Where should icons be located in the house? The meaning of the miraculous Seven-Arrow Icon: where is the best place to hang the image in the house

The ancient Orthodox tradition of setting up a shrine or chapel in the house has existed in Rus' for a long time. Today, even in cramped living conditions, believers try to have at least several images at home. The place where the icons should stand in the apartment is chosen according to established custom: the holy faces turn to the worshiper from the east. Thus, the room becomes like a church, which always faces the rising sun with its altar.

Home icons

In the old days, the first icons that a young family brought to a new home were wedding icons. With them, parents blessed both the young and their future home. Shrines, as a rule, were inherited. Icons of the Savior, the Holy Trinity and the Mother of God were passed on as blessings.

Icons were given to children at birth with the faces of their heavenly patrons. A family could be given a family image with several saints as a gift. From pilgrimage trips they brought postcards with churches and monasteries, merchants tried to order a richly decorated image of their patron - St. Nicholas. All this was placed in the red corner, which served as an integral part of the interior of the house or hut. The children’s duty was to wipe the shrine from dust and read prayers at the same time.

Location of the iconostasis in the apartment

In the old days, already at the beginning of construction, they knew where the icons should be located in the house. The facade with three windows faced east, the entrance faced west. The iconostasis was placed in one of the eastern corners. Because of the luxurious design of this corner, it was called red, that is, beautiful.

When building modern high-rise buildings, the last thing people think about is shrines, so corners and walls that are convenient for them often turn out to be oriented to other directions of the world. This confuses some believers however the problem can be easily solved. In this case, you should be guided by the following considerations:

If it is not possible to allocate a free corner, the shelves of the iconostasis can be placed on a wall free from paintings and photographs. As a last resort, the images are placed in a bookcase under glass. In this case, you need to free the part of the shelf where the shrines are placed from foreign objects.

How to compose and design a shrine

What items does the home iconostasis consist of, how are the icons arranged, photos of holy places, lamps, candles and other shrines - all this should contribute to the main thing: concentrated prayer.

If there is no hereditary shrine in the family, then you need to start this tradition by ordering a canonical icon of the Savior or the Mother of God on a board. For better preservation, the image is placed in an icon case - a box with a glass lid. The shrine should be placed in the center of the corner shelf, with a lamp placed opposite.

The faces of the saints must be correctly placed on the right and left, observing their ranks. Closer to the Savior, determine a place for John the Baptist and the Angels; martyrs, saints, and reverends are placed behind them. If there are a small number of icons, this order is not necessary. Observing pious folk custom, you can decorate the red corner with towels.

Images of the Savior and the Virgin Mary should be larger in size than the others. If the family has a large old icon of a saint, then it would be more correct to place it separately, in another room. As a last resort, a second shelf is built under the main one.

In addition to the lamp, shrines donated or brought from pilgrimage trips, photographs of temples, vessels with holy water, consecrated willow, and pieces of prosphora are laid out on the shelves of the iconostasis.

It happens that over time, a lot of small paper icons accumulate on the shelves, which can fly apart from a gust of wind. They can be glued to plywood and made into a common frame.

Instead of a lamp It is permissible to use candles without neglecting safety precautions. A burning candle must be extinguished before going to bed. The light of a lamp is not dangerous, but it produces a lot of soot. The items that make up the shrine must be wiped from dust and fumes with a clean cloth that has not been used.

Old icons and consecrated plants, which have lost their appearance and are crumbling, it is supposed to be burned in a clean place, the ashes are buried or floated down the river.

Icons for other rooms

In addition to the iconostasis, believers Images are also placed in other rooms. The following traditions are usually followed:

Guardian angel - above the front door.
Patron Saints - above the children's bed.
Wooden cross - on the wall in the bedroom (for prayer and kissing before bedtime).
St. Efrosin of Palestine (cook) - in the kitchen.
St. Sergius of Radonezh (patron of students) - above the student’s desk, etc.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of all icons in the house. Under each image you can attach a piece of paper with the text of a short prayer. It should be remembered that shrines by themselves do not protect the house. Help of the Lord and saints should only be seen in response to prayer in front of images of their faces.

Traditions associated with the red corner

In the old days, the red corner (goddess) determined the behavior of residents and guests of the house. Many of these habits continue into modern life:

By the way, the “red corner” is still revered today. It can be noted that in the offices of government institutions, flags and symbolic objects are located according to the old tradition - in the most noticeable and honorable, “front” corner.

There are icons in almost every home, with the exception of families of convinced atheists. Previously, people knew and followed the rules for placing holy images. Do we know how to arrange a home iconostasis, are church canons so strict today, and what should the red corner of your home be like?

Red corner in the old days

Our great-grandfathers treated icons with reverence and tried to equip their home iconostasis according to all the rules. The goddess (case) with holy images was placed in every Orthodox home in the red corner, in the place of honor.

Red means good, beautiful. The holy corner was located on the eastern side of the dwelling, in the brightest side of the house, since there were windows on both walls forming the corner.

For an Orthodox Christian, his home is a symbol of a temple. And if in the church the most holy place is the altar, then in the home of the believer it is precisely the red corner where the home iconostasis is located, this is a symbolic analogue of the altar.

How did people arrange an iconostasis in the house? The goddess was an open cabinet for icons, usually two-tiered, made of wood and decorated with paintings and carvings.

Icons were placed on shelves; it was not customary to hang them. The image was decorated with a bozhennik - a towel made of woven canvas, embroidered at the ends and along one side. The Godhead covered the icons on top and on the sides, but did not cover the holy faces.

Prayer books, holy water, oil for lamps, candles, and incense were kept in the icon case.

Home iconostasis today

Most of us are not too familiar with the requirements for arranging an iconostasis in the house. And the church today does not so strictly demand compliance with certain canons, because times change and some rules become more and more difficult to observe.

