Establishing a prayer corner has been one of the most meaningful additions to our home. Just a few months after our baptism, we were inspired to create a special place in our home dedicated solely to prayer. It took some time and effort, but now we have a corner that serves as a daily reminder of our Orthodox faith, providing a serene space for morning prayers, evening prayers, and reflections. Today, I am going to share our journey and help guide you step-by-step so you, too, can create your own icon corner, no matter your home size.
What is a Prayer Corner?
In the Orthodox Christian tradition, a prayer corner—often called an icon corner, home altar, or “beautiful corner”—is a sacred space in the home designated for prayer and spiritual reflection. Orthodox Christians use this area to pray in the presence of holy icons, light candles, and burn incense, mimicking the experience of church worship on a smaller, personal scale. This holy space acts as a physical place for prayer, a space where you can connect with God and the saints in a deeply personal way.
A prayer corner isn’t just a place for icons; it’s an area set apart for moments of intimacy with God. Here, sacred images like the icon of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and saints stand as reminders of the Divine presence and a call to prayer. This space will be unique to your family’s needs and faith journey, providing an anchor to your daily prayer life, whether you’re saying the Jesus Prayer, reading from prayer books, or reflecting in silence.
Step 1: Selecting the Right Space for Your Prayer Corner
Choosing a Quiet, Private Spot
Finding the perfect spot can be challenging, especially in a smaller home. We initially prayed in various places around the house, carrying our portable icons from room to room. When we were ready for a more permanent prayer space, we chose our remodeled garage, which we use as an office and guest room. This quiet, secluded space provided just the right environment, free from daily distractions.
Look for a quiet, private corner that naturally feels peaceful. In larger homes, a spare room, a front corner of your living room, or even a dedicated section of the bedroom might work well. If your space is limited, a shelf or small wall space can serve beautifully as a prayer corner. The most important aspect is finding a spot where you can spend time in reflection, undisturbed, creating a sacred area that stands apart from daily life.
Ideas for Small Living Spaces
Even in the smallest homes, creating a holy corner for prayer can be a meaningful part of your daily life as an Orthodox Christian. With a bit of creativity, you can designate a space to practice your daily prayers, display holy images, and connect with God. Here are some easy, flexible ways to establish a prayer corner even in tight spaces.
1. Floating Shelves or Corner Shelves
1. Floating Shelves or Corner Shelves
A floating shelf or corner shelf is a simple design and the best way to make use of vertical space. A small floating shelf can act as your home chapel, perfect for arranging a few icons, a small olive oil lamp or candle, and some prayer materials. These shelves make a good place to include your collection of icons—especially a depiction of the Lord Jesus Christ, the icon of the Mother of God, and other holy images that resonate with your spiritual practice.
2. Top of a Dresser or Bookshelf
2. Top of a Dresser or Bookshelf
If adding a shelf isn’t possible, a dresser top or bookshelf can become the perfect place for an icon wall or prayer corner. This prominent place lets you create a sense of piety while fitting into a small living space. Arrange a small collection of icons, perhaps with a holy water bottle or holy oil if you wish. This type of setup can serve as a central place for family prayer or personal devotion.
3. Dedicated Wall Space
3. Dedicated Wall Space
If floor space is limited, consider dedicating a small area on a wall for icons. Creating an icon wall allows you to showcase larger icons in a thought-out arrangement while keeping them in a most visible place. You could even hang icons in the shape of a cross, with a depiction of the Lord Jesus Christ at the center, surrounded by smaller icons, such as those of St. John, the Holy Apostles, or other saints meaningful to you. This arrangement is a common practice in Orthodox homes and serves as a constant reminder of faith.
4. Repurpose a Narrow Nook or Hallway
4. Repurpose a Narrow Nook or Hallway
A narrow hallway or underused nook can transform into a peaceful holy corner. Place a small shelf for icons and a vigil lamp to make it a good place for your practice of prayer. Adding an icon of the Immaculate Heart of Mary or a family icon helps bring a sense of contact with God’s presence in the home. This nook can become a serene spot to make the sign of the cross or light a candle for Palm Sunday or Divine Liturgy celebrations.
5. Small Table or Stool
5. Small Table or Stool
A small, sturdy table or stool can serve as a very lively starter for your home chapel. Use this table to hold a holy water bottle, prayer beads, and a simple design of essential icons. Because it’s portable, you can move it to the best place in the room, ideal if you have an active family prayer practice. This setup allows for flexibility and can be adjusted as you grow your collection of icons or add items.
6. Inside a Closet or Cabinet
6. Inside a Closet or Cabinet
For those needing privacy or an area that can be kept closed, a closet or cabinet can easily become a prayer space. Place a few shelves to hold a holy oil lamp or candle, an icon of Christ, and an image of the Savior. When opened, this small realm of ordinary reality can transform into a peaceful holy corner where you offer daily prayers. After you’re done, closing the doors creates a sense of reverence and keeps the area safe.
7. Window Ledge or Sill
7. Window Ledge or Sill
A wide windowsill offers a good place for icons and a small candle. Let natural light illuminate your holy corner, making it a sense of piety and connection to the outside world. Adding a vigil lamp or olive oil lamp can also bring warmth to the area, particularly for morning or evening prayer time.
