Joy of All Joys Tenderness Theotokos Iconographic Based on Traditional Orthodox Iconography | Red Design | Orthodox Christian Hardcover JournalThe Tenderness Icon is remarkable since the Theotokos is depicted without her Child, or even before His conception at the moment of the Archangel's greeting, when she is the Most Pure Vessel of the Holy Spirit Saint Seraphim [of Sarov] commanded us to call this Tenderness Icon [the one he kept in his cell], the Joy of all Joys. Fr. Pavel Florensky

in every situation of life—or one is not really Orthodox at all

by its defense of its most defenseless

now and ever and unto the ages of ages

… Turn Thy face away from my sins

the ministers of the Lord

This watchfulness is paramount because as Saint Peter warns in his epistle

they walk in darkness

How much time do I spend pursuing entertainment

- Matthew 24:9-25

when God gave it such a name

such as the apostles

So He left them