Is it possible to give icons as a gift: signs, opinion of the church. Is it possible to accept an icon as a gift?

From our article you will find out whether it is possible to give icons for the holidays, and also get acquainted with the opinion of the church on this matter.

An Orthodox icon is not just a depiction of a face, but a shrine that helps the human soul cope with all life’s temptations and troubles. That is why a consecrated Orthodox icon is an ideal gift for loved ones. With its help, you will bring your loved one closer to God and give him the opportunity to communicate with him as often as possible.

But still, before presenting such a gift, first ask the hero of the occasion how he feels about this kind of gifts. After all, if for some reason a person is far from the Christian faith, then your surprise will not bring him much benefit.

Is it possible to give icons as a gift: signs

Signs about Orthodox shrines

Probably, each of us has heard that a donated Orthodox shrine can bring disaster to the person who accepted it as a gift. Our grandmothers took this sign quite seriously, so most often they acquired images for themselves in church. Now let's figure out what their fear was based on.

Previously, it was believed that it was through the icon that envious people brought damage to a person. And since it was most often hung in the most visible place, the damage acted faster and people began to quarrel and get sick for no reason. But in fact, this sign has no basis in reality. After all, if a brother, sister or mother gives you such a surprise, they are unlikely to try to harm your family with their gift.

Moreover, such a gift is presented only to the sanctified, which means that it can protect you from the most evil intentions. There is also an opinion that you cannot give hand-embroidered or painted icons. It is believed that due to the fact that they were made not by clergy, but by ordinary people, it is impossible to turn to God through them. Some believers generally consider this a very great sin.

But in fact, even an embroidered icon can become a real Orthodox shrine. Simply, before giving a gift to a person, it will need to be brought into the temple and consecrated. After the priest performs the necessary ritual on it, it will be no different from the icons that are sold in the church.

Signs

There are many signs associated with the donation of shrines. This is why many people are now afraid to accept images of saints as gifts.

If you have been given a shrine as a gift, you should not be upset or upset. It is right to be happy about a gift, because it brings happiness to the house and serves as a strong amulet for the family.

But people tend to believe signs that prohibit accepting images as gifts. These signs appeared during times of destruction of churches and alienation from the church.

There was a time in our country when the government banned faith, so the people were massively forced to believe that all church attributes carried a threat and evil, but that was not the case.

Signs why you should not accept an icon as a gift:

The presented image attracts misfortune.
To say that this sign is true is incorrect. The image of a saint cannot attract troubles and misfortunes to the family.
The faces of saints protect the home from the other world and protect a person from adversity.
The shrine is damaged.
Previously, many people thought that the donated images of saints caused damage to a person.
The shrine was placed in a prominent place, so its negative influence quickly spread to people.
Therefore, many preferred not to accept such a gift, but to buy the shrine themselves.
This sign is not substantiated by anything. Even black witches do not dare to damage a church shrine. This is one of the greatest sins.
Once in the hands of a person, the icon begins to “work” for his benefit, even if the gift is tainted by black magic.
You cannot give embroidered or self-drawn images.
People believe that self-made images have no power, so they are useless.
But the church says the opposite. The power lies in the image of the saint, but how he appeared on the canvas does not matter.

Not only church shrines are protected and preserved. Embroidered or hand-painted icons also have great power, but they should be consecrated by a priest before donation.

Important!

To believe or not to signs is the decision of each person. But I would like to note that faith always inspires, saturates with strength and spiritually cleanses a person, so it is better to accept an icon as a gift so as not to show your disdain for the church and Christianity.

Useful video

An icon is one of the symbols of faith, spirituality and culture of Orthodox people. Is it possible to give them as a gift? This question is often asked by believers who would like to give their loved ones something valuable and special.

Most material objects seem inexpressive and uninteresting, but an icon is exactly what can become an expression of sincerity and boundless love for family. What does the church think about the donation of holy images?

What does the church say about donating icons?

The tradition of giving images has existed since ancient times. Our ancestors constantly presented them to each other, believing that icons brought happiness and health to the house. Such a gift occupied a worthy place in the home and became real support from the Almighty. People believed that when an image is presented as a gift, it becomes stronger, and all its power is directed to the well-being of the home.

