Blessing of the animals

[Ryan]

I notice some Orthodox parishes occasionally have a "blessing of the animals." I know this is common practice among Roman Catholics and some Protestant churches, but is it a traditional Orthodox practice? Are there specific prayers and rubrics designed for it?

[Paul Cowan]

Does this help? (http://members.tripod.com/~Near_to_God/ATprayerfor.html)

It is from the monks at New Skete with support materials from several of the fathers.

When I heard about a local PC doing this, I was aghast. Maybe I should not have been? I can only wonder who the poor slob was that had to clean the sanctuary when all was said and done. I am sure, not his favorite day of the liturgical year.

Paul

[Eric Peterson]

There is, in fact, a blessing for animals in the Orthodox Church. To my knowledge this does not happen in church. There are, I think, certain prohibitions on animals in church. However, on the feast of St. Mamas (Sept. 2), there is a prayer to be read by a priest over beasts. There are various and sundry other such Orthodox prayers read for animals and many saints have healed animals as well as men.

[Michael Astley]

I believe that it did happen in the Orthodox West, for the Feast of St Anthony. It makes sense if you consider the place that animals played in many people's livelihoods and much of the function of society. In that sense, is it really different from the blessing of fields or crops? I have some Western Rite prayers for this at home which I shall post when I have the chance.

Michael

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

From what I recall in the Russian Trebnik there are prayers for blessing bees and also cattle.

Of course though they are out in the fields though when this is done and not in the church! :)

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Father David Moser]

From what I recall in the Russian Trebnik there are prayers for blessing bees and also cattle.

The blessing of cattle (actually "herds" I believe is how it is titled in the trebnik) is easily transformed to bless all livestock and pets as well. I frequently bless pets when I go to the homes for the Theophany blessing. However, we do not generally bring animals into the Church. If the Church were to celebrate a blessing of the animals (quite appropriate in my mind) as a special event - the animals might be brought to the Church but not into the Church and blessed in the courtyard of the temple (church building). Most urban Churches do not have the capacity for such a service, and therefore it would not be practical. I find it much more appropriate and in keeping with the nature of the blessing to do it when I go to homes with the Theophany blessing.

Fr David Moser

[Olga]

I noticed this passage from the "blessing of animals" office provided by New Skete:

As we gather together this day to ask you to bless these various animals, let us see in them the goodness and beauty with which you endow all your creatures. By the example of our venerable fathers Paul and Anthony of the desert, Francis of Assisi, Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh, teach us never to abuse them or to take them for granted, rather let them open our hearts to your divine love so that, together with every living being, we may all sing your praises, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; now and forever, and unto ages of ages.

Whether this office is indeed present in the Orthodox Book of Needs, or one devised by New Skete, it would be wise to omit mention of Francis of Assisi from this prayer.

[Michael Astley]

I noticed this passage from the "blessing of animals" office provided by New Skete:

As we gather together this day to ask you to bless these various animals, let us see in them the goodness and beauty with which you endow all your creatures. By the example of our venerable fathers Paul and Anthony of the desert, Francis of Assisi, Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh, teach us never to abuse them or to take them for granted, rather let them open our hearts to your divine love so that, together with every living being, we may all sing your praises, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; now and forever, and unto ages of ages.

Whether this office is indeed present in the Orthodox Book of Needs, or one devised by New Skete, it would be wise to omit mention of Francis of Assisi from this prayer.

What is his name doing there in the first place? I am not a little horrified by this.

[Ryan]

I believe New Skete was originally a Uniate establishment, with modernist ideas, and they seem to have a lot of baggage from that time.

[Father David Moser]

I would like to suggest that we give this topic a rest for a while. I realize that New Skete' practices evoke strong reactions and that it is sometimes helpful just to express those reactions, however, we do want to avoid falling into the sin of judging others - particularly a monastery which is not under obedience to any of us here. The "unique" practices of New Skete are not a secret and certainly those who are in authority over the monastery are aware of them. It is better if we do not speculate on what should be done by those authorities or on whether or not these monks are "Orthodox". For the sake of your own salvation, please consider your posts on this topic carefully before pushing the "submit" button.

Fr David Moser

[Michael Astley]

Father David, you are correct, of course, that we ned to keep ourselves in check and examine what is in our hearts and that lies behind our reasons for saying what we do, and perhaps to challenge that where need be.

I suppose my reaction was partly due to the fact that I have been fascinated by the New Skete communities for some time and have only ever heard vague references to their practices, amidst much condemnation but without any detail. It has always sounded to me like people speaking from ignorance and I have seen that sort of thing before, knowing it to only cause hurt and trouble. Having looked at their website myself, I saw much that I thought good, and considered that their way of life, with its restoration of some earlier practices and a form of the oblature, so much a staple of Orthodoxy in the West prior to the schism, may, with moderation and discretion, be a healthy way for Orthodox monasticism to progress in the west. As such, I became very dismissive of the criticism of those communities that I heard.

When I read that prayer with the invocation of Francis of Assisi, then saw the other thread about them and the icons that they have, I felt somewhat betrayed. I know that this is silly as those communities have never heard of me and I am of no significance to their common life, and the painting in my mind of a rosy picture of their practice is entirely my own doing, so they cannot be blamed. I just wanted to explain why I reacted as strongly as I did earlier in this thread.

I suppose I have learnt a lesson in caution and prudence.

In Christ,
Michael

[Benjamin Amis]

There is, in fact, a blessing for animals in the Orthodox Church. To my knowledge this does not happen in church. There are, I think, certain prohibitions on animals in church. However, on the feast of St. Mamas (Sept. 2), there is a prayer to be read by a priest over beasts. There are various and sundry other such Orthodox prayers read for animals and many saints have healed animals as well as men.

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but I read the above quoted post and became curious about the "Blessing of Animals" and the Feast of St. Mamas. I've found plenty of information on St. Mamas, but unfortunately nothing about the custom of animal blessings. Can anyone help me out? Much appreciated!

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

In the Russian Book of Needs (Trebnik) there are numerous prayers for blessing cattle, bees, fields, etc. Also to protect against plagues, diseases, too much rain, and famine.

In Christ-
Fr Raphael