1. During consecration, many believers collect water from rivers, in particular from the Dnieper. Is the consecration of reservoirs the basis for drinking water from them for food?
There are still many rivers and lakes in Ukraine that are almost perfectly clean. Of course, you can draw water from them both before consecration and after, both for drinking and for cooking.
But water that is not suitable for drinking, but is subject to consecration (after all, on the day of Epiphany, every aquatic creature is consecrated!) does not necessarily have to be for drinking. An example of this is where the Great Blessing of Water is celebrated over the sea. The water is sanctified, but no one will drink salty-bitter water or use it in cooking. But they immerse themselves in it, sprinkle themselves with it, sprinkle others, objects, animals, etc.
2. If Epiphany water turned green in the jar, does this indicate an “wrong spiritual atmosphere” in the house? What does this mean?
Rather, it suggests that the water was standing in the sun. We must remember that consecrated water remains, by all physical parameters, still water. Another thing is that metaphysically it acquires the power of sanctification! But it also requires some care.
It should be placed in a dark place, preferably next to the icons, in a cabinet. For example, I have kept water from the Jordan since its consecration in 1981 in a sealed bottle! For me this is a special shrine. It still looks fresh to this day. And one priest, five years ago, told me how, after the death of his mother, he discovered bottles of Epiphany water in her possession dating back to 1947! And the water was completely fresh, suitable for drinking. She kept it with reverence, and this was enough for the water to become a witness of the deceased’s love for the shrine.
But people’s painful mental state can also affect water. For example, water rarely stands well where there are frequent quarrels, where there are bad words, where there is assault, fornication, adultery, and filthiness. Here the Lord, through water, can show the abomination of desolation in such a house...
3. Is Epiphany water different from “ordinary” holy water?
To answer this question, it is important to find out that we use the name “holy water” in everyday life incorrectly.
The fact is that holy water cannot be. She is sanctified. In Greek, "Megalo agiasma" is translated as "Great Shrine", but not "holy" (in Greek "Agia"). The word "shrine" indicates the holiness of the object, but the object itself is not "holy" because, according to by and large, “One is holy, one is Lord...”. And a person, by virtue of the image and likeness of God, can also be a saint, the Gifts can be saints, the temple can also be called holy - for the sake of the fact that it is the special place of God. And water can be consecrated, a shrine.
So, if we pay attention to the rites of consecration of water on the days of the Baptism of the Lord and on other days, we will see that the sanctifying prayer of calling the Spirit of God onto the water remains the same: “Incline, O Lord, Thy ear and hear us who are in the Jordan be baptized..." It is this prayer that is read before the immersion of the cross, both in the Great Rite of Consecration and in the Small Rite. And during the litany we ask for the same thing: “For the Lord God to bestow the blessing of the Jordan, and to purify these waters, let us pray to the Lord!”
Thus, we see that both in the Great Rite of consecration of water and in the Lesser Rite, the water has the same sanctifying power of the water of the Jordan, which the Lord blessed by His entry into the river streams.
It’s just that Epiphany water is consecrated with great celebration, and therefore it is given more honors and given greater importance.
4. What can’t be done with Epiphany water?
(Can I pour it into the sink or on the ground; what should I do if it spills on the floor, can I just wipe it off with a rag?)
Blessed water, as already mentioned, is kept at home with reverence. If it happened that water was spilled, or the vessel in which the shrine was kept was broken, then it would be correct to collect the agiasma with a clean towel or a new rag and squeeze it into another vessel to pour into running water or another natural body of water. You can also squeeze the towel into pots with home flowers.
It is unacceptable to pour consecrated water into a sink that connects to the sewer!
5. What to do with Epiphany water if it has spoiled? (how do you know if it has gone bad?)
Blessed water, as mentioned earlier, has all the properties of ordinary water and can spoil. First of all, because it is poured into a container that is not clean enough, or taken from a contaminated source, or perhaps stored in a hot place, in the sun.
