The difference between Orthodox and Catholics traces through the very history of Christianity between the East and the West. Let’s explore it.

Although Christianity is one of the most widespread monotheistic religions in the world, it would be wrong to speak of a single religious and spiritual expression. Indeed, while its heart and focus remain the life and human and divine experience of Jesus Christ, we can identify within it various professions of faith that differ in often fundamental aspects of doctrine, traditions, and Sacraments. Thus, we have Catholic Christians, Protestant Christians, Orthodox Christians, and in particular, we want to focus our attention in this article on the difference between Orthodox and Catholics.

Orthodox Christianity boasts a number of baptized faithful not too far from Catholic Christianity, placing it as the second-largest Christian Church in the world. It officially emerged with the East-West Schism of 1054 AD, but the date is indicative only. Many historical events and discussions led to this split, from the Sack of Constantinople by the Venetians against the Byzantines in 1204, to the rejection of the Council of Florence, which was supposed, among other things, to heal the divisions between the Latin and Orthodox Churches in 1484, to which the Patriarch of Constantinople, Simeon I, responded by convening a Synod of Orthodox bishops. In any case, it is significant that Western historiography speaks of the East-West Schism, while the Orthodox refer to it as the Latin Schism.

One of the fundamental points that led to this rupture was that the Western Catholic Church claimed the primacy of the Pope, Bishop of Rome and successor of the Apostle Peter, investing him with true jurisdictional power even over the other centers of Christianity at the time, the so-called pentarchy, formed by Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, the five most important episcopal sees of the Roman world. The other cities of the pentarchy were willing to accept this superior authority of Rome only over Western Christians. Of course, there were other issues on which Eastern and Western Christians did not agree, and some of these differences are still identifiable today between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

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Pope Francis

This department is entirely dedicated to Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Already the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD had brought out the differences and determined the first separations between some Eastern churches, but also the tendency of the Western church to concentrate power in the hands of the Pope, to the detriment of the Eastern patriarchs. On that occasion, the Patriarch of Constantinople also attempted to claim a role of superiority over the other patriarchs, presenting himself as “ecumenical patriarch,” which did not please the Bishop of Rome.

But what are the main differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy? First of all, Orthodox Christians do not recognize a single religious authority. Individual bishops govern their churches through local synods without being accountable to a single head comparable to the Catholic Pope. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is considered primus inter pares (“first among equals”), but his figure and role are mostly representative of the religious profession.

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Bishop’s items

Bishop’s items: bishops rings, crozier, pectoral crucifix.

Orthodox Christians consider bishops the direct successors of the Apostles, and as such, they are invested with the mandate wanted by Christ himself when he created the Church. They thus refer to the early Church and the original Christian faith, based on holy tradition: Holy Scriptures, teachings of the Church Fathers, dogmatic principles elaborated in the seven historic ecumenical councils.

Orthodox Christians consider the seven Sacraments valid, show devotion to the Virgin Mary Theotókos, Mother of God, and also venerate the Saints.

Regarding Original Sin, which they call Ancestral Sin, they do not consider it: humans are born pure, not tainted by the guilt of Adam and Eve, but naturally predisposed to sin by their very nature.

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception for Catholics and Orthodox

A difference between Orthodox and Catholics concerns the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Orthodox and Catholic Christians hold in high regard the figure of Mary, Mother of Jesus, whom the Orthodox call Theotókos, Mother of God. But Catholics maintain that, although born to ordinary man and woman, Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary was conceived free from Original Sin, as she was destined to bear Jesus Christ in her womb. For the Orthodox, however, Mary was conceived with Original Sin and was purified precisely at the moment when Jesus was placed in her womb. The Orthodox do not recognize the dogma of the Assumption of Mary.

The Orthodox and the Pope

As for the figure of the Pope, we have already seen how the fundamental difference between Orthodox and Catholics from the dawn of time is precisely the refusal by the former to recognize the authority of the Supreme Pontiff or any religious authority superior to the Bishops, heirs, and successors of the Apostles. Instead, we know that for Catholics, the Pope is the sole descendant of Peter, head of the apostles and representative of Christ on earth, chosen by Jesus himself as the guide of His church.

Purgatory for the Orthodox

Western Catholics consider Purgatory a place between Heaven and Hell where men who have sinned can atone for their sins, at least in part, to purify themselves and ascend to Heaven.
For the Orthodox, however, who also encourage prayers for the deceased, Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to save all men, or at least those willing to live according to God’s laws. However, when the body dies, the soul must undertake a journey through the stars, during which it must stop at various stations, the telonia, where evil spirits interrogate it and demand payment of a toll for actions committed, true or presumed. In this journey, the virtuous soul is helped and supported by angels.
The more a person has loved God and lived a holy life, the easier it will be to pass the trials and reach Heaven.

Baptism in the Orthodox Church

Orthodox and Catholic Christians both practice baptism, the former by immersion, completely immersing the baptized in sanctified water to be reborn to new life, the latter by infusion, where the priest pours sanctified water over the baptized’s head. The Orthodox refer to the Greek term baptisma, which means “immersion,” and their rite involves three full immersions.
For the Orthodox Church, baptism is the moment a person is born in Christ, receiving a new name, exclusively that of a saint.

The Russian Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Christian Church is still widespread mainly in Southeastern and Eastern Europe and in the nations of the former Soviet Union. Russia has its own autocephalous Orthodox Church, headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
In the past, this Orthodox Church was also linked to other patriarchates, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. But the Russian Orthodox Church has always maintained a strong bond with secular power. Especially after the end of the Soviet Union, Russia entrusted its church with the custody of ancient traditions and imperial vestiges, and Muscovite Orthodoxy became part of the cultural and political project of the “Russian world.” Today, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has come under EU sanctions for blessing Putin’s war against Ukraine.

The relics of the saints traverse the history of Christianity as testimonies of love, devotion, and faith.

They have always played an undeniable role in spreading the cult of men and women deemed blessed over the centuries. From the earliest Christian relics found in the catacombs to the many sacred remains and fragments brought from Jerusalem by Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, relics and holy bodies have represented for Christian communities the hope of greater participation in grace and holiness through direct contact or at least the veneration of what had contact with a saint, or even more, was a part of them. Naturally, this conviction assumes even greater value if we speak of relics directly related to Jesus, such as the thorns of the Crown of Thorns, the Holy Nails, or the Shroud.

But what are saint relics? The word “relic” derives from the Latin “reliquiae” and means remains. Thus, a relic can first and foremost be the body of a saint, or more often a part of it, preserved in some way and fractionated over the centuries. It is not uncommon to find fragments of a single saint’s body in churches scattered around the world. In the case of Christian relics, the concept of holiness also extends to anything that had direct contact with the saint in question, from their clothes or jewelry to the instruments used for their martyrdom. Additionally, over time, the custom of venerating so-called contact relics has spread. These are objects that had no direct contact with the saint but did with one of their relics, and somehow absorbed part of the saint’s holiness. If we consider the Holy Nails, for example, there are about 33 considered authentic worldwide, 16 in Italy alone, along with an unspecified number of copies made using filings from the original nails, whose sacred power was transmitted by assimilation.

In this article, we do not wish to dwell on the most famous relics, such as the already mentioned symbols of Jesus’ Passion, but rather on the most curious and fascinating relics of the saints.

Tooth of Saint Apollonia

Saint Apollonia, celebrated on February 9, is the patron saint of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technicians. She lived in the 3rd century AD and, according to various traditions, was either an elderly unmarried woman who was a friend of Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, and herself engaged in apostolic work, or a young girl, as she is usually depicted in sacred iconography. In this same iconography, she is shown with a pair of pincers in her hand because during her martyrdom, all her teeth were pulled out. In the Church of Saint Apollonia in Rome, one of these teeth is still kept clamped between the pincers that extracted it.

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Statue of St. Apollonia of Alexandria with tooth in painted wood

The Saint holds pincers with a tooth on top of a cushion in her hands.

Blood of Saint Januarius

We have already dedicated a specific article to the blood of Saint Januarius, which liquefies three times a year. Contained in two ampoules kept in the Cathedral of Naples, it belongs to Saint Januarius, who died during Diocletian’s persecutions along with his friends and companions in faith. Each year, on the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, September 19, and December 16, the blood in the ampoules, which the Bishop shakes in front of the gathered faithful, miraculously returns to its liquid state. The miracle of Saint Januarius is one of the most famous and awaited in Italy, a reference point for thousands of devotees in Naples and beyond.

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St. Januarius bust resin golden details 20×10.5 cm

The statue is made of resin, a material that is better than PVC in terms of definition of lines and details.

Incorrupt Body of Saint Catherine

Among the incorrupt bodies of saints, one of the most famous cases is that of Saint Catherine of Bologna, a nun belonging to the Poor Clares who died in 1463. Her intact body sits in the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna, as if she had dozed off in a chair. The body was buried without a coffin, as was the custom of the Poor Clares, yet it has remained intact and is still visible today without any protection. Despite numerous attempts to find a scientific explanation for the phenomenon, it remains indefinable.

