What can you do with holy water? How to use holy water? Where to get holy water? What to do with holy water? Why is water blessed in special vessels?

Holy water– 1) water of ordinary composition and original origin (well, spring, lake, river, tap), miraculously acquired, as a result of a prayer service called , the properties of sanctifying and healing (according to the faith of the people who piously use it); 2) (sometimes, in some understanding) water from a holy source.
All our lives there is a great shrine next to us - holy water (in Greek, ἁγίασμα - shrine).
We first plunge into it when, upon accepting this, we are immersed three times in a font filled with holy water. Holy water in the Sacrament of Baptism washes away the sinful impurities of a person, renews and revives him in new life in .
Holy water is necessarily present during the consecration of temples and all objects used in the church, during the consecration of residential buildings, buildings, and any household item. We are sprinkled with holy water at religious processions and prayer services.

« Blessed water, – wrote Saint Demetrius of Kherson, – has the power to sanctify the souls and bodies of all who use it" She, accepted with faith and prayer, heals our bodily illnesses. After the confession of the pilgrims, the monk always gave them to drink from the cup of holy Epiphany water.

Is it possible to sprinkle holy water on unclean places?

There is the power of the cross as something protecting, like an exorcism. We can sanctify something in the sense of “filling with grace,” but we sprinkle something (say, a toilet) with baptismal holy water so that no evil is hidden there, and not for the consumption of holy things there.

Is it possible to drink holy water on an empty stomach?

According to tradition, holy water is taken on an empty stomach in the morning, which is understandable: first of all, a person eats the holy thing, and then proceeds to ordinary food. As for the remaining days, in the Typikon (Typikon, chapter 48 - month book, January 6, 1st “zri”). It is said that it is unwise to abstain from holy water because of eating food:
« Let it be known to everyone about holy water: those who separate themselves from holy water for the reason that they have already tasted food are not doing good, for the grace of God is given for the sanctification of the world and all creation. We also sprinkle it everywhere, in all unclean places, and even under our feet. And where is the intelligence of those who do not drink it because they eat food?».

Holy water

January 19 is one of the great holidays for believers - the Epiphany of the Lord. This holiday raises many questions: when do you need to collect water, where to store it and what to use it for? Is it necessary to swim in an ice hole?

The priest of the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Word in Vagankovo, Sergiy Matyushin, answers.

“Some of my friends say that Epiphany water should be collected on January 18, others say that on January 19. When is the right time to draw holy water?”

Anna D., Moscow

There really are many superstitions among the people about the traditions of the great feast of the Epiphany. The most common false belief is that the water consecrated on the eve of the holiday - January 18 and on the day of Epiphany - January 19, is different. Some even claim that the water collected on January 19 is “stronger” than that taken on January 18. This is all fiction.

This is how it happened historically,

That water is blessed twice: the first time - on the eve of Baptism in the temple. And the next day - January 19, according to custom, they go to consecrate living water- springs, seas, oceans, lakes, rivers. The main thing is that on both the first and second days of the holiday, water is blessed in exactly the same way.

Not worth it healing properties Epiphany water perceive it as a pill that you took - and everything that bothered you immediately went away. Epiphany water is a great shrine, therefore it really has healing properties. And if you accept it reverently, with prayer, with faith, then you can receive healing.

Some practical advice. In some churches, Epiphany water is poured for several days after January 19. So, if you are unable to stand in a long line, check with the temple for the water distribution schedule. It is advisable to come for holy water with a can. Glassware may break. At home, so as not to confuse holy water with anything else, special stickers are placed on the dishes in which it is stored. It is advisable to store water next to the home iconostasis.

"Tell me what to do with Epiphany water? How and what to use it for?”

Irina R., Kazan

On the day of Epiphany, when holy water is brought home, it is advisable to sprinkle the room with it, so that the Lord will sanctify the house with His grace. Now in stores you can buy a kropiltse - a special broom. He is dipped in holy water and sprinkled on the walls of the house with the prayer: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Who knows, the troparion of Epiphany is sung - this is a short prayer for the holiday.

The consecration of water is the invocation of the grace of the Holy Spirit upon it. Epiphany water has great healing power. Therefore, a believer drinks holy water not just to quench thirst, but to heal from illness or spiritual despondency. You can drink a small glass of water every day on an empty stomach to strengthen your physical and mental strength.

Saint Dmitry of Kherson said that “blessed water has the power to sanctify the souls and bodies of all those who use it.” But for special needs you can drink it at any time. Elder Hieroschemamonk Seraphim Vyritsky, when someone was very sick, gave his blessing to take a tablespoon of holy water every hour.

There are cases where literally a few drops of water drunk by a patient changed the course of the disease. The same Seraphim Vyritsky always advised sprinkling food and the food itself with Epiphany water. He said that there is no stronger medicine than holy water and blessed oil.

Holy water should not be taken in buckets. And a small amount will be enough until the next Epiphany. The special property of holy water is that, when added to ordinary water, it also sanctifies it. Therefore, Epiphany water can be poured into containers and added to regular water - “a drop of holy water sanctifies the sea.”

“Are there rules for swimming in an ice hole, and is it true that those who bathe in an ice hole at Epiphany are all their sins washed away?”

Elena S., Tver

No it is not true. Although people have such a belief. But nothing magically happens in the church. The traditions of swimming in cold ice holes are not directly related to the holiday of Epiphany itself. These baths are not obligatory and, most importantly, do not cleanse a person of sins. Swimming in an ice hole is not a sacrament of the church, but a folk tradition.

Why do people have a desire to take a dip and wash away all their sins? Because it’s easier this way: you dip three times and that’s it, you’re clean. And you don’t need to do any spiritual work on yourself. It is not right.

