When can you take baptismal water? Why does not the baptismal water spoil?

From ancient history it is known that the Patriarch of Constantinople, the great theologian, the universal teacher and prelate, John Chrysostom, spoke about the holy water of the Epiphany in his sermons . It turns out that before the XII century in ancient Russia there was no tradition to consecrate water. It appeared only after the Jerusalem's liturgical charter became active in the Russian Orthodox Church, which was repeatedly criticized and abolished. But the reformer Patriarch Nikon generally forbade in 1655 to sanctify the water on the Feast of Baptism. In 1667, the Bolshevik Council of Moscow lifted the ban. Now we need to deal with a huge number of questions: when you can take baptismal water, how to use it, why it does not deteriorate, and so on.

Rite of water education

The use of the Epiphany in Christianity dates back to the second century. In the Church there was then a special rite, which was called - the Water Consecration. He was associated with the Old Testament traditions and the biblical story, telling how the John of Christ himself baptized in the Jordan River . Archaeological excavations of the East and West filled the world museums with rare specimens of special earthenware vessels, in which the holy baptismal water was kept by the ancient Christians.

Three ranks of the water consecration

Now let us dwell on when they take the baptismal water. But first you need to get acquainted with the fact that in Orthodoxy there are three ranks, according to which the water is sanctified. The first rank is held on Epiphany Eve, January 18, and on the day of Epiphany - January 19. It is on this day that the procession "on the Jordan" is made, to the local pond, for the traditional consecration of water.

The second rank is an abbreviated Grand Vocation. It is committed before baptizing a person. And the third rank is a small consecration of water, it is held on special festive days, when special prayer services are read.

Secrets of Epiphany Water

Today people come to the temple to collect the Epiphany water there. Then the question arises quite logically: when can you take baptismal water and for what? People believe that after a special ceremony and prayers, the water begins to show some of its special properties and does not deteriorate at all, which happens, incidentally, not always. Yes, indeed, a special blessing descends on the Epiphany water, and the Divine power begins to be stored in it. This is the whole secret of the baptismal water. Therefore, people who will use it with reverence will really receive sanctification and grace.

How to sanctify an apartment with baptismal water

In the great feast of Baptism, according to tradition, the baptismal water is recruited, and with the prayer "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" the walls of the dwelling, various objects and even animals are consecrated.

Then how to consecrate an apartment with baptismal water right? For this purpose, a special birch (broom) is bought in the shop or an ordinary twig is used from a tree or a bush, and everything is sprinkled with consecrated water. And also a special troparion is pronounced.

People, when they take the baptismal water, for some reason start to be deeply mistaken in such a question: is the water most healing on January 18 or 19? The main thing is to understand for yourself that water is consecrated in these two days equally. In most churches, therefore consecrated water is poured for several days in a row.

Properties of Epiphany Water

Many people are very interested in the baptismal water, its properties. People are trying to use it as a pill against all sorts of diseases, like drinking - and immediately healed. The secret of Epiphany water is that, recruited on the Feast of Baptism, it does possess powerful healing properties, but it is always accepted with prayer and faith, and only then one can receive real healing. During the consecration of water according to the Christian tradition, the grace of the Holy Spirit is called upon her, which gives her a powerful healing power.

Epiphany water. How to use

This water is not drunk to quench thirst, but to gain the strengthening of faith, the healing of the soul and body. The good power is baptismal water: its properties are really healing, basically it is used to restore mental and physical strength. And it is recommended to use a small cup of water on an empty stomach. But the holy fathers of sick people blessed the Epiphany water to drink every hour one tablespoon. It turns out that even a few drops of water taken during illness could change the course of the development of the disease. Rev. Seraphim Vyritsky claimed that consecrated oil and water help better all medicines. He advised me to sprinkle food on her.

People are always interested in: how useful is the baptismal water, how to use it? It can strengthen immunity, and a person will be resistant to infections and will become less likely to catch cold. She needs to wash herself. Ambrose Optinsky sent a bottle of consecrated water to a sick man and, to the amazement of the doctors, the incurable disease receded.

Based on the opinion of the Patriarch of Serbia, it is necessary for ourselves to understand that on a month's day a woman can not only partake of Christ's Secrets. Such a temporary state of the state remains fully functional for the service of God. And this means that she can touch the shrines at any time and kiss them, smell fragrant oils and drink consecrated water.

Holy water from the tap

Many believe that the baptismal water from the tap in the feast is also holy. However, all this, first of all, depends on the belief of the person himself. If he approaches the sacrament of Baptism completely unprepared and unbelieving, then he will not get anything good. A deeply and truly believing person will actually see that even the baptismal water from the tap is able to work miracles, and due to its unique properties it will not deteriorate at all, it will be well kept and assisted for a whole year. But due to the fact that people's faith is generally very weak, one should take the consecrated water in the church.

Answering the question when it is possible to take baptismal water, the Orthodox Church claims that all water on the ground on January 18 and 19 is consecrated and cleansed in the same way.

