Epiphany - the grand sanctification of water

published on 1/6/14 9:54 AM

Photo: Photo:BGNES

At the beginning of the year the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks one of its major winter feast days – Epiphany. It is popularly known as St. Yordan’s day because it symbolizes the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist on the River Jordan. The way this day is marked in Bulgaria is a reminder of this singular event, because it was then that the voice of the Lord was heard from heaven: “Thou art my beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." At the same time the Holy Spirit descended "like a dove".
“This is what this day is all about – the appearance of the Holy Trinity,” says Father Vassil Vassilev from the Holy Trinity church in Shoumen. “In this way the Lord declares Jesus Christ is the God incarnate, the other face of the Holy Trinity – the word of God. His coming was announced by the Old Testament prophets, so it was eagerly awaited by the whole of mankind.

“The festive ritual called “sanctification of water” is very important on this day. As when Jesus Christ was baptized in the waters of the River Jordan, so every year on January 5 and 6 priests perform a grand sanctification of water. The water, as something that gives but also takes away life is sanctified, so that it may bring life and salvation to Christendom. The water sanctified on Epiphany is used to cleanse the spirit and the body. That is why on this day all believers take some of this water home to be used throughout the year for maladies of the body and the soul.”

In the words of Father Vassil water was sanctified since the earliest of times. At the beginning of the 2nd century AD the Blessed Augustine spoke of the use of sanctified water for health and healing. That is why, besides a blessing by the priest, the prayers themselves summoned the Holy Spirit to sanctify the water so that it can be used to cleanse the body and soul.

“When it is sanctified on this day, it acquires different properties, because it becomes a testimony to the blessing of the Holy Spirit and is cleansed of man’s sins throughout the year. By sanctifying the water we summon the Holy Spirit to sanctify our entire life. We know that most of the planet’s surface is covered by water. It comprises a large portion of the human body – water is with us throughout our lives – from the moment of our inception to our very death. It does not disappear, its quantity never changes. The water we use today is the same as it was at the moment of Creation.”

Faith is very important to the priest performing the sanctification of the water, Father Vassil says. The important thing is the love he carries and his dedication to his service. But the faith of the people he is performing the sanctification for is also important.

“This is a process that goes both ways, and above us all is the Lord. The priest is just the instrument of the Lord’s blessing and the people can feel it when we all take part in this act of prayer. The church and the people are of one heart, of one soul and they must pray for this miracle that is taking place at this very moment thanks to their faith. On this great day, Epiphany, let us greet each other with the words: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, good will toward men”. I would like to wish all people who bear the names celebrated today health and let their faith, their hope and their love grow stronger. Because faith saves, hope is the foundation of love and love conquers all. Let us all be united, especially now at the beginning of 2014. Let all bad things remain in the past year, let us help each other and remember that above all we are one nation, with one Christian Orthodox faith, with the same ideals and one aim – the people’s common good, the good of the state and the church.”

English version: Milena Daynova

По публикацията работи: Darina Grigorova

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Epiphany - the grand sanctification of water

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