One priest said that he saw how people’s water was spoiled by storing it in containers with inappropriate inscriptions, for example, the previous label “Vodka” or simply “Lemonade” was not removed from the bottle. This very attitude towards agiasma can become a reason for the water to show the properties of depravity for the sake of shaming ungodly people: a musty smell, abundant flakes of sediment, mold, greening of the bottom and walls of vessels.
But even in this state, water is not devoid of its beneficial properties, and therefore requires a respectful attitude towards it. You can no longer drink it, but you can sprinkle it on it. However, I still recommend taking other consecrated water from the church, and pouring the spoiled water either into home flower pots or into a pond.
6. Epiphany water is considered especially healing. Is it possible to use it for illnesses, if this is recommended in various “healing books” and other books with conspiracies?
Blessed water has the power to heal God's will, and not because it has some magical power. Since the Lord acts through the consecrated water element, he is free to do this in different manifestations: someone will be given a blessing for healing, and someone is called to be admonished through the consecrated water, even to the point of illness!
One woman brought me to show fortune-telling cards, which she secretly placed in an Easter basket with food to be sprinkled with blessed water - this was what she was advised to do to make fortune-telling better. So, where the drops of water hit, spots appeared on the cards, as if they had been burned by hot drops of lead or tin!
Therefore, I would caution those people who want to use the shrine for magical purposes: the Lord can disgrace this idea in the most unexpected way!
7. Is it possible for a Christian not to have baptismal water at home? What to do if the water runs out?
A Christian is not a Christian because he has blessed water, but because he lives like a Christian.
However, a Christian has a need to sanctify everything in his life, devoting his very life to the Holy Lord. Therefore, usually a Christian home with icons, vessels of blessed water, blessed oil, and antidorin is kept in dry containers for daily reception with prayer. This communication with shrines fills the life of a Christian not just with rituals, but makes it possible to feel the strengthening power of God acting through them. As the Lord sometimes did in the Gospel stories: He did not just heal, but blew and spat, or made clay and anointed the eyes of a man born blind, or directly put His fingers into the ears of a deaf man, and so on.
8. How to use Epiphany water? Is it possible, for example, to take medications with it?
Blessed water should be used for all good things and for various needs. It can be sprinkled for blessing on certain objects, places of residence, animals, plants. With the help of consecrated water, by the power of God, we expel all uncleanness that can manifest itself through objects, animals, or people.
Agiasma is intended for healing. It is good to take it daily on an empty stomach with prayer. And you can drink when you’re sick, even if you’re not on an empty stomach. Blessed water can also be used in combination with medicines. It is also appropriate in a difficult spiritual state: grief, depression, spiritual confusion, despondency. You can sprinkle yourself with it, wash your face and, of course, drink it in a reasonable amount - about half a glass, no more.
I repeat, there should be a reverent attitude towards water.
9. Are cleansing days an obstacle for women to accept holy water?
According to the conclusions of Patriarch Paul of Serbia, on menstruation days a woman is only prohibited from communing the Mysteries of Christ. Her condition remains full in Christianity, which means that she can kiss and touch all the shrines; anoint yourself with blessed oil and drink blessed water.
10. Why is water blessed both on the Eve of Epiphany and on Epiphany?
Many people think that these are “two different” waters and stand in line to get both. Do these two waters have different effects?
In general, the double rite of the Great Blessing of Water exists only in the Russian Church and Churches that have adopted this tradition from the Russian Orthodox Church. In ancient Churches, water was blessed only on the Eve of Epiphany, i.e. on the eve of the Epiphany itself.
The fact is that on Christmas Eve or the Eve of Epiphany, Vespers is served directly on the Feast of Enlightenment itself (this is also the name of this holiday). And, as the conclusion of Vespers of Epiphany, there is a litany with the exodus to the source for the Great Blessing of Water. This tradition is also carried out in our Church.
But from about the 15th century, due to the fact that Russian villages were at a great distance from villages with churches, bishops and priests began to travel to these villages to bless water for them on the holiday itself. This is how the tradition for the Russian was canonized Orthodox Church to re-bless the water on the feast of Epiphany itself, although today there is no special need for this.
It is more correct to draw water during consecration on the Eve of Epiphany - January 18 according to the new style (January 5 according to the old style). And those who did not have time or for some reason were unable to do this on Christmas Eve have the opportunity to take blessed water a day later - January 19 according to the new calendar style.
As you understand, the properties of water blessed both on Christmas Eve and on the day of the holiday are identical and there is no need to take water twice.
First of all, don't worry. Often an Orthodox Christian takes prosaic and everyday things as good or bad signs. For example, if the priest accidentally dropped his wedding ring at a wedding, the young people will not live. Or: when I prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos for something to come true, I saw how a ray of sunlight fell on my face and the image seemed to smile, it means that what I wanted will come true; The Epiphany water has spoiled - God's grace has departed from the house, expect trouble. This, of course, is superstition, that is, vain faith. The Holy Fathers say unequivocally: do not look for signs, do not indulge in superstitions and do not be inflamed by either positive or negative mental and emotional attitudes in this regard. Everything should be accepted indifferently, as if it had never happened.
Everything is God's will. Trust her, based primarily on the commandments of the Lord and the advice of the holy fathers. It is necessary, as they say, not to get excited or panic, but to clearly and soberly realize that our salvation depends on the will of God and on how zealously we work on ourselves to eradicate sin and cleanse and sanctify our inner man.
It is very easy to recycle holy water that has spoiled. Pour it somewhere under a bush or tree, on the grass or ground in a clean place where there is no debris. If this is an apartment, then pour it into a flowerpot, but not into the sewer, so that the shrine does not interfere with sewage. If holy water was stored in a plastic bottle, then it is better to burn it in a clean place, and if in a glass container, it can be rinsed well several times and also poured into a clean place.
It is better to store holy water not on a window or in a place where it receives direct sunlight. This can also cause it to deteriorate. On the other hand, you need to understand that initially the consecrated water may contain seeds of aquatic plants, from which the water can “bloom.” There are many natural options for when holy water can go bad.
When holy water becomes unfit for drinking, you can sprinkle it on your home, children, and relatives from the palm of your hand. And thus use the shrine for its spiritual purpose, so that the baptismal water, by the power of the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, sanctifies and cleanses our home, and our souls and bodies receive the saving and life-giving power of God’s grace.
You can replenish your supplies of Epiphany or other holy water (from water-blessing prayers) in the church. You can store it all year round, adding it to the shrine plain water according to the principle “a drop of holy water sanctifies the sea.” In a similar way, baptismal water is stored in the temple.
It’s nice to watch when you enter another house and see holy water and a cup standing next to it, and a bag of prosphora. And you already know that this person regularly eats holy water and prosphora. And sometimes you can see that a person’s Epiphany water is brought into the house on the feast of the Epiphany, placed closed in a closet and taken out from there only the next year on January 19th. It is poured out or replenished with fresh Epiphany water. This is, of course, sad. Because Epiphany water should serve us for our good. With proper consumption, it can and should support our spiritual and physical strength every day. She is a means of sanctifying our spiritual-physical nature. And therefore it is desirable that the day of an Orthodox Christian begins with her. After all, water, among other means consecrated by the Church, helps us fight sin and draw closer to God. The great shrine-agiasma is a symbol of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. God appeared to His people and dwells among them forever... Therefore, after the morning rule on an empty stomach, consumption of prosphora and holy water with a certain prayer is a kind of echo-symbol of the Liturgy, a kind of very important point our personal home worship, in which God sanctifies both us and the coming day, teaching us His blessing in it.
My mother and grandmother brought me holy water several times. After some time, sediment appears in it, while they (mother and grandmother) have no sediment in the water. I store the water in the same conditions as they do. What could be the reason for this and what should be done with such water?
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Novosibirsk
Dear visitor to our site, if holy water, despite the sediment that appears, can be consumed, then you can drink it in the same way as holy water without sediment. If you are afraid to drink it, then you can pour it into an untrodden place (where people don’t walk and dogs don’t shit, into a running pond, or at least into a home flower pot). What could be the reasons for the appearance of sediment - I, as I do not have the gift of insight, cannot say. Maybe the dishes weren't clean enough, maybe your mom and grandma just didn't notice the same sediment, maybe they drank the water before it had time to form. You never know the reasons in the world. If what is happening awakens your conscience and makes you remember some unconfessed sins, then it is better not to delve into mystical thoughts about water, but to talk, prepare for a thorough confession and bring repentance to the Lord for everything that our Christian conscience denounces us of.
