Jesus Christ is the Living Water

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIVING WATER

"Jesus answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. The woman said to Him, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep, Where then do You get that living water?

Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into ever-lasting life.'

The woman said to Him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.'" (St. John 4:10-15)

Living Water in the ordinary sense means fresh, flowing water, from a stream or spring rather than from a pond or cistern. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ uses the term to mean the grace of the Holy Spirit that leads to eternal life (7:37-39). This gift not only remains in the believer but is so abundant it overflows to others.

The Holy Apostles of Christ were twelve fountains of spiritual water, which quenches the thirst of those who seek the True God. Saint Cyril states that the beginning of the world was water, and the beginning of the Gospel was the river Jordan when the Holy Trinity was revealed to the senses.

Water is one of the most ancient religious symbols and has a key role in Holy Scripture. At the very beginning of the Creation of the world, formless matter is referred to as water. "In the beginning," after God created Heaven and earth, "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." According to the Biblical account of the creation of the world, it was out of the waters that the first living creatures came--"the moving creature that hath life," fish, "every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly." Water also plays a very important role in the life of man, created "from the dust of the earth."

Man cannot live without water. Water is life. On the Day of Theophany, the Day of the Lord's Baptism, every year a great miracle is performed. The Holy Spirit descends upon the water, changes its natural properties. It becomes incorrupt, not spoiling, remaining transparent and fresh for many years. This Holy Water receives the grace to heal illnesses, to drive away demons and every evil power, to preserve the faithful and their dwellings from every danger, to sanctify various objects whether for church or home use. Therefore, Orthodox Christians with reverence drink Holy Water--a Great Agiasma. Every Orthodox Christian believer ought to have always at home Holy Water from the Great Feast of Theophany to last the entire year and to use it for every physical and spiritual need.

The proper way of partaking of Holy Water is to do it before eating anything and after your prayers. It is should be done with reverence, humility, trust, contrition and deep faith. The Holy Water possesses sanctifying grace and has the power to strengthen the powers of the soul.  

Both the Holy Water blessed on the Eve of Epiphany and on the Day of the Epiphany are referred to as Great Agiasmos and can be used for all purposes by the Orthodox Christian. There is no difference between the Holy Water or Epiphany Eve and the one on the Day of the Epiphany. There is no limitation in its use. The Lesser or "Small" ("μικρός") agiasmo or Holy Water is the service of Holy Water which the priest conducts on the 1st of the month, as well as the service for blessing the foundations of new homes and new businesses, the beginning of the school year, etc. The Lesser or Small agiasmo can also be used for all spiritual needs of the faithful.

Holy Water must not be given to children who may not understand and show proper respect and know how to use it properly. Some parents unfortunately in order to please their children allow them to drink it as though it is regular water or to even play with it.

The Great Holy Water from Theophany should be placed at the home icon corner along with all other blessed items where there is also a vigil light and where the Orthodox Christian family offers their daily prayers at.

Through all things sanctified by God, we are reminded of His constant presence in our lives and of His unconditional love for us. No one should marginalize our Holy Orthodox Tradition. 

Those of you who will be present at the Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of Waters will be blessed and will receive a holy water bottle to take home. Everyone else will be blessed and given Holy Water the following Sunday following the Divine Liturgy.

Please remember that there is a Divine Liturgy on Tuesday to commemorate the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist and Forerunner.

God bless all of you and Chronia Polla!

With agape,

+Father George