The clergy only speak out for such gifts, since they are a kind of tool for spreading faith among people. Giving images is a great sacrament that brings a piece of the eternal and spiritual into the home. According to the church, you need to give icons from a pure heart, because, presented with all your heart, they are capable of working real miracles.

In what cases are icons given?

According to church canons, icons should be presented only to near and dear people who lead a religious lifestyle, go to churches, pray and confess.

You should not give such gifts to unfamiliar people, because even if the image is unusually beautiful, the person may simply not appreciate it. An icon is not a piece of furniture, but a means of communication with the Lord, so it will only be useful to those who truly understand its purpose.

The best occasions for gifting are church celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. There is an opinion that if you present the image for such events, the Holy Spirit will send down its blessing on the person and give him a wonderful future.

If the icon was a gift for the first year of a child’s birth, it will protect him throughout his life. Gifts can be given without a reason, but an image presented “for the occasion” has stronger energy and is literally imbued with miraculous properties.

What icons can be given?

Having decided to give a gift, it would be useful to find out which image is appropriate in a given situation. For example, a measured icon is presented at baptism. In the past, such images were made specifically according to the height (measure) of the baby and depicted on them the faces of the saints after whom the child was named. In addition, you can present an icon of the Mother of God, which is placed by the bed and protects the baby from misfortunes.

The wedding couple is presented with the sacrament of the wedding - the Mother of God and the Lord Pantocrator, with which the newlyweds are first blessed by the parents, and then by the clergyman in the temple. Subsequently, these icons become a family heirloom and are passed on to descendants, giving them happiness and patience. So that the bride and groom have a successful family life, and the Lord gives children, images of Saints Fevronia and Peter are presented.

For birthdays and anniversaries, it is preferable to give personalized icons depicting patron saints. Before doing this, a person can ask the Almighty for help in difficult situations, consolation in sadness, or blessings before important matters.

Regardless of the date, you can give an icon of St. Tatiana to a student, the face of the healer Panteleimon to a medical worker, and St. George the Victorious to a colleague. When choosing a gift, you need to take into account that each icon has its own meaning, and people turn to each of them with different prayers.

When should you not give icons?

You should not give such a gift if you are sure that the person will only use it as a piece of furniture or hide it somewhere out of sight.

You need to understand that the holy face is a spiritual gift, which should be treated with reverence. In addition, the church prohibits giving icons made with your own hands if they have not been consecrated in the church before.

Came to our country as a gift from Patriarch Luke of Constantinople to Prince Mstislav. Now this is the most revered miraculous image in Russia. The Don Icon of the Mother of God was also once presented as a gift to Prince Dmitry. He received this image before the Battle of Kulikovo from the Cossacks from the city of Sirotin. Icons were often given by parents to their children or priests to their spiritual children.

Nowadays, this custom is again becoming widespread among believers. In this connection, the questions arise: “Which image suits who best?” and “Is it possible to give an icon for a birthday, since this is a secular holiday?”

Is it possible to give an icon for a birthday?

Birthday icons
A birthday is a special event in the life of every person, that’s why you want to receive the most sincere gifts on this holiday. And what could be more soulful than an Orthodox icon? Such a gift will show the hero of the occasion how warmly and well you treat him. And most importantly, it will remind him of your friendship all his life.

And you shouldn’t listen to people who say that you can’t give icons as gifts. Believe me, if you do this with the most sincere feelings, then your gift will bring exclusively positive emotions to the birthday boy. But if you have already decided to give an icon for your birthday, then take its choice very seriously.

Since there are shrines that can be given exclusively to men or exclusively to women, it would be better if, before you finally decide on your choice, you try to study this issue more deeply.

Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

Shrines that can be given to women:

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (capable of healing from illnesses and giving family well-being)
Vladimir Icon (relieves heart disease and conveys the prayers of mothers for children)
Icon of the Mother of God of Three Hands (will help get rid of sad thoughts and protect the house and its household from everything bad)
Iveron Icon (you should pray to this image for forgiveness of your sins)
Bethlehem Icon (given to those women who dream of children and family well-being)

Shrines that can be given to men:

The Savior Not Made by Hands (should be given to those representatives of the stronger sex who do not have the opportunity to often attend church)
The face of St. Nicholas (a wonderful gift for those men who travel a lot or simply have work that involves traveling)
Icon of the Guardian Angel (will help protect your loved one from temptations and troubles)
The image of the Patron Saint in business (will help you choose the right direction in life, and can also help you sort out family matters)

Gifts for great church holidays

Each of the 12 great holidays has its own icon; they can be found without difficulty. Most often they give an image of the Resurrection of Christ for Easter or an icon of the Nativity.

The other 10 holidays are less celebrated and less well known. But sometimes it happens that a person was born on one of these holy days. Then it would be nice for him to have a suitable icon in his house. For example, if your birthday is August 19, it is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, December 4 is the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, etc.

Important! You can only pray in front of a consecrated image. If the icon was not purchased in the church, but was made to order, then before giving it as a gift, it must be taken to the priest for lighting.

Orthodox priests do not recognize omens, since they consider them the slyness of the unclean. The icon is the personification of holiness and purity. Where did the sign come from that a donated icon could bring trouble? In the old days, they tried to refuse donated icons, considering them damaged. Signs: is it possible to give icons as a gift? Let's consider the issue in detail.

There was a popular belief among the people that an icon given as a gift would bring misfortune to the house. After accepting such a gift, quarrels and scandals began in the house, household members fell ill with serious illnesses, or even went to another world. This was due to the damage that evil people caused through the icon.

However, in the modern world there is no need to be afraid of such surprises, especially if the icon is given by relatives or close people with good wishes and from the bottom of their hearts. Representatives of the Orthodox Church believe that a consecrated icon brings God's grace to the house, cleanses from negativity and blesses those living in the house

Icons must be given according to the rules established by the church:

on birthdays they present personalized icons;
icons are given to a sick person to help in healing;
Colleagues and bosses should be given icons that help in work and business;
family people are given icons that bless the family hearth;
young girls are given images of holy saints, and young men are given images of holy saints of God.

It is customary to give icons for a wedding, but this should be done by the newlyweds’ parents or close relatives. For the bride they choose the image of the Virgin Mary, and for the groom - Jesus Christ.

Holy images can be given at any time, however, icons dedicated to an important event - birth, wedding, christening - are endowed with a stronger beneficial effect.

You should also know where the icon should be located in the house. For this purpose, there used to be a “red corner”, that is, the most prominent place in the house.

Is it possible to give hand-made icons that have not been consecrated in the church? An unconsecrated image does not carry positive energy, so homemade icons must be consecrated in the church.

Is it possible to accept an icon as a gift?

It is best to accept an Orthodox shrine as a gift

As mentioned above, you should not believe in signs that a donated icon can cause harm to a person or his environment. If you know the giver of this gift very closely and are absolutely sure that he has exceptionally warm feelings for you, then you can safely accept his surprise. If you have any doubts, then just take the gift and go to church, tell the priest about everything that worries you, and ask to bless the gift.

Yes, and do not forget that such a surprise cannot be accepted as an ordinary gift. The usual words of gratitude in such cases are not spoken for the icon. If you want her to really bring only positive emotions to your home, then thank not only the donor, but also God for this gift, and be sure to venerate the face of the Saint with your head. But whether to take an icon as a gift from strangers or unfamiliar people is up to you to decide.

If you feel that they are giving it to you with the purest intentions, then you can accept the gift. If you have even the slightest doubt, then try to tactfully refuse the gift. After all, if you take it and then realize that it was given with malicious intent, it will be quite difficult to get rid of it. You cannot simply throw an icon into the street or burn it. Such actions are considered a very strong sin. To get rid of such a gift you will have to go to church and ask the clergy to take it from you.

How to understand that a gift is negative

Our ancestors were very wise and observant people. That is why they were able to create a number of signs indicating that the icon was brought into the house with bad intentions.

