The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is one of the twelve main celebrations of the Christian Church. Orthodox people treat this day with special trepidation, spiritually preparing for the celebration on Epiphany Eve.
The feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ is celebrated on January 19 in a new style. Epiphany Eve falls on the day preceding the main celebration. It turns out that Epiphany Eve falls on January 18th.
On Epiphany Eve, the charter of the Orthodox Church presupposes strict fasting. By January 18, Christmastide ends. On Christmas Eve, the charter presupposes eating food without vegetable oil, fish, accordingly, is also prohibited for consumption. Some zealous Christians on January 18, on Epiphany Eve, fast dry food, not eating boiled food. Also, on Epiphany Christmas Eve, there is a pious practice to completely abstain from food until the first star appears (like Christmas Eve). However, this practice is not spelled out in the charter of the Orthodox Church.
The very name "Christmas Eve" comes from the lean food called sychiv. Juice is made from rice and honey, garnished with raisins, pieces of fruit, marmalade, and other lean sweets. The finished product is usually consumed in fasting. That is why the preparatory fast day before the feast of the Baptism of the Lord is called Christmas Eve.
On Epiphany Christmas Eve, in the morning of January 18, a special divine service is held in the church, during which prophetic passages from the Old Testament are read. Also, after the end of the Divine Liturgy on Epiphany Christmas Eve, the great consecration of water is performed.
