Icon corner

An icon corner is an essential feature of any Orthodox house. It becomes the family's place of worship – the home altar.

The concept of the church of the home is an ancient Orthodox tradition, beginning in the first century. At this time there were no separate churches, so Christians would gather in private homes to worship.

Location and set-up

Icon corners are typically located in the east-facing wall of the house, since East is the traditional direction for Orthodox prayer.

Most commonly based in the kitchen as this is where the family gathers together to eat. However, even the living room can have an icon corner.

The purpose of an icon corner is to provide a focal point in the house for the family to worship and pray. To feel the presence of God and to always be within close proximity to give honour to Him.

Each family’s bedroom should also have a small icon corner for private prayer, meditation and to feel God’s presence.

Objects

There are many items which are placed within the icon corner:

• Icon of Christ
• Icon of the Theotokos
• Icon of the family's patron saint
• A cross
• Other icons – those of saints of family members and significant church events
• A prayer book
• The Bible
• Vigil lamp
• Seasonal items:

·        First piece cut from the Vasilopita at the feast of St Basil (1 Jan)

·        Holy water from the Theophany church service (6 Jan)

·        Palm Crosses from the Palm Sunday service

·        Holy oil from the Holy Unction service on Holy Wednesday

·        Bay leaves from Holy Saturday Matins service

·        Flowers from special services – Good Friday, Exaltation of the Holy Cross etc.

·        Paschal egg & koulourakia

• Seal for Communion bread
• Censer with incense and charcoal pellets
• Candles from church
• marriage crowns
• anything else that has religious importance.

The perishable items should be eaten, distributed to the birds, or burnt if it is necessary to dispose of them. These items have either been blessed at church and/or have remained in a place where prays are made to God.

Some items (such as Holy Oil, candles, incense etc) can be kept in a cupboard underneath the icon corner or in a small decorated box in the icon corner.

Incense

Incense is an aromatic fragrance which is burnt on charcoals in a decorated burner/censer. It is an offering made to God giving the adoration and worship due only to God.

Made up of fragrant gums and spices it is an offering of earth’s treasures to our Creator, symbolizing prayer. It is also to bless.

The burning of incense also represents zeal towards providing service to God.

Why is it used?

The burning of incense is traced back to worship in the Old Testament.

Today, when the priest swings the censer to and fro it causes clouds of smoke which travel upwards to Heaven – just like our prayers, ‘let my prayer come before you as incense, the lifting up our my hands as an evening sacrifice’ (Psalm 141: 2)

The sweet smelling fragrance represents the Holy Spirit and virtue.

The burning coal represents the burning ember, Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world.

Where it is used

At church, the priest blesses the Sanctuary, icons and relics. The icons & relics are censed to honour God who crowned the saints and to show respect.

When being blessed with the fragrance of incense a person simply bows their head – the fragrance represents God’s Grace poured out upon the people.

When visiting the cemetery – after cleaning the grave, lighting the kantilia and placing flowers – burn some incense over the grave and say the Prayer for the Departed.

At home, it is encouraged to regularly burn incense to bless the house. First, bless the icon corner, each family member and then each room and make the sign of the Cross with the censer in the direction of each of the four walls and any other icons. Also burn some of the flowers that were used to decorate the Epitaphion (Christ’s tomb) on Great & Holy Friday and from the Dormition of Panagia.

A summary of things to bless:

†       icons – the images of holy people

†       family & friends – they are the living icons of God

†       each room of the house – areas of living

†       garden – the plants and creatures are God’s Creation

How to burn incense

Firstly, go outside and light a piece of charcoal (the initial smoke is no good to breath)

Secondly, once it catches on put it in the censer and place a few pieces of incense on top of the burning charcoal.

Finally, in order to bless the house/things make the sign of the Cross. However, when doing steps (3) and (4), reverse the direction. Therefore, instead of right-to-left it becomes left-to-right.

Once the blessings are done leave the censer, with the incense still burning, at the icon corner until it burns out. However, if the fragrance is too strong leave it outside for a little while until it dies down. By leaving it outside the incense is also blessing Creation.

When suitable, leave the censer in the icon corner and say a prayer as it will be carried up to God.

Sign of the Cross

“When do I sign myself with the Cross?” Short answer, whenever you need to!

The Cross – which Christ willingly took up in order that humanity may be saved from death and have eternal life with Him – banishes all evil and absolutely nothing is greater than the power of the Cross. Therefore, use it!

How to sign with the Cross?

Not only is it easy to do, but this “gesture” summaries the entirety of the Faith within the palm of the hand.

(1)  take the right hand; 

(2)  pinch the thumb, index & middle fingers together – this represents the 3 Persons of the Holy Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three separate yet indivisible Persons who are one God; 

(3)  fold the ring-finger and little-finger together into the palm of the hand – this represents the 2 natures of Jesus Christ – that He was both God and Man. Folding these two fingers together into the palm also represents that Christ came down to Earth from Heaven to become like us, except without sin.

Then, to make our Cross, start with:

(1) touch the forehead; then

(2) down to the chest, then

(3) from the right shoulder (4) across to the left shoulder.

Whether a person crosses themselves once or three times the final Cross is completed with an open palm on our heart.

An interpretation

In making the sign of the Cross, first touch the forehead to make the mind and thoughts pure in order to understand the teachings of Christ. Then by touching the chest to make one’s heart holy and kind, and to fill the heart with love for Christ and for other people. Then by touching the right shoulder and then the left shoulder so that the person may receive from God spiritual and physical strength to do good works. The right shoulder is touched first in remembrance that when Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven He sat at the right hand of God in Heaven.

When making the sign of the Cross, it should be made carefully, reverently and earnestly, and the person should always bow their head slightly as a sign of humility and reverence.

A layperson interpretation

The vertical line from forehead to chest  = One God…

The horizontal line from right to left shoulder = who loves all of humanity.

Some important points

†       Do not rush.

†       Do not make a small Crosses

†       If there is only time to make one Cross do it with care rather than rush to do three.

When to sign with the Cross?

A short list (only some) when to sign oneself with the Cross:

†       whenever someone feels the need

†       when venerating icons or relics

†       before, during and after prayer

†       before kissing an Icon, Cross, or the Gospel Book

†       before and after eating

†       when leaving the house

†       before travelling or driving anywhere – in the car, plane, boat etc.

†       when you/someone is suffering

†       see or hear of something tragic

†       walking past a church/monastery/cemetery

†       giving thanks

†       before and after reading the Bible

†       before and after doing a task

†       before and after going into surgery etc…

To show that something belongs to Christ and is consecrated to Christ, mark it with the sign of the Cross. All Christians should wear their Cross because we all belong to Christ.

How many times should we make the sign of the Cross?

One should make the sign of the Cross three times. The three times symbolize the Holy Trinity and the three days that Christ was dead. However, only once if time is short, for example, during Liturgy prayers.