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On January 19, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate one of the twelve holy days - the Epiphany. Fonts are arranged in cities and villages in which they bless water, so that believers can plunge. Every year on the official website of the Mayor of Moscow, they post a list of places where and when you can swim at Epiphany. In 2020, no less font is expected than it was in 2019, but everything will depend on the weather.
Baptism bathing traditions
Unfortunately, for many of our fellow citizens plunging into the ice hole at Baptism is nothing more than a kind of extreme deed. In fact, according to the Christian tradition, bathing in the ice hole on January 19 is “climbing to the Jordan,” as the Savior once was baptized.
Every year, many people plunge into the hole, thinking that in this way they wash away all their sins. Some for the same purpose consider it obligatory to get a shower at 12 in the night and consecrate all the water in the house by open windows. The priests say that not one scripture speaks of the sinful power of baptismal water. In fact, this is a long tradition that has developed among our people and has its roots in the deep past, when the foundations of faith were strong. In the XX century, traditions were forgotten, which led to a distortion of their meaning.
Massively swimming in the ice hole at Epiphany in Moscow began in the early 90's. There were few fonts, the main hole at that time was considered an ice hole in Ostankino. Every year, more and more places for swimming were organized throughout the city, and today there are already about 60 points.
Where to swim in Moscow
An approved bathing map in each city is published on the eve of the holiday, but many already know in advance where the fonts will be organized. Even the absence of frost on the street does not affect the opening of Epiphany points. Of course, the most interesting thing is to plunge into the hole in the form of a cross, but it does not carry a semantic load, therefore, with faith, like the Savior, you can swim in any place officially designated for this, fortunately, the capital is rich in water backwaters.
Moscow is preparing for baptismal baths in advance. Around the reservoir, the site is cleared, an approach to the ice hole is equipped and a railing is installed. A prerequisite is lighting, changing cabins, dry closets, a heating station. Parking nearby. At the bathing place, not only priests are on duty, but also the Ministry of Emergencies. A few days before the holiday SES takes water samples.
Center
It is quite difficult to arrange an ice-hole in the very center, but it is here that tourists gather who are interested in looking at Russian traditions. Usually, three fonts are opened in the center of the capital: on Revolution Square, near the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Chisty Vrazheka (First Lane of the Workers, 8) and in Catherine Park (27 Bolshaya Ekaterininskaya St.). Since 2017, the central openings, though artificial, have become the courtyards of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is here that you can see the stars of our country.
Northern part
In 2020, you can swim at the Epiphany in the ice hole in the north of Moscow at the Great Garden Pond. Two more points will open in Khimki: in the area of the Left-bank beach and Dynamo stadium. Standardly 9 points open in the northeast:
- Stroginskaya floodplain (Moskvoretsky park, Tvardovsky st., 16/3).
- Serebryany Bor, Endless Lake (Tamanskaya St., 91).
- The Moscow River in the area of the Northern Tushino Park.
- St. Liberty, 56.
- St. Zhivopisnaya, 50 (park "Moskvoretsky").
- Derivation channel at Skhodnenskaya hydroelectric power station (19 Lodochnaya St.).
- Chernushka River in the Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo park.
- Park "Mitino" (Baryshikha).
- Karamyshevskaya embankment.
- Kirov floodplain (Strogino park, Isakovsky St., 2).
South
When in the center of Moscow believers are limited to only three points, in the south of the capital (in New Moscow) in 2020 it will be possible to bathe at Epiphany in 12 places equipped for this.
- Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity, Borisovsky Pond (Kashirskoye Shosse, 61a).
- Upper Tsaritsynsky Pond (Dolskaya St., 1).
- The Zagorodnoye Shosse is the Becket pond in the floodplain of the Chura River (Zagorodnoye Shosse, 2).
- Upper Kuzminsky Pond (10 Kuzminskaya St.).
- Lower Lublin (st. Shkuleva, 2b).
- Shabaevsky (Zarechye St., 14).
- Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, a pond in Vorontsovo (Akademika Pilyugina St., 1).
- Church of the Nativity, Chernevo (ow. 62-22, Chernevo, Moscow).
- Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Yasenevo, Sanatorium "Uzkoye" (st. Profsoyuznaya, 123b).
- Topapevsky pond (st. Akademika Vinogradova, 7).
- Nakhimovsky Prospect (Nakhimovsky Prospect, /, Euphrosyne Church of Moscow).
- Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”, Zakharyino (28a Shosseinaya St.).
East and West
The east of the capital is no less popular. Here, ice-holes will be opened on seven ponds: in Sokolniki, Babaevsky, May, Red, Silver-Grape, in the park "Terletskaya Dubrava", Putyaevsky. In recent years, the approval of the SES and the Ministry of Emergency Situations has also been received by Lake Beloe (B. Kosinskaya St., 46) and Svyatoe (18 Oranzhereinaya St.). Western Moscow greets visitors on the Moscow River: Filevsky Boulevard, d. 21, on the street. Bolshaya Filevskaya, d. 40A and in Rublevo (Botyleva St., 41).
Usually in the capital takes part in events dedicated to Baptism, more than 120 thousand people. Plunge into the water, of course, not all. In order for the holiday to go without excesses, people are asked to be careful and not to dive in unequipped places, especially if the pond was taken by ice.
How to plunge into Baptism
It is important to remember not only the safety of behavior on water, but also the spiritual component. First of all, priests recall that baptismal bathing is not a fad. You can’t just dive into the cold water, first you have to withstand the service in the church and ask for a blessing from the priest. From a safety position, you should not drink alcohol before bathing, as this only increases the load on the heart. To prevent hypothermia, after dipping, it is recommended to quickly rub with a towel, immediately put on a hat, and then all other dry clothes.
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