Epiphany water of rivers and lakes

There are a lot of questions about this. For example, is it possible to drink or prepare food from water taken from baptized water on a holiday, or where and when can we take baptismal water?

There are, of course, ponds with clean water, from which you can drink, but most of the rivers and lakes are still unfit for drinking. Every Epiphany nature need not be drunk, purified and sanctified, and therefore everything should always be treated reasonably. In the Epiphany reservoirs bathe, sprinkle objects, houses, animals and so on. But to drink this water is not worth it. We do not want to drink seawater with all the desire, so it's best to collect the consecrated water in your church and not to experiment.

How to store baptismal water correctly

First of all, we must always remember that even the Epiphany water in all its physical parameters still remains water. But according to the metaphysical after the baptismal rite acquires the divine power of sanctification. However, to keep this water for a long time, it will also require some care.

To water enough for the whole year, do not tear and drag it with whole tubs. In fact, only a small amount is enough to last until the next Baptism. After all, this water has one special property: diluted with ordinary water, it all consecrates it. It is desirable to store this water near the icons and away from the sun's rays, and it is better to sign it immediately so as not to accidentally use it for other purposes.

Reverent storage

There was a case where an old woman had holy water since 1947 and was usable, because she did not spoil at all, as she was guarded with reverence and great love.

But the painful state of the human soul can also affect the water. Water is bad at places where people quarrel and utter abusive words, where fornication and adultery. Through the water, God can show all this disgusting desolation in the house. Now the answer to the question of why the Epiphany water does not deteriorate is clear enough.

But some of the negligent owners spoiled the water stored in the dishes, which remained the same labels from alcoholic or carbonated drinks. Even if the water has deteriorated, this is not an excuse to pour it, you can not drink it, but you can sprinkle it. But the priests still recommend not to be too lazy, go to church and recruit another consecrated water.

One case is related to holy water. The woman put the sham cards in secret to the Easter basket , because they told her that they would speak the truth better. But when they received drops of consecrated water, they literally burned the paper like hot melted tin particles. Therefore, people need to be careful not to use the shrine for their magical purposes, since God can be ashamed of this in the most unexpected way.

The concept of "Holy water"

It turns out that the very concept of "holy water" is wrong, there is a right word - sanctified. From the Greek language "Megalo agiaism" means "Great shrine", but not "holy" ("Agia"). The word "holy" speaks of the holiness of the subject, but does not make it holy, because "One is holy, one is Lord ...". By virtue of the image and likeness, a person can be holy or gifts and temples, because this can be the place of a special stay of the Lord. And water can only be sanctified or shrine. It is consecrated with great triumph, it is given a lot of honors and attach great importance.

Many do not know what to do if the baptismal water is spilled, and whether it can be poured into a sink. The shed consecrated water is wiped with a clean towel and squeezed into a pot with a house plant or in a pond, well, or simply poured into the ground, but not into a sink and into the public sewer, where it is simply unacceptable.

Spoiled or not spoiled

Some people wonder why the Epiphany water does not spoil? As mentioned earlier, water can still deteriorate, primarily because it is taken and poured into an inadequately clean vessel or draws water from a contaminated source, or else it is stored in the sun or in a hot place. This attitude in agiosm, when the water has a musty smell, greenery, sediment, mold, can serve as a reason for the disgrace of unkind people.

Sanctified water can heal only by the will of God, and not because it has some magical power. The Lord works on man through the consecrated water element. And He does it in many different ways - someone gives a blessing for healing, and someone will admonish right up to illnesses.

A true Christian

Epiphany water, prayer and faith are the true weapons of a true Christian. Orthodox believers always have a need to pray, consecrate their homes and everything around, and thereby dedicate their lives to serving the Lord. Therefore, in the house of a Christian, there are always icons, vessels with consecrated water, fertile oil, and in antiquity the antidor is kept for daily water intake, and this is done with prayer. Such communication with sacred objects gives the opportunity to feel the true Divine power, which strengthens and protects.

If you remember the Gospel stories, then the Lord did not just heal people, but blew, spat, anointed the blind eyes, made the shaving or put his fingers into the ears of his deaf person.

Double rank of Great Consecration

In general, this double order of the Great Sanctification of water has long existed traditionally only in the Russian Orthodox Church. In ancient churches, water is consecrated only on Christmas Eve, that is before the very holiday of Baptism. On Christmas Eve, Vespers of the Enlightenment holiday itself is directly served, this great day is also called so. And then, at the end of Vechernya, the course to the source is completed for the fulfillment of the Great Water Consecration.

The tradition of the double order of water consecration dates back to the 15th century, at that time not all villages had churches, and therefore the priests traveled around the villages to consecrate water there on the very day of Baptism. So this tradition was canonized - to consecrate water on the Feast of Baptism, although today there is no such need. Now the answer to the question of when to take Epiphany water will be more clear. And that's why it's best to get water on the Baptism Eve - January 18 (January 5), and who could not do it on Christmas Eve comes one day later - on January 19. The properties of water that on Christmas Eve, that on the day of Baptism are the same, so you do not need to double it.

Epiphany water, prayer and faith are the true weapons of a true Christian.