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. Her healing properties Medicine does not deny it either. But how to use holy water in Everyday life?

• You should drink holy water in the morning on an empty stomach. or in the evening before bed (but not from the general container).
• In case of a very serious illness or if a person is in a state of intense spiritual struggle, 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.
• Holy water is usually consumed 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 power. 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, even when added large quantities to ordinary water, it imparts beneficial properties to it too.
• Holy water should be stored near the icon or behind the icon.. TJust please write or label the bottle 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 waterdo not splash out on the ground. It is poured into an “untrampled” place, that is, to the place where people do not walk (don't tramplefeet) and dogs do not run. You can pour water into a river, into a flower pot, or into 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.

May the Lord help us, no matter how far we are from the house of our Heavenly Father, to return to Him.

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For painful conditions, headaches and depression. It is recommended to wash your face with healing water and drink three sips. You can apply a handkerchief soaked in water to your head. cold water with the addition of a saint. Of course, for these purposes it is necessary to pour water from the main container, and only then use it.

For diagnosis and neutralization of the evil eye. If you suspect the evil eye, use the following technique. Pour two-thirds of a glass of holy water. Get three regular matches. Hold them in your hands. Hold the tips in one hand and light them over the glass with the other hand. While the matches are burning, read the Lord's Prayer in a whisper. Wait for the matches to burn out as much as possible. So that almost the entire match burns out, and the remainder of the wood is as small as possible. If anyone manages to grab the matches by the heads so that they burn out completely, even better. But it’s difficult: you can burn your fingers. Throw the burnt matches into the glass. If they remain floating on the surface, then everything is fine with you; drowned - there really is an evil eye. Then you use holy water in the same way as for painful conditions.

To consecrate a new thing. When purchasing any item or items of clothing, even completely new ones, you cannot be sure that no one has tried them on or tried to use them. In such cases, the energy trace of another person remains on things. If he had problems and illnesses, then the new owner of the item can take them over. Even gifts can carry a negative thought form. And if someone deliberately decided to cause harm, then even more so. To neutralize someone else's energy, you need to, when lit, church candle Sprinkle things with holy water three times. At the same time, three times reading a prayer from the church breviary “About the temple, cold from evil spirits.”

Cleaning an apartment with holy water. If you feel discomfort, negative energy or heaviness and emptiness in your apartment after someone’s visit, then try to cleanse the apartment using holy water, as well as a church candle and incense or Thursday salt. Light a candle, and slowly, holding it as close to the wall as possible, walk around the apartment, reading prayers, clockwise. Start from front door and return to her. Cross all doors and windows three times with a candle. Pay attention to places where the candle will smoke or crackle. This is done three times. Then, also clockwise, go around all the corners and consecrate them three times with holy water. Use a brush or spruce sprig. Now it’s the turn of the holy salt, which needs to be scattered a pinch at a time in the corners. Or, as with a candle, go around the apartment and fumigate with incense. Each manipulation is repeated three times and is accompanied by a prayer from the prayer book. After this ritual you will feel relief.

For protection in the workplace. Often at work we can meet negative people or ill-wishers. To weaken them Negative influence, it’s good to have a bottle or small spray bottle with healing water. Spray yourself or workplace will never be superfluous.

For cleaning talismans. If you have talismans, or simply rings and jewelry, which are often worn, they can accumulate negative influences, from which they are designed to protect you. And in the end, overcrowded bad energy they themselves can begin to emit it. Therefore, periodically, for example, once a year, such things need to be cleaned. To do this, just put them in a glass of holy water for a day.

Cleaning mirrors with holy water. A mirror is considered one of the most occult and dangerous objects. Especially if he is many years old. The energy imprint of everything that has ever been reflected in it remains on the mirror. To remove this information, you need to lay it horizontally and fill the entire surface with healing water. Let it sit like this for several hours. Negativity is neutralized.

