Ask the Priest

Altar tour, continued: the Holy Table. The Holy Table (or Altar Table) is the most conspicuous item in the Altar (which recall refers to the entire space behind the iconostasis) due to its central location as well as being where all the “action” takes place. Ours is a little taller since Fr. Iggy i

Typika ( obednitsa ) is a short service that is usually served when a priest is not present; while you can do these in a limited form at home, when they’re in the parish the only stipulation is that the doors on the iconostasis remain closed. A readers’ typika looks a lot like the structure of the

Altar tour, continued: the censer. Known in the west as a thurible (from the Greek thuos , meaning “burnt offering”), the censer is utilized at most of our worship services, swung toward something or someone to bless them, so the smoke travels in their direction. When we have a deacon (God-willing

Many arguments have been advanced attempting to create a just war theory, from Blessed Augustine of Hippo to the Latins’ Thomas Aquinas (of whom there are Orthodox readings - sorta). Their arguments essentially argue from a position of war’s inevitability and do attempt to defend war as just when it

Hesychasm - we sometimes hear about it, but what exactly is it, and how does one practice it? The general idea is to acquire an “inner stillness,” putting aside our senses, and withdraw inwards to pray, frequently the Jesus Prayer - “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a/the sinner.” St. Gregory

Y’know - those little rug thingies the bishop stands on! You may have noticed during Archbishop Peter’s recent visit to Sts. Joachim & Anna and Holy Mother of God that he was standing, both on the bema (the raised platform in the middle of the nave) and in front of the Holy Table, on a little roun

Every once in a while you will hear (likely in hushed tones) about the Philokalia , how it may or may not be “forbidden” reading, how it’s driven people mad, etc. But what is it?! First of all, it’s not quite as scary as the Orthodox interwebz would tend to indicate; that being said, it should stil

Weddings in the Orthodox Church are a rite in which the marriage is blessed; because we crown the couple as part of the ceremony, it is also sometimes known as crowning. The candles held by the bride and groom represent the couple’s faith and their willingness to follow Christ, the Light of Truth