Mini Icons

[D+C]

I have a small pair of icons I was given on retreat at Glasshampton Monastery. They sit on my bedside table and are a great source of support. Firstly is there any problem with these icons coming from an Anglican monastery? It was during that retreat that I decided I had to leave to pursue the one true apostolic church.

My second question is how I can find something similar, small and discrete but supportive, I can put on my desk at work? Is there anything in particular to look out for when buying icons? Any good sources in the UK?

 

[ArmyMatt]

first question: no, there should be no problem that they came from an Anglican Monastery.

second question: I dunno, if you look in the iconography threads closer to the top of our forum here, you find a lot of websites that have icons.

third question: look for saints or icons that you feel close to. although, it is always prolly best to start with Christ and His Mother.

 

[Joseph Hazen]

Try searching for "travel diptychs" or "pocket icons." I have a small diptych I take with me on trips, it's maybe three or four inches high. Folds together to form just a little wooden, carved, arched piece of wood.

If you're concerned about the Anglican icons just get it blessed by your priest. There is a tradition in Orthodoxy however of the image of a sacred person being enough of a blessing in itself.

 

[D+C]

Thank you both, I will get my current ones blessed. And thank you for introducing the word diptych to my vocabulary, now I know what I have!

 

[Anhelyna]

I've had a small diptych for some years - normally it's beside my bed and my Guardian Angel is actually on the bed head .

The little diptych goes away with me unless I know there will be Icons where I'm going It's neatly hinged and I have a box it fits in neatly when required.

I also have a tiny Icon [ the one in my Avatar [ which is about 1.5ins X1.5ins which my GodPapa got for me on my Reception/Chrismation as his 'welcome to the family '

 

[seashale76]

I have a tiny diptych of Christ and the Theotokos that my in-laws gave me. Apparently- they bought it years ago while they were living in Crete. It's got a hinge on it and I do take it with me when I travel as well.

 

[ArmyMatt]

there are triptychs as well, I have one with Christ, His Mother, and St Nicholas

 

[D+C]

I tried to pronounce my new word when my wife came home from work and she laughed at me. She's a designer and apparently a diptych is something they do professionally. Oh well, at least I have the pronunciation sorted now.

I have been in touch with someone who makes icons for people by decoupage, which is something to do with sticking images onto hard surfaces. She takes images of famous icons and does this. If I were to buy one from her and have it blessed would this be OK?

I would like an icon of the patron saints of hunting, as it is a big part of my professional life. The two I have read about are Holy Martyr Tryphon and St Eustace (see my avatar!). Just praying on which to opt for. Some sources say Holy Martyr Tryphon is in fact patron saint of birds, although that would also be very appropriate!

 

[prodromos]

Are you able to get to the monastery at Tollshunt Knights near Essex. I am assuming they would have a range of icons available, though living in Australia I can't confirm that

 

[Anhelyna]

I've been to St John's - and yes the shop there had some Icons , but far more in the way of books .

Ummm Tollshunt Knights is in Essex

 

[prodromos]

I'm geographically challenged outside of Oz

 

[Anhelyna]

I'm geographically challenged - period

 

[D+C]

After lots of prayer I have opted for an icon of St Tryphon. For many reasons he is the saint to whom I feel the closest. My dog was diagnosed with cancer over the weekend, so St Tryphon's healing of animals played a part in my thinking.

I have commisioned the icon to order, she has been very kind and supportive, insisting on making it before I pay to make sure I "love it".

 

[ArmyMatt]

After lots of prayer I have opted for an icon of St Tryphon. For many reasons he is the saint to whom I feel the closest. My dog was diagnosed with cancer over the weekend, so St Tryphon's healing of animals played a part in my thinking.

I have commisioned the icon to order, she has been very kind and supportive, insisting on making it before I pay to make sure I "love it".

sounds awesome!

 

[D+C]

I need a bit of a steer here to help prevent me accidentally falling into what I suspect might be a heresy. This situation with my dog has me pretty upset, and this has brought me increasingly close to St Tryphon, both as a healer of animals and as a patron of hunters (my dog is my partner in the shoot I run as part of my job!). Being very new to orthodox I am not entirely sure how to pray for the intercession of saints and when I try to look it up I just find justification for including saints in our prayers. I am convinced of the justification, I am literally looking for some examples of how we might pray for the intercession.

Secondly and moreover, I do keep slipping into the mindset that I want to get an icon of St Tryphon to honour him as part of my praying for his intercession in the hope that my little spaniel might see his fourth birthday. This is almost reaching the point of bargaining, which can't be right. I would appreciate some guidance as to where the boundaries might be. Please leave the question of praying for animals to one side, I'm reading widely on that too and as St Tryphon was a healer of animals I'm feeling on safe ground, it's more this question of "bargaining" and exactly what the honouring by commissioning an icon means does not mean that I am trying to determine.

 

[ArmyMatt]

in all these things first and foremost you should talk to your priest.

but, as far as your questions, a prayer to a saint is merely asking him or her for something, usually that God would have mercy on us. so while you are on your hunt, it's fine to ask St Tryphon to ask God to bless you, even while on the hunt or for a successful hunt, if God's will and blessing is what you are looking for. He blessed the ancient Hebrews with quail, He certainly can bless you with some game.

secondly, no that is not bargaining, and there is nothing wrong with it. it's fine to ask a saint to intercede for anything or anyone, provided God's will being done is what is prayed for. we have services to bless animals.

 

[D+C]

My icon was finished today and I have just paid for it. For anyone in Europe I highly recommend Renata, as I said above she made this for me to my specifications with no charge up front. Holy Martyr Tryphon

 

[D+C]

On Saturday 5th my dog was diagnosed with suspected cancer. On the 7th the cancer was all but confirmed by a biopsy and I was told to prepare for the worst. At this time I turned to St Tryphon and commissioned an icon of him. I have prayed fervently to St Tryphon as a patron of hunters and a healer of animals.

Today my dog was due to have the lump removed. I had a vet call me mid-afternoon to say that there had been "a miraculous turnaround". With nothing but antibiotics the tumour had all but disappeared. She said she didn't know how it had happened but it now seemed to be nothing but an infection. She recommended we cancel the operation and pursue one more week of antibiotics with a view to hopefully giving the all clear next week.

My agnostic sister just observed "makes you wonder about that picture you ordered doesn't it?"

 

[ArmyMatt]

On Saturday 5th my dog was diagnosed with suspected cancer. On the 7th the cancer was all but confirmed by a biopsy and I was told to prepare for the worst. At this time I turned to St Tryphon and commissioned an icon of him. I have prayed fervently to St Tryphon as a patron of hunters and a healer of animals.

Today my dog was due to have the lump removed. I had a vet call me mid-afternoon to say that there had been "a miraculous turnaround". With nothing but antibiotics the tumour had all but disappeared. She said she didn't know how it had happened but it now seemed to be nothing but an infection. She recommended we cancel the operation and pursue one more week of antibiotics with a view to hopefully giving the all clear next week.

My agnostic sister just observed "makes you wonder about that picture you ordered doesn't it?"

wow, glory to God!