Several Questions...

[Justin2]

I've been baptized since October (not long, really), and I've managed to absorb quite a bit, but I figured I could turn to my friends here concerning minute details concerning personal praxis, rather than bothering my Priest over them. So, here are my questions:

1. I have received A Spiritual Psalter, the one put together
   by St. Theophan the Recluse, from the works of St. Ephraim the
   Syrian. It's 150 works, put into 20 sections (a la kathismas) and
   each sections (kathisma, so to speak) is divided into three stases.
   Basically, I was curious to know, how might I incorporate this into
   daily prayer? I have a guide for reading the actual Psalter on a daily
   basis, but not for this new one, and I was wondering how I might be
   able to use it. The prayers are beautifully written, and I would love
   to use them in a manner more worshipful than merely silent reading.

2. Is it proper to give away icons to fellow Orthodox Christians? My wife
   and I bought a couple in Greece, but our icon corner is a bit "busy"
   if that's not a bad term to use. I'm just afraid of over-doing it, being
   new and all (as I understand many new converts over-do it with
   such things). Perhaps I should just place the icons in different parts
   of the house?

3. This is possibly the silliest question, but I've noticed that when Greek
   brethren make a metanoia (sic?), they begin by bowing first, touching
   the floor, and then crossing themselves. In the Slavic Churches, I
   see that (like myself, being a member of a Slavic-rooted Church)
   the brethren cross first, and then touch the ground when performing
   the usual three metanoias. Does anyone have any input on this?

Thanks....

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Hello Justin,

Just some thoughts...

1. You probably would not be able to keep pace reading the cooresponding kathisma of the Spiritual Psalter with the liturgical cycle of the Psalms of David, so maybe just one kathisma per day after your morning prayers? or for your evening prayers? or it may be very nice to read it after your prayers for your evening meal. Just some thoughts, I don't have the Psiritual Psalter but you have sparked my interest to get it, thank you!

2. I have given icons away as gifts, not only is it not wrong, it is a good practice. Remeber that icons are Holy Images by their very nature and are equal to Holy Scripture and have no need of being blessed after they are made, therefore, the recipient must be Orthodox (and very few are to me ) But don't be afraid to have more than one icon corner in your house. The icons you buy in Greece with the black frames are nice because they are relatively inexpensive but made of real silver and nicely done. Rarley ever a simple print like you get here so often. Which ones did you get in Greece?

3. I don't have much input on this other than...a metonia (also spelled metania but the pronunciation lends the former as a better spelling.) is an act of repentence. Therefore, should one bless oneself before or after they have received the blessing of repentence? Since I don't know the churches teaching on this, or even if there is anything written down (I'll check the Greek Typicon later), I would just say that there are times when one should and should not bless oneself. For instance, when one is blessed by the priest with the Holy Chalice or the words "peace be unto all", one should NOT bless oneself - to do so would be as if to say you where not blessed by the priest already. You should just bow.

With this line of thinking, and considering that when you bless yourself you are purifying yourself with the sign and power given to you by the Lord, it would be more proper to do so BEFORE repentance, since afterwards you are already purified. Again, this is just a stab at it.

In defense of us poor Greeks there are several arguments but I think the Russians have it right this time.

[Justin2]

Thanks for the advice! The two icons I purchased in Greece are of Saint Spyridon and Saint Nicholas. They aren't framed, though, but written on some kind of carved wood with a sort of gold-paint background.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

By any chance is the one of St. Nicholas a silver relief, painted face, brown wood frame, and a double-headed eagle on top?

[Justin2]

No, it's frameless, but made of wood, and the background (if that's what the relief is...forgive me, I'm not sure what a relief is, heheh) is gold (as if the writer had been trying to make it look like gold-leaf) and small icons of Christ and the Theotokos are on either side of his head, as if directing him. There is no Byzantine crest. It's a very simple, cheap little icon, really.