There is a specially established sacrament in the church - confession, at which sins are forgiven if a person sincerely repents of them. A person prepares for this sacrament, analyzes his life, his actions, relationships with people.

There are no hard and fast rules on how to immerse yourself at Epiphany. But, as a rule, swimming means immersing your head in water three times. At the same time, the believer is baptized and says: “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!”

“Why do people take a dip in the so-called holy springs? Can water really cure something?”

Valentina G., Omsk

Holy springs are not ordinary bodies of water. Their appearance

Associated with the name of some saint. These places are blessed. Grace is the power of God. And people bathe in the spring to receive this grace.

If a person comes to such a shrine and immerses himself, having firm faith and a desire to partake of grace, then he will receive it. But does everyone receive the same grace? Those who have more faith will receive more. The Lord himself gives grace through faith and if he sees that this person is ready to repent.

Believers plunge in order to partake of grace and be healed of physical and spiritual ailments. I know that no one has ever gotten a cold after swimming in the spring. Sometimes people receive more serious healings. But they are not given to everyone. After all, God rules the world wisely. For example, a person, falling ill, does not have the opportunity to commit this or that sin. Therefore, he does not benefit from quick healing. You have to suffer.

The Gospel describes such a story. There was a pool at the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem. Sick people lay near her and waited for the Angel to descend onto the water. When this happened, the one who first plunged into the font was healed immediately. At this font lay a man who had been ill for 38 years. The Lord asked him if he wanted to be healthy? He replied that yes, but someone always managed to dive into the font ahead of him. Then the Lord himself healed him not only of physical illnesses, but also spiritual ones.

So the healing of people in holy springs depends not only on the degree of faith, but also on the degree of readiness for this miracle.

“Is it true that on the day of Epiphany even holy water flows from the tap? And how does Epiphany water differ from that which is given in the church all year round?”

Ekaterina V., St. Petersburg

Any miracle and sacrament of the church is associated with a person’s faith. If a person approaches the sacrament without believing, then he will receive nothing. God enters a person when a person is willing and ready to accept him. The Church says that the entire water element on these two days - January 18 and 19 - is cleansed and sanctified.

A person with deep faith will receive holy water even from a tap. It will not deteriorate throughout the year and will have all the properties of holy water that are inherent in the water of great consecration.

But we have little faith, that’s why we take water from the church. Throughout the year, you can take water for minor consecration in the temple. The Lesser Blessing of Water is performed many times throughout the year at prayer services. A prayer service is a short service in which the priest, on behalf of those praying, prays to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints.

Believers usually order a water-blessing prayer if they themselves are sick or if their relatives are unwell. Then they take this holy water home and drink it with prayer and faith, asking the Lord for deliverance from ailments.

Prayer for accepting prosphora and holy water

Lord my God, may Your holy gift and prosphora and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Your infinite mercy through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

The most detailed description: holy water how to use prayer - for our readers and subscribers.

Prayer to Holy Water- this is the greatest prayer flowing from the lips of an Orthodox Christian.

Holy Water is the greatest church shrine. Holy water represents God's grace. Its main qualities are that it cleanses, sanctifies and strengthens. That's why prayer to holy water also has cleansing, sanctifying and strengthening qualities.

First Orthodox man immersed in holy water at baptism, when the baby is dipped into the font.

Holy water - required element ritual during the consecration of buildings, machines, objects. Holy water is sprinkled on parishioners during prayer services.

On the day of Epiphany every Orthodox Christian carries home a vessel with holy water, carefully preserves it as the greatest shrine, with prayer to holy water receives communion in illnesses and all infirmities.

Prayer to holy water

Lord my God, may Thy holy gift be: prosphora and Thy holy water for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Thy infinite mercy through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

The beginning of the world is water, and the beginning of the Gospel is Jordan. A sensual light shone from the water, for the Spirit of God rushed over the top of the water and commanded the light to shine out of the darkness. From the Jordan the light of the Holy Gospel shone, for, as the holy evangelist writes, “from that time,” that is, from the time of Baptism, Jesus began to preach and say: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matt. 4:17). With His Baptism, Jesus Christ “drowned the sins of the whole world in the waters of the Jordan” and sanctified the watery nature.

Even in its natural state - as a gift from God - holy water has some healing properties. So, for example, the source cut out of the rock by Moses flowed out, of course, not ordinary water, but special water. The water in the Source of the Samaritan, dug by the forefather Jacob and consecrated by the Savior’s conversation near it, was not simple. Not plain water, according to the belief of Christians from ancient times to the present day, in the Jordan River, consecrated by the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ who was baptized in these waters...

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Holy water how to use prayer

Christmas post has a special mood. After all Christmas- This is the celebration of the presence of God in the world. And this is why fasting was established so that on the day of the Nativity of Christ we purified ourselves with repentance, prayer and bodily fasting, so that with a pure heart, soul and body we could reverently meet the Son of God who appeared in the world and so that, in addition to the usual gifts and sacrifices, we could offer Him is our pure heart and the desire to follow Him. further

HOLY WATER

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Your site is excellent. Continue to promote it and I am sure that in a year the number of positive reviews in your guest book will increase significantly. Good luck! Alexey (Tver)

I would like to say a special thank you for the article “To the Holy Jordan through minefields..”! A low bow for her, as if she herself had visited the Holy Jordan and saw pigeons circling over the holy river, heard the smell of meadow grass and felt the bitterness Dead Sea. Thank you. This is a real gift for a great holiday. Happy Feast of the Holy Epiphany, our dear Orthodox Christians. Ekaterina (Berlin)

About drinking holy water

HOLY WATER, CONSECRED BY THE SMALL RIGHT,

which happens at all prayer services and holidays (except Epiphany). Epiphany water is different from other holy water and is called a great shrine.

There are many cases of relief from illnesses with the help of holy water. Medicine does not deny its healing properties. But how to use holy water in everyday life?

• Holy water should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach or in the evening before bed (but not from a common container).
• In case of a very serious illness or if a person is in a state of intense spiritual struggle or despondency, it can be drunk in unlimited quantities, regardless of food intake.
• After drinking, you need to pray for healing.
• For pain or just a sore spot, you can apply a compress moistened with holy water.
• It is customary to drink holy water with prayer:

“Lord, my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities according to Your infinite mercy through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen."

• Holy water has enormous healing powers. There are known cases when a few drops of such water, poured into the mouth of an unconscious patient, brought him to his senses and changed the course of the disease. But this does not mean that you do not need to see a doctor. A special property of holy water is that, added even in small quantities to ordinary water, it imparts beneficial properties to it.
• Holy water should be stored near the icon or behind the icon. Just please label the bottle or label it accordingly. Be careful that your loved ones do not accidentally pour out holy water or use it irreverently. You cannot store such water in the refrigerator. You should not keep it near food.
• This water is not given to animals.
• You can only sprinkle it on your home (while reading a prayer), a car, or some other thing, also clothes, and even pets.
• If the water has spoiled, it must be poured into a river or other natural source. Holy water should not be poured into a sink or drain. Holy water is not thrown onto the ground. It is poured into an “untrampled” place, that is, into a place where people do not walk ( don't trample feet) and dogs do not run. You can pour water into the river, you can flower pot, you can go to a clean place under a tree.

HOLY WATER SHOULD NOT ONLY BE STORED CAREFULLY, BUT ALSO BE USED REGULARLY.

• It is unacceptable to keep water “in reserve” forever if it was brought from the temple once for Epiphany according to the principle “so that it is in the house, because everyone has it.” This is a kind of imprisonment of the shrine. The grace of holy water does not decrease, no matter how long it is stored, but people who do not turn to the shrine are robbing themselves.
• Once consecrated water is always consecrated. In the case when we have little holy water left, but we need some significant amount, we can add holy water to ordinary water. All water will be sanctified.

Finally, the most important:

Holy water will not bring us any benefit if we spend our lives away from God. If we want to feel God in our lives, to feel His help, His participation in our affairs, we must become Christians not only in name, but in essence.

To be a Christian means:

Fulfill God's commandments, love God and neighbors;

Participate in Church Sacraments and perform home prayer;

Work on correcting your soul.

ALL ABOUT BAPTISTIC WATER

Epiphany water - Agiasma - water in which God Himself is present

This is a church shrine, which was touched by the grace of God, and which is required.

What exactly is the power of Epiphany water, where does it come from and how to handle it. Here we will answer the most popular questions.

Based on the results of a series of experiments by scientists that were carried out over two years, it is clear that the optical density values ​​of water from the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ was baptized, are practically.

In our time, the “silver” theory has been quietly replaced by the “energy” theory.

By this the Church puts a limit to the spread of sinful impurities and prevents the multiplication of the disastrous consequences of our sins.

On Epiphany, precisely on January 19, a miracle occurs annually on the Jordan River. + video

This action is watched by a great many visitors: therefore, there is a colossal number of eyewitnesses who saw with their own eyes how the waters are.

To the Holy Jordan through minefields. (in two parts). ..This is time travel! Here is the point of contact with civilization, here is Gas station your feelings.

Listen to the words of prayers and chants, look closely at the rituals, and you will feel that there is more than just an ancient rite here. further

By this the Church puts a limit to the spread of sinful impurities and prevents the multiplication of the disastrous consequences of our sins. further

Meeting with the shrine

At the end of the prayers, our hostess bowed several times, and then took out a bottle from the nightstand under the icons and, pouring something into a small glass, crossed herself, and drank.

This pile did not fit into grandma’s morning routine. No, we didn't think it was anything alcoholic, but still curious.

HOLIDAY IS SOON

Saint and wonderworker Spyridon, Bishop of Trimifuntsky

But still, what about the New Year? Go to bed with a pillow over your head so as not to hear firecrackers exploding in the yard? No compromises, no festive table? . further

until the birth of Christ remains

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Prayer for accepting the holy prosphora and water

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God's grace extends to people through various attributes, icons, prayer books, and church items. Blessed energy can be obtained through prayers for the acceptance of prosphora and holy water, which form a single whole.

Special bread is prepared in the bakery at the church and the baking conditions and composition are strictly observed. Such work is trusted only to pious people.

Conditions for receiving prosphora and blessed water

There are some rules in Orthodoxy on how to perform the ritual of receiving blessed water and prosphora:

• The prayer before taking the prosphora is read on an empty stomach and washed down with blessed water, which is used for various spiritual and physical illnesses.
• The ritual is always carried out before the main meal of another meal; water must be poured from the dishes into a glass or cup.
• On the eve of Holy Communion they do not eat prosphora.
• It is forbidden to treat or give prosphora to unbaptized people.
• The very use of holy water will be of no benefit. They drink it after prayer with a request to send mental and physical strength, then they ask for health. This should be understood not only as deliverance from illness, but also from sinfulness, because according to the canons of the church, it is for them that suffering and illness are sent.
• Finishing prayer request get rid of addictions, spiritual and physical weakness.

Text of the prayer before accepting the prosphora:

Lord my God, may Your holy gift (prosphora) be

Your holy water for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind,

To strengthen my mental and physical strength, to the health of my soul and body,

To conquer my passions and infirmities by infinite mercy

Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

Then they eat antidor and drink blessed water with prayer words.

The meaning of prosphora

The origin of antidor has deep roots and means with Greek language“offering”, which was carried to prayer services. Offerings such as bread, wine, oil, and candles were taken by the deacons. Then the people who offered food and wax were mentioned in prayer services during the blessing of food. Prosphora was the name given to the bread that was used during services. Then they began to prepare the breads the way they are now in churches.

