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Spikenard Orthodox incense handmade by monks on Mount Athos

The Fragrance of Bethany: Spikenard Incense from Mount Athos and How to Pray With It

At Bethany a woman broke a jar of precious spikenard over Christ, and the whole house was filled with its fragrance. Discover the story of nard, how Mount Athos incense...
Posted on By Father Thomas

Prayer on Your Wrist: How to Pray Through the Day with a Komboskini

A small knotted band on the wrist can turn a waiting room, a traffic light, or a busy afternoon into a moment of prayer. Here is how to pray the...
Posted on By Father Thomas
Orthodox 50-knot wrist prayer rope komboskini, handmade knotted wool
Orthodox wooden hanging cross with metal crucifix icon for car and prayer corner

Three Bars and a Slanted Footrest: Reading the Orthodox Cross in Your Home

Why does the Orthodox cross have three bars and a slanted footrest? Discover what each part means, how a wooden cross is made, and where to place one in your...
Posted on By Father Thomas

Taste and See: How to Read the Gospel Every Day in an Orthodox Home

You don't need more hours for Scripture — you need a way in. A simple Orthodox rule for reading the Gospel and the Psalms every day, at home and with...
Posted on By Father Thomas
Orthodox New Testament Bible, English translation from the original Greek, hardcover with gold stamping
Panagia Tricherousa (Three-Handed Mother of God) Orthodox icon in silver and gold tone

The Icon of the Three Hands: Why Some Orthodox Icons Shine in Silver and Gold

A severed hand, a miraculous healing, and an icon with a third hand of silver — the story of the Panagia Tricherousa, and why silver and gold-toned icons have a...
Posted on By Father Thomas

Why a Church Smells Like Prayer: Mount Athos Incense and How to Cense at Home

Why does an Orthodox church smell like prayer? Discover how Mount Athos incense is made, what it means in worship, and how to cense your own home with it.
Posted on By Father Thomas
Handmade myrrh incense from Mount Athos
Orthodox prayer rope (komboskini), 100 knots with cross and tassel

The Prayer Rope: How the Komboskini Is Made on Mount Athos and How to Pray With It

What is an Orthodox prayer rope? Learn how the komboskini is made by hand on Mount Athos, the meaning of its knots, cross and tassel, and how to pray the...
Posted on By Father Thomas

Why Orthodox Christians Wear a Cross — and the Story Behind Saint Nina's Vine Cross

For an Orthodox Christian the cross is a confession of faith, a shield, and a daily reminder of Christ. Discover the meaning of the cross and the story of Saint...
Posted on By Father Thomas
Saint Nina Orthodox wooden baptism cross
Hand-painted Orthodox icon of the Mother of God (Iviron Portaitissa), made on Mount Athos

How a Hand-Painted Orthodox Icon Is Made — From Wood Board to Gold Leaf

A step-by-step guide to how a true hand-painted Orthodox icon is made — from the wood board and gesso to gold leaf, egg tempera, the sacred inscription, and the final...
Posted on By Father Thomas

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