Not every home has the opportunity to place the iconostasis in the correct eastern corner. If the housing layout does not allow it, what should you do?

It is permissible to place icons on any side of the home. But the place must be remote so that you can pray calmly. When praying together as a family, you will need some space for everyone praying. It is convenient to place the necessary books on a portable folding lectern.

Try to place the home iconostasis away from the TV, computer and other household appliances. The proximity of holy images to technical devices is inappropriate.

You can make an iconostasis with your own hands or buy it; even an ordinary bookshelf will do.

How many icons should you have in your home? The point is not at all in their quantity; you are not collecting a collection of holy images. Icons have a different purpose - prayer.

Do not allow images to be adjacent to books, whose content is far from Orthodox views, with various decorative objects such as figurines, figurines, panels, paintings.

Even reproductions of paintings with religious subjects are best placed away from the red corner; paintings and icons are two different things.

Posters and calendars with images of popular personalities: musicians, athletes, actors are also unacceptable to be placed next to the iconostasis.

What icons should be in the house?

The image of the Savior is the center of the iconostasis, as in the temple itself. This icon is always the largest in size (Lord Almighty, Savior Not Made by Hands). In the red corner it is also necessary to have the image of the Mother of God with the Child.

The icon of the Mother of God should be placed to the left of the image of the Savior. Above these two main icons it is permissible to place only images of the Crucifixion and the Trinity.

Traditionally, many complement their home iconostasis with images of great Orthodox saints. Almost every home has an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, especially revered by believers. People believe that he is endowed with special grace and turn to the saint in prayer.

The Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious and the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon also enjoy the love and respect of Orthodox Christians.

Images of the great Russian saints St. Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov decorate many home iconostases.

On the shrine you can place icons of the prophet of God Elijah, the supreme apostles Peter and Paul.

What other icons would you like to have at home? These can be images of especially revered local saints, the archangels Gabriel and Michael, the holy Evangelists, St. John the Baptist, and icons dedicated to holidays.

In a place of honor on the home iconostasis, you can place an icon that is especially revered in the family or a holy image passed down from generation to generation (if your family has such a relic).

In families of believers, the ancestral icon is especially revered, because their ancestors prayed to the Lord in front of it. After baptism, it was customary to bring the baby to the icon and read prayers. Parents blessed newlyweds and children with this family shrine, sending them off to study or on a long journey; our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers passed into another world under the images.

Personalized icons are traditionally placed on the icon case - images of those saints whose names are borne by those living in the house. Regarding icons in your home iconostasis, it is better to consult your confessor.

Priests advise having at home, in addition to the holy images of the Savior and the Mother of God, mainly icons of those saints to whom family members actually turn with prayers.

It’s good to have icons in every room of your home. Where you have dinner with your family (in the kitchen, in the dining room) you need to place the icon of the Savior.

In the children's room, for the child to communicate with God, it is necessary to have a holy image.

How to decorate your home iconostasis?

It is best to decorate the shrine with fresh flowers. Branches of consecrated willow are placed near the icons on the day of the celebration of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, preserving them until the next Palm Sunday.

The house and icons are decorated with birch branches on the Day of the Holy Trinity (Pentecost), which symbolizes the grace of the power of the Holy Spirit carried by the Orthodox Church.

In front of the icons, in the red corner, a lamp is hung or placed on a stand. There may be several lamps; they are lit during prayer; for many, they are lit all the time when one of the family members is at home. The lamp should burn all day on Sundays and holidays.

A lit lamp cleanses the house of negativity and all filth. It is not customary to light it with a match. This is done with a church candle.

During fasting, green and blue lamps are used, and on holidays - red.

Believers have a custom of anointing children and loved ones with lamp oil in a cross shape in case of illness or some unfortunate events.

The goddess should be crowned with a cross, and all doorposts should also have crosses.

Is it possible to use reproduction icons?

Holy images hand-painted by icon painters are preferable to reproduction icons. But painted images are much more expensive and not every believer can afford to purchase them.

Therefore, reproductions are quite appropriate in a home iconostasis.

The main thing is to buy icons, candles, lamps, prayer books, crosses in church shops.

In style, icons can be of an ancient type (Old Russian, Greek, Byzantine) or Western (academic). A believer can choose the style of icons to his liking, but in the iconostasis it is better not to mix images of different writing techniques.

You should have photographs or reproductions of righteous people, elders, and priests at home, but they should be placed away from the icons.

Relation to icons

Just as we behave piously in church, so in front of images of saints it is unacceptable to swear, quarrel, or offend each other.

The careful and respectful attitude of the Orthodox towards icons cannot develop into worship. An icon is sacred, but still an image. You always need to see the essence behind the image.

From the icons the faces of the Lord, the Mother of God, and the saints look at us; we turn to them with our prayers and requests for help, intercession, and forgiveness.

Divine faces remind us, inhabitants of the material world, of spiritual, eternal life, of our Savior. And, looking at the holy images, every believer should strive to improve his soul.

In the home of every Orthodox Christian there must be an icon of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Cross. This is the main icon for each of us.

Also in the home iconostasis it is good to have an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and saints revered in the family - the patrons of those who live in the house and those to whom they often pray. You should not have too many icons; in your home iconostasis it is better to have icons of those to whom you regularly pray.

There is no need to put photographs of loved ones - living or dead - in the iconostasis.

BOOK by Archpriest Sergius Nikolaev about HOME ICONOSTASIS

The material world that surrounds us, the world of objects - daily witnesses of our life - is not silent. A person’s home will tell about the owner, perhaps more than the owner himself. And if an Orthodox person on the street, on a bus, in a store does not stand out in any way outwardly, then his home still has its own characteristics. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to talk about the aesthetics of an Orthodox home.

The parish priest often visits the homes of his parishioners. He is called upon to bless the apartment, serve a prayer service at home, and is invited to perform the sacrament of consecration of oil (unction) to the sick person. During such visits, I always pay attention to what place is allocated to household icons, how they are kept, whether there are lamps or a candlestick in front of them. Is there a Gospel or spiritual books in the house?

It is a joy to encounter a beautifully decorated, kept clean, living holy corner with icons, a lamp lit in front of them, a clean veil under the images. How much love there is in such care! Yes, this is natural. The most precious thing for us is God. That is why images of the Savior, His Most Pure Mother, and saints of God are dear to us - holy icons.

But it’s a pity for the owner or mistress of a house where a warped paper image the size of half a palm, covered with dust, leans forlornly from a chest of drawers or sideboards, leaning against a random vase.

Sometimes, especially in those families where the Orthodox church tradition was somehow interrupted, believers and completely pious owners do not know how best to arrange new holy icons, lamps, and candlesticks for their home. After all, an icon is a shrine, but it is also a product that has its own shape, appearance, and price. How to “fit” it into the current familiar environment?

Where to hang an icon in an apartment?

Previously, all the decoration of a peasant's upper room came from the red, or holy corner with icons. Even the name “upper room” itself probably comes from a mountain place (in Russian - heavenly, upper), that is, the place where part of the sky is located - holy icons. And today it is better to determine a convenient, beautiful place for icons in a free corner or on the wall, even if this requires some rearrangement.

During prayer or on holidays, a lamp or candle is lit in front of the icons. The flame of a burning lamp, rushing upward, is a symbol of our prayer, our burning towards God. You can see that the lamp is safer in everyday life. But still, for special occasions or special occasions, it is good to have a candlestick and candles in the house. Lamps come in several types: hanging and standing. The owner of the house, based on aesthetics and convenience, can choose one or the other.

It is customary to place the icon not directly on the shelf, but on a small beautiful napkin, or, as it is called, a shroud. It can be decorated with embroidery, lace, frill. Here the imagination, taste and skill of the housewife can fully express themselves.

If there is no free corner or convenient part of the wall and at the same time it is a pity to disturb the existing interior, then the icons can be placed on a bookshelf, chest of drawers, low sideboard, piano. Temporarily, of course. In this case, you should pay attention to what books are on the shelf, whether they are completely combined with the shrine standing above them. Maybe it would be better to remove them or at least cover them with something. Look to see if there are porcelain dogs, gift cups or other household decorations that are not very necessary here next to the icons. The TV also looks ridiculous under the icons. And one more condition: nothing is placed above the icons. Clocks, paintings, photographs and other decorative elements should take place somewhat to the side. So once upon a time it was not allowed to build a building higher than a temple in close proximity to it.

The presence of a shrine in a house obliges the owners to take care not only of the external splendor of the interior, but also of the internal contents, that is, it moves them towards piety. Be sure to check whether everything in your house is in accordance with the shrine and whether there are any contradictions.

In the “Ancient Patericon” you can read an incident that happened to one hermit. Once, while praying, the monk saw the Most Holy Virgin standing on the threshold of his cell. She seemed to be about to enter, but then she moved away and disappeared. The vision was repeated, and the saddened hermit turned to the Mother of God: “Mistress, why don’t you want to enter my home?” To which the Mother of God answered: “How can I enter where my enemy is.” The hermit pondered for a long time over the words of the Most Pure Virgin and remembered that in his cell, among the books, there was a book with the works of a certain heretic, which the monk forgot to give to the owner. Immediately the hermit took the book out of the cell.

If the family is friendly, then such “enemies”, after discussion at the family council, can also be taken out of the house. And almost everyone has them. In this regard, I remember two cases. Last year they invited me to serve a prayer service in one house, where, according to the owners, it was “not good.” Despite the fact that the house was consecrated, some kind of oppression was felt in it. Walking around the rooms with holy water, I noticed the room of the young men, the sons of the owner, where an artistically executed poster dedicated to a famous rock band hung on the wall. Moreover, it is known for its satanic orientation.

After the prayer service, over tea, I carefully, knowing about the fanatical devotion of some young people to their idols, tried to explain that “bad things” in the house could well come from even such posters, that such images seemed to be trying to resist the shrine. The young man stood up silently and removed the painting in question from the wall. The choice was made right there.

But in another house, the indecisiveness of the owners deprived them of a wonderful shrine. A pious old woman gave one person a beautiful icon - “The Appearance of the Mother of God, St. Sergius of Radonezh.” The icon was beautiful in itself, and besides, it was painted and presented to its owner by a famous hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, which gave it some specialness. The new owner found a place for the precious shrine on the wall in the living room, but, unfortunately, three engravings hung opposite. Old engravings in beautiful frames, three female portraits: Venus, Leda and Cleopatra. Relatives persuaded the owners to remove these three images of the world's harlots so that they would not hang in front of the Virgin Mary, but the reluctance to destroy the interior and the not entirely correctly perceived concept of culture did not allow them to make the right choice.

The next morning, early, as early as decency allows, the phone rang: the pious old woman begged for the icon to be returned to her and returned as soon as possible. “I didn’t sleep all night, it seemed to me that something had happened to my icon. I will give you another one, and bring this one to me, I will give it to you later,” she asked. Of course, the shrine returned to its former owner, and lovers of ancient engravings received another icon as a gift. It was placed in another room on a shelf among other icons, since it was more suitable in size and design there. I don’t know whether Lyubov Timofeevna chose a replacement by accident or on purpose. This was also an image of the Mother of God, it was called “Mammal.” Perhaps there was a hint here about the spiritual age of her friends? True, the lesson was not in vain; after a while, three landscapes took the place of dubious portraits.

Where to hang the icon?

Sometimes the question arises: there are several rooms in the house, where is it more appropriate to place icons? There is no special rule. But you pray more often in the room in which you sleep. In addition, prayer requires some solitude. “When you pray, go into your room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father. Which is in secret…” (Matthew 6:6), we read in the Gospel. This means that it is wise to have icons in the bedroom in front of which you will read morning and evening prayers.

If you have a children's room, then there must be an icon in it. A child often turns to “God” in his own, childish way; it’s good if he can see the image. In addition, any holy icon is miraculous, and it will miraculously protect your child.

Remember that the whole family gathers in the common room, a common meal often takes place here, and the holy image should also be located here. Don't forget about the kitchen. The owner spends most of her time in it. The kitchen is the place for everyday breakfasts and dinners. It is better to say a prayer before eating food, turning your gaze to the icon. So, let there be icons in every room and in the kitchen. “...I wish that men would say prayers in every place, lifting up clean hands without anger or doubt” (1 Tim. 2:8), says the Apostle. “Every place...”

What icons must be in the house?

There is one more question. What icons are best to have at home? There is also no rule here, but only a pious tradition. Most of our prayers are addressed to the Savior and the Mother of God. It is reasonable to have an image of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother at home.

In a Russian Orthodox home, you will most often find a triptych: the Savior, the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas. The veneration of St. Nicholas in Russia is so widespread that hardly any saint can compare in this sense with the Wonderworker of Myra. The reason for this is simple: as you know, people don’t go to a dry well for water. Saint Nicholas is loved and revered by us as a quick helper, intercessor and great wonderworker. Almost every family has experience of his miraculous help.

Pious people usually have the image of their heavenly patron, whose name they bear. Sometimes this or that saint of God turns out to be somewhat close to us. We find in his life some character trait that is close to us or that we love, we are admired by some deed or miracle created through “his prayer. There is a desire to have an image of this saint at home. Of course, prayer in front of him will be especially heartfelt. Our patriotic dispensation, love for the Fatherland can express itself in special veneration and warm prayer before the images of St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Seraphim of Sarov, Righteous John of Kronstadt, noble princes Alexander Nevsky, Daniil of Moscow and Demetrius of Donskoy. Love for Russia is inseparable from love for the miraculous icons of the Diligent Intercessor, the Mother of God, through which so many miracles have occurred on our land. These are the icons of Vladimir, Kazan, Tikhvin, Derzhavnaya and many others.

The Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God are also depicted on icons. You can have at home an icon of the Presentation, Annunciation, Baptism, and the Protection of the Mother of God.

Take a closer look at the “Nativity of Christ” icon. What a quiet, peaceful, family-like image. God the Child and the Mother and Betrothed, looking at the Little One in quiet tenderness; shepherds worshiping the Savior with the fear and joy of a simple and faithful heart; wise men-magi who brought gifts-symbols, a sign that earthly wisdom is just a part of heavenly wisdom. Peaceful night, and above everything is the Star of Bethlehem. How many thoughts and prayers will be born next to this icon.

And look at the image “The Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple.” The parents brought their only, long-awaited, beloved child to the temple in order to leave him there. The girl is only three years old. How sweet the little ones are at this time, how pure and innocent! How the mere sight of them caresses a parent’s heart! But where is the best place to preserve and strengthen this purity? In the temple. Joachim and Anna gave Mary to be raised in the temple. Look, parents, your child must honor the Law of God, and your child must be in church. Looking at this image of parental feat and hope in God, pray for your children and think about your responsibilities.

We will find how much we need for our soul by looking at the icon “The Presentation of the Lord.” Meeting, in Slavic, meeting, that is, the meeting of the Savior and Elder Simeon. What wonderful words were spoken by the God-Receiver Simeon, receiving the Infant Jesus in his arms: “Now, Master, you are letting Your servant go in peace, according to Your word” (Luke 2:29). Because it was revealed to the righteous old man that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior. And when we meet the Lord, whether in prayer, in His temple, in reading the Holy Scriptures, at the relics of His holy saints, we also part with earthly things, temporarily dying to the worries and sorrows of this life. “Now You are releasing Your servant, O Master...”

Why don't you have the image of the Life-Giving Trinity: three Angels sitting at a meal - a symbol of endless love and unity.

And what a consolation for an Orthodox person to see the omophorion of the Mother of God stretched out over the world on the icon of the feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God. Do not despair, man, and over you is the protection of the Diligent Intercessor.

Nowadays you can buy different icons. Any consecrated image is a shrine. And a paper lithograph, and a reproduction of an icon painter, and an old family image, and a rarity purchased in an antique store - all this is an icon. Of course, it’s nice to have a highly artistic image painted by a competent specialist isographer; today you can buy these in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow, where they have their own art workshops. It’s great if you have old family icons at home. But modern reproduction should not be neglected. In Crimea, in Livadia, in the imperial palace in the office of Emperor Nicholas II, a very religious and pious man, the walls are literally filled with icons. Antique, precious icons, and next to them simple “village” letters, and here and there lithographs and photographs. And all these shrines - both dear and modest - met the prayerful gaze of the holy man who stood with a tender heart in front of them. It seems that the point here is not only about what icon is in front of us, but also about ourselves. I had to see indifferent empty faces both in front of the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir, and in front of the Trinity of Andrei Rublev’s letters. “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), said the Savior.

I would like to wish you that holy icons will often appear before your eyes, moving you to prayer and contemplation of God, lifting you above the vanity of the world, calming passions and healing illnesses. Amen.

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Icons in our house. About prayer. About alms. - M.: Danilovsky blagovestnik, 1997.- 48 p. - (Series “For advice from the priest”).

Instructions

Icons do not have to be hung on the walls. They can be placed on a shelf specially designed for this purpose. But if there are a lot of icons, then it would be better to hang them on the wall, following some simple rules. If your room is hung asymmetrically, haphazardly and without any thought, this will certainly cause a feeling of inconvenience and dissatisfaction with the placement of icons, and a desire to change it. And this is very disturbing and distracts from prayer.