These signs are:

If the brought icon is covered with a cloth, then it brings a strong illness into the house.
The donated image fell immediately - you should expect problems with money.
If an icon with a chip on the frame or glass is given as a gift, family quarrels and disagreements are coming.
Stains on or under glass will bring diseases that will affect children or pets.
A harbinger of bad news is an icon brought, which quickly becomes covered with cobwebs or dust.
If the holy face constantly falls, but the glass remains intact, you should prepare for betrayal or treason.

Also considered a negative sign is a darkening of the image that occurs over a few days. As the sign says, such behavior of the donated icon promises minor troubles that will deprive one of vitality and spoil the mood. The first manifestations of negative signs are usually observed from the very next day after the gift entered the house.

Why and for what purpose do they give an icon?

Icons are given in order to demonstrate respect and favor.
In the old days, icons were given exclusively for weddings, christenings and housewarmings, and this was done mainly by parents, godparents or simply the closest relatives. It was believed that in this way it was possible to protect the house and its household from damage and the evil eye. Nowadays, few people pay attention to signs and most often give icons solely because such a gift is considered very fashionable.

But any clergyman will tell you that you need to give such a gift wisely. If you just want to give a gift to your closest person, then give him an intercessor icon. This image is selected by date of birth or by the name of the Guardian Angel. If you know that a person needs to heal mental wounds or get rid of some physical ailment, give him the Mother of God of Pochaev . She will be able to restore health to a person and restore his faith.

Also, with the help of an icon, you can try to bring a relative who is very far from God to faith. But keep in mind that you should present such a gift only if you are absolutely sure that it will not bring discord to your friendship. In general, an Orthodox icon presented for a birthday, wedding or christening is a guarantee that the heroes of the occasion will have a long and happy life

Signs about donating icons

Cautionary

You cannot present it before sunrise or after sunset, otherwise sorrows and illnesses will await you.
Young children, young girls or newlyweds should not be given dark icons, or those with a negative plot - executions, torment of saints.
It is important to pack the gift correctly. The icon is not placed in ordinary supermarket bags and is not wrapped in cloth or newspaper. It is better to present it without packaging - in an open form, otherwise the recipient will be in trouble.
Icons are not given as gifts during the waning moon. The sign says that this will bring trouble and change for the worse.
You cannot give a church shrine just like that, without a reason. Such things should be presented only for special occasions and only with bright thoughts.
There should be no stains or stains on the image of saints - they are fraught with danger. Such a shrine can cause illness, especially dangerous for children and pets.
Chips and cracks in the glass covering the icon will cause conflicts. Even if it is an old heirloom, it must be put in order before donation. It may even undergo professional restoration.

Kind

Along with dark superstitions, there are also bright signs. Here are some of them:

If the donor is a family friend, then the good and trusting relationship between them will last for many years. However, such a gift is not given without a reason. The image itself must be clean and intact (no stains, cracks, chips or other damage). It is better that the frame contains natural stones, or that it is made of natural wood. Plastic in this case will be inappropriate.
If you give a shrine to a loved one, this will lead to strengthening relationships, long-term and close mutual understanding. You need to hang such a gift in the bedroom to maintain harmony between couples. You cannot hang a talisman opposite the entrance - this will lead to conflicts.
Old family icons given to newlyweds by their relatives are considered a good sign. This not only strengthens the bond between several generations, but also protects the young throughout their entire life journey. However, you cannot give images that are too faded or, conversely, darkened. This will convey to the young family all the negativity accumulated by older generations. Before presentation, the shrine must be restored.
Giving a child an icon is the same as blessing him for a long and happy life, wishing him good luck in everything. Just be sure to consecrate it in the church according to all the rules before offering it in order to endow it with healing properties.
Images are given to a sick person as a symbol of a speedy recovery. The world knows many examples when the face of saints helped a person cope with the most incurable illness.

What icon do parents give newlyweds for their wedding?

Icons for newlyweds from parents
Nowadays, not a single wedding is complete without a wedding, so the parents of the newlyweds are obliged to make sure that the newly formed family has its own personal wedding couple. If they wish, parents can give their children the icons with which they themselves were married, but it will still be better if they buy and consecrate the images of the Saint and the Mother of God .

It is believed that these two shrines are able to protect a young family from discord and give them family well-being. of Peter and Fevronya as a wedding couple . It was these saints in ancient Rus' that were considered the patrons of married couples. In addition, the Fedorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God .

