Orthodox christmas decorations

Each year, we begin decorating our home on November 15, as we begin the 40 day fast for Christmas. It's beneficial for all to begin seeing the transformation around us and within us. Here are the 40 days in icons. We're aiming to cut them out, and create an ornament for each day until Christmas. If you follow the old calendar, I can post January as well. Enhance this activity by chanting the troparion for each day, or paste a short story from the Saints' life on the backside of each…

Some love Christmas, others despise it. Here are some interesting facts some Greek Christmas traditions in Greece, from food to superstition!

Crismon Ornaments

Just wanted to share our small craft that we'll be doing with kids ages 3-12 for Christmas. We've ordered these very reasonably priced wooden photo frames, which includes a latch backing and clear photo protector. The children will decorate with glitter paint, markers, pencil, beads, crayon,sparkle stars and more...and we will insert an icon of their choice from the Nativity selection. Here is the site to order the ornament frames and other craft goodies…

When I was a young mother (Wow! That makes me sound ancient now….), my priest gave me some very sound advice. I had been talking with him about how I felt overwhelmed by the Nativity Fast. There was just so much going on during the season and fasting felt like one more thing to checkRead More

St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney TX on Instagram: "How To: Orthodox Bow & Prostration Please donate to our church building fund: www.orthodox.net"

Illustration from Frederica Mathewes-Green's forthcoming book, "Welcome to the Orthodox Church"

If you are at all like me, you are beginning to make your Christmas shopping lists. I generally wait until the last minute to purchase Christmas gifts. I do this for three reasons: During the Nativity Fast our family tries to keep the focus on prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and anticipating the Nativity. So, weRead More

Advent Wreath from an outdoor evergreen bush