Any icon is a prototype of what is depicted on it. Whether it is the Lord, or saints canonized by the church, depicted on icons, they become prototypes of those to whom we send our prayers.

Previously, the eastern corner was used to place icons in the house, just as in a temple the altar is always located to the east. But nowadays, for most believers in city apartments, the eastern corner may end up in the wrong place. Therefore, choose a comfortable corner where you will not be disturbed in your creativity. prayer rule, especially if you pray with the whole family.

What icons should be in the house

• On the sides of the icons of the Lord and the Virgin Mary you can place icons of the Guardian Angel and Archangel Michael.
• By church canons On the right are icons of male saints, on the left are the Mother of God and holy women.
• It’s good if you have icons of saints in whose honor all members of your family are named at baptism.
• Any family has some problems, so it is worth adding icons of those saints who became famous for their help in these cases.
• If there is a sick person in the family, purchase an icon of the Great Martyr Panteleimon the Healer or an image of the Mother of God “Healer” for your home iconostasis.
• If you have relatives who are addicted to drinking, smoking, or drug addiction, then be sure to pray to the “Inexhaustible Thicket” icon, it is very strong, and you will not be left without help.
• And of course you can add icons of your favorite saints: Seraphim of Sarov, Matrona of Moscow, and many others.

Where is the best place to buy icons for your home?

It's always better to buy. There they are always blessed before sale. Try to ensure that the size of the icons of saints does not exceed the size of the icons of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin.

If you bought an icon in a jewelry store, then you definitely need to consecrate it. This happens at a prayer service in the temple.

If you want to embroider an icon with threads or beads, you must adhere to several rules. Before starting work, you need to fast, repent and take communion, and take a blessing to work on the image from the priest. Do not buy embroidery patterns where the faces are not printed; you cannot embroider the faces themselves. Try to have before your eyes a written icon identical to the one you are embroidering, so that if there is an error in the pattern, you can correct it.

If space on the shelf allows, you can put a lamp that is lit when prayer requests. Nearby you can store a prayer book, a Gospel, a Psalter.

What is undesirable for a home iconostasis

• Photos of relatives and friends are not placed on the iconostasis, whether they are alive or have already passed away. Thus, you seem to equate people, even people very dear to you, and saints.
• It’s not good if the sun’s rays hit the icons; this causes the paint to quickly fade. It is better if the images are illuminated by a candle or lamp. This will put you and your family in a prayerful mood.
• Small children and pets should not reach the icons, so as not to touch or drop them.

Icons in your home should have a special position. There is nothing more shameful than dusty, unkempt images. Any consecrated icon must be treated as a shrine. Make it a rule to clean up the iconostasis regularly. By honoring images, we honor those depicted in them. Each icon is a window into the heavenly spiritual world, through which we communicate with the Lord, the Mother of God and all the saints. Fervent prayer at home will always be heard.

First of all, this icon with the face of Jesus Christ. The most famous and widespread among them are Savior Almighty, Savior Not Made by Hands. Before icons they often pray for healing from serious illnesses and ailments.

Also the house should have image of the Mother of God, Mother of God, Holy Virgin Mary. She is the embodiment of all-encompassing love and forgiveness, patience and humility, and wisdom. There are a lot of them: Kazanskaya, Vladimirskaya, Pochaevskaya, Pokrova, “ Everlasting Color", etc. They ask the Mother of God for health, family well-being, children, good husband. The Mother of God is considered primarily the patroness of women. Therefore, this icon, together with the image of Jesus Christ, is taken for a wedding, and then they remain in the house as a talisman for the family.

If we talk about Saints, the most revered is image of St. Nicholas the Pleasant, or, as it is also called, . People turn to him in the hope of resolving a difficult situation and getting out of a hopeless situation. They also pray in front of his image for healing.

Also, every baptized Orthodox man There is personal patron saint, whose name was given to him at baptism. The images of these Saints are called nominal. They must be in the house.
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Besides, special amulet will be at home icon of the Seven Shore Mother of God. Located opposite front door or above the entrance to the main room of the house, it protects the family from quarrels, gossip and evil people, with bad intentions entering the house, and the house itself is from robbers. It would also be useful to place it in the house icons of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity- three angels, as a symbol of unity and love.
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In addition, there is icons depicting the feasts of the Lord and the Mother of God: icon of Baptism, Presentation, Annunciation, Protection of the Mother of God. The most family-friendly among these icons is “The Nativity of Christ.”

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You should not place too many icons in your home. In addition, icons must be treated with respect. They should not be tucked away somewhere in a corner where they are deprived of the necessary respect and sometimes even a basic dusting.

