Where can I hang icons. What icon should hang above the front door: meaning

People who have only recently joined the faith in God often have questions related to the arrangement of a home iconostasis. In accordance with the centuries-old Orthodox tradition in every house, whether it was a peasant hut or boyar mansions, the icons were located in the corner, which was called red, and the presence of icons, as it were, filled the house with a sense of goodness and spiritual purity. Now this tradition is gradually being restored, which is of great importance, but new converts have many questions. Let's try to answer the most common questions about the home iconostasis.

In which corner are the icons placed in the room?

According to the Orthodox tradition, this should be the southeast corner of the room, but if the room is too small, then you can place the icons in a free corner or against the wall. The main thing is that there should not be any secular objects next to them (pictures, posters, posters, calendars, etc.).

So, we found out where the icons should be in the house. It is to stand, because according to tradition they are placed in an icon case or on a special shelf covered with an embroidered towel or lace napkins. The shelf is often decorated with artificial or fresh flowers, a bouquet of herbs is placed on the Trinity, consecrated eggs are laid on Easter, a vessel with holy water is placed, etc.

At the time of prayer, candles are lit in front of the icons, so you should take care of fire safety

It is best to hang or put up a lamp and light it for the time of prayer, as well as on Sundays and on church holidays.

It is probably unnecessary to remind you that the home iconostasis must be kept in impeccable cleanliness, and the dust from the icons is not wiped off with a cloth, but brushed off with a feather.

What icons traditionally make up the iconostasis?

In the home iconostasis, there must be icons of the Savior, the Holy Trinity and the Mother of God. It also matters in what order the icons are located in the iconostasis: the above icons should be on the top shelf, and the rest, which you can choose at your discretion, are located below.

It is desirable that in the home iconostasis there are icons of saints whose names are family members, and you need to know the history of these saints. Often they choose icons of saints who help maintain peace and harmony in the family, overcome life's hardships (Nikolai the Wonderworker, Matrona of Moscow, Panteleimon the Healer, etc.). There should be no foreign objects in the home iconostasis, including photographs of relatives.

Location of icons on the iconostasis

Knowing which icons you need to have at home, you should also place them correctly. The location of icons on the home iconostasis is strictly regulated: the icons of the Savior, the Mother of God and the Holy Trinity should be placed above all other icons.

If all the icons are on the same surface (for example, on a bedside table), then the icon of the Savior is placed in the center, the Mother of God and the Holy Trinity are placed on the sides of it, and all the rest are placed a little away from these main icons.

Choosing an Orthodox Icon

About what icons should be in the home iconostasis, it is said above. You need to buy them only in the church shop, as consecrated icons are sold there. You can also buy a kiot for the house there. If you have been presented with an icon, the origin of which you doubt, take it to the temple for consecration.

The correct location of the icons in the house

In the house, the location of the icons may be different. You can arrange the main iconostasis in one room, and place some icons (for example, patron saints) in every room and even in the kitchen.

If it is not possible to arrange an iconostasis in the red corner, then a separate table or bedside table can be allocated, but they should not contain any extraneous, that is, objects not related to prayers.

In the house, you can hang icons everywhere. The only places where icons cannot be placed are the toilet and bathroom.

Is it possible to put an icon on an icon?

No, you need to arrange them separately.

Icons in the kitchen

These can be images of the Savior, the Mother of God or the Holy Trinity, to which they offer prayer before the meal, or other icons of your choice. It is better to place icons in the kitchen away from the stove so that they do not get dirty. You can hang them in the opposite corner from the stove or put them in a kitchen cabinet behind glass.

Can icons be hung on the wall?

You can hang icons directly on the wall in other rooms, for example, hang an icon of your child's patron saint bearing the same name in the children's room. You can hang the icon above the bed, but if it is a crib, then you should hang the icon higher so that the restless child does not get to it.

Christian icons are not ordinary relics. Orthodox shrines are now in every home. Someone buys them as a tribute to fashion, in some families they pass from one generation to another. Since ancient times, Christians have created an iconostasis, which has always been in a conspicuous 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 the sake of decoration. Many 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 hang 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 dwelling with light energy.

