Question first appeared on
February 27, 2000
I
mentioned to some Protestant friends that my priest was coming to bless
our home for the Epiphany season. They were curious about this custom
and I was unable to explain it to them. Can you provide a short
explanation that I can pass on to them?
On
January 6, the Feast of Epiphany (the word means to
"manifest"), or better yet for Orthodox Christians, Theophany
(the manifestation of God), we celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus
Christ at the hands of John the Baptist in the Jordan River. God
revealed Himself as Trinity in this event: The Holy Spirit, in the form
of a dove, descended upon the Son of God as He arose from the waters,
and the Father spoke saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased."
We
especially celebrate the fact that God has come in the flesh to restore
His creation. His condescension to be baptized at the hands of John show
that God the Son desires to enter into all of human condition in order
to sanctify it, including taking on the sins of the world.
As
part of our celebration we bless and sanctify water as a sign of this
restoration. Water is necessary to all life in this
world as we know it.
This holy water is sprinkled throughout the sanctuary and upon all who
are present at the Theophany services.
Following
the feast day, the priest visits each family residence within the parish
to extend that blessing to our homes. The Body of Christ resides
throughout the community and each family unit is a "little
church." The priest prays for the family and their residence as
follows: "0 God our Savior, the True Light, Who was baptized in the
Jordan by the Prophet John, and Who did deign to enter under the roof of
Zacchaeus, bringing salvation unto him and unto his house: do You, the
same Lord, keep safe also from all harm those who dwell here; grant to
them Your blessing, purification and bodily health, and all their
petitions that are unto salvation and Life everlasting; for blessed are
You, as also Your Father Who is from everlasting, and Your All-Holy,
Good and Life-creating Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen." The priest then blesses each living and working space in the
home with holy water.
This
practice serves as a renewal for the entire parish community at the
beginning of each year.
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