Company Blog

During Lent, we sacrificed our time, our choices of food, our alms to prepare for the 40 days of feasting that we now enjoy. After all the worship of Lent and Holy Week, it can be tempting to let ourselves go. As we revel in the joy of the Resurrection, we must take care not to lose the spiritual riches that we worked hard to gain. These 40 days of Paschal celebration—Eastertide—is a time when we can continue growing, even as we did during L...

Saint Gregory Palamas lived in the 14th century. Born in Asia Minor, he was raised in the imperial court of Constantinople and later left to enter the monastic life on Mount Athos. He subjected himself to extreme asceticism so severe that he was forced to travel to Thessalonica for medical treatment.In 1341, Saint Gregory was present at a council that was convened against Barlaam of Calabria. Saint Gregory had previously held discussions with Bar...

Sometimes we receive the question: What are the Feasts, anyway? Those coming from a tradition that does not celebrate Church Feasts may even think we go to church and eat a big meal together. Do be sure—sometimes we do! But that's not what it means. Oxford Dictionary's first definition of feast is "a large meal." But the second definition is "an annual religious celebration." This comes from the Latin festus, "joyous." It is a joyous day...

The Byzantine Rite of the Orthodox Church has no liturgical season exactly corresponding to Advent in the West. That does not mean there is no preparation for Christ’s Nativity. In the Orthodox Church, the Nativity Fast begins on November 15, forty days before December 25. While there is no weekly “theme” on Pre-Nativity Sundays, the Advent season is marked by the penitential singing of “Alleluia” at Matins and other features. As...

Each of our icons is hand-crafted just for you, and we are busy during the Christmas season. If you have an important deadline, consider ordering earlier rather than later. Note: These are estimates, not guarantees. Shipping carriers may have suspended their delivery time guarantees on certain services, and we also continue to experience supply line delays. Our best advice is: order early, don't wait till the last minute. Domestic Customer...