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Orthodox House Blessing in Tampa Bay, Theophany Blessing at St. Michael

Each year after the Feast of Theophany, our Parish Priest visits the homes of the faithful, sprinkles each room with holy water, and asks the Lord to bless those who live there. This is an old custom of the Orthodox Church, full of warmth and good news. The water of the Jordan, in which Christ Himself was baptized, comes through your front door. The same grace that descended on the river that day is welcomed into the place where you eat, sleep, raise your children, and pray.

This page tells you what to expect, what to prepare, and how to schedule the blessing for your home in Tampa Bay.

Why we bless our homes

On January 19 each year, the New Calendar feast of Theophany (Богоявлення), the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan. At the Great Blessing of Waters that morning, the priest invokes the Holy Spirit upon water that the faithful carry home for their families.

In the weeks that follow, the priest takes some of that same blessed water to each home in the parish. He sings the troparion of Theophany, sprinkles each room with the holy water, and prays for everyone who lives there, the living and the departed. The house becomes a small church, the family is reminded that Christ dwells with them, and the whole household is set apart for the year ahead.

This custom is older than any of us. It is one of the simplest and most beloved ways the Church meets us in our daily life.

When the blessings happen

Fr. Stephen visits homes from mid-January through February, beginning shortly after the Feast of Theophany on January 19. If our schedule fills, blessings continue into early March. Every parish family is welcome to receive a blessing each year. There is no charge.

If you are new to the parish, or if you have never had your home blessed, this is a beautiful first step. If you have moved into a new home at any time of year, call the parish, we can also bless a new home outside the Theophany season.

How to schedule

Call the parish office at 727-777-4450, email st.michael.uoc.pinellas@gmail.com, or speak with Fr. Stephen Siniari after the Divine Liturgy on any Sunday.

When you call, please have ready:

  • Your full address
  • A few possible dates and times when the family will be home
  • The names of everyone living in the household (living and departed will be prayed for)

Fr. Stephen will confirm a time. Most blessings take about twenty minutes. He often blesses several homes in the same neighborhood on the same evening, so a small range of times helps him plan the route.

What to prepare

A house blessing does not require much. The Lord is not coming to inspect your housekeeping. He is coming to bless your family. A simple setup in your icon corner or on the dining table is enough.

Please have ready:

  • An icon, set upright in a visible place. Any icon you own is fine. The icon of Christ, the Theotokos, or the Archangel Michael are traditional choices.
  • A lit candle beside the icon. A simple taper or beeswax candle.
  • A small bowl or cup of water that Fr. Stephen will bless and then use to sprinkle each room. If you have brought home Theophany water from the parish, set it out and we will use that.
  • A small dish with a sprig of basil if you have it. Basil is the traditional herb for sprinkling, recalling the basil that Saint Helen found growing where the True Cross had been buried. If you do not have basil, Fr. Stephen brings his own.
  • A list of names of everyone in the family, living and departed, that Fr. Stephen will read aloud during the prayers. Names of the living go on one piece of paper, names of the departed on another. Use baptismal names where you know them.

That is all. Have the family at home if possible, including the children. The blessing is for everyone under your roof.

What happens during the blessing

Fr. Stephen will come to the door in his cassock. After a short greeting, the family gathers around the icon and the candle. He sings the troparion of Theophany:

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee.

He reads the names of the living and the departed and offers a short litany of intercession. He then sprinkles each room of the house with holy water, including closets, garages, and any outbuildings. The family follows along through the house as they are able. Children love this part.

At the end, Fr. Stephen offers a final blessing, accepts a glass of water or a cup of tea if you offer one, and is on his way. Many families take the opportunity to ask him a question, share family news, or simply sit and talk for a few minutes. The visit is unhurried. You are not on a schedule.

A small offering

There is no charge for a house blessing. Many families offer a donation to the parish on this occasion. Whatever you can give, whether ten dollars or a hundred, goes to support the work of the Church and is received with gratitude. If your circumstances do not allow an offering this year, please do not let that keep you from calling. The blessing belongs to every family in the parish.

An annual reminder

Watch for the January and February bulletin each year for the sign-up sheet and Fr. Stephen’s announcement at coffee hour after the Divine Liturgy. The parish secretary keeps the schedule, and Fr. Stephen calls each family in turn.

If your family is new to St. Michael in Tampa Bay, or if you have just moved into the area, please introduce yourself after Liturgy and let Fr. Stephen know your address. We want to come and bless your home.

Contact

Fr. Stephen Siniari, Parish Priest Parish line: 727-777-4450 Email: st.michael.uoc.pinellas@gmail.com

St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church 9201 60th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782