(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)

Then Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. John held Him back and said: I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, Leave now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then John admits Him. And having been baptized, Jesus immediately went up out of the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and descending on Him. And lo, a voice from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(Matthew 3:13-17)

And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(Mark 1:9-11)

“The Trinity, repeatedly, although not quite clearly, felt in the Old Testament, here for the first time appears in its entirety,” states the famous theologian C. Scofield. At the moment of Christ's baptism by John, three miracles happened that did not happen to anyone else who was baptized.

First, as Mark testifies, “John saw the heavens open.” The opening skies is a metaphor that reflects God's intervention in human affairs in order to save his people.

Secondly, John saw “the Spirit descending on Him like a dove”, that is, in a form accessible to contemplation (Luke says even more specifically: “The Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove”).

Thirdly, “there was a voice from heaven”—the voice of the Heavenly Father, by which He expressed unconditional approval of Jesus and His mission.

In addition, in this gospel story, the second utterance of Christ that has come down to us is recorded - the words addressed to John the Baptist: "Leave it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill holy righteousness." (See His first words. MARY AND JOSEPH RESPOND TO JESUS ​​BEGINNING FROM THEM.)

Baptism, according to the teachings of all Christian denominations, is regarded as the introduction of a person into the bosom of the church. This is both an act of cleansing from sin and a second birth, in which the font is a symbol of the Virgin's immaculate womb, from which the initiate is born again. Baptism is the first of the Seven Sacraments and one of the Epiphany of Christ.

In view of the foregoing, the subject of the Baptism of Christ acquired great importance from the first centuries of the history of Christianity and has been found since the 3rd century in the paintings of Roman catacombs and on sarcophagi.

The baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist is the culmination of John's earthly mission. He spent his life as a hermit, preparing the coming of Christ with his sermons, calling for repentance and prophesying the coming of the Messiah. Both of them - John and Jesus - will never meet again in their earthly life. Because of the cardinal significance that baptism had for both of them, it finds a place in the narrative cycles of paintings on scenes from the life of both John and Jesus. In the hagiographic cycles of Christ, baptism usually takes place after the story “twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple” and before the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. In the cycles from the life of John the Baptist, which were especially widespread in Italy in the 14th-15th centuries, it follows the Baptism of the whole people and precedes the arrest of John the Baptist.

The story of the baptism of Christ is found in all four Gospels. However, there are serious differences, on the one hand, between the synoptic gospels (as a whole) and the story of John, and, on the other hand, between the three evangelists. For us in this case, it is important to note that the artists, knowing about these differences, reflected them in their pictorial interpretations of the subject of baptism.

Thus, Matthew and Mark testify that Jesus was already baptized and went out (Matt. 3:16) or was coming out (Mark 1:11) from the water when the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. Luke claims that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus precisely at the moment when, having been baptized, He prayed: “When all the people were baptized, and Jesus, having been baptized, prayed: the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him” (Lk. 3 :21–22). As for the fourth evangelist, John cites the testimony of the Baptist - a prophecy to his disciples.

In painting, the version of Luke (Masolino, Perugino, , Andrea del Verrocchio, ).

Pierodella Francesca Baptism of Christ (1445). London. National Gallery.

Andrea del Verrocchio. Leonardo da Vinci. Baptism of Christ (1470 - 1480). Florence. Uffizi Gallery.

GerardDavid. Baptism of Christ (until 1508). Bruges. The city is a museum of their fine arts.

The subject of the baptism of Christ in art completed its iconographic development around the 10th century. At a later time, only individual details of the composition varied. The main character - Jesus Christ - usually appears with long hair and a beard, naked (in one loincloth), in the middle of the Jordan River, waist-deep or knee-deep in water; His hands are folded in prayer. To His left, on the bank of the river, stands John the Baptist, he is dressed in long clothes, in his left hand he holds a long staff with a cross at the end or a scroll with his prophecy, and puts his right hand on the head of Christ. Behind John, his disciples often stand against the backdrop of a mountainous landscape. Heaven stretches over the head of Jesus, from where a blessing hand descends - a symbol of the Heavenly Father; a ray of light pours from the sky, falling on the head of Christ, and a dove flies over it - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This is the most general scheme. Now it is necessary to dwell on its individual elements in more detail in order to trace how their image changed.

