Why are they afraid to give icons? It’s not possible, it’s possible and how correctly? Signs: is it possible to give icons as a gift? Why do they give an icon?

Giving an icon is a great sacrament. After all, an icon is considered a piece of the eternal, spiritual. Some argue, following various superstitions, that icons should not be given as gifts, but no one knows for sure why. Others argue that the icon is a good gift. Let's still find out whether it is possible to give icons, despite various signs, and how to do it correctly?

The clergy believe that if your gift, an icon, comes from a pure heart, then it will bring much more luck and happiness than one that was bought just like that. Therefore, those who claim that icons cannot be given as gifts are wrong. The gift of the holy face brings only goodness and positivity.

Most often, icons are given to close people, good acquaintances and friends. In addition, images of saints are given to employees and business partners, as well as to ministers of churches and temples. The reason for such a gift could be one of the church holidays, a wedding, the baptism of a child, an anniversary or just a birthday. However, before giving the icon as a gift, it must be consecrated. It’s also worth asking which icon would be appropriate for a particular holiday or event.

For godparents, they must choose a dimensional icon. She will protect the child for a long time, bringing him joy and happiness. Parents place such a measured icon near the child’s crib, and the patron protects the baby day and night, and the child, looking at the saint, involuntarily subconsciously communicates with him.

A wedding couple, an icon depicting our Lord Pantocrator and the Most Holy Theotokos, can be given as a wedding gift by parents to their children. These icons will accompany the new family all their lives, then they can be passed on from generation to generation. They will protect the family union, bestowing love, happiness, and patience.

An original gift would be a family icon depicting the saints who patronize the husband and wife or the patrons of all relatives. Such an icon will unite several generations of the family.

Or, for an anniversary, you can give a personalized icon depicting the patron saint of the hero of the day.

For colleagues, depending on their type of activity, you can, for example, give an icon of St. George the Victorious and Alexander Nevsky. Placed in the workplace, it will help in business.

However, remember that you can only give an icon to an Orthodox person, and it must be given with love. Only then will the icon bring benefit to those who receive it as a gift. Moreover, the recipient must understand that the icon is not an object of design for his home. People turn to the holy face in both difficult and joyful moments. An icon can help a person regain the meaning of life, restore his hope and strengthen his faith.

Not a single home of believers is complete without icons. Contrary to the claims of many atheists, Christians turn in prayer not to the image on the canvas, but to the Divine images captured on it, just as people often turn to a photograph of a loved one in his absence. This is, let's say, visual support for verbal communication.

Many people ask the question: “Is it possible to give icons for a birthday?”, because icons are shrines. In former times, icons were richly decorated, they were framed with an expensive frame, and this was a very valuable gift for eminent people. More modest images were presented - also as a sign of respect - to ordinary people on the occasion of any celebration.

History testifies: the Orthodox tradition does not prohibit the gift of icons; on the contrary, it welcomes it. At the same time, it only stipulates that the gift must be presented with all the soul, overshadowed by faith and love. In such cases, the icon brings good luck and happiness to the house and protects against dark forces.

Another important point emphasized by the clergy: an icon can only be given to believers and like-minded people, knowing that the holy image will not become a fashionable interior decoration for this person, but will serve for its intended purpose, that the birthday person will pray in front of the icon and thank the patron saint for his help in solving the problems that have arisen.

It is appropriate to give an icon for any personal or religious holiday, and the recipient of the gift can be any believer.

The most common holiday occasion is a wedding. An icon as a gift, as it were, lays the basis for a new family; it can become a family heirloom, which in the future can connect subsequent generations with an invisible thread. Before this, they pray for all family members - living and deceased.

A wedding icon is most often recommended as a gift from parents. But since there are no definite regulations on this topic, such a gift, having agreed upon it with others, can be presented by godparents, best men or witnesses, brothers and sisters, as well as other people close to the family.

Such a gift is also allowed if the wedding takes place without a wedding. The main thing is that the icon in the newly formed family should be treated with appropriate respect as a part of the spiritual world.

Church holidays for which you can give an icon to a loved one:

• January 7 is celebrated Nativity.
• January 19 - Baptism(or Epiphany).
• February, 15 - Presentation of the Lord.
• April 7 – Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• A week before Easter, which, as is known, does not have a constant date of celebration, is celebrated Palm Sunday, or the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
• 40 days after the bright holiday of Easter occurs Ascension of the Lord.
• 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ, the day is celebrated Holy Trinity, or Pentecost.
• August 19 is better known among people as Apple Savior, in fact it is a holiday Transfiguration of the Lord.
• August 28 - Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
• September 21 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• October 14 - Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• December 4 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple.