Holy House of Loreto of the Virgin Mary

The story of the Holy House of the Madonna of Loreto is the foundation of the cult of the Madonna of Loreto. It is also the heart of the famous sanctuary, where the Lauretane Litanies of the Holy Rosary originated. Indeed, the sanctuary is built around the Holy House! But what is it? According to legend, the Holy House is where Mary of Nazareth was born, lived, and received the visit of the Archangel Gabriel. At one point, while infidels were ravaging the Holy Land, Angels decided to save the house by flying it to safety, ultimately choosing this location. Due to this picturesque story, the Madonna of Loreto is considered the patroness of aviators and those who travel by air.

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Our Lady of Loreto 20 cm in mother-of-pearl plaster

Mary is wearing a long white dress with gold and blue details.

Staff of Saint Joseph

On the hill of San Potito in Naples, since 1795, the Archconfraternity of Saint Joseph of the Opera of Dressing the Naked has preserved the staff of Saint Joseph. Arriving in Naples over two centuries ago, the staff is enclosed in a cedarwood case. It is believed to be the famous staff Joseph carried when he went to ask for Mary’s hand in marriage. All suitors carried a similar staff, but Joseph’s miraculously blossomed. Lost for centuries, the staff was found in England and brought back to Italy by Giuseppe Grimaldi, known as Nicolino, a famous Italian castrato singer in that country.

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Saint Joseph with baby by Guido Reni in Valgardena wood

This statue in maple wood is hand made by the Valgardena artisans.

Saint John the Baptist

We all know the story of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, who baptized Him in the Jordan and prepared the world for His coming. We know he died at the behest of Salome, daughter of Herodias, princess of Judea, who asked for his head on a platter in exchange for a dance. Different traditions exist about what happened to his head. The head of Saint John is kept in the Church of San Silvestro in Capite in Rome. The mandible is in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Viterbo. However, the Cathedral of Amiens claims possession of the original head, as does the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The platter that held the head is preserved in the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa, along with part of the saint’s ashes. In the Siena Cathedral, there is one of his arms, a hand in Rapagnano, and the other hand in Montenegro. Many other places of worship hold fragments of bones, teeth, locks of hair, ashes, and even the blood of Saint John the Baptist. On the occasion of the beheading commemoration on August 29, these relics are displayed for the devotion of the faithful.

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Saint John the Baptist Greek icon

Hand-painted Greek icon on a golden wood plate depicting Saint John.

30 Pieces of Silver of Judas Iscariot

Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, condemning Him to death, is a well-known figure. However, little is known about what became of the 30 pieces of silver, the symbol of his betrayal—a paltry sum for the life of a man and friend, equivalent to about €3000 today! Before hanging himself, realizing what he had done, Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver to the Temple priests, who used them to buy the “Potter’s Field,” later called “Field of Blood,” in Aramaic Akeldama or Aceldama.

Saint Anthony of Padua

The relics of Saint Anthony of Padua, famous for his theological teachings and even more for his dedication to the poor and needy, are also spread across many different places of worship. Most of his remains are kept in the Chapel of the Ark in the Basilica dedicated to him in Padua. Devotees visit them daily, touching the marble of the altar where they are collected and praying to the saint for comfort and blessings. Other more delicate and particular relics of the saint are preserved in the chapel of relics: the tongue, which at the time of the transfer of the saint’s body to the new tomb was found still pink as if it were alive, the vocal cords, the chin, and a finger. Many other fragments and small parts of the saint’s body or objects belonging to him are in various churches in Italy and beyond. The friars of the Basilica of Padua organize an annual pilgrimage of the relics of Saint Anthony. Essentially, a friar from the basilica travels with a reliquary around Italy and the world, allowing the many distant devotees of Saint Anthony to worship him and feel closer to him.

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St. Anthony of Padua statue in resin 20 cm

Statue in painted resin.

Saint Agatha

In the cathedral of Catania, a large silver chest holds many relics of Saint Agatha, the city’s patron saint. A young Christian who died during the persecution of Decius, she endured a particularly brutal martyrdom, resisting until death, enduring every suffering to avoid renouncing her faith. Her relics had an adventurous history. Stolen by a Byzantine general who wanted to take them to Constantinople, they were partly recovered by two of his soldiers who returned them to the bishop of Catania. One of her breasts ended up in Gallipoli, while most of her remains were brought to the Cathedral of Catania, where they are still kept today in a precious silver bust and a large chest. Among them is also Saint Agatha’s veil, a veil that a woman would have laid on the burning coals to preserve the saint’s body from martyrdom.

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St. Agatha half-bust coloured resin 10x10x5 cm

The statue is made of resin, a material that, compared to PVC, allows greater definition and attention to detail.

