Tradition of the red eggs
Traditionally, Pascha (Easter) eggs are dyed throughout the Orthodox Christian world on Holy Thursday, and they are dyed red to represent the redeeming blood of Christ that was shed on the Cross, the white egg (before being dyed) represents the white marble tomb were Christ's body was laid after He was taken down from the Cross, and the hard shell of the egg symbolizes the sealed tomb of Christ.
Also, two years after the Resurrection, Mary Magdalene was carrying a basket full of white eggs as she went to Jerusalem, and met up with Tiberius, the governor after Pontius Pilate, whom she welcomed to Jerusalem and wished him to be righteous to the people of Jerusalem, unlike his predecessor, who crucified the Son of God who was resurrected on the third day.
Tiberius replied that, if all she had told him of the resurrection and the miracles performed by Christ were true, the white eggs in her basket should turn red and then he would believe. And behold, the eggs turned red. Mary Magdalene gave one red egg to the governor Tiberius and took one herself, saying "Christ is Risen", to which he replied "Truly, he is risen".
St Nicholas and bags of gold coins
The story of Saint Nicholas and the bags of gold coins is one of the most famous ones associated with the early Christian saint who became the basis for the modern figure of "Santa Claus". St Nicholas was born during the third century in the village of Patara, which was then Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.
One of the best-known Saint Nicholas stories is about how he helped a poor man with three daughters. In those times, a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery.
On three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home—providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window by St Nicholas, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from St Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St Nicholas.
The historic St Nicholas is remembered and revered among traditional Christians and has become a beloved figure around the world. He is also the patron saint of a great number of causes, including sailors, and children. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6th. This story of the dowry gold is often cited as the root of his patronage of children and gift-giving persona.
St Herman of Alaska
(c. 1756 – November 15, 1837)
St Herman was a Russian Orthodox monk and one of the first missionaries to Alaska, which was then part of Russian America. He is the first canonized Orthodox saint in America. His gentle approach and ascetic life earned him the love and respect of both the native Alaskans and the Russian colonists. He is considered by many Orthodox Christians as the patron saint of North America. He is the patron saint of our mission here in Tuscaloosa.
Icon of the Mother of God
On September 8th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
This wonderworking icon is one of the most venerated in Russia and, according to tradition, dates from the dawn of Christianity. It was painted by Apostle Luke on the board of the table where Christ dined with Theotokos. Seeing the portrait, the Mother of God said: “From now on, all generations will bless Me. The grace of the One born of Me and Mine be with this icon.”
The onion dome
The Byzantine “onion dome” or cupola above the church represents the vault of heaven above the earth. The onion shape results from the idea of prayer as a soul burning towards heaven, which connects the earthly world with the treasures of the afterlife.
Introducing Christ's Church
