On the eve of the wonderful Orthodox holiday – Epiphany – many parishioners gathered in all churches of our city and district.
On the eve of the wonderful Orthodox holiday – Epiphany – many parishioners gathered in all churches of our city and district. During divine services, believers recited prayers for their relatives and loved ones, and took holy water, which possesses great miraculous power.
Epiphany has a special significance. It is this holiday that concludes the Christmas season, which lasts from January 7th to January 19th. The holiday begins on the evening of January 18th, when Christmastide Eve is celebrated. This is a strict fast, a preparation before the great Orthodox holiday – the Theophany of the Lord. According to tradition, the whole family, as before Christmas, gathers at the table, where only Lenten dishes are served, and kutia is prepared from rice, honey, and raisins.
On this festive day and on Christmastide Eve, the Great Blessing of Waters takes place. A large number of people gather in churches to collect holy water. If a person cannot attend the service, they can feel the healing power of water taken from a body of water on the Epiphany night. Holy water heals wounds and brings God's blessing. The holiday of Epiphany is also called the Theophany because at the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Trinity appeared before the people.
Many Orthodox believers gathered not only in churches on this day. The Dean of the churches of the Lepel district, Priest Adam Kolyada, consecrated Lake Lepel on this day. The rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya," Priest Vladimir Dogodko, met parishioners at the holy springs "Na Krizhakh," near the village of Zaslonovo. Many wished to immerse themselves in the holy font on this day. The water at Lake Shchibat in the village of Borovka was consecrated by the rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unquenchable Cup," Priest Vladimir Kazhanovsky. The rector of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Pyshno, Ioann Vabishchevich, performed the consecration of water in the home church of the central district hospital, and consecrated water for the employees and elderly people at the Pyshnyanskaya nursing home. The consecration of water took place in the agro-town of Bobrovo and the village of Zvezda. The consecration of water near the well in the village of Yurkovshchyna was performed by the rector of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Lepel, Sergey Lyashkevich. The consecration also took place in other settlements.
The rectors of the churches and the sisters of the Orthodox sisterhood cordially welcomed all parishioners in the Orthodox churches, offering everyone to drink and take holy water with them, which carries God's blessing and healing power.