Epiphany or Epiphany is one of the most important twelve holidays of Orthodoxy. Read all about the history of this event in the article!

Epiphany, or Epiphany - January 19, 2020

What holiday is it?

Forefeast of Epiphany

Since ancient times, Epiphany has been one of the great twelve holidays. Even in the Apostolic Constitutions (Book 5, Chapter 12) it is commanded: “Let you have great respect for the day on which the Lord revealed the Divinity to us.” This holiday in the Orthodox Church is celebrated with equal grandeur as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. Both of these holidays, connected by “Christmastide” (from December 25 to January 6), constitute, as it were, one celebration. Almost immediately after the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (from January 2), the Church begins to prepare us for the solemn feast of the Epiphany of the Lord with stichera and troparions specially dedicated to the upcoming holiday (at Vespers), three songs (at Compline) and canons (at Matins), and church hymns In honor of the Epiphany, they have been heard since January 1: at Matins of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, the irmos of the canons of the Epiphany are sung at the catavasia: “He has opened the depths, there is a bottom...” and “A stormy storm is moving in the sea...”. With its sacred memories, following from Bethlehem to the Jordan and commemorating the events of Baptism, the Church in the pre-festive stichera calls on the faithful:
“We will go from Bethlehem to the Jordan, for there the Light is already beginning to illuminate those who are in darkness.” The coming Saturday and Sunday before Epiphany are called Saturday and the Week before Epiphany (or Enlightenment).

Eve of Epiphany

The eve of the holiday - January 5 - is called the Eve of Epiphany, or Christmas Eve. The services of the Vigil and the holiday itself are in many ways similar to the service of the Vigil and the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On the Eve of Epiphany, January 5 (as well as on the Eve of the Nativity of Christ), the Church prescribes strict fasting: eating food once after the blessing of water. If the Vespers happen on Saturday and Sunday, the fast is made easier: instead of once, eating food is allowed twice - after the liturgy and after the blessing of water. If the reading of the Great Hours from the Vespers, which happened on Saturday or Sunday, is postponed to Friday, then there is no fasting on that Friday.

Features of the service on the Eve of the holiday

On all weekdays (except Saturday and Sunday), the service of the Vesper of Epiphany consists of the Great Hours, Fine Hours and Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great; After the liturgy (after the prayer behind the pulpit), the water is blessed. If Christmas Eve happens on Saturday or Sunday, then the Great Hours take place on Friday, and there is no liturgy on that Friday; the liturgy of St. Basil the Great is moved to the day of the holiday. On the very day of Christmas Eve, the liturgy of St. St. John Chrysostom occurs in due time, followed by Vespers and after it the Blessing of Water.

The Great Hours of the Epiphany and their contents

The troparia point to the division of the waters of the Jordan by Elisha with the mantle of the prophet Elijah as a prototype of the true Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, by which the watery nature was sanctified and during which the Jordan stopped its natural flow. The last troparion describes the trembling feeling of Saint John the Baptist when the Lord came to him to be baptized. In the parimia of the 1st hour, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church proclaims the spiritual renewal of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 25).

The Apostle and the Gospel proclaim the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, who testified to the eternal and Divine greatness of Christ (Acts 13:25-32; Matt. 3:1-11). At the 3rd hour, in special psalms - 28 and 41 - the prophet depicts the power and authority of the baptized Lord over water and all the elements of the world: “The voice of the Lord is on the waters: the God of glory will roar, the Lord on many waters. The voice of the Lord in the fortress; The voice of the Lord is in splendor...” These psalms are also joined by the usual 50th psalm. The troparia of the hour reveal the experiences of John the Baptist - awe and fear at the Baptism of the Lord - and the manifestation in this great event of the mystery of the Trinity of the Divinity. In parimia we hear the voice of the prophet Isaiah, foreshadowing spiritual rebirth through baptism and Calling for the acceptance of this sacrament: “Wash yourself, and you will be clean” (Is. 1: 16-20).

