We face the direction of the rising sun in homage to the eternal Light. Second, we recognize Christ as the Sun of Righteousness, as the light who illumines all men. We remember the perfect communion that our first parents Adam and Eve experienced with God while in the Garden, which is described in the Bible as being in the East. First, it reminds us of our ancient home in the paradise of Eden. In an Orthodox Church, Christians pray facing the East for several reasons. Traditionally, an icon corner should be on an eastern facing wall. The icon corner becomes the spiritual heart of the home–a constant reminder to pray, an intersection between the family and the greater family of saints who have gone before, a sanctuary or rest and renewal in the midst of the world.īut how do you create an icon corner? Where should it be? What should be included? One of the distinguishing characteristics of an Orthodox home is its icon corner. I hope that this series can provide encouragement and practical ideas for new converts and a forum for more seasoned Orthodox families to share their practices. This series–”So I’m Orthodox, Now What?”–is based on the questions I asked myself in the first few years after our chrismation: How could I make our home a “Little Church”? How could I instruct my children in a faith that I myself was only beginning to explore? After some experimentation, conversations with older and wiser Orthodox mothers, readings, and instruction from spiritual fathers, I have found ways to create an Orthodox home. However, I wasn’t sure how to make my own home reflect my new faith. When my husband and I became Eastern Orthodox seven years ago, I knew I had come home.
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