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 […]
|
||||
|
On the feast of Holy Theophany, for the Great Blessing of the Waters, we use a fountain dating from 1783. Water streams from a container above through the beak of a silver dove mounted at the top, from which it drips through the mouths of doves set at the rims of three lower basins, […] The first rays of the winter sun shine on the bell tower and minaret. After I took the first photograph, a dove flew up to the highest cross to catch the first warmth of the sunlight. […] All the icon lamps are lit as we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ. They are like multi-coloured stars floating just overhead. Καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον, Μεθ’ ἡμῶν ὁ θεός. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Detail, Menologion icon, ca. […] In December, the sun reaches its farthest point south, the winter solstice, and imperceptibly begins its return north. |
||||
|
© 2023 Father Justin's Blog - All Rights Reserved WP Support by WordPress Expert |
||||
Recent Comments