We bless homes for the same reason we bless anything - to restore that particular thing to its correct purpose.  When we bless something we exorcize it and reclaim it from the evil powers that are present in this fallen world and restore it as a means of communion with God. God created all that exists for man.  Man was created by God to offer creation back to God - to constantly ask Him to transform it into a means of communion.  Nothing was created to be used as an end in itself.  Every created thing only has true value when it is used in reference to God.  The world is fallen because it has fallen away from the awareness that God “is all and in all” - that God “fills all things with Himself” including even the smallest particles of material existence.

 

Water is used as a vehicle for this reclamation because it is a basic natural element (H₂O) that has been created by God as a means of Life and not death (this is why we are also baptized in water).  When the water is blessed it doesn’t become “supernatural” water - it rather becomes what it “naturally” was created to be…a means of Life.  So when the priest comes to your home to bless it, he sprinkles the blessed water on the walls in order that the dwelling may be restored to its correct purpose.  The house is a sanctified dwelling as long as we use our free-will to want it to be sanctified.  We should continually offer our homes (and our lives) back to God so that He can transform the home as a means of communion with Him.  Fr. Alexander Elchaninov wrote: “The consecration of houses, objects, and so forth, is not magic, for Orthodoxy is a religion of complete freedom, and in such cases God’s grace, descending on a house, awaits a movement of our heart going out to meet it.”  It is for this reason that all members of the household should pray along with the priest.  We should pray that God will fill us and our house with His presence.

 

According to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, house blessings are usually done between the Feast of Epiphany (January 6^th) and the beginning of Great Lent, although they can also be done outside of that period of time.  If you are interested in having your home blessed, please contact Fr. Michael by phone (508-752-9150) or by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).  Fr. Michael will contact you to schedule an appointment for the blessing of your home.  On the day of Fr. Michael's visit, please see to it that as many family members as possible are present.  In addition, when Father comes to visit, please have the following items ready: An icon with a lit candle in front of it; a Bible; and some water in a bowl.  Thank you for your cooperation.