Saint George (Page 4)

Saint George

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Iconostasis

The most prominent feature of an Orthodox church is the Iconostasis (GR "an icon-stand") - a screen or wall which serves as a stable support for icons and marks the boundary, as well as the liaison, between the nave and the sanctuary. A typical Iconostasis consists of one

Eikona

The word ICON comes from the Ancient Greek word EIKONA (image, likeness, portrait). Since the early centuries of Christianity, the word "icon" was used to refer to images with a religious content, meaning and use. Christian art first appeared in the catacombs. When Christianity was recognized as a

Archangels

ARCHANGELS are messengers of great and wondrous tidings. They reveal prophecies and the mysteries of the faith. They spread faith in God among the people, illuminating their minds with the Light of the Holy Gospel. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with

Logos

LOGOS (GR Word). The Greek word logos already had a long history before it was used by St. John the Evangelist. Its three principle meanings are: " think, reckon, and speak". At its most profound level logos conveys: the meaning , the ordering, and reasonable content. It also came to

Typikon

TYPIKON (GR "following the order"; "that of the prescribed form") literally means "ritual" and in the context of the Church refers to the pattern of rituals in conducting worship. The Orthodox Church has numerous books filled with readings, hymns, prayers and worship services. However,

Saint Luke - Feast Day, October 18

Saint Luke - Feast Day, October 18

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke was a native of the city of Antioch, a Disciple from amongst the Seventy, a companion of the holy Apostle Paul (Phil. 1: 24; 2 Tim 4: 10-11), and a physician enlightened in the Greek medical arts. Luke joined St. Paul on his second

Synaxarion

Synaxarion or SYNEXARION (plurals Synaxaria, Synexaria - GR: "to bring together") is the classic, abridged, collection of the “Lives of the Saints,” intended for reading in the context of public worship, and of personal prayer. The Church does not cease to grow through the addition of new saints

The High Priest

The High Priest

"... and as Lord of all didst take the name of our High Priest1..." For us Orthodox Christians there is only one HIGH PRIEST, Jesus Christ himself. At our baptism we were marked with oil as a sign that we are consecrated to God and anointed by the Holy

Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega

Alpha (Α or α) andomega (Ω or ω) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing "the beginning and the end," or the divinity and eternity of Christ and a title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation. “I am the Alpha and

Trisagion

The Trisagion (GR: "Thrice Holy"), is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Orthodox Church. In this hymn God is described as holy in three different qualities. The biblical use of "Holy" three times is an indication of the three Persons in the

Elevation of the Holy Cross

Elevation of the Holy Cross

The Elevation or Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated on September 14th. The Cross, the instrument of the Lord’s Sacrifice, is one of the most important and holy relics of the Church. On this day we commemorate: The finding of the True Cross of our Lord and Savior

Nativity of the Theotokos

Nativity of the Theotokos

There are three major feasts in the Church honoring the Mother of God. The first one being the NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS celebrated on September 8. The traditional teaching found in the hymns and verses of the festal liturgy is that Mary was born to an elderly and pious Jewish

Ecclesiastical New Year

Ecclesiastical New Year

Ecclesiastical or Church New Year is celebrated on September 1st by Orthodox Christians. The old Roman term for this day is Indictio, meaning “definition” or “order.” This was a day established as the beginning of a fifteen year cycle, marking the redefinition of tax obligations for Roman citizens (especially since

Sign of the Cross

Sign of the Cross

We make the Sign of the Cross to signify our belief in the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross for man's salvation. It is made by the right hand in a cruciform gesture touching the forehead, chest, right and left shoulders with the tips of fingers: the thumb,

Dormition of the Theotokos

Dormition of the Theotokos

On August 15, the Church commemorates the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos - the repose (dormition - kimisis in Greek) or "falling-asleep" of the Mother of our Lord and the translation into heaven of the body of the Theotokos. The Feast also commemorates the death, resurrection

The Magnificat

The MAGNIFICAT (Latin for "[My soul] magnifies [the Lord]") is known in the Byzantine tradition, as theOde or the Song of the Theotokos. It was originally written in Greek – so the Latin term while used today was not the original name. The text is taken directly from the

The Dormition Fast

The Dormition Fast

Every year the Orthodox Church sets aside the first fourteen days of August in honor of the Virgin Mary. This fast period - the Dormition Fast - culminates with the celebration of the Great Feast of the Dormition (Falling-Asleep) of the Theotokos on August 15. During this fourteen day fast

Sunday of all Saints

Sunday of all Saints

The first Sunday after the Feast of Holy Pentecost, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Sunday of All Saints. On this day, we commemorate all of the Saints, all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, those who are known to us, and those who are

Pentecost

In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the feast which occurred fifty days after Passover (Pentecost celebrated God’s gift of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai). In Christian Tradition, fifty days after the Resurrection and ten days after Christ’s Ascension, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost (Acts

Leavetaking

leavetaking - The last day of an Afterfeast is called the Apodosis (Gk. "leave-taking", lit. "giving-back"; Sl: Otdaniye) of the Feast. On the Apodosis, most of the hymns that were chanted on the first day of the Feast are repeated. On the Apodosis of Feasts of

Acts of the Apostles

Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles, often referred to simply as Acts, or formally the Book of Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament, was written in Greek, by St. Luke the Evangelist toward the end of the first century. It tells of the founding of the Christian church and

Agape

Agape is the name of the Easter Vespers Service typically held in the afternoon on the day of Pascha, the Feast of Feasts. At the Agape Service, excerpts from the Gospel are read in several foreign languages by various churchgoers symbolising that the Glorious Resurrection of Christ is proclaimed to

Bridegroom Services

Bridegroom Services

During the first three nights of Holy Week we are reminded of the Second Coming of Christ. These are called the Bridegroom services or Nymphios Orthros Services. Why the Bridegroom? "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Because the Divine Liturgy is the "Banquet of Christ", a festive, triumphant celebration, the ancient discipline of the Church came to regard it as out of harmony with the penitential climate, "the bright sadness", of Great Lent. Thus, during Lent, the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy is not

Clean Monday

Clean Monday also known as Pure Monday, is the first day of the Orthodox Christian Great Lent. The common term for this day, "Clean Monday", refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods, and to entering the Great Lent period with a clean heart. The