A house blessing is a common part of our faith. And, as far as I know, common across all rites of the Church. (If there are exceptions you know of, I would be happy to hear it in the comments).
Now that Theophany has passed, it is the traditional time for house blessings! I am not sure what it is about house blessings, but I am always super excited for the event. Last year I spent three days preparing the house for our house blessing. And it took three days due to the fact I spent the end of December and early January totally reorganizing the bedrooms, storage, and home school spaces. So there were a lot of extra things that either needed to find new homes or moved out of the house.
On top of all that organizing, I also like the give the house a good clean in preparation for the house blessing. Not necessarily a deep clean, though I am sure that is ideal. But definitely a surfaces wiped and floors vacuumed/mop sort of clean.
Theophany Water
The reason house blessings are usually in January is due to the fact we use Theophany water. That is, water blessed on the feast of Theophany (and not that which was blessed on the Eve of Theophany). This is also interesting because the Theophany morning water blessing is meant to be done over “living water.” Such as a river, lake, or ocean. To read more about this, check out our Theophany blog article.
Preparing for the House Blessing
There are several ways to prepare for a house blessing. First of all, clean the house as best you are able. Then, right before the blessing, ensure the walkways are clear. This is important to do as a last minute preperation, in case you have small children who might have left Lego peices on the floor. (Or even older kids who might have set a backpack in their doorway). You don’t want the preist tripping over things as he blesses your house!
While you go though the walkways to ensure that they are clear, also turn all the lights. Make sure both hallway and room lights are on. By having the lights on as the priest heads through the house it is more welcoming. And it prevents awkward delays of fumbling for light switches.
There are also some material preparations. Gather a candle, icons/crosses for household members to hold, and a small bowl for the priest to pour water into (he may or may not use yours). Have the Theophany tropar printed out for any family members who don’t know it already. (Totally okay if this includes you). And have a stipend ready with a thank you card or note for the priest. If you have any special prayer requests (such as for family members who have died) you can make note of that in your card, asking the priest to pray for these intentions.
Stipend Thoughts
When deciding how much to give as a stipend consider the following factors. How much are you able to give, how far is your home from the priest’s home (gas prices), and whether you have asked for special prayer intentions in your card. Also whether or not you have also invited the priest for supper, which may be considered in place of the stipend. We try to give at least fifty, depending on our circumstances.
The House Blessing
Begin in the icon corner of the home, or in front of an icon or cross, with the prepared items. After lighting the candle the priest will lead the family through beginning prayers, which usually include a Heavenly King, the Our Father, and a Hail Mary.
When finished the beginning prayers, the head of the house should lead the family and priest around the home. One family member can hold the candle, and the additional family members may carry icons or crosses as you process through the house. Make sure to give enough time for the priest to bless each room. This isn’t a race! While the Priest is saying prayers, the family should chant the Theophany tropar. (Which is why it is good to have the words for this printed out ahead of time).
At the close of the house blessing, the priest blesses the family. It may be appropriate to sing Mnohaya Lita/ Many long and happy years at this time.
Theophany House Blessing Tropar
At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, worship of the Trinity was revealed; for the Father’s voice bore witness to you, calling you his beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of these words. O Christ God, you appeared and enlightened the world, Glory be to you!
The Byzantine Life
Thank you for reading our Theophany article. If you enjoyed it, you might also be interested in reading about Baptism and the Initiation Sacraments in the East, or our article on the Presentation of Our Lord.
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