kristinsdóttir

All Things Ukrainian offers these cool Reverse Glass Paintings by Jaroslav Adamovich.  They are  painted on the back side of the glass. 

I bet that makes you wonder about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, doesn’t it?  According to one website, one of the accomplishments of Ukrainian Orthodox Christians was that they converted scripture and the liturgy into Slavonic which made it more accessible to the people.  And here’s an interesting site:  Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

(the painting shown is called “Wedding Preparations”)

The Orthodox Christian Information Center has a nice lineup of convert testimonies. 

(photo credit to izarbeltza)

 ”What does a modest dressing woman stand for? Regardless of faith, she stands for the belief that a woman should be appreciated for her intellect and not valued for the shape of her body. In electing to cover herself, she is not oppressed: She is empowered.  She challenges people around her to look past her exterior, to the strength and beauty that lies within. To me this notion transcends geography, religion and culture. Women have long fought the battle for equality but so long as their worth as individuals is based on the superficial - youth, beauty, sexuality -the value of their human capital is undermined …” 

 An essay at the International Museum of Women by Sarah Ansari, founder of Artizara Clothing.

(photo credit to wiseacre photo)

In the ‘cool religious habits’ category, I offer up the Sisters of St. Birgitta.  Here’s an article with nifty photos from a photographer who spent some time with some of the sisters at Vikingsborg, a guest-house run by the sisters of the Convent of St. Birgitta in Darien, Connecticut.

More about the the Order of the Most Holy Saviour of St. Bridget here.

This question, “Are you saved?” is a common one many of us encounter when facing Christians with a Protestant background.   There’s a relatively brief three-part answer …

(the saint?  Yes, it’s Saint Zlata!  I hope the artist,  Ralitza Ilieva, doesn’t mind my showing the icon here and linking to her site.  I tried contacting her twice via email, but the mail bounced back.  Anyway, lovely icon, isn’t it?)

Published by the Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest, here is Sarah Wagner’s brilliant FAQ for the newbie to the Orthodox Church. 

(the saint?  yes, that’s Saint John the Baptist)

“The straight-up-and-down featurelessness of the typical Muslim gown is in fact, the ideal canvas for a play of colours, textures, and patterns.”  Exactly.  As is the case with the haori and the michiyuki.  Which is why I adore them.  Sigh.

The pics?  I *think* those are all designs from Iva Lativah.  My new favorite designer.  More about her here (yup, I think that’s an Indonesian website.  No, I can’t read it, either). 

“Does it really matter whether I am Muslim or Jewish? Should the exact size and shape of the head covering affect how you read this essay? How different is it from wearing a cross? Imagine for a moment that I am a human being with a strong academic record who happens to look a little different from you …”

Article:  “Deceived by Appearances” by Na’ema Suleiman, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Monday, July 9, 2007.

(photo credit to my mailo)

“People want consistency. They want tradition. They want the sacraments. Through the Internet they have discovered the Mother Church and for many reasons are deciding to come back home to the ancient faith.”

The former Holy Trinity Charismatic Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

(photo credit to Taivasalla)

“…it often helps to find someone whom you admire for their style and commitment to modesty, and try to imitate their wardrobe. Ask this person where they shop, and for their advice on finding some stylish yet modest outfits…”

(yes, I’m joking around a bit with the photo, though I think the link has information worth considering … photo credit to Tinker*Tailor)