When you can plunge into the hole. A Brief History of the Feast of the Epiphany. Basic rules for dipping

Baptism 2017. Bathing for baptism. Date, rules, where you can swim. What date will be Epiphany in 2017? How is the baptismal bath?

The Baptism of the Lord (Theophany or, according to the church, the Baptism of the Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ) is the twelfth non-passing holiday, which means that this wonderful date is celebrated on the same day every year. What date will be Epiphany in 2017? The day when it will be possible to cleanse oneself of sins and ailments, and test one's fortitude by plunging headlong into the icy water in the hole, will come in 2017 on January 19, Thursday. On the territory of modern Russia, the Epiphany of the Lord is not a public holiday and does not apply to days off.

Baptism in the hole. How does it go.

In a river, in a lake or any body of water, an ice hole is cut in the shape of a cross, and the ice cross itself is placed nearby. The priest overshadows the hole with a cross and reads prayers. People plunge into these reservoirs with holy water in the hope of receiving atonement for sins and God's grace. Before diving headlong into cold water, you need to cross yourself three times and plunge with the words on your lips: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Traditions of the Feast of the Epiphany

On the eve of Epiphany, Orthodox believers fast during the day, and in the evening they celebrate “Hungry Kutya” or Holy Evening, akin to Christmas Eve. According to tradition, the whole family sits down at the table and eats Lenten dishes.

The threefold immersion of a believing Christian into an ice hole symbolizes the death of Jesus the Savior, and the moment of emerging from the water introduces a person to the three-day Resurrection of Jesus. Swimming in the hole is not a mandatory ritual, it is much more important to be a true believer, attend church and honor the Lord God.

Signs of Baptism

If a person was baptized on this day, then happiness will accompany him all his life.
If any agreement on this day is sealed with a handshake, then in the future there will be support from above.
If you agree on a wedding on the day of Epiphany, then a happy life awaits the young.
A clear day at Epiphany - the year will be lean.
If the trees are covered with hoarfrost on Epiphany - in the spring on the same day of the week you need to sow winter wheat so that there is a rich harvest.
Girls wash their faces at Epiphany with snow to preserve their beauty for many years.
Prophetic dreams often occur on Epiphany night.

What Not to Do on Baptism

Baptism is not an obligatory ritual, therefore, first of all you can't swim if you're not healthy . Any priest will dissuade you from diving if he sees that your health condition does not allow you to go through the procedure safely. Especially if you have never trained a walrus in your life. Before jumping into the hole, check if you have the following diseases:

Diving into the hole is not recommended during periods of exacerbation of inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx and otitis or if you have just had a cold.
It is strictly forbidden to swim in Jordan for people with heart disease, after heart attacks and with stage II and III hypertension.
After injuries and with epilepsy, you should not tempt fate.
Also contraindications are neuritis, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis.
Eye diseases such as glaucoma and conjunctivitis.
You should not swim for those whose health has been weakened by tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, inflammation of the genitourinary system, as well as ulcers, cholecystitis and hepatitis.

Epiphany bathing. Security and rules.

You can't jump off the ice. You need to enter the water only on a special wooden ladder, which is better to check for stability before descending.
Each Jordan must additionally be equipped with a thick, strong rope with knots, lowered at one end into the water, and at the other end firmly fixed on the shore. This will ensure safety in the event of a collapse of the stairs.
Do not try to plunge headlong - this can cause a reflex constriction of the cerebral vessels and lead to shock. It is best to dive up to the neck.
Do not stay in the font for more than 1 minute. Firstly, your body can become overcooled and this will lead to undesirable consequences, and secondly, there are a lot of people who want to swim, do not detain people, it's cold outside.
After bathing, you need to rub yourself with a terry towel and be sure to drink hot tea with honey and berries. This will help soften the blow to the immune system.
Never take alcohol. It is forbidden to drink alcohol on this bright holiday, and most importantly, it can dramatically expand your blood vessels, and this can lead to serious consequences and hospitalization.

Watch the video to see how the Epiphany bathing takes place with your own eyes.

We participate in baptismal bathing: rules and tips

Many Orthodox people do not miss such a tradition as bathing at Epiphany, which accompanies a big holiday, namely the Baptism of Christ. This event is considered a very important and significant church holiday. This day is usually celebrated as a memory of the baptism of Jesus on the Jordan River. Given that the ceremony took place in the river, people on this special day try to plunge into the water. It is believed that such an action can give strength, cleanse from sins and get rid of diseases. However, doctors can argue about the latter, since it will be difficult for an unprepared body to endure even a short bath in ice water, and even in frost. For this reason, those who wish to spend this day according to all church rules should conduct Epiphany bathing very carefully. An unhardened organism should refuse excessive hypothermia, as this can be very dangerous.

