New icons from Lebanon give churchgoers 'window to heaven'

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Charlottetown has a new wall of paintings and icons that is being called a "window to heaven."

The iconostasis, a wall generally used to separate the congregation from the clergy, was hand-carved by Orthodox monks in Lebanon, with Orthodox nuns hand-painting each of the icons.

It was made possible by the generosity of George Bassett. He said the church means lot to him.

"I am grateful to God to see it when I'm alive and I thank the people too, because they helped to see it happen. A lot of tears and a lot of people helped."

The tradition of having a wall of icons dates back at least 1,500 years, said Father Maximos Saikali, visiting from St. Antonio's church in Halifax. 

"It's like looking from Heaven on Earth from windows."

Saints Peter and Paul was built about 30 years ago. Its parishioners come from all parts of the world, including Lebanon, Syria, Greece, India and, of course, Canada.

Insaf Haddad, president of the women's association at the church, said it's like having "a new church all over again" now that the wall is installed.

"It's nice to have it here just to remind us a little bit of home," she said.

"This church, it keeps us all together as a community. We may be a small community here in Prince Edward Island, but our faith is very strong. We always support each other whenever somebody is in need."

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