8. Portable Prayer Box
8. Portable Prayer Box
A prayer box is a versatile, great way to create a mobile prayer space. Include a small icon of Holy Mary, a prayer book, prayer beads, and a beeswax candle. This setup works well if you prefer to pray in different parts of your home or need a prayer corner that can be put away when not in use. Simply open the box wherever you want to pray, creating a mini holy corner that fits your space.
Additional Tips for Small Spaces
Additional Tips for Small Spaces
Be Mindful of Larger Icons: If you have a small space, smaller icons work best to avoid overcrowding. However, one larger icon of a saint, the Risen Christ, or the Holy Trinity can make a prominent place if there’s room.
Use Electric Lights: If candles aren’t possible, small electric lights can add the perfect touch without the need for supervision. This can be particularly helpful in homes with smoke detectors or if children are around.
Sacred Music: Consider adding a small speaker for sacred music during prayer to create a peaceful atmosphere.
Each of these options can help you create a holy corner or icon wall that serves as a constant reminder of faith, regardless of your space size. Through this sacred area, you’ll have a special place to practice your spiritual routine, deepen your relationship with God, and make your home a central place of devotion.
Step 2: Gathering Icons for Your Prayer Corner
Icons are central to Orthodox Christianity and serve as “windows to Heaven,” creating a powerful, visual connection to God, the Holy Spirit, and the saints. When we first started building our prayer corner, we knew that icons would be at the heart of this special place. It was a deeply personal experience, choosing the icons that would reflect our spiritual journey and bring our family closer to the Divine Presence each day. Here’s how we approached selecting, purchasing, blessing, and arranging the icons in a way that made our prayer corner a place of reverence and connection.
1. Selecting Icons for Your Prayer Corner
The icons you choose for your prayer corner can create a profound sense of intimacy with God and the saints. If you’re new to Orthodox Christianity, here’s a good starting point: begin with three essential icons that represent the foundations of the Orthodox faith.
- Icon of Christ: Known as the “Pantocrator” or “Christ the Ruler of All,” this icon holds a central place in any prayer corner. It’s a reminder that Christ is at the center of our lives and our home. We placed our icon of Christ prominently, and it’s become a focal point for every prayer and blessing we say.
- Icon of the Theotokos (Mother of God): The Theotokos (Virgin Mary) is often considered the intercessor for humanity, praying on behalf of each one of us. Her icon stands next to Christ’s in our home, reminding us of her loving protection and constant presence. For us, seeing her face each day is a beautiful reminder that we’re never alone in our spiritual journey.
- Icon of the Holy Trinity: Representing the Holy Spirit and the unity of the Trinity, this icon adds depth to the prayer corner, reminding us of the mystery and unity of God. Our Trinity icon was added a little later, but once we placed it near Christ, it completed the space, giving it a sense of peace and wholeness.
Additional Icons
Additional Icons
In addition to these essentials, you might want to add:
Other Saints and Holy Martyrs: Saints who inspire or protect, like St. George or St. Demetrios, can also be included. We gradually added these, and over time, it made our prayer corner feel even more like a part of our lives. Each new icon brought a new layer of connection and purpose to our daily prayers.
Patron Saint Icon: Including your patron saint is a deeply personal choice. Each Orthodox Christian has a saint that resonates with them, often chosen based on their baptismal name. For example, we included an icon of St. John the Baptist as our family saint. Seeing his icon daily is a reminder of his powerful example of faith and the guidance he offers to each of us.
Family Saint Icon: Sometimes families choose a saint who represents unity and family strength, such as St. Nicholas or St. John Chrysostom. This icon acts as a family icon, a symbol of our faith’s foundation in our home.
Icon Styles
Icon Styles
We discovered that there are different styles of icons. Russian icons often feature bold colors and meticulous details, while Greek icons are typically more fluid with golden backgrounds. We chose icons that fit our style and space, creating a balance of simple designs and a few more intricate pieces. Each style brings its own beauty, and we found ourselves drawn to some with a terse nature that emphasized simplicity, while others felt like artwork that invited us to linger a little longer in prayer.
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Buy Now → 2. Purchasing Icons
The experience of purchasing icons felt like a journey of faith for us. Each icon represented a step toward creating our holy place, so we took our time choosing and acquiring them. Here are a few tips we found helpful:
- Orthodox Bookstores and Monasteries: Visiting an Orthodox bookstore helped us see icons up close, where we could feel the connection to each piece. Many monasteries also sell hand-painted icons, which are often created by monks and carry a spiritual depth that we found incredibly moving.
- Online Shops: We also explored online stores on EBay, Etsy, etc. This gave us access to a broad selection of icons in various styles and sizes, making it easy to find something that fit both our space and budget. Of all online shops, we were the happiest with Ebay. You have a wide variety of suppliers from all over the world, you can review sellers before making a decision ship internationally, and most of them have a great return policy, in case something goes wrong. The shipping sometimes takes time, but it is worth the wait.
A helpful tip: Measure your wall space before purchasing, and try making paper cutouts of each icon’s dimensions. We did this before ordering, arranging the cutouts on our wall to visualize the setup. This simple step gave us a clearer sense of what worked and helped us avoid overcrowding the space.
One of our next steps was purchasing incense and a vigil lamp, adding to the atmosphere and enhancing the sense of smell that filled our prayer corner. The smell of incense has become a beloved part of our daily prayers, adding an extra layer of reverence.
3. Arranging Your Icons
Arranging icons was a special part of the process, and we took time to consider the layout and purpose of each icon.
Here’s how we approached it:
Christ and Theotokos Together: In Orthodox homes, it’s traditional to place the icon of Christ next to or above the Theotokos, symbolizing mercy and intercession. We positioned our icon of Christ at the center, with the Theotokos beside Him. This arrangement helped us feel that our prayer corner was a reflection of the Orthodox church itself, with Christ always at the center.
Incorporating Candles and Vigil Lamps: Adding a vigil lamp or candle in front of the icons transformed the space, creating a warm, inviting glow. We chose a beeswax candle for its soft light and the way it adds to the sense of smell, bringing a bit of the church atmosphere into our home. For us, lighting the candle is a powerful ritual that signals the start of prayer time.
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Adding Patron Saints and Family Saints: Surrounding Christ and the Theotokos with icons of our patron saints and family saints brought a personal touch to the space. Our family saints are arranged in a way that feels like they are watching over our home, reminding us that we’re part of a larger family of believers.
Arranging our icons wasn’t a one-time event—it’s a process we revisit and refine as we continue growing in our faith. Each new icon, candle, or vigil lamp brings a fresh sense of devotion and connection to our holy corner. We hope that as you gather and arrange your icons, you’ll find this process as enriching and fulfilling as we did.
4. Having Icons Blessed
When our icons arrived, the next step was having them blessed, which added a profound sense of holiness to our prayer corner. We brought them to our local Orthodox church, where our priest blessed each icon on the altar. This experience reminded us that these weren’t just decorative images but sacred objects meant to draw us closer to God.
Having the icons blessed not only consecrated our icon corner but also created a deeper connection to our church community. We felt it was like bringing a piece of the Divine Liturgy into our home, and it reinforced that our prayer corner was a true holy place. If you have a spiritual father, he may also offer a special prayer or blessing for the icons, which can make the experience even more personal.
Your prayer corner will become a central place in your home, where every icon, every light, and every prayer deepens your connection with God, making your house truly feel like God’s place.
Step 3: Adding Sacred Objects to Your Prayer Corner
While icons are the heart of your prayer corner, other sacred items can make the space feel complete and enhance your prayer experience.
1. Source of Light
A candle or wall vigil lights symbolizes the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, and creates a serene atmosphere in your prayer space. We use traditional beeswax candles on brass holders, similar to those in church, which fill the room with a soft, warm glow and a sweet, natural scent. You could also use a small oil lamp or an electric candle if it’s safer or more practical. The key is to have a small, flickering light that serves as a reminder of Christ’s light in your life.
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Buy Now →2. Incense and Censers
The use of incense is a rich part of Orthodox worship, symbolizing the prayers of the faithful rising to God. If you want a traditional option, you can use a censer with charcoal and incense resin, but this may not work well in a small space due to the smoke. We opted for a resin censer that uses a tea light instead of charcoal, which releases the fragrant incense with less smoke and allows us to control the flame. Burning incense during prayer brings a sense of reverence and fills the room with a scent reminiscent of church.
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Buy Now →3. Other Holy Objects
A prayer corner can also include other sacred items like a cross, prayer beads, prayer books, or even a small bottle of holy water. These objects can enhance your prayer experience and remind you of God’s blessings. We gradually added items over time, including a small wooden table to hold our candles, icons, and incense burner. This table keeps everything organized and easily accessible during prayer time, creating a special spot we love to return to every day.
Building a prayer corner is a journey, and you’ll likely make adjustments as you go. Ours has grown over time, adding icons of new saints and adjusting our setup as our faith has deepened. Each item, from candles to icons to incense, reflects our personal connection with God and the saints.
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Buy Now → We hope that as you create your prayer corner, it becomes a place of peace and closeness to God. Adding each element, whether it’s an icon of the Risen Christ, a beeswax candle, or an incense burner, is like a small act of devotion, making this sacred space uniquely yours.
Side Note: Disposing of Old or Damaged Icons
Side Note: Disposing of Old or Damaged Icons
If an icon becomes worn or damaged, it’s important to dispose of it respectfully. Orthodox tradition suggests either burning the icon or returning it to your church for proper disposal. This ensures that we honor these sacred images, even at the end of their use.
Final Thoughts
Creating a prayer corner might take some time and planning, but it’s a beautiful journey. From selecting icons to arranging your items, each step brings you closer to establishing a place in your home where you can connect with God daily. Remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Whether it’s a small shelf or an entire corner, the purpose of a prayer space is to serve as a constant reminder of faith. We hope your prayer corner brings peace, reflection, and a deeper connection to the Orthodox faith.
May your prayer corner bless your home and serve as a spiritual sanctuary for you and your family, a constant reminder of God's love and presence in your life!
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