Icons can and even should be placed in other rooms. It's also worth hanging in the kitchen. It is imperative to place an icon of the Angel or Heavenly Patron in the children's room. It was customary to hang an icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos above the entrance to an apartment or house. But now it can be replaced with any other icon or cross.

By the way, when placing icons in your apartment or house, pay attention to the fact that they should not stand or hang together with other paintings (even on biblical themes) or household items. Icons are inappropriate in bookcases, next to toys, cosmetics, photographs of family members, and figurines. Also, do not place icons next to posters of politicians, show business stars, and other celebrities.

It’s not often, but you still see photographs of fathers and elders among the icons on the walls or shelves. This is canonically unacceptable, since photography captures a specific moment in the earthly life of a person, even if he was a member of the Church or even later canonized. The icon represents him precisely in the image of a saint, in his transfigured, glorified state. Naturally, the presence of such photographs in the house is not canceled. But you need to put or hang photographs separately from icons.

Sources:

where to hang icons in an apartment

According to your faith you will be rewarded. It is necessary to remember the traditions of our ancestors and learn to properly treat icons and their placement in home. Follow some tips and you'll be fine.

Instructions

The most important thing is that there is enough free space in front of the “red corner” for the whole family to pray together. It is advisable to allocate a spacious shelf for the iconostasis. If it doesn't fit everyone icons, then the rest can be hung on any wall. It would be incorrect to place icons in bookcases or other cabinets, since there should be no foreign objects near them. Icons cannot serve as interior decoration.

Naturally, in every home must be icons Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. Place the icon of the Savior on the right, and on the left – the Mother of God. Here it is also important to respect the principle of hierarchy. Any revered icon should not be located above the icons of the Trinity, our savior, the Mother of God and the apostles. It is desirable that the iconostasis be crowned with a Christian cross.

You can have icons where household members dine, so that before the meal you can pray to the Almighty for your daily bread, and after dinner you can give thanks. The Protection of the Holy Virgin is traditionally hung above the entrance to the house.

Among the icons there should not be art and engravings with biblical scenes, which a priori are not canonical icons. Accordingly, there is no place for images of elders and even those canonized by the church as Saints. They can be placed elsewhere.

Video on the topic

note

Icons in the house. Since ancient times, decorating a house with icons has been one of the main customs of the Russian people. Today faith is returning to people, and with it a reverent attitude towards the icon. There is an unspoken list of icons that you must have at home. First of all, we are talking about the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God.

Helpful advice

In the temple, a person prays in front of holy icons. It’s worth doing this at home too. Previously, in every Russian home there were icons in the red corner. But in the era of the “red corners” people tried to erase even the very memory of the Church; little was preserved of the memory of what icons should be in the house and how they should be placed. Where to place icons in the house? In a free and accessible place.

Sources:

placement of icons in the house

This question sooner or later arises for everyone who purchases an icon or receives it as a gift. And indeed, how to properly place it in the house in order to offer prayer to the Lord and not break any sacred laws? After all, prayer is a kind of sacrament, and any sacrament should be performed in the appropriate place, and not just anywhere. How to properly hang icons in city or private houses?

Instructions

The best place for it in the house is the red corner. It is here, according to tradition, that the spiritual or icon lamp is located. The red corner of the house is opposite the entrance to the room. This location is no coincidence; everyone who enters can bow to the images without looking for them for a long time in all corners. It is better that the space near the iconostasis is free and allows all family members and guests to stand for prayer at the same time.

The altar is located on the eastern side, and the icons in the house are also placed so that the worshiper faces the East. However, if you do not have a suitable place for the images in the eastern part of the apartment, you can hang them in any other place. It is important that this is not a remote corner where sunlight does not reach, but a wall that will be decorated and made even brighter. You can hang it either on a regular nail or place it on a special shelf next to other icons. If there are a lot of icons in the house, you can make a special iconostasis for them. The main thing is that the process of collecting images does not turn into ordinary collecting. After all, their purpose is completely different, and there is no connection between the number of icons in a house and the piety of its inhabitants.

You should not install icons among books on shelves, as well as in closet shelves mixed with cosmetics, figurines and relatives. You should also not hang icons next to the toilet or in a row with paintings and other works of art. Remember that an icon is not beautiful and not just an image. The purpose of the icon in the house is to preserve reverence and faith, as well as sacred protection. It is possible to place icons in the bedroom of spouses, despite the misconception of many that this is sinful.

note

Many people believe that a marital bedroom and an icon are incompatible things. And they even cover the iconostasis with cloth at night. This is fundamentally wrong. Intimacy between spouses in marriage is not considered a sin at all. In addition, of course, it is impossible to hide from the gaze of the Lord with any cloth.

Helpful advice

First of all, you need to have an icon of Jesus and the Mother of God in your home. They are installed on the common iconostasis in the Red Corner. You can also install icons of the patrons of all family members or any other icons that are valuable to you.

Sources:

how to place an icon in the house

Mirror- not a simple item for interior decoration; it has always been endowed with magical properties. Not every place in the house is suitable for placing mirrors. To make this decorative item useful with its presence, listen to the advice Feng Shui.

You will need

- mirror.

Instructions

Buy a large one in which all family members are fully reflected. No one should have their head cut off, otherwise the person will suffer from headaches. Having a large mirror is necessary so that the energetic, physical and mental potential of each family member is fully realized.

Place the mirror in a place so that it reflects only pleasant and beautiful objects, such as a vase, painting, decor and much more. You can specially place a thing next to the reflective surface that symbolizes wealth, success, etc. Mirrors have the ability to enhance the object reflected in them.

The best places for a mirror, from the point of view, are the kitchen, living room and dining room. Hang it in front of the dining table, then there will always be enough money and delicious food in your home. If the stove is located opposite the door, hang a mirror above it; in this place it will help create a pleasant psychological environment.

