A Sanctuary in the home

It is custom that in Orthodox households that a wall or corner be dedicated for sacred space, that is, the Icon corner.  The Icon corner is the central point of an Orthodox home where the family can come together and pray before the holy images of Jesus and the Theotokos and the Saints.  Sometimes it will be placed in a prominent place in the house while others will choose a more subtle place where they can pray and not be disturbed.

Usually the family, or individual, like myself, will try to pick a wall in which they will face East, as is the custom of Orthodox.  However, not all walls that face East are available so pick one that can accommodate what you plan on putting up.  Two essential Icons are necessary; those are, Christ and the Theotokos.  Along with those Icons people will also put up images of particular Saints whether it be their patron Saint, a Saint that protects the family, or their parish Saint.  Another essential item for your Icon corner...a PRAYER BOOK!  Find one that has Evening and Morning Prayers, Canons to Christ & the Mother of God.

Aside from the Icons some people like to have vigil candles to burn in front of their Icons, like what Orthodox do when we enter a Church, we light candles and place them before Icons.  Some people recommend having one that burns constantly.  Others simply go with buying candles from the store and only lighting them when one prays.  I use tea lights that I place in a small glass bowl for extra protection.  Sometimes it is nice to light the candles in honor of Christ, the Theotokos, a Saint, or a loved one and simply meditate on that while the candle burns and lights up the Icons.

Of course, Icon corners aren't limited to just a house.  Try setting up one at your office, if space is allowed.  If you have a cubicle print off some small Icons and pin them up so that during the day you can look to them and be reminded to pray.  If putting Icons up on a wall is an issue, try setting one as your background on your computer.  Or create an album of Icons and then set it as your screen saver which will then display the Icons across your screen.

Here are two images of of my Icon corners.  I have one designated for when I pray and another for when I'm at my desk, at home, where I do spiritual reading.