Every year more and moreOrthodox Christians celebrating the feast of Baptism dive into the hole. But, unfortunately, not everyone thinks about the consequences, which such a heroic decision can lead to. Therefore, before doing this act, it is necessary to understand how to dip into the baptismal font properly.
Baptism is an ancient Orthodox holiday,whose roots go back to the distant past. Knowledgeable people have told us that he has a direct relationship to such an outstanding personality as John the Baptist. According to an old legend, one day John met a young Jesus who dedicated him to the Sacrament of Baptism. According to Christ, it was this preacher who was to conduct the rite of the baptism of the Son of God. Realizing that John doubted the words of the Messiah, the higher powers sent him a sign in the form of a dove. At the same time, the preacher heard a divine voice from Heaven. Convinced of the truthfulness of the words of Christ, John fulfilled his request. It is this date, falling on January 19 (according to the new style) or January 6 (old), and it became a religious holiday.
Those who are interested in how to dip intofonts, it will not hurt to get acquainted with the traditions associated with this holiday. Orthodox Christians begin to celebrate this great day the day before. On January 18, Epiphany Eve, popularly known as the Hungry Coot, falls on. On this day, it is customary to adhere to the strictest fasting. On the eve of the feast of the Epiphany, our ancestors usually cooked lean kutya. During the evening meal on Epiphany Christmas Eve on the table must have been such dishes as oat jelly, pancakes and kutya.
The most important event related to EpiphanyLord, the rite of the water consecration is considered. For its conduct in the ice covering the surface of a river or lake, a cruciform-like wormwood, called the Jordan, is cut in advance. After midnight, the ministers of the church consecrate water, and parishioners are dipped into it.
To those who do not know how to properly baptizeplunge into the hole, for sure it will be interesting to know, celebrated this day, our distant ancestors. On the night before the feast, the church service began, during which the priests performed the consecration ceremony of water. It was believed that after that it takes incredible healing power, so all believers who want to get at least a little "magic" fluid, relieving spiritual and bodily diseases, brought with them a container of water. It was recruited in the nearest fresh water reservoirs.
To conduct a rite of sanctification on the surfaceA frozen hole was made in the frozen river, resembling a cross in shape. As a rule, these actions were led by representatives of the Church. In villages where there was not a single priest, the rite was conducted by the elder or the oldest man in the village. After reading all the necessary prayers, the local population was armed with various containers and filled them with miraculous baptismal water. Later it was used for drinking, bathing, cooking and even sprinkling the corners of their homes. Our ancestors believed that this water helps to destroy the evil spirit.
Those who want to learn how to dip infont for Baptism, it will be useful to get acquainted with the opinions of specialists. Unfortunately, skeptics and physicians to this day can not reach any consensus on issues related to the safety of bathing in the ice hole. Some of them believe that these actions can be equated to walrus, and therefore they do not cause harm to human health. The rest, on the contrary, bring a lot of arguments, confirming the harm of this occupation.
Precisely the same arguments do not subside on the essence of thisrite. Even priests can not come to a common opinion on this issue. Someone sees in this ritual echoes of paganism, someone considers such actions "youthful" fun, and someone sincerely believes that bathing in icy water can heal from a lot of chronic ailments.
People who are interested in how to dip infonts, it will not hurt to first become acquainted with the contraindications to this occupation. After all, immersion in icy water becomes a real shock for the human body. Categorically forbidden to plunge into the hole people who have problems with the cardiovascular system and nasopharynx. Before you dive right into the hole at Baptism, a woman and a man need to remember if there is a history of such diseases as laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis or maxillary sinusitis. All of them are considered a serious obstacle on the way to immersion in the font.
Do not climb into the icy water and those who have recentlysuffered a heart attack, chemotherapy or surgery. Contraindications to such bathing are pregnancy, hypertension, disorders in the work of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological and venereal diseases.
Those who do not know how to dip intofonts, be sure to get acquainted with a list of things that you need to bring with you to the place of immersion in the water. So, in your bag there must be a set of dry change clothes, a terry dressing gown, a towel, a swimsuit (swimming trunks) and shoes on a stable non-slip sole. You can take a thermos with hot tea. This drink will help you get warm faster after bathing. To perform a ritual ablution little to know how to dive into the font. A woman still needs to think about what she will do it. It is not recommended to dress up in lacy swimsuits decorated with ruffles. In this case, it would be more appropriate to have decent indoor clothes.
Experienced experts advise in advanceprepare your body for this occupation. It is advisable for a couple of months before this to begin hardening procedures. Otherwise, swimming in the ice hole can lead to a serious cold. You need to start by taking a contrast shower with a gradual decrease in the water temperature. After a couple of weeks, you can proceed to dousing, and only then try to immerse yourself in icy water.
Those who do not know how to dip intofonts, you must remember that you can do this only in specially designated places. In order to avoid serious trouble, you can not climb at night, drunk in the village pond. Optimal depth of the font should not be more than 1.8 meters. To prevent accidental falls, it must have special fences and handrails.
Immediately before diving into the ice-holeit is necessary to warm up slightly. To do this, you can wave your arms and make a few inclines or sit-ups. It is important not to overdo it. The body should not be sweaty. It is necessary to enter the hole very carefully, holding on to the handrails, so as not to fall accidentally on slippery wet steps. Clergymen assure that it is impossible to enter the water without prayer. Therefore, entering the ice-hole, one must certainly turn to God. It is important that your words are sincere and go from the heart.
Getting out of the ice water, you need to carefullyrub yourself with a towel brought with you, change into warm, dry clothes and drink hot tea. It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol before and after bathing.
Unlike baptismal bathing, you can do thisin any season. In order for these actions to have the maximum effect, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules. Going to the holy spring, you need to bring a cross, a holy water tank, a towel and a bathing shirt. In the healing water must be immersed three times, plunging into it with his head.
When you come home, you need to dry your bathing shirt.It should be worn instead of nighttime pajamas. Knowledgeable people say that until the next wash, all the healing properties are preserved on it. Collected holy water is recommended to drink a little on an empty stomach after a morning prayer. To get the maximum effect you need to sincerely believe in everything that you do.
During the immersion in the student's Epiphany waterIt is necessary to observe the basic recommendations, capable to save you from possible troubles. To avoid the risk of not finding an ice hole, it is strictly forbidden to dive under the ice. Dip should only be in specially provided places, equipped with thick ropes, on which knots are tied. It can not be released from the hands before leaving the hole. It is desirable that representatives of rescue services are present nearby.
