Russian Icons, Saints and orthodox practices

[sweet_gardenia]

The time period is pre-Revolution and in the first years of the Russian Civil War and I wanted to make sure I have some details straight concerning icon use and saints for story purposes. My research has consisted of some Eastern Orthodox websites, some Russian culture websites and I am also reading " Natasha's Dance " by Orlando Figes (and for

Comments

[brune_hilda]

- A small icon usually is worn with the cross carried at the same chain. Under clothes of course.
there are different samples of modern and ancient small icons. (the last number in the link makes me laugh :)
http://www.google.com/search?q=%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BA+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9&hl=no&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=xqvcT4bXO8ye-QbQk9X8CQ&ved=0CE8Q_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=666

-It is possible to wear different icons, but the small icons are not mandatory at all unlike the cross.
- Of course the saint patronage exists and I think that it is higher than in Catholic traditions because of strong pagan influence.
- yes, there are (why were??).

[dark1977]

For your last question: there was (and is) a special blessing before eating (if you can read Russian here is a link to its text) but it easily can be replaced with Ortodox variant of The Lord's Prayer.

[orthent]

There is certainly a strong tradition of patron saints--in Orthodox countries, it used to be traditional for a person to celebrate their saint's day, or slava, rather than their birthday. And while it would always be appropriate to wear a small icon or medallion of one's patron saint, one might also wear one of the Virgin Mary, perhaps St. Nicholas for a sailor, St. Theodore or St. George for a soldier. But of course, people might have a special devotion to a saint other than their patronal saint. There may be a regional association with a monastery, or an icon that is reputed to be miraculous. Sometimes people had visions--or at least, they believed that they did. Here is a list of Orthodox saints associated with healing and "special intentions"--deliverance from demons and from evil spells is on the list. Note that travelers would be under the special protection of St. Nicholas

[orthent]

Gah, and I just realized I didn't give you the answers you were looking for! Sorry 'bout that. So:

An icon meant to be worn along with a cross could be smaller than your thumbnail, or it might be the size of a big locket. It might be written on wood, on ivory, or in enamel. And it would probably be worn all the time.

You probably know, but it bears repeating, that icons are always "written," not painted--Orthodox theology regards them as sacred texts, not works of art. There are also fairly strict canons regarding how Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints may be depicted, and at one time an iconographer could face excommunication if he deviated from them. There is a book, Theology of the Icon by Leonid Ouspensky, that may be of interest to you