How to plunge into the hole at Epiphany: rules, advice. Bathing in the ice hole at Epiphany

Orthodox people on January 19 celebrate Baptism, or Epiphany, and on the eve, on the 18th, celebrate Epiphany Eve. Among the believers there is a popular tradition - to bathe on this day. How to plunge into the hole at Baptism, so as not to harm your health? We will try to understand this question.

Baptism is an important event in the Orthodox religion

On this day, believers celebrate two events in the history of religion: the baptism of the Son of God by John the Baptist in the waters of the river, which was called the Jordan, and the phenomenon of the Trinity of God, that is, the Epiphany. It is said that from the moment of Baptism Jesus Christ's way to people began.

Epiphany completes the cycle of Christmas holidays and requires special preparation. As the strict fast is observed before Christmas, so on the eve of the Epiphany it is necessary to adhere to the same strict Epiphany Eve.

Bathing in the Jordan - healing of the soul and body

For the holiday, a hole in the form of a cross is made and is called "Jordan", the river in which Jesus was baptized was called. On the night of January 19, absolutely all the water becomes holy, even from the tap. But on this day, believers still go to church in order to consecrate it and put a candle. Epiphany water is used to cure diseases, to strengthen morale and physical strength, to remove the evil eye and spoilage. A holy liquid can be washed or drunk in small sips. She is sanctified with shelter with all possessions, as well as a stable where the living creatures are kept. But dipping into the hole at Baptism is optional, especially if a person is not ready for it morally or physically. This step should be approached consciously and with faith in the heart.

Diving into the hole at Baptism is an act that not everyone can accomplish. Firstly, frost and icy water are very difficult to sustain, even from a psychological point of view, and secondly, some believers are forbidden to do so for health reasons.

How to plunge into the hole at Baptism? By this procedure is meant a threefold ablution, not necessarily with the head. Before this, one must necessarily cross himself and say a prayer, traditionally it is "Our Father".

What happens to a person's body while immersed in ice water

Bathing in the hole on Epiphany is possible even without a special procedure for hardening. The human body is used to periodic colds, which allows you to transfer a low temperature. It is very important to be prepared morally before bathing on Epiphany in the hole, and also observe all the safety rules. Next, we will consider what basic processes occur in the human body during immersion in cold water.

• As soon as the human body comes into contact with ice water, the central part of the brain awakens instantly, its work intensifies.
• Ultra-low temperature is perceived by the body as a strong stress. Basically, this situation is positive - anesthesia, spasm, inflammation and edema decrease.
• When immersed in water, the temperature of a person's body reaches forty degrees. At first glance this is very bad, but in fact there is no harm from it. This temperature lasts for a few seconds, and during this short time various microbes, harmful bacteria, viruses manage to die in the body.

For whom such a sacrament is a taboo?

How to plunge into the hole at Baptism, so as not to harm yourself? Before you go swimming, you need to consult a doctor. After all, there are many people for whom such activities are taboo. There are various diseases in which swimming in an ice-hole on Epiphany is strictly forbidden, since this can lead to death.

Such pathologies include:

• Hypertension, angina pectoris - high blood pressure is fraught with a sudden sharp narrowing of blood vessels, which can lead to such serious consequences as myocardial infarction or stroke;
• Hypotension (low blood pressure) - a sharp change in temperature is fraught with fainting, after which a person's life is completely dependent on rescuers and doctors;
• Inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs (nose, throat, ears);
• Problems of the cardiovascular system;
• Epileptic seizures, craniocerebral trauma, atherosclerosis;
• Neuritis, polyneuritis;
• High level of sugar in blood, thyrotoxicosis;
• Eye diseases;
• Pathology of the respiratory system (tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma);
• Inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system;
• Digestive diseases (ulcer, enterocolitis, hepatitis);
• Venereal diseases;
• An allergic reaction to cold.

Pros of the winter bathing

After tempering the body with cold, it is worth noting such positive aspects:

• A rush of energy, strength;
• Increase of ability to work;
• The disappearance of various types of allergic reactions;
• Improvement of blood circulation;
• Elimination of pain in the back and joints;
• The disappearance of depression;
• Normalization of sleep;
• Reduction of symptoms of bronchial asthma.
  

