Giving an Icon as an Orthodox Gift: Which Icon for Whom

An icon is the traditional Orthodox gift because it is made for prayer: it brings Christ, the Mother of God or a saint into someone’s home and daily life. Choose by the person and the occasion. Give a patron saint for a name day or baptism, the pair of Christ and the Mother of God for a wedding or new home, St Nicholas for a traveler, and a warrior saint for someone who serves. Then give it ready for prayer, consecrated, with a card that tells the saint’s story.

Why an icon is the classic Orthodox gift

A sweater wears out. An icon stays in the corner of a home for decades and is prayed before every day. That is the point of it.

The Church settled why icons are honored at the Seventh Ecumenical Council, in Nicaea in 787. Its decree says that “the honour which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents.” When your goddaughter kisses her icon of St Anna, the honor goes to St Anna, and through her to God.

The same council wanted icons not only in churches but “in pictures both in houses and by the wayside,” with lights and incense offered “according to ancient pious custom.” An icon you give becomes part of that: the family’s own small church.

Which icon for whom

For a name day: their patron saint

The most personal Orthodox gift is the icon of the saint whose name they bear. If you don’t know the saint, enter their first name in our patron saint finder. Most of our folding diptychs pair a saint with the Guardian Angel, $69 each. The Name-Day Gift Set ($149) adds a crucifix and a prayer rope, with a card giving the saint’s life and feast day. More ideas are in our name day gift guide.

For a baptism: the patron saint and the Guardian Angel

Godparents have long given three things at a baptism: the cross, the baptismal garment, and the icon of the saint whose name the child receives. The Church teaches that God appoints a Guardian Angel to each person at Baptism, “to guard them from evil and help them in good deeds,” as Azbyka.ru puts it. So a saint-and-Angel diptych suits a baptism perfectly. The Patron Saint & Cross ($99) holds both, with a three-bar crucifix and the saint’s card. See our baptism gift guide.

For a wedding: Christ and the Mother of God

In the Russian custom, the parents of both bride and groom give the couple a pair of icons before the wedding, sending them into marriage: the groom receives the icon of Christ the Saviour, the bride the icon of the Mother of God. The Mother of God is often the Kazan icon, though any image of her may be chosen. Father Afanasy Gumerov notes that these icons are then set in the family’s icon corner and often pass down through several generations.

If you are a friend rather than a parent, an icon is still a fine wedding gift when the couple prays. The Zvenigorod Saviour & Vladimir Mother of God diptych ($69) is a lovely choice. For Greek Orthodox gifts and other customs, see our Orthodox wedding gifts guide.

For a new home: Christ, the Mother of God, the Holy Trinity

The council’s decree names first “the figure of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ” and “of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God”, so begin a new home with them. A folding icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary or the Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary folding icon costs $39. The Holy Trinity (Rublev) & Christ diptych ($69) shows the three angels at Abraham’s table: a picture of hospitality for a house that will welcome guests.

For a traveler or driver: St Nicholas

The OCA’s life of St Nicholas calls him “the patron of travelers,” and Russian churches honor him as a protector of all those journeying on land and sea. His feast is 6 December, or 19 December on the Old Calendar. A travel icon is a folding one, so it closes like a book in a bag and opens in a hotel room. Give the St Nicholas & Guardian Angel diptych ($69), the St Nicholas Gift ($99) with an IC XC NIKA medallion, or the Travel Set ($99): a diptych of Christ and the Mother of God, a 10 cm wooden cross for the car and a prayer rope. More saints are on saints for travelers.

For a soldier or first responder: St Michael, St John the Warrior, St George

St John the Warrior served in the Roman army, and the OCA says that in the Russian Church he “is revered as the protector of soldiers.” His feast is 30 July, or 12 August on the Old Calendar; give the St John the Warrior & Guardian Angel diptych ($69). The Archangel Michael, whom the Church calls the Chief Commander of the heavenly hosts, is honored on 8 November, or 21 November on the Old Calendar. St George was an officer in the imperial guard before his martyrdom; his feast is 23 April, or 6 May on the Old Calendar. See saints for the military and the protector gifts.

For someone who is ill: St Panteleimon

St Panteleimon was a physician who treated all who came to him without charge, “healing them in the name of Jesus Christ.” The Church invokes him in the Anointing of the Sick. His feast is 27 July, or 9 August on the Old Calendar. Read his life on St Panteleimon’s page.

For someone who is grieving

An icon can comfort, but sometimes prayer is the better gift. You can have the departed remembered by name at the Divine Liturgy through our prayers for the departed.

For a Catholic or Protestant friend

Catholics share our veneration of icons. Their Catechism cites the same council and says that “the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype.” For a Protestant friend, an icon of Christ is the most natural Christian gift, and St Nicholas is loved in nearly every church. Pick one they will pray with, not just hang.

Is it all right to give an icon?

Yes. Some people have heard that icons should not be bought, or that you may only receive an icon from a parent or godparent. Asked this in Foma, Archpriest Andrei Efanov answered that there is no ban on giving icons, nor on receiving them as a gift. He called the parents-only idea a family tradition or a personal conviction. His one piece of advice is to give an icon when you know it will be prayed before.

How to give it

Give it consecrated. With Consecration ($49), our Orthodox priest consecrates the icon with holy water and the prayers of the Church. The recipient receives it with a signed certificate and a vial of holy water. Where a diptych’s page offers it, our folding diptychs are consecrated one by one before they leave the workshop, each filmed with its number on a card. If you add the personal video, you can forward it with the gift. Consecrated items are final sale. Read what Consecration is.

Give it on their day. The best days are the name day, the day of baptism, the wedding, or Christmas. St Nicholas Day falls on 6 December, or 19 December on the Old Calendar.

Tell them who the saint is. Our gift sets include a card with the saint’s life and feast day. Write a line inside your card about why you chose this saint for them.

Show them how to keep it. A short note on where to place it and how to care for it helps a new believer. Our guide on caring for an icon covers light, dust and the lampada.

Ordering in time for Christmas

An icon is a good religious gift for Christmas. For Christmas on 25 December, order by 15 December. For a cross, icon or medallion with Consecration, order by 10 December. For Christmas on 7 January, order by 24 December. A consecrated diptych, where a diptych’s page offers it, ships in the normal time. We ship to all 50 states, DC and APO/FPO addresses, with free shipping on orders of $99 or more. Browse all our Orthodox gift sets.