The bad weather didn’t prevent the Christians from going to church to take blessed water on the Eve of Epiphany. Even if there were not so many parishioners at the Metropolitan Cathedral “God’s Birth” in Chisinau as during the previous years, there were enough people who came after blessed water convinced that this has healing powers, IPN reports.
Valentina Stegarescu came from Pitusca village of Calarasi district. The woman said the water blessed on the Eve of Epiphany has the greatest power. “This is the feast we wait for a year and we came here to have our sins forgiven and to pray to God for the health of our children, families and parents who are alive and for the dead ones. I took several carafes as I will give some to my children,” she stated.
Parishioner Gennady Ceban said that today they bless the water all over the world and the water on the Eve and on Epiphany is blessed according to the same rite and this is mixed with no other holy water. This can be kept for tens of years and does not lose it properties as, given that the Holy Spirit is introduced in it, it can stay for many years.
“Our ancestors taught us to take blessed water on the Eve of Epiphany for treating diseases and splashing the home and garden with it so that evil avoids us. We use this blessed water on feast days and when we fall ill and it helps us,” stated Elena Prodan.
Those who came from home without vessels for taking blessed water could by PET containers from ambulatory traders and also bunches of dry basil for 5-10 lei.
Epiphany celebrated on January 19 is considered the last of the winter feast days.
