penitent soul that believes in God will be cleansed from sins by the Savior.

The Bible story tells how Jesus from Nazareth came in those days, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. When Jesus came out of the water, the heavens opened, and the Spirit, like a dove, descended on Him. And a voice was heard from heaven: "You are my beloved son, in whom is my blessing." The Epiphany revealed to people the great mystery of the Holy Trinity, to which every person who is baptized joins.

Then Christ told his apostles to go and teach this to all nations.

Epiphany bathing

Traditions The tradition of blessing water among our ancestors appeared from those ancient times, when in 988 Kiev Prince Vladimir baptized Rus'. Now, only a priest can perform the rite of consecration of water, since at this time special prayers are read with a triple immersion in the water of the cross. This is done on the feast of Epiphany after the liturgy. But first, before this, an ice hole is made in the reservoir, usually in the form of a cross, called the “Jordan”.

These days, Epiphany water is a real shrine that can heal and strengthen the mental and physical strength of a person. Therefore, such a solemn procession of consecration is performed near the hole in the reservoir in order to make bathing at Epiphany available to people. Orthodox people draw water from the hole and wash themselves, but the most daring and courageous people literally dive into it.

ancestral traditions

The Russians borrowed the tradition of swimming in the hole from the ancient Scythians, who tempered their babies in this way. They simply dipped them in cold water and thus accustomed them to harsh climate conditions. In addition, the tradition of swimming in the hole was also in pagan rituals, this is how initiation into warriors took place. And still in Rus' they like to rub themselves with snow after a bath or jump into cold water.

Some pagan rites have taken root in our lives to this day. Therefore, we bathe in the hole and celebrate Maslenitsa, which is tied to the beginning of Lent.

Epiphany holiday

According to church rules, on Epiphany Christmas Eve a “great consecration of water” takes place. Believers come to church services, put candles and collect blessed water. However, it is not required to plunge into the hole, it happens at the person's own will.

In general, in Rus' it was believed that bathing in an ice hole at Baptism promotes healing from many ailments. Water, as a living matter, is able to change its structure under the influence of information, so everything depends on the thoughts in a person’s head. Epiphany bathing turns into whole folk festivals; photographs of this celebration always show how fun and interesting they are.

Bathing at Epiphany. How to

But this fun and harmless, at first glance, activity can lead to a number of unpleasant moments. Epiphany bathing does not particularly imply special preparation. The human body is adapted to the cold, and therefore only the mood is important here.

What can happen to the human body when immersed in an ice hole?

1. When a person is immersed in cold water with his head, he has a sharp excitation of the central nervous system and cerebral cortex, which generally has a positive effect on the entire body.
2. Exposure to low temperatures is briefly perceived by the body as stress, which can relieve inflammation, swelling and spasms.
3. The thermal conductivity of the air enveloping the body is 28 times less than the thermal conductivity of water. This is the hardening effect.
4. Cold water causes the body to release additional forces, and after contact with it, the temperature of the human body rises to 40 degrees Celsius. And as you know, at such a mark, microbes, diseased cells and viruses die.

Bathing rules

Bathing in Epiphany frosts implies the fulfillment of certain rules. The main thing at the same time is that the hole is specially equipped and all this action takes place under the supervision of rescuers. The population is usually informed about such mass bathing places. Swimming in an ice-hole requires the presence of swimming trunks or a swimsuit, a terry dressing gown and towels, as well as a set of dry clothes, slippers or woolen socks, a rubber cap and hot tea.

Before arranging a bath in Baptism, it is very important to know how to do it correctly. First you need to warm up a little with exercises, and even better, do a jog.

The ice-hole must be approached in non-slip, comfortable, easily removable shoes or socks.

It is also necessary to check the stability of the ladder, and to secure it, throw a rope firmly fixed on the shore into the water.

It is necessary to plunge into the hole up to the neck, and it is better not to wet the head, so that there is no narrowing of the vessels of the brain. Jumping into an ice hole with your head is also undesirable, as a loss of temperature can cause shock. Cold water will immediately cause rapid breathing, and this is completely normal, as the body adapts to the cold.