Search string: holy waterRecords found: 11
Good afternoon, when I fill a bottle with holy water, sometimes, after a while, it turns yellow. They say that this is unsanctified water. We didn't have time yet, I typed too early. Is it possible to drink water collected in a church if, after a while, it has a yellowish or greenish tint and a characteristic taste? Can you just pour it out? And if it turns out to be consecrated, and I poured it out, then it will be a sin. What to do with such water? For now I just drink it myself. I don't give it to a child.
Stanislav
Stanislav! It happens that holy water turns green and “blooms” if it has been standing in the sun for a long time. To prevent this from happening, you need to store holy water correctly. Place it in a dark place, preferably in a glass container, not in plastic bottle. Collect holy water little by little, enough to last for a week. If, nevertheless, the water has spoiled, it must be poured into a clean place, where no one walks, for example, under a tree.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Hello. I've been sick for six months. After giving birth, I didn’t sleep for a long time, and something happened in my head, which made me unable to sleep normally and in great pain. Doctors don't help. I decided to turn to God and began to pray. I also prayed to Saint Matrona, and she loosened my head a little. But I did not fully recover. And I decided to continue praying. I went to holy places and began to take communion. I recently received unction. But the next day she did not receive any help, and in the morning she sobbed and began to grumble at God, saying that He probably could not heal, and offended Him. Of course, I repented after that and asked for forgiveness. But now I think, what if He turns away from me. I am very afraid - and, for example, no saints, holy water, or holy oil will work. And if he takes Grace away from me, I am afraid that I will be left alone. At least it helps me that I imagine that He is nearby and sees me. What if He doesn’t want to be with me anymore and I’ll be left alone, and, God forbid, I’ll commit suicide? What should I do? Can God leave me?
Julia, the Lord never leaves his children. Pray to God with faith, remembering the words of the Gospel: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7) Confess and receive communion often. After unction, immediate healing does not have to occur. The sacraments of the Church are called upon first of all to heal the soul, and as the soul is healed, physical health also comes. You need to trust God, surrendering yourself to His holy will.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Hello! Bless me to ask a question to Abbot Nikon (Golovko). Thank you for your help and advice about family life. Now my question is on a different topic. How does the Orthodox Holy Church relate to history? Ancient Egypt, and specifically, to the Egyptian pyramids? Are they considered occult symbols or simply monuments of architecture and history, or is there some kind of information about their impact? scientific theory? Nowadays there is a lot of talk about the pyramids and their impact. Some manage to build them in houses and on personal plots, speaking about their healing, healing properties. They share the “miracles” that come from them. Help me figure out how I feel about the pyramids and the scientific arguments that are given about them? Thank you.
Lyudmila
Lyudmila, I personally don’t remember any specialized research carried out by Orthodox theologians or priests regarding the pyramids. However, I can imagine why this topic is not much developed - it’s just that everyone is busy with their own salvation, the fight against sin and passions, and the question of the pyramids goes so far beyond the issues necessary for salvation that there is simply no time to deal with it. It can, however, be said quite unequivocally that the pyramids were built, first of all, as religious buildings, and this cult was by no means divine, but satanic, demonic. Therefore, all the “miracles” that happen inside them must be attributed to demons - through these “miracles” they lure the souls of inexperienced people to the pyramids, distracting them from the thought of God and salvation.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, father. I have a question. My son is married to a girl of Muslim faith. He himself was baptized in the Orthodox faith, and so was his son. My son is 8 months old, we periodically take him to church for communion, my husband and I are churchgoers. My son's family always has holy water and they use it often. They feed the child with it, wash him, this makes him calmer and sleeps better. In the last 2 months, 2 times their holy water turned green. On your website I found the answer why this happens, and I myself understand that the reason is in their spiritual life. But they keep asking me to bring them holy water again, and I cannot convince them that they need to change their lives. My question is this: if the Lord allows their holy water to take this form for their edification, would it not be impertinent on my part to continue to give them holy water? What do you think? Thank you.
Anna
No, Anna, it won’t be insolence. Bring them water and whatever they ask for, this is a life-giving source for your son and your grandson. And over time, perhaps, his son’s wife will become imbued with faith.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Good evening, I'm worried about this question. All the holy water in our house bloomed, in different bottles, and one was brought from the monastery sealed and was not even opened, and it also bloomed and turned green. What could it be? They tell me that perhaps she was somehow defiled, but how, for example? Nothing special happened. Sorry to bother you and thank you.
Victoria
Victoria, this case is, of course, strange, even somewhat unusual. But I think we need to look for the reasons for what happened in ourselves, in our own spiritual life - this is some kind of edification for you.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Bless, father! In our church, a woman said that during the service you should not walk around the temple (approach icons, light candles). What should I do? Should you come before the service or stay in the church after? And is it possible to light candles when the service is no longer in progress? And another question: I missed the jar of holy water and the water spilled a little. I just wiped the floor. What should have been done in this case? God bless you.
Tatiana
Tatyana, indeed, when there is a divine service, and especially the Divine Liturgy, walking around the church can greatly distract and tempt other worshipers, so you should try to light candles either before the service begins or at the end. During the Liturgy, it is most convenient to place candles before it begins, when the Hours are read, or after the exclamation “Holy to Holies.” As for your mistake with holy water, you did everything right.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, fathers! How to properly store holy water? Everyone says that it does not spoil, but before I have time to drink it, a month after I bring it from church, a green sediment appears at the bottom and some flakes appear in the water. I bring water in a 5 liter plastic bottle. Maybe the water needs to be refilled? Thank you.
Lyudmila
Lyudmila, I don’t know why your Holy water spoils. I have water left over from last year, and it doesn’t spoil, I still drink it now, and I also have it in a five-liter plastic bottle. There is no need to pour water. In general, store water away from the sun, in a dark place. The sun can cause such a reaction to water. In summer, stagnant water, ponds, and lakes bloom precisely from the sun, although reservoirs are blessed at Epiphany. If water blooms in a bottle, this does not mean that it loses its properties - the water remains Holy.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! Father, what should I do this morning, after morning prayer, as always, I gave my daughter holy water (she is 4 years old), and after 10 minutes she vomited, because she was sick and coughed constantly, and the gag reflex began. I scolded her for getting everything dirty, but then I remembered that I also gave her holy water! And I immediately felt uneasy. I washed her, then gave her holy water, and when I gave her, I shouted at her again to drink, it turns out that I gave it with anger, and now I’m very worried. I prayed for my daughter and for the sins that I had committed, and I repented that I had reacted with such anger, and then I washed her with holy water and gave her another drink! Father, what should I do in such a situation? I know that if you scream and swear, then holy water feels it and changes! I had this happen last year! There were 2 identical bottles of holy water, one was odorless, and the other for some reason had a smell; they later told me that this happens when there is a quarrel in the family. Father, what should I do now? I can’t calm down, I always think that the holy water will spoil for such a careless attitude (although I try to keep everything clean and treat the holy water with care) tell me, haven’t I done much harm to the board with my anger? I beg you to answer. Thank you!
Xenia
Ksenia, any quarrel or anger does not create God’s righteousness, as it is written in Holy Scripture. Apparently, this is not the first time this has happened to you, but I think you do this regularly. You need to fight with yourself, restrain your anger, your irritability. All our words affect the people around us, and above all, anger destroys us from the inside. You need to confess and take communion with your daughter, and God will forgive you. It would be advisable to consecrate the apartment (invite a priest home). If you watch your spiritual state and your words, everything will be fine.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Father, please tell me what prayer should be read before drinking holy water?