Diagnosis of damage by holy water. If you have concerns about the presence of such a complex negative, then use the test method, which requires holy water and an egg. The main thing is that the egg is non-dietary (that is, with the participation of a rooster) and directly from the chicken, and not from the refrigerator. In the evening, place a glass at your head, three-quarters filled with water without bubbles, and carefully break an egg into it. Leave it overnight and go to bed. In the morning, carefully examine the glass. If a large number of bubbles have formed or a lot of protein threads have appeared, this indicates the presence of a negative. However, the truth of the manipulations is very dependent on the quality of the egg and water.

During astral attacks. In a dream, a person's soul can travel through the astral space, where it can be attacked by the creatures living there. If you didn’t have a nightmare, but your heartbeat quickened, or there was a sharp emotional outburst, this means that an astral attack was made on you with the aim of causing damage or feeding on energy. To normalize the condition, take a shower. Plain water washes away information perfectly. And then pour yourself with a small amount of holy water. She will remove the negativity.

Holy water for cooking. Holy water can be added in small quantities when preparing food for your family. It’s great to combine this process with the mental reading of any prayers. This will promote health, peace and well-being.

For watering flowers. And finally, to use some water that has been standing for a long time, water your indoor flowers or your favorite tree under the windows with it. This is also beneficial for plants.

All rituals exist in a large number of interpretations. For everyone, their own option may be effective, which does not coincide with those described above. The power of the ritual largely depends on the energy of the person performing it. You can use the recommendations in the article, but if you suspect a serious problem, it is better to contact a professional healer. Because if you are not skillful, you can make any mistakes that will not result in a true result. Let everyone mind their own business.

Of course, the church does not approve of going to healers. However, some of them are canonized after death. Like, for example, Matrona of Moscow, Amphilochius of Pochaevsky and many others. As a last resort, you can always repent of the sin of visiting a healer.

Is it possible to drink holy water?

You can and should drink holy water. Christians believe that water consecrated in the temple retains the grace of God. They drink holy water with reverence and prayer. It is customary to drink holy water on an empty stomach, but if necessary (in difficult circumstances) you can drink it after meals. The main thing when using it is not to forget that this is a shrine.

Is it possible to pour out holy water?

You can throw away holy water if it has spoiled. Although the holy water remains fresh for a long time, and believers usually keep Epiphany water whole year, and sometimes even for several years, it still happens that it becomes unsuitable for consumption. But if you have to pour out holy water, then you need to find a clean place that is not trampled (on which they do not walk).

Is it possible to pour holy water into a sink?

You cannot pour holy water into the sink. This is a sacred thing - and even if it has lost its freshness, it cannot be poured into the sewer, where all kinds of sewage are poured. You can always find a clean place that is more suitable for pouring out the holy water.

Where can you pour holy water?

Holy water can be poured into a so-called untrodden place, where the shrine will not be trampled underfoot: into a pond with running water or into flower pots. You can also pour holy water under a tree, near the trunk of which no one walks and no dogs run.

When can you collect holy water for Epiphany?

Holy water for Epiphany can be collected after Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Water on January 18 and 19. On the eve of Epiphany, on Christmas Eve, January 18, the water is blessed for the first time and begins to be distributed to believers. The water is blessed for the second time after the festive Liturgy, which takes place at night and/or in the morning of January 19. In some churches, water is distributed during these two days both day and night with breaks during services, and you can collect holy water for Epiphany almost around the clock. In other churches, where there are not so many people, water is distributed only immediately after the service and consecration or during the hours when the temple is usually open. It is better to clarify in advance how the distribution will be organized in the church where you are going to collect holy water for Epiphany.

When can you get holy water in church?

You can collect holy water in the church throughout the year. Small blessings of water can be performed in churches almost every day, which is why there is almost always holy water in the church. But the more solemn Great Blessing of Water occurs only twice a year - on the eve and on the feast of the Epiphany itself. Epiphany holy water can be collected from all operating Orthodox churches in these two days.

The water consecrated on January 18 and 19 is called Great Agiasma, and there is a special attitude towards it. But both consecrated during the year and baptismal water are holy water, during the consecration of which the priest and believers prayed for God’s mercy, and it is impossible to compare which water is more blessed.

Is it possible to boil holy water?

There is no need to boil holy water. Holy water becomes holy after the blessing of water - small or great - that is, after the priest reads special prayers over it and lowers the cross into it. Drinking water is usually used for this purpose. During the rite of consecration, water receives God's grace, which keeps it fresh and clean for a long time. If the holy water has spoiled, which also happens, then it should not be boiled, but poured into some clean place.

But you cannot brew tea or use it for cooking: holy water is a shrine, and the attitude towards it must be appropriate.

Is it possible to drink holy water during menstruation?

You can drink holy water during your period. According to pious tradition, women during menstruation do not approach Communion, but there are no prohibitions on receiving holy water and prosphora on these days.

Even people who have been temporarily excommunicated from the Holy Body and Blood of Christ for some very serious sins are allowed to drink holy water. And menstruation is a natural process in a woman’s body, and it is not her fault, and therefore there is even more reason not to drink holy water during “critical” days.

Is it possible to wash your face with holy water?

You can wash your face with holy water - that is, take a little into your palm and wipe your face. But there is no need to wash your face with holy water, as if it were water in a washbasin, splash it in all directions and pour the excess into the sink. This is a shrine, and it should be treated with care.

We need to wash ourselves with holy water not in order, for example, to “remove damage” (as people sometimes think), but in order to come into contact with the source of God’s grace given to us.

Is it possible to wash a child with holy water?

You can wash your child with holy water by gently rubbing a small amount over his face. But this should be done not “from the evil eye,” as parents sometimes think, but with faith that holy water gives us the opportunity to come into contact with God’s grace.

Is it possible to wash an unbaptized person with holy water?

It is possible to wash an unbaptized person with holy water. Anyone who believes in its beneficial effects, but who does not treat holy water as some kind of amulet, can drink or anoint themselves with holy water. Holy water is not a magical medicine, but a shrine, which, if a person himself strives for God, can give him some support on this path.

Is it possible to wash floors with holy water?

You cannot wash floors with holy water. Even old, unsuitable holy water is poured into the so-called “untrodden place,” that is, where no one will walk, where the shrine will not be trampled.

In addition, there is absolutely no need to wash the floors with holy water, especially since any magical actions with a shrine. It is enough to sprinkle a small amount of the room if necessary.

Is it possible to consecrate a cross with holy water?

It is possible and necessary to sanctify the cross with holy water. Usually the consecration is performed by a priest during a water blessing prayer according to a special rite.

Basically, the crosses in church shops have already been consecrated. Crosses found, purchased in secular stores and made to order need to be blessed. Then you need to contact the priest in order to clarify whether the purchased cross corresponds to the Orthodox canons.

If there is no way to ask the priest in the temple to consecrate the cross, then you can sprinkle it with holy water yourself with a prayer for the consecration of any thing:

To the Creator and Creator of the human race, the Giver of spiritual grace, the Giver of eternal salvation, Lord Himself, send Your Holy Spirit with the highest blessing on this thing (this cross), as if armed with the power of heavenly intercession, those who want to use it will be helpful for bodily salvation and intercession and help, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(And sprinkle the thing with holy water three times).

Is it possible to have holy water before communion?

They usually do not drink holy water before communion, since it is customary to keep the Eucharistic fast - that is, to abstain from any food and drink from 00.00 o'clock if the Liturgy is in the morning, or for 6-8 hours if the Liturgy is at night. But it happens that a person feels unwell or for health reasons cannot stop drinking at all. In this case, the believer may be allowed to drink a little holy water to maintain strength. But such a decision can only be made with the blessing of the priest!

How long can you store holy water?

You can store holy water for a long time. It has the amazing property of not deteriorating. Thus, believers usually keep Epiphany holy water for a whole year, until next Epiphany. There are cases where holy water remained fresh for several years.

But holy water is a gift that must be used. That is, there is no point in accumulating bottles of water in the house; you need to accept this God's blessing with faith and prayer.

