Icon corners

[LivenotoneviL]

This is mine - it still has bit of work to do (getting a new cover that is more dignified, adding more icons, especially near the candles, getting new books, etc.), but for where I am money wise, I think it's okay.

Full size:
http://image.ibb.co/cZiKdR/IMG_0068.jpg

The fabric has been straightened out since I took this picture (when I reset it up).

I picked out Saint Matthew (which is the my names Saint) and Saint Michael (who was my Roman Catholic Confirmation name and whom I think still has significance to me) as the two Saints underneath Christ and the Theotokos.

There are icons over the candle holders, which are that of "Our Lady and Jerusalem" and the Holy Family (which, I know isn't really proper, but is it true or false?)

I also organized it so everyone is facing towards the Crucifixion. I think that this is the Roman Catholic coming out of me though.

 

[hecma925]

(which, I know isn't really proper, but is it true or false?)

What is true or false?

 

[LivenotoneviL]

(which, I know isn't really proper, but is it true or false?)

What is true or false?

The small Holy Family icon above one of the candle holders.

 

[Iconodule]

Is it true or false that Saint Joseph was guardian over Jesus throughout his childhood?

Yes, some people will deplore holy family icons because they, supposedly, imply that Joseph was Jesus' father, despite the fact that Catholics who are around these icons all the time don't believe this. I call this the Stalin-Yezhov school of iconography.

 

[RobS]

Where did you get the candle holders, LivenotoneviL? I need to get one myself.

 

[LivenotoneviL]

Where did you get the candle holders, LivenotoneviL? I need to get one myself.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Catholic-Religious-Candle-Holder-Protestant-Holy-family-Maria-of-Jerusalem-icon/301973754024?hash=item464f09d0a8:m:m_i6VZOo_GgC_QuR5ZghpGw

Although the title says "Catholic," they aren't affiliated with any particular sect; they appear to sell Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic religious goods.

I bought those candles (and a lot of those icons) at a time when I reverted back to Traditional Catholicism, so I had no moral qualms about purchasing something "Catholic."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wood-RUSSIAN-ORTHODOX-Bless-Home-Icon-crucifix-Wall-Hanging-Decor-Holy-Family/291193939847?hash=item43cc82e787:g:hbAAAOSwjDZYYtuZ

 

[LivenotoneviL]

Is it true or false that Saint Joseph was guardian over Jesus throughout his childhood?

Yes, some people will deplore holy family icons because they, supposedly, imply that Joseph was Jesus' father, despite the fact that Catholics who are around these icons all the time don't believe this. I call this the Stalin-Yezhov school of iconography.

But I think that the Orthodox are right when they say that, Traditionally, the role of Saint Joseph in art has always been downplayed. The Holy Family icon clearly comes from Rome giving Saint Joseph a more prominent role (as I think even every Mass Saint Joseph is asked for intercession).

 

[Iconodule]

In other words, "It comes from the west, so it must be bad."

 

[RobS]

I'm glad that Western influence gave us the Extreme Humility and Softener of Hearts icons. Two of my favorites.

 

[Saxon]

Here is ours, which I finally rearranged to accommodate our wedding icons. This alcove is between our kitchen and living room and is almost always in sight wherever one is in that area. Our landlord frowns on excess nails in walls and we're hoping to purchase a house soon, so I haven't organized them in an appropriate way and also have a few more in storage owing to a lack of room.

Top to bottom, clockwise: The Resurrection, Protection of the Mother of God, Softener of Evil Hearts (from when the myrrh-streaming icon visited our parish), Christ Pantocrator, St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Archangel Gabriel, Saint Nicholas the Tsar-Martyr (my patron saint), our wedding icons, and the Kazan Mother of God.

 

[Asteriktos]

So are there any traditions about placement/arrangement of icons in corners as there are with, say, the iconostasis? Are certain saints put above or below others, feasts placed in a certain place, female saints to one side and males to the other, etc.?

 

[Sharbel]

 

[Dominika]

^^ what are these leaves on the top?

 

[Sharbel]

^^ what are these leaves on the top?

From Christmas at a Serbian church.

PS: the joy of celebrating Christmas twice in the same fortnight!

 

[MariaJLM]

Ah, prayer corners. Mine is more of a cluttered prayer shelf. I don't live in my own place so can't hang anything on the walls. That said, I just have a bunch of icons, prayer books, etc. piled up on a dresser. Most were also donated since I'm in a pretty dire situation financially.

 

[MariaJLM]

So are there any traditions about placement/arrangement of icons in corners as there are with, say, the iconostasis? Are certain saints put above or below others, feasts placed in a certain place, female saints to one side and males to the other, etc.?

Only guidelines I know of is to have Christ and the Theotokos set up like they are in an Iconostasis. Ideally, the prayer corner should also face East, but that is not a hard and fast rule. Honestly, it's a difficult one for most people to follow as where an icon corner can be ultimately depends on the layout of one's house.

 

[Dominika]

^^ what are these leaves on the top?

From Christmas at a Serbian church.

The first thought was that it's badnjak, but I don't associate you with Serbian Church, so I considered it as "impossible". I was wrong
You see, despite being Serbian, I've never had badnjakat my home That's what is called a paradox, I suppose.

