Why Orthodox Christians build beautiful churches

Visitors to an Orthodox church often ask why so much care — and cost — goes into domes, iconography, and gilding. The answer is ancient: the church building is an icon of heaven. When the envoys of Prince Vladimir stood in Hagia Sophia, they reported: "We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth."

Every element teaches. The dome draws the eye upward to Christ Pantocrator; the iconostasis is not a wall but a window, showing the cloud of witnesses who pray with us; candles and lamps speak of the Light no darkness can overcome.

That is why communities in every age — including small parishes with modest means — sacrifice to build and beautify their churches. A parish that builds a church builds a home for generations it will never meet.

Orthodox House will soon host campaigns that help parishes raise support for exactly this work — from a first chapel to a cathedral.