It is believed that the chosen image has a huge impact 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 of priests in this regard:

Hierarchy of icons placement

A prerequisite for an Orthodox home is to have faces Mother of God and Savior. They have always been in the lead. In Orthodox iconography, there is a variety of options for the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, for prayer, the icon of the Lord Almighty 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 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 with the rest, the main thing is not lower, which is considered indecent according to the canons of Christianity.

Named ones are placed on the sides of the main icons. If there are none, then place the faces of saints who are respected in the family. Most often, this is an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the most revered saint in Russia. He is addressed on all domestic issues, he is considered the intercessor of all undeservedly offended.

Icon storage

To store icons, special lockers are purchased - icon cases that protect against damage, dust, temperature changes and humidity. It is a sin to carelessly handle relics. Do not varnish them, cover them with special solutions, rub them with something. With such an inattentive attitude, the micropores through which the icons breathe can become clogged. And the composition that prevents air exchange poisons the Orthodox shrine.

If, nevertheless, a misfortune happened to the consecrated icon, and it cannot be restored, Throwing it away is strictly prohibited.. You can take the shrine to the church, where it will find its last refuge among the icons that have served.

An icon is a conversation with God

Independent selection of icons should be based on pure thoughts, the desire to pray. The appearance of each shrine in the house will be determined inner fears and faith that she will help and protect from harm. Luxurious antique icons, bought for the amusement of one's vanity and desire to impress others, will not help on a thorny path.

Do not rely on a large number of shrines. What matters is the person's attitude to it. The revered face in the house can be one, to which the hearts of the household are drawn. An icon is a conversation with God. It helps to make prayers, giving a special enlightenment that cannot be achieved by simply choosing beautiful faces that you like. An unsystematic approach will never work.

What icons are hung over the front door

An icon is installed above the entrance to the dwelling, which helps protect against the penetration of evil. Therefore, they carefully approach its choice, paying attention to the value. There are several options for how to hang an image.

1. The shrine is hung immediately above the doorway. This is done to charge positive energy and neutralize negative.
2. Hanging the icon in front of the door, they pursue the goal of preventing negativity from entering the house from the outside.

But there are no hard and fast rules to follow blindly. Everything comes from the heart, sincerity in the heart.

"Seven-shooter" icon

On a popular icon called "Seven Arrows" or "Softener of 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 the chest. The Mother of God is grieving, her heart is torn from pain for us, and the arrows symbolize the sins that people are in no hurry to get rid of.

There are legends about the "Seven-strelnaya" that she heals the terminally ill. She has a very strong energy that allows her to cope with the biggest problems. The second name is "Softener of Evil Hearts". The icon gives a positive charge, discharging a heavy homely atmosphere.

With discord within the family, anger at loved ones, you need to pray to the Virgin with a request to soften negative emotions and appease the enemies. It saves people in a difficult emotional state from bad thoughts, helps from thieves and all unkind people. If important matters are coming, then they will certainly take it with them. But the main task is to protect against 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, the "Seven-strelnaya" is hung opposite the entrance to the room, so that each guest meets her 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 home and work wonders.

"Unbreakable Wall"

The mosaic icon itself, on which the Mother of God raises her hands to heaven in prayer, is located in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. This is the most revered relic in Christian Orthodoxy, ideal for entering the dwelling and opposite it.

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 indeed an indestructible wall of protection for those who need it. The power of the face protects from curses enemies, evil intentions of opponents, black magic of sorcerers.

A person with impure intentions will be able to enter the house, the entrance of which is guarded by the Mother of God, but he will feel very bad and will leave forever. Leaving their native monastery, they prayed to the icon so that it would protect them from troubles and patronize 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 the date of birth. True, there are other options. For example, you can identify an angel by name given at baptism. In addition, if there is a desire, then the keeper is chosen independently, depending on the goal that is being pursued. One tries to seek love in order to start a family, another prays for a speedy recovery of the body, the third cries out for an end to family quarrels. For each case, a patron is determined 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 for the fulfillment of the request will favorably affect the inner spirit.