The Apostle talks about the difference between the baptism of John and the baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-8), and the Gospel talks about the Forerunner who prepared the way for the Lord (Mark 1:1-3). At the 6th hour, in Psalms 73 and 76, King David prophetically depicts the Divine greatness and omnipotence of the One who came to be baptized in the form of a servant: “Who is a great God like our God? You are God, work miracles. You saw the waters, O God, and you were afraid: the abyss was crushed.”

The usual 90th psalm of the hour is also added. The troparia contain the Lord’s answer to the Baptist to his bewilderment about Christ’s self-abasement and indicate the fulfillment of the Psalmist’s prophecy that the Jordan River stops its waters when the Lord enters it for Baptism. The parimia talks about how the prophet Isaiah contemplates the grace of salvation in the waters of baptism and calls on believers to assimilate it: “Draw up water with joy from the source of fear” (Is. 12).

The Apostle encourages those baptized into Christ Jesus to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-12). The Gospel preaches about the appearance of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of the Savior, about His forty-day labor in the wilderness and the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 1:9-15). At the 9th hour, in Psalms 92 and 113, the prophet proclaims the royal greatness and omnipotence of the baptized Lord. The third psalm of the hour is the usual 85th. With the words of parimia, the prophet Isaiah depicts the inexpressible mercy of God towards people and the gracious help for them revealed in Baptism (Is. 49: 8-15). The Apostle announces the manifestation of the grace of God, “saving for all men,” and the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers (Tit. 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7). The Gospel tells about the Baptism of the Savior and the Epiphany (Matthew 3:13-17).

Vespers on the day of the Vespers of the holiday

Vespers on the Vespers of the Feast of the Epiphany is similar to what happens on the Vespers of the Nativity of Christ: entrance with the Gospel, reading of parimia, Apostle, Gospel, etc., but the parimia at Vespers of the Epiphany Vigil is read not on 8, but on 13.
After the first three paremias to the troparion and verses of prophecy, the singers chorus: “May you enlighten those who sit in darkness: Lover of mankind, glory to Thee.” After the 6th parimia there is a chorus to the troparion and verses: “Where would Your light shine, except on those who sit in darkness, glory to You.”
If on the Eve of Epiphany Vespers is combined with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), then after the reading of the proverbs there follows a small litany with the exclamation: “For art thou holy, our God...”, then the Trisagion and other sequences of the liturgy are sung. At Vespers, performed separately after the liturgy (on Saturday and Sunday), the parimia, the small litany and the exclamation: “For you are holy...” are followed by the prokeimenon: “The Lord is my enlightenment...”, Apostle (Cor., part 143) and the Gospel (Luke, 9th).
After this - the litany “Rtsem all...” and so on.

Great Blessing of Water

The Church renews the memory of the Jordan event with a special rite of the great consecration of water. On the Eve of the holiday, the great consecration of water occurs after the prayer behind the pulpit (if the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is being celebrated). And if Vespers is celebrated separately, without connection with the liturgy, the consecration of the water occurs at the end of Vespers, after the exclamation: “Be the power...”. The priest, through the royal doors, while singing the troparia “The Voice of the Lord on the Waters...” comes out to the vessels filled with water, carrying the Honorable Cross on his head, and the consecration of the water begins.

The blessing of water is also performed on the holiday itself after the liturgy (also after the prayer behind the pulpit).

The Orthodox Church has been performing the great consecration of water on Vespers and on the holiday itself since ancient times, and the grace of consecrating water on these two days is always the same. At the Forever, the consecration of water was performed in remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, which sanctified the watery nature, as well as the baptism of the orphans, which in ancient times was performed at the Forever of Epiphany (Lent. Apost., book 5, chapter 13; historians: Theodoret, Nicephorus Callistus). On the holiday itself, the consecration of water occurs in memory of the actual event of the Baptism of the Savior. The blessing of water on the holiday itself began in the Jerusalem Church in the 4th - 5th centuries. took place only in it alone, where there was a custom of going out to the Jordan River for the blessing of water in memory of the Baptism of the Savior. Therefore, in the Russian Orthodox Church, the blessing of water on Vecherie is performed in churches, and on the holiday itself it is usually performed on rivers, springs and wells (the so-called “Walk to the Jordan”), for Christ was baptized outside the temple.

