Old Orthodox Christians celebrate Lord’s Baptising or Epiphany in Moldova

Chisinau, 19 January /MOLDPRES/ – Old Orthodox Christians celebrate Lord’s Baptising or Epiphany today. This is the time when the Savior was baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan river at the age of 30.

By Epiphany, followed by Saint John the Baptist, there ends cycle of traditional winter holidays. Throughout specific ritual of that religious event, on this day, great waters are sanctified and the environment is being purified of evil forces.

At the end of the water sanctification service, cross is thrown into water and young people who want to recover it from the water are rewarded with bagels, fruits and money. The one who takes the cross out of the water will have luck all year.

On the Epiphany night, the young girls dream their willed ones. They tie a red silk thread on the ring and put basil under the pillow. Those who fall on ice on the Epiphany will marry that year, say the elders. Also, to find out who the willed one is, young woman who wants to get to know her destiny prepares a salt and water flour cake. The young man who brings a cup of water into her dream is her willed one.

For Epiphany, 70 tons of water from S.A. Apa Canal Chisinau – Water (ACC) will be free of charge in several churches in Chisinau. According to ACC’s public relations service info, waterbtanks will be located in the courtyards of the holy places, where after the Divine Liturgy, parishioners will be able to take holy water.

(Reporter N. Roibu, editor L. Alcaza)