Based on the stories of the evangelists about the baptism of Christ alone, it is impossible to characterize all the details of this plot found in painting. Ancient literature does not give other stories that would fully characterize at least the main parts of the image. Apocrypha in this case repeat the information available in the canonical Gospels. There are no descriptions of complete baptism by ancient authors. They also repeat the story of the canonical Gospels. Nevertheless, these sources, taken together and compared with the liturgical practice of baptism, provide sufficient material to clarify all forms of the Baptism plot as it appears in the monuments of early Christian and Byzantine art. Understanding these forms helps to understand the features of the depiction of the baptism of Christ by Western artists.

JESUS ​​CHRIST

The main character of the plot under consideration is Jesus Christ. He did not immediately begin to be portrayed as a man middle age and with a beard. In the sculpture of Roman sarcophagi of the 4th-6th centuries, as in the painting of the Roman catacombs, Jesus appears as a boy, and John as a man of mature age, which is not consistent with history. The explanation of such an anachronism must be sought in the very concept of Christian baptism: Christ gave the model of baptism. Children are baptized, and adults are baptized, who are thus born into a new life, in other words, they become young. From this point of view, the Savior can be metaphorically called the boy, as he is depicted in early Christian art. The view of Christ mature in age in the scene of baptism was finally established in the 6th century, and since then there has been no return to Christ the lad in this plot.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist is usually placed on the right bank of the Jordan from Christ, he lays his hand on the head of Jesus. This laying on of hands as a fact that took place at the baptism of the Savior was noted by early church writers. We already see him in one of the early images of baptism in the sacral chapel of the Callist catacombs (c. 230). John is usually depicted on the bank of the river, while Jesus is standing in the water, so John can objectively be above Christ and bow down to him, kneeling down, which was an expression of his humility and should indicate his words addressed to Christ: “I I need to be baptized by You." In the art of the Counter-Reformation, it is more often Jesus who kneels before John. Such an interpretation is based on the teachings of the mystics of the 16th-17th centuries, who especially emphasized the moment of Christ's humility: Jesus, being himself sinless, likened himself to sinners and performed a cleansing rite.

GOD THE FATHER AND THE DOVE - THE HOLY SPIRIT

A soaring white dove is always depicted above the head of Jesus - a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and above it is a symbol of God the Father - a half-length image, or a head and shoulders (Rogier van der Weyden), or only one hand releasing a dove ( Leonardo da Vinci). This type of image dominated until the second half of the 16th century. However, there could be differences in the details. When only hands symbolize God the Father, their fingers radiate streams of light. The words " Hic est filius meus dilectus”(lat. -“ This is my beloved son ”) can be written in the space of a picture above a soaring dove. This Latin inscription forms a very beautiful line in the painting by Rogier van der Weyden.

ANGELS

Angels, in order to balance the composition, are placed on the opposite side of the picture from John the Baptist - this is the river bank to the left of Christ, who is facing the viewer. In the monuments of ancient Christian art, there are usually two angels - a number that is natural for expressing the thoughts of artists: one angel contemplates the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and listens to the voice of God the Father, the other looks with reverence at the Savior. Starting from the 11th-12th centuries, the number of angels increases: most often three angels are depicted, but sometimes their number reaches seven. The Gospel says nothing about the presence of an angel (or angels) at the baptism of Jesus Christ. The answer to the question of what justifies their introduction, again lies in the plane of tradition, according to which angels, as servants of God, are present at all the most important events in the life of Christ. But if in other cases they are glorifying angels, then in the scene of the baptism of Christ their purpose is different - it becomes clear if you pay attention to the fact that they are depicted with cloths on their hands: the angels will wipe the neophytes (newly baptized) after the latter exit the font. “This is a real explanation,” notes the famous Russian iconographer N. Pokrovsky, “according to which each iconographic detail of baptism must be a copy of one or another detail of the ritual, finds some support in the later iconography of Baptism in the West, where artists sometimes depicted white baptismal angels in the hands of angels. tunics, allegedly necessary for the vestment of Christ.

