www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Outdoor shrine proper?

A Roman Catholic might have a statue of Mary or St Francis (or some other saint) in an outdoor garden. Is it proper for a Byzantine Catholic to erect an outdoor shrine (not meaning a statue but some icon)? If so, what would be proper in a home setting?

Dave Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

I know of one Russian Orthodox friend here who lives in downtown Washington, in a 'changing neighborhood' who has a small 'shrine' in his yard. It consists of a post, about 4 feet high, to which is nailed a flat piece of wood, and that has a small regular-styled roof that extends forward about 8 inches. To the flat wood piece is attached an icon of the Vladimir icon.

This is very similar to the wayside crosses and shrines that are found all over central Europe -- in Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, etc. As I see it, it is perfectly appropriate. And flowers, lots of flowers.......

Blessings!

Such

Dear Dave,

A Church that worships in the snow, in the basement and in the commandant's office at camp can put a shrine anyplace. GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!!! Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime, Everywhere, Everyplace, Everytime.

IMHO

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Thanks for the replies. Anyone know of some pictures of such shrines that are on the web? I'd like to erect one near a row of roses we have on our property but only have a vague idea of the usual style.

Many thanks!

Dave Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

{Thanks for the replies. Anyone know of some pictures of such shrines that are on the web? I'd like to erect one near a row of roses we have on our property but only have a vague idea of the usual style.}

Contact either Conciliar Press or St Tikhon's Seminary Bookstore. I saw one for sale at St Tikhons when I was there for Memorial Day.

Dear Dave Ignatius,

What a beautiful thing you are undertaking!

My father was a beekeeper (a stinging indictment, eh?) and, following the tradition of the "Old Country," he had a shrine with icons of the patrons of the bees, John the Baptist (who ate wild honey) and Sts. Savvatius and Zossimas of the Solovetsky Islands.

He built a pillar with empty beehives and on top was an opening with the icons, a votice candle and room for flowers.

A blessing was made there at the beginning and at the end of the honey season.

Our Church has an outdoor shrine with a mosaic of the Mother of God of Zhirovits. People of all faiths stop by to pray before it, it is truly beautiful.

It will be the focus of our outdoor services when we have the Pilgrimage there in the fall.

Robert Tallick is absolutely correct in his information.

I saw a similar shrine with resources he mentions not too far from where I live. It was near a Macdonald's .

Alex

"This is very similar to the wayside crosses and shrines that are found all over central Europe -- in Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, etc. As I see it, it is perfectly appropriate. And flowers, lots of flowers......."

I love these outdoor crosses. However, this is a perfect example of a practice whose "territory" neither universal nor of only one rite.

Olga

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Dave, Here are two examples of outdoor shrines. In the 1960's when St. Mary's Ruthenian parish was founded a large (8 ft. high ?) mosaic of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was part of the design. It was a little larger than the small wooden shrines in photos. It used to face the street Sepulveda Blvd. in Van Nuys, California. People (Byzantine, Roman) used to stop just to venerate the shrine, place flowers, pray, etc. They often commented to the priest or left notes at the rectory giving thanks for the presence of this image of the Mother of God.

A parishoner actually built a wooden shrine to Christ the Teacher in the enclosed patio area of our parish. It is more typical of Carpatho-Rus', Ukraine, etc.

Proceed with the building of your shrine and may you and your family obtain many blessings, Dave.

Dear Friends,

When I was in Greece (Holy Hellas I call it ), I saw similar shrines placed on highways to mark places where people were killed in car accidents.

This is also becoming a tradition up here where I live in Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada.

A young couple were out driving, trying to break the speed of light, it would seem, and their car crashed into many, many pieces near some trees.

Ever since, people came to hang wreaths and place flowers with candles and Crosses at the spot.

I like the Roman Catholic practice of establishing a shrine and dedicating an image of Mary as "Our Lady of the place."

Alex

Alex, this custom is also quite rampant in the U.S. also.

On I-95 southbound, at the exit for Potomac Mills Mall (Exit 156) there is a white wooden cross with the name "Jose Cavazos". Officer Cavazos was a Virginia State Trooper who was shot and killed at that spot by occupants of a vehicle he had pulled over.

I know that there are some folks who don't like this custom. For me, WHENEVER I drive past that spot, I make the sign of the cross and pray: "Lord, have mercy upon the soul of your servant Officer Cavazos. May he rest in peace."

For me, it's a very simple and succinct reminder to pray. Just like church bells. Or outdoor shrines.

Blessings! (And don't forget the flowers.)

Dear Dr. John,

(The flowers on on their way ).

Yes, what has always inspired me is how such roadside shrines lend themselves to prayer and remembrance of those being commemorated.

The Jesuit Martyr, St Isaac Jogues, used to carve Crosses into trees when he was in captivity. I do this up at the cottage (I use a bit of paint though).

One can have such a little shrine anywhere, on one's desk at work, by the door so one could have a quick prayer before leaving and after arriving home, in a boat, a car, anywhere.

When I see people wearing Crosses on the public transit, that is also a time for a brief prayer as the Cross enshrines the Temple of the Spirit that that person is and for whom Christ died.

God bless (now you got me teary-eyed!)

Alex

Dave, I purchased an outdoor wooden icon shrine to mount on a tree in my backyard from Hanusey's in Philadelphia. It looks very old world and we get alot of complements and questions about it. (Great way to evangelize as well.) I'll try to find the their phone number in an old catalog. It sounds like that's exactly what you're looking for. Not sure if they have a website, but you can do a search and see if anything comes up. Take care. John.
http://www.byzantines.net/HolyTrinity/

Thanks!

Yes, I'd be very interested. I've thought about designing one myself but I'm not sure if I have the right design in mind. Are there any pictures of such shrines on the web?

Dave Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

The Cathedral of St. Isaac the Syrian (Moscow? St. Petersburg?) is adorned on the facade and elsewhere on the outside with statues and bas reliefs of saints and scenes from the life of St. Isaac.

If you can have such things in the very fabric of a cathedral itself, what's to prevent a shrine with statue, icon, or other representation of a holy person on the property of a pious Christian?

In general, we prefer the icon shrine or the bas-relief, but the statue is a bit disconcerting.

But, as our brother Basil proposes and NIKE affirms: Just DO it!

Blessings!