The icon of Our Lady of Bethlehem is considered miraculous. Perhaps, this is the one of the rarest icons of the Virgin Mary because she is depicted with a smile. This piece of art was made in Russia and moved to Bethlehem by the order of Elizabeth of Russia after the Empress had been cured of a serious health problem in front of it. The icon helps everyone, so its miraculous power will help you too! The icon of Our […]
Do you agree that faith is essential for all humans? As an Orthodox Christian, you should have a strong belief in God, the Creator, and in the widely recognized doctrines of the Orthodox Church. You should boost your spiritual development using different methods. One of them is to have the ability to see, feel, possess, and share beauty with others. What is true beauty? It’s a source of spirituality that points humans to God. You should remember that God, the […]
Tattooing is a very ancient custom that has been practiced in many parts of the world. They have been censored since the Middle Ages but nowadays, tattoos have reached great popularity (in the modern days, they serve as a trendy accessory), and people tend to disapprove of tattooing less. An important question people ask themselves: “Can a person who believes in Jesus Christ get himself a tattoo?”. To answer this question, one should turn to the Holy Book. The New […]
Most believing Christians often come across the word “Heaven” when reading the Sacred Texts (it’s normal because in the New Testament only, it is mentioned about three hundred times). If we turn to the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, we can find the part when one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ (namely, Apostle Paul) “went to the third heaven”. This Text makes it clear that there are three so-called levels of Heaven. The Holy Bible will help us find […]
This phrase means that it is necessary to punish the child if he (she) refuses to obey certain rules. The absence of punishment results in the gradual spoiling of the child. The Sacred Texts say that the punishment for misbehavior is a true love of the father for his son, while the opposite is hate for the child. In the absence of punishment, the child will not understand that for every sin, there’s atonement. Parents must show their love for […]
According to the Sacred Texts, prayer is a process of communication between the human soul and God (it is important to understand that this is precisely the process of communication with God, and not just reflection, such as meditation). Prayer is a bridge between the human soul and God (the creator of this soul). Through prayer, we tell God about our experiences, problems, desires, and other thoughts (it is like a direct dialogue with Him). There are many types of […]
George is one of the most revered Christian Saints, especially loved in Russia. He became known in the Russian Lands soon after the Baptism, in the eleventh century. The saint was depicted as a Fighter with a Dragon and was called the Victorious One. In Russia there were several variants of his name: Yegoriy; Egor; Yuri. Princes and voivodes considered St. George the patron saint of warriors, and the peasants sent him prayers for sick animals – faithful helpers in […]
On the obverse of the cross is the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Mother of God and the Prophet John the Baptist, the Baptist of the Lord, are standing on His side in the Deesis (prayer for the people) on both sides. Top — Holy Trinity. This is the image of the Triune God, who appeared in the form of the three angels to the forefather Abraham. On the ear is placed the Hand-to-hand image of the […]
The Baptism in Ancient Russia was a significant event. Each baptized person received his own cross. He lived with it all his life and then he was buried with it. At first, after the baptism of All Russia, the crucifixion was worn over the clothes. This showed that the person was a Christian. Crucifixes with the image of the holy face passed from generation to generation. The famous crucifixes are real relics. They belonged to: Sergey Radonezhsky; Euthymius of Suzdal; […]
The clergy have been concerned about whether crosses can be worn with stones, as decoration since ancient times. And some priests prefer crosses that are decorated with precious stones. At the same time, some will consider it as a sin, and others as piety. Over the years, more and more crosses in church shops are decorated with stones, like jewelry. The artists believe that by working on the cross they will be able to revive the «ancient splendor». Ecclesiastical art […]