When is bathing

Many who want to swim are interested in when they bathe at Epiphany. It is worth noting that the consecration of water on this church holiday is carried out in 2 stages. The first comes on Christmas Eve, that is, on the evening of the day before Epiphany itself. In this case, special events are held in the church. The second stage is the water procedures themselves in the open air. Here it is necessary to find a suitable body of water - a river or, and then conduct a rite of consecration. All this is done exclusively by clergymen who read prayers and immerse the cross in water 3 times.

The Feast of Epiphany itself is the final day of Christmas time. On the eve of this important event, according to church laws, it is forbidden to eat anything, since this is the time of the strictest fast. On the holiday itself, it is also unacceptable to use fatty foods. On Epiphany, it is customary to serve kutia and Lenten dishes on the table.

In addition to the festive feast, water procedures are considered mandatory. They are important due to the fact that water on this day is considered healing and can relieve many ailments. As for what time Epiphany bathing begins, it is recommended to plunge into the water from 12 at night to 4 in the morning on January 19. It is during this period that consecrated water gains the greatest strength.

Many believe that bathing at Epiphany is possible only when the water is blessed by a priest, since it is able to heal both diseases of the internal organs and various wounds. Moreover, consecrated water relieves stress and psychological strain. For this reason, it is recommended to keep it at home. If it is not possible to visit an open reservoir on the feast of Epiphany, you can put water on the balcony for the night. In the morning, she should acquire healing properties, although not as strong as after consecration by a clergyman.

Features of baptismal water

Water is very important for every living being. It is found everywhere and in itself can work wonders. However, many attribute additional positive qualities to her after she is consecrated by the clergy.

The Bible says that once God even punished mankind and washed away everything unclean from the earth with a flood. It is also believed that water on the feast of Epiphany can wash away sins from a person. Thanks to the prayers read by the clergy, the water becomes holy. As a result, it has special properties. The liquid that was collected at Baptism can be stored for a very long time. Sometimes it sits quietly in bottles for decades and remains fit for human consumption. The main purpose for which baptismal water is used is to get rid of sins, unclean things, save the soul and get closer to God.

Why do people bathe in Epiphany

As for how many days you can swim for Epiphany, in this case, after the end of the night church service on January 19, the procession begins. Its completion is the consecration of the hole with the cross, after which you can proceed to water procedures. It is believed that water after its consecration does not lose its healing properties throughout the day, so everyone has the opportunity to go through this ritual.

This tradition is interpreted in different ways. Some plunge into the water solely for preventive purposes, so as not to get sick. For others, it is important to atone for sins in this way. But there is also a category of people who bathe in ice water solely in order to prove to themselves or other people that they are capable of this small feat.

Connoisseurs do not recommend swimming in the hole for Epiphany for those who did not fast at the right time and did not attend church. In this case, there will be no healing effect of water, since it works exclusively in combination. Moreover, out of habit, the body can react negatively to hypothermia, which will lead to the development of a serious illness.

It has long been believed that bathing three times in the hole at Epiphany has a positive effect on health, relieving all ailments, but it is better not to perform such a procedure without prior preparation. Moreover, it is forbidden to swim in the hole while intoxicated.

How to use holy water

Epiphany water is considered very popular among Orthodox Christians. At the same time, it is widely used not only by those people who periodically attend church and live according to all its rules, but also simply baptized. The Feast of Epiphany is considered very important, so even those who do not fast and do not go to church try not to miss it. Holy water can be found in many homes. It is used for various purposes.

Water, which received its power at Baptism, is considered special. This has been confirmed by many studies. Some time ago, it was proved that the liquid consecrated on this church holiday, in its density, approaches the water from the Jordan River. Medicinal properties are also explained from a scientific point of view. Doctors believe that the healing qualities of holy water depend on the magnetic field, which changes somewhat on January 19 of each year. However, these data cannot be considered accurate. Until the end, the phenomenon of holy water has not yet been studied.

It is believed that on Epiphany is the time when you can swim and draw water, as it acquires special qualities and becomes sacred. You can not only bathe in it to remove all ailments and sins from yourself, but also collect it to use it later. It is believed that such water will be stored for a long time, and it can be drunk even after a year.

Knowledgeable people assure that baptismal water is best consumed before meals. You can wash your face with it in the mornings and evenings to start and end the day absolutely clean. It is believed that such water relieves anxiety, improves immunity and relieves a number of ailments. It can wash wounds and gargle with a cold. Holy water is especially good for the little ones.

The benefits and harms of swimming in the hole

Since ancient times, plunging into an ice hole was considered an integral ritual of Epiphany celebrations, so everyone knew when and what time bathing for Epiphany begins. Thus, people tried to strengthen their health, which could really be achieved by hardening.

Back in the 19th century, a hypothesis was published that winter swimming can treat everything from mild headaches to hypertension. However, a stable therapeutic effect is possible only in cases where a person hardens his body gradually.

The positive impact of water procedures in winter is really proven. But for this you need to know how to properly swim at Epiphany in ice water. Without regular hardening, such experiments can lead to negative consequences. Moreover, often people drink a glass or two for courage. This is especially harmful and dangerous, because if you overdo it with alcohol, the body's reaction to hypothermia can be unpredictable.

It should be noted that during immersion in cold water during Epiphany frosts, body temperature instantly drops. It may come as a shock. Immersion in ice water causes the body to activate its reserves, as the body cools sharply by at least 3°, and the skin temperature drops to 15°. After bathing, the body will be very tense to compensate for the lack of heat. All this requires a lot of oxygen, so even oxygen starvation can occur.

Based on this, we can conclude that bathing in ice water on the feast of Epiphany is an activity for trained people. You should not test the strength of your body without prior training.

How to swim at Baptism for the first time, every person should know, so that after that they do not regret their deed and do not treat a lot of diseases.

Cooling should be gradual. First you need to take off your outer clothing and spend some time like this, then shoes are removed and the person becomes barefoot in the snow. Then you can undress to the waist and rub the body with a fat cream or oil.

Immediately before diving into ice water, it is worth stretching your muscles well so as not to get muscle spasm. The body, before dipping it into the water, must be at a normal temperature, that is, not overheated or frozen. If the pre-workout has made the muscles very hot, you need to wait a while until they cool down.

The time that a person can spend in ice water without further consequences should not exceed 15 seconds. After bathing, it is necessary to rub the body well with a terry towel. First of all, the legs and arms are processed, and lastly, the chest. Immediately after wiping, you need to go into the heat, warm up and eat.

Many people wonder whether it is worth bathing in clothes, or should it be done naked. Here everyone chooses the option that suits him. There are no strict rules, but you need to understand that it can be very difficult to take off wet and icy swimming trunks or a swimsuit in the cold. For this reason, many people prefer skinny-dipping at Epiphany.

If a person understands that his strength and training are not enough to plunge into the hole in the street, you can swim at Baptism at home. It is believed that on January 19, all the water that is on the planet is filled with miraculous power, so there should not be much difference in the effect.

The Baptism of the Lord is perhaps one of the three most important holidays in the Orthodox world. It is associated with many traditions and rituals that come to us from the very beginnings of the history of Christianity. These rituals include bathing in the hole.

History of Baptism

To understand the essence of swimming in the hole, it is necessary to remember what Baptism is and how it is connected with the story of Jesus Christ. It all started when the Savior was 30 years old. According to legend, he had to find the Baptist, who turned out to be the Apostle John. John heard the words of God that Jesus must be baptized just like any other person. Jesus appeared to him with a request for baptism, that is, for washing with water in order to be cleansed of sins. However, with his divine essence, Christ himself baptized the water, and not his water.

This symbolized that in the future the son of God would save people from troubles, the devil and evil thoughts and deeds. On the day of baptism, any water carries a special power, since Jesus Christ plunged into it 2000 years ago and made it a source of light, goodness and life.

Another name for Baptism is Epiphany. Christ came to John in order to have the right to appear to people with his teaching. It was the day of the manifestation of God to the people and the world.

When they swim in the hole

According to the rules bathing is done on Christmas Eve- on the evening before the holiday. On January 18, an evening service is held, after which every believer can draw holy water. After that, no one forbids abandoning the bathing procedure, because this should be done only at will and at the call of the soul.

