Epiphany is one of the greatest feasts of Christianity. It is the tradition of the Orthodox Church for the Faithful to receive "Sanctification, Healing, and a Promise of Eternal Life by the gift of the Holy Spirit" through the blessing of water in the Holy Epiphany season. The use of holy water is based on the story of Jesus' baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan. At the Baptism of Christ, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were made manifest.

Jesus' baptism is commemorated in the Orthodox Church at the Feast of Epiphany, meaning "manifestation", or Theophany, meaning "manifestation of God" on January 6.

In the Liturgical text of the Great Blessing of the Water, we find additional petitions which make clear what is being asked of God and what the blessing of the water entails:

That these waters may be sanctified by the power, and effectual operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit;
That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity;
That he will endue them with the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit;
That Satan may speedily be crushed under our feet, and that every evil counsel directed against us may be brought to naught;
That the Lord our God will free us from every attack and temptation of the enemy, and make us worthy of the good things which he hath promised;
That he will illumine us with the light of understanding and of piety, and with the descent of the Holy Spirit;
That the Lord our God will send down the blessing of Jordan and sanctify these waters;
That this water may be unto the bestowing of sanctification, unto the remission of sins, unto the healing of soul and body, and unto every expedient service;
That this water may be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal;
That it may manifest itself effectual unto the averting of every machination of our foes, whether visible or invisible;
For those who shall draw of it and take of it unto the sanctification of their homes;
That it may be for the purification of the souls and bodies of all those who, with faith, shall draw and partake of it; and
That he will graciously enable us to perfect sanctification by participation in these waters, through the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Water is then available for parish use for the coming year. It's a means by which we purify ourselves, our homes, or any object. The Priest may visit the homes of the parish's members and bless them and their homes by sprinkling them with holy water and reciting prayers.

It is also traditional to keep Holy Water at home, and drink of it with morning prayers, or for informal blessings when no clergy are present.