Is it possible to dilute holy water?

You can dilute holy water; even a few drops of holy water impart its properties to a large volume. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to carry huge bottles of holy water home from the temple and fill your containers to the very top, “over the top.”

We need to dilute holy water with prayer and reverence, believing that we are in contact with God's wonderful gift.

Is it possible to consecrate an apartment with holy water yourself?

The consecration of an apartment (house) is a requirement performed by a priest according to the special rite of blessing the home. He says special prayers calling for God's blessing on everyone living in this house. Then the priest prayerfully sprinkles the house with holy water and makes crosses on the walls of the house with blessed oil. The apartment is blessed once (except for special cases).

So you won’t be able to consecrate an apartment on your own without a priest, but you can simply sprinkle holy water on your home. There is even a tradition of doing this, bringing holy water home from the temple on the feast of Epiphany. In this case, you can read the following prayer:

May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts in the face of fire, so let demons perish in the face lovers of God and those who sign themselves with the sign of the cross, and in joy say: Rejoice, most honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who descended upon you into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil, and who gave us His honorable Cross to drive away every adversary. O most honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen.

or troparion for the holiday:

In the Jordan I am 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/ made known your word affirmation./ Appear, O Christ God,/ and an enlightened world, glory to You.

Is it possible to put holy water on the floor?

Holy water is not placed on the floor, showing reverence and respect to the shrine. At home it is kept in a specially designated place, often next to icons, and certainly not on the floor. But when a believer pours it in the temple and on the way home, it may happen that he has to put the holy water on the floor. If this is done not with disdain, but forcedly, then there is nothing wrong with it.

Is it possible to give holy water to animals?

You cannot give holy water to animals, because you need to take it with faith and reverence, asking the Lord for forgiveness of sins and liberation from passions. It is unlikely that animals can understand the meaning of this action and feel that they are in contact with a shrine.

You can sprinkle holy water on animals. This tradition has existed since ancient times, when livestock was sprinkled with holy water with prayers, asking the Lord to protect it from pestilence. The disease and death of animals was dangerous for humans because a family without livestock could be left without food.

Can a dog have holy water?

You should not give holy water to your dog. The Gospel says: “Do not give holy things to dogs.” These words are allegorical, but they are based on the realities that existed at that time - in Old Testament times, a dog was considered an unclean animal. Today the attitude has changed, but according to church canons, animals are still not allowed to enter the temple, and this is spreading church rule primarily on dogs.

It is forbidden to give holy water to a dog to drink, but it is permissible to sprinkle it with prayer, just as Christians sprinkle their home and household items, asking the Lord for help in all their affairs and needs. After all, a dog is often a person’s helper, and you need to treat this God’s creature with love.

Can a cat have holy water?

A cat cannot drink holy water, but it is possible to sprinkle a cat with holy water, as believers often sprinkle everything around them. Christians treat animals with warmth and care, since they are all creatures of God, but not on equal terms. And although many consider cats to be very smart animals, they cannot accept holy water as they should receive a shrine.

Is it possible to take tablets with holy water?

You can wash down the tablets with holy water, but think about why we are doing this. Holy water is a gift from God, and in order to accept it, we need to take our minds off at least for a minute from the everyday bustle, turn to God, and feel His presence in our lives.

Sometimes believers wash down the tablets with holy water when they do not want to break the Eucharistic fast before communion, but need to drink medicine. Sometimes - hoping for God's help in recovery. Butand in no case should you take the tablets with holy water in the hope that it will enhance their effect. Holy water is not “church medicine”, it is a shrine.

Is it possible to drink holy water every day?

You can drink holy water every day. This action cannot be turned into some kind of magic ritual. Holy water is a gift that strengthens us on our path to the Lord, but its beneficial properties are manifested only when a person accepts this gift with a pure heart, prayer, and a sincere desire to be closer to God.

Is it possible to wash with holy water?

