A Ceremony Full of Symbolism
In 19th-century Galicia, the blessing of a newly built house was a ceremony that combined faith, tradition, and social relationships. One example of this ritual was recorded by researchers of folk culture among Greek Catholic communities in the Stryi area. It is possible that similar customs were practiced in other micro-regions of Galicia. The blessing of a house was both a religious act and a practice deeply rooted in folk beliefs. According to these beliefs, an unblessed home was prone to misfortune, and organizing weddings or celebrations in such a house was thought to bring bad luck to its inhabitants.
Preparations for the Ceremony
Preparations began with ordering a special mass at the Greek Catholic church, either for the souls of deceased ancestors or for the health and prosperity of living family members. The head of the household needed to choose a suitable day for the ceremony and arrange it with the priest. Sundays, fasting days (Wednesdays and Fridays), and the entire Lenten season were avoided. The preferred days were Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays. It was also the houseowner’s responsibility to prepare the house for the ritual by drilling four small holes, each 3–6 inches deep, in each wall of the main room of the house. These holes would later play a key role in the ceremony conducted by the priest.
Participants
The ceremony involved the priest and his assistants – the deacon and the church sexton. The head of the household also invited close family, nearby neighbors, the village mayor, and, in some cases, elder members of the church brotherhood, if such a group existed in the parish. Reciprocity was an important factor in invitations; people who had previously hosted the houseowner at similar events were invited, strengthening community bonds.
The Role of the Deacon
One of the most important preparatory tasks was the deacon’s responsibility to create four special slips of paper with spiritual significance. Each slip featured a three-barred cross with the inscriptions “IC XC” and “HИ KA” (abbreviations of “Jesus Christ conquers”). Below the cross, the deacon wrote the name of one of the four Evangelists, the name of the village, and the date of the ceremony. These slips were central to the ritual and were later placed into the prepared holes in the walls.
Offerings for the Holy Mass
On the day of the ceremony, the family brought offerings to the church: four loaves of bread, always baked on the same morning and delivered while still warm. The warmth symbolized the “spirit” of the bread joining the prayers. Additional offerings included eggs (always in odd numbers, such as five, seven, or nine), honey (if the family kept bees), sugar, or flax or hemp seeds. These gifts were arranged on decorative towels and placed before the icons, where the priest would pray during the mass. The four loaves of bread were placed in a square formation, and a bowl of water, prepared for blessing, was set on top. Four aspen pegs, each 2 inches long, floated in the water and were later used to seal the holes in the walls.
The Ritual at the House
After the church mass, the priest, deacon, and church sexton proceeded to the new house. In the main room of the house, a table was prepared and covered with a white cloth. On the table were placed a cross, two lit candles, incense, a plate with artos (consecrated bread), grains of wheat, poppy seeds, flax or hemp seeds, four cloves of garlic, and additional unlit candles.
During the solemn ritual, the priest placed one of the slips prepared by the deacon into each of the four holes in the walls. Each slip, inscribed with the name of an Evangelist, was wrapped with a piece of artos, a pinch of seeds, and a clove of garlic before being placed into the hole. The ritual began with the eastern wall, where the slip bearing the name of Saint Matthew was placed, followed by Saint Mark on the western wall, Saint Luke on the southern wall, and Saint John on the northern wall. Each hole was sealed with an aspen peg soaked in holy water, and below each one, a candle was lit and left to burn until it extinguished naturally.