The main thing is faith

There are priests who say that the holy image does not correspond to the ritual of scaring away evil forces that came from the pagans. And they are negatively inclined towards those who treat icons only as amulets.

Summing up, 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 number. You need to listen to your heart, and not blindly rely on others.

Seeking protection is only with God. It is impossible to hang Orthodox images because of fashion trends or some kind of superstition. Not the icon itself heals and protects, it all depends on faith. If it is not there, no manipulations will help and strengthen the spirit. Regular prayer and faith is what brings balance. Looking inside yourself, you can get many answers. Help will always come to turning to God with repentance and hope.

Faith in the Lord is our most precious wealth, the only true vector leading us through life, the greatest gift and grace. We must reverently follow the laws of Holy Scripture and we must bring its blessing to the world. In addition to the fact that our soul follows the call of faith, in our worldly life there are many symbolic and holy things that help us, protect and illuminate us, our family and home. Among such most holy things, first of all, icons and faces of the Saints can and should be attributed.

The icon should be present in every house and apartment, with its light it not only gives a feeling of grace, but also helps to cope with difficult moments of life, it protects from evil thoughts and troubles, keeps peace and happiness in the house. The icon and prayer must be in the daily life of a person, because this is the link between us and the Lord. People familiar with the canons of Christianity know which icons to hang and where, however, these rules can be repeated. We hope that for someone these tips will become useful and important, they will help to let more Divine light into life.

If you have become the owner of a new home, made repairs, or simply decided to strengthen your faith by bringing a particle of God's grace into the house, then sanctify your home. To do this, the clergyman must perform a special ceremony in the house.

The second step is the design of the "God" or home iconostasis. In the house, the icons should be located in a special place, it used to be called the ‘red corner’.

• The goddess was usually located in the eastern part of the house, in a bright and clean place,
• It is necessary to constantly monitor the cleanliness of the iconostasis, regular cleaning is a prerequisite,
• It is desirable that the place where you will decorate the iconostasis is free from unnecessary items.

Each person is characterized by individual features and in matters of faith, too. Therefore, icons revered in the family are used for the iconostasis, but do not forget about the church hierarchy:

1. The first hang the Trinity or the Crucifixion;
2. Below is the image of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God (left), Nicholas the Wonderworker (right);
3. Faces of the apostles and Equal-to-the-Apostles saints;
4. Canonical images of the holy fathers of the church;
5. Icons of the Great Martyrs and Martyrs of the Church;
6. Images of saints;
7. Next, the righteous and church saints are placed;
8. The bottom row is occupied by the blessed.

A properly designed iconostasis will help you find spiritual harmony and strengthen your connection with the Lord. But some people go further and hang the holy faces in other places, including above the front door or in front of it. What shrine can be chosen for this purpose, let's try to figure it out.

There are several Holy images that can be hung over the front door in the house and this will be energetically true.

"Seven-shot Mother of God" - the guardian of the house

This face of the Mother of God is unusual in that She is depicted alone and with seven swords that pierce her chest. This is a symbol of terrible earthly torment and sorrow. There is a variant in which instead of seven, six swords are depicted.

Such a shrine can be hung over the front door and it will protect the house from evil people and unclean thoughts, and the second option can soften hearts and establish harmony in the family. The image with six swords is called the “Softener of Evil Hearts”, this holy image helps to overcome discord in the family and home, praying to him you can get rid of anger and bad thoughts in relation to relatives and relatives.

The history of this image originates in Vologda, where epidemics constantly raged in troubled times. So one peasant who was seriously ill had already lost all hope of healing, but he heard the voice of the Lord, telling him to find the icon of the Virgin and pray for her recovery. The elder was ordered to look in the Theological Church, in its bell tower. She appeared to him on the steps of the bell tower, trampled and dirty. After the face was cleansed and they began to pray to her, she not only gave healing to the peasant, but also averted the cholera epidemic from the population of Vologda and its environs.

