Orthodox Church marks the Feast of Epiphany
On the Feast of Epiphany and on its eve, all Orthodox churches perform the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters
Author
Front News Georgia
The Orthodox Church marks the Feast of Epiphany on 19 January, one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church calendar.
Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. According to Church teaching, through this act Christ sanctified the waters, granting humanity the possibility of the forgiveness of sins.
During baptism, Christians are united with the Body of Christ - the Church - through the mysterious action of the Holy Spirit. The sacrament is understood as an invisible act of divine grace, in which water cleanses the body, while the Holy Spirit purifies the soul in a way beyond human comprehension.
On the Feast of Epiphany and on its eve, all Orthodox churches perform the rite of the Great Blessing of Waters. Consecrated water, known as Great Agiasma, is distributed to the faithful.
According to Orthodox belief, the blessed water bears the grace of the sanctified Jordan and, unlike ordinary water, does not spoil.
Tags:
