6 January: Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany Day

Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates, on January 6, Epiphany Day (Boboteaza in Romanian), one of the most important religious events, when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. On this day, priests in all Romanian Orthodox Churches bless the waters.

Numerous people attend the religious service and at the end fill bottles with holy water (Aghiasma in Romanian), which is believed to have miraculous powers and protect them from any danger or evil. For eight days after Epiphany Day, believers drink this holy water every morning before eating. People use this Holy Water to bless house, family, household.

Special religious ceremonies take place in cities located near a river or the sea, where priests throw a wooden cross into the cold water and young men jump in the water and search it. The one who finds the cross and brings it back is said to be purified of all sins.

Epiphany Day is followed by Saint John’s Day (7 January) and this marks the end of the winter holidays that started with Christmas Eve on December 24.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei