Epiphany, January 18–19: rites and wishes

January 18th is the eve of the feast, a day of strict fasting — the Eve of the Theophany, also called Epiphany Eve. On this day it is advised to perform the following cleansing ritual. At 11 p.m., carry an uncovered bucket or basin of water outside (onto the balcony or into the yard) and leave it there until morning. In the morning, warm this water, pour three ladles over yourself and drink a few sips. Then sprinkle every corner of the house and everything around it. Wash the floor with the remaining water. After the ritual you will at once feel a surge of strength, and the air in the house will feel easier to breathe. One element of the holy eve is the Yordan — the blessing of the waters. At this time water is consecrated in church with the Great Rite. Such water is called Theophany water, or Epiphany water, and is also named the "Great Agiasma" (the great holy water). On January 18th–19th, church water is drawn to last the whole year. It is best kept near the icons. Theophany water is used in many cases: for healing ailments, removing hexes, cleansing the home and belongings, and for protection against all evil spirits. An age-old belief has survived: if you pray to the heavens on the night of January 19th, any request will come true. It was believed that on Theophany night "the heavens open."

On the eve of the Epiphany, the mistress of the house should draw small crosses in chalk or pencil above the doors and windows to guard her home against Satan.

should bring a basin of clean snow into the house on January 18th, melt it, and wash with this water on January 19th, saying:

"Water from the heavens will set all things right. And will add beauty to my fair face, to me (name). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

All members of the household should count money, saying:

"The Lord God shall appear to the world, and money shall appear in my purse. Key, lock, tongue. Amen. Amen. Amen."

Fill the bathtub with hot water. Add a little water consecrated in church. Lower your baptismal cross into the water. Lie in the bath so that the water covers your whole body. Rest calmly for 10–15 minutes. Do not towel yourself dry after the bath; let the water dry on its own. This ritual is best performed on the night of January 18th–19th or on the first day of the Epiphany. If you wash with this water, the most terrible illnesses will leave a person. And while washing with Epiphany water, say: "Water from the street, misfortune off me."

Do not leave shoes outside the door on Epiphany night, or you will fall ill.

If there is trouble in the house, draw water at night, leave it by the threshold uncovered, and in the morning wipe the shoes of every family member with this water. Then pour the water into the latrine, saying: "Evil spirit under the earth, good spirit upon the earth."

In the evening of Epiphany Eve, pour a little holy water into a cup and drop a silver-coloured coin into it. Place the cup where the moonlight falls upon it. Make your most secret wish and whisper it three times. In the morning, go outside and pour the water away. Hide the coin in a secret place known only to you. This ritual is strongest when the Epiphany falls on a full moon.

The same rite can be performed a little differently. On Epiphany night, pour holy water into a cup. When a faint ripple crosses the water, go outside and, gazing at the sky, silently speak your wish three times. Ask sincerely and wish no one any harm, or trouble will surely find you! In the morning, place the holy water beneath an icon; it may stand there until the next Epiphany. If the water in the cup stays motionless, there is no point in making a wish — it will not come true.

On the Epiphany, a young man and woman who wish to marry should plunge together into the ice hole and have water blessed in church. This guarantees that their feelings will always stay strong and firm. Married couples wishing to breathe new life into their relationship may perform the same rite.

On January 19th at 11 p.m., go out into a field where no one will disturb you. Let the wind blow over you from all sides. Find where east lies, and the other directions of the world. Stand facing east, hold your arms parallel to the ground, tilt your head toward the sky and say to the east: "I call upon you, with my lips I beseech you! O Archangel Raphael, come to my (your name) aid! Help me set my destiny right!"

Turn to the south, keeping your arms in the same position, and say: "I call upon you, with my words I beseech you! O Archangel Michael, come to my (your name) aid! Help me set my destiny right!

Turn to the west, keeping your arms in the same position, and say: "I call upon you, with my words I beseech you! O Archangel Gabriel, come to my (your name) aid! Help me set my destiny right!"

Turn to the north, keeping your arms in the same position, and say: "I call upon you, with my words I beseech you! O Archangel Gabriel, come to my (your name) aid! Help me set my destiny right!"

Stand in the centre of the circle you have formed, raise your head to the sky and say:

"O Lord, Thou hast created all that exists. I ask and beseech Thee, help me rid myself of my own malice and that of others, of all evil in my life. I pray Thee, turn the wheel of my destiny toward goodness, joy and happiness. O Lord, I pray Thee, hear my prayers on this day, at this hour, for Thou openest the heavens to sinners! Amen."

Lay an agate stone on the spot where you stand and say: "May the heavens fill you with their grace on this day, and may the demons of evil and misfortune never haunt me (your name). Amen!"

Go home and, before sleep, write a note with your wishes (exactly what you want the Higher Powers to adjust in your destiny). At dawn in the morning, return to the place of the ritual, take the stone, burn the little note and go to church.

Light candles before the icons of all the saints. Carry the agate with you. Any piece of jewellery with agate stones may also be used in this ritual, and should be worn afterwards.

Beyond its magical effect, agate has healing properties: for a lingering cough or sore throat it is worn as beads, for tooth ailments as earrings. For gout and joint diseases, agate bracelets are worn. An agate ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand by those suffering heart conditions; on the middle finger of the right hand by people prone to hysteria, insomnia and groundless fears. An agate brooch helps rid one of such ailments as asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis.

Agates influence every chakra depending on the mineral's colour. Red affects the heart chakra. Blue influences the chakra governing the thyroid gland. Black agate wards off energy attacks from its owner well; at the moment of absorbing a blow, the stone cracks for no outward reason.

A mother and father would take their daughter's destiny into their own hands. Most often they read incantations for marriage. For this, take holy water on the Epiphany, divide it into three parts, saying: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Give the girl one part of the water to drink, wash her with the second, and pour the third at the entrance to the house. Over the water, read these words:

"Misfortune and sorrow, give a bridegroom to God's servant (name) — for wedlock, for marriage, for a soft pillow, for the marriage bed. Turn the bridegrooms' eyes so that they gaze upon the servant (name) and cannot gaze enough, look and cannot look enough, yearn and cannot yearn enough. And may the servant (name) be fairer to them than the bright sun, sweeter than May honey. Amen."