favourite place to buy icons?

Anhelyna

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Your quote re shipping is exactly what I had found - makes nonsense - and of course to add insult to injury I would then have to pay VAT on them AND what in my mind is worse I have to pay the Royal Mail a fee for collecting the VAT off ME and handing it over to the Customs folk .

Books we can manage without that sort of problem - but for an Icon , or even worse a handwritten Icon , I would be stung something awful .

This is why when a friend from the USA and I meet up we exchange shopping we have done for each other - I'm taking out some Cokin filters and stuff for him this year and he will be bringing me some stuff too :)

Some cards for Pascha would be nice Michael < Hint hint >
 
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Michael G

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You mean you haven't ????

Gracious - get on with it man

Right now working on a 48 inch x 36 inch St. George, then I have to write an icon of Christ the Unsleeping Eye, then one of the Theotokos, then I might have time to get started on the Resurrection.
 
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HandmaidenOfGod

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Yes - that has been in my mind

BUT

:D

They don't seem to have websites so that I can look at their Icons - and that's essential for me - an Icon has to 'speak' to me .

Having said that I do actually have quite a few , not yet made into what you could term a proper Icon Corner - that will happen slowly , but the 2 shelves where I place my icons seem to be getting short of room again ;)

it's true - once you have your first Icon , others just seem to home in on you and you suddenly realise you have more then you knew you had :D

I would try contacting them via email or phone. Maybe they would be willing to email you pictures of their inventory if you were looking for a particular icon. (Pascha, perhaps? I can't imagine a parish bookstore having THAT large of an inventory that it would be a problem.)

It wouldn't cost them anything and it would be good for business. You also might inspire them to put together a website. :)

They may also be willing to provide you the name of the person who sells them their goods. You might be able to go to the Wholesalers website, then the parish could order the article for you and have it shipped directly to you.

There are ways of getting around these things. ;)
 
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Anhelyna

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ummm - there is frequently a language problem :)

I've been to a Greek [ cypriot actually ] parish near my GodPapa's - we were the only English speaking folk there - and no bookstall . The Bookstall at the ROCOR Cathedral was not very big - didn't actually see any Icons there - lovely folk though :)

And do remember Orthodoxy doesn't have a big presence outside London .

I'm not being obstructionist - just realistic . I can't remember the UGCC Cathedral having a bookstore either - and our parish doesn't .
 
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Greg the byzantine

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ummm - there is frequently a language problem :)

I've been to a Greek [ cypriot actually ] parish near my GodPapa's - we were the only English speaking folk there - and no bookstall . The Bookstall at the ROCOR Cathedral was not very big - didn't actually see any Icons there - lovely folk though :)

And do remember Orthodoxy doesn't have a big presence outside London .

I'm not being obstructionist - just realistic . I can't remember the UGCC Cathedral having a bookstore either - and our parish doesn't .

:D That's because cypriot's don't read, and they aren't very nice.
 
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-Kyriaki-

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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one. Where parishes have bookstalls, we have to order everything in from one of those three places, and it's expensive - the books at our parish bookstall are $30 or so for a paperback. I know it seems logical to just order it or go to a bookstall, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. And shipping costs from any of the major Orthodox companies make me angry...if you all remember me wanting to buy a calendar last year, and they wanted 150% of the cost of the calendar for SHIPPING.

It's really frustrating.
 
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HandmaidenOfGod

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ummm - there is frequently a language problem :)

I've been to a Greek [ cypriot actually ] parish near my GodPapa's - we were the only English speaking folk there - and no bookstall . The Bookstall at the ROCOR Cathedral was not very big - didn't actually see any Icons there - lovely folk though :)

And do remember Orthodoxy doesn't have a big presence outside London .

I'm not being obstructionist - just realistic . I can't remember the UGCC Cathedral having a bookstore either - and our parish doesn't .

Well that just stinks! ^_^
 
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HandmaidenOfGod

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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one. Where parishes have bookstalls, we have to order everything in from one of those three places, and it's expensive - the books at our parish bookstall are $30 or so for a paperback. I know it seems logical to just order it or go to a bookstall, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. And shipping costs from any of the major Orthodox companies make me angry...if you all remember me wanting to buy a calendar last year, and they wanted 150% of the cost of the calendar for SHIPPING.

It's really frustrating.

That is so ridiculous! I mean, Orthodoxy in the US is faaaar from being the dominant religion. (If it weren't for movies like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Deer Hunter" most Americans wouldn't know we exist!)

Only 2-4% of Americans even claim to be Orthodox.

I'm so sorry that you guys have such difficulties getting Orthodox materials. That is just, lame. :(
 
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Michael G

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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one. Where parishes have bookstalls, we have to order everything in from one of those three places, and it's expensive - the books at our parish bookstall are $30 or so for a paperback. I know it seems logical to just order it or go to a bookstall, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. And shipping costs from any of the major Orthodox companies make me angry...if you all remember me wanting to buy a calendar last year, and they wanted 150% of the cost of the calendar for SHIPPING.

It's really frustrating.

The cost of shipping a very large icon of St. George to the Middle East is going to be $500.00 Granted the price of the 48 inch x 36 inch icon was many times that price, but that is still alot of money to pay for shipping. And that is not even at an expedited rate.
 