The Veil of the Madonna and the Garment of Saint Joseph

For over 1600 years, two very particular relics have been preserved in the Basilica of Saint Anastasia on the Palatine Hill. They are the veil of the Madonna and a piece of Saint Joseph’s garment. It is said that Saint Jerome brought them to Rome after one of his apostolic trips to the Holy Land. Perhaps because they have been carefully guarded and rarely shown to the faithful, these relics have been very well preserved: the colours of the veil are still impressively vivid and bright.

Orthodox icons have always been a meeting place between art and pure and solemn spirituality. In ancient icons, a tradition that goes beyond space and time remains alive.

On Holyart you will find a wide variety of sacred icons: Byzantine, Greek, Russian and Romanian icons. The tradition that unites all these works is the same: Orthodox iconography, an expression of spirituality and contemplation unique in its kind.

The ancient orthodox icons

In particular, the trace of this spiritual tradition is still alive in ancient Russian icons. This type of icons is recognized and evaluated by experts; they are unique pieces that enclose a unique history: each icon was made by a monk according to the processes of iconographic tradition. All the Russian icons made approximately before 1920 in fact were produced according to a series of rules collected in manuals that have been lost.

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ANCIENT RUSSIAN ICONS

Ancient Russian works of art, real unique pieces.

This process involved several steps including sanding, mercury oil treatment, drying and application of gypsum layers. And the final phase: prayer and complete fasting by the monk during the creation of the icon. This path of spiritual art reached perfection with the realization of the discovered parts of the figure: face, hands, feet became thaumaturgic matter.

After 1920 the icons are no longer made with this same process, so the icons produced after this date are “only” sacred images. The Orthodox icons of the nineteenth century are therefore spiritual works different from any other religious representation.

Author, subject and interpretation of icons

In orthodox icons the author remains anonymous and takes second place: the protagonist of the work is always the sacred subject, the spiritual content. In some cases, it is spoken of acheropite icon: an icon not made by human hand but by direct divine origin. In the process of recognizing an icon, it is not so much the attribution of the artist as the identification of the period in which the icon was made and its authenticity.

Even knowing how to interpret an icon is not an obvious skill. The symbols and messages enclosed in the image, together with the specific history of the icon made, have a density of unique meaning. The power of the icon acts on another plane: it is said that the icon looks at you before being looked at. It represents the invisible world through a visible work and communicates the sense of the illusion of time and space: the figures are not inserted in realistic scenarios and the absence of perspective leaves the viewer immersed in contemplation. You never get tired of looking at an icon because the work is always alive.

The variety of images represented is infinite. There are different subjects: each icon has a story that opens a world of spirituality and faith. Icons of the Trinity, icons of the Holy Face or icons of the Twelve Great Feasts, typically Byzantine, are well known. However, among this variety of subjects, Marian iconography undoubtedly stands out for its central role. Famous are the icons of Our Lady of Vladimir, Our Lady of Kazan, and the Theotokos of Smolensk. The Virgin, often represented by the Child, is a recurring and emblematic subject.

The icon of the Annunciation

This icon is an example of an ancient icon, dated to the nineteenth century. Mary is represented when she receives the announcement of the Angel. The golden details and the transcendent image make the viewer enter into the mystery of Mary’s call. The work comes from Russia and the technique used is that of egg tempera on wooden board. As an original Russian icon, it is certified by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Russia.

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Byzantine icon Annunciation painted on wood 25×20 cm Romania

Byzantine icon Annunciation painted on wood 26×19 cm, hand painted on wood with gold background.

The resurrection of Lazarus represents a turning point for Jesus. From here begins His relentless journey towards the destiny that God has willed for Him.

We have recounted the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany in an article dedicated to friendship. Indeed, for Jesus, having friends was as important as it is for anyone. Yet, the story of the resurrection of Lazarus narrated in John 11:1-45 is much more than a simple tale of friendship. In fact, the theme of friendship takes a back seat since Lazarus does not speak, and the whole scene is dominated by Jesus, who, called by the two sisters of his friend to save him from the illness that had struck him and finding him already dead for four days, invokes the power of God the Father to bring him back to life. Yet, the love Jesus had for Lazarus is undeniable: Christ bursts into tears in front of Lazarus’s tomb, is troubled and moved by Mary’s despair, his sister, who begs Him to save her brother, while Martha, as always, remains confined at home, the guardian of the family and the shelter it provides.

John’s choice to recount this episode, which appears only in the Gospel bearing his name and is not mentioned in the other Gospels, has a deeper, symbolic, and prophetic significance. It is precisely at the moment when Jesus goes to Bethany and resurrects Lazarus that His destiny is fulfilled. By showing His power before the many Jews who had come to mourn the man’s death, Jesus reveals Himself, no longer masked, without limitations. From this moment on, He will become a target for His enemies. He consciously chooses to go to Judea, although He knows they hate Him there. The disciples indeed try to dissuade Him: “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (John 11:8). But He has already made His choice.