The great consecration of water began in the early times of Christianity, following the example of the Lord Himself, who sanctified the waters by His immersion in them and established the sacrament of Baptism, in which the consecration of water has been taking place since ancient times. The rite of blessing of water is attributed to the Evangelist Matthew. Several prayers for this rite were written by St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople. The final execution of the rite is attributed to St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The blessing of water on the holiday is already mentioned by the teacher of the Church Tertullian and St. Cyprian of Carthage. The Apostolic Decrees also contain prayers said during the blessing of water. So, in the book. The 8th says: “The priest will call on the Lord and say: “And now sanctify this water, and give it grace and strength.”

St. Basil the Great writes: “According to what scripture do we bless the water of baptism? - From Apostolic tradition, by succession in secret" (91st canon).

In the second half of the 10th century, Patriarch of Antioch Peter Foulon introduced the custom of consecrating water not at midnight, but on the Eve of Epiphany. In the Russian Church, the Moscow Council of 1667 decided to perform double blessing of water - on Vespers and on the very feast of Epiphany and condemned Patriarch Nikon, who prohibited double blessing of water. The sequence of the great consecration of water both at Vespers and on the holiday itself is the same and in some parts has similarities with the sequence of the small consecration of water. It consists of remembering the prophecies relating to the event of Baptism (parimia), the event itself (Apostle and Gospel) and its meaning (litany and prayers), invoking the blessing of God on the waters and immersing them three times Life-giving Cross The Lord's.

In practice, the rite of water blessing is performed as follows. After the prayer behind the pulpit (at the end of the liturgy) or the litany of supplication: “Let us fulfill evening prayer"(at the end of Vespers) the rector is in full vestments (as during the liturgy), and the other priests are only wearing stoles, vestments, and the rector is carrying the Honorable Cross on an uncovered head (usually the Cross is placed in the air). At the site of the blessing of water, the Cross is placed on a decorated table, on which there should be a bowl of water and three candles. During the singing of troparions, the rector and the deacon cense the water prepared for consecration (around the table three times), and if the water is consecrated in the church, then the altar, clergy, singers and people also cense.

At the end of the singing of the troparions, the deacon proclaims: “Wisdom,” and three parimia are read (from the book of the prophet Isaiah), which depict the blessed fruits of the Lord’s coming to earth and the spiritual joy of all who turn to the Lord and partake of life-giving springs salvation. Then the prokeimenon “The Lord is my enlightenment...” is sung, the Apostle and the Gospel are read. The Apostolic Reading (Cor., section 143) speaks of persons and events that Old Testament, during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert, were a prototype of Christ the Savior (the mysterious baptism of the Jews into Moses among the clouds and the sea, their spiritual food in the desert and drinking from the spiritual stone, which was Christ). The Gospel (Mark, part 2) tells about the Baptism of the Lord.

After reading Holy Scripture the deacon pronounces the great litany with special petitions. They contain prayers for the sanctification of water by the power and action of the Holy Trinity, for sending down the blessing of the Jordan on the water and giving it grace for the healing of mental and physical infirmities, for driving away all slander of visible and invisible enemies, for the sanctification of houses and for all benefits.

During the litany, the rector secretly reads a prayer for the purification and sanctification of himself: “Lord Jesus Christ...” (without exclamation). At the end of the litany, the priest (rector) loudly reads the consecration prayer: “Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works...” (three times) and so on. In this prayer, the Church begs the Lord to come and sanctify the water so that it will receive the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan, so that it will be a source of incorruption, the resolution of ailments, the cleansing of souls and bodies, the sanctification of houses and “for all good.” In the middle of the prayer, the priest exclaims three times: “You Yourself, O Lover of Mankind, come now by the influx of Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water,” and at the same time each time he blesses the water with his hand, but does not immerse his fingers in the water, as happens in the sacrament of Baptism. At the end of the prayer, the abbot immediately blesses the water in the shape of a cross. By the Honest Cross, holding it with both hands and immersing it three times straight (lowering it into the water and raising it), and with each immersion of the Cross he sings the troparion with the clergy (three times): “I am baptized in the Jordan, O Lord...”

