On January 19, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Epiphany. It is believed that it was on this day that Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. And every year on January 19, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, a real miracle occurs: water in all sources, be it a lake, a spring, a river changes its structure and acquires unique healing properties.
In the Orthodox faith, water is consecrated twice. The first time was on Christmas Eve, January 18, in the church. The second time was on January 19, on the very day of the holiday on the reservoirs. If the reservoirs are frozen, then the Jordan is cut through the ice in advance - an ice-hole in the form of a cross, named after the Jordan River, in which Jesus was baptized.
Water on this day becomes extraordinary force, even its structure changes. It is known that if the water collected on this day is stored separately in a sealed container, it will not deteriorate. Experiments have been carried out. Three types of water were supplied in the same room in the same containers. So "holy" water has not changed any of its qualities after a year. Ordinary water became completely unusable after 5 months, and still mineral water bought in a store after eight.
A special attitude is assumed to holy water. It is better to store it in a corner with icons (if any). They drink her on an empty stomach on a spoon in the morning, they wash her children in the same way, sprinkle an apartment or house. In addition, it is known that "a drop of a shrine sanctifies the sea." You can add a little consecrated water to ordinary water, and all the water in the container will become holy.
It is strictly forbidden to utter swear words, swear, and admit vile thoughts when taking holy water. Often, in such cases, water simply spills or loses its sanctity. This gift must be cherished.
On January 19, you can still observe unusual, inexplicable phenomena. For example, in complete calm on water surfaces, including in rooms, ripples suddenly appear, which can be observed by all people, even those far from Orthodoxy.
The moment of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the waters of Jordan many years ago was accompanied by tremendous signs. The Jordan River flows from the mountains, flows into the Sea of Gennesaret, but for another 300 meters, being already in the sea, it does not interfere with its salty waters, but flows in a powerful stream until it flows into the Dead Sea, When Jesus was baptized and the Holy One descended upon him Spirit - and the waters of Jordan turned back. This sign has been repeated annually since then. And thousands of people are witnessing this. However, there is not a single scientific explanation for this phenomenon. On the eve of the holiday, Orthodox Christians let wooden crosses with lighted candles down the river. The water takes them to the Dead Sea, and on January 19 brings them back! On the same day, the fresh water of the Jordan becomes salty.
The place of the baptism of Jesus Christ is now located in Jordan. Local authorities only allow one day of the year, January 19, to perform a church service on the river bank and consecrate water. At this service, there are always many pilgrims and just tourists, so there are a huge number of eyewitnesses who every year watch how the river turns back, and the branches of the trees sink so low that they touch the water surface, as if bowing to a great miracle.