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HandmaidenOfGod

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The cost of shipping a very large icon of St. George to the Middle East is going to be $500.00 Granted the price of the 48 inch x 36 inch icon was many times that price, but that is still alot of money to pay for shipping. And that is not even at an expedited rate.

Is that via airmail or by boat?

The reason I ask is because my Grandmother sends packages to Poland and Ukraine twice a year by boat, and it's $.80 to $1.20 a pound. It takes about six weeks to get there, but still much cheaper than $500.00
 
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ikonographics

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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one. Where parishes have bookstalls, we have to order everything in from one of those three places, and it's expensive - the books at our parish bookstall are $30 or so for a paperback. I know it seems logical to just order it or go to a bookstall, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. And shipping costs from any of the major Orthodox companies make me angry...if you all remember me wanting to buy a calendar last year, and they wanted 150% of the cost of the calendar for SHIPPING.

It's really frustrating.

You could have ordered one from Australia!;)
We have the same problem in South Africa. My mum ran a bookstall at our Church completely non-profit, to keep the prices reasonable. Amazingly it grew from a few books to hundreds.
 
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Michael G

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Is that via airmail or by boat?

The reason I ask is because my Grandmother sends packages to Poland and Ukraine twice a year by boat, and it's $.80 to $1.20 a pound. It takes about six weeks to get there, but still much cheaper than $500.00

Boat. The icon weighs about 50 lbs. 1.20 a pound sounds real cheap when the USPS was going to charge me $27.00 to send a flat rate box the size to hold (2) 9x12 icons to England.
 
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Khaleas

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I've bought icons from a couple different places like Skete and Holy Transfiguration which both produce nice icons. HTM's icons are very nice in my opinion since I bought an icon of the Optina Elders at a Bulgarian church in Boston which they got from HTM. I've also bought icons from Uncut Mountain Supply that I gave as gifts which are very nice. Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville also has an icon studio and their collection has some nice older Russian icons here: Holy Trinity Icon Studio - Home

I was lucky enough to tour the icon printing area at Jordanville (the seminarian leading our tour works in there otherwise you can't really get in) and their work is very nice. Everything is done on site, printing, mounting etc. They can do more sizes than what is listed on the website, just contact them. Both the bookstore and icon studio should be online fairly soon. That will make ordering a lot easier.
 
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A

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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one.
Hmmm...
I've been to Russia & Greece many times recently and I usually bring boxes of Orthodox icons (prints on the board) that our church bookstore sells like hot cakes. The selection & quality are just amazing.

I came across one website where the owner is trying to create something unique with the boards: legacyicons.com but all finished products still have flat reproductions of old icons glued to the board. No gold foil, no silk screening, no metal work or raised borders as with Greek or Russian icons.

Not long ago one more website started to do something unusual with Orthodox greeting cards: orthodoxchristmascards.com
but other than that there are no new sources of Orthodox products here in the US. Most of the good stuff our church bookstore imports from Greece and Russia. Shipping charges are brutal though.
 
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ummm - there is frequently a language problem :)

I've been to a Greek [ cypriot actually ] parish near my GodPapa's - we were the only English speaking folk there - and no bookstall . The Bookstall at the ROCOR Cathedral was not very big - didn't actually see any Icons there - lovely folk though :)

And do remember Orthodoxy doesn't have a big presence outside London .

I'm not being obstructionist - just realistic . I can't remember the UGCC Cathedral having a bookstore either - and our parish doesn't .


This is a problem in many of our churches. For instance I used to attend the GOARCH Cathedral in Hempstead NY. This is an enormous and rich parish. The place is huge with a full size gymnasium (with kitchen), Large Hellenic room upstairs with kitchen, a large house next door converted to classrooms used as a school house for greek language programs and catechism, more classrooms in the basement of the church etc. No bookstall/bookstore no library nothing.

When I was younger an elderly gentleman would run the 'mobile' books and icon department. Basically a table set up by the custodian to display books and a few icons during coffeehour and then they would be locked back up in the cabinet until next sunday. This elderly gentleman was pressing the church to build a bookstore. Parish council was completely numb to the idea. One member even said, "Why don't they just go to the public library if they need a book"!!!!.

He used to tell them how sad it is that ancient greeks were known for building great libraries such as the ones in Alexandria, but today nothing. He used to say how sad it is that we have 2 kitchens in the Church to feed the stomach but no library to feed the mind.

His dream was to use his own money to build it, but he was elderly and not rich, Mr. Englis may your memory be eternal.
 
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Americans, please remember that Orthodoxy outside America (and probably places like Russia or Greece) doesn't have a large presence, especially a commercial one. Where parishes have bookstalls, we have to order everything in from one of those three places, and it's expensive - the books at our parish bookstall are $30 or so for a paperback. I know it seems logical to just order it or go to a bookstall, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. And shipping costs from any of the major Orthodox companies make me angry...if you all remember me wanting to buy a calendar last year, and they wanted 150% of the cost of the calendar for SHIPPING.

It's really frustrating.
That's unfortunate - but the price of books in many places has been remarkably high compared to where it used to be. Many stores have begun to go out of business - with so much of the focus on having electronic reads.
 
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