The prosphora consists of two parts:

• one part at the top with a unique seal of church symbols, the bottom one looks like a small loaf of bread;
• the lower part of the loaf represents the origin of man, and the upper part represents the spiritual human essence.

The value of prosphora is greater than that of an ordinary product. The products used in cooking also have symbolic meaning. Yeast and blessed water symbol human soul, and liquid with flour of the physical body.

For divine services, five antidoras are needed, one for communion, another in the name of the Mother of God, the third for the angelic rank, the fourth for health, the fifth for repose.

To receive prosphora, you need to order Sorokoust “For Health” or “For Repose” after the service. The pieces are taken for the names written on the note. A small piece of antidor is consumed in church during the period Holy Week. They eat it during illnesses and special occasions with the words “Christ is Risen.” Artos - a whole prosphora is given after the end of Easter services.

The meaning of holy water

Few people know about the existence of two types of blessed water. One type, which is performed every Sunday in church, the other only on Christmas Eve and on the feast of Epiphany on January 19. Water that has received consecration is called agiasma.

To consecrate the water, the sacred minister lowers the cross into the water three times with prayers. As a result, she is endowed with divine energy. After baptism, the shrine is collected and brought home; it does not deteriorate all year, it personifies divine power, and it is protected as a shrine. It has sacred qualities and cleanses the mind of negative thoughts, strengthens the soul and body. They sprinkle it on the home, give it to wash during the evil eye, damage, and drive away evil forces. This water is also used for the consecration of temples, apartments, cars, icons, and household items.

Immersion three times a day on the feast of Epiphany washes away sinful evil spirits and brings us closer to the Lord. Water is used during consecration, prayer services and religious processions. The Church preaches that agiasma is the embodiment of spiritual life that connects heaven and earth.

Saint Demetrius of Kherson pointed to medicinal properties water, Seraphim of Sarov gave to pilgrims, Ambrose of Optina treated, Seraphim of Vyrinsky advised to use it for illnesses.

Prayer for eating prosphora and holy water makes a person virtuous, illuminates him to serve the Lord and drives away devilish forces.

Watch another video about how to properly take prosphora and holy water:

What you need to know about Holy Water?

What is Holy Water? Is there a prayer for accepting prosphora and Holy water? Why does the Church pray for water sources? You will learn about this in the article!

Prayer for accepting prosphora and holy water

Lord my God, may Thy holy gift and Thy holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, according to Thy infinite mercy through the prayers of the Holy One Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

About the use of holy water

All our lives we have a great shrine next to us - holy water.

Blessed water is an image of God's grace: it cleanses believers from spiritual impurities, sanctifies and strengthens them for the feat of salvation in God.

We first plunge into it in baptism, when, upon receiving this sacrament, we are immersed three times in a font filled with holy water. Holy water in the sacrament of baptism washes away the sinful impurities of a person, renews and revives him into a new life in Christ. Holy water is necessarily present during the consecration of churches and all objects used in worship, during the consecration of residential buildings, buildings, and any household item.

We are sprinkled with holy water during religious processions and prayer services.

On the day of Epiphany, every Orthodox Christian carries home a vessel with holy water, carefully preserves it as the greatest shrine, prayerfully communing with holy water in illnesses and all infirmities.

Epiphany water, like Holy Communion, is taken by believers only on an empty stomach. “Consecrated water,” as St. Demetrius of Kherson wrote, “has the power to sanctify the souls and bodies of all who use it.” She, accepted with faith and prayer, heals our bodily illnesses.

Holy water extinguishes the flames of passions, drives away evil spirits - that is why they sprinkle holy water on the Dwelling and every thing that is consecrated.

After the confession of the pilgrims, St. Seraphim always gave them to drink from the cup of holy Epiphany water.

The Monk Ambrose sent a bottle of holy water to a terminally ill patient - and to the amazement of the doctors, the incurable disease went away.

Elder Hieroschemamonk Seraphim Vyritsky always advised sprinkling food and the food itself with Jordanian (Epiphany) water, which, in his words, “itself sanctifies everything.”

When someone was very sick, Elder Seraphim gave his blessing to take a tablespoon of consecrated water every hour. The elder said that there is no stronger medicine than holy water and blessed oil.

How was water blessed for the first time?

The consecration of water was accepted by the Church from the apostles and their successors. But the first example was set by the Lord Himself, when He plunged into the Jordan and sanctified the entire nature of the water.

Water did not always need to be blessed. There were times when everything on earth was pure and holy.

“And God saw everything that He had created,” says the book of Genesis, “and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Then, before the fall of man, everything was created by the Word of God, everything was enlivened by the Holy Spirit, who hovered over the water. Everything on earth was sealed with the all-sanctifying blessing of God, and therefore everything earthly elements served for the benefit of man: they supported life, protected the body from destruction. Living in this harmonious, paradisiacal environment, man, according to God’s promise, was supposed to be immortal, for “God did not create death” (Wisdom 1:13).

But man himself, through communication with an unclean spirit, accepted the seed of uncleanness into his soul. And then the Spirit of God retreated from the unclean creature: “And the Lord [God] said: “My Spirit will not forever be despised by men [these], because they are flesh” (Gen. 6:3).

Now everything that the hands of sinners touched became unclean, everything became an instrument of sin, and therefore was deprived of the blessing of God and was subject to a curse. The elements that previously served man have changed. The earth now brings thorns and thistles, the air saturated with decay becomes dangerous and sometimes deadly. Water, having become a drain of sewage, became contagious, dangerous, and now in the hands of God’s Justice it began to act as an instrument of punishment for the wicked.

But this does not mean that humanity was deprived of holy water. The source that Moses brought out of the rock flowed, of course, not ordinary water, but special water. The water in the source of the Samaritan, dug by the forefather Jacob and later sanctified by the Savior’s conversation at this source, was not simple.