Try not to hang or place a mirror in the bedroom. This room is a place for the release of all negative emotions, the mirror will reflect them back. Better put other symbols Feng Shui. If you cannot remove the mirror from the bedroom, hang it so that sleeping people are not reflected in it, or cover it with a screen or cloth. Otherwise, there is a risk of adultery.

All your mirrors should be framed so that their energy is always positive and directed to the right place and not dissipated. Keeping your mirrors clean will also help maintain positive energy. Never hang a reflective surface opposite the windows or front door, otherwise your well-being will not stay with you, but will return back to the outside world.

Pay attention to the suddenly cracked mirror - it took trouble away from you. Such a mirror contains only negative energy, try to throw it away quickly. Do not use mirror tiles, they crush the reflection and can ruin your life. Do not look at the fragments, thereby you will attract failures to yourself.

Video on the topic

Sources:

Mirrors in the Feng Shui system.
feng shui mirror

Tip 5: What is the significance of the icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most beloved Orthodox holidays, which is celebrated on October 14. Many icons are dedicated to him. They depict the Virgin Mary extending her veil as a sign of special protection. This is exactly how this holiday was interpreted in Rus'.

History of the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Orthodox holiday of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on an event that, according to legend, took place in Constantinople in the first half of the 10th century (in 910).

The life of Blessed Andrei the Fool tells about the appearance of the Mother of God in the Blachernae Church, which was witnessed by Andrei himself and his disciple Epiphanius. At that time, the capital of Byzantium was besieged by the Saracens. Sacred relics were kept in the Blachernae Church - the robe of the Most Pure Virgin, part of her belt and omorph (headdress).

Fleeing from enemies, many residents of the city took refuge in the temple in the hope of the mercy and intercession of the Queen of Heaven. During the all-night vigil, blessed Andrew and his disciple had a vision. Accompanied by the angels, John the Baptist and John the Theologian, the Virgin Mary approached the altar, prayed for the people, and then took off her maforium (cloak) and, holding it, spread it over all those gathered in the temple. As if she wanted to intercede for them before the Savior and protect them from possible troubles. This miracle marked the beginning of a special church service in honor of the Mother of God.

The Russian Orthodox Church has been celebrating the Feast of the Intercession since 1164. And in 1165, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky built a temple on the Nerl River, consecrated in honor of the Intercession.

The meaning of the icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In Byzantium, there was a custom to cover the image of the Blessed Virgin with a curtain, and, according to legend, once a week this curtain was miraculously lifted for several hours, revealing the icon.

However, in Byzantium there was no holiday of the Intercession. Accordingly, there were no canons for depicting this event on icons. Such images appeared only in Rus' in the 13th century.

One of the earliest Intercession icons is the image on the western gate of the Suzdal Cathedral. By the beginning of the next century, 2 variants of the image of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos had taken shape: either the Virgin Mary holds the veil in her hands, or it is stretched over the Mother of God.

On these icons, Mary is often depicted in the oranta pose with her hands raised in prayer. The veil seems to float in front of the Mother of God, touching her upraised hands.

On a 14th-century Novgorod icon, angels support the floating cover of the Virgin Mary, and above it, with arms outstretched in a blessing gesture, the figure of the Savior shines.

As a rule, both versions of the Intercession icons are multi-figured. Framed by arches and domes, artists depict the people gathered in the church, blessed Andrew and his disciple, as well as saints, apostles and John the Baptist. On both sides, angels rush to Mary, as to the motionless center of the world.

The strict symmetry in the arrangement of figures and architectural details, inherent in the Intercession icons, serves to express internal unity and festive conciliarity. All faces are turned to the Mother of God in a single bright impulse. She is a wonderful cover, whose protection is granted to the entire human race. This is the main meaning of the icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the heart of every European city there is a bridge with a thousand locks. The thing is that only twenty years ago a tradition appeared to “strengthen” feelings in this way. He believes that if lovers, having hung a lock on the railing of a bridge, throw the key into the water, nothing will ever be able to destroy the union of their hearts.

The emergence of a tradition

Despite the fact that this tradition seems very romantic and ancient, it appeared only in the nineties. The Italian writer Federico Moccia for one of his novels could not invent how his characters in love would take an oath of fidelity and love to each other. Since his novel took place in Rome, he wanted to find some special romantic place in the Eternal City, but there was none. Therefore, the author invented his own tradition. He appointed the Milvio Bridge as such a place for all the lovers of Rome, where his heroes took vows to each other, hung up the lock and threw away the key.

Since the publication of the novel, the Milvio Bridge has been covered with locks, so that it has become difficult to distinguish him under them. One day, a lamppost on this bridge fell under the weight of the locks. The Roman authorities tried for a very long time to intervene, to somehow structure this tradition, but to no avail. The Italian lovers did not give up their refuge and continued to hang locks on the Milvio Bridge.

Over time, this tradition spread throughout Europe. Moreover, any couple in love can take an oath in this way, but in our country, castles are primarily associated. In Moscow, for example, Luzhkovsky Bridge has become a place of pilgrimage for half of all newlyweds in the capital. True, in the case of the Luzhkovsky Bridge, the city authorities acted very smartly. Next to the bridge itself, a Tree of Love was installed, the branches of which can withstand thousands of these castle vows without harming anyone. After a very short time, the Tree of Love had several more relatives, since all the locks could not fit on the branches of one structure. Now, next to the Trees of Love on the Luzhkovsky Bridge, there are also benches for quarreling lovers. Their design assumes that any person sitting at the very edge will still slide towards the center.

Locks from the most popular bridges are regularly cut off to make way for new ones. Therefore, it makes sense to hang your lock away from popular places so that it lasts longer.

Slavic traditions

In Slavic traditions, both bridges and castles were actively used. After the wedding, when the bride entered her husband's house, there was always an open lock next to the threshold. When the young people went inside, the lock was locked and the key was thrown into a deep well. Sometimes the castle, which metaphorically closed the marriage, was also drowned.

