Topic: Special Icon made for a wedding couple

[ionus]

Hello,
I would like to ask if anyone knows or has heard about the tradition of having a special icon made for a wedding couple that has the saint of each of the betrothed on the same icon. For instance, if a "John" whose patron saint is St.John the Forerunner, were to marry a "Helen", patron saint St.Helen, mother of Constantine, the icon would be made with both saints along side each other. I believe this is the tradition in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Can someone confirm this for me please, and possibly show me where I could find an image of such an icon (not necessarily of the Saints I mention above)?

[mike]

I've heard about that custom but do not have any pictures.

[LBK]

The common Slavic custom for wedding icons is to have a matched pair of Christ and the Mother of God. The icons are blessed some time before the wedding day, then, the bride takes home the icon of the Mother of God, the groom the one of Christ. Before leaving the house on the day of the wedding, the parent(s), if possible, bless their child with the icon. The icons are brought to the church, and are displayed during the marriage service. At the end of the service, the priest blesses the newlyweds with the icons. The icons are taken home by the couple, and are generally hung as a pair facing each other in a corner of their bedroom.

Icons which feature specific patron saints together are known as "family icons", and can feature anything from a pair of saints, through to any number, reflecting an extended family. There is also the custom of an icon of Christ or the Mother of God, with specific saints in full-stature in the left and right borders of the icon. A child's icon will often bear the child's patron in one border, and a guardian angel in the other.

[IXOYE]

I know of a monastery that makes family icons.  They have a nice website.  I'll post it if interested.

[FrChris]

I know of a monastery that makes family icons.  They have a nice website.  I'll post it if interested.

I'm interested!

[Benjamin the Red]

I'm aware of this tradition and think it's quite beautiful. I hope to commission such a family icon, including the patron of my to-be wife and myself, and then adding the patrons of our children as they come along.

I'm not sure where to find these online, but I know last year's (2010) St. Tikhon's Seminary Calendar has several icons from "family collections" that include such icons. I have a copy of that calendar, but no scanner to upload the photos. I'll try to track some of those down online and post them here.

[IXOYE]

I know of a monastery that makes family icons.  They have a nice website.  I'll post it if interested.

I'm interested!

St. John Chrysostomos Greek Orthodox Monastery
Quality Handmade Icons and Crafts
http://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/familyicons.htm

Personally, I like the first one photographed.

[Ortho_cat]

Hello,
I would like to ask if anyone knows or has heard about the tradition of having a special icon made for a wedding couple that has the saint of each of the betrothed on the same icon. For instance, if a "John" whose patron saint is St.John the Forerunner, were to marry a "Helen", patron saint St.Helen, mother of Constantine, the icon would be made with both saints along side each other. I believe this is the tradition in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Can someone confirm this for me please, and possibly show me where I could find an image of such an icon (not necessarily of the Saints I mention above)?

I was thinking of this very thing the other day for a gift to a married couple...what an awesome idea!

[Hiwot]

The common Slavic custom for wedding icons is to have a matched pair of Christ and the Mother of God. The icons are blessed some time before the wedding day, then, the bride takes home the icon of the Mother of God, the groom the one of Christ. Before leaving the house on the day of the wedding, the parent(s), if possible, bless their child with the icon. The icons are brought to the church, and are displayed during the marriage service. At the end of the service, the priest blesses the newlyweds with the icons. The icons are taken home by the couple, and are generally hung as a pair facing each other in a corner of their bedroom.

Icons which feature specific patron saints together are known as "family icons", and can feature anything from a pair of saints, through to any number, reflecting an extended family. There is also the custom of an icon of Christ or the Mother of God, with specific saints in full-stature in the left and right borders of the icon. A child's icon will often bear the child's patron in one border, and a guardian angel in the other.

 oh wow! beautiful tradition! thank you for this post dear.

[LBK]

http://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/familyicons.htm

Personally, I like the first one photographed.

Not comfortable with the prominent inscription "God Bless the XXX Family" in the body of the icon. Such a dedication should be unobtrusive, perhaps on a small plaque in the lower border of the icon frame.

[IXOYE]

http://www.stchrysostomoscrafts.com/familyicons.htm

Personally, I like the first one photographed.

Not comfortable with the prominent inscription "God Bless the XXX Family" in the body of the icon. Such a dedication should be unobtrusive, perhaps on a small plaque in the lower border of the icon frame.

I agree on that point.  It does seems a little like a "God Bless our home" plaque. 

[ionus]

Thank you for your responses. I checked out the family icons website, and it was very helpful. I really like the first icon as well. I needed to see an example so I could show it to someone who can hopefully have one hand written for some friends of mine. Thank you very much, and I'm glad some of you got a kick out of this topic.   

[miaelizabeth]

My husband and I recieved a wedding icon as one of our gifts, painted by the iconographer of our parish. Its beauiful and has St. Jason the Apostle and Martyr Maria (my saint is a relatively unknown martyr who died during the sacking of icons) It is one of the most treasured icons in our icon corner

[Nigula Qian Zishi]

Here are the icons of a nun who is famous for her beautiful family icons http://www.iconsnunanastasia.com/archive.html I had one written for my priest and a friend of mine had one done for his own family at very inexpensive prices. She also makes different colored chotki to support her hermitage.

[LizaSymonenko]

Wow.  She's very skilled.

[miaelizabeth]

Double wow! Those are beautiful!!

[Nigula Qian Zishi]

I can attest that in person they are even more beautiful and amazing. Her prayer ropes are also beautiful and long lasting, even with daily use and unintentional abuse.