Swimming in an ice-hole miraculously not only does not lead to colds, but, on the contrary, helps to get rid of various kinds of ailments and improve health. This is not only spiritual, but also physical cleansing, which is given to us by God himself. By the way, there are no strict rules for bathing - many simply plunge headlong into the hole three times with the words: "In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit." The main thing is to remember the right date - they bathe in the hole from January 18 to 19, starting in the evening and ending at night.

For those who are still afraid of getting sick, having bathed at Epiphany, there is an alternative - on the morning of January 19, you can wash yourself with holy baptismal water, also praying and asking God for health and peace of mind. One way or another, but the feast of Epiphany is a symbol of how God can help us, ordinary people, find happiness. Be kind, honest, may God bless you, and do not forget to press the buttons and

16.01.2016 00:50

The feast of Epiphany is approaching, which means it's time to go to church for holy water. Epiphany water - ...

Almost all Orthodox holidays are preceded by an evening liturgy. That is why every great feast begins with the Eve. ...

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 is held, called the "Procession to the Jordan", in order to bless the water and then to arrange 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 Kyiv Prince Vladimir baptized Russia. 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, a 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 Russia 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 Russia 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?

When a person is immersed in cold water with his head, he has a sharp excitation of the central nervous system and the cerebral cortex, which generally has a positive effect on the entire body.
Exposure to low temperatures is briefly perceived by the body as stress, which can relieve inflammation, swelling and spasms.
The thermal conductivity of the air enveloping the body is 28 times less than the thermal conductivity of water. This is the hardening effect.
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 a towel, 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 stomach or, conversely, a 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), the central nervous system (cranial injury, epilepsy), the 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, breathing can stop, 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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The Baptism of the Lord is an Orthodox holiday celebrated on January 19th. Many beliefs and traditions are associated with it. One of these traditions is ice diving.

Unfortunately, not everyone knows the history of this custom, the time when exactly you can do Epiphany bathing and how to do it correctly. In order for diving into an ice hole to be beneficial, it is imperative to know all the rules of this dive, as well as take into account all possible contraindications associated with the state of health.

When they swim in the hole at Epiphany 2018, at what time: history, rules and beliefs of the holiday

The history of the great Christian holiday, the Baptism of the Lord, goes back many centuries, into the past. When, in the Jordan River, the prophet John the Baptist, the baptism of the son of God, Jesus Christ, was carried out. According to legend, it was at that moment that the tradition of diving into an ice hole was born. It is believed that the most desirable time for this ceremony is the time of January 19 from 00:10 to 01:30. In ancient legends, it is said that this is exactly the moment when water becomes healing and helps to wash away sins and improve health.

To comply with the rules of the holiday, on January 18 it is advisable to go to church for the evening liturgy and read a prayer there. Going to the service, you should take a clean container with you in order to bring home the holy Epiphany water. Starting at midnight, after the end of the Liturgy, you can go swimming. Dipping into the ice-hole is allowed only in the places designated in advance. Beforehand, a Jordan is cut out in the ice - a hole in the shape of a cross. Before giving the go-ahead for bathing, the priest must lower the crucifix into the water and read a prayer.

When they swim in the hole at Epiphany 2018, what time: is it necessary to do this

The rector of the Church of the Martyr Tatyana at Moscow State University, Vladimir Vigilyansky, claims that Epiphany bathing is a fairly new tradition. And also that he did not meet any mention of it either in the historical literature about Ancient Russia, or in the notes of pre-revolutionary Russia. The rector believes that the church does not force anyone to dive into the hole. Each person decides for himself what legends to believe in and what rituals to perform. What is more important is not whether the believer will plunge into the hole that day, it is important that everyone come to the Epiphany Liturgy and take communion.

When they swim in the hole for Epiphany 2018, at what time: precautions for Epiphany bathing

Those who are determined to plunge into the hole on January 19 should know that you can’t swim in ice water on an empty stomach, but the intake of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited both before, during and after swimming. Before dipping, you need to move around to warm up the body. In no case do not enter the water too quickly and do not dive headlong, so as not to cause a state of shock by these actions. You need to plunge only three times, you can not stay in the water for more than 30 seconds. Coming out of the water, you must immediately rub yourself with a towel and change into warm, dry clothes. After that, it is advisable to drink tea. Also, do not forget about contraindications. So, for people with cardiovascular diseases, with a disturbed nervous system, with diseases of the organs of vision, respiratory and urinary-genital system, as well as children and pregnant women - dipping in the hole is strictly FORBIDDEN.