Just as our houses are to be blessed each year, public water must be blessed each year. Also, we do not use public water for the same purposes as holy water blessed in a font. Frozen holy water does remain holy water.
Here are some of the prayers prayed in the Byzantine Rite, Greater Blessing of Holy Water that shows what we believe about holy water:
–That these waters may be sanctified by the power, effectual operation and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That there may descend upon these waters the cleansing operation of the super-substantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That He will endue them with the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan, the might, and operation, and descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That Satan may speedily be crushed under our feet, and that every evil counsel directed against us may be set at naught, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That the Lord our God will free us from every attack and temptation of the enemy, and make us worthy of the good things He hath promised, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That He will illumine us with the light of understanding and of piety, through the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That the Lord God may send down the blessing of Jordan, and sanctify these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That this water may be unto the bestowing of sanctification, unto the remission of sins, unto the healing of soul and body, and unto every expedient service, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That this water may be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That it may manifest itself effectual unto the averting of every machination of our foes, both visible and invisible, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–For those who shall draw of it and take it unto the sanctification of their homes, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That it may be for the purification of the souls and bodies for all who, with faith, shall draw and partake of it, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That He will graciously enable us to perfect sanctification by participation in these waters, through the invisible manifestation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That the Lord God may hearken to the voice of the entreaty of us sinners, and have mercy upon us, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
–Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee O Lord.
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Wherefore do Thou, O King Who lovest mankind, come down now also through the descent of Thy Holy Spirit, and sanctify this water. Thrice.
And impart unto it the grace of redemption, the blessing of Jordan. Make it a fountain of immortality, a gift of sanctification, the remission of sins, the healing of infirmities, the destruction of the demons, unapproachable by hostile powers, filled with angelic might. And may it be unto all those who shall draw it, and shall partake of it unto the purification of their souls and bodies, unto the healing of their passions, unto the sanctification of their homes, and unto every expedient service. For Thou art our God, Who through water and the Spirit hast renewed our nature which had fallen into decay through sin. For Thou art our God, Who with water didst drown sin in the days of Noah. For Thou art our God, Who by the sea, through Moses, freed the Hebrew people from slavery to Pharaoh. For Thou art our God, Who smote the rock in the wilderness, so that waters gushed forth, and torrents welled forth, and Who satisfied Thy thirsty people. For Thou art our God, Who by water and fire, through Elijah, didst set Israel free from the errors of Baal.
Do Thou Thyself, O Master, sanctify now also this water by Thy Holy Spirit. Thrice.
Grant also unto all who shall be sprinkled therewith, and shall partake thereof, and shall anoint themselves therewith, sanctification, blessing, purification and bodily health.
