For us, Orthodox Christians, the feast of Epiphany has a special, unique flavor. We love the wonderful Epiphany Christmas Eve with its special divine service, which includes many readings from the Old Testament. The great consecration of water is dear to us, the holy water of Epiphany - agiasma, which on the feast of Epiphany you can drink as much as you like, and the whole next year - only on an empty stomach, because this is a great shrine.
The godfather participates in the preparation for baptism and in the rite itself: he testifies to the faith of the baptized, and when the child is baptized, he confesses with his parents the faith of the Church in which the child receives baptism. Only those who are mature enough to fulfill this task have already joined the Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist and belong to the Catholic Church and live according to the teachings of Christ.
By baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God, become members of Christ and are implanted into the Church and become partakers of his message. The sacrament of rebirth with water and the word. Baptism of saints. This is a sacrament in which, by sprinkling water and uttering sacramental words, a person receives the forgiveness of sins and all sins before baptism and becomes a child of God and receives eternal life. For a Christian, this means accepting what Jesus commands: acknowledging the needs of others for their sake, facing suffering and weakness, seeking the will of God in all cases, and uniting through love with God.
Many people love on the day of the Epiphany, despite the severe frost, to plunge into the Jordan - a hole carved in the ice of reservoirs especially for the holiday, usually in the shape of a cross. On rivers and other bodies of water, the Great Blessing of Water also takes place on this day, according to the same order as the Great Blessing of Water in the temple.
“Today the waters are sanctified by nature,” is sung in one of the stichera of the feast. Does this mean that all water: in rivers, ponds and water pipes - becomes holy on the day of Epiphany?
There is such a belief among the people. “Water becomes holy because, through the prayer of the Church, God’s grace unites with it,” answers Alexei Ilyich Osipov, Doctor of Theology, professor at the Moscow Theological Academy. “But God's grace is not an impersonal element. God always looks at the power of faith and the capabilities of believers. If people have the opportunity to be present at the service, pray during the blessing of water, or at least come and take the blessed water, but they do not take advantage of this opportunity, they say “let us draw from the tap - it will be holy”, they do not receive holy water. water.
Another thing is when it is not possible to receive blessed water, as, for example, it was during the time of persecution of the Church, when many believers, not being able to receive water blessed in the temple, went to the river or a spring at midnight and drew water there. Such water was really holy, it stood for years and did not deteriorate.
According to the doctor of theology priest Oleg Davydenkov, “water on earth on the night of January 18-19 is consecrated because the Lord Himself consecrated it with His baptism. At this time, all earthly waters show the presence of the grace of God. However, the belief that all water is consecrated on the night of Epiphany does not equate all water with the water that is consecrated in the temple.
The consecration of waters on Epiphany night is a one-time manifestation of God's grace. The baptismal water consecrated in the temple does not lose its power over time. The fact that on this day all water is blessed does not detract from or cancel the sacraments of consecrating water in the temple.
From the teaching of Bishop Siedlce: the teaching of Bishop Siedlce on the sacraments of the saints. Getting baptized is not just about doing some paperwork and performing a certain rite in a religiously understandable way more or less magically. Baptism introduces a person into a completely new reality, new life, a life different from that which the world offers. In the case of young children about the faith of their parents and godparents, they will bear the child. Baptism is far superior to the cleansing prescribed by the old law, because it brings these effects through the power of the mystery of the Passion and the Resurrection of the Lord.
The very tradition of bathing in the hole is determined precisely by the belief in the consecration of the water nature on the day of the Baptism of the Lord. A person wants not just to be sprinkled, but to immerse everything in the consecrated waters. "I think," says Prof. Osipov, - if we do this with faith, we can get a lot of benefit for ourselves. What if it's just a tribute? folk tradition and there is no desire to be sanctified, then there will be no benefit. We start bathing in a holy spring or just drink holy water, it has a grace-filled power only for those who promise: Lord, I will try to live like a Christian, send her grace to me. (Of course, it is not useful for everyone to plunge into an ice hole in a thirty-degree frost, everything needs to be approached with reason).
