January 19, the great feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Orthodox believers come to the temple to collect holy water. What can I say, according to beliefs, all the water that day becomes holy, and anyone who picks it up at home or in any clean reservoir can use it unhindered throughout the year along with that brought from the temple. So how is it right to use baptismal water, and are there any restrictions on this?
You will need
Water, iconostasis, prayer.
Instruction manual
1
Holy water can be stored not only the first days after baptism, but the whole subsequent year. It is best to place it in the iconostasis area in the red corner of the apartment. If there is no specially equipped iconostasis in the house, keep a bottle of holy water next to any icon or icons. Do not treat the use of holy water as a normal medication or therapy. Each intake of water should take place with prayer and reverence. The main power of such water is precisely in the Orthodox faith in its miracle, which is why the effect is achieved only if the person is serious about drinking water and faithfully believes in subsequent healing.
2
If an unbeliever uses holy water, it will not have any effect on him. There will also be no effect from the use of holy water without the knowledge of the patient. Therefore, if you are going to secretly pour holy water in a drink or soup to someone from your friends and relatives, do not waste time on this. Water should be taken only consciously and with special reverence and prayer. Believers should take holy water daily, in the morning on an empty stomach. If for health reasons this may not be desirable, then they drink water during the day, but always with prayer.
3
Baptismal water must be used only for the treatment or sprinkling of the home. In no case do not use it for household and domestic needs and do not pour it into the sewer or toilet. If the holy water has deteriorated, it should be poured into the river or some plants should be watered, and the container in which it was stored should no longer be used. With baptismal water, which stood in your house for a year and deteriorated, you should do the same. If even after a year the water remained in good condition, it can be used further.
note
Women should not drink holy water during menstruation. Relief of this rule is permitted only in case of danger to life. It is possible to touch the vessel in which baptismal water is contained during these periods.
Useful advice
If there is very little holy water in the house, you can dilute it with plain water. It is necessary to do this with prayer and being in a state of reverence. A simple transfusion of water from one tank to another will not give any result.