In the monuments of Western European art, Byzantine examples served as the starting point for establishing the iconography of the baptism of Christ. Italian monuments of the 12th-13th centuries preserve not only the general Byzantine scheme of baptism, but also its most important iconographic details. in the Paduan chapel, Scrovegni revives the Byzantine scheme: he gives more grace to motionless figures, endows them with naturalness and beauty, introduces the image of God the Father in the radiant radiance of the sky.

Giotto. Baptism of Christ (1304 - 1306). Padua. Scrovegni Chapel.

Italian artists of the 14th-15th centuries add various everyday details to the composition of the Epiphany: animals walk along the river bank, crowds of people are baptized - an opportunity for artists to give portraits of their contemporaries, as Perugino, in particular, does.

Particular attention should be paid to the manner in which baptism was performed: either baptism by immersion in water, or by pouring (or sprinkling). Generally, baptism by immersion was preferred. Baptism by pouring (or sprinkling) was allowed as an exception. In the West until the 15th century, baptism by immersion was dominant. Western Councils insisted on baptism by immersion: Clermont (1268), Cologne (1280), Exeter (1287), Utrecht (1293), Würzburg (1298), Paris (1355). But in the 14th century the situation changed, and baptism by pouring became more and more bold, and finally, as the only one, was firmly established in the Western Church (by the 17th century).

An analysis of the monuments of fine art confirms this chronology: the predominant form of baptism until the 14th century was immersion in a font, in the 14th-15th centuries pouring is increasingly common, in the 16th century pouring becomes common.

Among the many paintings by Western masters on the theme of “The Baptism of Christ”, a special place due to the exceptional complexity of its iconography is occupied by the famous London painting. Piero della Francesca. In the center is Christ. He is ankle-deep in the waters of the river, his hands folded in a Catholic prayer gesture. Next to John the Baptist, he pours water from a saucer on the head of Christ (baptism by pouring). Behind this main group, a man is undressing about to be baptized (an allusion to the baptism of many people; see Matt. 3:5-6). A dove, the Holy Spirit, hovers over Jesus' head. In the background is a group of people, in the form of an oriental type (who are they? what do their postures and gestures mean? their bright clothes?). Even more mysterious is the appearance of the three angels (we judge them as angels, firstly, by their wings, and secondly, by the place they occupy, the usual place for angels in this scene). They don't worship Christ. One of them looks at the viewer and, as it seems at first glance, does not pay attention to the main action - the baptism of Christ, but at the same time he establishes direct contact with the viewer and thus, as it were, invites him to take part in this sacramental act. Postures and gestures similar to those we see in the angels in the picture have never been found in the context of the Baptism of Christ. Comparison with similar three-figure compositions of antiquity (poses, angles, gestures) forces us to agree with M. Lavin’s witty conjecture, according to which the angels here are an allusion to the “wedding feast” and in this case introduce another miracle with water into the scene of Christ’s baptism with water - its transformation into wine at the wedding feast in the story “Marriage at Cana”. The combination in one picture of baptism and a hint of marriage in Cana with the transformation of water into wine (Bethany) has a liturgical justification: both events are celebrated by the Western Church on the same day - January 6.

Painting strikingly introduces into the Baptism of Christ and the third feast of this day - the Adoration of the Magi (Epiphany): four figures in the background, which at first cause surprise, are precisely the Magi, one of whom points with his hand to the star that led them to the birthplace of Jesus. The relationship of all three events as three Epiphany was emphasized by medieval liturgists, such as Honorius Otensky (Augustodunsky), Rupert and Durand. The baptism of Christ, they argued, took place on the same day thirty years later as the adoration of the Magi, and the miracle in Cana on the same day a year after the baptism. In one medieval antiphon we read:

Tribusmiracululusornatumdiemsanctumcolimus;

hodie stella Magos duxit ad praesepium:

hodie vinum ex aqua factum est ad nuptias:

hodie in Jordan a Ioanne Christus baptizare volui

utsalvaretnos, alleluia

“We keep this day holy in honor of three miracles: on this day the star led the wise men to the manger; on this day the water turned into wine at the wedding feast; on this day Christ chose to be baptized by John in the Jordan for our salvation, hallelujah.”