The concept of holy water is found in Old Testament: "and the priest will take holy water in clay vessel"(Numbers 5:17).

But very special water flows in the Jordan River. Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared on the Jordan to sanctify the watery nature and make it a source of sanctification for man. That is why, at the Baptism of the Lord on the Jordan, the miracle of creation seemed to be repeated: the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended and the voice of the Heavenly Father was heard: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

Thus, after the Fall of man, water was consecrated for the first time.

Why does the Church sanctify water?

Why does the Church sanctify water again and again when it has already been sanctified by the Baptism of the Son of God Himself? We, fallen people, although renewed by the grace of God, always, until death, carry within us the seed of ancient sinful impurity, and therefore we can always sin, and thereby again and again introduce into the world uncleanness and corruption. Therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ, having ascended to heaven, left us his living and life-giving word, granted believers the right to bring down the blessing of the Heavenly Father to earth by the power of faith and prayer, and sent down the Comforter of the Spirit of truth. Who always abides in the Church of Christ, so that the Church, despite the inexhaustible seed of sin and impurity in the human heart, always has an inexhaustible source of sanctification and life.

Keeping this commandment of the Lord, the Holy Church, with the Word of God, the sacraments and prayer, always sanctifies not only the person himself, but also everything that he uses in the world. By this the Church puts a limit to the spread of sinful impurities and prevents the multiplication of the disastrous consequences of our sins.

The Church sanctifies the earth, asking God for the blessing of fertility, sanctifies the bread that serves us as food, and the water that quenches our thirst.

Without blessing, without sanctification, could this perishable food and drink sustain our life? “It is not the generation of fruits that nourishes a man, but Your word preserves those who believe in You” (Wisdom 16:26).

This already gives rise to the answer to the question why the Church sanctifies water.

By consecrating water, the Church returns water element primitive purity and holiness, brings down to the water, by the power of prayer and the Word of God, the blessing of the Lord and the grace of the Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit.

Why is water blessed in special vessels?

Like everything in the Church, the vessel in which the consecration of water is performed carries great symbolic meaning. Externally, the holy water vessel resembles a communion chalice. The vessel for blessing water is a large bowl on a low stand with a round base for placing it on the table. On the eastern side of the bowl there are cells where, at the beginning of the blessing of water, three candles are placed - in the image of the Holy Trinity, sanctifying and enlightening people with Divine grace. As a vessel and receptacle for God's grace, the holy chalice of water approaches in its symbolic meaning the Eucharistic chalice - chalice (translated from Greek - drinking vessel) and, like the chalice, marks Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, in whose womb the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ was formed. The round base of the bowl for the blessing of water is a sign of the circle of the earthly Church, the round bowl itself, into which water is poured, marks the heavenly Church, and all together is a symbol of the Mother of God, as the purest vessel of God’s grace.

The same basic symbolic meanings It also has a baptismal font. This vessel is also made in the form of a bowl, only significantly large sizes than the water sanctuary, and on a high stand.

How does the rite of the Great Blessing of Water take place?

The rite of water blessing, which is performed on the feast of Epiphany, is called great because of the special solemnity of the rite, imbued with the remembrance of the Baptism of the Lord, in which the Church sees not only the prototype of the mysterious washing of sins, but also the actual sanctification of the very nature of water, through the immersion of God in the flesh.

The Great Blessing of Water is sometimes performed at the end of the liturgy, after the prayer behind the pulpit, and sometimes at the end of Vespers, after the litanies: “Let us fulfill evening prayer ours..." It is celebrated at the Liturgy on the very day of Epiphany, as well as on the eve of Epiphany, when this eve occurs on any day of the week, except Saturday and Sunday. If the evening of Epiphany is on Saturday or Sunday, then the great blessing of water takes place at the end of Vespers.

On the very day of Epiphany (January 6, January 19, new style), the blessing of water is performed with a solemn procession of the cross, known as the “procession to the Jordan.” Both on the eve of Epiphany and on the holiday itself, the clergy go out through the royal doors to bless water. Before the removal of the Cross, a priest or bishop in full vestments censes the honorable Cross three times only in front. The Cross is carried out on the head, preceded by two candle bearers and deacons with censers. One of the clergy carries the Holy Gospel. In this order, they go to large vessels filled with water in advance. Here the clergyman carrying the Cross removes it from his head. Near the water, he marks the Cross on four sides and places it on a laid and decorated table. Those gathered light candles, the rector, preceded by a deacon with a candle, censes three times near the table, the icon, the clergy and the people.

The great consecration of water begins with the singing of troparia: “The voice of the Lord cries out on the waters, saying: come, receive all of you the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of reason, the Spirit of the fear of God, the revealed Christ,” “Today the waters are sanctified by nature,” and others. Then three parimations from the book of the prophet Isaiah are read (35, 1-10; 55, 1-13; 12, 3-6). The great Old Testament prophet three times predicted the Baptism of the Lord from John, which took place on the verge of two Testaments. He expresses the joy and hope of the Church about drawing water from the source of salvation: “Thirsty ones! Go, all of you, to the waters... Seek the Lord when He can be found; call upon Him when He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the wicked his thoughts, and let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He is abundant in mercy” (Is. 55: 1; 6-7).

Then they read the Epistle of the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 10:1-4) about the mysterious prototype of the baptism of the Jews, in the name of Moses, among the clouds and the sea, and about their spiritual food in the desert and drinking from the spiritual stone, which was the image of the coming Christ.

Finally, the Gospel of Mark (1:9-12) is read, where the apostle tells about the Baptism of the Lord itself.