Finally, such a delusion is connected with the feast of Epiphany that the water consecrated on Christmas Eve differs from Epiphany water. Those who think so can be advised to compare the rite of consecrating water on Christmas Eve and on the very day of Epiphany. We will not find a single word of difference, this is the same rank, and, therefore, the water is absolutely the same. 
From the Orthodox magazine "Neskuchny Sad"
For those who are baptized, joined to one with Christ in the likeness of His death and plunge into death with him, in him will be brought back to life and resurrected with him. Baptism celebrates and celebrates the Paschal Mystery in the sense that people pass from death to sin.
Ensuring the Sacrament of the Baptism of the Saints. In the parish of Koka: the proper time for baptism is the Easter Vigil. During the year we also give the sacrament of baptism every second Sunday of the month during Mass. It is celebrated at 00 and on the first day of Easter and Christmas. Parents inform the child about the baptism in the pastor's office and participate in baptisms in baptismal catechisms, which are held every Saturday in the parish room. 00.
January 19 is one of the most ancient and revered in the Orthodox Christian Church holidays - the Baptism of the Lord. It was on this day that John the Baptist baptized Jesus, who came from Nazareth, in the Jordan, after which Christ began to enlighten people. As all four Gospels testify, on this day God comes into the world to show the Light to people. Therefore, another name for this holiday is Epiphany.
To complete the formalities, the baptism must be brought to the attention of the law firm. Required documents. God-parents: those who have received the sacrament of Confirmation and who, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, "are deeply believers, able and ready to serve the newly baptized Christian way of life." This is not a secular function, but a religious one. The parents of the child are guilty, therefore they are present in a person who fulfills religious and moral requirements. They are not only family members or friends.
The goddess of father and mother used to come to confession, and at the time of their baptism they entered into Holy Communion. The action of baptism is drawn up and signed by the parents and godchildren within one week before the date of baptism during the opening hours of the parish office. The Jordanian holiday is also one of the most symbolic and picturesque holidays in the Orthodox and Orthodox churches Greece. The symbolism of the Jordan is manifested primarily in the symbolism of water. During the ceremony, the water changes its meaning - from the image of the flood, so the symbol of the elemental and death becomes the water of baptism - "the source of living water."
It is believed that on Epiphany night the Spirit of God sanctifies the water in all reservoirs, and bathing in the hole for Epiphany allows you to cleanse yourself of all sins. These days the Blessing of Water takes place - the day before, on January 18, on Epiphany Christmas Eve, the consecration of water in churches is held. January 19, after the morning Liturgy, in the reservoirs.
And here, personally, I have questions: if the Spirit of God himself ALREADY sanctified the water in rivers and lakes, then why do the priests do it again, during procession? If ALL water becomes holy on this day, is it possible to assume that holy water flows simply from the tap?
Believers on the feast of the Jordan is considered a symbol of re-baptism in water. The holiday is a memorial to the baptism of Christ in Jordan. At this event, when the voice of God the Father came from heaven and the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove, the entire Trinity appeared on the water. We acknowledge that the acceptance of the baptized Son and the revelation of the Holy Trinity over the Jordan led to the sanctification of water and all nature. We can say that this holiday has its own ecological aspect - it is associated with the value of nature, through which God is revealed.
We assume that on this day all the water in the world will be sacrificed. Water, which is the source of life, acquires the power to purify the body and even wash away sin. Celebrations begin in the evening of the previous day. Then the Liturgy of St. Basil, combined with Vespers, with the consecration of bread, wheat, wine and oil. After the liturgy in the church, the first, main consecration of water, the so-called. great dedication of water in Jordan In the evening the Great Horrors are celebrated. On that day, believers are saved quickly, and in the evening there is a so-called lavish evening - a gala dinner, similar to the one on Christmas Eve.
This year I decided to experiment. Since childhood, despite the fact that my parents were unbelievers, I firmly knew that there should always be holy water at home. And that on the day of Epiphany, you need to sprinkle all the corners of the house with holy water so that peace and prosperity reign in it. And that you definitely need to drink 3 sips of holy water collected that day in the church. All this for the whole year will protect from diseases and purify the soul.
On the very day of the apparition of the Lord, the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and then the second blessing of the water, in which the faithful take part. According to tradition, this time of the holiday should be dedicated to living water. Where possible, the second blessing of the water takes place on the river, where the faithful go to the solemn procession. The largest such procession in Poland takes place in Przemysl, on San. The sacrifice occurs through the prayers of the priest, immersing in the so-called water. three special candlesticks with three candles, a hand blessing and the breath of the priest, which symbolizes the breath of the Holy Spirit and immersion in the cross.
Of course, swimming in the hole at Epiphany is not for me, because I have never been a walrus, but I definitely collect holy water in the church. And I drink 3 sips, and I sprinkle corners, a cat, a dog.
Does holy water help or hurt?
Helps? Probably. For in my house I have peace and tranquility, and indifference to my own health has not yet had any particularly terrible effect. Well, I always have holy water at home. It stands until next year, and sometimes for several years.
Even if the ceremony takes place on the shore, most often the water is not washed out of the river, but rather the other, previously prepared in tanks. The Jordanian waters of the faithful eat the day of the liturgy and take them home. She runs with her detours, fields, keeps on various needs. The Jordanian water also brings into the house a priest walking on the rudder. This water is known for keeping it for a very long time.
Roman Bilas Chairman of the Board of the Union of Ukrainians in Koszalin. This washing is called enlightenment because those who receive instruction are enlightened by God himself. This sacrament is considered by Christians as the most beautiful and wonderful gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, a garment of indestructibility, a regenerating wash, a seal, and everything that can be combined with the most valuable gift. The reason for this belief is, first of all, the realization that it is given to those who do nothing; Grace - because it is given even to those who have sinned; Baptism - because sin is buried in water; The anointing is because it is holy and royal; Enlightenment - because it is a bright light; The robe, because it covers our shame; Wash - because it cleans; The seal is because it protects us and is a sign of God's reign.
Does it hurt? In no case! Well, what are a few drops of water on the floor and walls?! Additional humidification of overdried air. No, theoretically, of course, it can harm. For example, if you sprinkle bare wires with holy water (short circuit) or pour water into a cat's ear (otitis media).
So, back to our sheep, that is, to the water. Since I am Lazy, why not look for a way to make your life easier: After all, if holy water flows from the tap on this day, then why go to church for it?
Baptism is the first of the sacraments that are called the sacraments of Christian initiation. Through it comes a unique and unique passage of man into a new and final life with God. This process is accompanied by the need to make a choice regarding the final destination of a person. With the choice of God and the beginning of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, man joins the Church, the Body of Christ. Thus, he enters into a new quality of life. It is characterized by the received gift of vitality, the source and giver of which is Christ.
Therefore, the experiment will be as follows: I will draw water in 3 identical containers. One will contain tap water collected on the day of Epiphany, January 19th. In the second - water from the same tap, but collected a day or two before or after, in the third - holy water from the church. And if on this day good weather- perhaps there will be a fourth container, with water from the river, which will be consecrated. I really wonder how long the water will last in each of the cans, and you?
This sacrament can receive any person who has not yet been baptized. By baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God, we become members of Christ, and we are implanted in the Church and become participants in his message: baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and the word.
Peter tells the crowd stirred his sermon, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The apostles and their associates baptize anyone who believes in Jesus: Jews who fear God and Gentiles. Baptism is always associated with faith: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will save yourself and your home" - St.
P.S. The experiment was carried out, see the results.