If a person’s birthday falls on these days, then an icon dedicated to these holidays will be a very suitable gift for him.

If we proceed from the fact that the icon is a talisman for the family, its spiritual support and help, it makes sense to give such an image, which is most relevant for this house.

Let's say we know that a person lives in a house who is often sick, weak, or disabled. Here, a good gift would be an image of saints, who are traditionally approached in illness with prayers for healing.

This is most often a great martyr and healer Panteleimon, blessed righteous Matrona of Moscow, Nicholas the Wonderworker. It is very good to give an icon of the Mother of God - “Healer”, “The Queen of All” (they turn to her with problems of oncology), “Joy to All Who Sorrow”, etc.

An expensive and unique gift can be an icon intended for the whole family, which can be ordered from an icon painter and on which he can depict all the patron saints of family members.

It is allowed to give a gift in the form of an embroidered icon. To do this, you need to meet several conditions: take the priest’s blessing for this work, find a canonical image, and upon completion of creativity, consecrate the icon in the church. By the way, all icons that were not purchased in special church or monastery shops are subject to consecration.

It seems completely logical to say that the icon cannot be given as a gift:

• To non-believers. If the giver knows about the unbelief of the one to whom he wants to present the icon as a gift, by doing so he can bring trouble upon himself.
• Equally should not be give an icon to a stranger: he may turn out to be an atheist or a non-believer, and the icon will not be properly venerated by him.
• Under no circumstances are they entitled to receive such a gift. people who practice black magic. There is an opinion that such a gift can change the fate of the donor and not for the better.

One of the first signs is that icons cannot be given as a gift, otherwise it will lead to a quarrel. Rather, such a sign goes back to a misunderstanding of the biblical words that one should not give a shrine to unbelievers and sinners. Thus, in ancient times, a typical everyday sign of a quarrel arose, and people are simply afraid to give images even to obviously believers and congenial ones.

However, some of the superstitions that have come down to us from time immemorial have some basis.

• In the event of danger threatening the house, icons were taken out of it first.. Why? Everything is justified: people always strive to save what is most dear to them. Orthodox shrines were the most precious thing for true believers.

It is believed that the person who finds the icon, before bringing it home, must consecrate it in the temple. This sign also has a reasonable justification, because icons accompany not only weddings, christenings, but also funerals; in front of them they pray for the sick, sometimes terminally ill. No one knows why the icon was lost somewhere or deliberately abandoned, or in whose hands it was.

Therefore, it is more appropriate to bring it to the temple and consecrate it, and in case of further doubts associated with such a find, you can simply leave it in the church.

And a few more words in conclusion. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to re-gift their icons. In some cases this is quite acceptable, and it is a worthy tradition. The main thing is that the donation occurs without a second thought, from the heart.

You can place icons in any room: in an apartment or residential building - in one or all rooms. The presence of an icon can consecrate a study in an office. Small icons are appropriate in the car interior, i.e. wherever the soul asks.

There are a lot of superstitions and myths about gifts. Sometimes they stop the donor. They prevent him from presenting the thing from the bottom of his heart.

An icon is a sacred image of persons or events from biblical or church history. It helps a person focus on the sacred. An icon is a visual support for a person during prayer, when a lot of thoughts are swarming in his head. After all, it is almost impossible to evoke a divine image and turn to it, because the devil will interfere with prayer (as the clergy say). After all, it’s easier for him to get into a person’s head when it’s a mess.

A consecrated image should be in every home. It brings spiritual support, protects the family from illnesses and brings help. There are known miraculous images that heal ailments, help to find wealth and happiness in love, to become pregnant and bear a child. How can a gifted shrine bring misfortune?!

This is a great gift. It can be given to family, friends, partners, colleagues, bosses, neighbors, politicians and favorite artists. The image can be donated to the temple. It looks good in any room, in the office, in the store, in the car.

Is it possible to give an icon? What does the church “say”?

In any case, the answer will be positive, since ministers of religion speak only for the spread of faith among the population, the symbols of which are icons. However, this issue has its own nuances.

