Better Than Selfie-- THE ICON CORNER

 [I]n Orthodox spirituality, [there is] no separation between liturgy and private devotion."-- Bishop Kallistos Ware

 (Russian woman in prayer)

"Rejoice always, pray without Ceasing,..."-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 NKJV   (Ellipsis, mine)

"7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they[a] were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted."-- Acts 20:7-12 NKJV 

(A boy in UK with an Icon in his home.)

At the dawn of Christianity, early Christians met in "House Churches" to participate in the Eucharist. The EUCHARIST, as stated in Acts 20:7-12, is the heart and soul of the Divine Liturgy, and was celebrated by the Apostle Paul, an early Church Father. This Holy Tradition of "House Churches" and the Divine Liturgy are very much alive in Orthodox Catholicism today. The practices led to Icon Corners-- a place for small worship in the homes of Orthodox Catholic faithfuls.
In Orthodoxy, the houses of faithfuls are consecrated, thus an Orthodox house must have an Icon Corner.

An Icon Corner is an integral part of an Orthodox household; a center of a family's worship. It can be a part of a room where a single faithful can pray on her own together with the saints and angels in heaven. It may consist of Icons of The Theotokos, Christ Pantocrator, or your personal Saint, or Angel. If the Icon Corner is for the whole family (this may also be like the Icon Corner of a single person), the corner may compose of Icons of the Evangelists, Church Fathers, personal Saints of each family member, etc.

What is the rationale for having an Icon Corner? From Wikipedia:

 An icon corner is normally oriented to face east. It is often located in a corner to eliminate worldly distractions and allow prayer to be more concentrated. Here is where the icons that the family owns should be located, normally including at least icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and the Patron Saint(s) of the family. An oil lamp normally hangs in front of the icons. The careful trimming of the lamp to keep it burning at all times is interpreted as symbolic of the attentive daily care faithful Christians should take over their souls. Relics of saints (if the family possesses any) and a Gospel Book and a blessing crosswould be kept there, as well as incense, holy water, palms and pussywillow from Palm Sunday, candles from Pascha (Easter), and other sacred items, as well as a personal Commemoration Book (containing the names of family and loved ones, both living and departed, to be remembered in prayer).

One maxim I remember very well: A FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER. And this is much better with an Icon Corner. Better be with the Saints, the Theotokos, and Christ in a solitary corner than be with JUST yourself pictured on facebook.

:D FIN


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_corner    

1. ^ Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church (Penguin Books, London, 1964, ISBN 0-14-020592-6), p. 310.

http://www.orthodoxresource.co.uk/worship/prayer.htm