Security measures on the feast of the Epiphany

On Epiphany Christmas Eve and on the very day of the Baptism of the Lord in all Orthodox churches, after the Divine Liturgy, the rite of the Great Blessing of Water is performed. According to ancient belief, on this day all water becomes holy and heals any ailments. The consecrated Epiphany water is the greatest shrine. It is stored throughout the year, consumed in a small amount in the morning on an empty stomach, after reading a special prayer. It is believed that by plunging into it, people are freed from sins. Many will dare to swim in Jordan on this day - an ice hole carved in the shape of a cross. Traditionally, on this day, thousands of believers rush to natural springs to partake of the sacred waters, cleanse themselves of sins and be spiritually transformed.
In order for the holiday not to be overshadowed by an accident on the water, the following rules must be observed:

Preparation for baptismal bathing:

- before swimming in the ice-hole, warm up the body by doing a warm-up, jogging;
- it is necessary to approach the ice-hole in comfortable, non-slip and easily removable shoes in order to prevent loss of sensation in the legs. It is better to use boots or woolen socks in order to reach the hole. It is possible to use special rubber slippers, which also protect your feet from sharp stones and salt, and also prevent you from slipping on ice. On the way to the hole, remember that the path can be slippery, so you should walk slowly;

- make sure that the ladder for descending into the water is stable. At least for safety, it is necessary to lower the edge of a strong thick rope with knots into the water so that people can use it to get out of the water. The opposite end of the rope must be securely fastened to the shore.

- when entering the water for the first time, try to quickly reach the depth you need, but do not swim, do not stay in the hole for more than 1 minute in order to avoid general hypothermia of the body. In addition, there should not be more than 20 people near the hole on the ice at the same time; swimming in a group of more than 3 people at the same time is prohibited. After bathing (dipping), rub yourself with a terry towel and put on dry clothes.

OCHS Kurchumsky district