Congratulations to everyone on the Epiphany !
Swimming in an ice hole, pouring cold water on, cleansing the body, soul and home with holy water, as well as giving life-giving power for a whole year, we wish everyone this day - January 19!
How to use holy water?
Holy water has tremendous power. On January 19 of any year after midnight, ordinary tap water, water from pure snow has unusually strong properties. But, it cannot be compared in strength with the one over which the priest read prayers.
If you add a spoon of consecrated water to a bucket of ordinary water, it acquires the properties of holy water. When you use Holy Water, you should not experience negative emotions. And you should never pour Holy water into the toilet or sink. She is a gift from God and should be handled with great care.
The use of holy water in the daily life of an Orthodox Christian is quite varied. For example, it is consumed on an empty stomach in small quantities, usually together with a piece of prosphora (this is especially true of the great agiasma (water consecrated on the eve and on the very day of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord), they sprinkle their home.
A special property of holy water is that, added even in small quantities to ordinary water, it imparts beneficial properties to it, therefore, in case of a shortage of holy water, it can be diluted with plain water.
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We must not forget that consecrated water is a church relic, which has been touched by the grace of God, and which requires a reverent attitude towards itself.
It is customary to use holy water with prayer: “O Lord my God, may there be Thy holy gift and Thy holy water for the remission of my sins, for the enlightenment of my mind, for the strengthening of my soul and body, for the health of my soul and body, for the conquest of passions and my infirmities by Thy infinite mercy through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.
Although it is desirable - out of reverence for the shrine - to take Epiphany water on an empty stomach, but due to a special need for God's help - in case of ailments or attacks of evil forces - you can and should drink it without hesitation, at any time.
With a reverent attitude, holy water stays fresh and tasty for a long time. It should be stored in a separate place, preferably next to the home iconostasis.