Anastasia13 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 So I recently learned that there are house blessings. Is this common? When are they done? Who attends? I found a text for it, but it isn't clear who leads it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarysLittleFlower Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 So I recently learned that there are house blessings. Is this common? When are they done? Who attends? I found a text for it, but it isn't clear who leads it. The priest does it yes they are very common! And a VERY good idea. My apartment got blessed. My roommate and I invited our friends and had refreshments also for them and the priest. Its nice to give something to the priest like invite him for dessert or give him a donation to cover the cost of getting there if the house is further away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marigold Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Yes, they are very common for us as well! You have your place blessed when you first move in, and then yearly after that - usually during Theophany, the feast of the Lord's baptism in the Jordan. Since he blessed all the world's waters when he was baptised in them, we bless all the holy water for the coming year during that feast. At the blessing, prayers and hymns are read for the expulsion of demons from the place, and the salvation and safety of the people who are going to live there. Holy water is splashed everywhere, and all four walls of every room are anointed with holy oil in the form of a cross. (Hearing this priest's voice makes me nostalgic for Orthodox America...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Credo in Deum Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 (edited) As others have said it is a very common practice. It's recommended that blessings be done right away and then annually as others have pointed out. My family did our house blessing and then the enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The priest leads and family and friends attend. Edited June 17, 2015 by Credo in Deum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Our apartment was just blessed. Just Katy and I and our priest. Very quick and easy. The Epiphany house blessings are much longer and more involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archaeology cat Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 We had our house blessed. Then we get blessed chalk for Epiphany blessings every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 (edited) So I recently learned that there are house blessings. Is this common? When are they done? Who attends? I found a text for it, but it isn't clear who leads it. Simply invite a priest over. It'd be good to feed him too Edited June 17, 2015 by Papist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarysLittleFlower Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 We had our house blessed. Then we get blessed chalk for Epiphany blessings every year. We got this too! I never heard of it until recently. We invited the priest to say the Epiphany blessing and I thought he would just use the chalk, but he did a whole ceremony and house blessing with holy water and even incense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veritasluxmea Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Everytime we moved we had our house blessed. Our parish priest would come over for dinner and then bless the house. They walk around it, pray, sprinkle some holy water in each room. Doesn't take more than ten minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I had my apartment blessed when I first moved in. It can sometimes be hard to find a priest to do this. I find it helps to ask a young one who just got appointed to a parish. They usually don't have that much to do yet. Mine took about 5 minutes and Father brought a sister along, because I'm a single woman living alone. I gave him a gift card for a local restaurant in thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makarioi Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 My parents had Mass said in our home. Someone told me that that is called an Enthronement. Has anyone heard of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 My residence was blest the same time as my Home Mass to renew private vows. They walk around it, pray, sprinkle some holy water in each room. Doesn't take more than ten minutes. My house blessing followed same procedure as veritasluxmea's, above, more or less. Father walked into each room, prayed and sprinkled holy water. Father also did a Certificate of House Blessing and signed it - I don't think this is strictly necessary - just lovely to have. Took about 10 - 15 mins. My previous residence in another suburb was also blest and followed the same procedure, without the lovely certificate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 In college the deacons would come around to all the dorm rooms at the beginning of every year and ask if we wanted a room blessing. It was pretty neato. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 Thanks guys. I was worried because I haven't had a chance to meet a new priest in the area yet, and we barely have seating in the new apartment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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