She is considered the best assistant to expectant mothers, and also helps to conceive and bear a baby without any problems. an image of the Holy Forefathers as a wedding present . Such a symbolic gift may be a wish that the newly formed family in the future become the ancestor of a strong and united clan.

In principle, there are no special rules that would say that only the above-mentioned icons can be given for a wedding celebration. If you went to a church and liked, for example, the image of Xenia of Petersburg , then feel free to buy it too. The main thing is that your gift is presented with the purest thoughts and good wishes and, of course, must be consecrated before the wedding.

It’s easy to order an icon from us:

Choose an image of a Saint or a suitable Christian subject;
Contact us by phone +7 (495) 743-32-48 or by sending a request below;
The icon painter will agree with you on the details of the future image;
The icon will be in work from 2 weeks to 3 months (depending on the complexity of the plot);
When the image is painted, you can pick it up from our store in Moscow, or the icon can be sent to you anywhere in Russia and abroad by mail.

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What icons are given to a boy and a girl for christening?

Shrine for a child's baptism

For the baptism of a child, as for any important event in life, one must prepare very seriously. Moreover, both parents and godparents should do this. Of course, the best gift for a little person will be an Orthodox icon. Such a gift in the future will protect the baby from everything evil and bad, and will also help his fragile soul move in the right direction.

Godparents must definitely give the baby a Measured Icon . It is generally accepted that it must be made to order so that its dimensions strictly correspond to the height of a small person. But if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to make such an image, then calmly buy a ready-made one from the church, consecrate it and give it to your child for christening. A good option might be a Name Icon . It should depict the face of the Saint, who is the patron saint of the baby.

Such an image is also necessarily consecrated in the temple before the christening and is presented to the child after the ritual itself. Usually such a gift is placed near the baby’s crib so that he can look at it freely. It is believed that in this way the child, albeit still unconsciously, will communicate with his Guardian Angel.

In addition, the following shrines can be given at christenings:

Panteleimon the Healer
Matrona of Moscow
Our Lady
Nicholas the Wonderworker

What is an icon

Icon (from the Greek word “ikon,” which means “image”) is an image of God, the Mother of God, saints, and angels. It is also a pictorial representation of significant events in the life of Jesus Christ and the saints. Icons are painted in accordance with church icon painting canons. They are then blessed in the church. The consecration of icons is an important sacred rite. This is how the Church recognizes its canonicity: the saints are depicted according to the rules, reverently, in their image there is nothing contrary to the doctrinal dogmas of the Church. Is it possible to give icons as gifts and how should they be handled?

Is it possible to give icons?

What kind of icon do you give as a housewarming gift?

Icon of the Tolga prayer
The most optimal gift for a housewarming is the icon of the Mother of God of the Intercession . It is believed that with her holy cover she can protect the house from fire, and from water, and from an evil gaze. It is best to give such a gift without witnesses and preferably before guests begin to gather in the house. Ideally, of course, with this image, the family should enter a new house and only after that begin to settle in it.

Therefore, if you have the opportunity to give a gift before the housewarming, then be sure to do it. If you know that the owners already have such an image, then you can purchase a so-called folding for them. This shrine consists of three connected icons, which depict Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker . Such a gift can replace an iconostasis, which is simply a must-have in every believing family.

Shrines that can be given as housewarming gifts:

An image with a cross (will protect the house from envy and filth)
Icon “Unbreakable Wall” (will protect your home from thieves and natural disasters)
Image “The Burning Bush” (this gift can protect the house from fire and thunderstorms)
Icon “Impenetrable Door” (capable of keeping people with bad thoughts away from you)
The image of the “Different of Loaves” (will help you find strength to overcome spiritual and material difficulties)

Is it allowed to give a cross?

In fact, the church not only has nothing against giving a cross, but also strongly approves of such gifts. It is believed that giving a cross to a friend or relative means wishing him God's blessing for many years to come.

Some people claim that only godparents can give a cross. But in reality this is not the case; no restrictions have been established in this matter - parents, relatives and even friends can give a cross.