Sergey
Prayer for accepting prosphora and 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 boundless mercy through the prayers of the Most Pure One Your Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello Father Andrey! Please explain to me how to understand “restrain your own evil.” I don’t wish harm on anyone, I don’t do it, even if I’m irritated on the outside, it’s an experience within me. At first, I didn’t show hostility towards the person, not that I didn’t show it, I treated it with understanding, maybe the person has envy or some other reason, because of his weakness he behaves this way, I even tried to be friendly, didn’t give any reason to that I care about her actions. But every patience has a limit, so the resentment jumped out and manifested itself outwardly. I always submit prayers, I do this for my enemies, especially if at that moment it is difficult for me to pray for her. Psychologists advise to throw out your irritation, for example: hitting a pillow, going out of town and screaming in the forest as much as possible, sports help a lot, running fresh air(I like sports more), but just don’t hold back resentment and negative emotions. It became much easier for me when I began to bypass the offender, and she does not touch me at all, and I pray that the Most Holy Theotokos will protect me and help me, give me the strength to forgive her, and the people I encountered in similar situations. Holding resentment or negative emotions leads to illness, please explain to me how to cope with this feeling. Prayer, and not meet with this person for a while until I become stronger, or is there something else that I should pay attention to? God bless you! Best regards, Elena.
Elena
Dear Elena! Not all advice from secular psychologists is quite suitable within the boundaries of the Orthodox worldview. Perhaps, playing sports here is the most suitable recommendation for a believer. In principle, also, as far as possible, avoiding the source of irritation may be an acceptable method for a believer. And in general, the point is not that we need to “keep the grudge to ourselves”: the task of fighting our own passions is, first of all, to allow God to act - to act in our souls and hearts with grace healing from sin. For this, we must try to reveal ourselves in repentant communion with Christ. That is, real spiritual life is not self-isolation on one’s sins and problems, but, on the contrary, openness to God. Actually, this is why we were given the Church and the saving church Sacraments. And also the possibility and necessity of doing good, correcting life. God's help to you in this!
Archpriest Andrei Spiridonov
Good afternoon How to properly get rid of old holy water? I won't use it anymore.
Anna
Dear Anna, if holy water is no longer suitable for drinking, then it can be poured into clean running water (river, lake, etc.) or into house plants.
Holy water is water upon which God's grace has descended. Blessed water has cleansing and life-giving powers. It is a Shrine accessible to every Orthodox Christian and accompanies us all our lives.
This is what Holy Water is called in Orthodoxy.
Agiasma (Αγίασμα Greek - shrine). In Orthodoxy, this is the name for Holy water, consecrated in the temple during a special ceremony.
IN Orthodox churches Holy water is used during all services without exception. During religious processions and prayer services, Christians are sprinkled with it. During the sacrament of Baptism, Holy Water revives those newly baptized into a new life.
Priests sprinkle Holy water on the remains and coffins of the newly deceased during the funeral service and burial.
It is also sprinkled on temples at all stages of construction, from laying the foundation to erecting domes. In Rus' from for a long time There is a tradition of sprinkling new wells with Holy water.
Even a spaceship before going into space, Orthodox priest sprinkles with Holy water.
There are known cases when dangerous sections of the road, where many accidents occur, are sprinkled with Agiasma.
Holy water has miraculous properties.
It frees you from sinful desires, from bad thoughts, from all evil and defilement.
In everyday life, Holy water can be used everywhere.
Every day, after waking up, you need to wash your face, put yourself in order, and pray to the Lord. Then, on an empty stomach, drink a sip of Holy water. And then you can have breakfast.
Saint Luke of Crimea said:
“Drink Holy Water as often as possible. This is the best and most effective medicine. I say this not only as a priest, but also as a doctor. From my experience in medicine."
Sprinkle your home with Holy water more often, because it is much easier for an Orthodox Christian to live in the light of God’s Grace.
Miraculous water brings God's light into our souls. She is a Shrine and requires special careful attitude Therefore, in the Orthodox tradition it is not customary to use blessed water for domestic purposes.
Holy water does not spoil because it is filled with God's Grace
Each of us wondered: why Holy water does not spoil, what forces act on it, why it retains freshness and taste for a long time.