For example, any icon should be given as a gift exclusively with good wishes, kind and sincere feelings. Icons, according to the canons of the church, can only be given to close and dear people who have God in their souls, lead an appropriate lifestyle, pray and confess. But

When should you not give an icon?

There is no need to present icons to unfamiliar people, to colleagues about whom you know nothing but superficial information. Even if the chosen icon is indescribably beautiful, you can find yourself in an awkward position due to the fact that the person, for example, is a complete atheist or professes a different faith.

In what cases is an icon given as a gift?

It is possible, even necessary, to give an icon, but you also need to consider for what occasion it is most appropriate to do this. Of course, you can present an icon to your closest people, parents, children, sisters and brothers, on the most ordinary day, for no reason. But an icon given “for the occasion” has a stronger energy of protection and is imbued with its miraculous properties. Icons have long been given as gifts for baptisms, weddings, name days, travel, and birthdays (this tradition appeared later). Depending on the holiday, different icons were given. For example, “measured” or “native” icons are given for baptism, personalized images are given for name days, and icons for husband and wife would be an unusual gift for a wedding couple.

Personalized icons

Many people ask whether it is possible to give personalized icons? This is not only not forbidden, but also encouraged. Personalized icons are given on name days or on any other suitable day, if we are talking about family members or close acquaintances. A personalized icon is an image with the face of the Patron Saint whose name the birthday boy bears. It is usually given at baptism and may differ from the “worldly” name. The choice of name is made based on the day of remembrance of which Saint is closest to the person’s birthday (days located only after the date of birth are taken into account). The icon with the face of the Patron has the gift of protection and amulet; people take it with them on the road to important events. By turning to his Protector through it, a person can ask him for help and the fulfillment of his desires

Personalized icons can be bought in church shops, ordered, or made yourself, for example, embroidered. Today there are many patterns on sale that can be used to embroider an icon even for those who were not previously familiar with needlework. In this case, the techniques of embroidery using satin stitch, cross stitch, as well as the more labor-intensive and expensive - bead embroidery are used. However, some doubt whether it is possible to give embroidered icons? It is possible, just like other icons. They, in turn, are painted on wood, canvas, using iconography and painting techniques. Icons with gilding and decorated with precious stones have a special appearance.

There is an opinion among the people that an icon received as a gift is a harbinger of a quarrel or another, more sad event. But similar prejudices also exist in relation to other gifts that are far from religion. The point is not in them, but in the fact that we put into our gift, with what feelings we give it, what we wish for the person we are giving, how we really treat him. If the gift is presented with an open soul, heartfelt wishes, deep spiritual trepidation and sincere words of goodness and happiness, then it cannot bring anything bad. And icons in this sense are completely special, incompatible with signs. For their main purpose is to protect and protect the soul and body of a believer.

Many believers are concerned about whether it is possible to give icons. Icons are an important attribute of Christianity. They symbolize faith as a part of human life. They depict saints, and their face can help a sick, married or lonely person.

Giving an icon should be done with caution

Church icons and signs

It is not customary to give church icons without a special occasion. There is a clear list of cases when such a gift is appropriate. Traditionally, a church attribute is presented to newlyweds, baptized children from godparents, and believers on major Orthodox holidays, when the face of a saint is brought into a person’s home to enhance protection. Is it possible to give icons to strangers? It is explained below.

• Such a gift is a sign of disrespect if the person’s religion is unknown or he does not like to talk about faith.
• The gift can be dangerous if brought into the house on unfavorable days.
• Gifts of this kind are inappropriate if a person does not believe in God or folk signs.

They carry warnings and various signs that relate to Orthodox paraphernalia. Any thing can store positive or negative energy, but through a church attribute one can send illnesses, problems and frequent conflicts to the family. Icons are symbolic gifts. They are placed in the most visible place in the home. If the person who brings such a thing into the house harbors a grudge or wants to do harm, problems for the household cannot be avoided. To promptly recognize danger, signs are used that reveal the true intentions of the guest.

General meaning

An icon is a special attribute. Since ancient times, it has been passed down from generation to generation: such a legacy was not fraught with danger. New images were purchased for a specific purpose. A special ceremony was also performed. First, they asked for advice from a clergyman or spiritual father, and only then did they purchase the image. A lot of attention has always been paid to such a gift. If a person sincerely believes in God, the icon brought as a gift is a special thing that shows a good attitude towards the person, love and respect for his family. Even a hundred years ago, an image received as a gift, even from a close friend, was perceived as a prediction of imminent disaster. Superstition warned that it would not be possible to avoid danger. As soon as the face of the saint was placed in the house (if the person accepted the gift), conflicts and problems began in the house. Children got sick, and adults had problems at work.

