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The holy water font is a derivative of the cantharus, which has been used by Christians since the time of the early Church to perform ablutions before entering the church (while these are no longer normative in Western Christianity, canthari are found at the entrance of certain Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches). [3] [4]
Although Eastern Orthodox do not normally bless themselves with holy water upon entering a church like Catholics do, a quantity of holy water is typically kept in a font placed in the narthex (entrance) of the church, where it is available for anyone who would like to take some of it home with them. It is customary for Orthodox to drink holy ...
Some liturgical church bodies use consecrated holy water for the purpose of baptism, while others will use water straight out of the tap to fill the font. [8] A special silver vessel called a ewer can be used to fill the font. Most baptismal fonts have covers to prevent water from evaporating and to protect baptismal water against contamination.
Holy water fonts have been identified as a potential source of bacterial and viral infection. In the late-19th century, bacteriologists found staphylococci, streptococci, coli bacilli, Loeffler's bacillus, and other bacteria in samples of holy water taken from a church in Sassari, Italy. [11]
In the narthex of a small Orthodox church in Romania, looking through the doorway into the nave and Holy Doors. Side view of a narthex in an Eastern Orthodox temple. In the center is an analogion at which the priest hears confessions , to the right of that is a silver baptismal font and vessels for dispensing holy water .
The process of using holy water includes prayer, consumption, and bathing. [7] [8] Visitors often fill bottles or jerrycans with holy water to consume at home. [9] [10] [11] In Lalibela, the use of traditional healing methods is common. [12] An estimated 5,000 people moved to the Entoto Church, where holy water is also found, with many flocking ...