Fate and Faith

There was an iconostasis on an isolated part of a road on the outskirts of my mother's childhood village that was never lit. The chief icon inside was of St. Constantine and St. Helen. I stopped as often as I could to light its vigil lamp whenever we visited family. My mother believes my efforts were rewarded by the saints because years later I married my husband, Constantine. In a sense, though we were separated by time and place, we found each other as these saints had found Christ's cross. Now some of you will say how silly but I assure you we never would have met if it wasn't predestined by God as we lived 330 miles apart in the States. My mother was in Greece having her house alarm repaired by my husband's cousin. He then approached my mother as to whether she had any eligible daughters for marriage as he had a cousin in America looking to get married. We met and despite the physical distance between us we were married within a year. Everyone attributes it to fate or written by the hand of God because so many pieces fell into place for the conclusion. My mother, of course, remembers the little church by the side of the road. If your kids become bored in Greece share the idea with them that destiny has brought them to Greece and one way or another it will be a life changing experience. The above icon is of Sts. Constantine and Helen from http://www.icnograms.org/ where you can send greeting cards with icons on them.

What are those little glass boxes on the side of the road?

Throughout Greece you will see small glass boxes on the side of the road called iconostasis. My kids have asked me what these are and who put them there. We place flowers or teddy bears as expressions of love where a crash has taken someone's life. Greeks do the same but instead they put up these little churches where a loved one died, was injured, or survived when they shouldn't have. Inside each are icons, a vigil lamp, 2 bottles of water and oil, matches, wicks, and cleaning items. The vigil lamp is a small glass that is filled with olive oil and water. The water remains on the bottom and the oil floats on top acting as a fuel for a circular floating cork with a hole in its center that holds a small wick. There may be an ornate hanging holder for the glass or just the glass itself. If you pass one by feel free to light it in the late afternoon before it gets dark. Fill with oil and the vigil lamp will burn over night remembering our faith and loved ones. Light the vigil lamp, pray for your family and the one who put up the iconostasis. You can stop at different iconostases to find your patron saint. It can be your kids’ treasure hunt. You can purchase icons of saints which are hand made individual pieces of art, vigil lamps and so on for your home remembering your trip and others always asking for God's grace in all things. Take a look at these sites before you go to Greece to know who is represented in the icons. They have certain elements particular to each.

The icon of the Virgin and Jesus at http://www.aquinasandmore.com%20/

The archangel icon at http://www.icnograms.org/

Cork wick holder http://www.religiousnet.com/greek_7620-50.html
Hanging holder for vigil lamp http://www.archangelsbooks.com/