How to place the icons in the house?

History

Immediately it should be noted that to apply one template to all cases it is not necessary. In our time, we often live in completely different conditions: private houses, apartments of various sizes. All this makes its own adjustments. In the old days, the situation was easier - in a peasant hut has always been one upper room, where guests and took food. The central point of this room was considered a prayer corner, which was located on the east side of the house and also in Ukraine called "Penance". In some regions also kept its name as a "shrine". All the images that were in the house, and they were usually a bit placed in the corner. In the center were the icons of the Savior or the Mother of God, which have been handed down from generation to generation.

Modernity

If you adapt this traditional model of placing icons to our conditions, in general, it remains relevant today. Of course, if you allow the home area, then the fellowship with God is possible to allocate a separate room, and in which should be placed icons. But afford it can not all, so it is usually a prayer corner is placed in the bedroom. This allows us not to flaunt his piety on the one hand, and on the other - it's more convenient to do morning and evening prayers as a family. If you live in a studio apartment, then the icons you create a separate small piece of the room is not occupied by bulky objects. 

For home iconostasis choose the east wall, and if the situation does not allow it, the north or the south. This is due to the fact that the altars of Orthodox churches face east, the sun of righteousness, the name of Christ in liturgical hymns. West symbolically means the place is not enlightened the light of faith, because this side is not used.

The central place in the iconostasis should be given under the icon of the Holy Trinity, or the image of Christ Pantocrator and the Virgin. The image of the Trinity is better to take a traditional, written in the style of Rublev. As an icon of the Virgin, you can choose any of the many well-known images of the Blessed. If the family lives in the wedding marriage, then placed in the center of a pair of wedding icons. Preserved also custom to place in the center of the family or the family of the icon, which remained from our ancestors. Such images are preserved in many families, but in the years of atheistic propaganda is not exhibited in the house. Therefore we recommend to ask relatives about whether these icons were in your family. Perhaps they are just gathering dust somewhere and waiting for the moment when in front of them will be re-performed the prayer.

Next to the image of the Savior and the Mother of God should also accommodate the most revered icons in the Christian world of the saints, such as St Nicholas and Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. Complement your home iconostasis images of your holy heavenly patrons, after which you were named after the baptism.

Near the icons should also place a few lamps, which as far as possible should be lit constantly. There are several types of lamps: pendant and table. Overhead hung in front of large images, hanging high on the wall. Desktop better place where some of the icons are on a table or dresser. On this table as organic will look a little candle holder for candles and essential in the daily life of a Christian book - prayer book, the Gospels and the Psalms. It is important to remember that the icons need not be placed any paintings and photographs. These design elements of the interior rooms are better placed separately. The same remark applies even pictures of clerics or revered monks and people, etc. Also, it does not look aesthetically pleasing, when the icons are placed on a TV or computer.

Icons in the nursery

The room for children is usually taken to place small images of Christ and the Virgin Mary, and the saints - heavenly patrons of your kids. Often in the nursery also place an icon Angel - Guardian. However, we should not forget that the icon itself - not talisman, before it is necessary to pray. Because of their stands as soon as possible to teach children to read short and simple prayer before the icons in my room, and cause them to whom they turn in their requests.

Images in the kitchen

In Orthodox practice to pray before meals, asking God's blessing on the food and drink. Because the kitchen is appropriate to place the image of the Last Supper, including as a reminder of the sacrament of Holy Communion, which was established during the farewell dinner of Christ with his disciples. Sometimes in the dining room and placed the icon of the Mother of God "Sporitelnitsa bread", that Pure has always served the urgent food. It is not necessary to attach the icon near the stove or cooking surface! It's ugly to the point of reverence to icons, and fire.

Regarding the living room, then it will be quite enough of one icon to witness your faith to others.

Above the inner side of the opening front doors generally have a small cross. This is due to the custom baptized before leaving the house, and praying, asking the Lord for help in all ways of life.

Conclusion

Thus, as a general rule, we can distinguish the following: icons placed where before they pray. This is not a fetish or talisman, it is not necessary to give any miraculous properties of the fact of the presence of icons in the house. In addition to prayer should observe cleanliness and order near the way that they are not gathering dust. Also it should be noted that it is not necessary to fill their houses a huge number of icons, it is important not because the number of images, and then you pray with some heart and soul situated in front of them.

Do not forget that prayer - this is our conversation with God and His saints, and the icon - a small window in the mountain world, which makes this conversation to take place.