The word "baptism" is translated from Greek as"Immersion". Once upon a time, the Jews, according to the commandment of their God the Father, had to come to the Jordan River and wash away their sins, in order to appear renewed and clean before the Messiah. For the first time this term is mentioned in the Bible in close connection with the name of John the Baptist. Further in the article, in all details, we will figure out what to do at the Baptism of the Lord and how exactly this holiday is held in Russia.
According to the plan of God the Father, the Messiah, before he beginshis way, dedicated to the salvation of the world, was, like all Jews, to bathe in the waters of the Jordan. To perform this ordinance on earth, John the Baptist was sent. When Jesus was 30 years old, he came to the Jordan River. At first, John the Baptist refused to conduct the rite, considering himself unworthy. However, Jesus insisted, and over him the sacrament of Baptism was performed. When Christ came out of the water, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. In honor of this event, the church feast of Epiphany is celebrated.
First, let's see what to dobefore Baptism. 11 festive days of Christmas Eve, preceding the Epiphany, according to the church tradition are considered to be fast. That is at this time you can take any desired food. The last 12 days - the eve of Baptism proper - is lean. January 18 you can not eat fast food, and also it is necessary to pray diligently.
On the eve of the holiday, according to tradition, the church holdsa very important preparatory ordinance. On the evening of January 18, at the end of the Liturgy, a rite of water is performed. This tradition also has ancient roots. According to the church, entering the Jordan, Christ forever sanctified all the water on earth. However, since mankind continues to commit sins, periodic purification by its church is still necessary.
Therefore, it is possible to collect holy water even from the tap already late on the evening of January 18. The second great water consecration takes place already at the very Epiphany - during the procession.
Now let's figure out what to doon Baptism. Unlike Christmas, no noisy celebrations, songs and dances are associated with this holiday. Virtually all baptismal rites are based on the tradition of consecrating water in lakes, ponds and rivers. Before the Epiphany in the ice breaks through a hole in the form of a cross, in memory of past biblical events called the Jordan. Church service in honor of the holiday begins at about 12 am on January 19 and continues until the morning. You can defend it, or you can just come in the morning to the ice-hole. At the baptism, priests and residents of the city or village gather around her. Usually the hole is made on the nearest pond to the church or settlement. A religious procession takes place around it, and then a moleben is served. After that, the consecration of water follows. Then the believers dial it directly from the ice-hole into the containers brought with them. Epiphany water is considered curative. She is allowed to drink sick family members, treat her pets, sprinkle the rooms. It is also believed that the Epiphany water is able to drive away evil spirits, remove evil eye and spoilage.
What do you need to do in Epiphany yet?Modern believers, as in the past centuries, very often and completely dipped right into the hole, even in spite of the frost. Of course, it is not necessary to do this according to church traditions. Usually such a procedure is performed only by sick people who wish to be cured.
Of the healthy traditionally in the ice dippedOnly those who on Christmas Day spent some fortune telling, rituals or rituals, originating from pagan times. Sanctified water washes away all the sins associated with dealing with evil forces.
Of course, you need to be a very brave person to decide to plunge into the hole in the frost. However, as has been noted by many, none of those who have bathed in Baptism ever fell ill.
After the end of the rite, believers diverge onhouses, taking with them recruited from the ice-hole into the water. What do you do when you come from the church service? Going home, you first need to sprinkle all the corners in the room brought by water. According to the old belief, such an action will help to relieve the home of negativity, bring order and peace to it. Those who live in the village should also sprinkle all the outbuildings. It is very good to pour a little consecrated water and into the well.
There is one more interestingtradition. On the eve of Baptism, especially believing people buy somewhere a couple of pigeons. Upon coming from service, they release birds to freedom. This rite is held in honor of the descent into Christ of the Holy Spirit at the time of His baptism in the Jordan. If you have a soul and to hold such a rite, it will surely also become a great answer to the question of what to do at the Baptism of the Lord.
Traditionally, it is believed that the water in the ice-hole, nearwhich was held the procession, remains consecrated a week after the holiday. If desired, you can plunge into it during this time for the removal of diseases and failures.
So, what should be done on Baptism and after it,we found. The believer should fast on May 18, and by 12 o'clock go to church. Now let's see what to do on this holiday is absolutely impossible. To begin with, it's not worth bothering to get too much water from the hole in Epiphany. Enough will be a jar or a pair of plastic bottles. Do not quarrel or swear at the service, the procession and the moleben. The collected water should be brought home and used only for treatment and removal of the negative. Do not dilute it with any other liquids. Including ordinary water. This is considered a bad sign. It is also worth knowing that from very impious thoughts, baptismal water brought from the ice-hole, after a while can lose all its medicinal properties.
What you need to do at the Baptism of the Lord, you nowyou know. Next, consider what rules exist for the rite of the adoption of children into Christianity. Baptism, as already mentioned, originates from ancient times. Everyone wishing to become a Christian must go through this rite. Small children in our time are baptized very often. Therefore, further we will give some advice to parents on how to properly prepare for this sacrament, how to behave during it and how - after.
For some time before the appointed day of the sacrament should be chosen for the baby godparents. It can be absolutely any people, at the choice of parents, except:
Before the sacrament, the chosen godparents must pass throughthree-day post. They also need to confess and receive communion. The godmother traditionally buys a new shirt or tutu for the baby, and the godfather - a cross. Parents will have to acquire a risk. This is the name of a christening diaper with laces, which the child is taken to after immersing him in a vat. Rizku after the rite is not erased. She is folded and cleaned in a closet. Traditionally, it should accompany a Christian all his life.
Among other things, parents and godparents shouldto learn the prayer "The Symbol of Faith". In some churches priests after baptism give read it on paper, but not in all. You can also make a "cheat sheet" in advance independently.
Now let's see what to do about the baptism of a child? Passes this ordinance in the following order:
This is the way the child's baptism takes place."What should I do?", As you can see, the question is not too complicated. Parents need to simply choose the godparents and tell them what actions will be part of their duties during the ritual.
After the child officially becomesOrthodox Christian, he will need to be regularly communicated in the church. Until seven years this rite is held without confession. The very sacrament of the Baptism of the child, of course, should end with a solemn feast at home.
This holiday is really very important for everyonewithout exception of Christians - Baptism January 19. What you need to do on this day according to the church tradition you now know. We hope that our article will also help to properly prepare for the Baptism of the Child. In any case, in such important sacred days you need to try to throw away all negative thoughts and tune in only to good.
