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Question:
Can you give me some sort of
guideline regarding when and where an icon should be blessed?
If, for example, you come into possession of an antique, which
presumably was blessed well in the past, should it be blessed
again once it is yours? Should icons always be reblessed when
they change hands? I noted some information by an eBay seller
that blessed items CANNOT be sold. Clearly this is not truly
the case. Also: is it preferable for the blessing to be near
the site it was written, or the country? |
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Answer:
Very
Rev. Ihor Kutash
kutash@unicorne.org
There must be some good pastoral guidelines set down somewhere about
this. However I can only, at this point, offer you my own convictions as a
Pastor.
The blessing of Icons conveys an important finishing touch to a process
which is from its very beginning a special blessing by God Who reveals
Himself to us humans to whom He has bestowed the gifts of sight and touch
by means of these Icons.
The prayers are beautiful and, if you pay attention to them, are written
especially for the faithful to hear so that they could understand the
meaning of Icons.
The best way to bless an Icon is to bring it to Church where it can spend
some time on the Holy Table before the prayer and the sprinkling with Holy
Water.
If you are sure an Icon has already been blessed there may be no need to
bless it again. However, I am sure, as you are, that many blessed Icons
and other objects are in in fact sold on e-Bay and other places. En route
they may have been handled and dealt with by folk who were less than pious
and respectful. This would certainly not have taken away their special
holiness. But to bring them again for prayer and the sprinkling of Holy
Water may serve as a special way of honouring them and refreshing our
consciousness of their holiness.
I do not think it makes any difference at all whether an icon is blessed
near the place or country it was written. ALL places are holy for God has
created them all and is present to sustain, to save and to sanctify
everywhere.
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