Blessing of Homes

Theophany House Blessings

In the days following the Feast of Theophany (January 6th), it is customary for the priest to visit the homes of his parishioners, bringing the “Jordan Water” for the traditional House Blessing.

The First Great Blessing of Water is celebrated at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on the Eve of Theophany (January 5th). That water may be given to the faithful to drink on that day and throughout the year. However, it is the water from the Second Great Blessing of Water, performed on the Feast itself (January 6th), that is traditionally called Jordan Water and used for the blessing of homes.

All members of the household should make every effort to be present when the priest arrives. In preparation, the family should ready the icon corner by lighting the lampada and preparing a hand-censer with incense. If there is no icon corner, a small table may be placed against the eastern wall of the main room, covered with a white cloth and set with one or more icons standing upright, a candle in a holder, a hand-censer with incense, and a small bowl with several sprigs of evergreen tied together with a ribbon. A clearly printed list of the baptismal names of all household members should also be placed there.

Upon the priest’s arrival, all family members should greet him, receive his blessing, and venerate his right hand. One family member then lights the lampada (or candle) and hand-censer. All televisions, radios, and phones should be turned off, and the lights turned on in every room to be blessed. The priest and family then gather before the icon corner (or prepared table) to begin the Theophany House Blessing.

It is customary for the head of the household to discreetly offer the priest an envelope containing an honorarium—at minimum enough to cover his travel costs—and a list of the living and departed for whom the family requests prayers during the coming year.