Holy water: when to recruit? How to recruit holy water for Baptism. Holy water in the church

If you go back to ancient history, then the holy God-revealed water was previously reported in the sermons of John Chrysostom. It is alleged that in Russia until the XII century, the practice of consecrating water was not accomplished. It appeared only after the spread of the Jerusalem liturgical charter, which was repeatedly criticized and abolished. For example, Patriarch Nikon in 1655, in general, banned the performance of the water consecration for Epiphany. This ban was lifted only at the Great Moscow Cathedral in 1667.

Let's try to understand the question of what holy water is, when to recruit it and how to use it.

What is holy water?

In Christianity, its use dates back to the second century. Holy water in the Church received its name from a special ceremony, which was called - water education. This phenomenon is associated with the Old Testament traditions of worship and with the biblical story, when in the waters of the Jordan River the prophet John baptized Christ himself.

Archaeological museums of the East and West are full of earthen vessels and flasks, in which ancient Christians kept holy water. This tradition has come down to our days.

Divine Grace

Many Orthodox come to the temple to collect the consecrated water and then use it. After all, they believe that after special prayers they receive some special properties and do not even spoil, which, incidentally, does not always happen. This water differs from simple in that it receives a special Blessing. And it keeps the Divine power within itself. Therefore, every person who will use this water with reverence will accept sanctification and grace. Many people are interested in the question: "What is holy water, when to recruit it, on what day?" And it should be carefully examined.

Epiphany: the date

In the PC there are three orders of consecration of water. The first rank is the great consecration of water on the Epiphany Eve, on January 18 (5), the next day, at Epiphany, the date of which is January 19 (6). It is on this day that many believers go solemnly to the pond (the course to the Jordan). The second rank is the abbreviated grand sanctification of water. It takes place before the very Sacrament of Baptism. In this water, then immersed baptized. And the third rank is a small sanctification of water, which is conducted with the help of certain molebens on public holidays.

On the day of Baptism you need to sprinkle holy water on the home walls with the words of prayer: "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." For convenience, you can buy in any church shop a special broom - a sprinkler - or, in extreme cases, use a twig of a bush or tree. At this time it is better to sing a special troparion, which is a short festive prayer.

Holy water: when to recruit

Many are in a deep delusion about when the most healing water and when it is better to recruit - on 18 or 19 January? The main thing is to understand that on the first and second day the water is consecrated exactly the same way.

In some churches, after her Epiphany, a few more days are spilled. Therefore, if there is no possibility to defend the large queue that usually is built up on this holiday, one can find out in the temple what day it is better to come and calmly collect water.

It is mistaken to use God's water as a pill against illness - drank and cured. Baptized holy water has healing properties, but it must be received with faith and prayer, and only then it is really possible to receive real healing.

Properties of Epiphany Water

The Christian tradition of sanctifying water calls on her the grace of the Holy Spirit, which gives her a powerful healing power. She is not drunk to quench thirst, but to heal the soul and body. It is recommended every day to eat on an empty stomach on a small cup of this water to strengthen the strength of the soul and the physical. The Holy Fathers blessed the sick to drink God's water on one tablespoon every hour. Several taken drops could change the course of the disease. Seraphim Vyritsky generally believed that the best of all medicines help consecrated oil and water.

How to store holy water

Do not tear and drag the whole cans of holy water on yourself. It is enough to dial it in a small amount to last until the next holiday. Since this water has a special property: added to the ordinary, it sanctifies it all. The dishes in which it will be stored, it is desirable to sign and put to the home iconostasis.

Some people believe that holy water flows on the day of Baptism and from the tap. In general, any miracle depends on the faith of a person. If he approaches the sacrament of Baptism unprepared and unbelievers, then nothing good will come of it. God enters man only when he desires and is ready to receive it. The Church claims that the entire water element on earth is sanctified and purified on January 18 and 19. Therefore, a deeply believing person can get water from the tap and all its unique properties. It will not deteriorate and will be stored for a year. But since people's faith is often not very strong, one must take God's water in the Church. It is also necessary to know that in the temple there is always the opportunity to collect water of small sanctification. Only before accepting it can prayer be recited to holy water. Then you can drink it and not necessarily on an empty stomach.

Epiphany bathing in the ice-hole

The tradition to swim in the ice-hole for the Feast of Baptism has already strengthened in our country. Many people mistakenly believe that if you plunge your head into the hole three times, you can atone for all your sins in this way, but this is not true. Without spiritual work on yourself, nothing happens. For this, there is a sacrament of confession in the church where the sins of a sincerely repentant person are forgiven. Plunging into the water, he receives the Divine grace and by his faith can even be healed.

Evangelical history

In the Holy Scripture the story is told that once at the Sheep Gate of Jerusalem there was a bathing place. And sick people always expected an angel from heaven to go to the water. And when this happened, the first one who plunged into the water, immediately healed. The man who was sick for 38 years already lay and wanted to recover from this font. The Lord asked him if he wanted to become healthy, and he replied that he really wanted to. But for some reason he could not get into the water, because someone necessarily outstripped him and plunged first into the font. And then the Lord relented and healed him.

This story shows that healing depends not only on the strength of faith, but also on the degree of readiness for a miracle.

Answers to questions about what holy water is, when to recruit it and how much, how to consume it, is not that complicated. The most difficult and important for a person is spirituality and morality, this must be done every day with the help of good deeds, prayers, repentance, visits to church services and holy places. Then God will definitely protect, help and heal. It's not for nothing that people say: "Trust in God, but do not be bad yourself!"