The Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar celebrate Epiphany or the Baptism of the Lord, one of the 12 great feasts of the liturgical year, on January 19. As on Epiphany Eve, water is blessed in churches today and parishioners come to take holy water that they drink and sprinkle their houses with as it is considered a healer of diseases, IPN reports.
The feast celebrates the manifestation of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and includes the commemoration of his birth, all of Jesus’ childhood events and his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist.
Traditionally, on Epiphany people go to dip in rivers and ponds. Rescuers recommend preparing the body before entering the water and dipping gradually. Rescuers warn that dipping is allowed only in specially arranged places, equipped with wooden stairs and only under the supervision of specialists.
The row of winter feasts is closed by the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, which is observed on January 20.
