January 6 symbolizes the holy day of the Blessed Water that is celebrated every year as a great holiday for all Christian believers. The ceremony took place this Friday in Berat, Saranda, Durrës, Fier, Permet, Gjirokastër, Vlora, Lushnja.

What is Holy Water Day? At the age of 30, Christ, the Son and Word of God, appeared on the waters of the Jordan River, to be baptized by John the Forerunner and Baptist. And Jesus, as soon as he was baptized, the heavens were opened, and a voice from heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” is written in the gospel. And here is the origin of the belief that blessed water is a means of cleansing the soul of the sinner, so every January 6, Orthodox believers become part of the ritual of the Day of Blessed Water even in Albania. On this holy day, water becomes the icon of God’s invisible grace, which by means of water and the Spirit reborn, cleanses, sanctifies and enlightens people who believe in Christ.

For Christian believers, the day of January 6 symbolizes not only the day of the baptism of Jesus Christ, but also the cleansing of all polluted waters around the world, announcing the forgiveness of sins and God’s mercy. After the ceremony, the Christian faithful turn to the Church to fill canisters with blessed water, which they take home and keep throughout the year, as this water serves to heal their souls and bodies and is drunk whenever they are sick.

/a.s/