Holy water

Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from Christianity to Sikhism. The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil is common among Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

In Christianity

In Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and some other churches, holy water is water that has been sanctified by a priest for the purpose of baptism, the blessing of persons, places, and objects, or as a means of repelling evil.

History

The use of holy water in the earliest days of Christianity is attested to only in somewhat later documents. The Apostolic constitutions, which go back to about the year 400, attribute the precept of using holy water to the Apostle Matthew. It is plausible that in earliest Christian times water was used for expiatory and purificatory purposes in a way analogous to its employment in Jewish Law. Yet, in many cases, the water used for the Sacrament of Baptism was flowing water, sea or river water, and it could not receive the same blessing as that contained in the baptisteries in the view of the Roman Catholic church. However, Eastern Orthodox do perform the same blessing, whether in a baptistry or an outdoor body of water.

Holy water (disambiguation)

Holy water is water that has been blessed in a religious ceremony. See also:

Holy water may also refer to:

Holy Water (Big & Rich song)

"Holy Water" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music duo Big & Rich. It was released in September 2004 as the third single from debut album Horse of a Different Color. It reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard US Country chart. The song was written by Big Kenny, John Rich, Vicky McGehee and Jeff Cohen.

Content

The duo wrote the song in honor of their sisters, both of whom had been affected by domestic abuse.

Music video

The music video was directed by Deaton-Flanigen and Marc Oswald. It premiered in November 2004. It first shows an intro, with Rich and Big Kenny's sister. The rest of the video is of the duo playing, interspersed with images of women who have - presumably - been victims of abuse.

Chart positions

"Holy Water" debuted at 51 on the U.S Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of October 2, 2004.

References

External links

Water dragon

Water dragon may refer to:

Sea serpent

A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.

Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings. It is currently believed that the sightings can be best explained as known animals such as oarfish, whales, or sharks (in particular, the frilled shark). Some cryptozoologists have suggested that sea serpents are relict plesiosaurs, mosasaurs or other Mesozoic marine reptiles, an idea often associated with lake monsters such as the Loch Ness Monster.

In mythology

In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr, or "Midgarðsormr" was a sea serpent so long that it encircled the entire world, Midgard. Some stories report of sailors mistaking its back for a chain of islands. Sea serpents also appear frequently in later Scandinavian folklore, particularly in that of Norway.

In 1028 AD, Saint Olaf is said to have killed a sea serpent in Valldal, Norway, throwing its body onto the mountain Syltefjellet. Marks on the mountain are associated with the legend. In Swedish ecclesiastic and writer Olaus Magnus's Carta marina, many marine monsters of varied form, including an immense sea serpent, appear. In his 1555 work History of the Northern Peoples, Magnus gives the following description of a Norwegian sea serpent: