Christian icons are not ordinary relics. Orthodox shrines are now in every home. Some people buy them as a fashion statement; in some families they are passed down from one generation to the next. For a long time, Christians created an iconostasis, which was always in a prominent place. The rich had more shrines than the poor. But everyone observed Christian traditions and treated them with great reverence.
Orthodox shrines are not amulets; they should not be installed for decoration. Many people acquire icons simply out of ordinary superstition, believing that they are automatically included in the protection of the house and its inhabitants. Believers are guided by other things when choosing the faces of saints.
Orthodox images are often hung on the walls, at the head of the bed, above the front door , using them as a tool of protection from unkind people. The holy face fills the home with bright energy.
It is believed that the chosen image has a huge influence on those living in the house. The canopy of saints gives a special mood and tranquility.
Placement of house icons
Of course, there are no strict rules for placement. There are some recommendations from priests on this matter:
- The image of the saint is most often installed in the east of the apartment , this is how it has been customary to pray since ancient times. But if for some reason this cannot be done, then it is permissible to hang the icon near the front door and above the head of the bed.
- If a corner is allocated for shrines , then first of all they take care of its cleanliness. Timely cleaning should become a ritual. Therefore, such an angle is made only within the reach of the owner.
- The space with the icon must be cleared of all photographs and talismans. Household items, toys, cosmetics are removed. Even paintings with biblical themes are hidden due to the inappropriateness of being next to a relic.
- Often, along with Christian icons, photographs of deceased monks and elders are installed. According to all canons, this is completely unacceptable. The image of a saint and earthly life reflected in the photo are incompatible. Such photographs should be stored separately from the transformed face and hung in other places.
- If there are a lot of icons, there is no need to keep them on the shelf . It is best to hang it on the walls, observing composition and symmetry so that there is no feeling of discomfort.
- An icon of the Savior is needed above the dining table , because after eating, according to tradition, the “Our Father” is read. And the prepared meal is sanctified with prayer. It is possible to host the “Last Supper”.
- In the nursery you can hang a shrine with the face of the Guardian Angel or the child’s patron.
Hierarchy of icon placement
A prerequisite for an Orthodox home is to have the faces of the Mother of God and the Savior . They always had the main place. In Orthodox iconography, there are a variety of options for the image of the Lord Jesus Christ; for prayer, the icon of the Lord Pantocrator is preferred . And among the many faces of the Mother of God they choose Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Smolensk. Above these two icons, only one can be placed - the “Holy Trinity”.
Some people mistakenly believe that these shrines must be hung higher than others. It is not necessary to do this at all. They can be placed on the same level as the others, the main thing is not lower, which is considered indecent according to the canons of Christianity.
Personalized ones are placed on the sides of the main icons. If there are none, then they place the images of saints who are respected in the family . Most often this is an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the most revered saint in Rus'. People turn to him on all everyday issues, he is considered the intercessor of all those undeservedly offended.
Storage of icons
To store icons, special cabinets are purchased - icon cases, which protect them from damage, dust, temperature and humidity changes. It is a sin to carelessly handle relics . You should not varnish them, coat them with special solutions, or rub them with anything. With such inattention, the micropores through which icons breathe can become clogged. And the composition, which prevents air exchange, poisons the Orthodox shrine.
If, nevertheless, a misfortune happens to the consecrated icon, and it cannot be restored, it is strictly forbidden to throw it away . You can take the shrine to the church, where it will find its final refuge among the icons that have served.
An icon is a conversation with God
Independent selection of icons should be based on pure thoughts and the desire to pray. The appearance of each shrine in the house will be determined by internal fears and the belief that it will help and protect from harm. Luxurious antique icons, bought to amuse one’s vanity and the desire to amaze others, will not help on a thorny path.
You should not rely on a large number of shrines. The person's attitude towards this is important. There may be only one revered face in the house, to which the hearts of the household are drawn. An icon is a conversation with God . It helps to perform prayers, giving a special enlightenment that cannot be achieved by simply choosing beautiful faces that you like. A haphazard approach will never be beneficial.
Where you can't make a shrine
Where should you not hang icons?
- Cannot be kept in the toilet or bathroom.
- Do not place it near any electronic equipment. These items will distract you from prayer, even when turned off.
- It is not recommended to place the goddess near the dressing table, or where there are toys, figurines, or non-ecclesiastical books.
- There should be no paintings near the shrine, even those with religious content, as well as posters with famous personalities.
- You can place them in the upper niches of furniture, but you cannot place souvenirs and photographs next to them.
- If you place it on the walls, then there should be nothing on them except images.
Dear friends, you must remember that without icons, home and family are not protected! You have learned what icons should be in the house, use your knowledge to protect your loved ones from misfortunes and illnesses!
What icons hang above the front door
An icon is installed above the entrance to the home, which helps protect against the penetration of evil. Therefore, they carefully choose it, paying attention to the meaning. There are several options for how to hang the image.
- The shrine is hung immediately above the doorway. This is done to charge positive energy and neutralize negative energy.
- By hanging an icon opposite the door, the goal is to prevent negativity from coming into the house from the outside.
But there are no strict rules that must be followed blindly. Everything comes from the soul, sincerity in the heart.
"Seven-arrow" icon
On a popular icon called “Seven Arrows” or “Softening Evil Hearts,” the Mother of God is depicted alone, without Jesus . She holds with her hands seven or six arrows (depending on the spelling) that pierced her chest. The Mother of God grieves, her heart breaks with pain for us, and the arrows symbolize sins that people are in no hurry to get rid of.
There are legends about the “Seven Shot” that it heals the terminally ill . She has very strong energy that allows her to cope with the biggest problems. The second title is “Softening Evil Hearts.” The icon gives a positive charge, defusing the heavy home atmosphere.
In case of discord within the family, anger at loved ones, you need to pray to the Mother of God with a request to soften negative emotions and calm down the warring parties. It relieves people in a difficult emotional state from bad thoughts, helps from thieves and all unkind people. If important things are coming up, then they certainly take her with them. But the main task is protection from evil not only from the outside, but also from within. The Mother of God prays for the forgiveness of the sins of each of us.
Most often, “Seven Shot” is hung opposite the entrance to the room so that every guest meets its gaze. Moreover, the power of the Mother of God is so great that even an unconsecrated icon or an embroidered copy can be used in the house and work miracles.
"The Unbreakable Wall"
The mosaic icon itself, in which the Mother of God raises her hands to heaven in prayer, is located in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev . This is the most revered relic in Christian Orthodoxy, ideal for entering and opposite a home.
It got its name due to the fact that it has remained intact for more than 800 years, despite the destruction of other parts of the cathedral.
The Mother of God stands as a wall between the one who prays and the evil coming at him. This is truly an unbreakable wall of protection for those who need it. The power of the face protects from the curses of enemies, the evil intentions of opponents, and the black magic of sorcerers.
A person with unclean intentions will be able to enter the house, the entrance of which is guarded by the Mother of God, but will feel very bad and will leave forever. When leaving their native monastery, they prayed to the icon to protect them from troubles and provide patronage in every possible way in a foreign land.
Guardian Angel Icon
The most popular face is the image of the Guardian Angel, which is determined by date of birth. True, there are other options. For example, you can identify an angel by the name given at baptism. In addition, if there is a desire, the custodian can be chosen independently, depending on the goal being pursued. One is trying to look for love in order to start a family, another is praying for a speedy recovery of the body, the third is crying for an end to family quarrels. For each case, a patron is identified who helps the prayers.
The image of an Angel in the house does not mean that all problems with his appearance will go away forever. But a positive attitude and hope that the request will be fulfilled will have a positive effect on the inner spirit.
What should you keep in mind?
Attention! The main thing in matters of placing an icon is faith. Without faith, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve positive influence and beneficial changes in your own home, and the placement of icons above the door or opposite will not have any meaning.
Remember that if you don’t have faith, you don’t even have to try to hang an icon in your own home. It will carry positive energy, but without faith it will not be possible to notice concrete changes. You should take a comprehensive approach to choosing an icon. This is an individual process for each person. It is important to pay attention to general recommendations, but you must select a specific image solely based on your own feelings and priorities.
Hanging a Shrine above the front door is a way to solve problems, get rid of negativity and protect your own home. Choose those images that will help you cope with your problems. Some people want to establish peace in the family, find love or restore relationships; for others, material well-being comes first, and for others, health. It is important to remember all this in the process of selecting an icon. In this case, the result will really surprise you, and your faith in the miraculous power of icons will only increase.
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The main thing is faith
There are clergy who say that the holy image does not correlate with the ritual of scaring away evil forces that came from the pagans. And they are negatively disposed towards those who treat icons only as amulets.
To summarize, I would like to say that the choice of shrines for the home is an individual decision. The grace of God is sent through the icon, which has nothing to do with their quantity. You need to listen to your heart, and not blindly rely on others.
One should seek protection only from God. You cannot hang Orthodox images because of fashion trends or some kind of superstition. It is not the icon itself that heals and protects, it all depends on faith. If it is not there, no manipulation will help or strengthen the spirit. Regular prayers and faith are what give balance. By looking inside yourself, you can get many answers. When you turn to God with repentance and hope, help will always come.
Home prayer
How to pray at home in front of an icon? Prayer at home is almost no different from prayer in church.
The only difference is that at home you can remember people of any religion. In church it is customary to pray mentally, and at home - out loud. You must begin prayer fully dressed. Women must wear a headscarf, dress or skirt.
Prayers can be short, in your own words or written in the Prayer Book. Long prayers are reserved for priests.
Your Prayer Book should include:
- morning and evening prayers;
- daytime (before the start and end of any task, before and after eating food, etc.);
- canons by day of the week and “Canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ”;
- Akathists (“To Our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ”, “To the Most Holy Theotokos”, etc.);
- “Following to Holy Communion...” and prayers read after it.
In addition to the Prayer Book, every believer should have a Psalter . You need to read 150 psalms in a week. But to read the Psalter, you should take a blessing from the priest.
How much should you pray? This is determined by the person himself. If you don’t have the strength or time, then be sure to read “Our Father” in the morning, “Have mercy on me, O God...” (the fiftieth psalm) and the “Creed”, and in the evening - the prayer of St. John Chrysostom, “May God rise again...” and “Confession of sins.” everyday." It is imperative to read prayer words before and after meals. If you can't read while standing, sit down and pray.
At home you must pray in complete silence, in front of icons, with deep bows to the waist or on your knees, making the sign of the cross. The prayer word through strength, if there is no strength, will also be heard.
