Q&A Home > T > Tradition

Why does the priest splash water on the people at the end of the service? Where is that from?

When the congregations were significantly less in number, the priest would bless each person by touching his/her head during the final benediction at the end of the Divine Liturgy. As the congregations grew, this tradition became too overwhelming and time-consuming for the limited priests to bestow these blessings individually. Thus, the priest pours a small amount of water in his hands and blesses a large amount of people at one time while praying the final benediction as he walks up and down the aisle of the church.