There is absolutely no need to wash with holy water. This is a shrine, and it should be treated with care. They drink holy water, sprinkle it on people, animals, homes, objects, they can anoint themselves with it, but they do not need to wash themselves with holy water.

Holy water is the source of God's grace. But using more of it will not increase grace. One drop is enough if a person’s faith is strong.

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

You can't drink holy water on an empty stomach. But it is still worth remembering, if possible, the pious tradition of consuming it before meals. Two days a year - on the eve of the holiday and on the day of Epiphany itself (January 18 and 19) - everyone drinks holy water without restriction at any time of the day.

At the same time, it is wrong to refuse holy water when there is a need to drink it (in illness, with some kind of mental or spiritual illness, in difficult life circumstances), just because you have already eaten that day. IN Liturgical Charter it is even specifically clarified that those who refuse holy water only for the reason that they have already “tasted the food” are wrong.

However, we need to understand that we do not drink holy water to quench physical thirst. We come into contact with a shrine that contains the grace of God, capable of helping us quench our spiritual thirst.

Is it possible to add holy water to a bath?

There is no need to add holy water to the bath. There is no point in immersing yourself in holy water in the hope that it will wash away all sins and all illnesses. From sins a person can God's help You can only get rid of them yourself by sincerely repenting of them. Medicine, not a bath with holy water, helps to get rid of diseases, but the Lord can grant a person a cure through his faith and prayers.

To come into contact with God's grace, a drop of holy water is enough. The shrine must be treated with reverence, and it must not be poured down the drain after taking a bath.

Can holy water be added to tea?

You cannot add holy water to tea. Holy water is not a food or flavoring additive, nor a homeopathic medicine. This is a shrine. You should drink it not casually, but at least briefly turning to God, with prayer, with faith that the Holy Spirit Himself came into contact with this water and God’s grace was preserved in it.

How long can you keep holy water at home?

You can store holy water at home for a long time. Holy water does not spoil. Typically, Christians keep Epiphany holy water for a year - from Epiphany to the next Epiphany. And water blessed with a small rite on other days of the year can almost always be collected in the temple, so there is no point in saving it for a long time instead of drinking it.

There is no sin in keeping holy water at home for too long. But you need to understand that it is important not to drink water, but to participate in church life, go to church, pray, confess and receive communion. And if a person visits the temple, then he will not have problems replenishing his supplies of holy water.

Is it possible to cook with holy water?

You cannot cook with holy water. This is a shrine, and the attitude towards it should be reverent. Christians believe that during the blessing of water, the Lord Himself blesses the water, imparting His grace to it. And it’s strange to make soup from such a gift from God.

Can a drunk person drink holy water?

There is most often no need for a drunk person to take up holy water. Although there are situations when relatives try to bring a drunken man out of his mind with the help of holy water, and through their prayers and the grace of God, contact with the shrine benefits him, sobers him up, and protects him from committing some greater sin.

Of course, there is no need to go drunk for holy water or plunge into an ice hole on Epiphany night. If a drunk person simply picks up a container of holy water, then he will not “spoil” the shrine. If he took it upon himself to pour it out or commit other blasphemous acts, then this is a sin, and one must try to stop him.

Holy water is a shrine; the grace of God is preserved in it. One must approach the shrine with a sincere desire to live a Christian life.

Is it possible to drink holy water from a bottle?

You should not drink holy water from a bottle. There must be an appropriate attitude towards the shrine, and drinking it “from the throat” will not be very pious. But there are different situations in life, and if a person, with the feeling that he is touching a shrine, still drinks holy water from a bottle, then this will not affect the quality of the water or the quality of his spiritual life.

Can a Muslim drink holy water?

A Muslim by birth, but interested in Christianity, may drink holy water if he does so with faith and due reverence. If a person who considers himself a Muslim wants to turn to Christ and come into contact with the grace that the Lord gives through holy water, then why not? If he is a Muslim who strictly observes all the rules of Islam, he is unlikely to have such a desire. If a person who calls himself a Muslim wants to drink holy water with some evil intent, with ridicule or out of some superstitious ideas, then, of course, this cannot be done.