Before donating, it is absolutely not necessary to consecrate the cross, but in this case the recipient will need to be warned that the cross is not illuminated.

Of course, you can only give a pectoral cross to a loved one whose faith leaves no doubt. If the hero of the occasion adheres to a different faith or is an atheist, the gift will look, at least, ridiculous.

What icons are given for a wedding?

Wedding icon

As mentioned a little above, the best wedding gift can be icons of the Saint and the Mother of God or the image of Peter and Fevronya . But such a gift can only be given to newlyweds by parents or godparents. The rest of the guests can present the spouses with icons that will protect their young family.

For example, you can give your spouses the image “Unexpected Joy” . Before him, the bride and groom will be able to ask God for a peaceful marriage for themselves and a happy life for their future children. Such a gift should be placed in the marital bedroom and every morning or evening you should thank the Saint for the day lived in peace and harmony.

But perhaps the most powerful intercessor of married couples is the icon of the Blessed Matrona of Moscow . This saint can help in solving almost all family problems. People turn to her if they cannot conceive a child, beg her for health for a loved one and always ask her to protect the family from anger and envy. Therefore, if you want the newlyweds to live happily ever after, then give them exactly this image.

What do we need to know?

The question arises: is it possible to donate, give or give away an icon? What is the church's opinion on this issue? Are there superstitions and beliefs that accompany the transfer of an icon? How to choose this item correctly? Can an icon bring misfortune instead of prosperity?

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Is it possible to give icons: the opinion of the church

The Church allows you to give icons to your family and close friends

People began giving icons as gifts in ancient times. At that time, shrines were very expensive as most were decorated with gold or silver. Therefore, such a gift was a fairly good investment. Most often, the image was placed in the “red corner”, and this was done so that visiting guests could see it.

And although modern shrines can be made of wood and paper, in their beauty and spiritual content they are in no way inferior to ancient images. Therefore, in our time, people do not stop giving them to each other, and they do it with great joy. Moreover, absolutely all priests recommend the icon as a spiritual gift that can cleanse a person’s soul from bitterness and anger.

In view of this, if you decide to give a loved one an Orthodox icon, then feel free to buy it and do not pay attention to any bad omens. The main thing is to give your gift with pure thoughts and best wishes.

Signs and superstitions

An icon is a special object; certain rules of acquisition and donation are associated with it; there are signs that have come to us since ancient times. In Rus', it was customary to pass icons on from generation to generation. New images of saints could not be bought just like that. First, it was necessary to ask the priest for advice, to have a conversation - icons appeared in the family on special occasions. Only household members bought them themselves, or ordered them from an icon painter. Images of saints could not be given to strangers. It was believed that such a gift would bring only troubles; it could be damaged or jinxed. Our ancestors noticed that after praying in front of the donated icon, their health could worsen.

Moreover, if relatives gave each other an icon, it was a good omen.

For example, an icon given to a child helped him throughout his life, he received a blessing. If one of the family members was seriously ill, they could give him an icon with the hope of a speedy healing.

Important: if a person painted the icon himself, embroidered it on fabric, or made it in any other way, it is better to keep it and not give it as a gift. The holy image could absorb the negative thoughts that overwhelmed the master.

The most important thing is to give the icon only with good intentions, thoughts, and sincerely wish all the best to its future owner. When choosing and presenting an icon, there must be a bright heart, thoughts and soul.

How to properly bring holy images to young people as a gift?

In order for the icon to become a real amulet for the newlyweds, they must consciously and with sincere joy and gratitude accept this gift from their parents. And parents need to think through the parting words with which they will present their gift.

If the newlyweds get married in church, then during the sacrament the bride’s mother blesses her son-in-law with an icon of the Lord Almighty and bids the couple a happy life. The groom's parents consecrate the bride with the face of the Holy Mother of God and accept her into their home.

Interesting Facts:

Our ancestors revered church canons and considered wedding icons to be a talisman and guardian of the clan. They treasured them with trepidation and passed them on to subsequent generations.
Priests of the Orthodox Church say that not only parents, but also guests of the celebration can give icons to young people. The only condition is to present a priceless gift from a pure heart and with wishes of happiness and love to the newlyweds.