The typological aspects of the Baptism of Christ received the most complete pictorial expression in the Bible of the Poor. The corresponding illustration in it gives - in addition to the main event - the image, as usual in this book, of the four prophets with their texts related to this New Testament episode. So, Isaiah is depicted here: “And in joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation” (Is. 12:3); Ezekiel: “And I will sprinkle you clean water” (Ezek. 36:25); David: “In the congregations, bless the Lord God, you are from the seed of Israel!” (Ps. 67:27); Zechariah: "In that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David." From the scenes of the Old Testament, which are a type of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, here are depicted: the passage of the Jews through the Red (Red) Sea and the death of the pharaoh's soldiers chasing them (Ex. 14:26 - 30), and a huge bunch of grapes - a symbol of the fertility of the promised land, carried on a pole by two spies (Num. 13:24).

Rogier van der Weyden gives a wonderful example of a pictorial interpretation of Baptism on his altarpiece of John the Baptist (Miraflores altarpiece). This plot is central to the altar; on both sides of it are depicted the “Birth of John the Baptist” (left) and the “Death of John the Baptist” (right). The Baptism scene is framed by the portal of a Gothic cathedral: the Jordan River goes into the distance between the columns; in the center, knee-deep in water, the figure of Christ in a loincloth; John stands on the shore and pours water from the palm of his hand on the head of Christ; on the other side, an angel holds the clothes of Christ. On two columns and two consoles, as well as on the other two panels of this altar, the four apostles are depicted with their attributes. In the archivolt there are six scenes in the form of sculptural compositions, three of which are associated with John (they precede the Baptism), and the other three represent the three temptations of Christ. They follow directly after Baptism in the order given by Matthew (cf. THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT). These scenes appear in the following sequence (from left to right): Zechariah prays, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit (dove), in front of the cradle of John the Baptist (?); John the Baptist in the wilderness; John the Baptist baptizes the people; the first temptation of Christ (with stones); the second temptation of Christ (“on the wing of the temple”); the third temptation of Christ (on a high mountain). (On the side doors of the altar, see: THE BIRTH OF JESUS ​​CHRIST; DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST)

The popularity of the Baptism of Christ plot is also explained by the fact that paintings on this plot were ordered not only for the altars of baptistery (baptismal) or churches built in honor of John the Baptist, but also by customers who bore such a name.

Examples and illustrations

Andrea del Verrocchio. Leonardo da Vinci. Baptism of Christ (1470 - 1480). Florence. Uffizi Gallery.

Pietro Perugino. The baptism of Christ (1478 - 1482). Vatican. The Sistine Chapel.

Rogier van der Weyden. Baptism of Christ (after 1450). Altai of John the Baptist (Altar of Miraflores) (central part). Berlin-Dahlem. Picture gallery of the State Museum.

GerardDavid. Baptism of Christ (until 1508). Bruges. The city is a museum of their fine arts.

© A. Maykapar

As you know, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the waters of the Jordan River. Since then, there has been a tradition of washing in the Jordan, followed by all pilgrims who have visited the Holy Land at least once. Thanks to Travel company "Thai Tours"- an experienced organizer of pilgrimage routes, the head of the UNIAN-Religions project, visited Jordan last year.

Jordan River.

For almost two thousand years, people have been coming to the banks of the biblical river, with the hope of receiving healing of soul and body after washing. During this time, the course of the river and the borders of the states along which its waters flow have repeatedly changed. Human faith in God's help and the possibility of a miracle for everyone remained unchanged.

