On January 19, all Orthodox celebrate the great feast of the Epiphany. According to church canons, on Epiphany on January 18, a believer must come to church, defend the service, light a candle, and take blessed water. But no one needs to plunge into ice water, especially if a person is not ready for this. However, this tradition is becoming increasingly popular.
First of all, you need to remember - dipping into the ice hole at Baptism is not a tribute to fashion, not a cult or drunken fun. This is a holy sacrament, cleansing from sins in which a person repented. It is precisely such people who are given liberation from ailments, spiritual and physical, enlightenment and God's grace. From the church point of view, until the rite of blessing the water, which occurs after evening service on the Epiphany Eve, is completed, bathing in the ice hole remains a winter walrus and has nothing to do with the Orthodox rite. For those who really want to touch the shrine, it is important to wait until the pond is consecrated.
There are some simple tips that you can follow to stay alive. Indeed, you must agree that dipping in January is quite an extreme occupation:
- the presence of health workers
- water depth - up to 1.8 m,
- the hole should be fenced.
It is strictly forbidden to plunge:
- in the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous system, chronic inflammatory processes;
- if you have taken alcohol, just left the bathhouse.
And if you follow all the rules of dipping at Baptism, you will receive not only a huge charge of vivacity and good mood, but you will also be healthy for a very, very long time.
1. Make sure you are healthy and feeling good. This is mainly about colds (it is clear that if you have gangrene and you go for a dip for healing, then you are unlikely to feel good).
2. Pick up clothes. It should be not only warm, but also comfortable. Quickly unfasten and easily put on back. Do not forget about the hat! Be sure to put it on after dipping. And it will be much more convenient for you if you take a rubber mat to change clothes on it.
3. The best temperature for dipping into the ice hole at Baptism is up to -5 degrees. If the frost is below -10, and you do not plunge regularly (meaning, not once a year, but once a day), then it is better to refrain from such extreme actions.
4. Do not go hungry! For a couple of hours, it is advisable to have a light meal, and immediately after dipping, drink not alcohol !!!, but warm tea or an infusion of herbs.
5. Before dipping, be sure to do a little exercise, stretch your legs, warm up your muscles: jump, wave your eyes, squat.
6. Being in the water for about 10-15 seconds, this is enough to dive three times. And there is no need for you to linger there longer.
7. After exiting, rub well with a towel; do not wear clothing on a wet body. Dry yourself, get dressed and go to the heat. If you are constantly diving, you can stay in the cold for another 15 minutes.
8. In no case do not plunge intoxicated! It can cost you your life!
And remember, dipping into the ice hole for baptism is an Orthodox rite. Before diving, you need to cross yourself three times. And if a man has enough swimming trunks, then it is advisable for a woman to be in a nightgown, and not in a swimsuit, from which all her charms fall out.
