The aspergillum is a brush with long bristles attached to an elongated, round handle. It is used to scoop and sprinkle holy water, blessing people, spaces, and various objects for the purpose of sanctification.
In Orthodox worship, the sprinkling of holy water is performed during public prayer services, when consecrating homes and objects, and during processions. Church tradition includes the sprinkling of homes with water consecrated by the Great Blessing on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The rite of sprinkling existed even in the Old Testament. As a sign of purification, believers were sprinkled (splashed) with the blood of a sacrificial animal. The ancient Jews used hyssop for sprinkling. King and Prophet David cried out to God, praying for cleansing from sin, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalms 51:7).
In ancient Russia, aspergilla were made from horsehair — a material that was accessible and practical. It can be assumed that there were also some analogs of modern aspergilla made from natural bristles, crafted from tow.
The museum exhibit features a bronze handle with a brush made of sea grass. The item was produced in the late 19th century and was acquired by the museum in 1967 from the Museum of the History of Religion of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
Here is how the Church Fathers interpreted the grace of the rite of sanctification:
