The first Sunday of Great Lent is celebrated as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This is connected with the victory of the iconodules (those who supported the veneration of sacred images) over the iconoclasts (those who opposed their veneration). The heart of the victory of Orthodoxy in the restoration of iconography—as well as our veneration
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From a Homily on the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
Christ the Pantocrator. Fresco in the Hagia Sophia, Constantinople Orthodoxy is the true knowledge of God and reverence of God. Orthodoxy is the worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. Orthodoxy is the glorification of the true God, the knowledge of Him and worship of Him. Orthodoxy is the glorification of God by man,
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A Miracle of Liturgical Art: The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God at Yasenevo
A Miracle of Liturgical Art: The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God at Yasenevo Source: Orthodox Arts Journal February 9, 2016 This past fall I had the opportunity to visit a construction project that is nothing short of a miracle. I saw a group of mostly volunteers and amateurs, working with
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What Are Icons And Why Are They Important? – Part 2
The Seventh Ecumenical Council, convoked by the Empress Irene and met at Nicaea from September 24 to October 13, 787. Patriarch Tarasios (commemorated February 25) presided. The council ended almost fifty years of iconoclast persecution and established the veneration of the holy icons as basic to the belief and spirituality of Christ’s Church. As
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What Is Art? What Are Icons?
We can define art in its broadest sense by its etymology: art means something artificial, that is, manmade. However, anyone can see that there are great differences between manmade things, manmade things fit into different levels. Thus, there is a great difference between a spade and
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60 Minutes Gets An Invitation To Mount Athos…
Orthodox Christian Monasteries in the monastic peninsula of mount Athos (Holy Mountaint)in Halkidiki, Nothern Greece The Holy Mountain Athos (The Garden of the Mother of God) was created by ancient Byzantine emperors to be the spiritual capital of Orthodox Christianity. Millions of Orthodox Christians believe it is the most sacred place on Earth. There are
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The Jesus Prayer – A Tutorial
What is the Jesus Prayer? How old is it? Who is the Jesus Prayer for? Where can the Jesus Prayer be found in Scriptures, and how does it differ from the mantras of eastern religionis? How ought we to practice the Jesus Prayer, and what do we find when we do? * * * The Jesus
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Get Outta Here. You Do What? Forgiveness Sunday…
We line up around the church, and then one by one we each proceed down the line, prostrating before each person and asking their forgiveness. Forgivenss Sunday in the Orthodox Church. What’s it all about? Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann explains. In the Orthodox Church, the last Sunday before Great Lent – the day on which, at
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Video Iconography Tutorial: Painting The Face
This is basically an experiment in making a video icon tutorial. The icon Julia is painting in the video is a 18x24cm icon of St Theodore of Tarsus. Julia Bridget Hayes was born in South Africa and is currently living in Athens, Greece. She is an iconographer, translator, photographer, EFL teacher and writer; a Jack of
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Fasting For Non-Monastics
Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov A curious phenomenon can be observed in the interactions between pastors and their parishioners at the beginning of each major fast of the Church. Pastors attempt to call their parishioners’ pious attention to the spiritual heights of fasting: the fighting against sin, the conquering of passions, the taming of the tongue, the
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