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Tropar of the Baptism of Our Lord – Tone 1When you were baptized in the Jordan , O Lord,The worship of the Holy Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to you By calling you his Beloved Son. And the spirit, in the form of a dove, Confirmed the truth of His Word. \r\n\r\nO Christ our God, who has revealed yourself and enlightened the world, \r\n\r\nGlory to you!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCONCERNING THE BLESSING OF HOMES\r\n\r\nThe central sign of God’s sanctification of all things through Christ’s coming to the world and his baptism in the Jordan River is the act of the blessing of homes of the Faithful Christians.\r\n\r\nOn the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (Theophany or Epiphany) on January 6, the priest visits all the members of the parish in order to pray with them in the place where they live, and to bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water.\r\n\r\nAccording to the teaching of the Orthodox Faith, the family is considered to be a small church and the family table is the home altar where the people gather each day to receive their daily bread from God with thanksgiving in the name of Christ.\r\n\r\nThus, during the Theophany season, the priest, who is the Father of the greater family of God, the church community, comes to each of the small churches, bringing the blessing of God to all the family members.\r\n\r\nWhen the priest comes for his annual visit of prayer and blessing, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil, and to fill it with every blessing. All pray together for the living and the dead of the family, and for all who have live in the house.\r\n\r\nLet us be mindful that our priest is bringing us the Blessing of Jordan, and that, unless God protects our homes, we labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)\r\n\r\nWHEN THE PRIEST COMES, PLEASE OBSERVE THESE GUIDELINES:\r\n
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- A lit candle, an icon or cross and a bowl of blessed water should be placed on the table, which the priest will bless.
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- All radios, televisions and or CD’s should be turned off.
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- All who are present in the house should come together by the table.
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- Everyone should join in with the singing of the Tropar and the triple Lord Have Mercy during the litany.
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- A list of (Christian names of the members of the household, living and deceased
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- Persons must not smoke when the priest is vested.
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- If you wish to give a gift to the priest at this time, it should be placed in an envelope and left on the table for him to pick up.
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- If you are expecting Father in the evening hours, please have the porch light turned on.
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- The Holy Water should be saved and proper respect given to it. You may drink a little of it each day before anything else.
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