“Great is the Lord, and wonderful are Your works, and not a single word will be sufficient for the singing of Your wonders! By your will you brought all things from non-existence into being: By your power you support creation, and by your providence you build the world - All intelligent powers tremble for you: the sun sings to you: the moon praises you: the stars are present to you: the light listens to you: the abysses tremble to you: they work for you sources. You have stretched out the sky like a skin: You have established the earth on the waters: You have fenced the sea with sand: You have barked the air with your breath. Angelic powers serve You: the faces of the Archangel bow to You - this God is indescribable, beginningless and ineffable - O Thou Lover of mankind, come now, through the influx of Thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water.”

At the same time, censing occurs over the water. The consecration of water when reading a prayer is accompanied by a threefold blessing of it by the hand of the shepherd while pronouncing the words: “You Yourself, O Lover of Mankind, O King, come now by the influx of Your Holy Spirit and consecrate this water.”

The Great Agiasma (Greek - “shrine”, this is the name of the water consecrated according to the rite of the Great Consecration) is consecrated, in addition to the threefold immersion of the honorable Cross in it, also with the sign of the cross, a blessing and stronger and more complex prayers and chants than during the small consecration of water performed at prayer services.

“Thou Thyself, Lover of Mankind, O King, come now by the influx of Thy Holy Spirit and sanctify this water. And rain upon it the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan: create with it a source of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, healing of ailments, destructive of demons, unapproachable to resisting forces, filled with angelic strength,” this is said about water, that it is asked to be filled with Angelic strength, and if is asked, it means with faith that the acquisition of water is so mysterious power it is possible - and it will be...

“I am filled with angelic strength, so that those who draw and receive communion have it for the purification of souls and bodies, for the healing of passions, for the sanctification of houses, and for all good benefits... You yourself and now, Master, sanctify this water with Your Holy Spirit. Grant to all who touch it, and who partake of it, and who are anointed with it, sanctification, health, cleansing and blessing,” the priest prays with such strong and responsibly authoritative words.

And before this, the deacon makes approximately the same petitions:

“For these waters to be sanctified by the power and action and influx of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

About the hedgehog descending on these waters to the purifying action of the eternal Trinity...

May they be granted the grace of deliverance, the blessing of Jordan, by the power and action and influx of the Holy Spirit...

O send down to the Lord God the blessing of the Jordan and sanctify these waters...

About the existence of this water, the gift of sanctification, the deliverance of sins, for the healing of soul and body, and for great benefit...

About the existence of this water that brings eternal life...

About this hedgehog appearing to drive away all slander from visible and invisible enemies...

About those who draw and eat for the sanctification of houses...

About this existence for the purification of souls and bodies, to all who draw with faith and partake of it...

Let us pray to the Lord that we may be worthy to be filled with sanctification through communion of these waters, the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit.”

After reading all the prayers, the priest immerses the holy Cross in water three times, holding it straight with both hands, while singing the troparion of the Feast of Epiphany:

“In the Jordan I was baptized to You, O Lord, Trinitarian adoration appeared: for the voice of your parents testified to You, naming Your beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, announced to Your words the statement: Appear, O Christ God, and the world of enlightenment, glory to You.” The priest, taking a vessel with blessed water and sprinkler, sprinkles it in a cross pattern on all sides.

Then they come up to him to kiss the Cross, and the priest sprinkles blessed water on each person who comes up.

St. John Chrysostom also said that the holy Epiphany water remains incorruptible for many years, is fresh, pure and pleasant, as if it had just been drawn from a living source just that minute.

This is the miracle of God’s grace, which everyone sees now!

According to the belief of the Church, agiasma is not simple water of spiritual significance, but a new being, spiritual-physical being, the interconnectedness of heaven and earth, grace and matter, and, moreover, a very close one.

That is why the Great Hagiasma, according to church canons, is considered as a kind of lower degree of Holy Communion: in those cases when, due to sins committed, a member of the Church is subject to penance and a ban on approaching the Holy Body and Blood, the usual canon clause is made: “Let him drink the agiasma.”

Many people mistakenly believe that the water consecrated on Epiphany Eve and the water consecrated on the very day of Epiphany are different, but in fact, both on Christmas Eve and on the very day of Epiphany, when consecrating water, the same rite of the great blessing of water is used.

Epiphany water is a shrine that should be in every home of an Orthodox Christian. It is carefully kept in the holy corner, near the icons.

How is water blessed at a prayer service ordered by believers?

In addition to Epiphany water, Orthodox Christians often use water blessed at prayer services.

Prayer singing, or prayer service, is a special service in which one asks the Lord to Mother of God and saints about sending down mercy or thanking God for receiving benefits.

Prayers are held in the temple or private homes.

In the church, prayer services are performed after the liturgy and are performed according to the requests and needs of believers. Such prayer chants include prayer rites performed for the blessing of various objects, for the healing of the sick, for those heading on a long journey, for warriors, etc. At prayer services, the rite of minor consecration of water usually takes place.

The Lesser Blessing of Water is also performed by the Church on the day of the Origin (destruction) of the venerable trees. Life-giving Cross of the Lord and on the day of Midsummer, when we remember the words of the Savior, full of the deepest mystery, spoken by Him to the Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life” (John 4:14).

For the small blessing of water, a covered table is placed in the middle of the church, on which a bowl of water is placed and the Cross and the Gospel are placed. Candles are lit in front of the bowl. After the priest’s exclamation, Psalm 142 is read: “Lord, hear my prayer...”. Then they sing: “God is the Lord” and the troparia: “Now we are diligently praising the Mother of God...”, “Let us never be silent, O Mother of God...”. At the same time, the priest censes water in a cross shape.

After reading Psalm 50: “Have mercy on me, O God...”, troparions and litanies, incense is performed at the temple or home.

