Rare books of the Presidential Library illustrate the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord

January 19th marks the Baptism of the Lord - one of the most important Orthodox feasts. The Presidential Library’s collections contain a large number of materials dedicated to this day: rare editions, historical studies, photographs and newsreels.

The feast of the Baptism contains other names. This is due to the miraculous sign that occurred when Jesus Christ left the Jordan River. “Heaven was opened over him, the Holy Spirit came upon him in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven: “This is my beloved, in whom I am well pleased” - we read in the 1896 edition of “The Lives of All Saints Celebrated by the Greek-Russian Orthodox by the Church”, - the Baptism of the Lord is called: 1) Epiphany, because on that day God appeared, worshiped in the Holy Trinity: God the Father in the voice, the Son of God in the flesh and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and 2) Enlightenment since Christ from this day appeared as the light that enlightens the world".  

V. I. Nikolsky in his work “The Twelfth Holidays of the Orthodox Church or the Flower Garden of the Church Garden” of 1892 writes: “In order for the salvation of God prepared for people to be accepted by them, Jesus Christ was to appear in the world, to people and tell them about Himself Myself, about His embassy from God the Father, was to teach people faith and good living". The author also notes: “Before entering the service of the human race, Jesus Christ was to be baptized; as sinless He didn’t need to baptize Himself, but He was baptized in the Jordan River in order to begin our cleansing from sins — in order to “sanctify the Jordanian streams with Himself” and with his touch to communicate the power to our cleansing with water”.    

The Baptism of the Lord itself in the historical essay of 1895 “How Russian people celebrated and celebrate the Christmas, New Year, Baptism and Shrovetide” is featured as follows: “John found out by God's revelation that the Lord and Savior requiring the baptism, and therefore with a sense of deep humility, told Him : "I need to be baptized from You, Do you come to me?" “Do not hold, for it ought to be so”, - answered the Savior. Then the Baptist obeyed His will and baptized Him in jets of Jordan”.

Archpriest I. N. Bukharev in his book “On the Holidays of the Orthodox Church” (1874) explains the original meaning of the rite and the role of water in this sacred action: “Baptism is the mortification of the baptized for sin and the rebirth into spiritual life, that is, holy, virtuous; this is also indicated by the immersion of the baptized in water: then he hides in the water, this is the image of his sins’ death, then he appears from it, this is the way of birth into a holy life”.  

The author notes that baptismal water for Christians is a shrine: “A special property of it: it does not deteriorate from time to time, often for two, three or more years, it remains fresh and undamaged, as St. Chrysostom; acceptable in faith, it serves to heal bodily diseases, extinguish passions, ward off evil spirits and ruin all evil directed against us by the devil and evil people”.

Another significant work devoted to the Orthodox holiday was the book by A. I. Almazov, “The History of the Rites of Baptism and Anointing” (1885), which can be “looked through” in the reading room of the Presidential Library. The author mentions the variety of names of the process of baptism, clearly testifying to its meaning, among which is the “bath of Pakybyt”, which means Slavic revival, “font of repentance and knowledge”, “water of eternal life”, “enlightenment”, “seal of the spirit". Such names help to better understand the meaning of this holy action, since it is water that can purify, revitalize, revive. It is a familiar concept, an integral part of life, a powerful element and, finally, the most important component of the human body.

On the feast of Baptism, a procession to rivers and lakes is traditionally held for the blessing of water. Here is, for example, the Baptism during the reign of Catherine II in the historical essay by the author and art historian I. N. Bozheryanov “How Russian people celebrated and celebrate the Christmas, New Year, Baptism and Shrovetide”: “From the coast to the arbor built beyond Jordan ragged cloth and carpets stood guard. Between them, Her Majesty, in advance of the entire sacred synclite, was deigned to pass. The army stood around Jordan with an oblong figure. There were 8900 people in the guard in the ranks”.

The Presidential Library’s collections feature an electronic reproduction of the photograph “Petersburg. Admiralteyskaya embankment” of the first St. Petersburg painter Ivan Bianchi. One of the earliest chronicle shots was taken on January 6 (18), 1854 on the Feast of the Epiphany during the annual ceremony of the consecration of water in the Neva. In the background is Jordan, a temporary wooden temple erected during Baptism. Also, thanks to newsreels presented on the institution’s portal “On the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, the procession of the procession, the consecration of water in the city of Pechora in 1938”, one can see how Orthodox people celebrated the holiday many years ago.

The Presidential Library forms and constantly replenishes electronic collections dedicated to the history, customs and rites of the Russian Orthodox Church. One of them, in particular, includes books that tell about its origin and formation, including fundamental works that belong to the pen of significant church figures and historians.