If I did not have the cultural heritage of being a “RomanCandle”, I would choose to
be a “RussianCandle”. Whenever I have the opportunity whether at home or abroad,
I like to pop into Orthodox churches to visit my neighbours from the East. My overriding
reason for visiting Orthodox churches, particularly Russian Orthodox Churches, is that
I like the glory and grandeur of their services and buildings. Some people may not be
aware that Orthodox churches have no seating for churchgoers, other than seating
around the walls for the infirm, elderly, and those with child. As in the early Church,
the weakest go to the wall. Sadly, since medieval times, churchgoers in the West
have been penned into pews, thus preventing the free and easy movement once
permitted to churchgoers to light candles during church services. This beautiful
Orthodox hymn honors Our Blessed Lady by praising Our Lord and Saviour for
the great gift of His mother: “Theotokos, Mater Dei, Mother of God”. One of the
reoccurring themes in Orthodox paintings is the depiction of Our Blessed Lady in
the sky above churches and chapels as seen in the apparitions of Our Lady of Zeitoun.
It is therefore not unnatural for any mother to watch over her little ones, as does
Our Heavenly Mother watch over her children. In Byzantine architecture, the
soft lines of a woman are revealed in the outline of any church. O Mary, Mother
of God and our mother, pray that we may ever remain your devout children.