Patron Saint of Selling a House
Who is the patron saint of selling a house?
Orthodox Christians pray to St Spyridon of Trimythous, who is asked for a roof over one’s head: finding, buying, selling or renting a home. Russians also pray to St Matrona of Moscow and St Xenia of Petersburg.
When a house has to be sold, bought or rented, Orthodox Christians pray to St Spyridon of Trimythous. He was a shepherd on Cyprus who spent everything he had on his neighbors and the homeless before he became a bishop, and the Church asks him for a roof over one’s head: finding, buying, selling or renting a home. Russians also pray to St Matrona of Moscow, who moved from one borrowed corner of the city to another, and to St Xenia of Petersburg, who gave her own house to the poor. Burying a statue in the yard is a Catholic folk custom. The Orthodox way is a moleben, a candle before the icon corner, and patience.
The saints the Church turns to
St Spyridon of Trimythous
Patron of those seeking housing, asked for a roof over one’s head: finding, buying, selling or renting a home, and for help in money troubles.
12 December (25 December on the Old Calendar).
St Matrona of Moscow
Patron of the homeless and those seeking housing, asked for a home of one’s own and the settling of housing disputes.
2 May.
St Xenia of Petersburg
Asked for a home and help with housing, and protects families from quarrels.
24 January (6 February on the Old Calendar).
The Mother of God
Asked to protect the family and the home; her icon hangs over the door of an Orthodox house.
Protection, 1 October (14 October on the Old Calendar).
In our shop
Icon Corner Setthe first corner of the new house.$284$199
Christ (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God$99$69
“Save and Protect” wooden wall cross, 8 in$70$49
- St Spyridon, St Matrona and St Xenia icons (coming soon)
How Orthodox Christians pray for this
Before a sale or a purchase, the family asks the priest for a moleben to St Spyridon and prays to him at home before the icon corner. On moving day the icon corner is the last thing packed and the first thing set up again, on an east wall, with the Mother of God over the front door. Then the priest is asked to sprinkle the new house with holy water, and after Theophany he comes again each year.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to St Spyridon of Trimythous for selling or buying a home, with the names you give.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Questions
Should I bury a St Joseph statue to sell my house?
Burying a St Joseph statue is a Catholic folk custom and has no basis in Orthodox tradition. Orthodox Christians ask the priest for a moleben to St Spyridon and pray to him before the icon corner.
Which saint helps you buy a house?
St Spyridon, and St Matrona of Moscow, who is asked for a home of one’s own.
Why do Orthodox Christians pray to St Spyridon for a home?
He gave everything he had to his neighbors and the homeless, and Russian piety asks him above all for housing, money and work. On Corfu, where his relics rest, he is called the walking saint: the slippers on his relics wear out and are replaced, as if he still walks the world to help those who call on him.