He admits it Himself shortly after: “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’” (John 11:41-42)

In this perspective, the Resurrection of Lazarus becomes, like and even more than the other miracles, a demonstration by Jesus of the reason for His presence in the world, a declaration of intent that also becomes a message from God.

It is also significant that Jesus does not leave for Bethany as soon as He receives news of Lazarus’s condition. He waits two days, leaving only on the third day, and in this choice by the Evangelist John, we read a clear prophetic intention: the third day will be the one chosen for departure, just as the third day will be the one on which Christ will resurrect.

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Saint John icon, oval

This icon was painted in Romania, it’s entirely hand made following the traditional techniques of the Byzantine art.

Rise and Walk

Jesus goes to the tomb followed by His disciples. “Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep; but I go to awaken him” (John 11:11). It is not a simple journey from one place to another; it is a point of no return crossed by the Savior, in the full awareness that He cannot turn back from this point onward. He waited two days because Lazarus’s death was instrumental to what He had in mind to accomplish; it was a necessary sacrifice to activate the disciples’ faith, to push them to believe. From here on, the Gospel of John accelerates, as if an irreversible mechanism has been triggered, a chain of increasingly close and frantic events destined to culminate in the Passion and death of Jesus.

The invitation that Jesus addresses to Lazarus, “Rise and come out” (John 11:43), is the fulfilment of what He had promised Martha: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’” (John 11:25-26)

From this point on, nothing can ever be the same.

Resurrection of Lazarus by Caravaggio

The resurrection of Lazarus has inspired many artists over the centuries. In particular, Caravaggio created a splendid painting in 1609 depicting this episode from the Gospel of John. The work, housed in the Regional Museum of Messina, was commissioned to the artist, just escaped from the prisons of Malta, by a Genoese merchant, Giovanni Battista de’ Lazzari. It is a painting of overwhelming realism, shrouded in a dark gloom, in which the figure of Lazarus, bathed in the divine light evoked by Christ, emerges with dramatic beauty and intensity, arms outstretched in a gesture that recalls the Cross. Legend has it that to portray the body of Lazarus, the famous painter demanded a real cadaver held up by porters.

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Statue of St. Lazarus in resin 20 cm

Statue of St. Lazarus with two dogs, made of resin.

Marian Feasts, All the Faces of Devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus

It is not easy to list all the feasts dedicated to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The devotion shown to her by the faithful has always manifested in various ways within the Catholic Church. The numerous Marian feasts that punctuate the Catholic calendar are moments when devotional acts, prayers, the recitation of the Rosary, and all expressions of faith and affection for the figure of the Mother of God take on a broader dimension that embraces all believers. It is hard to determine whether popular devotion to the Virgin, veneration offered by her humblest children, who have always turned to her, pleading and weeping for the comfort only a mother can provide, or the theology composed on Mary by great scholars and Church Fathers came first. Already in the Gospel of Luke, Mary is identified by the Archangel Gabriel as the “recipient of divine favour and grace” (Luke 1:28), and it is made clear from the outset that “the Lord is with her” (Luke 1:28).

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Immaculate Mary 20 cm

Handicraft carved with pantograph, hand finished and hand-painted.

The Catholic Church further ennobled her figure over the centuries, attributing to her the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception, at the centre of controversies for centuries and finally proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 with the bull Ineffabilis Deus, and the Assumption, already recognized since the 5th century AD in popular devotion and proclaimed in 1950 by Pope Pius XII with the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The veneration of Mary, recognized by dogma as the Mother of God since the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) and defined as the mother of the Church in the Second Vatican Council (1962 – 1965), has always been greatly encouraged. Certainly, it has never lost its character of affection and supplication, as no other figure in the history of Christianity has been able to embody mercy and the will to help and protect people, especially in times of greatest difficulty, like Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of all humanity.

In the past, we have virtually traveled among the many shrines dedicated to Our Lady in Italy, true beating hearts of this devotion, each with its own characteristics, its own history, and its own modes of worship. We have focused on Marian titles, the many names attributed to the Virgin over the centuries, and we have traced the apparitions of the Virgin around the world, from Loreto to Czestochowa, from Fatima to Lourdes to Guadalupe. As summer progresses and we approach the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) and that of the Coronation of Mary (22 August), we also want to focus on the main Marian Feasts, the special days dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin in the calendar. We have already dedicated an article to the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, instituted by Pope Francis in 2018. Let’s see which other important Marian feasts and observances there are. Although May is considered the Marian month par excellence, just as October is the month of the Holy Rosary, we will see that the feasts of Our Lady span the entire calendar.

