He is Risen…

He is Risen…

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For he, whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. Has risen as he said, alleluia. Easter… The only Feast other than Christmas that is too big, too important, too life-transforming to be celebrated by anything less than an Octave — Not one day, but EIGHT days! May the fruits of…

Week 6:  In the words of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah …

Week 6: In the words of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah …

The Lord GOD has given mea well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them. Morning after morninghe opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled,have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me,my cheeks to those who plucked…

Week 5:  You gaze upon the icon…

Week 5: You gaze upon the icon…

These past weeks, you have had occasion to look at this particular Iconic Image of Christ, which I am guessing you probably have not seen before. I chose this Icon with the hope of it being an occasion of beauty as well as grace for you as you journeyed through Lent anew. To see an…

Week 4:  You gaze upon the icon…

Week 4: You gaze upon the icon…

For the past few weeks you have been looking at the iconic image of Christ in its beauty, and you have considered the words of St. John of Kronstadt which point out Who this is and how He looks at you….   What do you see when you look at Him? This week, the image…

Week 3: Lenten Reflections – You gaze upon the icon…

Week 3: Lenten Reflections – You gaze upon the icon…

Just as in any art or science there are rules to follow, so it is with the art of the icon, both for the success of the art piece as well as for the spirit of the artist. Since we have chosen to focus on the Icon of the Holy Face this Lent, I would…

Week 2: Lenten Reflections – You gaze upon the icon…

Week 2: Lenten Reflections – You gaze upon the icon…

This week I invite you to quietly look deeper… After my first and surprising experience of icons in Russia, the next experience was also amazing and drew me even closer to an understanding of the Icon. It is by entering into the process that one draws more closely to the icon subject, regardless of whether…

Week 1: Lenten Reflections with the Icon: The Face of the Icon

Week 1: Lenten Reflections with the Icon: The Face of the Icon

This week I invite you to quietly look upon the face of this icon of Christ… Take note of the size of the eyes, the fineness of the nose, the delicacy of the mouth, because in the upcoming weeks we’ll be taking a closer look at each of these features of the face. There is…