Home Blessings
It is customary to invite the priest to bless the home once a year, usually around the Feast of Theophany on 6 January, and there is a special service for the blessing of a new home.
Special Service
The Blessing of a Home
Preparing the home
Little preparation is needed. Before the priest arrives, it helps to set out:
- A small table in front of the icon corner, facing east
- A bowl of water
- A candle
- A list of names, of the living and of the departed
- For a new home: a small glass of olive oil and a pair of cotton buds
What a home blessing is
In the Orthodox tradition the priest is invited to bless the home once a year, usually in the season of Theophany, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on 6 January, though a blessing may be requested at any time. For a new home there is a special service, similar in spirit to the consecration of a church; we recommend that a home is blessed soon after moving in.
How to prepare
The priest needs a small table, usually placed in front of the icon corner and facing east. On it, place a bowl of water, a candle, and a list of names of the living and the departed to be prayed for. For the blessing of a new home, add a small glass of olive oil and a pair of cotton buds.
Other visits
The priest may also be called upon during the year for other pastoral visits: the blessing of a vehicle or a place of business, pastoral counselling, instruction in the faith, the anointing of the sick, and prayers for a newborn child and their mother, among others.
Every family’s circumstances are different, and none of this need be settled before you get in touch. Dates and preparation are arranged personally with the Rector, who will guide you through everything. Contact the Rector →
