On Thursday, January 18, 2024, on the eve of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of the Lord in Chisinau, having with him in prayer Protopriest Vadim Cheibaș, secretary of the Metropolis and Cathedral Dean, the clergy and parishioners of the holy place.
In order to properly welcome the Baptism of the Lord, the 18th/5th of January, also known as Epiphany Eve, is appointed as a day of hard fasting for those who wish and have no bodily weaknesses.
At the Divine Liturgy, the parishioners prayed together with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova that God would bless them and enable them to fully enjoy this important day, preceding a special event for Christianity – the Baptism of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
After the Liturgy, in the square of the Metropolitan Cathedral, His Eminence Vladimir consecrated the Holy Water, or Great Agiasma.
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The term “agiasma” comes from the Greek word “agiasmós” (αγιασμός) which means “sanctification”.
The service of the Great Agiasma is performed both on Epiphany Eve, when the water with which the priests bless the houses of the faithful is consecrated, and on Epiphany itself, when the Agiasma which the faithful take to their homes for the whole year is consecrated.
The Holy Water is kept in a place of honour, in clean vessels in which a sprig of basil is usually placed. The holy water is consumed for eight days in a row, especially from Epiphany Eve to the feast’s Apodosis.
The water consecrated on Epiphany Eve and at the Baptism of the Lord is “a fountain of holiness, a spring of sanctification, a healing of diseases, a banishing of the evil powers of evil spirits, for the cleansing of souls and bodies, for the remission of sins, for all useful things” (from the Ordinance of the Great Sanctification of Water).
The Great Agiasma Service was attended by believers who took holy water which is used throughout the year, but also in times of sickness or great temptations and trials.
Synodal Sector for Institutional Communication and Media Relations