PS: the joy of celebrating Christmas twice in the same fortnight!

I'm such traditionalist that I celebrate Christmas only once. Espeically that on 6th January is the first and on 7th January is the second day of great feast, that's equal to Christmas (in some way, even more triumphant).

 

[Sharbel]

The first thought was that it's badnjak, but I don't associate you with Serbian Church, so I considered it as "impossible". I was wrong

There's a Serbian parish in town and I visited it at a friend's invitation. 

We are lucky to have a Greek, a Romanian, a Serbian, a Russian and a couple of Antiochian parishes in town.  So many riches... and food festivals!

 

[Dominika]

The first thought was that it's badnjak, but I don't associate you with Serbian Church, so I considered it as "impossible". I was wrong

There's a Serbian parish in town and I visited it at a friend's invitation. 

We are lucky to have a Greek, a Romanian, a Serbian, a Russian and a couple of Antiochian parishes in town.  So many riches... and food festivals!

I'm jealous! A couple of Antiochian parishes plus Romanian, Serbian and Greek! (I'm not fan of Russian)
In Poland, since we're autocephalus, we have only Polish parishes. But, at least, we have good Polish food And parishioners from various minorities, especially in Warsaw (a few Serbs, a few Greek, a few Moldovians, a few Japanese) bring their food for some occassions.

 

[Ainnir]

Ah, prayer corners. Mine is more of a cluttered prayer shelf. I don't live in my own place so can't hang anything on the walls. That said, I just have a bunch of icons, prayer books, etc. piled up on a dresser. Most were also donated since I'm in a pretty dire situation financially.

I am a fellow keeper of a humble prayer "corner."  Using it is a huge start. 
And I hope you're carried through.  Financial struggles can be consuming.

 

[chris911guy]

I'm glad I found this thread. My family and I are moving within the next couple of weeks and greatly downsizing our residence from a house to an apartment. I have been concerned over where to put our Icon corner due to lack of space; hopefully I can get some ideas here.

 

[Agabus]

I have scaled back some of the icons all over the house in recent months, but this is in a small space on top of a bookshelf in our living room.

The Christ and Theotokos icons are attached to my oldest son and daughter's baptismal candles. The two youngest children's candles are just out of frame. Son No. 2's candle was lost somewhere in the bustle since he was baptized during the literal eye of a hurricane.

The Bible was one of my grandfather's preaching Bibles, and has his handwritten notes in it. Closest thing I have to  relic.

 

[RaphaCam]

Great icon. I read a book about him (but mostly focused on the Scholl siblings) for school and loved it, it was amazing to find out he was a canonised saint years later.

 

[Brilko]

 

[Dominika]

^^ love the Ethiopian stuff

 

[LivenotoneviL]

^^ love the Ethiopian stuff

This icon corner in particular is very vibrant.

 

[Orthodox_Slav]

love it!  :laugh:

 

[Agabus]

Great icon. I read a book about him (but mostly focused on the Scholl siblings) for school and loved it, it was amazing to find out he was a canonised saint years later.

It's a lot easier to find stuff about the Scholls than it is about Alexander (though Holy Trinity Publications has a short book/hagiography about him now) or Willie Graf.

 

[Frank J]

Hello, My Brothers and Sisters,

I have a question on an Icon corner, must if face east or can it be anywhere ?? I'm an Orthodox Christian I use to have one up but it was over my wife's work desk. I took it down because it wasn't working out for me in that area, because I was able to pray there. Does anyone has any advice as to where it is to be???? I look to you my brother's and sister's help on this......


God bless you all..


Frank J.

 

[Orthodox_Slav]

Hello, My Brothers and Sisters,

I have a question on an Icon corner, must if face east or can it be anywhere ?? I'm an Orthodox Christian I use to have one up but it was over my wife's work desk. I took it down because it wasn't working out for me in that area, because I was able to pray there. Does anyone has any advice as to where it is to be???? I look to you my brother's and sister's help on this......


God bless you all..


Frank J.

it's best if it is east but It does not necessarily have to be for example mine is on the wall just next to my bed so when I wake up the first thing I see is Jesus Christ looking down at me!

 

[Orthodox_Slav]

 

[ComingofAge]

^^ Good one!

 

[ComingofAge]

 

[Dominika]

^^ How did you manage to have such nice light on the cross? Only by candles?

 

[ComingofAge]

^^ How did you manage to have such nice light on the cross? Only by candles?

There is a halogen light fixture attached to the ceiling above.

 

[Dominika]

^^ How did you manage to have such nice light on the cross? Only by candles?

There is a halogen light fixture attached to the ceiling above.

Great It looks so nice.

 

[ComingofAge]

Thank you Dominika!

 

[Orthodox_Slav]

*New edition to my icon corner*

Saint Menas the martyr

(In the Russian church his name is pronounced meena)

 

[Briven]

*New edition to my icon corner*

Saint Menas the martyr

(In the Russian church his name is pronounced meena)

Beautiful!

 

[Dominika]

(In the Russian church his name is pronounced meena)

Also in some other languages, including the original one.

Beautiful!

+1