First Orthodox Sunday Of Lent

Today is the first Orthodox Sunday in Lent. On this day Orthodox Christians all over the world commemorate the victory of Christianity over the iconoclasts--a controversy which had raged on and off since 726. It was a victory that allowed iconoclasts to draw the face of Christ on icons.This controversy was finally laid to rest in 843 AD, and icons and their veneration were restored. On this day Christian Orthodox believers all over the world bring their icons to church to have them blessed. The video is from the events that were held during the same season in 2011, but it gives a wonderful insight into today's celebration.