A four o’clock in the morning, the sky outside is still completely dark. Looking up from the right chanting stand at the beginning of Mesonyktikon, the seventeenth century cross on top of the iconostasion extends almost to the ceiling beams. Two icons to either side depict the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Apostle and Evangelist John, standing at the cross. These are lit by icon lamps. On Sundays, we also light the four red icon lamps to either side of the central candelabra. The candles are lit when we chant the Doxology.
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I have just discovered your blog after seeing a video on YouTube that you led of a tour and history of the Holy Monastery. I wish to express the most heartfelt gratitude for this wonderful blog and pictures of your daily life. I am a catechumen at St.Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I have been blessed with the calling of St. Catherine as my patron saint, to be received on this coming Pascha, 2025. God bless you, Fr Justin!
God bless your reception into Orthodoxy! Prayers from Australia.