Church service for Epiphany 2026: beginning, duration, how it goes

On January 19, 2025, the Orthodox Church will celebrate one of the main twelve—day holidays - Epiphany, or Epiphany. On this day, churches across Russia will be crowded: thousands of people will come to night and morning services to pray, take communion and collect consecrated water. It is at Epiphany that the Great Consecration of Water is performed, a rite that takes place only twice a year. When exactly the services begin, how long they last and how they go step by step in 2025 — in the Izvestia article.

When services begin: schedule for January 18 and 19, 2026

In 2026, Epiphany Eve (January 18) falls on Sunday, and the holiday itself falls on Monday. According to church regulations, when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, its main services are postponed to Saturday, January 17, in order to preserve the festive character of Sunday. The full schedule looks like this:

— January 17 (Saturday evening) — Great (Royal) Hours and Great Vespers with the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great on Christmas Eve;

— January 18 (Sunday) — the usual Sunday all-night Vigil and the first Great Consecration of water after the morning Liturgy;

— night of January 18-19 — night Divine Liturgy (in large churches begins at 23:00-00:30);

— January 19 (Monday morning) — early and late liturgies and the Second Great Consecration of Water.

Epiphany Eve Service on January 18: what happens and how long does it last

On Sunday, January 18, the focus is on the festive all-night vigil and the first Great Consecration of water. The morning Liturgy usually begins at 8:00-9:00 and lasts 2-2.5 hours. Immediately after it (around 11:00-12:00), the rite of consecration follows — 30-40 minutes, after which the distribution of epiphany water begins.

The consecration procedure is strictly canonical:

— the priest goes out to the water vessel in full vestments;

— he immerses the cross three times, accompanied by the troparia of the feast;

— the prayer "Great art thou, O Lord, and wonderful are thy works...";

— water is sprinkled crosswise and sprinkled on the worshippers.

Queues for water can add 1-2 hours of waiting, especially in the cathedrals of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Night service from January 18 to January 19: how's going

The night Liturgy is the hallmark of Epiphany: in 2026, it will start in most churches at 23:00-00:00 on January 18 and end at 3:30-4:30 a.m. on January 19, with a total duration of 4-5 hours. This is the St. Basil's Liturgy with the special singing of the troparion "I am baptized in the Jordan unto Thee, O Lord...".

After the liturgy, the second Great Consecration of Water takes place, which is especially revered as "nocturnal." In some parishes, there is a procession to the Jordan hole for the consecration of natural reservoirs.

Morning service on January 19th: how's going

On the morning of January 19, two more liturgies will be held.:

— early — at 6:30-7:00, lasting 1.5–2 hours;

— late — at 9:00-10:00, 2-2.5 hours.

After the service, the water is re-consecrated, often on the street near the font. The water of both days is equivalent — the church emphasizes its beneficial properties for all believers. The church service for Epiphany carries a deep symbolic meaning of purification and renewal of faith. Believers come to temples in advance, observe strict fasting on Christmas Eve and prepare for this important ritual.