Until now, many grooms cross seven bridges before their wedding because it promises happiness.

Bridges in the Slavic tradition have always been considered a symbol of transition. Therefore, grooms often carried their brides across bridges to ensure a happy marriage. So the new European tradition of castle vows has taken root well on Russian soil.

Oncological diseases pose a serious threat to the health of the nation, because they annually claim the lives of many people, young and old. Surgery and radiation therapy are far from a 100% panacea for cancer, so patients often turn to God for salvation. Many icons help to cope with the disease, but the most powerful among them is the “Vsetsaritsa”.

Instructions

The icon, also called by the Greek word “Pantoness,” is located in the Vatopedi monastery, located on one of the shrines of Greece - Mount Athos. It dates back to the 17th century and depicts the seated Virgin Mary in a red robe and Jesus on the knees of the Blessed Virgin. In one hand the Savior holds a paper scroll, the fingers of the other are crossed in a blessing gesture. Behind them are two angels protecting them from adversity. This “All-Tsarina” is the original image from which several copies were made, three of them are kept in churches in Russia.

Manifestations of miraculous power began with a legend about how a certain man with dark thoughts approached and began to whisper something inaudibly. The face lit up with a bright light, and the warlock was literally thrown back. He himself admitted that he tried to conjure, and from then on he swore off practicing magic. Later it was noticed that the “Tsarina of All” helps people bowing before her in prayer, asking for relief from tumors. Healing is necessarily preceded by the ardent conversion of the sufferers and their strong faith in a miracle. After news of Pantoness spread as a panacea for cancer, lists began to be made about it.

The first copy, which became available to Russians, was made with the blessing of Archimandrite Ephraim, who in August 1995 arrived from the distant Vatopedi monastery as an accompanying one of the miraculous lists. It was written in compliance with all canons to the glory of the Mother of God for the treatment of cancer patients. When “The Tsaritsa” was completed, inexplicable miracles began: the condition of the patients at the children's oncology center improved significantly. During holy holidays, the icon streamed myrrh several times and radiated fragrance around itself. And after the drug-addicted young man was cured, parents began to flock to her, praying for the healing of their child.

The first list is located in the Church of All Saints and is periodically delivered to the medical institution that gave rise to it. Every Monday a prayer service is held, during which an akathist to the Mother of God is read and cancer patients are anointed. There are two more copies of the miraculous icon in Russia. One of them is located in the Novospassky Monastery - it is hung with gold items, with the offering of which recovered people thank the Mother of God. The third “Tsaritsa” can be found in the Vladychny Convent, which has already recorded several dozen facts of her myrrh-streaming, as well as cases of healing from cancer.

Video on the topic

The Holy Trinity is one of the fundamental concepts of the Christian faith. It distinguishes Christianity from other Abrahamic religions: faith in One God is found in both Islam and Judaism, but the concept of the Trinity is inherent only in Christianity. It is not surprising that such an important concept is reflected in iconography.

The Trinity is not only one of the most important concepts in Christianity, but also one of the most mysterious. “One in three persons” - this cannot be understood, fully comprehended, comprehended with the mind, it can only be accepted as a given, sincerely believed. It is even more difficult to imagine the Holy Trinity in the form of a concrete visible image, but painting an icon requires precisely this, and icon painters found a way out of the situation, relying on the Holy Scriptures.

The Old Testament tells how God appeared to Abraham and Sarah in the form of three strangers. The couple warmly received them, not immediately realizing that before them was the Triune God. This episode is one of the foundations of the Christian teaching about the Holy Trinity, and it is it that is often used to depict the Trinity on icons.

The Trinity is depicted as three angels sitting under a tree or at a table with refreshments, sometimes Abraham and Sarah are present next to them.

The most famous of this kind is “Trinity” by Andrei Rublev. The icon is notable for its laconicism - there is not a single superfluous detail in it: neither Abraham and Sarah next to the angels, nor a “still life” on the table - only a cup that echoes the “cup of suffering” that God the Son has to drink. The figures of angels are perceived as a vicious circle, correlated with the concept of eternity.

New Testament Trinity and Fatherland

In another version of the image of the Trinity, God the Father appears in the form of an old man. The peculiarity of this image is that the head of the Elder is surrounded not by a round halo, as usual, but by a triangular one. On the halo of God the Father are placed , meaning “the Existing One,” as on the halo of the Savior, thereby emphasizing the unity of God the Father and God the Son.

Next to God the Father sits God the Son - Jesus Christ in the same form as He is depicted on other icons. In His hands He holds a cross and an open Gospel. The third face of the Holy Trinity is God the Holy Spirit. He is represented by a white dove hovering over the Father and the Son - it is in this image that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus Christ at His baptism in the Jordan.

Option of the New Testament Trinity - Fatherland: God the Son in the form of a child sits on the lap of an old man - God the Father, the Holy Spirit, as in the previous version, is presented in the form of a dove.

In 1667, the Great Moscow Council condemned any images of God the Father (with the exception of images of the apocalypse). Thus, at present, only the “Old Testament Trinity” is the canonical image of the Holy Trinity.

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About the Trinity icon

Often, when visiting an unfamiliar temple, it can be difficult to find your way around. There are many icons in the temple, but is there among them the image that you wanted to pray in front of? Contact temple employees or parishioners for help. But if there is no one to tell you, you can take a closer look at the type of image and independently determine what kind of image it is.

Honor the event being celebrated

If on this day an event from the life of the Savior or the Mother of God, or a saint whose icon you want to approach, is celebrated, then this image is usually laid out on a lectern in the center of the temple. This icon is considered festive. If there is no separate icon of the event or saint commemorated on this day in the temple, then a menaion is placed on the lectern, i.e. monthly icon. This saint or event will be depicted on it among all the saints and events of a given month. On Sunday, the image of the Resurrection of Christ is always placed on the lectern.

