One of the most impressive ceremonies is the Solemn Blessing of the Water on the Feast of the Epiphany commemorating Christ's Baptism in the River Jordan. The Epiphany, one of the most ancient and venerable festivities, originated in Palestine where it was celebrated with a vigil and special services on the spot where, according to Christian tradition, Our Lord was actually baptized.
The Feast of the Epiphany was established as a solemn feast in the Eastern Church in the middle of the IV century as proclaimed in the Apostolic Constitutions "Let the Epiphany, in which the Lord manifested to us His own divinity, be to you the most honored festival and let it be celebrated on the sixth of January. The Greed word "epiphany" means, manifestation and applied by the Christians to the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it specifically meant the manifestation of His divinity. The feast is called "Bohoyavlenie", equivalent to the Greek "Theophany," which means the manifestation of the Godhead.
Since the solemn blessing of the water takes place on Epiphany, the feast is also known as the Feast of the Blessing Water, popularly called "Vodokschi."
According to Armenian sources, the original author of our ritual of the Solemn Blessing of Water was St. Basil the Great who composed it during his visit to Jerusalem in 37 A.D. This ritual was later revised by St. Proclus of Constantinople and finally, by St. Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
As we continue the prayer, the celebrant repeats the words: "THEREFOR YOU, O LOVING KING COME TO US ALSO NOW THROUGH THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SANCTIFY THIS WATER" three times, each time breathing over the water in the form of a cross, the gesture of exorcism, purifying the water from the contamination and influence of the evil powers.
Then the celebrant makes the sign of the cross in the water three times with his fingers, each time repeatingt the words: "THEREFORE, ALSO NOW, O MASTER, SANCTIFY THIS WATER BY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT."
It is a custom among our people to drink of the Holy Water for the "purification of their souls and bodies and cure of their weakness." This custom is very ancient and came to us with the ritual itself. The taking of the Holy Water to their homes is to have in it a fount of continued blessings and protection against all evil.
As our souls, so also our homes become tainted by the sins of those living in them and, consequently, God's protective power. Every year, then, at the Feast of the Epiphany, the priest should come toi blessed and secure for them God's blessings and protection.