Eastern Diocese of America - Serbian Orthodox Church

Throughout the two millennia of the Church’s life, the role of beauty in Christian worship has been undeniable. We adorn the holy temple with splendor not out of mere aesthetic preference, but because it is the natural impulse of the Orthodox heart to surround what is sacred with beauty. From the earliest centuries, the faithful adorned their places of worship: even the catacombs, hidden beneath the earth, bore the touch of paint and reverence. When persecution ceased, Christians began to build churches from the ground up—structures wrought with love, care, and intricate detail—all to reflect the heavenly beauty that dwells within.

At the center of our life is the Divine Eucharist, in which Christ offers Himself to His Bride, the Church, and nourishes her with His very Body and Blood. In this holy Mystery, we commune not only with God, but with one another. We, who have been baptized into Christ and sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, are the living temple of God. Thus, it is only fitting that the physical temple in which we gather should mirror the sacred reality unfolding within it.

Yet, this adornment must be rightly ordered. Our hearts must be aflame with love—first for God, and then for our neighbor. As Saint John Chrysostom teaches, we must care for the poor, the orphan, and the widow even as we beautify the altar. These are not competing goods. It is not a matter of “either/or,” but of “both/and.” Charity and adornment walk hand in hand, both offered in love.

Let us then, in the spirit of our holy forebears, care for one another and adorn the house of the Lord. The church building we inherit today was raised by hands and hearts moved by love for God and one another. It is our turn now to do likewise—to build, to beautify, and to leave a legacy of love for future generations. In doing so, we proclaim that our treasure is in heaven, and our priorities are the Kingdom of God, love of neighbor, and the beautification of Christ’s holy Church.