Eve of the Theophany – Patriarch Daniel: By blessing our homes, they become icons of the greater Church

Aurelian Iftimiu – Basilica News Agency – 8/1/17

The priests of the Patriarchal Cathedral visited Thursday, 5 January 2017, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, and blessed with Holy Water the Patriarchal Residence.

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed thanks for the visit and delivered a homily focusing on the importance of Holy Water in the spiritual life of Christians. He said that the Holy Water blessed on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord refreshes our awareness that we are baptized Christians. He went on to say that Baptism in the name and the presence of the Most Holy Trinity represents a spiritual growth towards eternal life, which begins in this world.

Referring to the blessing of the houses with Holy Water, His Beatitude said that it is a sign of joy, blessing and protection, transforming our homes into icons of the grater Church, where faithful are gathered.

Patriarch Daniel also mentioned the tradition held by Romanians, namely to hang holy icons on the Eastern walls of rooms in order to recall the Church embellished with holy icons, and as a symbol of the Church inside the house.

The ministrants from the Patriarchal Cathedral visit every year the Romanian Patriarch on the Eve of the Teophany of our Lord Jesus Christ and bless the chambers of the Patriarchal Residence with Holy Water.

Source: