Festival, dedicated to the great event - the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan, appeared in the earliest years of Christianity.He was loved by all the followers of the Christian doctrine, as it allows them to relive the exciting moments of their own baptism and mentally into the world of this sacrament.When the icon began to enter the church use, it appeared along with another icon of the "Baptism of the Lord."But first, let's talk about the event that gave rise to her writing.
Baptist of the Lord on the banks of the Jordan
Holy Gospel tells us how the Lord sent the prophet John, to prepare the people for the coming of His Son Jesus Christ.Prior to Jesus, John was named in the New Testament, John the Baptist, or John the Baptist.Will of God, he appealed to the Jews to the call to come to repent of their sins and purify the soul for the adoption of the kingdom of God.He himself was a great devotee and ascetic.Having lived all his life in the harsh Judean Desert and rejecting worldly joy, St. John gave himself to the service of God.
His sermons, full of life and truth have met a wide response.The Gospel speaks of thousands of Jews, hastened to his call.All of them received the baptism from John in the waters of the Jordan River.It was a symbolic act of washing the body and the soul, but it was not yet blessed Christian sacrament.It was only a preparation for it.
founder of the kingdom of God
By this time Jesus Christ, who lived in Nazareth and was not yet known to anybody, thirty years.According to Jewish law, it was the age at which men become eligible to become a teacher and referred to as "Rabbi."Since then, he began his public ministry, whose purpose was to point people the way to the kingdom of God, that is a new, revived after the fall of mankind.
Gate it was a baptism, since no cleansing from sin and repentance to the entrance was closed.Jesus Christ, as the founder of the kingdom, was the first to enter into it, and, consequently, in spite of its sanctity, could not pass it cleaning the gate.This was the reason that one day John the Baptist, saying his next sermon, saw Jesus approaching him.
baptism of Jesus Christ and the establishment of ordinances
perceived divine power of the One who came to him, John fell into a confusion which resulted in his words about his unworthiness to perform the ritual in respect of the Messiah.Jesus reassured him, citing the words of Scripture, that established the divine destiny of what is happening.What followed was and is an icon of the "Baptism of the Lord."
Jesus entered the waters of the Jordan, performing the ritual, thereby sanctifying it and elevated to a sacrament.All those present at the same time heard the voice resounded from the sky and testified of the divine nature of Jesus.At the same time the Holy Spirit as a dove descended upon him.All this is to prove to people that in Jesus of Nazareth combines two natures - human and divine.
Epiphany of the Jordan and his dating
Epiphany feast established in honor of this event, and the icon of the "Baptism of Christ" have another name - Epiphany.The explanation for this is obvious - on the banks of the Jordan, God revealed to people all three of his incarnation.Perform baptisms - Son proveschal from heaven - the Father, descended on Jesus in the form of a dove - the Holy Spirit.Thus, the icon of the "Baptism of Christ" - Epiphany - is not just an image of the biblical events, but the presentation of deep religious and philosophical doctrine.
Luke gives us the opportunity at a certain date within the event.He says that John the Baptist began his preaching in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius.According to historical records, this should correspond to the year 779 from the foundation of Rome, or 30 AD.Since between the beginning of the preaching of John the Baptist and the appearance of Jesus Christ on the banks of the Jordan a small time interval, we can conclude that in the same year and was Epiphany.
Icon photo is taken in the beginning, it is Jesus Christ, present in the waters of the Jordan, and John the Baptist, committing over him the rite.On the right side ranks of angels bowed in awe, and heaven descends Holy Spirit.Most Orthodox icons to adhere to this interpretation of the composite image at the event.
Other titles this holiday
noteworthy that celebrated in Russia since ancient times, the holiday had initially different names.He was known as "Epiphany," which in Greek means - the phenomenon of "Theophany" - Epiphany, as well as "festival of lights".Of course, there was a view of perpetual light brought by God in this world.Icon of the Epiphany, the disclosure of which has been described above, has another symbolic meaning, going back to the Old Testament.It seems the water in it as the beginning of life.Recall how out of it, under the influence of the life-giving Spirit, has appeared every living thing.Therefore, the Lord God and life are inseparable.
special holiday established church
Icon "Epiphany" is one of the main Christian holidays.It is celebrated on January 19 it ends Christmas yuletide, which lasted from the day of Christ, that is, from January 7.In memory of Jesus Christ to His consecrated water baptism in the Jordan, every year on the eve of holidays in all Orthodox churches performed the rite of consecration of water.Read special prayers, the priest plunges into the water three times the cross.
On the day consecrated water in the reservoirs, having made it to the pre-procession.Often accompanied by a blessing of the water reservoirs in the symbolic immersion into the hole the more zealous worshipers.On a frosty winter day, they find the courage, Sign of the Cross, to plunge into the icy water.Hole in the ice is typically in the form of a cross.Also, in the hands of the clergy present at the same time, be sure to have a cross and an icon of "Epiphany".The meaning of this ritual is quite clear - the triumph of the spirit over the flesh.
Folk customs in this holiday
On the eve of that day, the church has established a one-day fasting.It is called the Epiphany Eve.On this day people eat the symbolic dish - sochivo.This decoction of wheat and honey.Celebration of Baptism is rich in various traditions.For example, on Christmas Eve, housewives bake special cookies - crosses.On the morning of the feast they eat with holy water.In the form of baking cookies, and its design was laid special meaning, understandable only to those for whom it was intended.During the holidays not proper for women to fetch water in the river, it was the responsibility of men.Washing in the river are not rinsed during these days and weeks after, as it is considered disrespectful to the holiday.
Worldwide Christians celebrate Epiphany.Icon photo that completes the story belongs to the Western Church, but attention is drawn to the similarity of subject composition.Overall, even the location of the figures.Added are some elements that do not include an Orthodox icon, "The Baptism of Christ."The value of the icon with the same thing - Jesus Christ is his immersion in the Jordan jet reveals the gates of the kingdom of God.
