The first swim in an ice hole at Epiphany arose as a tradition after the adoption of Christianity in Kievan Rus in 988. January 19 religious holiday– Baptism of the Lord, during the Divine Liturgy, a great consecration of water is performed, which has healing powers. It is generally accepted that all water elements on this day acquire miraculous properties that strengthen bodily and mental strength.
The ice hole in which people swim is called the Jordan; people come to it after a solemn service; it is not customary to plunge into the water without the prayer of the priest. The priest blesses those who wish to perform the ritual of bathing at Epiphany - he reads a prayer before the wormwood and immerses the cross in it three times, only after completing the prayers can the ritual be performed. Prescribing to tradition the property of cleansing and washing away sins is wrong; in order to get rid of sins one must repent and...
The holiday to which the tradition is attached is the most ancient - the Epiphany of the Lord was introduced as a separate event in church service around 377. On this day, ancient Christians came to the Jordan, the place where Jesus Christ was baptized. Ritual of Epiphany bathing - folk tradition which a person performs according to personal desire, there are no church regulations on this issue. Water consecrated on this day has special properties, which has been proven by scientific research.
If we consider the question of what bathing at Epiphany gives, we should understand what a person expects to receive from such actions. Taking a dip in the water in the Epiphany frosts is not so easy, even with a strong desire. The main thing is to have faith that water has the ability to heal ailments, and the procedure will not cause harm; the desire to pray is to entrust one’s needs into the hands of God.
Swimming in cold weather helps improve immunity - sudden changes in temperature activate the release of hormones into the blood that have a protective effect on negative changes in the functioning of the body, decreases arterial pressure, a surge of energy comes. Marking yourself with a cross three times before diving into the ice hole is a mandatory condition.
The tradition of bathing at Epiphany is a test of a person's willpower. Doctors state the fact that the percentage of people who get sick after such “procedures” is insignificant. According to the stories of those who have swum, in the first few minutes a person is seized by euphoria, the body becomes unusually light, grace is felt in the soul, and a rush of special indescribable sensations comes.
Risking poor health for unforgettable dives is prohibited. The Church does not oblige or order believers to perform such a ritual; it is not part of the holiday. By skipping a swim, a person does not lose grace. On the day of the Baptism of the Lord, you need to come to church for prayer, you can confess and take communion, sprinkle yourself and your home with sacred water brought from the temple.
January 18 - Epiphany Eve, it is generally accepted that after the consecration of water in churches on this day, it becomes healing in all water sources, and retains such properties for several subsequent days. The bathing itself at Epiphany does not begin without the blessings of the priest; the consecration of places for immersion occurs after the festive services on the morning of January 19.
Some tips on how to prepare for Epiphany swimming in the ice hole. For an unhardened person, such a dive is stressful; the effects of exposure to cold water can be minimized by pre-hardening the body. A few days before, it is advisable to take it, go outside or to the balcony for a few minutes in summer version clothes - shorts and a T-shirt, wipe with a damp towel dipped in cold water, practice dousing with low-temperature water.
The rules for bathing at Epiphany can be divided into parts. The first and most important point is that when performing such an act, a person must pray: for the salvation of the soul, for loved ones, ask for God’s help for healing from illnesses. Dipping into water for fun or under the influence of alcohol, to experience thrills is wrong; expecting healing of the body and soul as a result is unacceptable.
There are a lot of advantages in terms of medical indicators, why bathing at baptism is useful - the ability to work increases, the body loses allergic reactions, depression, insomnia, joint and back pain. Attacks of bronchial asthma are significantly reduced, blood circulation is normalized. When diving, the body temperature approaches forty degrees; in a few minutes, numerous armies of viruses and bacteria die in the body - the functioning of the immune system increases.
Is it possible to get sick while swimming at Epiphany? Yes, because stressful immersion in water can cause a number of unpleasant consequences. Diabetics experience a sharp increase in blood sugar levels, heart patients experience attacks of arrhythmia and hypertension, and cancer patients experience unwanted suppression of the immune system. Swimming is prohibited for those suffering from flu and acute respiratory infections.