The minuses of winter bathing

It should be remembered that simultaneously with the pluses there are often disadvantages:

• Breathing becomes frequent and deep;
• There is a very fast heartbeat, there is a high probability of arrhythmia, hypertension;
• Blood sugar levels increase significantly, which can trigger the development of diabetes mellitus;
• Increases cholesterol in the blood, which is fraught with the appearance of atherosclerosis;
• Immunity against oncology is suppressed;
• Violated the body's protective functions aimed at combating seasonal influenza viruses and ARVI.

General Principles of Tempering

If you decide to temper your body, you need to remember that in this case a huge role is played by three factors: air, water and sunlight.

There are several common simple rules:

• Quenching procedures should be performed daily, approximately twice a day;
• Reduce the temperature of air and water should be gradual, you can not make sharp transitions;
• With each time it is recommended to increase the duration of procedures;
• In the case of mild illness, you do not need to stop the procedure, just increase the water temperature and reduce the duration of the event;
• If you are seriously ill, you need to temporarily cancel the procedure, but not more than a week. If the break was more, then you need to start all over again.
  

Key recommendations

How to plunge into the hole at Baptism? Now let's try to figure this out. If you decide to dip for the first time, then decide what you need it for. Well, if this is true faith, however, many perform the sacrament for the company with friends or because they lost the argument. To enter an ice-hole is necessary only with true faith and a brief but sincere prayer. The words that are addressed to God, must go from the heart, and recharge the immense power of water (at least, this is believed by the Orthodox).

• Ideal place for swimming will be an ice-hole, the depth of which is not more than 1.8 meters. The place for the Epiphany sacrament must meet all safety standards, because human lives depend on it. You can swim only in the presence of rescuers. The hole must be fenced in order to avoid accidental falling into the water.
• It is forbidden to douse not heated. Before stepping into the water, it is necessary to warm up properly. Undressing, waving his arms, do squats, slopes and other simple exercises. The body should be hot, but not sweaty.
• The hole must be approached in comfortable shoes, which can be easily removed. Ideally, it can be warm fur boots or woolen socks. It is important that the sole is non-slip.
• Before you start immersion in water, you should check the ladder for strength and stability.
• For reinsurance, a durable, thick rope must be dropped into the hole, one end of which is fixed on the shore. If a person finds it difficult to climb the stairs, the rope will serve as a safety net.
• It is best not to dive headlong to avoid reflex narrowing of the vessels of the brain.
• You can not jump into the ice hole forward with your head. Immersion should begin with feet.
• It is not recommended to swim in an ice-hole. Entering the water, you need to plunge on the neck three times and immediately exit.
• It is not recommended to be in the water for longer than one minute. This is fraught with a general hypothermia of the body.
• After bathing immediately, you need to wipe yourself with a dry terry towel and put on warm clothes. It should have a minimum number of rivets, buttons, hooks, laces, various fasteners - you need to dress quickly, until the body is not supercooled.
• It is recommended to drink a cup of hot tea or coffee. But the use of alcohol in the cold is strictly prohibited, both before and after dipping into the water. Alcohol has the property of expanding blood vessels, but at the same time it increases the consumption of heat. If in a simple way, this means that the first half an hour after consuming hot drinks can actually become warmer, but then the opposite effect occurs, and the person has many chances of catching a serious cold. And it is not recommended to smoke. Nicotine disrupts the circulation of blood, which increases the consumption of heat.

What should I bring with me?

• Terry towel and warm bathrobe.
• Comfortable non-slip shoes.
• Dry warm clothes.
• Swimsuit or swimming trunks.
• Thermos with tea.
• Will power and desire.

Ten rules that can not be neglected

On the basis of the above information, it is possible to single out the rules of bathing in the ice-hole on Epiphany, which in no way can be neglected:

• Consultation with a doctor;
• The right choice of a hole;
• Presence of all necessary things;
• Preheating before dipping;
• Refusal to dive headlong;
• Observance of time in water;
• Use of warm warming drinks;
• Abstention from alcohol.

If the very idea of bathing causes horror - then this should not be done. Do not forget to pray. Let this bathing bring you only the desired purification and benefit.