Yevhen Boiko: Theophany in Lviv: Traditions and Challenges.

The Jordanian Epiphany in Lviv has its own citywide tradition. Since the late 18th century, during Austrian rule, the celebration began taking place in Rynok Square. For Ukrainians, it was an opportunity to publicly affirm their national, cultural, and religious rights. However, at that time, the focus was on the blessing of water, rather than immersing oneself in it.

It’s hard to find a Ukrainian whose heart isn’t touched when viewing footage from the 1930s and early 1940s, when so many people gathered for the Epiphany water blessing in Rynok Square that there was hardly room for an apple to fall. When you see the future confessor of faith, the 49-year-old Patriarch Joseph Slipyi, accompanied by the faithful and clergy, walking along Krakivska Street to perform the water blessing near the Town Hall, you feel a special bond of generations that neither time nor the fierce Moscow beast could sever.

The citywide water blessing ritual in Rynok Square continued even in the early days of Soviet occupation, particularly in 1946 – the communists could not immediately ignore the religious sentiments of Lviv residents or disrespect the ancient city custom.

In 2007, the tradition of the Epiphany water blessing became an official citywide ecumenical event. Since then, on Theophany, representatives of the city’s Christian denominations bless the water together in Rynok Square. Each year, the rite of water blessing is led in turn by a representative of a different denomination. Even during the COVID restrictions and the full-scale Russian invasion, this tradition did not cease – only its format changed slightly. This year, like last year, military chaplains will perform the water blessing ritual.

The Jordanian "winter swimming" and safety

Since Ukraine's independence, the tradition of plunging into icy water on Epiphany has gained new life. Although this practice is not widespread in Lviv, some individuals wish to experience the cleansing of sins in this manner or simply seek an adrenaline rush. Doctors warn against this every year: a sudden temperature change, increased blood pressure, the risk of a blood clot detaching… There are many reasons not to dive in unless you are an experienced "winter swimmer."

For several years now, Lviv has not officially organized swimming on Epiphany, emphasizing the spiritual aspect of the holiday: participation in the liturgy, water blessing, and the blessing of homes and families.

It seems that this practice has been brought to us by the northeastern wind. Due to the spiritual vacuum created in the souls of many of our people after decades of atheistic ideology, they have easily accepted any strange practices, attributing sacred, religious, or magical significance to them. Holy Scripture and the Church teach that one can only wash away sins – to be cleansed – through repentance.

Moreover, if someone deliberately puts their life or health at risk, they are sinning. Therefore, it is not worth ruining the holiday for yourself or your loved ones.

Let us cultivate our own, time-tested, safe traditions. One of these is the citywide custom of blessing water not only in churches and bodies of water but together – in Rynok Square – for several centuries.

• Joseph Slipyi
• History of Lviv
• Yevhen Boyko
• Epiphany

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