The general meaning of a gift from loved ones (relatives and loved ones) is that changes are coming. This is a long-awaited transformation that the individual has been striving for for a long time.

Young parents should know whether it is possible to give icons to children. This is a lucky omen. The image of a saint is a blessing for a newborn. This is how parents give their baby protection and help him grow up without illness. The negative meanings of the image of a saint as an unusual gift come from the person’s message: what he puts into the gift and how he presents it. Conventionally, signs about donated icons are divided into positive, negative and warning of danger.

Icons are traditionally passed down from generation to generation.

Positive

The icon symbolizes the holiness of man. This is his desire and desire to be better, kinder, more compassionate. By bringing an attribute of the church into another person's house, the guest declares good intentions. Receiving such a birthday gift is a sign of quick success. A person will be able to move up the career ladder, find like-minded people and new business partners. An image of a saint given for the birth of a child promises health. The baby will be less sick if the icon depicts the Mother of God or St. Nicholas is written. The meaning of the sign is favorable when the image of the saint whose name is chosen for the child is presented. Such an icon will serve as a talisman for the baby for many years to come. A gift where the image is in light colors is positive. It should be taken into account that dark images are not given to children and unmarried women.

Negative

The image that is given on the days of the waning moon is negative. During this period, negativity is sent to the person’s family. The icon also has a negative effect when an ill-wisher brings a gift in discreet packaging. If the frame with the image is covered with cloth, then it will soon bring a severe illness from which it will be difficult to recover. Other negative signs associated with the present:

• the donated icon immediately fell - financial problems lie ahead;
• the donated image of the saint has chips (on the frame or glass) - quarrels and conflicts will begin in the family, which will not end for a long time;
• there are stains on the glass or under the glass - expect illness (in most cases children and pets will suffer).

Signs of a negative omen may appear in the first days.

If the icon was placed in the living room and quickly became covered with dust or cobwebs, you should expect unpleasant news. If it constantly falls, but the glass remains intact, expect betrayal or betrayal.

The meaning of the sign is also negative if the image of the saint darkens within a few days. Superstition promises trouble: minor troubles will ruin your mood and lead to loss of vitality. You need to beware of enemies in cases where the gift is constantly hanging crookedly.

Danger warning

A sign associated with a gift can also serve as a warning of danger. If it is difficult for the gift to find a new place (there is not enough of it or it is impossible to drive a nail under the icon), constant negativity is sent to the person’s family. Proof of superstition is constant troubles. To avoid danger, you need to clean your home and take a closer look at your surroundings. The omen also foretells danger when a gift is brought by an unclean person. Stains or dirt on the glass indicate the tricks of competitors: they act behind a person’s back or spread rumors. If action is not taken, the situation will only get worse.

What affects the value

The meaning of the sign largely depends on the conditions in which the image of the saint was presented. The following aspects are important:

• Times of Day;
• a special occasion (for what holiday the icon was prepared);
• the relationship between the one who gives the image of the saint and the one who accepts it;
• details (wrapping materials, frame, additional elements).

The meanings of signs relating to the face of a saint have many nuances. To recognize the danger, you need to evaluate the gift as a whole and understand why it was brought into the home. It is important how a person disposes of it in the future. The location of the saint's face determines its influence on the individual and family.

How to bring it

The canons must be strictly observed. If an icon is carried over the threshold at night, one cannot expect any good from the gift. Faces are given only during daylight hours, otherwise they will attract a lot of troubles.

If the icon is given for no reason (special occasion), accepting it and hanging it in the house means quick ruin. It’s hard to get rid of troubles after such a gift.

The icon should be given in the light of day

Who gives it as a gift

A gift is a message. This is how a person says what he feels for the birthday boy or newborn. What such a gift accepted from different hands means is discussed below.

• From friend. Receiving an unusual gift from a friend is a sign of long-term friendship. If a gift is made with good intentions, there is no need to fear negative consequences. Such a gift promises mutual understanding. As long as the image of the saint stands in the house and a person sees it periodically, the friendship will not end. It is important that the icon is undamaged and placed in a frame made of natural stone.
• From a loved one. A loved one gives an icon as a sign of affection. Such a gift indicates a readiness to build serious relationships and predicts the strengthening of an alliance. It is necessary to hang the icon in the bedroom. The gift is not displayed at the front door, otherwise quarrels and conflicts cannot be avoided.
• From a colleague. You cannot accept a gift from a competitor or rival. If he brings the image of a saint into the house, the gifted person will soon suffer: his professional reputation is at risk.
• From an old friend. You cannot accept an icon as a sign of reconciliation with an old friend. A damaged relationship is strengthened by negativity: an old friend invites trouble into the house through a gift. This sign is dangerous for young families who are just building a family nest or planning the birth of a child.
• From a former lover. A similar situation occurs when a former lover brings into the house an image of a saint whose history is unknown. You cannot accept such a gift: it is not recommended to pick up the icon or immediately place it in the house. To prevent an unfavorable omen from coming true, you need to thank for the gift, but not touch it until the old lover leaves.
• From a stranger. You should not accept church attributes from people whose motives are still unknown. This has consequences for the whole family. Taking someone else's icon (which belonged to another person) will lead to great trouble, which is difficult to get rid of.

Additional elements show how much effort was put into the gift. The wooden frame of the icon symbolizes strong relationships. It is a favorable omen when the guest took care of the gift, but an icon that is not wrapped or placed in a plastic frame promises many trials that will soon befall a person’s life path.

What to do with the gift

If a gift gets into the house, you cannot deal with it immediately. Whatever the reason for the gift, you need to thank for it. Don't show embarrassment or disgust. After all the guests have left, you need to wrap the gift and take it out of the house. The less contact with a thing, if you follow popular superstitions, the less its influence. On the street, a simple prayer is read over the image of the saint. After this, the gift is taken to the church in the form of alms. Then the entire living space is cleaned, and if there is an old icon in the home, all corners are treated with it. It is important that the gift never appears in the house again.

It is impossible to tell where the icon went. If the person who brought the saint’s face finds out the truth, trouble will return to the house again.

You cannot burn an icon, otherwise all your happiness will burn with it. The sign warns that it is not worth destroying the face of a saint. This behavior will cause even more problems. You cannot give away or re-gift the face of a saint, so as not to lose wealth and health.

The donated icon can be taken to church

How to properly present an icon

In order not to bring trouble on yourself or your loved ones, you need to know how to give an icon. The rules for when and how you can give the face of a saint look like this:

• if it is a person’s birthday, for happiness and good luck only an icon of the saint whose name the birthday boy bears is given, neglect such superstition - independently invite bad luck to the home of a loved one;
• if a person is sick, you should give the image of a holy healer, such an icon will bring a long-awaited recovery, you can make a gift at any time of the year and on any day;
• bosses need to be given an icon that helps in their work; if you give a personal icon (attracting love), you can cause his anger in the near future.

You need to be careful with gifts, otherwise good intentions will turn into negativity. For young girls, a gift that depicts saints is suitable. It is contraindicated to bring other images of saints into the home of a lonely person.

Young men are given saints (a small icon that is best hidden from prying eyes). For couples, icons are selected that strengthen family ties. Only parents can give an icon for a wedding; such a gift is not accepted from other people. It promises a lot of quarrels and a quick separation. The bride is presented with an icon of the Mother of God, and the groom is presented with the Savior Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Icons are an unusual gift that can be brought into the home only on special occasions. It is allowed to accept such a gift only from loved ones in whose intentions the person is confident. You cannot take an icon from the hands of an enemy or an old friend. It is better to give the gift to the church, and place only your own images of saints at home. . An icon is not a household item, like a tea set or an expensive blanket. Therefore, this is not a simple gift. Images of God and Saints decorate temples, they are served, they are revered. With the help of an icon one comprehends faith. In essence, this is the meeting place between man and God. The icon is used as protection, a talisman against evil

That’s why they like to give icons—they want to convey to a loved one the wish for the protection and favor of the Higher Powers. But that’s why they are afraid, because not everyone wants and can come into contact with such a depth of scale of life and death, good and evil. The gift is too special and you can easily make a mistake.

For my birthday, I was given a gold pendant with the image of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. Those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction pray to this icon. Thank God I don't suffer from this. Apparently the donor did not understand all these subtleties very well, he bought it just to give it as a gift. But I don’t know what to do with the pendant. Lies to himself.