Discussions about the dangers of swimming in an ice hole at Epiphany are a serious issue. The organization of the venue is the main selection criterion for those wishing to take the plunge. Coming alone to unprepared, sparsely populated ice holes is undesirable; it is a direct threat to human health and life in the event of an unexpected reaction of the body to cold water, there must be people ready to provide qualified assistance. Tips on how to properly swim in an ice hole at Epiphany:
Swimming in an ice hole is a long-standing tradition not only of Slavic peoples. Hindu sages in their holy books (which were written 1800 BC) said that bathing cold water gives ten benefits! Freshness, clarity of mind, vigor, health, beauty, strength, youth, purity, pleasant skin color and the attention of beautiful women.
Where did swimming in the ice hole come from in our country? Maybe the tradition originated from the time of the baptism of Rus'?
Swimming in an ice hole is an ancient pagan rite of “purification” - mass ablution. Roots Slavic traditions Winter swimming in icy water dates back to the time of the ancient Scythians. Children were dipped in cold water, hardened, and accustomed to harsh weather.
And of course, we took a dip in the ice hole after the bath!
In winter 1237, Batu Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) and his cavalry reached Moscow and saw small houses by the river. Naked people ran out of them and threw themselves into the icy water.
“What are these crazy people doing?” he asked. He was told that houses are called soap houses, and the inhabitants of Mushkafa (as the Mongols called Moscow) torture themselves there with birch brooms and wash themselves. hot water and kvass, and then throw themselves into an ice hole with ice water. This is useful, which is why the Urusuts (as the Mongols called the Russians) are so strong.
The tradition of ice hardening has deep roots and has survived to this day. During times Soviet Union there were many hardening and winter swimming clubs. Unfortunately, they are not so popular now.
But the tradition of plunging into an ice hole after a bath has been preserved to this day. It has not been forgotten, has not gone out of fashion, and has not found another replacement. After a good bathhouse and a hot steam room, your feet go straight to the ice-cold water! The body itself knows what it needs and how it is useful for it.
The heat of the bath, combined with swimming in ice water, causes alternating expansion and contraction of the capillaries. This kind of training makes the blood vessels elastic, and their work is activated. Nutrition of the body's cells, their activity improves and the metabolic process in the body occurs better.
Capillaries, our little helpers, become more efficient and their vital activity increases. They change the amount of blood flow to the skin, so our body can regulate heat transfer within certain limits.
After plunging into an ice hole and swimming in cold water, the body temperature returns to its original values in about half an hour. Trembling occurs after 12-15 minutes if warming procedures are not done.
A bath and hot shower, intense exercise and massage will help cope with this problem.
Supporters of winter swimming need to know that the capillaries of the head (with the exception of the front part) cannot narrow under the influence of cold. At a temperature of -4 degrees, half the heat that the body produces at rest is lost if the head is not covered.
The brain is sensitive to a lack of oxygen; immersing your head in ice water for more than 5-10 seconds can cause a spasm of the blood vessels that supply the brain. Therefore, it is necessary to protect your head from hypothermia, otherwise the blood supply to the brain can be disrupted.
Swimming in an ice hole is contraindicated for acute and chronic diseases:
To all of the above contraindications for swimming in an ice hole, I would add a few more important points: unnecessary excitement, undisciplined behavior, bragging, the desire to show off one’s prowess, to win an argument - all this can lead to dire consequences. Ice water knows how to be a healer, but it does not forgive mistakes and can punish hard!
Be sure to bring a change of dry clothes and soft towel. Clothing should be comfortable to put on (no buttons or hooks). It is advisable to choose natural fabrics without synthetics - they are more pleasant to the body.
For swimming you need swimming trunks for men and a swimsuit for women, or a simple shirt. For ease of walking in the snow and slippery ice You need flip flops or flip flops. Shoes can be selected based on personal preferences, the main thing is that they should protect your feet from damage and frostbite.