After this, while the troparion is sung repeatedly by the singers, the abbot with the Cross in his left hand sprinkles a cross in all directions, and also sprinkles the temple with holy water.

Glorification of the holiday

On Vecherye, after the dismissal of Vespers or Liturgy, a lamp (not a lectern with an icon) is placed in the middle of the church, before which the clergy and choristers sing the troparion and (on “Glory, and now”) the kontakion of the holiday. The candle here means light Christ's teachings, Divine enlightenment given in Epiphany.

After this, the worshipers venerate the Cross, and the priest sprinkles each with holy water.

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.

An important event of Epiphany and Epiphany is blessing of water. On a river or lake, a cross-shaped hole called Jordan is cut out in advance in the ice. At midnight, priests bless the water in the wormwood, and believers take a bath in the consecrated water. People are not afraid of the cold because bathing for Epiphany- This is a symbolic cleansing from sins, spiritual rebirth. Believers eagerly await the Feast of Epiphany, and when the Epiphany of the Lord comes, the Orthodox are sure to attend church to remember a miraculous event that changed the world.

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

The ice holes or Jordans in which people bathe at Epiphany are blessed. There are no strict rules for those who want to plunge into Jordan for Epiphany. But still, it is customary to quickly plunge headlong into the water 3 times, while crossing yourself and saying: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is traditionally believed that on Epiphany one should swim in shirts, and not in swimsuits, so as not to expose one’s body.

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.
Saint Epiphany water You can sprinkle your home to drive out evil spirits and bring the grace of God into your home.

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 big days 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 Divine Liturgy and January 19 - the very day of the Epiphany. During both days in any temple you can dial Epiphany water. 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 celebration of 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 the priest immerses the cross in water, the whole devilry jumps out of fear, and then sits on the shore and waits 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 it is expected to be grain-bearing, and the bees will produce many swarms.

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

The choice of places for swimming at Epiphany 2018 in Moscow is large. About 59 fonts will be equipped so that everyone can undergo the bathing ritual. They will be equipped so that people can calmly undress, rub themselves, take a bath and drink hot tea. If you choose by metro, then this information will help you - here are a number of addresses for swimming in Moscow on Epiphany on January 19, 2018: Vykhino metro station - White Lake recreation area, Putyaevsky Ponds Cascade - Sokolniki Park, Shchelkovskaya metro station - Babaevsky Pond, Lermontovsky Prospekt metro station - Kosinsky Park, Kryukovsky Forest Park, Strogino metro station - Rublevo village park, Konkovo metro station - Teply Stan park, Novogireevo metro station - Raduga Ponds, Krylatskoye metro station - Serebryany Bor park, Polezhaevskaya metro station - Filevsky Boulevard park, Novokosino metro station - Lake Meshcherskoye, Izmailovskaya metro station - Izmailovo park.

Epiphany bathing will take place from 18:00 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 (Temple " Life-Giving Trinity in Vorontsovo" St. Ak. Pilyugina, 1)
Pond of the sanatorium “Uzkoe” (Temple of the Kazan Icon Mother of God in Uzkoy st. Profsoyuznaya 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 channel (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 Holy Mother of God, With. Pokrovskoe).
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, Black Lake recreation area (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.

Ecology of life: Epiphany is one of the great twelve holidays, celebrated in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Baptism of the Lord is celebrated no less solemnly than the Nativity of Christ. The holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany of the Lord are interconnected by Christmastide and constitute a single celebration - the Feast of Epiphany.

