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://byztex.blogspot.com/2010/01/house-blessing-primer.html
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