Holy Water, Theophany, and House Blessings
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By Fr. Christopher Zugger
Why Sanctify Water?
In the Book of Genesis, we read that God speaks the entire universe into existence. This is the Word of God, Who becomes incarnate in the God-Man, Jesus Christ, “through Whom all things were made.” After God created all things, He saw that it was good. The human race and the world were damaged by original sin, which necessitates the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s creation remains, and the Church uses blessings of elements of the world to bring about sanctification. Thus, olivFe oil is blessed to use for the sick, bishops consecrate chrism for the Mystery of Chrismation, and above all, bread and wine for the Holy Eucharist. These practices demonstrate the creation can still be used to glorify God and assist His servants. The symbolism of water is especially important, as it stands for our death to sin and rising with Jesus to new life. Blessed water welcomes us at baptism, blesses us at our deaths, and should be used throughout our lives.
Baptism of the Lord
Christ’s great humility in accepting baptism from John’s hands and descending into the waters of the river shows us that He comes to redeem us and restore creation to its original purpose. Because of His presence in the water, and because water is used for Baptism, the Sanctification of Water is one of the most important and popular rites of the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox.
The Great Sanctification of Water is celebrated during the Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Theophany, which celebrates the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. Because of this, holy water is often called Jordan Water. The water is literally made holy by the descent of the Holy Spirit into ordinary tap water. First the priest will exorcise the water, ordering any evil powers to flee. The prayers make it very clear that the sanctified water is transformed by the Spirit, and that it is used against Satan and his wiles, to bring blessings to those who use it, that it dispels all evil forces, that it sanctify both homes and individuals, bring healing to the sick, and provide purification for all.
Theophany Blessings
Following the sanctification, the priest blesses the nave and sanctuary of the church, including the members of the congregation. He may go outside also and bless the exterior of the church. In many places, the clergy and laity will process to a local river or lake and the sanctification is repeated. A hand cross can be thrown into the water for the youth to retrieve. At both events, the people are blessed with the water – sometimes quite generously! Throughout the Theophany octave and beyond, the parish priest goes out to bless the homes of those parishioners who request it. The parish priest comes to homes in order to celebrate this annual blessing. It is also an occasion for the pastor to visit with families in their own comfortable setting.
The Theophany at Home
January is the season for house blessings. Jordan water from the Theophany service should be provided for Father to do the blessing, which ideally starts in the family icon corner, or the dining table. The parish priest comes in his role as spiritual father, and is able to be welcomed by the family in their own domestic church, the extension of the parish community. It is not a time to worry about the house being spotless: more important is that the family’s interior life is spotless.
Any unblessed religious object should be placed there, on a white cloth. Radio, television, and internet should be turned off so that everyone can focus on this religious ceremony. The mother takes a lit candle and leads Father through the house, turning on the electric lights as they go. The family joins in singing the Theophany troparion, either at the icon corner or the family table, or in a little procession. Every room is blessed, and all exterior doors are blessed “in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” while Father sprinkles holy water.
It is a common practice to offer a little something to eat and to visit for a while, as this is a chance to have the pastor in the home. But please be considerate of the schedule which Father may have going for other visits to be made. Because of the widely dispersed nature of parishes in America, it can be difficult for the pastor to reach every family. In those circumstances the head of the household may perform the blessing.
Why Bless the House Every Year With Holy Water?
The house is the center for the family, where individuals spend a lot of their time, and the place of the Domestic Church. This is where we pray, work, love, build our lives. It is THE place to claim for the Kingdom of God, where the Lord wants to be fully present.
Every home suffers spiritually during the year – fights, bad dreams, illness, miscommunication. Blessing the house at the start of the New Year is a wonderful way to heal the house, to bring in the blessing of the Holy Trinity as we move from Christmas to the preparation for Lent. We have to be vigilant at driving out the evil one and his minions, at getting rid of bad influences by bringing in sanctified water to purify our hearts, and to distribute God’s holiness through the sprinkling of the holy water into our homes.
August 1st Blessing
Water used to be sanctified on the first day of the month all year long. This day is the only one on which that is consistently done. This is because it is connected with the mystery of the cross and deliverance from sickness. August 1 is the feast of the Procession of the Holy and Life-giving Cross. During the hot summer months the cities of the Eastern Roman Empire were often hit with epidemics. A relic of the True Cross was carried through the streets of Constantinople and water was sanctified afterward.
The faithful blessed their homes as protection against sickness, something which can be done all year. As at Theophany, the priest immerses the hand cross into the water three times, while asking the Holy Spirit to descend into the water.
Other Blessings
Sanctified water is used in the rites of blessing the baskets of food on Pascha; for the blessing of cars on the feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet (July 20); for blessing of fruit on Transfiguration (August 6); and for the blessing of flowers and herbs on the Dormition (August 15); blessing of animals for Saint Francis of Assisi (October 4); and for the blessing of fields for crops and family gardens. The priest uses holy water to bless any religious object brought to the priest.
Blessings At Home
The laity are encouraged to use holy water generously. The head of the household can bless bedrooms or beds after one has bad dreams, bless the children before bedtime, and bless the house if someone of a bad disposition has visited. Many saints have written about using holy water to drive away demons or bring peace into their dwellings. Holy water can be kept in a little font by the door, to use for blessing oneself when leaving the home.
Sickness and Work
At the Theophany services, cups are provided to drink the holy water. This can be done at home, especially at times of sickness. If it is possible, one can invite the priest to come and bless one’s business. If done in the presence of employees, this is a gentle form of evangelization and introducing people to our Church’s ceremonies. If that’s not possible, one can quietly bless a workspace or cubicle ‘In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ This is especially good to do if there are problems at work that need God’s mercy.
Storing Holy Water
One should bring containers to church on January 5/6 and August 1 to take the new holy water home. The water can be kept in special holy water containers which can be bought in parish stores or religious goods companies. These have tops which allow for sprinkling the water as needed. If one intends to use the Jordan Water all year, larger containers can be brought to the service. The water can be transferred into the smaller containers as needed, so that one can then sprinkle it easily. Old holy water should be disposed of by pouring it against the walls of a building or on the very top of plants where animals would not be present.
Make good use of this great sacramental of our Church!