The Essence of the Holiday

Epiphany is one of the great twelve holidays, celebrated in honor of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Baptism of the Lord is celebrated no less solemnly than the Nativity of Christ. The holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany of the Lord are interconnected by Christmastide and constitute a single celebration - the Feast of Epiphany. In the unity of these holidays are all three persons of the Holy Trinity:

in the Bethlehem den the Son of God was born in the flesh;

at the baptism of the Son of God, from the open heavens “the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove” (Luke 3:22);

and a Voice was heard from Heaven proclaiming: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Divine service

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated in the same way as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. On the eve of the Royal Hours, the Liturgy of Basil the Great and All-night vigil, beginning with Great Compline.

The special feature of this Holiday is two great blessings of water.(small blessing of water can be performed at any other time). The first great blessing of water takes place on the eve of the Holiday in the temple. The second - on the very holiday open air on rivers, ponds, wells.

On the day of Epiphany, the rite of consecration of water is performed in an ice hole made in the form of an Orthodox cross. The first, in ancient times, was performed for the baptism of catechumens and, subsequently, was converted into remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord. The second probably came from the ancient custom of Jerusalem Christians, on the day of Epiphany, to go out to the Jordan River and here remember the baptism of the Savior. Therefore, the Epiphany procession has the name procession to the Jordan.

Biblical events

Jesus Christ, who returned from Egypt after the death of King Herod, grew up in the small city of Nazareth, located in Galilee. With His Most Holy Mother, He stayed in this city until His thirtieth birthday, earning food for Himself and the Most Pure Virgin by carpentry.

When the thirtieth year of His earthly life was completed, that is, the time before which, according to Jewish law, no one was allowed to teach in the synagogues or take the priesthood, the time came for His appearance to the people of Israel.

But before that moment, according to the prophetic word, the Forerunner had to appear to Israel, who had the task of preparing the people of Israel to receive the Messiah, the one about whom the prophet Isaiah predicted: “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of God in the desert.” ours.”

Far from people, in the depths of the harsh Judean desert, there was a word of God to John, the son of Zechariah, a relative Holy Virgin who is still in his mother's womb, righteous Elizabeth, jumped joyfully, greeting his Savior, about whom no one in the world had yet known, except His Most Pure Mother, who received the gospel from the Archangel. This word of God commanded John to go out into the world preaching repentance and baptize Israel to testify to the Light, so that everyone would believe through him.

The Jews coming to John had a natural question: Isn’t he, the Savior desired by everyone, the Consolation of Israel? The Baptist answered: “He who is mightier than I is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down to untie; I baptized you with water, and He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

According to the Gospel story, Jesus Christ came to John the Baptist, who was near the Jordan River in Bethabara (John 1:28), with the goal of being baptized. John, who preached a lot about the imminent coming of the Messiah, saw Jesus and was surprised and said: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” To this Jesus replied that “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” and received baptism from John.

Jesus Christ had no need for this baptism, as he was sinless and immaculate, born of the Most Pure Virgin Mary and Himself, according to His divinity, the source of all purity and holiness. But, since He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, He came to the waters of the Jordan to cleanse them through baptism.

He came to be baptized in order to sanctify the watery nature with Himself, in order to give us the font of holy baptism. He also came to be baptized so that John would see the fulfillment of the word of God, who commanded him to come out of the wilderness: “On whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Baptist obeyed the word of Christ and the Jordan accepted Him into its waters, by whose command it began its course. As the Gospel tells, after receiving baptism, the Lord immediately came out of the water. Church tradition tells about this “immediately” that Saint John the Baptist immersed every person baptized by him up to the neck and held him there until he confessed all his sins. Only after this was the person allowed to come out of the water. Christ, however, did not He who had sins could not stay in the water, so he immediately left the river.

During baptism, “the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and there was a voice from heaven, saying: You are My Beloved Son; I am well pleased with You!” (Luke 3:21-22).

