The home is in many ways the center of family life. Thus, for Orthodox Christians, it is important that our homes be blessed and sanctified. To this end, it is customary for observing Orthodox Christians to have their houses blessed annually. Traditionally, house blessings usually happen around the feast of Theophany, which takes place on January 6. Theophany is the commemoration of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, and this is the time of year when we bless holy water in association with the waters of the Jordan. During house blessings, the priest comes to the house to perform a short prayer service and uses the holy water to bless the whole house. While most house blessings take place in the weeks following Theophany, they can take place at any time throughout the year, scheduling permitting. It is also customary to bless other buildings, such as businesses or offices, when they are first opened. If you would like to schedule a house blessing, please contact Father Michael or one of our other priests.