The seven-shot Mother of God has tremendous power and therefore it is necessary to treat her in a special way, let this choice be not just a tribute to fashion, but a deliberate, desired and blessed step.

"Goalkeeper" - indestructible defense

The famous domed mosaic from St. Sophia of Kyiv, located above the main altar, became the prototype of this face. This image of the Mother of God with her hands raised to him, praying to heaven, became a real stronghold of Kyiv for nine centuries, with the “Goalkeeper” he never fell. And the face gained worldwide fame as “Oranta the Protector”.

You can hang this face in the house both above the front door and on the wall opposite it. An interesting legend is connected with this image, according to which the elder was able to get to the desired city, along a sparsely populated narrow road guarded by the Mother of God from the evil giant. A lot of people walked along the second wide and bright path opposite, but the monster caught them all in the net. A very symbolic image of faith and fortitude.

If this image hangs in the house, troubles and unclean forces, as well as people with evil thoughts, can be warded off from the family and the monastery. That is why many people advise hanging Oranta just opposite or above the entrance.

15.10.2014

When an icon appears in a house, people very often have the question of how to properly position 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 one must adhere to strict canons in it. Therefore, it is so important to choose the right location for the icon.

The icon is an 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 catholicity, the spiritual unity of man and God.

Where to hang an icon in the apartment

By tradition, icons are hung in the so-called red corner. It houses an iconostasis, a cross, candles, lamps and spiritual literature. The red corner has a certain location in the house, it is located opposite the main entrance. And it has a clear explanation. People crossing 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 could gather near it.

As usual, the altar is located on the east side. Icons are also located so that the one reading a prayer near them looks to the East. If it is not possible to place the icon in this way in your house, you can hang it in another place. The main thing is that it 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.

The correct location of the icon

The icon can either be hung on a simple nail or placed on a special shelf along with others. If there are a large number of icons, a 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 be in no way connected with the piety of the inhabitants of the house.

There is no place for icons on the shelves with books. They should not be placed 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 a decorative element or an ordinary beautiful image. It preserves 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 very different...

Icon of the Mother of God "Eletskaya" Day of celebration - February 6, old style. / 18 February n.st. The appearance of the ancient miraculous Yelets Icon of the Mother of God occurred on February 6, 1060, during the reign of the grandson of St.

Icons and their meaning
The house is an extension of the temple. Previously, in almost every Orthodox family, it was customary to place a shelf with icons in the most prominent place in the house, or even a whole home iconostasis. The number of icons and the richness of their decoration at the same time testified to the level of prosperity of the family and the position of its head in society. The location of the icons has several names: red corner, front corner, holy corner, kiot, kivot, goddess. If you want to know how and where to hang icons, we will be happy to explain to you.
Some Orthodox hang icons right above the head of the bed. So you can use the cramped space more efficiently, windows with cabinets do not interfere, and sleeping under the canopy of shrines is much more pleasant and calmer.

So how to properly arrange the icons in the apartment. Icons do not have to be hung on the walls. They can be placed on a shelf specially designed for this purpose. But if there are a lot of icons, then it would be better to hang them on the wall, following some simple rules. If the icons in your room are hung asymmetrically, haphazardly and without any thoughtful composition, this will certainly cause a feeling of inconvenience and dissatisfaction with the placement of icons, a desire to change it. And this greatly hinders and distracts from prayer.

Icons can also and even need to be placed in other rooms. It is also worth hanging an icon in the kitchen. Be sure to place in the children's room the icon of the Guardian Angel or Heavenly patron of the child. According to tradition, it was customary to hang an icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos over the entrance to an apartment or house. But now it can be replaced by any other icon or cross.

By the way, when placing icons in your apartment or house, pay attention to the fact that they should not stand or hang together with other paintings (even if they have a biblical theme) or household items. Icons are inappropriate in bookcases, next to toys, cosmetics, photographs of family members, figurines. Also, do not place icons next to the posters of politicians, show business stars, athletes and other celebrities.

