Theophany and holy water

[Michał Kalina]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

[Arachne]

In all Theophany services I've been to, there has been a water blessing inside the church (or in the yard outside) and then a procession to the open body of water for a second blessing. No sensible person would drink water from a pond, let alone the sea, blessed or not.

[Michał Kalina]

No sensible person would drink water from a pond,

You of little faith

[Arachne]

No sensible person would drink water from a pond,

You of little faith

But much sense.

[Maria]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

[arimethea]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

Bingo, you drink from the first blessing (always inside the church), and you do not drink during the second blessing (either inside or outside the church).

[Benjamin the Red]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

A reasonable explanation, but no, actually. The Great Blessing of Waters is a shorter and more festive service done during the time of Theophany (from Theophany through the afterfeast). The Lesser Blessing of Waters is a longer, plainer service conducted to bless water outside of the Theophany season (i.e., the rest of the year).

The service inside the Church and outside at a body of water should be the same service.

[Maria]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

Bingo, you drink from the first blessing (always inside the church), and you do not drink during the second blessing (either inside or outside the church).

Thank you, Father.

[Michał Kalina]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

Bingo, you drink from the first blessing (always inside the church), and you do not drink during the second blessing (either inside or outside the church).

Thank you, Father.

He is not a father, or Father.

[Maria]

OK, another one dumb question by me for this section:

If there is an outside water blessing and the reservoir happens to be a sea or an ocean instead of lake, stream or river, is another one container of sweet water blessed or do you take home salty holy water? Do you drink it then?

Is this the difference between the Lesser blessing (Theophany Eve) and the Greater blessing (Theophany) of water?

Bingo, you drink from the first blessing (always inside the church), and you do not drink during the second blessing (either inside or outside the church).

Thank you, Father.

He is not a father, or Father.

Thanks for that information. I always thought he was a priest.

Is there anywhere on this site where we can find out if a person is a priest, so that we can address them properly and not incur a violation?

[Michał Kalina]

Is there anywhere on this site where we can find out if a person is a priest, so that we can address them properly and not incur a violation?

If you address them with a nickname, no rule violation will occur.

[Maria]

Is there anywhere on this site where we can find out if a person is a priest, so that we can address them properly and not incur a violation?

If you address them with a nickname, no rule violation will occur.

Now strange. So, if the Pope were to join this forum, and I am not holding my breath, then we could call him by his username even if it were Bergoglio-Francis?

[Michał Kalina]

Is there anywhere on this site where we can find out if a person is a priest, so that we can address them properly and not incur a violation?

If you address them with a nickname, no rule violation will occur.

Now strange. So, if the Pope were to join this forum, and I am not holding my breath, then we could call him by his username even if it were Bergoglino-Francis?

If you were addressing him directly - it would be OK. If you were discussing about him, as a VIP (discussing some news for example), you should address him with a proper title.

Don't you have some real-life questions?

[Maria]

BACK ON TOPIC  

In many parishes, the priest will bless the waters on Theophany using the lesser blessing (blessing a large glass "punch" bowl or a tank filled with water) instead of the greater blessing (blessing a river, lake, canal, or ocean). And people drink that water. Thus, I never really knew the difference between the lesser and greater blessings that occur during the pre-feast and the actual feast of Theophany.

I guess this would be considered an example of "economia."

[arimethea]

BACK ON TOPIC  

In many parishes, the priest will bless the waters on Theophany using the lesser blessing (blessing a large glass "punch" bowl or a tank filled with water) instead of the greater blessing (blessing a river, lake, canal, or ocean). And people drink that water. Thus, I never really knew the difference between the lesser and greater blessings that occur during the pre-feast and the actual feast of Theophany.

I guess this would be considered an example of "economia."

There are at least four different and distinct blessing of waters.
1. Theophany Eve
2 Theophany Day
3. Outdoor Blessing of Water
4. Blessing of Water on the start of the month (sometimes called lesser blessing)
5. Baptism

1 and 2 are almost identical, the only difference is that 2 has an allowance for the prayer to be shortened.
3 follows the same structure as 1 and 2 but is abbreviated, and there is an addition of a prayer that is said over the person who retrieves the cross.
4 is a unique service unto it self that is hardly ever done in a parish setting
And of course 5 occurs during the baptism ceremony and is unique to that service.

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