January 14, 2022 The Evolution of the Church Censer The tradition of burning incense in church during worship, adopted from the times of the Old Testament, has been carefully preserved by the Orthodox…
January 12, 2022 Altar Server’s Ministry: Antiquity, Modernity and Existing Controversies The ministry of the altar server has gone through several stages of development. The word ponomar, used in reference to altar servers in the…
January 10, 2022 Monastic Headdress: Koukoulion Like all church vestments, monastic headgear has a deep symbolic meaning. Despite often being referred to as “veils of humility,” called to symbolize the…
December 15, 2021 Constitution and Symbolism of the Altar Table The altar table embodies the immaterial Throne of the Most Holy Trinity and serves as a place of special presence of Divine Glory. Standing…
December 9, 2021 Do the Catacombs of the Early Christians Have Anything in Common with the “Catacomb Church?” Many will be aware of the role of catacombs in the early history of the Christian Church. Yet the nature of this role was…
December 8, 2021 The Most Precious Vessel in Church This article is concerned with an Artophorion, a vessel designed to reserve the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Orthodox Church,…
December 4, 2021 Formation and Manner of Reciting Liturgical Prayers in Ancient Church The Anaphora (or the Eucharistic canon) is the main set of prayers offered by the priest during Liturgy. Its purpose is asking God to…
December 1, 2021 History, Symbolism and Modern Use of Orarion Origin Jesus Christ, girding Himself with a towel, washed the feet of his disciples (John 13: 4-5) and commanded them to do the same…
November 26, 2021 The Art of Sewing Liturgical Vestments in Russia: Artifacts of the Past and Present The traditions of decorating church vestments, as well as the history of Russian Orthodoxy in general, are rooted in Byzantium. Unlike secular clothing, the…
November 17, 2021 Incense: Theology, History and Modernity Theological Symbolism of Using Incense God is unknowable in essence, but cognizable by His actions (energies) to the extent that He Himself sets for…
