I've been given a blessing by my priest to use Coptic (and Ethiopian)-style icons in my prayer life. only one problem....I don't know where to buy when from!!!
so, where do Copts and Ethiopian Orthodox get your icons from?
Greetings in that Divine and Most Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Even before my conversion, the sincerity and spirituality of Tewahedo Icons inspired and edified me. If you are that hard up, do a Google search for some online vendors, though often they can be expensive. The real issue is that generally, I have rarely seen Ethiopian icons for sale in the same kinds of forms we see in other Orthodox traditions. The Tewahedo Icon generally comes in a panel form, like this:
and these can be rather expensive considering some are contemporary, others are antiques, and many dealers sell the contemporaries as if they WERE antique and honestly charge rip off prices.
Actually here in LA I get the BEST deals on purchased icons and crosses from a Rastafari brother I know who sells them. The stores, even the Ethiopian shops here, are a bit high dollar for I-man's poverty. Maybe in the local Rastafarian shops you might find a good deal? From my experience, if you insist on a 'legit' Tewahedo icon painted in Ethiopia by an Ethiopian icon painter, then pursue your local Ethiopian parish and ask around within the community where to find such things.
By the way I have never really seen any Tewahedo Icon prints or posters or boards like in other traditions, rarely even framed. Most ALL the Tewahedo icons I have ever seen for sale were of the above type, as that is generally the custom in Ethiopia in regards to private, home use of Icongraphy.
Personally, what I do is I print all the delightful Tewahedo Icons and Images I run across on the internet onto photo paper and either frame or shellac them for use as gifts or for my own prayer. I have a dozen such kinds printed and framed around my house.
Private message me your email and I will gladly send you my collection.
stay blessed,
habte selassie