Holy water is the personification of God's grace.
She heals mental and physical illnesses. This is a shrine that is kept in every Orthodox family
Ordinary Holy water is consecrated during the Divine service, which is called a Moleben. The priest reads a special prayer over the water and lowers a silver cross into it. Prayer that is read during the blessing of water:
“Great God, work miracles, they are countless! Come to Your praying servant, Master: send Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water, and give it the grace of deliverance and the blessing of the Jordan: create a source of incorruptibility, a gift of sanctification, resolution of sin, healing of ailments, destruction by demons, unapproachable to opposing forces, filled with angelic strength : as if all who draw from it and receive from it have it for the cleansing of soul and body, for healing harm, for the change of passions, for the remission of sins, for the driving away of all evil, for the sprinkling and consecration of houses and for all similar benefits. And if there is anything in the house, or in the place of those living faithfully, this water will sprinkle this water, so that all uncleanness will be washed away, and it will deliver from all harm; below there, let a destructive spirit settle down; below, let the harmful air flee; there is a hedgehog, either it envies the health of the living, or peace, by sprinkling this water let it be reflected. For let your most honorable and magnificent name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, be blessed and glorified, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Epiphany water is consecrated on the feast of Epiphany (Epiphany) from January 18 to 19 during a solemn church ceremony. The consecration of Epiphany water is carried out even on rivers and ponds.
In the church baptismal water is called the Great Hagiasma - the water of great consecration. Such water is more filled with God’s Grace than during ordinary consecration.
Epiphany water is a great shrine, it is collected once a year and used in special cases:
for the consecration of temples;
during mass epidemics;
for illnesses.
How to store holy water
Holy water is always available in churches. Come and collect as much as your heart desires. The Shrine should be kept with trembling and reverence, in a clean vessel, in a dark place. It is advisable for it to stand next to the icons.
If you treat Holy Water with respect, it will for a long time will retain its miraculous properties.
When there is not enough Holy water left, you can safely add regular water to it. Thus, all the water in the container will receive a piece of holiness and become Holy. This must be done with sincere prayer.
How to use last year's holy water
The Holy Spirit is present in consecrated water. And for him there are no times. There is neither last year nor this year. Holy water cannot be fresh or last year, it is simply Holy.
Therefore, do not think about what to do with last year’s Holy Water. Feel free to continue using it, even though it was collected last year.
If you are afraid to use water because you have had it for a long time, and cannot decide where to put the old Holy water, there are many ways to use it:
- wash yourself with Holy water if you are unwell or unwell;
- wash your children when they are naughty or sick;
- water indoor plants;
- Sprinkle your home and workspace with a cross using prayer.
When sprinkling a home, car or any other premises and objects, read a prayer special for this occasion:
“Oh my God! May Your holy gift be: prosphora and Your 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 Your boundless Mercy through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen".
Holy water spoils if improperly stored or used.
It happens that Holy Water blooms during storage. It may become cloudy or green. It may contain sediment and bad smell. Suspicious people associate this with mystical omens and wonder why the Holy Water has gone rotten, why it has spoiled, and whether this will lead to trouble. But you don’t need to take such an event to heart.
We live in a world that obeys the laws of nature. And you shouldn’t be puzzled why the holy water turned green and a sediment suddenly formed in it. The Shrine deteriorates for objective reasons, due to improper storage or use. Perhaps the water was not collected in a very clean container, or it was left in the sun for a long time. When exposed to heat and sunlight, microscopic green algae multiply.
It is possible that people hastily took a sip from the neck of the bottle, and the simplest organisms got into the container and developed, so the Holy Water spoiled.
Such water cannot be used. It should be poured into the ground or running water, into a river or reservoir. You can water a plant or tree. But, under no circumstances pour it down the drain, because we are talking about the Holy Place.
Take just enough water to last until the next water blessing.
If you think that you stored the Holy Water correctly, but it still spoiled, look inside yourself, perhaps there is non-piety in your life and actions.
The most important thing to remember is that in your hands is a Holy Relic, a gift from God. If we do not preserve Holy water, the Lord will take it away from us.