Is it possible to make holy water at home?

It is impossible to “make” holy water at home. Holy water is water that has been blessed according to the established rite by a priest. Blessing of water can be great or small. Great things happen only twice a year in a church (sometimes on a pond) - on Epiphany Eve (January 18) and on the day of Epiphany itself (January 19). Prayers with a small blessing of water can be performed on almost any day of the year and not only in the temple, but also in other suitable places when circumstances require it. That is, for some reason, a prayer service can take place in a Christian’s home, but the priest will perform the consecration during it, and the Lord God Himself will make ordinary water holy through the prayers of believers.

Prayer for accepting holy water

There is a general prayer for receiving holy water and prosphora. It is read when a Christian just drinks holy water:

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 the Most Pure One Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

Irina, Moscow

How to use holy water?

Every year the same question arises: how to use holy water correctly? How to properly consecrate a home, is it possible to drink Epiphany water after a meal, and how to properly dilute it with ordinary water if the holy water runs out? Save Christ.

After the blessing of water, every Christian, upon arriving home, must stand before the holy icons, praying three bows with prayer “God, be merciful...”, then says: “For the prayers of our holy Fathers...”, “The Trisagion and Our Father” and a prayer to Jesus. Then, with the singing of the troparion “In the Jordan they are baptized, O Lord, Trinity worship has appeared. Your parents' voice bears witness to You, calling Your beloved Son. And the Spirit in the vision of the dove informed your words of affirmation. You have appeared, O Christ God, and the world has been enlightened, glory to You." sprinkling the entire house.

The Great Agiasma, which is consecrated once on January 5/18, must be drunk by every Christian, regardless of his sins (including, for example, smokers who ate on this day) within 3 hours after consecration. Next, you need to consecrate all the objects in your house, barn and other places. Even “stingy places” are sprinkled with this water, i.e. toilets, barnyards, etc. If someone does not have time to get home within 3 hours, then, as an exception, he has the right to perform the above sacred rites within one hour after arriving home. After the specified time, the Great Water must be kept with great reverence. If it is accidentally spilled, this place, just like when Communion is spilled, is burned out or cut down and placed in “impassable places.”

In everyday life Orthodox Christian Holy water of minor consecration is used with prayer on an empty stomach or after eating prosphora, in small quantities, as well as for the consecration of dishes and other objects. Although it is advisable - out of reverence for the shrine - to take Epiphany water on an empty stomach, but for a special need for God's help - during illnesses or attacks by evil forces - you can and should drink it without hesitation, at any time.

Holy water is a church shrine, which has been touched by the grace of God and which requires a reverent attitude towards itself. It should be stored in a separate place, preferably next to the home iconostasis. It is not advisable to store holy water long time V plastic container. In any case, old labels from soda, alcohol, or the like are not allowed on bottles. It is pious to stick a special note stating that holy water is stored in the vessel.

If necessary, holy water can always be “diluted” with fresh water, with the singing of the troparion “They are baptized in the Jordan, O Lord...”. At the same time, you should remember that you need to pour the blessed water into the plain water in a cross shape, and not vice versa.

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.

The first time an Orthodox person is immersed in holy water is at baptism, when a 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 a river, into a flower pot, or into 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, let your holy gift (prosphora) and

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 consecrated 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 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 Dmitry of Kherson pointed out the healing properties of water, Seraphim of Sarov gave it to pilgrims, Ambrose of Optina treated it, Seraphim Vyrinsky advised using it for diseases.

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 in 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 not at all 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 baptismal font also has the same basic symbolic meanings. 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 signs 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 sanctified, except triple immersion into it the venerable Cross, 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 the source of incorruption, the gift of sanctification, the resolution of sins, the healing of ailments, the destructive of demons, impregnable 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?

Except 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.

Prayer services 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 filth, and driving away the slander of the devil: for the most honorable and magnificent has been blessed and glorified Your name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto 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, enough 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.