Blessing of the Waters*

                                                                                                                                                       

By His Word

he gathered the waters to one source and made boundaries for it;

he weighed the water with his hands

and  made springs into rivers;

he watered the earth by the rising of the rivers.

As the rain comes down and brings forth seed,

So shall His Word be. It shall not return to Him without fruit.

From the temple courts come waters 

that rise until they become a river that heals all

creatures that live in its waters, and they shall not die.

He shall sprinkle clean water

Bless this water unto healing

  A holy water

  A water for the remission of sins

  A water of purification

  A water for the salvation of body, soul, and spirit

  A gift of purity and love for each other.

You who are thirsty, come to the water.

*Yesterday, Thursday of this Coptic Easter week, was the Mass of the blessing of the waters from 8:00 to 12:00. The poem above was arranged from some of the readings pertaining to water. A central part of this service is the blessing of water in a large basin by the presiding bishop or priest, who dips his cross into it. This water is then used to “wash the feet” of the parishioners.  Actually, the men file to the front and have their ankles rubbed with a wet wash cloth and wiped with a towel. Another priest takes a pitcher of the water and uses a brush to apply the water, in the form of the cross, to the foreheads of the women. Someone who knows me happened to sit beside me and made sure I had my application of water!