Infrequently, but still one has to see photographs of holy fathers, monks, elders among the icons on the walls or on the shelves. This is canonically unacceptable, since photography captures a specific moment of a person's earthly life, even if it is a church person or even later canonized as a saint. The icon represents him precisely in the image of a saint, in his transfigured, glorified state. Naturally, the presence of such is not canceled. But you need to put or hang photos separately from icons.

Icons pictures look in the gallery.

Bless, father. I have this question. I work on a rotating schedule. Duty falls on Sundays and holidays. If I change duty these days with those to whom it is not dear, then will I not become guilty of sin. What about those who have to work in line of duty these days? Save God.
God bless! Probably, to exchange duty with someone who is not expensive is a perfectly acceptable option. It will not be a sin in the same way as buying a meat pie for a colleague - an atheist (at his request). To fast or not to fast, to go to worship or to work on a holiday, to believe in God or not is a personal matter for everyone, but everyone will also hold the answer for his actions for himself before God and his own conscience. So, if they agree to replace you, feel free to go to the temple.

Hello! I have such a question, please tell me how to properly position the icons at home. There is a window on the east side and under the window is my bed, but is it possible to create a shelf in the corner where to put the icons? It turns out that the icons will be above the head of the bed, is this correct or is it better to do a rearrangement?

Icons should be located where they will be prayed for, it doesn’t matter which side of the world they are oriented to (look - in the church icons are located on all four walls of the temple, the exception is the iconostasis). To pray before eating, the icon is hung over the table, to cross before leaving the house, the icon is hung over the front door. You can hang an icon over the bed to bow before going to bed, but it’s better to make a corner in a place where you can turn on a small night lamp for prayers in the dark, so that you can freely approach it and not beat your head against it when you wake up (and the oil dripping from the lamp on the head of the sleeping ones is also unpleasant).

Hello. We bought an icon-carpet of Jesus Christ, but then we noticed that the image on the icon is a mirror image, i.e. Jesus does not baptize with his right hand, but with his left. What to do?

Hello! By and large, Christ can bless with both hands, like a bishop, so there is nothing terrible in this. Another thing, why do you need an icon in the form of a carpet? Today, the market is flooded with many things that are not entirely clear in use, which, it seems, cannot be thrown away, and it seems that they can be used - the soul is not in order. It’s better not to buy carpet icons in the future, just like not buying souvenir candles in the form of Christ or the Virgin, penknives in the shape of a crucifix, lighters with quotations from the Bible, plastic bags with images of churches and other consumables with Orthodox paraphernalia.

How and where exactly can icons be placed?

In recent years, more and more people come to the Lord. Unfortunately, long decades of atheism have left a big blank spot in the spiritual education of many generations. Therefore, our contemporaries often find it difficult in the simplest matters of faith, or, out of ignorance, make mistakes in the administration of spiritual rituals. This also applies to how many of us make up the home iconostasis.

In what place should the iconostasis be located Canonically - preferably in the east, but based on the real state of affairs of modern life - in such a way that it is convenient and comfortable for you to pray, that there is enough space and it is calm.

There are a few more rules that also dictate modern living conditions. Remember that the iconostasis should not be located with a TV and other household appliances.

Also, do not mix with icons figurines and other secular decorative ornaments, place paintings or reproductions of paintings, even if these works of art are written on religious subjects.
If you have icons placed on bookshelves, this is also wrong, especially if the images of saints are adjacent to books that are far from Orthodox texts in content.

Another "categorical" rule is that in no case should icons be placed next to posters and photographs of idols of today - politicians, rock musicians, sex symbols. If you want to decorate your home iconostasis, do it with live, fresh flowers or towels.

Be sure to have icons of the Savior and the icon of the Mother of God in the house. Also in Russian Orthodoxy, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is especially revered, and his image is very often found in Orthodox families. If there is enough space in your house, you can supplement the iconostasis with a nominal icon, icons of saints to whom you often pray, images of the great saints of the Russian land and saints revered in the area where you live.

For a home goddess, the rules for placing icons are not as strict as for a church, but they still exist.
First, look at the iconostasis: if you have a desire to change, rearrange, outweigh something, then you need to do it, otherwise this inner dissatisfaction will distract you during prayer.

When placing icons in the home iconostasis, the same principles apply as in the church.

The central place is occupied by the icon of the Savior, often it is the largest in size. Next to the image of Christ is placed the image of the Virgin with the Child.

If you are facing the home iconostasis, then the icon of the Savior will be on your right, and the icon of the Virgin on your left. These are the two main, main icons, they must be in every Orthodox home, and only the icon of the Holy Trinity or the icon of the Last Supper can be placed above them.

On the side of the two main icons or below them, you can place personalized icons, as well as icons of saints - patrons of professions, saints especially revered by you, and others.

If you still have questions, you can always turn to the church for clarification or advice from the priest, and the priest will always help you and resolve all your doubts.

Today, in almost every house where the Orthodox live, there are icons. Big or small, real or copies, inherited or purchased from a church store, they sit on bookshelves or hang on the walls in random order. But icons are not just works of art. They must work for their owners. Icons are for us a window to the upper world, through them we can turn to the Lord with prayers, requests, or simply seek consolation.

Arranged or hung in random order, the icons do not bring much use and can be considered simply as a collection of spiritual painting. Even if it is numerous and very expensive, the collection does not play the role for you that it can. And if it is not handled correctly, it can even lead to the opposite effect. Another thing is if you place the icons in the right place, in a certain sequence. Then you will get a home iconostasis that will not only please the eye, but also protect the house and its inhabitants, maintain spiritual purity in the room, and fill you with a sense of goodness. Creating a home iconostasis can be an act that will bring us closer to God.

Previously, specifically based on the so-called "red corner". He was assigned the farthest corner of the hut, on the eastern side, diagonally from the stove. At the same time, both walls adjacent to the "red corner" were with windows. It turned out that the iconostasis is located in the most illuminated place in the house. Since the Orthodox Church does not impose too strict requirements on the home iconostasis, these rules can be deviated from. These are the realities of our life - in modern apartments there is no place for a "red corner". It is enough to follow the simplest rules. If possible, the eastern wall should be chosen for the iconostasis. If you have trouble with this, don't worry. Just find a free and easily accessible place for him, where nothing will stop you from praying and where several people can gather around the iconostasis. The iconostasis should be located as far as possible from the TV (in modern life, it often replaces the icon for us), VCR, computer, music center and other household appliances. However, here too exceptions are made. For example, in working premises (offices, offices) it is not forbidden to put icons next to computers.

Next to the home iconostasis, there should not be decorative objects of a secular nature - photographs, vases, figurines, paintings, posters, magazine posters, and so on. All this reflects the bodily, material world, such images are momentary and do not correspond to the purpose of sacred icons. The iconostasis can only be decorated with fresh flowers (with the exception of cacti and other "freaks") or willow branches. Connoisseurs of antiquity can frame the icons with embroidered towels. Next to the iconostasis, you can hang images of temples, views of the Holy Land, calm landscapes, and so on. It is important that all these views do not contain aggression, do not distract your gaze from the iconostasis and hang at a relative distance from it.

It is believed that it is better for icons to stand on a hard surface, and not hang on the wall. Previously, the iconostasis was placed on a special shelf or even in a special cabinet - an icon case. So they were better preserved, because the icons were passed down from generation to generation. Nowadays, you can simply place them on a bookshelf. But then secular books cannot be put on this shelf. In front of the icons they hang or put a lamp. It must be lit during prayer, and on Sunday and church holidays it can burn all day.

A prerequisite is to have two icons: the Savior and the Mother of God. Images of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, as the most perfect of earthly people, are necessary for every Orthodox.

As for other icons, it is recommended to acquire images of those saints whose names are given to family members. And, in fact, on this home iconostasis can already be considered complete. However, if space permits and if the owners feel the need, then you can still attract icons of revered local saints or simply great saints of the Russian land. In addition, a rare family does without the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - this is a saint especially revered in our country, to whom it is customary to turn on domestic issues, problems in his personal life, he acts as an intercessor for children, mothers, the sick, travelers, prisoners and unjustly offended. Pay attention to the following images of the prophet Elijah, the apostles Peter and Paul, the great martyr George the Victorious, as well as the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon. And in order for the iconostasis to be completely complete, it is desirable to have images of the holy evangelists, St. John the Baptist, the Archangels Gabriel and Michael, and icons of Orthodox holidays.