Find the icon of the Virgin Mary

There are many options for depicting the Mother of God. Types of iconography of the image of the Mother of God are divided into several groups.

Type "Tenderness" - in Greek icon painting this type is called "Sweet kiss". The Virgin Mary and the baby cling to each other's faces, Christ hugs the Mother's neck with his hand. This type also includes icons where the Mother of God is depicted alone. These are the icons of the Mother of God - Tenderness (Diveevskaya), Vladimirskaya, Donskaya, Pochaevskaya, Seek the Dead, Feodorovskaya.

Type "Hodegetria" - from Greek "Guide". The Virgin Mary is depicted frontally and points with her hand at the baby sitting on her other hand. At the same time, he blesses with his hand. These are the icons of the Mother of God - Iveron, Kazan, Smolensk, Three-Handed.

Type "Sign" - from Greek "Praying" - the Virgin Mary with raised arms, the half-figure of Christ in a youthful appearance is located in a sphere at the chest level of the Virgin Mary. These are the icons - the Sign of Novgorod, Korchemnaya, Kursk-Root, Tsarskoye Selo.

Find an icon of a saint

To do this, you need to know who he is: venerable, martyr, healer, apostle, saint, etc. Each rank of saint has its own mandatory iconographic attributes. One of the identifying marks is clothing. The color of the martyrs' clothes is usually red, while the monks' clothes are dark shades.

The apostle-evangelists are depicted writing the Gospel, in the hands of the martyrs there is usually a cross or instruments of torment are depicted - a wheel, a sword, etc., non-silver doctors hold a vessel with medicine or a spoon, the stylites are depicted standing on a pillar.

It is advisable to know the portrait features of famous saints: thus, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Seraphim of Sarov, Panteleimon the Healer, St. George the Victorious, and the Royal Family are almost always recognizable.

You can pray and light a candle to your saint and/or several saints in front of the “All Saints” icon.

Tip 10: Why are three stars depicted on the icons of the Virgin Mary?

In the Orthodox tradition, the iconography of images of the Blessed Virgin Mary is widely displayed. This is no coincidence, because the Virgin Mary is the main intercessor and intercessor for humanity before her son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Currently, there are many different icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Each of the images is deeply symbolic. The iconography of the Virgin Mary, as well as the depiction of God or saints, has its own distinctive features. In particular, on almost all icons of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Virgin Mary’s clothing is depicted. The arrangement of the stars on the maforia (otherwise known as the omophorion) is as follows: two stars are located on the shoulders and one on the head. This is the most common location of these stars. One might ask: “Why exactly three stars?” Does this have its own symbolism, and if so, what?

The answer to this question is as follows. The three stars on the icons of the Virgin Mary signify a great miracle. The Most Holy Theotokos is revered by the Church as the Ever-Virgin, that is, in ordinary language, the eternal, constant Virgin. This means that the Mother of God retained her virginity both before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and at the birth of the Savior, as well as after the birth of the Messiah.

Orthodox doctrine says that the Most Holy Theotokos conceived Christ from the Holy Spirit. This immutable truth is reflected in the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament. The Archangel Gabriel himself announced to the virgin that what would be born in her would be from the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the symbol of faith (a prayerful confession of the foundations of Orthodox doctrine, which is still heard in Orthodox churches during the Divine Liturgy) says that Christ was born “of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.”

The Holy Fathers of the first centuries also wrote, in accordance with the Gospel, about the virgin birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ever-virginity of the Mother of God acquired special dogmatic significance during the time of disputes about the natures of Christ (5th century). The Nestorian heretics called the Mother of God Christ Mother of God, instead of the usual term “Theotokos”. However, the holy fathers defended the Orthodox confession, declaring that Mary literally gave birth to God - the incarnate second Person of the Holy Trinity. And already in 553, at the next Ecumenical Council, held in Constantinople, it was officially approved that the Most Holy Theotokos is the Ever-Virgin - a virgin before, during and after the birth of Christ.

15.10.2014

When an icon appears in a house, people often wonder how to position it correctly. This is not just a picture that can be hung wherever your heart desires. Otherwise, you can simply violate sacred Orthodox traditions. Prayer is a sacrament, and it must adhere to strict canons. Therefore, it is so important to choose the right location for the icon.

The icon is an important element in Orthodoxy

Its main functions include:

narration of the events of Sacred history;
expression of the main principles of Christianity;
the embodiment of conciliarity, the spiritual unity of man and God.

Where to hang an icon in an apartment

According to tradition, icons are hung in the so-called red corner. It contains an iconostasis, a cross, candles, lamps and spiritual literature. The red corner has a specific location in the house; it is located opposite the main entrance. And this has a clear explanation. People crossing the threshold of a home can immediately bow to the images and not wander around the house in search of icons. The space near the iconostasis should be accessible and free, so that not only family members, but also guests can gather around it if desired.

According to custom, the altar is located on the east side. The icons are also placed so that those reading the prayer next to them look to the East. If it is not possible to place the icon in this way in your home, you can hang it in another place. The main thing is that it is spacious and bright, and not a blind, inaccessible corner. By hanging the icon in a sunny place, the room will become even brighter and more festive.

Correct placement of the icon

The icon can either be hung on a simple nail or placed on a special shelf along with others. If there are a large number of icons, a so-called iconostasis is made for them. But icons should not become objects for simple collecting; they have a completely different purpose. And their number, ultimately, may have nothing to do with the piety of the inhabitants of the house.

There is no place for icons on book shelves. They should not be placed among bottles of cosmetics, souvenirs or photographs of friends and relatives. Icons should not hang next to the toilet or interspersed with various paintings and works of art. An icon is not a decorative element or an ordinary beautiful image. It preserves faith and reverence, serves as protection and patronage. Don’t be afraid to place the icon in the bedroom, there is nothing reprehensible or sinful in this, as many may think.

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