Bring a thermos of hot tea with you, it will be a heavenly drink after leaving the icy water.
The location of the ice hole should be located above the drainage of domestic waters, away from marinas, moorings and piers, oil loading facilities, and so on...
Optimally, the speed of water flow in a reservoir should be no more than 0.25 m per second. The bottom of the ice hole should be smooth and hard, preferably sandy and gradually deepening from the shore. Holes, cliffs, algae, snags and tree roots, large stones can cause injuries when swimming.
Before preparing the ice hole, the bottom must be examined and cleaned. Optimal size ice hole - 6 by 3 meters. 5 people can be in such an ice hole at the same time without the danger of collision or touching the ice edge. Such an ice-hole is usually prepared before swimming at Epiphany.
The minimum size of an ice hole is 3 by 3 meters; such an ice hole is easy to prepare and maintain in working order.
It is not convenient to swim in smaller ice holes; they are dangerous. The mini ice hole is only suitable for immersing the body in cold water.
The optimal depth of the ice hole should be at least 2-3 meters, in which you can not be afraid to touch the bottom, which may be clogged. In a deep hole the water is cleaner.
Small ice holes are for hardening beginners, older people and those who are poor swimmers.
The ice hole can be fenced off with a wall made of snow briquettes; it will protect from the wind. Any fencing of an ice hole is installed at a distance of 7-9 meters from its edges.
The edges of the ice hole can be lined with hay; it is comfortable to stand on it with bare feet without fear of frostbite.
Before entering the ice hole, you need to warm up.
Be sure to do some simple physical exercises and let the blood run through your veins and capillaries! The more you warm up the body, the better it will be - the hardening effect is increased due to the difference in temperature of the skin and water.
It is unpleasant for a cold person to enter ice water; there will be little benefit from the procedure...
If you go to the ice bath after a hot steam room, then the heat of the bath has already done this job for you!
You must enter the water decisively and keep your head above the water while swimming. During the first few seconds, act energetically with your arms and legs. Try not to touch other people in the ice hole - careless touches in cold water are painful.
Run from the hole to the bathhouse! Warm up in the locker room, douse yourself with warm water, rub yourself carefully with a terry towel, get dressed and drink hot tea!
If you plunge into an ice hole without bath procedures, then after ice water you need to rub yourself with a towel, do self-massage, and perform several physical exercises.
Remember that a wet body gives off heat 4 times more than a dry body. To prevent hypothermia, muscle loads, rubbing and self-massage are necessary!
Accidents and injuries can occur when swimming in icy water. If you decide to go extreme, remember that entering the ice hole is not difficult. It is much more difficult to get out of it.
Even in moderate frost, hands stick to wooden (not to mention metal) railings. To make it easier to get out of the water, you can hang a dry towel on the handrails of the stairs. The way out of a sticky situation can be ordinary snow - take a handful from the edge of the ice hole and, together with the snow, grab the handrails.
If several people are swimming in an ice hole, it is advisable to equip two ladders to exit the water. So that there is no delay for swimmers when leaving.
Coming out of an ice hole in a vertical position is more difficult and dangerous, so everyone swimming in an ice hole needs insurance and mutual assistance. Thus, swimming alone in a large ice hole is a bad idea.
If you feel uncomfortable, dizzy, weak, stiff in movement, tired, stop swimming and ask for help getting out of the icy water.
There are very few people who engage in winter swimming and swimming in icy water all the time. There are no winter swimming sections with qualified coaches and mentors.
In order to begin to harden with cold, a psychological attitude is necessary.
An emotional shock when coming into contact with ice water is inevitable. It is at this moment that a person’s inner core manifests itself - can he do it?! And every time it’s a small victory over yourself! The icy water does not require you to set records for speed swimming and long stays.
I asked many who swam in the ice hole - how this happens, what you feel afterwards and what are the first words when leaving the icy water. And you know, there was not one negative feedback! Yes, there is initial fear and excitement. And after the release there was only one word – GREAT!