There is an opinion that icons are not given as gifts. Psychics and magicians say that “this is a mystical, charged thing, and there is a danger of giving away something of your own, taking something of someone else’s.” Why did such concerns arise, and how fair are they? They are fair, since icons are sacred, that is, sacred. People cannot treat the divine in the same way as they treat the earthly. A person cannot perceive an object with a special symbolic meaning (for example, mirrors, watches, crosses) as ordinary ones (a saucepan, a certificate for cosmetics, a bouquet). The image on the icon inevitably contains figurative ideological meaning that influences our state. If mysticism is special cases, then each of us has our own psychology, our own history, our own attitudes. It depends on them whether a person will feel good about a gift.

When my daughter was one year old, she gave her an icon. It's quite big, so there was no way to hang it. She stood on the nightstand. Recently my daughter dropped it. Of course she was scared! But I was more scared. The fact is that shortly before the death of my son, my icon of the Mother of God kept falling down. She just fell, no one touched her.

If the icon as a gift is not to your heart’s content, if it bothers you or bothers you, take it to church or give it to someone who will appreciate it.

Icons scare superstitious people. There are ideas that with an icon, like a cross, you can convey negativity, “spoil.” Unfortunately, there is a risk of remaining guiltless and guilty if you are sincere in your impulses. I know the story that the heroine herself told me: money was missing from the apartment for many weeks. In the end, it turned out that my student daughter had stolen it from her wallet and given it to a friend. The amount was impressive; it was enough for him to buy a used car. The daughter confessed everything to her mother when her beloved was imprisoned for robbery. For a long time, until the truth was revealed, the woman blamed the disappearance of the money on an ancient icon that a relative had given her. It’s like he’s a sorcerer, he’s caused damage, and his wallet is empty.

Last year, a friend gave my husband an icon for his birthday. I don’t even know the name, the icon is old. And it seemed like a gift, but from that time on something went wrong in the family and the husband’s business stopped.

My aunt hired workers to renovate her apartment. And after the repair, they gave her the icon. She took it, of course, it’s an icon. And then within a year, first her husband died, then her mother, and six months later, she herself died under still unclear circumstances. Her son just found her dead in the apartment a few days later.

If you know that the person to whom you want to give an Orthodox icon is suspicious, anxious, or superstitious, then it is better to give something simple, without additional symbolism. Otherwise, he may associate his future troubles with the gift. There are many such stories.

Do they give icons? Who can I give this gift to?

Icons, of course, can be given as a gift, but with special attention and care when choosing. In order for a gift to be gratefully accepted and to keep a long, good memory of you, you need to take into account 4 main things: the personality of the person, the closeness of the relationship with him, the symbolism of the image (the meaning of the images), the cost of the gift. If you are very friendly, the relationship is close, deep, the icon is chosen for the situation and the cost is such that the friend does not feel obligated, then this is a wonderful gift.

A close friend often travels to holy places. One time she brought me “sandals of Spiridon,” a saint who helps resolve housing issues. In an absolutely miraculous way, this year I solved the problem of finding an apartment for my aging parents. She thanked her very much.And then on the next trip she brought and gave me an icon of this Saint Spyridon. I thought it would just be an icon that pilgrims bring. And it turned out to be a very beautiful and expensive hand-painted icon. I know that this is from the bottom of my heart, but financially I am embarrassed, the gift is too expensive.

Most often, such a gift is appropriate at moments of transition, when a person especially needs support: he is getting ready to go on a long journey, gets married, goes to serve in the army, goes to the maternity hospital, takes exams, settles into a new apartment, is seriously ill, and more.

What icons are given for a wedding?

Orthodox people have a tradition of “blessed” icons, received by young people from their parents with a blessing for marriage. They are kept with love, this is a good gift. There are many amazing things associated with such family icons that are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes home images become miraculous.

• Wedding icons are given as gifts on the eve of the wedding day. Images of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. The parents of the bride - an icon of the Mother of God, and the parents of the groom - an icon of Christ.
• Nikolai Ugodnik is a saint who is especially revered in our country. This is an intercessor, a miracle worker.
• Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom symbolize devotion, fidelity and love. Therefore, young people are given their icons so that the marriage is strong and long.
• Those family icons that have been kept in the family for many years are also given as gifts.