Epiphany Services and Locations for Baptismal Immersions

On January 19, 2025, the feast of the Holy Theophany, the Baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will be celebrated.

On the night of January 18 to 19, a festive Divine Liturgy will be held at the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty, followed by the Great Blessing of Waters. The service will be led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

During the Epiphany celebrations, anyone wishing to partake in the tradition of immersion in the “Jordan”—a blessed water source—may do so at the following locations in Almaty and the Almaty region:

1. St. Nicholas Cathedral (56/5 Baitursynov St.)

January 18: 10:00–18:00

January 19: 09:00–18:00

2. Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery (30 Latif Hamidi St.)

January 18, 11:00 – January 19, 22:00

3. Kazan Cathedral (45a Khaliullin St.)

January 18, 11:00 – January 19, 15:00

4. Christ the Savior Church (493 Raiymbek Ave.)

January 18, 22:00 – January 19, 22:00

5. St. Alexander Nevsky Church (Paraskeva Church) (500v Zhansugurov St.)

January 19, 00:00–20:00

6. Exaltation of the Cross Church (Karasu Microdistrict, 37-B High Voltage St.)

January 19, 01:00–22:00

7. Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos Church (Pervomaisky Microdistrict, 86 Tsentralnaya St.)

January 19, 10:00–22:00

8. Protection of the Theotokos and All Saints Church (85 Yunykh Pionerov St.)

January 19, 00:00–21:00

9. Annunciation Church (Almaty Region, Alatau Settlement, 13 Ibragimov St.)

January 19, 00:00–22:00

10. Nativity of the Theotokos Church (Akzhar Microdistrict, 1B Eginsu St.)

January 19, 12:00–18:00 (heated font)

11. Church of Saints Adrian and Natalia (Almaty Region, Ili District, Otegen Batyr Settlement, 1 Ajimuratov St.)

January 19, 11:00–22:00

12. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” (Almaty Region, Kosmos Settlement, Kaynar Rural District, Talgar District)

January 18, 10:00 – January 21, late evening (heated changing rooms available January 19, 02:00–21:00)

13. St. Nicholas Church (Almaty Region, Talgar, 68 Gagarin St.)

January 19, 11:00–20:00

14. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Soothe My Sorrows” (Almaty Region, Talgar District, Panfilova Settlement, 22 Gagarin St.)

January 19, 11:00–17:00

15. Iveron Church (Almaty Region, Boraldai, 13 Kurchatov St.)

January 19, 05:00–22:00

16. In the capital city of Kazakhstan, Astana, Baptismal immersions will take place on the Ishim River in the city park area:

January 18, 20:00–02:00

January 19, 08:00–23:00

During briefings, Protopriest Alexander Suvorov, key-holder of the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty and head of the Metropolitan District’s public relations department, along with Protopriest Dmitry Baydek, key-holder of the Dormition Cathedral in Astana, provided information about the Epiphany services and locations for Baptismal immersions.

The Feast of the Holy Theophany: The Baptism of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The Feast of Theophany, also known as the Baptism of Christ, celebrates the day when God clearly revealed Himself to the world in the Three Persons of His Divinity: God the Son, Jesus Christ, was baptized in the Jordan River; the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove; and God the Father testified to Jesus Christ with a voice from heaven.

When the time for the Savior’s public ministry approached, God commanded the Prophet John the Forerunner, who lived in the wilderness, to begin a public call to repentance. Those who responded to this call were baptized by him in the Jordan River with “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Gospel of Luke, 3:3). This was not yet the sacramental Christian baptism but rather a symbolic immersion in water as a sign of the beginning of a new, righteous life.

Among the crowd that came to John was the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking to be baptized. As a prophet, John sensed the divine majesty of the Savior and initially refused to baptize Him. To this, the Lord gently replied, “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Gospel of Matthew, 3:15). By His immersion in the waters of the Jordan, Christ demonstrated to all people the necessity of fulfilling divine ordinances, including baptism.

“And suddenly the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him” (Gospel of Matthew, 3:16). This extraordinary sign, along with the voice of God the Father proclaiming, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Gospel of Matthew, 3:17), revealed to humanity the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His messianic role.

Theophany is preceded by a day of strict fasting—Theophany Eve (January 18). At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the rite of the Great Blessing of Water is performed. This rite is repeated again on the day of the feast after the Liturgy. In places with natural water sources, the blessing is conducted outdoors. Clergy and the faithful from nearby churches hold a solemn procession to the site of the blessing, traditionally referred to as the “Jordan.”

Immersion in the blessed water of the “Jordan” is not a mandatory practice but rather a pious tradition. Such immersion should be approached with reverence and prayer.

What You Need to Know About Holy Water

The Holy Church sanctifies not only people but also everything they use—water, air, earth, and various items necessary for life and well-being—through the Word of God, prayer, and sacred rituals. One of the most majestic sacred actions is the sanctification of water, an element essential to life itself.

The water blessed on Theophany Eve and on the feast day of Theophany itself possesses the same miraculous properties and is called Great Agiasma, meaning “great holy water.” The Church blesses water to restore its primordial purity, to bring down upon it the grace of God and the blessing of Heaven, for the sanctification and healing of the soul and body of all who reverently use it, for the expulsion of visible and invisible enemies, and for every benefit to humanity. Holy water is used to bless homes, workplaces, clothing, and food. It is customary to consume Theophany water on an empty stomach after morning prayers, with special reverence.

Holy water should be stored in a clean, closed container in a clean place, as befits a great holy object.

When using Great Agiasma, it is important to remember that to receive God’s grace, one must have faith and live according to the commandments, as Scripture teaches:

“The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand… if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping His commandments and His statutes… if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 30:9-10).