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Top 5 Blog Posts of the Week of January 9th


5. Iconographic Analysis of the Icon of the Nativity of Christ


The Birth of Christ has always been celebrated and hymned by Christians in some way or other, as it is central to the Faith. The Word of God in past times may have appeared as an angel of the Lord, or the divine fire of the burning bush, but now, from this time onwards, He has become one of us; and not just as a fully-grown man descended from Heaven, but in humility God is born of a woman, and comes to us as a tiny, speechless, infant. This is what is shown in the Nativity Icon, and around this central historical event other stories surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ are depicted…READ FULL ARTICLE

4. The Techniques and Details: Creating Orthodox Icons


It may be impossible for you to find any icons of the saint. Perhaps they are obscure saints, or are well known but for some reason not recorded in icons. This is very often the case with early saints of the West, such as the early saints of Britain or Gaul. In this case, assuming you are experienced enough to attempt such a thing, you will need to design the very first icon of that saint. And for this more research is required. Having studied the saint’s life, you will need to become acquainted with the dress and even the hairstyles of the age, and if they were clerics, what tonsures were used at the time…READ FULL ARTICLE

3. Orthodox Christmas: Why is the date different around the world?


Orthodox Christians around the globe are preparing for their own Christmas, which they celebrate on January 7. But why chose this day to celebrate? Who celebrates it and how is the occasion marked?...READ FULL ARTICLE

2. Astrology is Astrolatry: Christian view on Astrology


Christian man does not have to be a miracle-worker, brilliant theologian or heavenly vision soothsayer or maker, but he does have to account for not being aware of his sins. A sin in the Orthodox Church is understood in the spirit of the Greek word "amartia." In Ancient Greece, when a person aimed to hit the bull's eye and failed, they called it "amartia," "he missed." Falling short of the mark, not reaching your goal, not attaining your purpose is sin…READ FULL ARTICLE

1. Clergy Etiquette in the Orthodox Church


The following is a guide for properly addressing Orthodox clergy. Most of the titles do not exactly correspond to the terms used in Greek, Russian, or the other native languages of the national Orthodox Churches, but they have been widely accepted as standard English usages…READ FULL ARTICLE


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