The tradition of bathing in the Jordan has become widespread, but not everyone knows its origin and symbolism. Likewise, infant baptism is more like a fashion statement than a piece of spiritual education. Although it is with this that the Orthodox path of the child begins.
Baptism of the Lord
The tradition of bathing in water dates back to the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. The paradoxical nature of the ritual was voiced by John the Baptist himself. Seeing the Messiah, he exclaimed in surprise: “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” Christ is sinless and did not need to be cleansed. It is believed that then he drowned the sins of the whole world in the waters of the Jordan.
Baptism is also called Epiphany. During the action, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven testified, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God showed himself in three forms. Namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
This event became the starting point of Christ's ministry on earth. After baptism, he had the first apostles. Then, according to the gospel, Jesus went into the wilderness to spend time in solitude and prayer and prepare formission.
Epiphany water
The veneration of the water collected on the day of Epiphany - January 19, dates back to antiquity. As today, in the early centuries after the birth of Christ, it was believed that it has healing properties, does not deteriorate during the year and should be saved. The rite of its consecration takes place first on Christmas Eve, January 18, and then directly on the day of Theophany. Epiphany water is called agiasma, which means “shrine.”
It is customary to keep a particularly strict fast on Christmas Eve to prepare for confession and communion. And on January 19, there is a custom to plunge into the hole in the form of a cross. They call her Jordan. In large cities or in places where there are no reservoirs, an baptismal font is set up.
Bathing January 19
Currently, dipping on January 19th has become widespread. Almost all cities are trying to organize places to maintain this tradition. It is significant that on Epiphany in Moscow, in almost every park where there is a reservoir or pond, they provide an ice hole with convenient slopes. Locker rooms and heated tents are installed next to them. Free tea parties by the fires create a special atmosphere. In this way, Epiphany has been celebrated in Moscow for more than a year, making this religious holiday a part of the city's modern culture.
Baptism as a rite
At the dawn of Christianity, baptism was usually done by adults. The ceremony was preceded by a long way of preparation. During it, it was necessary to attend divine services, communicate with believers and read special prayers. Initiallyit was supposed to be baptized on Theophany or on Holy Saturday before Easter. The initiation was preceded by obligatory repentance for sins.
Since in the early years of Christianity, believers were persecuted and tortured, it happened that they died from the pagans, not having time to perform the ceremony. In this case, they were considered baptized in blood. After all, they already accepted the doctrine and died for the faith.
Today, baptism in the temple as a rite does not require such a long preparation. But its meaning remains the same. Initiation means a new spiritual birth. Man must change his way of life and way of thinking. From now on, he refuses to live for himself, but gains the meaning and fullness of existence through service to Christ and other people. The Epiphany font for an adult marks a spiritual upheaval. If he subsequently continues to sin, this is regarded as a rejection of grace.
When can a child be baptized?
According to church customs, the introduction of a child to the church should not be postponed. It is best to perform the ceremony starting from the 40th day after birth. At the same time, a cleansing prayer after childbirth should be read over the mother of the child before the sacrament.
You can baptize a child any day. But more often this happens on a weekday or Saturday, since the Divine Liturgy is held on Sunday, and many believers come to the temple.
Whom to choose as godparents?
When planning to baptize a child, parents should take the ritual with the utmost responsibility. An important point is the choice of receivers. Godparents should be people close to the family and able to take responsibility for the religious upbringing of the child. Baptism is not a tribute to fashion and did not protect against misfortunes. This is the way to the Kingdom of God through water and the Holy Spirit. Even an infant who was born in sin needs to be cleansed. After baptism, the sacrament is to be celebrated every year. Confession is also required from the age of seven.
Godparents have three main duties to the pupil: to pray for him, to teach the basics of religion, to show the way of kindness, love and mercy by his own example.
It is believed that the godparents are held accountable to the Almighty for the sins of the child. In past centuries, if the father and mother died, it was the godparents who took him into the family. Moreover, there were no spiritual parents. The godfather was the person who first took the child in his arms. And according to tradition, a woman took a girl, a man took a boy.