Feasts Dedicated to Mary in the Calendar

1 January: Mary, Mother of God

Traditionally, the month of January is dedicated to the Infant Jesus and particularly to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, but on 1 January, Mary Most Holy, Mother of God is celebrated, referring to the Divine Maternity of Mary, connecting to the dogma of Mary Theotokos, Mother of God. This dogma was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, during which it was debated whether the Madonna was only Christotokos, Mother of Jesus-Man, or also Theotokos, Mother of God. Initially fixed in October, the celebration of Mary, Mother of God was moved in 1969 to 1 January, a date already celebrated in the past as the Nativity of St. Mary, which later disappeared.

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Tapestry Mother of God of Tenderness 90×70 cm

Tapestry with an exclusive image and refined Jacquard loom, made in Italy.

11 February: Our Lady of Lourdes

On 11 February, the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated. It was on 11 February 1858 that the girl claimed to have encountered, in the grotto of Massabielle, the “lady dressed in white,” destined to give rise to one of the most famous and heartfelt Marian devotions in the world and to transform that grotto into one of the main pilgrimage sites for Catholics.

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Our Lady of Lourdes

A splendid reproduction of the Virgin of Lourdes, completely hand-made.

25 March: Annunciation of the Lord

On 25 March, the Annunciation of the Lord is celebrated. Celebrated by both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, it is one of the Feasts of the Lord and thus dedicated to Jesus, but equally to His mother Mary. It commemorates the encounter between Mary and the Archangel Gabriel when the angel announced to the Virgin the coming of the Messiah and she accepted the role that God had chosen for her in the events to come.

13 May: Our Lady of Fatima

Like the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, that of Our Lady of Fatima commemorates the first apparition of the latter, which took place on 13 May 1917. This time, the miraculous encounter involved three shepherd children from Aljustrel. Subsequent encounters occurred on the 13th of each month, and after various vicissitudes, the cult of Our Lady of Fatima was recognized and legitimized by the Church in 1930. To the three shepherd children, the Madonna revealed the so-called three secrets of Fatima, and generally conveyed a message of peace and a call to prayer.

20 May: Mary Most Holy Mater Domini

The Patronal Feast of the Virgin Mary Most Holy Mater Domini is one of the most important events in the city of Laterza, in the province of Taranto. On 20 May, the statue of the Virgin Mary Most Holy Mater Domini, Mary Mother of God, kept in the Sanctuary of Laterza, is carried in procession to the Mother Church of St. Lawrence. This ancient patronal feast is very dear to the inhabitants of Laterza, but also attracts pilgrims and curious visitors from Campania, Basilicata, and Lazio. The procession, named Peregrinatio Mariae, was first instituted in 1985.

31 May: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The liturgical feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 31 May and commemorates the meeting between Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary as narrated in the Gospel of Luke. Mary had just received the Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel and went to Judea to visit her relative Elizabeth, who had conceived in her old age. When Elizabeth saw her, the child in her womb, who would become John the Baptist, leaped, and Elizabeth greeted Mary as the future mother of the Saviour. On that occasion, the Madonna also expressed her gratitude to God with the canticle contained in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, known as the Magnificat.

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The Visitation bas relief

A pyrenean stone Bas Relief, completely hand-pianted, depicting the Visitation, the Magnificat.

Monday after Pentecost: Mary, Mother of the Church

The Marian title of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mater Ecclesiae, was long debated, but only in March 2018 did Pope Francis decree the obligatory celebration of the liturgical memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church on the Monday after Pentecost. This feast celebrates Mary’s dual role as Mother of God and Mother of the Church.

Saturday after the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Immaculate Heart of Mary

The observance of the Immaculate Heart of Mary varies each year but always falls the day after the celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feast is recent, as it was Pope Pius XII who consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1942, following the celebrations in honour of the Apparitions of Fatima, and two years later, in 1944, instituted the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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Holy heart of Mary wooden statue painted

Statue in maple wood completely handmade and painted by Italian craftsmen.

16 July: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

On 16 July, the apparition of the Mother of Jesus on Mount Carmel to Simon Stock, then prior general of the Carmelites, is celebrated. It was 16 July 1251 when the Virgin appeared to the man, handing him a scapular and promising that anyone who died wearing it would be saved. This episode gave rise to the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the scapular remains today for the Carmelites the symbol of Mary’s maternal protection.

5 August: Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major

On 5 August 352 AD, the Madonna appeared to Pope Liberius and instructed him to build a church at the point where the following morning he would find snow. Thus, after a miraculous snowfall in August, the Basilica of St. Mary Major was born, one of the four papal basilicas of Rome, located on the Esquiline Hill. It is also the oldest Marian shrine in the West, dedicated to Mary, Mother of God.