Once a year, on January 19, on the day of the Baptism of the Lord, when Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem serves a festive prayer service on the Jordan, there comes a moment when the waters of the river turn back and flow in the opposite direction. So obviously and indisputably the Lord shows people His power and Divine grace.

Reversal of the Jordan River at EpiphanyVIDEO

They plunge into the Jordan River seven times, plunging headlong. (“And he went and dipped in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his body was renewed like the body of a little child, and he was cleansed. - 2 Kings, 5:14).

Everyone who has ever had to dip in the Jordan remembers what a strong current this river has, therefore it is impossible for anyone to write off this miracle as some kind of natural phenomenon that happens every year on January 19 precisely during the Patriarch’s prayer service. comes. Yes, and tens of thousands of people who come to the holiday are witnesses to this - they all saw this unusual phenomenon with their own eyes.

Who knows, maybe two thousand years ago, the river also flowed back during the Baptism of Jesus Christ, when "the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove."

On the memorial wall at the entrance to Yardenit, it is written in different languages ​​of the world: “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).

Pilgrims visiting the Holy Land have always wanted to take a dip, and some - to be baptized in the sacred waters of the Jordan - the most famous river on Earth, which combined the stories of the Old and New Testaments. The event that took place in these waters is of great importance for Christians around the world, so people needed to find a symbolic place for the baptism of Christ.

Complex "Yardenit", Israel. The place where the Jordan flows out of the Lake of Tiberias.

According to an early version, it was generally accepted that the place of baptism is located on the western bank of the Jordan River, in Israel, in the vicinity of Qasr el-Yahud (Arabic - "Jewish palace") in the territory of the Palestinian Authority. But since 1967, after the war, this section has been closed.

For the washing of pilgrims in 1981, Israel allocated an area in the place where the Jordan flows out of Lake Tiberias. A complex was built there, which was called Yardenit. This territory, of course, was not the historical place of the baptism of Jesus Christ, but it coped well with its symbolic function and was the only place providing free access to the river.

The old course of the Jordan River, the village of Wadi al-Harar, Jordan. Place of the baptism of Jesus Christ. The Savior himself walked along these steps.

In 1996, as a result of archaeological excavations along the east bank of the Jordan River, an international team of scientists discovered the true place of the Savior's baptism. This place is located in Jordan, not far from the place where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea - in the Bethany Valley, in the village of Wadi al-Harar (Arabic - "murmuring water"). The place of baptism turned out to be forty meters east of the current Jordan. Since the 5th century, the river has significantly changed its course and receded from the place of baptism.

There is the oldest evidence that points to the place of Christ's baptism - this is a mosaic map of ancient Palestine of the 6th century, found in an Orthodox church - in the church of St. George, in Madaba.

Mosaic map of ancient Palestine of the 6th century in the church of St. George, in Madaba.

They say that it was with the help of this map that scientists discovered the undeniable place of baptism - the square marble base of the Greek column, on top of which there was once a cross - it was she who was mentioned as the place of Christ's baptism in the records of pilgrims of the times Byzantine Empire. Also, scientists have discovered steps leading to the water. Researchers believe that it was on these steps that Jesus Christ left his clothes before the sacrament of baptism.

A path leads to the place of baptism. Shrubs once grew here as an impenetrable wall.

In winter, a little water collects in the font of the old riverbed, but by summer the lake dries up completely. The descent is closed to pilgrims in any time of the year.

Not far from the place of baptism is a cave where John the Baptist lived. The apostles Matthew and Mark indicated in the Gospels that John preached in the Judean desert, near the Dead Sea. John the Theologian clarified that once this place was called Befabar and was located beyond the Jordan. It was here that Jesus Christ came at the age of 30 to be baptized - this is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

In these places the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.

As you know, John lived in the places where Elijah the prophet ascended. That is, it was from here that the Old Testament prophet was carried alive to heaven by a fiery chariot. And before that, according to the Old Testament, the prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan River on dry land. Here, 12 centuries before the baptism of the Lord, the twelve tribes of Israel formed, crossed the Jordan and settled the Promised Land. The first miracle on the river happened when the Israelites, following Joshua with the Ark of the Covenant, crossed the Jordan on dry land.