After his baptism, Jesus Christ, led by the Spirit, withdrew into the desert in order to prepare in solitude, prayer and fasting to fulfill the mission with which he came to Earth. Jesus Christ for forty days “was tempted by the devil and did not eat anything during those days, but at the end of them he was hungry” (Luke 4:2). Then the devil approached him and, with three seductions, tried to tempt him to sin, like any other person.

Location of Holy Baptism

The place where John the Baptist preached and baptized, according to church tradition, was called Bethavara (the area beyond the Jordan, where there was a river crossing, which explains the name of the city - the house of the crossing.

The exact location of Bethawara, possibly Beit Awara, is uncertain. Since the 16th century, it has been considered the place where the Greek monastery of St. John the Baptist is now located, a kilometer from modern Beit Avara, about 10 km east of Jericho and 5 kilometers from the confluence of the Jordan River into the Dead Sea. Already in the time of King David, a ferry was built here, and in the 19th century this place was called the “Pilgrimage Ford”, because of the many pilgrims who flocked here to bathe in the waters of the Jordan.

It was along this path, 12 centuries before the Nativity of the Savior, that ancient Israel, led by Joshua, entered the Promised Land. Here, a thousand years before the Incarnation, King David crossed the Jordan, fleeing from his own son Absalom, who rebelled against him. In the same place, the prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed the river, and already in the Christian era, they went this same way to the Trans-Jordanian desert to mourn their sins Reverend Mary Egyptian.

Orthodox Christmastide

Christmastide in Orthodoxy is twelve holidays between Christmas (January 7) and Epiphany (January 19). In Catholic Christianity, Christmastide corresponds to twelve days of Christmas, lasting from noon on December 25th to the morning of January 6th. Christmastide is also often called holy evenings, in memory of the events of the Nativity and baptism of the Savior, which took place at night or in the evening.

Holy twelve days after Christmas Christ Church started from ancient times. This was indicated by the 13 conversations of St. Ephraim the Syrian, spoken by him from December 25 to January 6, as well as the “words” of St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Gregory of Nyssa.

The ancient twelve-day celebration of Christmastide is confirmed by the spiritual charter of St. Savva the Sanctified.

The same is confirmed by the Code of Justinian, published in 535. The Second Council of Turon, in 567, designated all days from the Nativity of Christ to the Epiphany as holidays. Meanwhile, the sanctity of these days and evenings was violated at many points by fortune telling and other superstitious customs that survived from the pagan celebrations of the same time.

There is an Orthodox law that prohibits “on the eve of the Nativity of Christ and throughout Christmastide, according to old idolatrous legends, starting games and, dressing up in idol robes, dancing through the streets and singing seductive songs.” published

Baptism is popularly called Epiphany and is celebrated annually on January 19; in 2018, this date falls on Friday. In Russia, this event is not considered a non-working day, although it is an official holiday.

The ancient and revered holiday of the Epiphany by all Christians is becoming one of the most anticipated events in everything church year. Everyone who has ever heard of this holiday knows about this holiday. Orthodox faith, which is why it is not surprising that even in modern world people continue to adhere to strict canons for celebrating this wonderful day.

Epiphany 2018: History of the holiday

This religious holiday, has been celebrated exactly since Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River more than 2000 years ago. It is believed that after baptism itself, the holy spirit descended from heaven in the form of a white dove. Everyone heard the voice of God, which said: “You are My Beloved Son; I am well pleased with you!” Starting from this day, Jesus began his earthly mission, which ended, as everyone knows, with the resurrection, which became the progenitor of the Easter holiday. After baptism, Jesus Christ went into the desert, where he stayed for 40 days and nights, preparing himself to fulfill his sacred duty.

Epiphany 2018: Holiday traditions. Do's and Don'ts

Over time, the feast of the Epiphany has grown a huge amount traditions that are sacredly revered by people to this day. Perhaps the most significant of them is the ritual of swimming in an ice hole, the features of which should be known to everyone who wants to perform this action. Before swimming, a hole is cut in the ice, which is usually called the Jordan in honor of the river in which Jesus was baptized. The priest dips the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, thereby consecrating this place for further ritual. You should plunge headlong three times, after which it is customary to read a prayer and get out of the water. It would seem, why expose your body to such stress on days when the Russian winter is especially fierce? However, swimming in an ice hole on Epiphany is an ancient and wise tradition. It is believed that it is on this day that the water in natural springs acquires special properties: after bathing in such water, not only diseases, ailments, evil eyes, but also sins, of which many could have accumulated by this moment, are washed away...