15 August: Assumption of Mary

15 August is the day of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. Although the dogma of the Assumption, according to which Mary ascended to heaven body and soul, was proclaimed only by Pope Pius XII, thanks to papal infallibility, it has very ancient origins and has always been linked to popular tradition. It is a solemnity celebrated by all Christian Churches.

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Assumption Mary angels statue resin 18x12x6 cm

The statue is made of resin, a material that is better than PVC in terms of definition of lines and details.

22 August: Mary Queen

Initially instituted on 31 May 1954 by Pius XII, the feast of the Queenship of Mary was later moved to 22 August, the octave day of the Assumption, as a recognition and consecration of the Virgin’s royal dignity. The foundation of such royal dignity of Mary has ancient origins, found in both liturgical texts and popular tradition.

8 September: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On 8 September, both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anne, and the tradition that places Mary’s birth on 8 September is linked to the construction of the Basilica of St. Anne in Jerusalem in the 4th century AD. This basilica was built on the site where the house of Mary’s parents once stood, where the Mother of Jesus is believed to have been born. In the agricultural world, the celebration of Mary’s birth coincides with the harvest time and the end of summer.

12 September: Holy Name of Mary

Since the 12th century, there has been a strong devotion to the name of Mary, fostered by many popes who made it the focal point of various indulgences. An initial official feast was instituted but for some time remained confined to Spain. It was Pope Innocent XI Odescalchi who, in 1685, established the date of the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary on 12 September to commemorate the liberation of Vienna from the Turkish siege (12 September 1683). Pope John Paul II confirmed the feast as an optional memorial on 12 September.

15 September: Our Lady of Sorrows

On 15 September, the day after the celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Mater Dolorosa, is observed. Pope Pius X (1904-1914) established this date, recognising an ancient devotion dating back to the late 11th century, that of Our Lady of Sorrows and her Seven Sorrows. The sorrows of Mary are linked to various moments of her life recounted in the Gospels or passed down through popular devotion, associated with the Passion and death of Jesus, but not only. The sorrows of Mary were represented even then by swords piercing her heart.

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Our Lady of Sorrow joined hands resin 30 cm

Statue of Our Lady of Sorrow joined hands made of resin.

7 October: Our Lady of the Rosary

To celebrate the victory against the Turks at Lepanto on 7 October 1571, Pope Pius V instituted the feast of Our Lady of Victory, which his successor, Gregory XIII, renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. According to legend, the pope, after recommending that all Christian forces recite the Rosary before the battle, was so confident in the intercession of the Madonna invoked through the Rosary to determine the outcome of the battle that he ordered the bells to be rung in victory even before it ended, so that all the way to Rome it was known that the Christians had won.

21 November: Presentation of Mary at the Temple

On 21 November, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated, a devotional liturgical memorial that commemorates the presentation of Mary to the priests of the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents, Anne and Joachim. On the same day in 543, the Basilica of Saint Mary New in Jerusalem was consecrated.

8 December: Immaculate Conception

Devotion to the Immaculate Madonna is one of the most widespread and beloved in popular tradition. It stems from the dogma of the Catholic Church that Mary, although conceived and born of mortal parents, was born pure, never touched by original sin, unlike all other men and women. Mary is said to be the only creature granted this special privilege in view of her mission to become the Mother of Jesus. On 8 December 1857, Pope Pius IX recognised the dogma and defined the modes of celebration. He blessed a monument in Rome located in Piazza Mignanelli, near the Spanish Steps, dedicated to the Immaculate Mary, and honoured it with a floral offering. Since then, it has been a tradition that on 8 December, the Pope leaves the Vatican to go personally to the Spanish Steps, to bring fresh flowers as an offering to the Immaculate Madonna and lead popular prayer with a reading from the Holy Scriptures and a passage from Church Doctrine.

10 December: Our Lady of Loreto

On 10 December, the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Loreto is celebrated, which has ancient origins. For centuries, this feast has been marked by the lighting of fires that illuminate the night, recalling those that lit the way for the angels intent on transporting the Holy House of Mary from Nazareth to Loreto.

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Our Lady of Loreto 20 cm in mother-of-pearl plaster

Mary is wearing a long white dress with gold and blue details.

12 December: Our Lady of Guadalupe

On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, protector of all Spanish-speaking peoples and patroness of the Americas, is celebrated. According to tradition, between 9 and 12 December 1531, the Madonna appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, one of the first Aztecs converted to Christianity, on the hill of Tepeyac north of Mexico City. Thus began the cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose Sanctuary, built on the site of the apparitions, is one of the most visited places of worship in the world, even more so than Lourdes and Fatima, and the foremost in the Americas.

