In Boka Kotorska, the old custom of water baptism, or blessing homes with water from the Epiphany and Epiphany, is still practiced. For the clergy, this is a time of intensive meetings with parishioners, but also a joyful opportunity for conversation, communion and bringing blessings into homes.

Archpriest-stavrophor Nemanja Krivokapić emphasized in an interview with Radio Svetigora that, although it is not easy to visit a large number of families in Kotor in a short period of time, the priests experience this task as a special joy.

“It is a wonderful custom to use the holy water, which we sanctify on the Day of the Cross and the Epiphany, to bless the homes of our parishioners and all those who receive a priest. In every home, we sing the troparion of the Epiphany and sprinkle the house with holy water,” said Krivokapić, recalling that in Kotor, the old tradition of water baptism is still preserved, on the days of the Day of the Cross, the Epiphany and the Day of St. John, although in many regions there is a practice of Easter water baptism, which, in his words, is perhaps more practical and easier.

He emphasized that this custom goes beyond the exclusively Orthodox homes. Priests often visit families from mixed marriages, as well as purely Catholic homes that express a desire for an Orthodox priest to bless their home.

“There are many mixed marriages in Boka. It happens that the wife is Orthodox and the husband is Catholic, so he wants to respect the tradition of his wife. There are also families that are purely Roman Catholic, but they certainly express the desire for an Orthodox priest to bless their home on these days. We inherited this from Father Mom and his predecessors, so we try to preserve it and regularly, every year, we visit those families and bless their homes,” Krivokapić pointed out.

According to him, the circle of homes that receive blessings often spontaneously expands.

“We don’t just go to houses that are celebrating the feast. Often people see us in the area, ask what we are doing and invite us to come to theirs. That’s how the blessing spreads and brings joy to everyone,” concluded Archpriest-Staurophorus Nemanja Krivokapić.

O. B.

https://svetigora.com/otac-nemanja-krivokapic-vodokrsce-u-kotoru-prilika-za-radosni-susret-sa-parohijanima/