In general, the selection of icons (except for the main ones) is a matter of what troubles you want to protect yourself from and what path of life you have chosen for yourself. So here you can show your own initiative. But avoid conceited aspirations, do not try to impress your friends and acquaintances with a rich, elegant iconostasis. And in general, at home you should have only those icons that you pray to.

In the church, the issue of placing icons is approached with great rigor. But for the home iconostasis, an indulgence is being made. There are only a few basic rules that should not be violated. Icons should be placed in such a way that when looking at the iconostasis, you do not have a desire to urgently outweigh everything. This will distract you from prayer. Images should be placed symmetrically, in a thoughtful composition.

Some people, frankly, narrow-minded, forget about the Orthodox hierarchy and hang, for example, the icon of their “nominal” saint over the entire composition, higher than the images of the Savior and the Virgin. Or they place a family icon there, “the most expensive”. It is not right.

Above and in the very center should be the icon of the Savior (the Savior Not Made by Hands, the Savior the Almighty or another). This is the semantic center of the iconostasis. By the way, it is undesirable for the rest of the icons to be larger than the Savior. To the left of the Savior is the Mother of God with the Child, as in a classical iconostasis. Above these two images, only one icon can be placed - the Holy Trinity or the Crucifixion. And, in turn, the entire iconostasis should be crowned with a cross; crosses are also placed on the doorposts.

If the family has a particularly revered, inherited icon, then it can be placed in the center of the home iconostasis. But, as already mentioned, it should not stand above the two mandatory icons. The rest of the images can be placed on the sides or slightly below.

In the design, it is important to show artistic taste. It is desirable that the selected icons be painted in the same style, in the same manner. Try to avoid excessive variety. If the apartment has many rooms, then the iconostasis is placed in the largest one. But in the rest it is necessary to place at least one icon each, including in the kitchen and especially in the nursery.

Try to keep the iconostasis clean. Wipe the icons with a sponge and fan the shelf with a feather. And if some icon has fallen into disrepair and cannot be restored, in no case should you throw it away, especially the consecrated one. This is a sacred object, it must be treated with exceptional reverence. Such an icon must be taken to the church. There it will be burned in a church oven. And remember: if the icon has deteriorated due to careless storage, this is a sin that you will have to confess. The house with the iconostasis has a completely different atmosphere. The faces that look at us from the icons belong to eternity. Looking at them, you can calm down, find balance, remember the Lord and understand that thanks to Him, no paths are closed for a person in this world.

What is an icon?

Icons are luminous sacred images of high beings from the Divine Hierarchy who faithfully served people during their lifetime and do not leave their guardianship and help to humanity when they left the earthly plane. In apartments, icons change the energy of the space and the very mentality of the people living there. Icons can be active and passive. They can wait for the spiritual awakening of a person. And they can be conductors of communication with these high beings living in unearthly planes. Do you need faith in their special beneficial effect on the psyche, soul and emotional life of people. Yes, it is needed, as in all processes where faith is present, there is a materialization of many human intentions.
Historically, icons in Russia have always been in all residential areas, many were strictly functional and focused on certain assistance and assistance in everyday affairs.

There are six special icons that should be present in any home. Three of them are given during the marriage ceremony. These are the Faces of the Kazan Mother of God with a child, the image of Jesus Christ and Nicholas the Wonderworker. This triple is a symbol of harmony in the family, peace and fidelity.

The “Passionate” icon of the Mother of God got its name from the fact that on the side of the face of the Most Holy Theotokos are two Angels with the instruments of Christ’s suffering. It is located in Moscow, in the Passion Monastery of 1641, a very strong icon, used in troubles, sorrows, sorrows, in the treatment of vices, addictions, violations of social norms of behavior.