It’s better to see once than to hear a hundred times, so I suggest watching a short video about a beautiful and brave girl Irina from Krasnoyarsk, who has been swimming in an ice hole for more than 20 years, swimming in an ice hole.
And here are her tips for those who decide to plunge into the ice hole:
Something like this.
Good luck and health!)
Swimming for Epiphany. Photo: sanrussia.ru
Epiphany - great Orthodox holiday, which has centuries-old history, their rituals, rules and traditions. It is this holiday that ends the Christmas holidays, which last from January 7 to January 19.
The history of the holiday goes back to the distant past, when God's son Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River. This is where the integral tradition of swimming in an ice hole came from.
Every year the number of people who want to plunge into the ice-hole is only growing. However, not everyone knows the basic rules that must be followed when immersing in ice water.
Many people wonder when it is better to swim - on the eve of the holiday on January 18, or on the Epiphany itself on January 19.
It is believed that January 18 is the best time to go to the temple for evening service. There you must read a prayer and take home holy water. At the same time, in in this case You cannot collect water from plastic or alcohol bottles. Holy water must have its own container, first washed well.
After the festive evening service, you can swim in the ice hole. The best time for this action is considered to be from 00:00 to 01:30. It was at this time Epiphany water has the strongest healing properties that help against any ailment. Of course, not everyone can get up at such a time to swim, so this can be done at any time as early as Epiphany itself on January 19th.
You can plunge into the ice hole only in specially designated areas and under the supervision of rescuers. Initially, a special Jordan in the form of a cross should be carved into the ice; after the priest lowers the crucifix into the water and reads a prayer, you can swim in it.
You can't just go into the water. The body will already be in a state of shock, and if certain rules are not followed, the consequences can be disastrous:
In order for swimming in the Epiphany ice hole to be successful, you need to have a number of seemingly everyday, but in this case very necessary items with you.
These include:
As it turns out, in the case of swimming in an ice hole, there are many contraindications that can not only spoil the effect of this action, but also lead to exacerbations of diseases.
Maria Babich
Baptism. On the night of January 18-19, according to the old custom, Orthodox believers plunge into cold water, and the bravest ones prefer to do this on fresh air, in a real ice hole. Meanwhile, debates about the benefits and harms of such a procedure have not subsided to this day.It is very important to understand that, no matter how beneficial the cold may be, one should not confuse the gradual process of hardening with a one-time event of winter swimming. It's one thing to slowly acclimate your body to extreme temperatures, and quite another to plunge it into an ice hole without any preparation.
Doctors do not recommend engaging in such experiments on yourself: if you have not started taking cold showers at least from the beginning of autumn and do not have any experience as a “walrus”, it is better for you to stay away from the ice hole.
Winter swimming is even more dangerous for people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases, tumors, and cardiovascular diseases, especially in the acute stage. Yes, gradual hardening may be able to help a hypertensive patient, but a sudden ice bath can kill him! With a sharp drop in temperature, the already narrowed blood vessels contract even more strongly, and as a result, the patient will have a heart attack. Moreover, such cases are not uncommon even in the summer, when the heat drives us into cool bodies of water. Can you imagine how much stronger the harmful effect is in winter frosts?
In general, for any organism, plunging into ice water is, first of all, stressful. And if it has a tonic effect on a trained “walrus”, like just another workout, then for a simple “land dweller” it can become critical. If you are not confident in the strength of your health, it is better not to risk it again.
