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Be Not Overcome with Despair: Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, Lazarus Saturday, and Palm Sunday

This post comes from an email in the "Walk Through the Church Year" series which goes out to folks who sign up to receive two emails per month about major feasts and selected commemorations in the liturgical calendar. To receive these emails in your inbox, sign up here. The original email was sent out in April of 2025. by Brendan My soul, O my soul, rise up! Why art thou sleeping? The end draws near and soon thou shalt be troubled. Watch then, that Christ thy God may spare thee, for …
Apr 10th 2025

Seven Functions of Icons: Number Seven

Introduction: Today, December 5, we celebrate St. John of Damascus, who was a key figure in the restoration of Holy Icons as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St. John lists 7 Functions of Iconography as useful to our worship. This post is the last in a series on these functions we hope will be educational and inspirational, and lead you further towards our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Function 7 according to St J …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Icons: Number Five

The Theotokos, the pattern of every virtue. Icon from St Paul's Cathedral, London.Introduction: Sunday, October 15 commemorated the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his Defense of Icons, he lists 7 functions of Iconography. This post is part of a series on these functions we hope …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Holy Icons: Number Two

The iconography in the nave of Saint George Orthodox Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas provides many opportunities for education and contemplation.Sunday, October 15 commemorated the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his Defense of Icons, he lists 7 functions of Iconography. This post is …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Icons: Number Six

Introduction: Sunday, October 15 commemorated the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his Defense of Icons, he lists 7 functions of Iconography. This post is part of a series on these functions we hope will be educational and inspirational, and lead you further towards our Lord and Sa …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Icons: Number Four

Introduction: Sunday, October 15 commemorated the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his Defense of Icons, he lists 7 functions of Iconography. This post is part of a series on these functions we hope will be educational and inspirational, and lead you further towards our Lord and Sa …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Icons: Number Three

Introduction: Sunday, October 15 commemorated the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. St John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his Defense of Icons, he lists 7 functions of Iconography. This post is part of a series on these functions we hope will be educational and inspirational, and lead you further towards our Lord and S …
Apr 8th 2025

Starting the New Church Year Together

This post comes from an email in the "Walk Through the Church Year" series which goes out to folks who sign up to receive two emails per month about major feasts and selected commemorations in the liturgical calendar. To receive these emails in your inbox, sign up here. The original email was sent out in September of 2024. by Brendan Byrd Happy New Year! Welcome to the beginning of the nearly two thousandth year celebrated by the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church as established by th …
Apr 8th 2025

Walk Through the Church Year With Legacy Icons

The Creation account is read four times each year in the Orthodox Church: on the eves of the greatest feasts of the Lord Jesus—the Nativity, Theophany, and Pascha—and during the first week of Great Lent. It seems like a fitting visual meditation for the start of the new liturgical year, as well. Read more about this icon by Georgi Chimev. Dear Reader, Do the feasts and commemorations of the church sometimes sneak up on you? The Church in her wisdom gives us cycles of repetition by whi …
Apr 8th 2025

Seven Functions of Holy Icons: Number One

Sunday, October 15 Commemorates the Seventh Ecumenical Council at which icons were restored to the Church as a confirmation of the centrality of Christ's Incarnation in Orthodox theology and a necessary aspect of worship. Saint John of Damascus was a key figure in this restoration and in his defense of icons, Apologetic Treatises against those Decrying the Holy Images, he lists seven functions of iconography. Saint John is commemorated On December 4, and so over the next couple months we will p …
Apr 8th 2025