On 19 January 2023 the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates one of the principal feasts of the Lord, one of the Twelve Great Feasts: Theophany, the Baptism of the Lord!
On this day, 19 January 2023, the day of the Baptism of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, the rector of Saint Alexius Cathedral in Samarkand, Priest Igor Babakov, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of Water in our church.
The day before, on Theophany Eve, 18 January, the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great was celebrated at the cathedral, preceded by the reading of the Royal Hours.
After the service Fr. Igor celebrated the rite of the Great Blessing of Water.
On the eve of the feast of Theophany Fr. Igor celebrated the All-Night Vigil.
This feast is called Theophany in memory of the miracle that took place during the baptism. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ from heaven in the form of a dove, and a voice was heard calling Him Son. Thus the Holy Trinity was revealed to those present: the voice, God the Father; the dove, God the Holy Spirit; Jesus Christ, God the Son. This confirmed that Jesus is not only the Son of Man but also the Son of God. God appeared to people.
The chief feature of the Theophany services is the Great Blessing of Water. Water is blessed with this rite only twice a year: on Theophany Eve, 18 January, and on the day of Theophany itself, 19 January, after the Divine Liturgy.
Theophany water blessed with the Great rite is called Agiasma. It is a holy thing and must be treated with special care.
From the first centuries of Christianity there was a tradition of baptizing catechumens on Theophany. That is why this feast was often called the "Day of Illumination," the "Feast of Lights," or the "Holy Lights," indicating that the Sacrament of Baptism not only cleanses a person from sin but also enlightens him with the Light of Christ. It was then that the tradition arose of blessing the water of rivers and lakes on this day and bathing in them.
After the service Fr. Igor addressed the parishioners with a word on the holiness of the feast being celebrated: "Today the Lord entered the waters of the Jordan and thereby sanctified them, giving them the original nature that water had before the fall of mankind. With sin came death and corruption, and this affected water as well. We know that Theophany water does not spoil regardless of a person's sinfulness, but it acts only when we receive it with faith!
Let us remember, when we come for this holy water, which we will take home to bless our dwelling and ourselves, not to defile it by our behavior: by quarrels, discontent, irritation and malice."
