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Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany

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Orthodox believers celebrate Epiphany


19.01.2022

Photo credit: mos.ru (CC BY 4.0)

The Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany, is celebrated by Orthodox believers on Wednesday, January 19, TASS reports. It is considered the oldest Christian holiday and is dedicated to the baptism of Jesus Christ, which was performed by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

Divine services are held in Orthodox churches in the morning, then they bless the water, as before the holiday on Epiphany Eve. It is believed that the water can be stored for a long time, and heals diseases, helps fight evil forces. Ponds and lakes are also consecrated on Epiphany.

In the first centuries of Christianity, the holidays of the Nativity and the Baptism of the Lord were celebrated on the same day and had a common name - Epiphany. But over the centuries, two separate holidays stood out, and the days between them began to be called Christmastide (holy days.)

One of the traditions of the holiday is the Epiphany Bath. It is believed that bathing in ice water helps to get rid of sins and protects from diseases. At the same time, swimming in the ice hole is a folk tradition. The Church does not consider it mandatory.

According to experts, when a person is immersed in very cold water, endorphins are released in the body, a feeling of delight and even happiness appears.

This tradition has gained great popularity in Russia, but the pandemic has made its adjustments. This year, the bathing is canceled in Perm, Kaliningrad, Tomsk, Ulan-Ude, Khanty-Mansiysk, Sochi, Krasnoyarsk and in many other places, it was decided to refuse bathing. In Moscow, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Tatarstan and the Trans-Baikal Territory, it is still possible to dip into an ice hole. However, the authorities and the clergy advised everyone to take caution, not to forget about social distance. Lifeguards, doctors and police are on duty at rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Ministry of Emergency Situations predicts that more than 1.3 million Russians will take part in Epiphany Bath.

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