One of the most beautiful Orthodox Christian traditions is creating a dedicated prayer corner (also called an icon corner or home altar). It serves as the heart of your spiritual life at home — a place for daily prayer, reflection, and a reminder of God’s constant presence.
If you’re just starting out, don’t worry — you don’t have to spend a fortune. With a few essentials, you can create a peaceful, reverent prayer space in any apartment or house. Here’s how to do it, with links to products that can help you along the way.
1. Choosing the Right Location
Orthodox prayer corners traditionally face east, if possible. That is the direction of Christ’s return. But if your home layout makes that difficult, simply pick a quiet, respectful spot that you won’t walk past casually all the time.
A small table, bookshelf, or even a dedicated wall shelf can become your prayer corner foundation. Consider something like this simple floating prayer shelf or this icon stand to get started.
2. Selecting Your Icons
At minimum, Orthodox homes should include an icon of Christ and an icon of the Theotokos (the Mother of God). You might also add your patron saint or a favorite feast-day icon.
Beautiful, high-quality icons are widely available online:
- Christ Pantocrator Icon
- Theotokos of Vladimir Icon
- Set of small travel icons (if you want something more budget-friendly)
Framed or mounted icons are best so they can stand upright and be easily venerated.
3. A Prayer Book and Bible
Your prayer corner isn’t complete without a Bible and prayer book. Most Orthodox Christians use a daily prayer book along with the Psalter. Here are some well-reviewed options on Amazon:
These books will guide you in morning and evening prayers and keep you rooted in Scripture.
4. Candles and Incense
Light is a powerful symbol in Orthodox prayer. Traditionally, an oil lamp or beeswax candles burn in front of the icons. You may also burn incense occasionally, remembering Psalm 141: “Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense.”
You can find excellent supplies online:
If you’re nervous about open flames, a small electric vigil lamp is another practical option.
5. A Prayer Rope
A prayer rope (komboskini or chotki) helps you focus on the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It is a staple of Orthodox prayer life.
You can start with a simple 33-knot prayer rope or, if you like, a 50-knot wool chotki for deeper prayer practice.
6. Other Nice-to-Have Items
Once you’ve built the basics, you can expand your prayer corner with these additions:
✅ A small hand-cross for blessing your home (blessing cross)
✅ A holy water font (wall holy water font)
✅ A cloth or cover for the prayer table (liturgical cloth)
Final Blessings
Setting up your first prayer corner is a joyful, meaningful step in building your Orthodox Christian life. Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive or perfect — start simple, and grow it over time.
If you’d like, you can check out the Amazon links above to order some of these beautiful tools for your home worship. May God bless your prayer space, and may your prayer corner help you draw closer to Christ each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an Orthodox prayer corner?
- An Orthodox prayer corner, also called an icon corner or home altar, is a dedicated space in your home where you place icons, candles, a Bible, and other spiritual items to help focus daily prayer and worship. It serves as the spiritual heart of an Orthodox Christian household.
- What icons do I need for an Orthodox prayer corner?
- Traditionally, every Orthodox prayer corner should have an icon of Christ and an icon of the Theotokos (the Mother of God). Many people also include their patron saint and a feast-day icon. You can start simple and expand over time.
- How do I set up an Orthodox prayer corner at home?
- To set up an Orthodox prayer corner, choose a quiet spot (ideally facing east), place icons of Christ and the Theotokos, add a candle or oil lamp, keep a Bible and prayer book nearby, and consider adding incense and a prayer rope. This helps you create a peaceful place for daily prayer.
- Do I need a priest to bless my prayer corner?
- While it is a beautiful tradition to have a priest bless your prayer corner, it is not strictly required. You can begin praying there right away. Many families invite a priest to bless their home and prayer space during Theophany or another house blessing.
- What items should I buy for my Orthodox prayer corner?
- Essential items include icons of Christ and the Theotokos, a Bible, a prayer book, candles or an oil lamp, and possibly incense and a prayer rope. You can find these items on Amazon to start your prayer corner easily.