1. Houses
are traditionally blessed with "Theophany water" each year. A house
can be blessed at any time, but the usual season for yearly blessings is from
Theophany until the beginning of the Lenten Triodion, which begins four Sundays
before Great Lent begins. This is not a hard and fast rule, but a good rule of
thumb.
2. Some
people place great importance on "Theophany water". This is just
water that has been blessed with the Great Blessing of the Waters service on
Theophany. Another name for this water is simply "Holy Water". We can
bless water any time of the year that there is a need for it. In Moscow, for
example, there is a huge vat of holy water that the faithful partake of
regularly. On regular basis, the vat is
refilled with water when it becomes empty, and this new water is blessed. The
water blessed in for instance, August is no more and no less "holy"
than the water blessed on Theophany.
3. Water
is blessed using the “Great Blessing of the Waters” service two distinct times
during Theophany: after Vespers on the Eve of Theophany and after the Divine
Liturgy on Theophany. The blessings are identical, and the water is identical.
4. In
many places, it is traditional to bless water in lakes or rivers. In Russia,
clergy often go to such a place, and bless the cold water after a hole has been
cut in the ice. Many people will take a dip in the water after it is blessed.
5. When a
home is blessed, the priest brings everything needed for the blessing:
- Holy water
- A "krupilla" (brush for flinging
the holy water),
- Bowl for the water
- Candles
- Theophany icon.
Many
pious homes supply a bowl, candles and the family Theophany icon.
The
family should provide the priest with a list of all family members, living and
deceased.
The bowl
and icon should be placed on a clean table with a cloth on it, preferably near
the family icon corner. It is good for candles to be lit. The house should be
clean, with all radios and televisions off.
The
priest will bless all rooms of the house except the bathrooms. In homes with
children, it is always good for the little ones to carry a candle or a small
cross and "lead" the priest throughout the house. An elder member of
the house may also do this.
6. The
basic order for a simple home blessing is as follows.
a. The
bowl of water, icon and lit candles are placed on a clean table. IF there is a
censer, it may be lit.
b. The
priest begins the service with a blessing and the Trisagion prayers (O heavenly
King through the "Our Father".) It is always preferable that the
eldest of another member of the family say the Trisagion prayers.
c. After
this the entire home is blessed, with the family walking with the priest
holding candles and the Theophany icon while the Theophany Troparion is sung
over and over:
Tone 1: When Thou, wast baptized in the
Jordan, O Lord,/ the worship of the Trinity was made manifest;/
for the voice of the Father bare witness to
Thee, /
calling Thee His beloved Son./
And the Spirit in the form of a dove/
confirmed the certainty of the word./
O Christ our God, Who hast appeared//
and hast enlightened the world, glory be to
Thee.
It is a
very good idea for the family to sing this troparion, and know it by heart.
Otherwise, of the priest has many houses to bless, his voice will get tired!
d. Upon
finishing blessing the house, the family gathers again at the table, and a
short litany is said for the welfare of the family. The priest should have been
provided a list of all family members, including those who are ill.
e. After
this a short prayer, and the service is ended.
f. It is
entirely appropriate the deceased loved ones of the family be commemorated from
a list provided to the priest.
g.
Sometimes the family wants to give the priest a little something to eat;
depending on the time the priest has, he may stay and visit.
7. When a
priest visits, it is NEVER required that the family gives him money. The
scripture tells us "Freely you have received, freely give".
It is a
pious custom among some to give the priest a donation at this time, but this
should never be though of as a requirement. The priest comes to the home
because he wants God's blessing to be upon it, and to know those in his flock
better and to be available to them.
Source: http://www.orthodox.net/10things/theophany-house-blessings.html
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