Already in early Christian times, Mary of Egypt went to these places to mourn her sins - a famous harlot and a great repentant sinner, who for 47 years prayed to the Lord for forgiveness and ate only leaves and grass.

Many pilgrims flock to the holy place every year. Today, paths have been laid in the excavation area, a bathing place has been equipped, and a pilgrimage center has been built nearby.

A place for ablution in the waters of the Jordan River. Several soldiers with machine guns are watching the invisible border from Jordan. There were no visible soldiers from the Israeli side - perhaps covert surveillance was carried out.

From Jordan, you can get to the place of baptism and ablution at any time. But there are restrictions on the part of Israel - depending on the military situation, since this is a Palestinian territory. They say that on Epiphany and Easter, Jordan opens the border for Israel so that pilgrims can bow to the shrines. From the Israeli coast to the coast of Jordan - about 10 meters, the border runs along the river and is not marked in any way.

The water in the Jordan River is brown and very turbid due to the fast current that erodes clay and carries silt. But if you put water in a bottle and let it stand for a while, the impurities settle and the water becomes clear.

Baptism of Jesus Christ

At the time when John the Baptist preached on the banks of the Jordan and baptized people, Jesus Christ was thirty years old. He also came from Nazareth to the Jordan River to John to be baptized by him.

Jordan River

John, however, considered himself unworthy to baptize Jesus Christ and began to restrain Him, saying: "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

But Jesus said to him in answer: “leave me now,” that is, do not hold me back now, “because this is how we need to fulfill all righteousness” - to fulfill everything in the Law of God and set an example for people.

Then John obeyed and baptized Jesus Christ.

Epiphany

After the completion of baptism, when Jesus Christ came out of the water, the heavens suddenly opened up (revealed) over Him; and John saw the Spirit of God descending on Jesus in the form of a dove, and the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven: " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".

Then John finally became convinced that Jesus is the expected Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

NOTE: See the Gospel of Matthew, ch. 3, 13-17; from Mark, ch. 1, 9-11; from Luke, ch. 3, 21-22; from John, ch. 1, 32-34.

The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated by the Holy Orthodox Church as one of the great feasts, January 6th(January 19, N.S.). The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is also called the feast Epiphany, because during baptism God revealed (showed) Himself to people that He is the Most Holy Trinity, namely: God the Father spoke from heaven, incarnate God's Son baptized and Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove. And also at baptism for the first time people could see that in the face of Jesus Christ appeared not only a person, but together and God.

On the eve of the holiday, a fast was established. This day is called Christmas Eve. In memory of the fact that the Savior consecrated the water with His baptism, on this holiday there is a consecration of water. On Christmas Eve, the water in the temple is consecrated, and on the very holiday in the river, or in another place where water is taken. The procession for the blessing of water is called the Procession to the Jordan.

Troparion of the holiday

In the Jordan, I am baptized by You. Lord, the Trinity appeared worship. For the voice of your parents testifies to you, calling your beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, knows your word affirmation. Appear Christ God, and enlighten the world, glory to Thee.

(When You, Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, then the appearance of the Holy Trinity was revealed (on earth with particular clarity): for the voice of the Father testified of You, calling You the beloved Son, and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truth of this word (i.e. confirmed the testimony of God the Father).

Izvestvoshe word statement- confirmed the truth of this word; be- appeared; enlightened world- enlightened world.

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From the Bible for Children author Shalaeva Galina Petrovna

The Baptism of Jesus Christ Many people asked John who he was, maybe he is the Savior whom the Lord God promised to send to earth and whose coming, as they knew, was written in the Holy Scriptures. – No, I am not the Savior, - John answered them, - I am a voice,

From the book Explanatory Bible of Lopukhin. The Gospel of Matthew the author

12. Baptism of Jesus Christ. 12. His shovel is in His hand, and He will cleanse His threshing floor and gather His wheat into a barn, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The speech is full of images. The coming one takes a shovel and is ready to clear the threshing floor; but has not yet begun the action itself, which pertains to

The Jordan River has long since changed its course

According to modern times, one could say that Epiphany, celebrated on January 19, is in the "top 5" of the most important and most popular Orthodox holidays celebrated by Russians. But where exactly did this event take place, which happened almost 2000 years ago and is described in the Gospel? - It turns out that this was only established quite recently. Experts told about such a geographical discovery of MK.