People with diseases of the heart, nervous and vascular systems, as well as pregnant women and children should not enter the water. This is especially true for the latter, because in childhood the process of thermoregulation has not yet been formed, which makes the child’s body at risk of serious complications.
You cannot swim while intoxicated - because it is life-threatening!
You can have a hearty meal before diving, but don’t overeat, and drink hot tea after.

If you adhere to all the rules, then this procedure for the Baptism of the Lord will definitely have a beneficial effect on your well-being: both physically and spiritually.

Epiphany 2018: Tradition of collecting Epiphany water

Of course, not everyone will be able to plunge into the ice hole on January 19, 2018, but at the same time, each of us will be able to collect holy Epiphany water for ourselves, and we will tell you how, where and when is best to collect Epiphany water.

It should be noted that the consecration of water in churches occurs both on January 18, Epiphany Eve (after the Divine Liturgy), and on the feast of the Epiphany itself. On these two days you can collect Epiphany holy water, and there is no difference when you collect it in the temple - January 18 or 19. If you decide to draw water from the tap, then accordingly best period for this, there will be a time period from 00:10 to 01:30, which falls on the night of January 18th to 19th, while water can also be collected later, throughout the entire 19th (before the 24th :00).

It is forbidden to quarrel and do bad things when holy water is in your hands.

Epiphany 2018: Signs

This holiday has many signs, both regarding everyday life and nature:

It is bad luck to dilute consecrated water;

Starting from Christmas Eve, it is not recommended to lend money. Otherwise, the culprit may lack money for a year;

You cannot perceive a holiday only as entertainment to plunge into an ice hole;

A good omen for Epiphany is the completion of some task;

Any agreement on this day necessarily ends in success;

Nature at Epiphany also says a lot:

Heavy snowfall and dark clouds on Epiphany foretell a rich harvest in the fall;

Barking dogs at night is good news;

A cross painted on the doors can protect the house from evil spirits;

During the holidays, nothing can be taken out of the house, otherwise there will be material losses.

Epiphany 2020. Photo: nzpr.ru

Baptism is one of the 12 most important Orthodox holidays, the final period of Christmas time, which began with the Nativity of Christ on January 7th.

As on any holiday, there are many traditions, customs and signs on Epiphany. However, the most important thing on this day is water, because it was in it that Jesus Christ was baptized.

The editors of the site have prepared for you the most important customs and traditions that must be observed on this day.

history of the holiday

Orthodox Christians have been celebrating Epiphany for more than 2,000 years in a row since John the Baptist baptized the son of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

It is believed that after the baptismal ceremony was completed, the holy spirit descended to the people in the form of a dove and everyone listened to God's voice, which said: “You are my beloved son; my favor is in you!”

After his baptism, Jesus went on a journey. He wandered through the desert for 40 days, preparing himself for his sacred duty. Returning back, the son of the Lord sacrificed himself for the sake of people and rose again on the day that is now commonly called the Resurrection of Christ or Easter.

Like Christmas, the holiday of Epiphany has its own Christmas Eve. It is also called the hungry holy evening. The fact is that at this time you already need to fast and all dishes on the table should be lean. On this day, the last kutya is prepared, which ends the Christmas holidays. In addition to it, there should be uzvar, dumplings, and pancakes on the table.

Traditions and customs

As already mentioned on this day, all traditions are associated with water. Now, of course, everyone will say that on Epiphany you definitely need to plunge into an ice hole and draw sacred water.

Let's start with swimming. It is believed that the best time for swimming is the night of January 19, when the priest blesses the water in the reservoir after the evening service. However, those who did not have time to swim can do so throughout the entire Epiphany holiday.

At the same time, you also need to dive into the ice hole wisely. This is done only after a special Jordan in the form of a cross has been cut into the ice, and the priest has lowered the crucifix into the water and read a prayer. You need to plunge three times, but preferably not with your head, otherwise this can lead to a sharp drop in temperature and pressure drop.

Swimming in reservoirs on this day cleanses the soul and body, protects a person from various evil spirits, as well as diseases.

To prevent water from losing its sacred power, it also needs to be collected correctly. Our ancestors believed that at midnight on Epiphany, all water became holy. If you collect it, then such water will stand for a whole year and not lose its medicinal properties.

The main rule in this case is the cleanliness of the container into which the water is collected. It should not be stored in alcohol or plastic bottles. Previously, housewives had a special jug into which they collected Epiphany water, sealed the vessel and took it to the cellar. It was used for a whole year for any illness, and it always helped.

What not to do on holiday

Along with the traditions of Epiphany, there are also many prohibitions. The main one is a ban on any work - you cannot cook, clean, build, and so on, as well as do handicrafts. The entire holiday should be dedicated to cleansing the soul from all the sins that have accumulated over the year.

It is also imperative not to swear, not to gossip, not to slander, and not to complain about your fate and the people around you. It is not recommended to organize wild celebrations and lavish feasts, since the Epiphany fast is one of the strictest and must be adhered to.

It was believed that after Epiphany, winter frosts were already subsiding. The Ukrainians loved to say at this time: “Trash, not trishchi, but Vorokhreshchi has already passed!”

Folk signs

On this day, people especially watched the weather, and from it they could determine what the whole coming year. Wherein folk beliefs They say that the signs noticed on Epiphany are the most accurate and you must pay special attention to everything that happens on this day.

Among the most common signs are:

if the weather is clear and frosty on this day, you should expect drought in the summer;
if it is cloudy and snowing outside, then a bountiful harvest awaits people;
if at Epiphany noon there were blue clouds in the sky, then the year should again be fruitful;
if there was a full moon on Epiphany, then until the end of January the weather will remain the same as the next three days after the holiday;
if it rains, the end of January will be cloudy and rainy;
a cross painted on the door of a house will protect the family from evil spirits;
Barking dogs at night is a harbinger of good news.

Epiphany fortune telling

Favorite entertainment unmarried girls There was fortune telling at Epiphany. Now they say that you can’t tell fortunes on this holiday, as you can predict fate for the worse. We will give you some of the most common ways to find out your destiny, and it’s up to you to choose whether to do this at Epiphany or not.

Fortune telling with sounds. On a moonlit Epiphany evening, the girls went to the church and listened to the silence under the door. If they heard a wedding choir, they expected an imminent wedding, and if they heard a funeral service, they expected a funeral.

There is a similar fortune telling, but a bell is used for it. By its sound they determined what the next year promised. So, if the ringing was loud, then it was a sign of marriage, if it was dull, it meant imminent death.

Fortune telling on bread with ribbon. You need to put a piece of bread and a ribbon in an empty pot. Whatever you pull out first blindfolded is what awaits you this year. The ribbon symbolizes the arrival of matchmakers, and the bread means that the fortune teller will have another year as a wench.

Fortune telling on paper. The sheet of paper must be crumpled and then set on fire. After it burns completely, you need to create its shadow using a candle on the wall. What it will look like is what we will have to wait for this year.

Fortune telling in the snow. This year there was a little snow in Ukraine, so you can try to tell your fortune on it. In the evening the girls fell backwards into the snow. Already in the morning we looked at the trail left behind. If it was smooth and even, then the future husband’s character will be good. If the snow turned out to be cut, then the spouse may turn out to be pugnacious.

Fortune telling on buns. A group of girls was gathering in the house, and you had to have a bun with you. The baked goods were laid out in one row and a hungry dog was sent into the fortune-telling room. Whose bun he eats first will be the one who gets married this year.

Zodiac signs