Epiphany of the Lord January 19 - one of the most celebrated days in the Orthodox Church for a long time. On this day every year occur festive service in the temples. And what are the traditions associated with the Epiphany, read on.
Epiphany nowadays identified with the Epiphany, but it is in our time. Earlier in the tradition of the Church is marked separately and had a different meaning. Catholics, in contrast to the Orthodox, and to this day the Epiphany and the Baptism is celebrated separately.
Epiphany: the history of the holiday
First Epiphany celebrated on January 6 and was devoted to three important moments in the life of Jesus, appeared on Light (this event in the Christian tradition is particularly revered and was called "Phenomenon" or "Enlightenment"):
- Christmas;
- Adoration of the Magi;
- Baptism.
After some time, the Christian congregation began to disagree that it is of paramount importance: Christmas or Epiphany. The last event for many of the faithful was the most important: after Jesus began to carry the Word of God to the people. The result was a decision to celebrate Christmas separately, December 25 (in particular, in the Catholic tradition).
Thus, Catholics believe is a significant event coming of the Magi, Orthodox - Epiphany, celebrating it in one day of the Epiphany, which should be understood as a phenomenon of the Lord of your Triune Being (God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit). It happened during the washing of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Epiphany: Traditions
On the eve of the Epiphany, in Epiphany Eve, Observed a strict fast, and the first meal is not before the end of the service in the temples and the Blessing of the Waters.
The first dish is traditionally a celebratory dinner sochivo (hungry kutya), To which you want to drink a little baptismal water, which has extraordinary healing properties.
January 19 should be reserved baptismal some water for the coming year, but not necessarily to gain enormous capacity: is sufficient and a small amount because the addition of a few drops of holy water in a simple sanctifies her.
In Baptism necessarily conduct ceremonies for the protection of the home from the negatives: it should sprinkle some water all the corners of the sacred, as well as to draw crosses on the front door.
But the most common is the tradition of the Epiphany bathingPhillips in the consecrated hole: it is considered that it purifies the soul from sins and heals the body. Any rules Epiphany bathing was not: just to be plunge three times previously crossed himself and prayed.
Children and people in poor health and is not ready for winter swimming in the hole, it is possible to wash the baptismal water: it's also great for cleansing from sin and gives health to the body.
You will also be useful to get acquainted with church calendar in 2019, and to know when it is impossible to hold a wedding ceremony.
A photo: https://www.istockphoto.com
