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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 we get closer to the Feast, more and more …

Please use the following guidelines when making your Christmas purchases for delivery by December 25th.U.S. Domestic Orders Mount Sinai Collection (Full Replica): October 27Wholesale Orders, Cathedral Size Icons: Order by November 15Mount Sinai Collection (Half, Three-Quarters): November 25Masterpiece Icons: Order by December 1Classic Icons: Order by December 8Incense, Devotionals, "Ready to Ship" Items: Order by December 15With express shipping options: Extend each deadline by 3 daysU.S. Milit …

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 whic …

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 pr …

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 …

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 Sav …

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 Sav …

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 w …

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 Jo …

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 …