Each of our monastery’s workshops has prepared its own wonderful gift this Christmas Season. Our artists have been painting on glass and ceramics, embroidering serviettes, carving small wooden Nativity scenes, making toys and painting Christmas tree baubles. With each item they tried to convey the symbols associated with the great feast of the Birth of Christ.
The Nativity Icon
Our crushed stone workshop has created an icon, beautifully depicting the Nativity of Christ with the help of stones and minerals. Every detail of this icon consists of powdered materials poured onto an adhesive base. The plot of the icon is laconic and includes neither the Magi nor the angels. We see only the Mother of God and St Joseph bowed over the Christ Child. The emphasis here is not on the celebration, but on the actual event, the birth of the Son of God on earth.
Little Christmas Star
In Russian Orthodox Church tradition, icons are often adorned with embroidered covers (oklad). Our craftsmen constantly use fabric in their work with icon covers, frames and shrouds. This time, in advance of the coming Feast, they used these fabrics to manually sew many beautiful Christmas stars and small ornaments. The intricate designs of these items show that their creators have put their heart and soul into every detail. These miniature eight-pointed stars are symbols of the Star of Bethlehem.
Christmas Angel
The people involved in our social adaptation project called the Good Works Center have made a great variety of toy angels. Imagining the beauty of the angelic hymns on Christmas night, let us rejoice together with the angels at the birth of our Savior and share this great joy with everyone!
Nativity Scene
The nativity scene is a symbol of the cave, in which Christ was born. All of us have seen compositions with figures of the Holy Family, angels, magi, shepherds and animals near cathedrals and churches. Today, nativity scenes also appear in people's homes during Christmastide. In addition to the Christmas trees, the gifts, the treats and many other festive traditions, the figures or images of the Nativity scene make us even closer to this event, helping us remain its witnesses after thousands of years.
You will find all the variety of Christmas gifts on our website.
