Prayer & Spiritual Life
73 writings in Prayer & Spiritual Life. Clear
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is an Akathist?
An Akathist is a standing hymn. That’s what the word means, “not seated.” You stand for the whole thing out of reverence for the person…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What are some popular Akathists?
The Akathist to the Theotokos is the original and most widely prayed. It’s a sixth-century hymn praising the Virgin Mary’s role in the Incarnation, and…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Can I read Akathists at home?
Yes, you can. Laypeople pray Akathists at home all the time, and it’s a normal part of Orthodox devotional life. An Akathist is a hymn…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is a Canon?
A canon is a structured hymn made up of nine sections called odes. Understanding canons will help you make sense of what’s happening at Matins…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is the Canon of Repentance?
The Canon of Repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ is a short penitential prayer found in Orthodox prayer books. Your priest might assign it to…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is the Canon to the Theotokos?
The Canon to the Theotokos is a structured hymn of eight odes asking the Mother of God to intercede for us before her Son. We…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What is an icon corner?
An icon corner is a dedicated space in your home for prayer. It’s where you keep icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints, and…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
How do I set up an icon corner at home?
Pick a quiet spot in your home, get an icon of Christ and one of the Theotokos, add a cross, and you’ve got the basics.…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What icons should I have in my home?
Start with two: Christ and the Theotokos. Everything else builds from there. Most Orthodox homes have what we call an icon corner (sometimes called a…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Where should my icon corner be located?
The traditional answer is the east wall. But don’t panic if that won’t work in your home. Orthodox Christians have faced east to pray since…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
What else goes in an icon corner?
Besides icons, your prayer corner needs a few simple things: a candle or oil lamp, a cross, and your prayer book. That’s really it. But…
Prayer & Spiritual Life
Should I have a vigil lamp?
You don’t have to, but you probably should. A vigil lamp isn’t required like baptism or communion, but it’s one of those ancient practices that…
