The blessing of the water, following the Divine Liturgy, is a symbolic commemoration of the "Baptism of Christ". The ceremony was originally performed in the Holy Land, at the river Jordan on Theophany, January 6. As the word spread of the beautiful ceremony in the Holy Land, churches outside of Jerusalem began to perform this ceremony by the riverside or at the seashore. Because of many difficulties, the Armenian Church began to celebrate this rite in the church and later forbid its performance outside the church.

THE CEREMONY
A large silver or glass basin containing water is placed on the table in the sanctuary in front of the Altar. The priest, signifying Christ’s entry into the river Jordan, submerges a cross in the water. A silver dove, containing Holy Oil or "Muron" is brought up in a procession as the choir sings the Hymn Looys ee Looso. Next the water is blessed, and as a climax the dove is lifted up by the celebrant who takes it to the basin of water and allows a few drops of Muron to drop into the water through the mouth of the dove.

We know from biblical accounts that God revealed Himself in the three persons at the time of Jesus’ baptism by John. The voice of God the Father was heard saying "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased", and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. This is why Muron is kept in a dove-shaped container, since it is through this medium that the graces of the Holy Spirit are given to those who are sealed with it at Chrismation and who receive it through the blessed water at Theophany.

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