“... In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as he was coming out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens open, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This is how the evangelist Mark describes this event.

The most common geographic reference known to everyone is the Jordan, which Christians around the world refer to as a sacred river. But the Jordanian shores stretched for many, many kilometers. Where exactly did the Lord enter the river waters then?

This is the information that employees of the press center of the Spaso-Bogoroditsky Odigitrievsky convent, located on the territory of the Smolensk region, told us.

“The Gospel of John refers to the place where John the Baptist preached and baptized. According to this evangelist, it was not far from the village of Bethabara beyond the Jordan. However, this guideline is ambiguous. After all, in Palestine at that time there were several villages with that name.

For a long time it was believed that the "Epiphany" Bethavara was located on the territory of present-day Israel, not far from the town of Qasr el-Yahud, which is 4 kilometers from the place where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. But only at the end of the last century did researchers finally understand the location of the place where the Savior was baptized and the miracle of the Epiphany happened.

The mosaic on the floor in the temple of St. George, located in the Jordanian city of Madaba, helped to identify it. This mosaic image, 15x6 meters in size, dates back to the 6th century. AD and is a well-preserved and fairly accurate map of the Holy Land, indicating on it all the Christian Shrines. Judging by the map, the place of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River is not in Israel, but on the opposite bank of this river, on the territory of modern Jordan in the town of Wadi al-Harar.

It is noteworthy that in the place where the rite of Baptism took place 2 thousand years ago, there is no water for a long time. For such a huge period of time, the river changed its course at the confluence with the Dead Sea and now flows several tens of meters closer to Israel.

To confirm or refute the "hint" given by the mosaic map from the St. George's Church, in 1996, archaeologists excavated in Wadi al-Harar. As a result, the ruins of three Byzantine churches were discovered there, and most importantly, a marble base slab, on which, as they say, stood a column with a cross, installed in early Christianity at the site of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. It is this column that is often mentioned in the written testimonies of Byzantine pilgrims who visited the Holy Places.

After a heated debate, scientists around the world and leaders of leading Christian denominations came to the conclusion that Wadi al-Harar is the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River.

In the spring of 2000, Pope John Paul II visited these places. The visit of the pontiff ended with the official recognition by the Vatican of the fact that Wadi al-Harar is one of the greatest Christian Holy Places - the place of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. This fact recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church. As a sign of this, the Russian Orthodox Church took part in the construction of an Orthodox church in honor of John the Baptist on the territory of Wadi al-Harar. The temple is based on the very place where, according to legend, Jesus Christ left his clothes before plunging into the waters of the biblical river.

The role of water in various religions.

In fact, purification with water of a religious nature exists in the cultures of many peoples. For example, long before the advent of Christianity, cleansing with water was practiced to ancient india, where a person could receive cleansing from sins in the sacred waters of the Ganges River, connecting with the Cosmos. However, the Indian sages believed that after leaving the river, the action of water ceases, sins can return, so a person must cleanse his mind of sinful thoughts through learning from a holy person. And before going to study, he must perform ablution. Among the Romans, the baby was washed on the 9th day after birth with the name of his name, which he would bear.

Islam is also rich in rituals related to water. The Prophet Muhammad bequeathed to his followers to perform before each prayer (prayer) "wuzu" - ablution, including washing, rinsing the mouth and nose, washing the hands, feet, wiping the ears, running wet hands through the hair. Washing and washing hands before prayer was also practiced by the ancient Jews, who collected rainwater for this or washed their hands in running water, which was considered “living”. The same ritual is recommended by modern Orthodox Church- for prayer you need to become washed with clean hands in neat, clean clothes.

