To be taught on Feb 15.
In this chapter, Metropolitan Hilarion describes the rites associate with the blessing of a church.
There are several occasions during initial construction when a church shall be blessed:
The founding;
When placing the cross on the cupola;
The blessing of the bell tower; and
The dedication.
During the dedication of the church, various liturgical items and the icon are commonly blessed; however, there may be a separate service for these items. Similarly, the antimins (antimension), which contains a holy relic and is signed by the Bishop, is generally consecrated during the dedication.
In addition to the blessing of a new church, there exists a lesser blessing for the renovation of a previously blessed church..if the alter was not moved during the renovation.
The major features of the orders for the consecration of a church are mostly unchanged from the 8th century.