Orthodox Calendar 2022: Orthodox believers prepare for January 5, to celebrate the feast of the Lord’s Baptism. On the eve of the Epiphany, it is a day of fasting and a good day for silence.
In ancient times, the Byzantine emperors and their dignitaries from Constantinople attended the “Royal Hours of the Baptism of the Lord”, and in our country, the rulers with all the court and protipendada in the country’s capital.
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On the eve of the Epiphany, for the second time since the beginning of the year, the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great will be celebrated, together with the Vespers of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, after which the service of the Great Aghesma will be celebrated in the places of worship.
The Great Agheasma is celebrated both on the Eve of the Baptism, when the water with which the priests bless the houses of the faithful is sanctified, and on the day of the Lord’s Baptism, for the faithful who will take the agheasma to homes and households.
According to the ordinances of the Orthodox Church, if the Eve of the Baptism falls on weekdays, then on the eve the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated together with the Vespers of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and on the feast of Epiphany the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated.
On the eve of the Epiphany, the priest will go to all the houses with the “Jordan” sanctifying both the households and their inhabitants.
Orthodox, Catholic and Greek Catholic believers celebrate Epiphany on Thursday, which marks the last day of the winter holiday cycle, dedicated to purifying the environment, especially the sanctification of the waters.
In the Orthodox faith, the holiday is reminiscent of the Baptism of the Lord in the waters of the Jordan at the age of 30, before stepping into public life, according to Agerpres.
January 5, the Eve of the Epiphany: Superstitions
On the night before, the bride and groom put basil under their pillow to dream of their future husband.
On the eve, arguing in the house is forbidden and nothing is given on loan.
On the eve of the Baptism, on the day of the Baptism, by St. John the Baptist and eight days after that, no laundry is washed, because the waters are sanctified.
It was also believed that the animals in the stable have been talking at midnight since the day of the Epiphany about the places where the treasures are hidden.
Popular tradition also says that the Eve of the Epiphany is the coldest day of the year and that tonight the future can be read in the mirror.
Weather-related superstitions:
- If there is frost on the eve of the Epiphany, there will be many grapes;
- If on the eve of Epiphany it drips from the eaves then it will be a rainy summer;
- If the eve of the Epiphany is rainy then it will be a rainy year;
- In the direction in which the priest will sprinkle with the basil soaked in ageasma, from there will come the rains of the year;
- If on the eve of the Epiphany, when the priest walks through the “Jordan” through the villages, the snow will squeak under his feet, then it will be a rich and fruitful year.
The Eve of Baptism is part of the category of one-day fasts during the church year, along with the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on September 14, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, on August 29, and the Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, December 24.
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