Baptism. Where did it take place.

The Jordan River is in the Middle East. Its length (252 km) and mineral-rich fresh waters bring life to several regions. In particular, from the Kinneret reservoir, water enters the central and southern parts of Israel, which are poor in their own water resources. The Jordan flows into the Dead Sea, on the site of which, as it is assumed, there once was a beautiful oasis, until the Lord destroyed the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The river is also famous for the fact that its waters parted during the exodus, and also when the prophets Elijah and Elisha crossed it. In it, Neaman, a governor from Syria, received healing from leprosy. But the whole world has known the river for two millennia for the fact that Jesus Christ was baptized in it. This miraculous event attracts many pilgrims who bathe in the Jordan (usually in the Yardenit region).

Who baptized Jesus.

Saint John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ, on the Jordan River was his maternal relative. His appearance was a great joy for Zakaria, who was a priest, and for Elizabeth (descended from the royal family of David). After all, they received the joy of being parents in a very old age after years of prayer. The news that they would have a son, they received from the Archangel Gabriel, who appeared to them in the temple. John was born six months earlier than Christ.

John was spared from death during the massacre of the infants by King Herod and spent many years in the wilderness. He chose this way of life for himself when, in his youth, he left people, settled in a cave and ate wild honey and locusts. At the age of thirty, he, on a sign from above that the coming of the Messiah was coming, returned to the people and began to preach. His words were so powerful that many people came to him, repented and were baptized with water in the waters of the Jordan. John preached for half a year, and he said that he baptizes with water, but one will come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. And that time has come - at the age of thirty, Jesus Christ came to the Jordan and demanded baptism for himself.

John at first did not want to baptize Jesus, because he considered himself unworthy to perform this action for someone who is absolutely clean from all sins. But Christ demanded baptism in order to stand along with sinners and walk with them the path to purification. Of course, he did not need baptism, but baptism itself needed the power that Christ possessed. Most likely, the properties of modern baptismal water, which are obtained as a result of the triple immersion of the cross in water during the blessing of water, as well as the change in the electromagnetic field of the Earth during the period of January 18-19, just testifies to the transfer of this divine power.

John admitted Jesus to the ceremony and plunged him into the water with his hand, praying. After baptism, at the exit from the water, the heavens opened up, the Holy Spirit descended from them in the form of a dove and a voice sounded: “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” John the Baptist had previously had a revelation that on whom he sees the Spirit dwelling on him during baptism, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he witnessed to all the people present the appearance of the Son of God.

Baptism in the life of modern man.

The modern interpretation of baptism suggests that after receiving it by immersion in water three times, accompanied by appropriate prayers, a person joins the members of the Church. And this is a necessary condition for gaining access to the rest of the sacraments of the Church and regeneration for the spiritual life leading to the Kingdom of God.

For the baptism of children under 7 years of age, the consent of the person being baptized is not required, because. all responsibility for it lies with the parents, until the age of 14 the consent of both parents and the child is required, and after 14 the teenager himself determines whether he is baptized or not. Babies are usually baptized on the eighth day or later.

In the Orthodox religion, the baby in the presence godparents turn to the west as a symbol of darkness, carry out the anointing with oil to help in the fight against Satan. After that, the child is immersed in water, where the Holy Spirit descends on him and cleansing from sins takes place. After that, a cross is placed on his chest, and the child is dressed in white clothes as a symbol of purity. Then the priest walks around the font, which symbolizes eternity, and then cuts his hair as a sign that the fate of the baby is now in the hands of God. The sacrament of baptism, as a rule, is performed by a priest or bishop, but, in extreme cases, even a layman can baptize if the person being baptized is dying.

After baptism, the rites of chrismation, churching and communion are performed. Further, the baby, under the guidance of his own and godparents, must follow the Christian virtues, among which there are such wonderful concepts as: love, mercy, sincerity, meekness, modesty, supplemented by prayers.

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Description: Baptism of Jesus: Godparents should know this!