In the last article we wrote about what icons should be at home, let's figure out today how and where to place icons correctly. Immediately, we note that there are no strict rules in this matter, but there is a good tradition.
In which part of the house should there be icons?
Orthodox people in Russia believed that the house was a small church, therefore in every Orthodox family, both in the peasant and in the city, a shelf with icons was located in the most prominent place of the dwelling. At the same time, the number and richness of the decoration of icons indicated the wealth and position of the owner of the house in society. The place where the icons were located was called differently: front corner, red corner, holy corner, shrine ... All the decoration of the upper room was carried out from the red holy corner.
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V.I Surikov Village shrine |
In the old days, in village huts, the front door was always located opposite the red corner, and the lintel (the beam above the doorway) was located quite low, because of this, a person, entering the upper room, as if involuntarily bowed to the holy icons. Red corner (like the altar in Orthodox church) was always located on the east side. The Monk John Damascene in his writings explained the meaning of this custom: in the Holy Scriptures Christ is called "The Sun of Truth" (Mal. 4, 2) "East from above" (Luke 1:78) ( "The East has visited us from above, to enlighten those sitting in the darkness"). Hence the worship of Him and the rendering of prayers - to the eastern side of the world.
Of course, this rule is also relevant today, but since we all live in different conditions, sometimes it is difficult to place icons on the east side. Then you can place the icons where it is convenient for you to pray in front of them, because being in every corner of our home, we must maintain a prayer mood and be protected.
What icons should be placed in the premises?
For example, in the hall they often hang an icon over the front door to protect the house and everyone living in it, and also so that household members have the opportunity to pray before leaving. Usually these are icons of the Virgin:,. Above the door is also often located.
In the nursery it would also be nice to place icons. Kid seeing an image with early years, is accustomed to prayer and is under reliable protection... or, in whose honor the child is baptized, can be placed at the head of the bed or above it.
Do not forget about the place where the household members eat. That's why in the dining room or kitchen it would also be correct to have icons. It is better to say a prayer before a meal and after eating food, looking at the image.
What should a holy corner look like?
A few words about how to arrange a holy corner at home. We have already figured out where to place it, but how should it look?
1. Usually, a separate shelf on the wall or in the closet is allocated for the icons. The shelf should be above the level of the person's chest, so our gaze will be directed to the icons from bottom to top.
2.Above all the icons should be located images Savior(left), Mother of God(right) and icon Holy Trinity(it can be located above all or to the left of the Savior). The rest of the icons should be slightly below or to the side.
3. There should not be any unnecessary items in front of the icons: souvenirs, photographs, personal items. It is better to put a lamp in front of the icons or a cross with consecrated candles. Under the icons in the holy corner, it is appropriate to place the Gospel, a prayer book, and other shrines.
Let there be an icon in every room of our house, so that at any moment we remember the Lord, offer prayers and be protected from enemies visible and invisible.
The choice of icons for the home iconostasis cannot be universal, it is always individual. The believer, listening to the voice of his own heart, chooses which Saints he will be addressed to. daily prayers... When choosing icons, it is necessary to focus, first of all, on the fact that they are all similar in style and manner of execution.
What icons should be in the house?
Everyone must have icons of the Mother of God and the Savior at home. In the iconographic tradition, there is a huge variety of images of the Savior, among which for home prayer most often they choose the image of the Lord Almighty. Among the many icons of the Mother of God (Theotokos), most often for the home iconostasis, preference is given to such icons as: Eleusa (Tenderness) - Vladimirskaya, Zhirovitskaya, Pochaevskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Odigitria (Guidebook) - Kazan, Tikhvin, Smolenskaya.
V home iconostasis should also place personalized icons or simply icons of those saints who are especially revered by family members. Particularly popular is the image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, who for many centuries has been revered among the people as a great righteous man, as a saint endowed with special God's grace. Among the images of the great martyrs for the faith of Christ, they most often stop their choice on the icons of St. George the Victorious or the healer Panteleimon.
How to hang icons?
There is no strictly regulated order of placing icons in the house, as in the temple. According to long-standing traditions, in the house of each Orthodox family, a special place was allocated where icons were placed. Most often it was called "goddess" or "red corner".
Traditionally, it is better to hang icons on the east side, because it is customary to face the east for prayer. But, if due to the peculiarities home interior It is impossible to do this, then the icons can be placed in the place where it is comfortable. They can be placed on shelves or hung on walls in any convenient location... The main thing is that there should be enough in front of them. free space so that the believer can perform the prayer ritual without much difficulty.
For better preservation, icons are recommended to be placed in icon cases. These are special cabinets or glazed shelves designed to protect icons from dirt, dust and mechanical damage. Thanks to the icon cases, the faces of the saints are kept in a more gentle microclimate, are less susceptible to negative impact changes in humidity and air temperature.
The ministers of the church say that it is better to hang an icon in every room of the house. An icon is definitely needed in the kitchen above dining table, because the process of cooking and eating should be sanctified by prayer addressed to the Holy Images. Since after the end of the meal, "Our Father" is traditionally read, therefore an icon of the Savior is usually hung in the kitchen. Also, very often, an icon "The Last Supper" is hung over the dining table.
There is a widespread belief that icons should not be placed in the bedroom. But this is not true. Since marital intimacy is not considered sinful, they can be safely placed in the bedroom. In this case, it must be remembered that they should be located only at the head of a correctly placed bed. In addition, the holy image must be present in the nursery. Most often, an icon of the Guardian Angel is hung there. It is not recommended to hang an icon over the front door, but Orthodox cross or just a sticker with his image. As a last resort, you can hang a horseshoe over the door.
Icons should be hung in a place separate from the accumulation of other objects. They look out of place in cluttered bookcases, on the dressing table or just on the tables. In addition, it is not advised to hang pictures, posters and other images near the icons, even on biblical subjects. You cannot place photographs of the deceased near them, this is prohibited by church canons.
Rules for placing icons relative to each other
When placing icons, keep in mind the hierarchical principle. The main place in the home iconostasis belongs to the icons of the Mother of God and the Savior. Most often, they are larger than the rest in size and there is an opinion that they must be hung above the rest. This is indeed correct, but not necessary at all. They can be placed on the same level with the rest of the icons, but they will be placed incorrectly only if they are below the others. This, according to Christian canons, is considered indecent.
On the side of the main icons or below them, nominal icons or, for example, the faces of saints, which enjoy special veneration among family members, are placed. It is advised to put wedding icons in the red corner.
It is necessary to remember the main thing - it does not matter at all the number of icons in a house or apartment, it can be completely alone. A haphazard choice of simply beautiful images of saints can negatively affect the spiritual state of the residents of the house. The main thing is that the icon is a revered relic of the whole family, because it is not just a talisman capable of protecting from all troubles and hardships of life. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right place where you will place it in your home. It should help you to carry out your daily religious practices. The place in front of your iconostasis should be something like home altar where every day with enthusiasm morning and evening you will deal with God.
The correct arrangement of icons in the house helps you open the window to the light and spiritual, illuminating your home with joy and light.
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.
It is also good to have an icon in your home iconostasis. Holy Mother of God 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 the home iconostasis it is better to have icons of those to whom you regularly pray.
There is no need to put in the iconostasis photographs of loved ones - living or dead.
BOOK of Archpriest Sergiy Nikolaev about the HOME ICONOSTASIS
The material world that surrounds us, the world of objects - daily witnesses of our life - is not silent. A person's dwelling 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, then his house still has its own characteristics. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to talk about the aesthetics of the Orthodox home.
The parish priest often visits the homes of his parishioners. He is called upon to consecrate the apartment, to serve a prayer service at home, and to the sick person to perform the sacrament of blessing (unction). During such visits, I always pay attention to what place is reserved for home 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 joyful to come across a beautifully designed, kept clean, living holy corner with icons, an icon lamp lit in front of them, a clean veil under the images. How much love is there in such care! Yes, this is natural. The most precious thing for us is God. Therefore, the images of the Savior, His Most Pure Mother, the saints of God - the holy icons are dear to us.
But it is a pity for the owner or mistress of the house, where a warped paper icon half-palm, and even covered with dust, leaning against a random vase, peeks out of a dresser or sideboard forlornly.
Sometimes, especially in those families where Orthodox church tradition somehow it was interrupted, believers and quite pious owners do not know how best for them to arrange holy icons, lamps, candlesticks new for their home. After all, an icon is a shrine, but it is also a product that has its own form, appearance, price. How to “fit” it into the current familiar environment?
Where to hang the icon in the apartment?
Before, all the decoration of the peasant upper room came from the red, or holy corner with icons. Even the very name "upper room" probably comes from a mountainous place (in Russian - heavenly, upper), that is, the place where part of the sky is located - the holy icons. And today it is better to define what is convenient for icons, a nice place in a free corner or on a wall, even if it requires some rearrangement.
During prayer or on holidays, a lamp or a candle is lit in front of the icons. The flame of a burning lamp, striving upward, is a symbol of our prayer, our burning towards God. You may notice that the lamp is safer in everyday life. But still, for solemn or special occasions, it is good to have a candlestick and candles in the house. There are several types of lamps: hanging and standing. The owner of the house, based on aesthetics and convenience, can choose one or another for himself.
It is customary to put the icon not directly on the shelf, but on a small beautiful napkin, or, as it is called, a veil. It can be decorated with embroidery, lace, frill. Here, the imagination, taste and skill of the hostess can well express themselves.
If there is no free corner or a convenient part of the wall and at the same time it is a pity to violate the existing interior, then the icons can be placed on a bookshelf, chest of drawers, a low sideboard, a piano. Temporarily, of course. In this case, you should pay attention to which books are on the shelf, whether they are fully combined with the shrine standing above them. Maybe it's better to remove them, or at least cover them with something. See if there are porcelain dogs, gift cups or other household decorations that are not very necessary here next to the icons. Looks ridiculous under the icons and TV. And one more condition: nothing is placed over the icons. Clocks, paintings, photographs and other decorative elements should take place a little to the side. So once it was not allowed to build a building above the temple in the immediate vicinity of it.
The presence of a shrine in the house obliges the owners to take care not only of the external beauty of the interior, but also of the internal content, that is, it encourages them to piety. Be sure to see if everything in your house is in accordance with the shrine, if there are any contradictions.
In "Ancient Patericon" you can read an incident that happened to a hermit. Once during a prayer, the monk saw the Most Holy Virgin standing on the threshold of his cell. She seemed to be about to enter, but then she walked away and disappeared. The vision was repeated, and the saddened hermit turned to the Mother of God: "Lady, why do you not want to enter my dwelling?" To which the Mother of God answered: "How can I enter where my enemy is." The hermit pondered the words for a long time Blessed Virgin and remembered that in his cell among the books was a book with the works of a certain heretic, which the monk had forgotten to give to the owner. Immediately the hermit brought the book out of the cell.
If the family is friendly, then such "enemies" after discussion on family council can also be taken out of the house. And almost everyone has them. On this occasion, I recall two cases. Last year I was invited 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, there was a certain oppression in it. Walking around the rooms with holy water, I drew attention to the room of the youths, the sons of the owner, where an artistically executed poster dedicated to a famous rock group hung on the wall. Moreover, it is known for its satanic orientation.
After the prayer service, over tea, I cautiously, knowing about the fanatical devotion of some young people to their idols, tried to explain that “bad” in the house may well occur even from such posters that such images are trying to resist the shrine. The young man silently got up and took the picture under discussion from the wall. The choice was made right there.
But in another house, the indecision of the owners deprived them of a wonderful shrine. To one person, a pious old woman presented a beautiful icon - “The Apparition Mother of God Rev. Sergius of Radonezh ”. The icon was beautiful in itself, and besides, it was written and presented to its owner by the famous hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, which informed her of some peculiarity. The new owner found a place for the precious shrine on the wall in the living room, but, unfortunately, there were three engravings opposite. Old engravings in beautiful frames, three portraits of women: 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 Mother of God, but the unwillingness to destroy the interior and the not quite correctly perceived concept of culture did not allow them to make the right choice.
The next morning, early, as early as decency permits, the phone rang: the pious old woman begged for the icon to be returned to her and to return it as soon as possible. “I did not sleep all night, it seemed to me that something had happened to my icon. I will give you another, 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 old engravings received another icon as a gift. It was placed in another room on a shelf among other icons, since in its size and execution it was more suitable there. I don't know whether Lyubov Timofeevna chose a replacement by accident or on purpose. This was also the image of the Mother of God, it was called the "Mammal". Perhaps there was a hint of the spiritual age of her friends here? True, the lesson was not in vain, after a while the place of dubious portraits was taken by three landscapes.
Where to hang the icon?
Sometimes the question arises: there are several rooms in the house, where is it more appropriate to place the icons? There is no particular rule. But you pray more often in the room in which you sleep. Plus, prayer requires some privacy. “But when you pray, go into your room and, having closed your door, pray to your Father. Who is secretly ... ”(Matthew 6, 6), - we read in the Gospel. This means that it is reasonable 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 in his own way, in a childish way, refers to "God", it is good if he can see the image at the same time. In addition, any holy icon is miraculous, and it will miraculously protect your child.
Remember that in common room the whole family gathers, a common meal often takes place here, and a holy image should also be here. Don't forget about the kitchen. The hostess spends most of the time in it. The kitchen is the place for everyday breakfasts and dinners. It is better to say a prayer before eating food by looking at the icon. So, let icons be in every room and in the kitchen. “... I wish men to say prayers at every place, lifting up clean hands without anger and doubt” (1 Tim. 2, 8), - says the Apostle. "Everywhere ..."
What icons must be in the house?
There is one more question. What are the best icons 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 at home the image of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother.
In a Russian Orthodox house, most often you will find a triptych: the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Nicholas. The veneration of St. Nicholas in Russia is so wide that hardly any saint can compare in this sense with The miracle worker of Myra... The reason is simple: as you know, people don't go to a dry well to get water. Saint Nicholas is loved and revered by us as an early helper, intercessor and great miracle worker. Almost every family has experienced his wonderful help.
Godly people usually have an image of their own. heavenly patron whose name they bear. Sometimes this or that saint of God turns out to be something close to us. We find in his life some kind of close or beloved character trait, we admire some deed or miracle, created according to “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 reverence and warm prayer in front of the images Saint Sergius Of Radonezh, Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, righteous John Kronstadt, noble princes Alexander Nevsky, Daniel of Moscow and Dimitry Donskoy. Love for Russia is inseparable with love for miraculous icons Intercessors of the Zealous Mother of God, through whom so many miracles flowed to our land. These are icons of Vladimir, Kazan, Tikhvin, Sovereign and many others.
Feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God are also depicted on icons. You can have at home the icon of the Meeting, Annunciation, Baptism, the Protection of the Mother of God.
Take a look at the icon "The Nativity of Christ". What a quiet, peaceful, family-like, family-like image. God the Child and the Mother and the Betrothed looking at the Baby in quiet tenderness; shepherds worshiping the Savior with fear and joy of a simple and faithful heart; wise men-wise men who brought gifts-symbols, a sign that earthly wisdom is only part of the wisdom of heaven. Peaceful night, and above everything the star of Bethlehem. How many thoughts and prayers will be born next to this icon.
And take a look at the image “Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos”. 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 one kind of them caresses a parent's heart! But where is it better to preserve and strengthen this purity? In the temple. Joachim and Anna gave Mary to be raised in the temple. Look, parents, and your child must honor the Law of God, and your child must be in the temple. Looking at this image of parental deed and hope in God, pray for your children, reflect on your responsibilities.
How much we need for our souls will we find by looking at the icon "Presentation of the Lord". Meeting, in Slavic a meeting, that is, a meeting between the Savior and the Elder Simeon. What kind wonderful words said the God-receiver Simeon, taking the Infant Jesus into his arms: “Now you let Thy servant, Master, according to Thy word, in peace” (Luke 2:29). Because there was a revelation to the righteous elder that he would not die until he saw Christ the Savior. And when we meet the Lord, be it in prayer, in His temple, in reading Holy Scripture, at the relics of His holy saints, we also part with the earthly, temporarily die for the worries and sorrows of this life. "Now you are letting go of Thy servant, 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.
What a consolation for an orthodox person to see the omophorion of the Mother of God spread over the world on the icon of the holiday of the Intercession of the Mother of God. Do not despair, man, - and over you is the cover of the Zealous Intercessor.
There are different icons now available for purchase. Any sanctified image is a shrine. And paper lithography, and reproduced by an icon painter, and an old family image, and acquired in antique shop rarity - all this is an icon. Of course, it is nice to have a highly artistic image, written by a competent isographer, such as today you can buy in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, St. Daniel's Moscow Monastery, where there are art workshops. It's great if the houses are old family icons... But modern reproduction should not be neglected either. 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. Ancient icons, precious in writing, and next to them are unpretentious "village" letters, and in some places lithographs and photographs. And all these shrines - both dear and modest - met the prayerful gaze of a holy man who stood with a tender heart in front of them. It seems that the point here is not only in which icon is in front of us, but also in 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), the Savior said.
I would like to wish you that holy icons would often remain in front of your gaze, moving you to prayer and contemplation of God, lifting you above the bustle of the world, calming passions and healing diseases. Amen.
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Icons in our house. About prayer. About charity. - M .: Danilovsky evangelist, 1997.- 48 p. - (Series "For advice to the priest").
15.10.2014
When an icon appears in the house, people very often have a question about how to properly arrange it. This is not just a picture that can be hung wherever your heart desires. Otherwise, you can simply violate the sacred Orthodox traditions. Prayer is a sacrament, and strict canons must be adhered to in it. Therefore, it is so important to choose the right location for the icon.
The icon is important element in orthodoxy
Its main functions include:
narration of the events of the Sacred History;
expression of the main principles of Christianity;
the embodiment of conciliarity, the spiritual unity of man and God.
Where to hang the icon in the apartment
Traditionally, icons are hung in the so-called red corner. It houses an iconostasis, a cross, candles, icon 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 who cross the threshold of a dwelling 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, if desired, not only family members, but also guests can gather near it.
According to custom, the altar is on the east side. The icons are also located so that the one reading a prayer near them looks to the East. If in your home it is not possible to arrange the icon in this way, it can be hung in another place. The main thing is that it should be spacious and bright, and not a deaf inaccessible corner. By hanging the icon in a sunny place, the room will become even brighter and more festive.
Correct location of the icon
The icon can be either hung on a simple nail or placed on a special shelf together with others. In the presence of a large number icons, the so-called iconostasis is made for them. But icons should not become an object for simple collecting, they have a completely different purpose. And their number, in the end, may not have anything to do with the piety of the inhabitants of the house.
There is no place for icons on the shelves with books. They should not be located 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 an element of decor or an ordinary beautiful image... She retains faith and reverence, serves as protection and patronage. Do not be afraid to place the icon in the bedroom, there is nothing reprehensible and sinful in this, as many might think.
Icon "Weeping Savior" The image is depicted on canvas 13 inches wide and 16 inches high (approximately 57.2 cm by 70.4 cm), the image is half-length, the writing style is probably Italian. The image is different in many ways ...
Icon of the Mother of God "Eletskaya" Day of celebration - February 6, Old Art. / February 18 New Style The appearance of the ancient miraculous Yelets Icon of the Mother of God took place on February 6, 1060, during the reign of the grandson of Saint ...
V Orthodox families the icon is especially revered. She is blessed for a long journey and happy family life, successful work or study. Before her they pray to the Lord, the Mother of God and various saints for intercession and protection from diseases and troubles. But only a few know how to correctly place icons in an apartment. Well, it's time to fix this annoying situation. We will tell you how to correctly place the icons in the apartment.
What icons to hang in the house?
In the house of a Christian, there must be 2 icons (Jesus Christ and the Mother of God), as well as a prayer cross. In addition to them, in a specially designated place, you can place the holy images of the patrons and patrons of the family: Matrona of Moscow, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Sergius of Radonezh, Dmitry Donskoy, John of Kronstadt, Seraphim of Sarov, etc. But still there should not be too many icons. There are enough of those before whom you are accustomed to praying tirelessly. And yet, try not to put next to the icons photographs of living or deceased loved ones and celebrities, no matter how much you value them.
Where can the images be placed?
The first thing to think about before placing the icons in an apartment correctly is where it is best to do it. In fact, you can place holy images in any room. Naturally, apart from the bath and toilet, these rooms should not even have a small image - this is sacrilege. If you are used to praying to the Lord before meals, hang the icon over the dining table or behind the glass cabinet door. Then the whole family will be able to express gratitude to Him every day for the welfare and the food provided. Just do not forget that in this case there is no place for a TV and a tape recorder in this room.
The icons will be useful in the bedroom, in the hall or in the guest rooms. In the nursery, the image of the Mother of God, placed above the bed, will be quite appropriate. The Holy Patroness will save your child from troubles, misfortunes, illnesses and bad thoughts. Grants him obedience. However, here you can also place a personalized icon in a beautiful frame. Just do not forget that the child should not reach for Orthodox products. Hang them higher (but not too much!).
People who are interested in where it is better to place the icons in the apartment also sometimes ask: "Can I put them on the desktop, next to the computer?" In fact, you can, but you shouldn't. Instead, place the holy image somewhere nearby, such as on a window or wall. In this case, he will better help you in your work, and it will not get in the way at hand. If the window is full of flowers, and there is simply no convenient part of the wall, the icons can be placed on bookshelf, next to theological literature, a chest of drawers or a low sideboard. But do not forget that the most suitable place for them is the red corner.
Is it possible to hang an icon over the door?
Yes, you can, there are no prohibitions here. But you need to understand that an icon is not a talisman capable of protecting a house from ill-wishers. It is necessary at the entrance to the house only so that the person who entered and saw her could remember the name of God, pray, thank higher power, ask them for intercession in any endeavors. As for which icon can be hung over the front door, these are: "Savior on Ubrus", "Seven-shot" (helps to reject bad thoughts), "Impassable door" (helps to quickly overcome troubles and troubles), "Guardian Angel" ( removes unclean forces from household and home) and others. In principle, there are no restrictions.
Where is the image not allowed?
Before placing icons in an apartment, you must remember that it is forbidden to do this next to paintings, photographs, posters, souvenirs, wall or grandfather clocks, figurines and other household attributes. They can not be placed next to a TV or tape recorder. These devices should be located in another room. And one more thing: nothing should be above the icons or very close to them, except for the cross, icon lamps and some permitted decorations, for example, icon lamps or those created by the hostess beautiful napkins.
Where to place the red corner?
For a long time, the red corner was created not far from front door, in the east corner. It was believed that a person who entered must first honor the Lord God, and then - the owner of the dwelling. Now, in many apartments, the layout does not allow placing icons in the right place... If you also do not have this opportunity, try placing them to the right of the entrance to the house. This is not prohibited by the Church. If this option does not suit you, make a red corner in the eastern corner of the largest and bright room... Where it is possible to place icons in an apartment has already been said above. The only addition is that it is better to place icons on the iconostasis. You can buy it at any Orthodox store or do it yourself.
How to position the iconostasis correctly?
The most important thing when choosing a location and location of this product- make it so that, if necessary, 2 people can freely approach it. Other rules concern "neighborhood" with household items... So, next to the iconostasis or above it, you should immediately place a prayer cross. But curtains and other flammable objects should not be nearby, since fire from lamps or candles can spread to them. For the same reason, do not install the icon shelves too close to the ceiling. It is enough to make it so that small children and pets cannot reach it, and that's all.
How to arrange the icons in the iconostasis?
By Orthodox tradition, the images on the iconostasis should go in the following order: on the uppermost shelf - the icon of the Holy Trinity, below it - the face of the Savior of mankind, below - the images of the Saints and Patrons of the family. To the right of the icon of Jesus Christ, it is customary to place an icon of the Mother of God, to the left - any one, sustained in the same style. Above the holy images or on the side of them, it is also worth hanging a prayer cross. However, many Orthodox people do everything according to their own understanding. You can do the same. But do not forget to do everything with a pure heart and sincere faith in the existence of God, because without this the iconostasis located in the house will be useless.
How to decorate the iconostasis with your own hands?
Now you know how to correctly place icons in an apartment. The photo on this page illustrates this process in detail. Therefore, let's talk about how and what to decorate.It is worth saying that Orthodox people use hand-embroidered handbrakes, lace rags, small flower twigs (most often artificial) for this.
But you can also hang a burning lamp in front of the shelves with holy images, put a shroud (a small napkin with frills or laces) on them, and also place birch or lime twigs nearby. You don't need to invent anything else. Remember that you place the iconostasis in the house for prayers, and not in order to transform the interior in any way.
How to keep the iconostasis clean?
Any product needs constant care, the iconostasis is no exception. So, the temperature in the room where it is located should be at the level of 18-20 degrees, the humidity should not be higher than 40%. If stubborn dirt or stains appear on the images of the holy ones, they should be wiped with a slightly damp cloth or a soft brush. Detergents however, it is highly discouraged to use. The shelves themselves should also be remembered to wipe off dust and dirt, trying not to wet them too much.
Napkins, towels and tablecloths must be washed at least occasionally. And one more thing: apart from external cleanliness, it is good to observe spatial cleanliness next to the icons. Just do not litter the space around them with even "very necessary" things. And then you no longer have to think about how to place the icons in the apartment if it has become impossible to keep them in the old place.
As a conclusion
The solution to the question of how to correctly place icons in a house or apartment must be approached with all responsibility, since this is not an easy task. But if faith is really strong and you are willing to do anything for your own spiritual development, then be sure to handle everything. We wish you prosperity, tranquility and family happiness.