At the end, the prokeimenon is pronounced and the Apostle is read (Heb. 2:14-18), in which St. Paul says about Christ:

“And just as children partake of flesh and blood, He also received them, in order by death to deprive him of the power of the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and to deliver those who from the fear of death were subject to slavery throughout their lives. For He does not receive angels, but He receives the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to become like the brethren in everything, in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest before God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For just as He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.”

Then the Gospel is read (John 5:2-4):

“There is in Jerusalem, at the Sheep Gate, a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, which had five covered passages. In them lay a great multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, the withered, waiting for the movement of the water, for the Angel of the Lord from time to time went into the pool and disturbed the water, and whoever first entered into it after the disturbance of the water recovered, no matter what disease he was possessed by.”

The litany is pronounced: “Let us pray to the Lord in peace,” in which petitions are offered for the sanctification of water. Usually this involves censing water. Then the priest reads a prayer for the blessing of water.

Sometimes a special prayer is also read: “Great God, work miracles, they are countless! Come now to Your servants who pray to You, O Master, and eat of Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water: and the rain for those who drink from it and for Your servant who receives and sprinkles it, the change of passions, the remission of sins, the healing of illness, and liberation from all evil, and the affirmation and sanctification of the house and cleansing of all defilement, and driving away the slander of the devil: for blessed and glorified is Thy most honorable and magnificent Name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".

After reading the prayers, the priest, taking the honorable Cross with the Crucifix towards himself, makes a cross-shaped movement with its lower part on the surface of the water, then immerses the entire Cross in the water. At the same time, the troparia are sung: “Save, O Lord, Thy people...” (three times) and “Thy gifts...”.

Then the priest kisses the Cross taken out of the water and sprinkles all those present and the entire church. Those present venerate the Cross, and the priest sprinkles each one.

After the blessing of water, everyone who ordered a prayer service can receive holy water.

Why does the Church pray for water sources?

“The most important of all the needs for human life are water, fire, iron, salt, wheat flour, honey, milk, grape juice, oil and clothing: all this serves to benefit the pious, but can be harmful to sinners” (Sir. 39, 32-33).

“...What gift is so necessary for us, like water? - says Hieromartyr Hippolytus of Rome. “Everything is washed, nourished, cleansed, and irrigated by water.” Water nourishes the earth, produces dew, fattens the grapes, brings the ears of corn to maturity... But why talk a lot? Without water, nothing that we see can exist: water is so necessary that when other elements have a home under the vaults of heaven, it has received a container for itself above the heavens. The Prophet himself testifies to this, crying out; “Praise Him, heavens of heavens and waters that are above the heavens” (Ps. 149:4).

And the Church, with fiery prayer, calls on the Lord to call forth sweet and abundant water from the bowels of the earth.

In the well, the digging of which is carried out according to the special prayers of the priest, there is no ordinary water: the “digging of the well” is already sanctified by a special rite.

“Give us water in this place, something sweet and tasty, sufficient for consumption, but not harmful for consumption...” the priest prays and is the first to begin digging a well.

Over the dug well, a special prayer is again made: “To the Creator of the waters and the Maker of all... You yourself sanctify this water: eat your holy power for every resistance, and give to all who receive from it, for drinking or for washing, health of soul and body , for the change of every passion and every ailment: for let there be healing of water and peace to all who touch it and receive it ... "

Ordinary well water becomes an object of cult and, moreover, a miraculous object - “water of healing and peace.”

There are many known springs, wells, springs, where, through the prayers of the saints, water pours out, which has a greater blessing than the waters of Bethesda in Jerusalem. Not only drinking this water, but even plunging into the waters of these springs brings many healings and miracles.

The Church has always performed and continues to consecrate the waters of public sources, rivers, and lakes. This water ends up in reservoirs, and then in water pipes and in our apartments.

It can be argued that there is not a single stream of water in the world, not a single drop that has not been sanctified, spiritually fertilized by prayer, blessed and, consequently, which would not be life-giving and saving for people, animals, birds and the earth itself.

If we always acted as the Church and the Word of God teach us, then the gracious gifts of the Holy Spirit would constantly pour out on us, then every spring would be for us a source of healing from bodily and mental ailments, every cup of water would serve as purification and enlightenment, “water of healing and peace”, holy water.

But that doesn't happen. Water makes people sick, water becomes a dangerous, deadly and destructive element. What about tap water – and holy water doesn’t help us!

Are the prayers of the Church powerless?

When God intended to punish the first world with water, then He said to Noah: “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with evil deeds from them; and behold, I will destroy them from the earth... I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the spirit of life under the heavens; everything that is on earth will lose life” (Gen. 6, 13. 17). These words can be applied to our days. You shouldn’t be surprised that water doesn’t heal or bring benefits. What is surprising here, when the most important sacrament - the Eucharist, the reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord - serves many not for salvation, but for condemnation...

“Whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment upon himself, without considering the Body of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:29).

Miracles and healings still occur today. But only those who accept it with living faith in the promises of God and the power of prayer of the Holy Church, those who have a pure and sincere desire to change their lives, repentance, and salvation, are rewarded with the miraculous effects of holy water. God does not create miracles where people want to see them only out of curiosity, without a sincere intention to use them for their salvation. An evil and adulterous race, the Savior said about his unbelieving contemporaries, seeks a sign; and no sign will be given to him.

In order for holy water to be beneficial, we will take care of the purity of the soul, the lightness of thoughts and deeds. And every time we touch holy water, we will offer this prayer in our minds and hearts.

Orthodox believers have begun Epiphany Eve - the day before the important holiday of the Epiphany, also called Epiphany. Days leading up to the big day church holidays- days of the strictest fasting.

So it is with Epiphany Christmas Eve, on this day believers either try not to eat anything at all and only drink holy water, or eat only juice - boiled grains of wheat and rice, to which you can add honey and raisins. Behind Christmastide are holy days, festive, dedicated to the joy of the Born Christ. The feast of Epiphany, established in honor of the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, is ahead.

