Going on pilgrimage tours for Epiphany means getting the opportunity to visit temples, defend a service, plunge into a source or an ice hole. Epiphany water retains its properties (gives vigor, relieves of ailments, damage and the evil eye) until January 22.
January 19 is an important day for all Orthodox people: many of them try to plan trips to holy places for Epiphany.
The place where Jesus was baptized
Believers strive to get to this place (the northern end of the Jordan River; located on the border of Israel and Jordan), and such an opportunity is given to them only twice a year - on Holy Week and on Epiphany (Holy Epiphany).
Usually, for Epiphany, pilgrims go to one of the churches for the Divine Liturgy, after which their path lies to the place of the baptism of Jesus. Not far from here you can see the ruins of an early Christian temple.
The symbolic rite of baptism of believers takes place in a place called Yardenit. Here, pilgrims will find a restaurant, a souvenir shop, accessible car parking and everything needed for ablution (changing rooms, a special clothing rental office).
It is worth noting that during the consecration of the water (the patriarch lowers the holy cross into it three times), the festive troparion is sung. In addition, at this moment, white doves are released into the wild (they are brought to the ceremony in advance) - this is a symbol of the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Pilgrimage to the temples of Feodosia
Pilgrims who arrived in Feodosia will be offered to attend the festive liturgy in one of the temples of the city:
- Church of All Saints: pilgrims will be able to pray in front of icons with particles of the relics of Innocent of Irkutsk, Luke and Job of Pochaev. It is worth noting that a museum, a children's theater and a spiritual school are open at the church. Inside you will be able to admire the paintings (plots based on Ivanov and Botticelli) made by Severodonetsk artists.
- Kazan Cathedral: here you will be able to admire the artistic painting on the gospel subjects, as well as pray in front of the holy images of the Most Holy Three-Handed, Tikhvin and Kazan icons of the Mother of God.
After the service, they will make a procession to the Embankment of Feodosia - there will be the illumination of the waters of the Black Sea (believers will be allowed to swim in the illuminated sea).
Pilgrimage to the Nilo-Stolobenskaya desert
Many believers come to this Orthodox monastery to visit all of its churches. The central place of the monastery complex is occupied by the Epiphany Cathedral: the entire monastery liturgical rite is performed here and the main shrine of the monastery is located - the relics of Nil Stolobensky.
On January 19, the festive liturgy is celebrated under the leadership of Metropolitan of Tver and Kashinsky Viktor (abbot of the Nilo-Stolobensk Hermitage). Then the pilgrims are offered to take a walk to Lake Seliger: after the rite of lighting the water, those who wish can plunge into the ice-hole in Lake Seliger.