E. Roerich said: “Prayer is a purifier. This should not be understood, the definition is abstract, spiritual health is the main basis of the health of the body. It is prayer, as a real connection with the Highest source, the best purifier of diseases.

Prayers are programs for the restoration of the biofield. A new direction in science has appeared - trance cosmic energy. And the programs that determine prayer consciousness are the basis of trance meditation. In this case, the first is the restoration of the astral body with a change in consciousness and its healing. For more than 1000 years, the information field of the planet has been accepting thought forms in the form of prayers for the well-being of the Russian land, the well-being of the inhabitants, the wishes of health to loved ones, relatives, and parents. The stock of sacred energy is at the disposal of each of us. Prayers are the key, the code to effective programs for the salvation of the psyche, mental and physical health. They belong to the egregor founded by Jesus Christ. There are huge prayed resources of power - cosmic energy. We use it in extreme conditions, in stress and anxiety.

It has been known since ancient times that turning to the Lord through prayer or meditation on the image of God or light contributes to the flow of prana or vital force. It is under mental control, conducive to healing, and comes from the nerves that originate between the shoulder blades, in the heart chakra, run along both hands and terminate in the first and middle fingers of each hand. The current of negative polarity goes through the left hand. And positive on the right.

The energy of the heart chakra determines the working capacity of a person, his immunity, resistance to infections, aging processes and slagging of the body. The energy of the mental body is designed to neutralize the impact of one's own fears, negative attitudes, mental aggression, and karmic influences. Weakening of the mental body. turning to the Lord, the Mother of God in prayer, with light you can neutralize negative influences, negative thought forms and attract poana through the chakra of higher spirituality - sahasrara. The active phase of sleep is a source of restoration of the energy of the astral body.

In the astral body have their centers of passion, emotion and attraction. Each feeling changes the color of the aura. Aggression and hatred have a black background, love has a crimson-red glow, aspiration to the spirit is blue and violet. With high spirituality, the astral body in a dream obeys the consciousness, thoughts of a person and moves freely in the subtle worlds. And in anesthesia it leaves, leaving the physical body without consciousness and feelings. The appeal to the Higher powers is accompanied by a mental entry into the Temple of the Holy Spirit without worldly fuss, with blessing and spiritual joy of communion with the Divine. At this moment, the vibrations of the earth and the cosmos are united, which allows you to receive Divine energy to heal any ailments.

Icon of the Mother of God - "UNKNOWABLE COLOR"

April 16 is the day of memory of this icon. She is prayed for the preservation of married couples, family ties and peace in the family. Especially in moments of quarrels and disagreements. And also for the health of their loved ones. It uses its power when blessing those who marry together with the Kazan Mother of God. This is a very ancient icon, it has many lists, many miracles were performed from them. Worn on the chest, it protects childhood and chastity. This icon helps in choosing a spouse. In her left hand she holds a lily flower. A symbol of purity, purity and enlightenment when kept by carnal passions.

Icon of the Mother of God "HEALER"

October 1 is the day of remembrance. Has a strong prayer, healing the seriously ill. Bedridden. The Holy Martyrs - VERA, HOPE LOVE and their mother SOPHIA help in these processes. in Russia, the number of icons, revered and useful, addressed to the image of the Mother of God, is about a hundred. And everyone has their own life history, their own form of help and their own list of healings for the people.

A very interesting icon for the completion of good deeds, for a successful business, the icon brings happy gifts of fate, heals mental suffering. Before this icon they pray and thank her for the happy end of the undertaking.

Here is her text:

“It is worthy to eat as if truly bless Thee Mother of God, the Blessed and Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious Seraphim without comparison, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify you. Amen".

In Russia, the image of the icon of the Mother of God "Three-handed", the icon of the healer, has always been revered, her help is used to get out of the band of sorrow, longing and sadness. Heals sick limbs, the patroness of all craftsmen and craftsmen.

The icon “Addition of the Mind” and “Muromskaya” patronizes the help in teaching and giving the mind, the spirit of the mind and consciousness. In case of children’s illnesses, the loving help of the Tikhvin icon comes.