But if you still decide to swim in the Epiphany ice hole, you must follow several rules:· under no circumstances drink alcohol before the “dive”;
· cool down gradually, slowly undressing on the shore, warm up before the procedure - do physical exercises, run, jump, or even sit in the steam room;
· plunge into the water abruptly, and do not dip your leg and arm alternately;
· do not swim for more than one and a half minutes and do not dive headlong;
· after the “immersion”, dry yourself with a towel, change into dry warm clothes, you can drink a cup of tea, a glass of cognac, a glass of church cahors (no more!);
· you should not dive into an ice hole if you have heart and vascular diseases, hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents, epilepsy, a tendency to seizures, inflammation of the kidneys and bronchopulmonary system, problems with the thyroid gland and infectious diseases;
· You should swim in specially equipped ice holes near the shore, preferably near rescue stations, under the supervision of lifeguards.What you need to swim in an ice hole:
· towel and terry robe, a set of dry clothes;
· swimming trunks or swimsuit, maybe underwear;
· slippers, so as not to injure your feet, just to prevent them from slipping on the ice, it’s better to wear woolen socks, and swim in them;
· rubber cap.The most dangerous thing in the process of swimming is hypothermia. Its first sign is redness of the skin, which appears after leaving the ice hole. If you experience pain in your temples or the back of your head, stop swimming immediately. Stiffness of movement and fatigue are also warning signs. At the first sign of hypothermia, consult a doctor immediately.
With or without panties?
Opinions differ on this issue. The walruses I interviewed claim that it is better to swim completely naked - then there is less risk of catching a cold, which in the cold is facilitated by wet swimming trunks and, especially, bras. Church ministers, of course, do not approve of public nudity: the ideal dress code, in their opinion, is a long baptismal shirt, however, swimming trunks and swimsuits will also do. By the way, this year for the first time priests were allowed to swim in shorts, without shirts, after last year several monks, emerging from an ice hole, were unable to take off their cassocks, which instantly became stiff in the cold, on the spot.
Instructions for beginnersSo, I found out where I could take a dip, but concern for the health of the editor-in-chief did not leave me. Therefore, I decided to also find out how an organism unaccustomed to immersion in icy waters would react to such a shock.
So I talked to...
Immunologist Vladimir Gavrilyuk said: “Swim in the ice hole for Epiphany? It’s a good thing, I myself go swimming every year, and I’ve encouraged all my friends to do so by personal example. The main thing is to plunge wisely: you should not go into the water while intoxicated or if you have a cold. If there are other serious diseases - cardiovascular system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, etc., then it is better to consult a doctor. Before diving, warm up by running or doing exercises. You should not dive into the ice hole upside down, as this can cause excessive hypothermia.
It is enough to calmly enter the water for 10-15 seconds, and upon exiting, immediately wipe yourself dry and change into warm clothes. If you do everything competently and wisely, then the chance of getting sick is zero. Personally, I don’t know a single person who would get sick after Epiphany bathing.”
Alexander Tolbatov, who has been diving daily for 12 years, regardless of the time of year, and even set a record - spent an hour in icy water: “Any person can become a “walrus”.
It is enough to follow two simple rules:
Remove the word “cold” from your head, like from a computer’s memory. The water can only be “wet”, and not “cold” and “warm” - if you manage to convince yourself of this, the fear of the ice hole will disappear.
When entering the water, you need to completely relax and not be afraid of anything. If you set yourself the goal of going into cold water for health, and not for sores, then nothing bad will attach itself to you.”Church worker
The attendant at the Ilyinsky Church, who wished to remain anonymous, when asked where it is better to go for a dip at Epiphany, answered in a tired voice: “This is a special day, all the water on earth becomes holy. You can also take a dip in a swamp - no germs, no diseases. You understand, the main thing is not to rush into the hole screaming and cackling, but to be cleansed of sins and feel this grace.”
So, now I am completely calm for our beloved editor-in-chief - let him immerse himself in God, and perhaps write a report to us with photographs. And me next year. May be…
Take care of yourself and your loved ones!
Having become a tradition over the centuries, swimming in an ice hole made in a reservoir during the ancient Christian holiday of Epiphany raises many questions among people of different confessions and non-believers. This is truly a way to physically and spiritually cleanse a person, or a beautiful tribute to fashion. What happens at the moment of immersion in an ice bath and who will benefit from such a procedure.