And in order to internally, spiritually, prepare us for the feast of Epiphany, the Church establishes a strict fast the day before - even on Epiphany Eve they eat it after the “first star,” that is, after the candle is taken out during the evening service. In memory of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, both on Epiphany Eve and on the Feast of the Epiphany itself, water is blessed in churches.

What is the blessing of water? Blessing of water is a special ritual of prayers and sacred rites that impart special beneficial properties to water. According to the centuries-old experience of the Church, holy water, taken with prayer, has the grace-filled power to protect, heal and sanctify. Therefore, not a single divine service is complete without holy water. In church life, holy water is everywhere: it is in consecrated water that the Sacrament of Baptism is performed, and with it, holy water, they see off the deceased on their last journey, sprinkling both the body and the coffin in the cemetery - this is how the shrine serves as protection from dark forces.

We drink holy water if we are sick on an empty stomach, eating prosphora, and, as the prayer says: “May it serve for communion.” Holy water, with prayer, is poured over, blessing, travelers, those on their way, and students before starting a new one. school year. It is used to sprinkle our houses during consecration, and all the objects in the temple - icons, crosses, banners, bells, everything that belongs to the altar and the altar servers - the altar, the altar, the Gospels, clothes, vestments, in a word, everything. Cars, planes, submarines and even missiles - and this can also be consecrated with holy water if we want to protect our life, make it safe, and receive God's blessing.

Hence the question: where does it come from in such quantities? Twice a year - on Epiphany Eve and on Epiphany itself (Epiphany) the so-called “great consecration of water” - “great agiasma” (in Greek, shrine) is performed. It is accompanied by a prayer in which we ask the Lord: “... come now by the influx of Your Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water. And give it grace and deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan...”

The Fathers of the Church mention the special properties of Epiphany water and advise more often resorting to its healing help. In addition to the great consecration, for everyday needs there is a small consecration of water, performed in churches every day - the so-called “small agiasma”. Then housing and objects are blessed with this water, and sprinkled on the sick. Unlike the holy water of minor consecration, Epiphany water is advised to be drunk only on an empty stomach, with the prayer “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” An exception can be made only for very sick people or in cases of sudden onset of a painful condition.

And, of course, we must remember that the use of holy water in medicinal purposes does not at all exclude contacting doctors and receiving treatment from them. By the way, there is no need to store Epiphany water on an industrial scale: the properties of this water are such that when it starts to run out, you just need to add regular water to it. clean water, and it will be sanctified by the already existing Epiphany - the principle of unlimited dilution applies here.

Holy water is water that outwardly does not differ from ordinary water, but internally the grace of God is present in it. Thanks to this presence, holy water has healing properties. Holy water also protects us from the actions of dark forces.

Let us note that in Orthodoxy, by holy water we mean precisely that holy water that is consecrated on the feast of the Epiphany. It is also called Epiphany water, or Great Agiasma, which translated from Greek means Great Shrine. In addition to Epiphany water, there is also holy water, which we receive during water-blessing holiday prayer services in the church in holidays. All holy water, baptismal and consecrated during festive prayers, contains God's grace. But Epiphany water, as mentioned above, has the greatest power. Throughout the year, the water does not deteriorate and retains its healing properties due to the presence of grace. True, under the only condition - a person must treat it with reverence.

How to take holy water correctly?

First of all, water should be consumed daily. In this way we strengthen our own physical and spiritual strength. There are many known cases where people received healing and recovery by drinking holy water. It is known from history that Saint Ambrose of Optina once gave a bottle of holy water to a seriously ill person. After taking the blessed water, the patient became completely healthy. All the doctors were surprised how this hopelessly ill man recovered.

Devotees of piety have always reminded believers of the need to drink holy water. Thus, Hieroschemamonk Seraphim Vyrlitsky recommended that sick people take a tablespoon of holy water every hour. After all, there is no stronger medicine in the world than holy water. The elder said that before putting food on the table, they should be sprinkled with Epiphany water.

When we talk about Epiphany water, we remember that there is a church custom of sprinkling the entire home with the Great Agiasma on the feast of Epiphany.

Some people claim that swimming, or full immersion in the river on the feast of the Epiphany, it washes away sins. In fact, such bathing is nothing more than an ancient pious custom. For cleansing from sins, the Lord Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of Confession in the Church.

Prayer for accepting Prosphora and holy water

Every person, when he wakes up in the morning, tries to put himself in order. He does exercises, brushes his teeth and has breakfast. In this way he prepares himself for work. A person should also prepare himself for spiritual work in the morning. Strengthen your “inner muscles,” so to speak. That is why every Orthodox Christian commits in the morning morning prayer to God. After prayer, he drinks holy water and prosphora. Please note that you need to consume shrines on an empty stomach. Drinking holy water after meals is allowed only in case of illness.

First we drink holy water, and later we eat prosphora. Shrines must be kept in a place specially designated for them. Mainly this is a prayer corner on which vessels for shrines are located.

Before consuming holy water and prosphora, we say the following prayer:

“Lord my God, may Your holy gift and Your holy water be for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my mental and physical strength, for the health of my soul and body, for the subjugation of my passions and infirmities, according to Your boundless mercy through Your prayers Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen".

Is it possible to boil holy water?

Sometimes they ask if you can boil Epiphany water. There is no such need. Epiphany water not only does not spoil throughout the year, it has an antibacterial effect, that is, it destroys bacteria harmful to health. So there is no need to worry about the water standing for a long time.

Is it possible to dilute holy water?

There are times when supplies of holy water run out. Then ordinary water is added to Epiphany water. Ordinary water, when mixed with Epiphany water, takes on its properties. In other words, there is more baptismal water.

Watch a video about holy water