It is dangerous to be in water for more than one minute, the body may cool down. You also need to be very careful with children who, if frightened, may forget that they can swim. You also need to be able to get out of the hole so as not to fall, and for this you need to hold on tightly to the handrails and at the same time use a dry rag.

After bathing, you need to thoroughly rub yourself with a towel and put on dry clothes. Immediately it is best to drink hot tea from herbs or berries, prepared in advance in a thermos.

On this day, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol, as it negatively affects the natural thermoregulation of the whole organism, and therefore the consequences may be different. It is also important to know that it is also unacceptable to swim on an empty or, conversely, clogged stomach.

Bathing contraindications

No matter how useful baptismal bathing is, there are still contraindications for this. And they relate to acute and chronic diseases. This is a violation of the cardiovascular system (heart defects, hypertension, heart attacks), central nervous system (cranial injury, epilepsy), endocrine system (thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus), visual organs (conjunctivitis, glaucoma), respiratory organs (asthma, pneumonia , tuberculosis), genitourinary system (cystitis, inflammation of the appendages or prostate gland), gastrointestinal tract (ulcer, cholecystitis, hepatitis), skin and venereal diseases; inflammation of the nasopharynx and otitis, etc.

Opinion of physicians

Medical experts in this field believe that in order for bathing in the hole at Epiphany not to bring any unexpected troubles, you need to be absolutely healthy. And this is especially dangerous for those who smoke or drink alcohol, as blood flow to the lungs can cause inflammation or even swelling of the bronchi and pneumonia.

In young people, not to mention the elderly, the arteries are not always able to properly respond to cold water, and at this point, respiratory arrest may occur, and then the heart. If you engage in systemic winter swimming, then this will certainly contribute to the improvement of the body, but when this happens infrequently, then everything will become a strong stress for him, so you need to seriously weigh the pros and cons before swimming.

Conclusion

Many people on Epiphany heroically decide to swim in the hole, although this idea may not be safe. However, people's Epiphany bathing is very nice, the photos from these holidays are quite expressive, someone is just getting ready to go into the water, someone is already happy that he took a swim, and someone is already warming up and drinking hot tea.

Many believers believe that swimming in the hole at Baptism for a true Orthodox person is a great blessing. And that's the way it is. Only here the main thing is to understand whether this faith is strong and deep enough for you to become a real shield from all troubles at the moment when Epiphany bathing takes place.

Oksana Pankova, SYLru

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Bathing in a log cabin is an ancient ritual that many people in our country perform every year. Soon you will be able to join the beloved Russian tradition, and in this article you will find out when is the best time to do this.

Despite the fact that the New Year celebrations are over, the series of holidays has not ended yet. By tradition, on January 19, believers celebrate the great Orthodox feast of the Epiphany. Many traditions and rituals are associated with this day, and the most popular of them is swimming in the hole. Every year, thousands of people bathe in holy water to ensure their health and cleanse their souls from sins. The dailyhoro.ru site team invites you to find out when is the best time to bathe in the Baptism of the Lord.

1. Swimming in the hole on January 19, 2018

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

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

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

2. When is the best time to swim in the hole for Epiphany

When to swim in the hole at the Epiphany of the Lord - on the eve of the holiday or still on the day of the event itself? This question worries many people who want to swim in the 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 interval for this is the period from 00:00 to 01:30. According to beliefs, 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 ritual of bathing at night, then you can do it in the morning, afternoon or evening of January 19th. If, due to your state of health, you do not have the opportunity to plunge into the icy water in mid-January, then simply wash yourself with Epiphany water collected in the hole.

After bathing, do not forget to say a prayer again so that the ceremony benefits not only your body, but also your soul.

Our ancestors attached particular importance to such great Orthodox events as the Baptism of the Lord. Despite the fact that this holiday is of a religious nature, many folk signs are associated with it, which people used to prefer to believe. May happiness and luck always accompany you,and don't forget to press the buttons and