What is the red corner?

About the "red coal" in the traditional Russian family heard for sure many, but about where this angle should be located, not everyone knows. The "red corner" in the hut is also called "big", "holy", "God's" and so on. It turns out that its location depends on the location of the stove - the source of heat in the hut.

The location of the "red corner"

A special place that is intended for the "red corner" in the traditional Russian hut was diagonally from the wood stove. It could be located at the front door, or in the far corner. However, it was necessary to be located in the southeastern part of the hut. So what is the connection between the stove and the place, which is called the "red corner" in Orthodoxy?

The device of the traditional Russian hut

In ancient times for the Russian hut personified the entire universe, here were the sky with the earth (floor and ceiling), the sides of the world (walls) and the "lower world" (cellar). And the ancient people associated east and south with sunrise, spring, noon, summer, life and warmth, and north and west - with sunset, winter and autumn, cold and death. Proceeding from this, our ancestors sought to equip their house in such a way that it was impossible to enter into the forces of evil that came from the north and west.
But the forces of good and warmth should not have seen any obstacles on their way and have the opportunity to freely enter the hut. And since in those distant times the windows had not yet been invented, the only door leading into the house was the door. The doors of all Slavic houses without exception were turned to the south, but the oven was placed opposite the door, that is, in the north, a place from where the evil and cold can sneak up to the house. Over time, the door of the Russian hut changed, that is, the choice of the wall for the door became unprincipled, but the stove always remained on the north side, and the "red corner" was located diagonally from the stove, in the southeast part of the hut. This location is unchanged to this day.

The value of the furnace and the "red corner" for the ancient Russian

The oven is heat, it means it symbolizes the sun and is the center of the holiness of the house. The "red corner" in the Russian hut is also no less holy place. And although today many people think that such a corner in the house is connected with the Christian religion, nevertheless, some sources say that long before the Russian adoption of Christianity in homes it was already custom to create a "red corner". However, according to other sources, in the ancient Russian hut the only shrine was a stove. And only later, after the adoption of Christianity, such angles began to appear in homes.

Why the "red" angle?

In Russian, the word "red" has several meanings. The first is a certain color, and the second is a synonym for the word "beautiful", hence the "red corner" can also be called a beautiful angle. It is always arranged in the most prominent place, and any guest at the entrance to the hut from the first minute should see and understand where the "red corner" in the house is. And since icons are located in this place, the incoming one should immediately notice them and be baptized, and only after that they should greet the owners of the house.

Attitude to the "red corner"

After the adoption of Christianity in Russian families, it was customary to store icons. Some people still believe in the miraculous power of icons. Hence, such a careful attitude to this place in the house becomes understandable. The "red corner" in the house is always kept in a special clean. All icons located in this area are decorated with carvings and flowers. There is also a lamp with a candle. On holidays, the most honorable guest is seated closer to the red corner.

The religious meaning of the "red corner"

To communicate with God, a Russian person does not need to go to church. In the Russian hut, a place for prayer and conversion to the Lord is the "red corner". Therefore in this place there are objects that are sacred for every Orthodox Christian. These are icons, holy images, sacred books: the Bible, prayer books and others.

"Red corner" in the apartment

Today, many of us live not in private homes, but in apartments, and those who want to create a "red corner" in their modern home, it is also necessary to adhere to certain rules. Of course, there are no furnaces in the apartments to orient oneself to them. Therefore, the sacred corner in the apartment should be opposite the front door, so that the incoming first thing seen in the apartment holy images. Sometimes modern layout of the apartment does not imply angles for placing icons, so the "red corner" in the house is not always an angle in the direct sense.

How to arrange a "red corner" in the apartment?

Sanctuary in the apartment can be created by attaching to the wall a high table or a special locker, cover it with a beautiful tablecloth or some other elegant cloth. On it to expose the holy images. As for the place of the "red corner", it should be located opposite the entrance door. Choosing a place for him, you can also orient to the east. To do this, you need to determine where the sun rises in the morning, and in this part place a "red corner". According to the Old Russian, or rather the Orthodox, custom, believers are supposed to pray looking to the east. It is this part of the world that symbolizes good, rebirth, faith and hope. As for the height of this angle, it should in no way be located below the eye line. You can not look at the holy images from the top down. But to place it above eye level is quite appropriate. Ideally, a table or cabinet should have a top and bottom shelf. On the top place holy images, candlesticks with candles, censer, and on the bottom - holy books: the Bible, the Gospel, prayer books, church calendars and so on.