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Our Lady of Guadalupe statue in painted wood, Val Gardena

This wood statue is handmade by expert Val Gardena artisans.

What is the history of Jerusalem nard oil? For what applications can it be used? Here are all the answers!

History of the oil of nard

The history of nard oil as a balsamic ointment and perfume is millenary. Already in ancient Egypt it was produced and used: the most ancient testimony of use comes from amphoras found in some Egyptian tombs. It is obtained from the nard plant and has a characteristic, sweet and spicy scent. The rhizome of Nardo is distilled in an amber essential oil intensely aromatic, and very dense. It is one of 11 herbs used as incense in the Temple of Jerusalem, according to the composition described by the rabbis of the Talmud. In ancient times it spread to the Middle East and was considered valuable, an ointment of the highest value. It is now known as a typical product of Israeli perfumery. Given the close link with Judaism, Christianity and the city of Jerusalem, Jerusalem nard oil is known in different parts of the world.

Spikenard, 10ml
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Spikenard oil 80 ml
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Spikenard essential oil 35 ml
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Nard oil as it is used and benefits

Nard oil was used to grease and rub the body already in ancient times. It has numerous benefits when used as body oil: it has calming properties, lowers blood pressure, and can be used as a massage oil and antiseptic. Its natural composition and intense scent make it particularly suitable for aromatherapy and use in the scent of environments. The aroma of nard, like other essential oils, promotes breathing.

Even without considering the beneficial properties, it can be a great choice for the scent of the house or the environment. The oil should be diluted in water and, as for other essences, it is necessary to have burner-essences that make the solution evaporate slowly. The scent thus spreads into the environment.

The aroma of nard is very recognizable and can also be familiar in the form of incense, also used for the scent of the rooms and for liturgical purposes. Incense has specific uses and meanings in the liturgy: we talked about it in an article on our blog.

The nard in the Bible

The perfume of nard is a recurring theme in the Bible. The value of nard oil was very high: almost as high as the annual salary of an average worker.

He is mentioned in the Song of Songs as a symbol of the faithful, pure and without measure love between the Bride and the Bridegroom. Also in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John is reported an episode, very well known, related to nard and its value. During a dinner, not long before the days of the Passion, a woman anoints Jesus with spikenard oil, breaking the alabaster jar that contained it. In Matthew and Mark, the woman is anonymous and anoints the head of Jesus; in John, she is identified as Mary of Bethany and anoints the feet of Christ, bathes them with tears and dries them with her own hair.

Precisely because of the high economic value of the ointment, this gesture is frowned upon by the diners: the precious oil could have been sold to obtain money to give to the poor. Jesus, instead, recognizes the greatness and goodness of the woman’s gesture. Breaking the jar of nard, so precious, and “wasting” the oil for one person is a symbol of the love without measure that Jesus has for his faithful and that we are called to have for him. It is the symbol of love to the point of giving life.

Another meaning linked to the anointing of Jesus is precisely the anticipation of his death. In fact, in the time of Jesus, it was common practice to anoint the bodies of the dead with scented oils for burial (women go to the tomb to do this, after the death of Jesus, and thus discover that he has risen). The gesture of the woman thus foretells the Passion and death of Jesus.

Perfumed oils in the liturgy

The episode of the anointing of Jesus is often taken as a reference talking about the holy oils, which are blessed during the Holy Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. This celebration resumes the episode of the woman who anoints Jesus during the supper and not by chance precedes the Mass in Cena Domini on Holy Thursday, in which another supper is remembered: the Last Supper, during which the institution of the Eucharist and the Washing of the Feet take place.

The sacred oils used in the liturgy are three: the Chrism, the Oil of the Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick. The Chrism is the scented oil used in Confirmation, and Baptism, for ritual anointing during the ordination of priests and bishops and for the consecration of sacred places. The Oil of the Catechumens is used in Baptism. The Oil of the Sick is used to administer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

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Chrismatory set: case with gold-plated vases

Chrismatory set: case with gold-plated vases.

Perfume of nard: the spirituality of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Within the Church, the episode of Jesus’ anointing by Mary of Bethany has been taken up as a reference to the spirituality of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an institution of the laity that aims to help the works of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land and support the Christian presence in the territories of the people of Israel and the life of Jesus. Their spirituality is compared to Mary’s action: the Order is concerned with anointing the Body of Christ today, that is, the Church, as the woman did with the Body of Christ in life.

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Round pendant of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem cross, 925 silver and red enamel

Round pendant with Jerusalem cross in red enamel.

Who would have thought that behind a simple scented oil there was such a deep meaning?