The home altar, known as the “icon corner,” in addition to bearing icons of Christ and the Theotokos, will usually include icons of the saints whose name one shares, or saints to which someone in the family has a special attachment, such as this icon of Saint Patrick. Most recognized as a Western (Catholic) saint, Patrick may also be venerated in an Orthodox home, since he is a saint in both the Eastern and Western churches.
As much as possible, home icons are placed on the eastern wall of each room, physically reminding the family that Christ is the “Dayspring” and “Sun of Righteousness.” Many families will hang icons of Archangel Michael or Gabriel, the first two archangels, who protect against Satan and announce the good news of salvation. Babies kiss the icons before going to bed. Adults pray before icons in private. Families face the icons when blessing the food on the table. Icons participate in the life of the family and the family lives life in front of the icon, thus Orthodox Christians would consider the icons in the home to be the active presence of the saint depicted.
This Prosopon icon incorporates many elements that bring Saint Patrick’s unique qualities to mind. The book he holds, for example, contains the beginning of the Lorica, a prayer attributed to him. “I bind unto myself the strong name of the Trinity…Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of Me.” By looking to Christ, through the saint, the beholder enters the place of peace that is above political strife. Since Saint Patrick was a strong defender of the Trinity, the background of the icon has a shamrock motif, which he used as a metaphor for the Trinity. The shamrock has three parts but is one, just as the Trinity is one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The upper portion of the background has a Celtic knotwork design, which is a tribute to Saint Patrick’s work of converting the pagan Celts to Christianity in what is now Ireland. Early missionaries, such as Saint Patrick, integrated local customs into Christian liturgy, allowing each culture to hymn the true God with its distinctive voice.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ within me.
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
~ Excerpt from “The Breastplate of St. Patrick, of Ireland.”