Schedule your Home Blessing today with Fr. Avedis
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Watch a video about home blessings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMeOBT30UGI
A little bit about home blessings:
Throughout history, Armenian Christians have considered the home to be a sacred place: the tranquil sanctuary of the family, where habits of virtue, pious traditions, and life-affirming customs are passed from one generation to another. Under one roof, members of a household achieve a unity of spirit and assume responsibility for the larger life of the community. They break bread and share life’s joys and sorrows.
Above all, the home is where one’s faith in God is first kindled, and where that faith finds some of the most profound occasions for action. God’s presence makes every family home a “Little Church” (in Greek, ecclesia), where His love and blessings permeate every corner.
Through a special ceremony of the Armenian Church, we ask God to bless our homes on occasions like the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ, as well as on the joyous occasion of moving into a new home. It’s called the Dounohrnek, or Home Blessing service.
Frequently Asked Questions about Home Blessings:
My home has been blessed already, do I need another home blessing?
You can have a priest come to your home as often as you would like. The home blessing is just part of the church’s mission to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ into your home. It is not a magic trick that protects your house – nor does it “wear out” and have to be renewed. But, we, as children of God, cannot hear the Gospel enough, and spending time with our priests gives opportunities for one on one conversation.
What costs, if any, are associated with home blessings?
None. There are no required donations to either the priest or the church. Further, you are not required or expected to provide any snacks, meals, etc. for the priest.
How long will this take?
Home blessings and visitations do not need to be long engagements. The blessing itself is only about 5-7 minutes long. The length of the fellowship between you and your pastor varies, but does not need to take a lot of time.
What do I need to do to prepare for the home blessing?
During the ceremony the priest will bless a small bowl or cup of water, a few spoons worth of salt, and a piece of bread – these are things that you should have on hand and ready for the ceremony.