Preparing for baptism
If the ceremony is performed on a child, then a thorough preparation for the initiation should be on the part of the recipients. This involves fasting, confession, communion. One of the most important prayers for godparents is the "Symbol of Faith" - it sets out the main tenets of the Orthodox faith. The knowledge of "Our Father" is obligatory. In addition, the recipients should take care of the pectoral cross for the child and the kryzhma - a white cloth in which the child is wrapped after the ceremony. It needs to be stored. It is believed that the kryzhma saves the grace of holy water, which is stored in the baptismal font.
Initiation into Orthodoxyan adult includes a high level of awareness. He does not need spiritual parents and is responsible for the lifestyle he leads. Before initiation, it is necessary to learn the basic dogmas and provisions of religion, fast, abstain, reconcile with those with whom there was a quarrel.
Where to baptize?
When a child is small, some parents think about whether to perform the ceremony at home, in a calm and familiar environment. But baptism in the church has a special significance for initiation into the faith. The solemnity and importance of the moment coincides with the atmosphere in the temple, which sets you in a sublime mood. However, there are times when a person is sick. Then his baptism is only possible at home (or hospital).
In previous centuries, quite often people accepted the faith, being already on their deathbed. Accordingly, the ceremony was performed at home. This was done consciously: in order to die sinless. Children were not baptized, believing that they were born pure. Later, the church began to condemn this attitude, calling for baptism from infancy. This tradition gradually took hold. Moreover, even if they were children from noble families, the adoption of Orthodoxy still took place in the church, only at home. Other children were baptized in churches.
Font in the temple
You should know that if the ceremony of initiation into the faith is performed at home, then a simple ablution follows. The holy font is only in the temple. In general, symbolic communion through water is important for the believer himself, but many want for their childrengenuine baptism through immersion.
This issue is especially acute for adults. Their baptism is most often limited to three-fold dipping of the head, since usually the font in the temple is a large thicket. However, in some places Jordans are also installed. Adults and teenagers can take a full bath with their heads in them.
How is the baptism?
Many people want to know how baptism works. The scenario of the ceremony, awareness of its symbolism gives confidence.
Immediately before the initiation, a person or, if a child is being baptized, the godfather must renounce Satan three times, while turning to the west. Then you need to declare your desire to be united with Christ three times. After that, the "Symbol of Faith" is read. Further, the clergyman pronounces the great litany - prayer, which consists of petitions and response cries of the people. This is the preparation part.
After this, the actual baptism begins. The scenario of actions is as follows: consecration of water, chrismation, threefold immersion. During the reading of the 31st psalm, a cross is placed on the chest and white clothes are put on, which means cleansing from sins, innocence and purity. Following this, the priest performs chrismation to sanctify the soul and body.
The oils touch different parts, and each has its own meaning. Anointing of ears, eyes, mouth - so that they do not hear, do not see and do not speak evil. Hands - for doing righteous work. Legs - so that a person walks the path pleasing to God. Anointing of the chest - to defeat the enemy force. Then afterthe priest walks the baptismal font three times, which symbolizes eternity and readiness to follow the path of Orthodoxy.
The final part consists of reading the Apostle and the Gospel. Shaving the hair of a baptized person takes place after washing and chrismation. Then the priest reads a special litany and dismissed - a blessing to leave after the service.
Silver Font
For any Orthodox, the Baptism of the Lord is a great holiday. Some people go beyond a one-time immersion in ice water and begin to practice winter swimming.
For several years now, fans of the author's song have been organizing the Silver Font festival. Its opening is marked by bathing in cold water. After that, the performers participate in the competitive program. Usually these are several nominations, such as "Poetry", "Author of Music", "Bard Song", "Duet" or "Ensemble". Fans of bard songs and winter swimming enjoy their creativity. The scale of the event speaks of the importance of physical and spiritual development for people. Therefore, both the name of the festival and its attributes are symbolic: creativity and physical recovery are performed through the font.
So many centuries have passed since the baptism of Jesus. Attitudes towards faith and baptism have changed. Blind faith turned into atheism. Atheism was replaced by religiosity. But both in folk traditions and in any religion, you can find a rite of purification through water. Therefore, today, regardless ofstrict observance of religious rules, it is good to bathe in the font, stock up on holy water, and fill your heart with kindness and mercy.