Baptism is on January 19 and the very tradition of plunging into an ice font dates back to 988, from the time of the introduction of Christianity in Kievan Rus. According to biblical history, Jesus, at his personal request, was baptized on this very day. During the ceremony of John the Baptist, Jesus was in the waters of the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and a voice from above, proclaiming him the son of God. This event became the basis of the holiday. The word baptism itself, translated from ancient Greek, means direct immersion in water. It is believed that through baptism God made the water holy, that is, having special healing properties. Considering that the water in Old Testament considered the basis of all living things, the importance of this tradition becomes clear. 
After the Divine Liturgy, water is blessed in all churches. At this time of the Blessing of Water, all water elements are also endowed with miraculous qualities. To conduct Epiphany bathing, crowded processions are held in a cross-shaped ice hole, which in Christianity are called Procession of the Cross to the Jordan. It is believed that a body washed with holy water, like a purified soul that has believed in the Savior, will receive health and blessing, and will join the sacrament of the Holy Trinity. In addition to the Christian overtones, the tradition of such bathing has been known since the times of the ancient Scythians and earlier pagan rituals. In this way, newborns were initiated into warriors, healed, and hardened to adapt to the harsh climate. 
On the day of the Epiphany holiday, to make it accessible to everyone, water bodies are specially equipped in accordance with all safety rules; ice holes must be in the form of a cross. After the consecration of the ice hole, people can get water, wash, and the most determined ones can swim. If the body is relatively adapted to cold, then great importance has a mood before swimming. The living structure of water can change under the influence of certain information, so when plunging into an ice hole, you need to tune in only to a positive influence. Directly during a dive, many processes occur at lightning speed in the human body:
Considering the listed advantages of the cold water immersion procedure, we can confidently speak about its benefits. Despite the fact that in principle no special physical preparation is required for such a bath, in some cases there may be a number of difficult moments. Official medicine recommends dipping without fear for middle-aged men and women without complex pathologies. In any case, the sacrament of bathing at Epiphany is a deeply individual decision for each person. 
In addition to the appropriate attitude, such bathing requires adherence to certain rules that help to carry out the ritual correctly and safely. The main point, especially during mass events, is the presence of a specially equipped ice hole. The ice hole should be located at a water depth of no more than 1.8 m, well fenced to avoid accidental falls, and equipped with steps and handrails for descent. Everyone who wants to plunge into the ice hole must have a swimsuit or swimming trunks, a warm robe, a towel, a set of dry clothes, underwear, slippers or woolen socks.
Before starting, it is recommended to warm up slightly, for example by jogging, doing squats or simple exercises. In this case, the body should not be sweaty, but only hot. To prevent a sharp narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain, there is no need to wet your head, but it is better to plunge only up to your neck. You cannot jump into the ice hole; you must begin the dive from your feet. Swimming is not recommended; after plunging three times, it is better to get out immediately and not stay in the water for more than 1 minute. Immediately after bathing, you need to dry yourself with a towel and immediately put on dry underwear and clothes. Often a towel may not even be useful, since the skin dries out instantly. But following the church rules, when swimming in the Epiphany ice hole, you need to plunge headlong three times. In this case, there should be a short sincere prayer addressed to God; according to the Orthodox belief, this charges the water with enormous power. 
It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages immediately before or after swimming. Alcohol in the blood has a bad effect on the body's thermoregulation, sometimes with unforeseen consequences. Under its influence, the vessels expand, increasing heat consumption. For some time after consumption, a person may feel a surge of warmth, but then the opposite effect occurs sharply and one can get a serious cold. You should also not smoke, as blood circulation is impaired. Immediately after dipping, it is better to drink a herbal decoction or hot tea. Swimming in a cold ice hole on a full or empty stomach is harmful. 
If the benefit is obvious Epiphany bathing Contraindications include the presence of chronic or acute diseases. These include disorders of the cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous systems, as well as all kinds of inflammation of the genitourinary system, nasopharynx, and otitis media. It is not recommended to plunge into an ice hole if you have suffered injuries, encephalitis, epilepsy and other complex pathologies. To avoid harm and receive only benefits, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
