The Icon Corner

A small church in the home, where the family turns to God each morning and evening.

An Orthodox icon corner is the place in the home set aside for prayer. It usually faces east, the traditional direction of Orthodox prayer, and holds at least icons of Christ, the Theotokos and the family's patron saints, with an oil lamp burning before them. A cross, the Gospel, a prayer book and holy water are often kept there too.

Keeping a church in the home is an ancient Orthodox tradition, and the icon corner is where the household prays. It is set on an east-facing wall or in the eastern corner of a room, since east is the traditional direction of Orthodox prayer. A corner is chosen so that prayer is gathered, away from the distractions of the room.

The icons are the heart of it: Christ, the Theotokos, and the patron saints of the family, with others as the family is given them, such as the saints of each member's name. Before them an oil lamp is kept burning, and the care of keeping it trimmed and lit is itself a small daily act of attention. A blessing cross, the Gospel and a prayer book are kept there, with holy water from Theophany, palms from Palm Sunday, and a candle from Pascha.

Here the household says its morning and evening prayers, and here a family keeps the book of names of those it prays for, the living and the departed. Nothing about it needs to be costly. A single icon, a lamp and a prayer book, kept faithfully, make an icon corner; customs vary by family and place.

Questions about the icon corner

Which direction should an icon corner face?

East, where possible: on an east-facing wall or in the eastern corner of a room, since east is the traditional direction of Orthodox prayer. Where that cannot be, any quiet place will do.

Which icons go in an icon corner?

At least Christ and the Theotokos, and the patron saints of the family. Many add the saints of each family member's name and icons of the feasts.

What else is kept in the icon corner?

An oil lamp before the icons, a cross, the Gospel, a prayer book, holy water from Theophany, palms from Palm Sunday, and a candle from Pascha. Customs vary by family and place.

More questions about the Orthodox Church, answered ›

“And when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret.”

Matthew 6:6 (King James Version, public domain)

In Orthros

In Orthros a holy icon appears whole and framed, one at a time, as it would stand in a church; the morning and evening prayers are there to be prayed before your own icons.