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As Orthodox Christians, it's a widespread practice to have an 'icon corner' in our homes.
This is a small worship space in an Orthodox home. We are expected to pray constantly. In Orthodox spirituality, there is no separation between the Divine Liturgy and private devotion. We view the house as a consecrated place, and the center of worship in the house is the icon corner.
The icon corner is normally oriented to the east, and is located in a corner to allow prayer to be more concentrated. The icons generally include those of Christ, the Theotokos, and patron saints of the family. it's also common to have a Commemoration Book, which contains the name of both living and departed family members to be remembered in prayer.
We believe that as Orthodox Christians, we are practicing 'the faith once delivered to the saints.'
The windowsill in front of my kitchen sink serves as an altar of sorts. I keep a couple of protective charms like a mini cast iron trivet, a small copper mug. I also keeps odds and ends from nature I pick up on my walks and change them out at the start of each solstice and equinox. Like for fall I kept a seed pod from a sweet gum tree and lovely deep red maple leaf. For winter I kept a sprig of white pine and a pinecone. Today I switched those out for some early spring flowers I found in my yard yesterday and a hatched bird egg I found last year. Summer is usually a sprig of lavender and some beach glass.
The windowsill in front of my kitchen sink serves as an altar of sorts. I keep a couple of protective charms like a mini cast iron trivet, a small copper mug. I also keeps odds and ends from nature I pick up on my walks and change them out at the start of each solstice and equinox. Like for fall I kept a seed pod from a sweet gum tree and lovely deep red maple leaf. For winter I kept a sprig of white pine and a pinecone. Today I switched those out for some early spring flowers I found in my yard yesterday and a hatched bird egg I found last year. Summer is usually a sprig of lavender and some beach glass.
That sounds lovely. In my alter, which is a shel in my book case, I have small figurines of Ishvara with Parvati. The two represent the world (Ishvara) and how it comes to be (Maya here represented by Parvati). It was given to me by my mother-in-law soon after i married her son. The traditional worship offering for Ishvara is leaves of the Bilva tree, as he is also worshipped as trees. I love that image.
Any "altar" in any form suitable, is a portal for a person to connect with the spiritual side.
One can create altar of his own, based on what suits him.
It is not the outer form, that counts. I tis the inner meaning and intention, attached to it.
Hence, it is good practice to have images of the holy persons placed where one dwells. Appropriate holy symbols serve the same purpose. For example, Russian ICONA. Icon.
It is, sort of, good fen shui.
One should be wearing sacred amulet, but has to be VERY careful choosing one, as wrong amulet may cause severe damage. While appropriate one, can protect a person.
Don't believe me? Look at an Orthodox Jew attire. They are covered in amulets, starting with kipa. Followed by peysah and tallit with tzitzits. Every strand has some spiritual meaning and serves some purpose..... Even just dressing in black and white does.
Any "altar" in any form suitable, is a portal for a person to connect with the spiritual side.
One can create altar of his own, based on what suits him.
It is not the outer form, that counts. I tis the inner meaning and intention, attached to it.
Hence, it is good practice to have images of the holy persons placed where one dwells. Appropriate holy symbols serve the same purpose. For example, Russian ICONA. Icon.
It is, sort of, good fen shui.
One should be wearing sacred amulet, but has to be VERY careful choosing one, as wrong amulet may cause severe damage. While appropriate one, can protect a person.
Don't believe me? Look at an Orthodox Jew attire. They are covered in amulets, starting with kipa. Followed by peysah and tallit with tzitzits. Every strand has some spiritual meaning and serves some purpose..... Even just dressing in black and white does.
hmm. didn’t protect them much did it? or are you saying Hitler gave the orthodox free pass?
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