Orthodox Christians have prayers of blessing for just about everything. From religious articles such as icons and vestments, to things like fields, flowers, barns, and animals. We even bless cars, boats and journeys. It is also our custom to bless our homes each year. Buy why?
Certainly everything that our All-good God created was good—in fact, we are told it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). But when Adam and Eve were deceived by the devil and rejected God, they were cut off from the source of life and all of creation fell with them into an abyss of sin and corruption. Yet, although we turned from Him, God did not abandon us and when the fullness of the time was come, He sent forth his Only-begotten Son to renew all things.
This renewal is celebrated at the feast of our Lord’s Theophany and the Great Blessing of the Waters on the eve and day of the feast. Throughout these holy days, all of the sacred readings and hymns confess God’s manifestation and real presence in His creation once again. And when the Priest blesses with the Precious and Life-giving Cross calling the Holy Spirit to descend once again upon the waters, the world’s primal element is consecrated anew and the entire cosmos is given back to God once more.
Because our homes, however, cannot be brought to the Church, the Church—through the Priest—brings this “Jordan Water” to our homes. There, the service of blessing, which began in the Church, is finished with the sprinkling of these sanctified waters in our homes. For, just as man’s heart is an arena of spiritual warfare, so also is the home. Knowing this, the Church, as a loving and wise mother, prescribes these annual house blessings in order to help us in our daily struggle by sanctifying our private dwellings and tangibly bringing the grace of God into our lives. “O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee!”
Behavior During Divine Services
Q: “How should Christians stand in church during services, how should they pray, and what duties do they have when they go to church?”
A: Christians should stand in church with faith, fear of God, and attention. They should force themselves as much as possible to pray without distraction and with feeling of heart. Also, Christians have the following duties: to go regularly to church, for whoever often misses the services, except for the sick, are barred from the Holy Mysteries; to be reconciled with all men and to ask forgiveness of anyone they have hurt; to preserve their purity at least two days before going to church and at least one day after; to come early to the divine services in order to have time to venerate in peace and hear Matins. Every Christian should offer some gift to the Lord according to his ability, even if it is very small, as a sacrifice from the work of his hands. They should give names for commemoration, and ask the priest to take out parts (from the prosphora) for the living and dead members of their families. Christians should stand in church modestly and in good order, the men on the right and the women on the left. They should wear clean and modest clothes, and women should have scarves on their heads. It is forbidden to talk during services without great need. After Divine Liturgy starts, everyone should remain in his place and not move about to venerate the icons. They should follow the Liturgy with pious attention, and listen to the prayers and singing of the choir, the Epistle and Gospel readings, and the sermon. No one should leave the church before the end of the Liturgy without great need. Those who have confessed and prepared for Holy Communion should read the appropriate prayers before Communion in advance, and before they approach the Holy Gifts they should ask forgiveness of all the faithful. After the Liturgy, those who received Communion should read the prayers of thanksgiving, spending that day in spiritual joy and guarding themselves from all temptations. Parents should bring their children to church regularly, taking care that they receive communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. After the end of the divine services, Christians should reverently return to their homes, spending the rest of the day thinking of holy things, reading spiritual books, and visiting the sick. They are also obligated to tell those at home who didnt come to church about what they heard and learned in church from the troparia, readings, and the sermon. These are the most important duties of Christians when they go to church on Sundays and feast days.
Interview with Elder Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihastria Monastery.
From The Orthodox Word (Vol. 28, No. 1 (162)), pp. 19-20.