Modern Orthodox Churches

[George95]

What do you think of churches that carry a modern Protestant feel, lacking walls covered with icons as in Europe?

 

[Marahuta]

What do you think of churches that carry a modern Protestant feel, lacking walls covered with icons as in Europe?

I just moved from Greece to Australia, and while the orthodox xhurxhes still feel warmer than the other churches, they still don't have the same feeling as traditional churches...

 

[Knee V]

What do you think of churches that carry a modern Protestant feel, lacking walls covered with icons as in Europe?

Have you experienced Orthodox churches that don't have icons? Or do you perhaps have any specific examples of this? All the Orthodox churches that I have ever attended have had plenty of icons. Some of the poorer churches have had fewer icons, but they're still there. I have never been to any Orthodox churches that "carry a modern Protestant feel".

 

[George95]

Have you experienced Orthodox churches that don't have icons? Or do you perhaps have any specific examples of this? All the Orthodox churches that I have ever attended have had plenty of icons. Some of the poorer churches have had fewer icons, but they're still there. I have never been to any Orthodox churches that "carry a modern Protestant feel".

I only just seen this reply. What I mean is the walls other than stained glass, are white and bare. You will find no icons hanging on the wall, or mosaics on the wall for that matter.

 

[buzuxi02]

Some churches take decades to afford to paint icons. My parish church had a huge dome, from the outside the church looks like a planetarium. For decades thre was a small Pantocrator icon in the center with the rest of the dome being black cement. It really was horrible.

Finally a very good priest came in and turned the parish around. He was able to raise money to paint images on the dome. Today the entire dome depicts the 7 day creation. Between the windows on the lower half of the dome are depicted the major OT prophets each holding a scroll with an inscription in greek, english and Moses inscription is in hebrew.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Some churches take decades to afford to paint icons. My parish church had a huge dome, from the outside the church looks like a planetarium. For decades thre was a small Pantocrator icon in the center with the rest of the dome being black cement. It really was horrible.

Finally a very good priest came in and turned the parish around. He was able to raise money to paint images on the dome. Today the entire dome depicts the 7 day creation. Between the windows on the lower half of the dome are depicted the major OT prophets each holding a scroll with an inscription in greek, english and Moses inscription is in hebrew.

do you go to St Paraskevi on Long Island?

and to answer the OP, while it is better to have the icons up (especially with what they say about the Incarnation), with the cost of iconography, at least at my home parish, it can take a while. the ball is finally rolling on my home parishes icons, and I must say the look amazing.

 

[buzuxi02]

do you go to St Paraskevi on Long Island?

Yup thats the one.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Yup thats the one.

your priest is the man, and your shrine to St Paraskevi is awesome. as is the iconography.

 

[buzuxi02]

Yes Fr. Dimitri is excellent. The turn around of the parish started with the previous priest. It went from a debt ridden parish with a blackened dome ( not sure if it was cement or stucco or plaster ) that remained as such for decades. But everything was turned around within a few years and the parish has been going strong ever since. There us even talk to possibly expand.

It's the same with the other churches I've attended. ST Paul's Cathedral has the greatest mosaic reproductions from the churches of Constantinople. It took decades but it was all the brainchild of Fr Nick who has since passed away. There probably isn't many priests who could locate not only an amazing mosaic artist as he was able, but also the resolve to raise a million dollars over a 20 year span to fully complete such a project.

 

[ArmyMatt]

yeah, it was my fiance's mother's parish growing up, and they had a lot of hardship when the Church caught fire (aside from the Cross), and that is where the two of us will be married after a little while being home from the Stan. so I might see you.

and I know what you mean. 20 years ago my home parish was meeting in a garage, now it is massive that is regularly drawing in converts like there is no tomorrow.

 

[Marahuta]

Since we're talking about mosaics and church structures I thought I might post a picture from my local church back in Greece.
Jesus' First Steps by ~Marahuta on deviantART

Meanwhile here are some picture from the main church of my area and the church I was baptized in.(You will find another 3 links in the image description which will take to 3 other pictures of the church.
Greek Orthodox Church Interior 4 by ~Marahuta on deviantART

 

[Tigger45]

Ah very cute. Thanks for sharing that. It helps us visualize His human side,

Since we're talking about mosaics and church structures I thought I might post a picture from my local church back in Greece.
Jesus' First Steps by ~Marahuta on deviantART

Meanwhile here are some picture from the main church of my area and the church I was baptized in.(You will find another 3 links in the image description which will take to 3 other pictures of the church.
Greek Orthodox Church Interior 4 by ~Marahuta on deviantART

 

[Marahuta]

Ah very cute. Thanks for sharing that. It helps us visualize His human side,

I had never seen a picture like it. Neither before, nor since. I remember the feeling of peace and joy it gave me.

 

[ArmyMatt]

there is a very similiar icon in the book The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos.

it is good stuff, and does hit home that He is truly human as we are/should be.

 

[ikonographics]

I had never seen a picture like it. Neither before, nor since. I remember the feeling of peace and joy it gave me.

Where is this church? I had a print of a similar icon.

 

[HalupkiMonster]

In America, most of our Churches are built in the Slavic or Byzantine style. In the old days before printing icons was a "thing," the churches around me either had bare walls (like mine, filled with Eastern European peasant immigrants) or had their icons commissioned (like the Greek Church a few blocks away, filled with wealthier Greek and Arab merchants and shop owners.)

Now-a-days, walls are covered, and it's beautiful. The only Churches that resemble Protestant ones here are Churches that were once Protestant, but are now Orthodox.

For example, this is Archangel Michael's Greek Orthodox Church in Colo. Springs, Colorado. It used to be an "Assemblies of God" Church and was built in the 1960s.