It is best if the house has a red, holy corner with icons, or. It should be visible, beautiful, comfortable spot on a wall or in a corner, preferably in the main room of the house or where you often pray, if you do not avoid this ritual. In addition, it would be useful to place the icon in the nursery, where the Holy Image will protect your child.

If icons are on a shelf, chest of drawers, sideboard, etc., then it is customary to lay a napkin-veil, beautifully decorated, embroidered or lace, under them. It is advisable not to place souvenirs, figurines, or “worldly” books next to icons. Photographs and paintings, watches should also be kept away from icons. It would also be inappropriate to place them next to the TV. And under no circumstances should anything be above the icons.

It is advisable to light a candle or lamp next to icons on holidays or while reading a prayer. Their flame is a symbol of home cleansing and a symbol of faith, “burning towards God.”

Nowadays there are a variety of icons - both more expensive and more modest. There are both paper and painted by an icon painter, decorated with silver and stones. In addition, many needlewomen embroider icons. All of them must be illuminated in the temple. But the main thing - after all, this is the most important thing - is that the icons in your home are treated with respect and veneration, then the Holy images will be real amulets and helpers for the family.

Natalya Kaptsova

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As every believer knows, an icon is not a beautiful picture or a tribute to fashion, but an Image of God, saints or the Mother of God. Icons are images without authorship through which we pray, but not decorative elements. Accordingly, the free use of icons is disrespect, both to Christian traditions, and to yourself.

What icons should be in your home, and how exactly should they be placed according to church canons?

What icons should you have at home for protection, well-being and family happiness?

First of all, you should remember that an icon is not a talisman for good luck, not a horseshoe over the door, or a bearskin with butterflies hung according to Feng Shui. That is, she is not a talisman in its direct sense. An icon is an image through which we turn to God. And only with sincere prayer does the Lord or the saint to whom the prayer is offered help us in family well-being and give us his protection.

What icons to put at home is up to you. As the priests say, one is enough for prayer. If your soul does not have enough images in the house, or you want to create your own home iconostasis, then you can seek advice from your confessor or simply from a minister in the church - they will tell you.

Usually the following icons are placed in houses (the list is not a list of icons that you should definitely buy and hang at home, but only the most revered images through which prayers are offered for well-being in the family):

• Two main images in the apartment - Savior (usually they choose the Lord Almighty) and, of course, mother of God (for example, Tenderness or Hodegetria). It is impossible to imagine the home of Orthodox Christians without these icons.
• Saint John the Baptist .

• Images of saints , whose names (by baptism) are borne by members of your family.
• Your local revered saints (when creating an iconostasis).
• Great Martyr George the Victorious .
• Nicholas the Wonderworker . The image of this saint, endowed with special grace (protection of travelers, protection from want and poverty), is most often placed by Orthodox Christians at home.
• Great Martyr Panteleimon (most often they turn to him for healing).
• Apostles Peter and Paul .
• Archangels Gabriel and Michael .
• Kazan Mother of God - intercessor of the Russian people, as well as an assistant in work and everyday needs.
• The Holy Trinity , symbolizing wisdom, intelligence and love. One of the key confessional icons in the house.
• Iveron Mother of God – intercessor of women and your guardian hearth and home. Before this image they pray for healing or consolation in troubles.
• Semistrelnaya . One of the most strong icons in protecting the home - from envy and anger, from the evil eye, etc. This icon brings harmony, reconciles those at war, and is often taken with them to important events.
• Healer . Protects from grief and troubles, helps during childbirth. Prayers are offered before her for the healing of soul and body.
• Inexhaustible Chalice . Healing from bad habits, drunkenness and drug addiction, prosperity in the home, help and comfort to everyone who asks in faith.
• Unexpected joy . Before this image, prayers are offered for the health of children, for the well-being of marriage, for healing.
• . Prayers are offered to this saint for healing.

• Blessed Matrona of Moscow . People turn to her with prayers for healing and family well-being.
• Peter and Fevronia . Saints known as patrons of marital fidelity. By the way, our “Valentine’s Day” is July 8, the day of remembrance of these saints.
• And other icons that will help you find peace in your soul and in your family.

For the kitchen, an icon of the Savior is most suitable, and for a baby’s room - a Guardian Angel or a Saint - the child’s patron.

Orthodox houses since the times Ancient Rus' were filled with icons. Unfortunately, today for many it is a tribute to fashion, but for an Orthodox and true believer Christian, an icon is a revered thing, and the corresponding appeal to it is not secular, but emanating from faith.

How to properly place holy images in the house?

• When choosing a side, they are guided by its special meaning in Orthodoxy - it is on the eastern wall of the room that images are always placed. In the absence of such an opportunity, the reference point is a place in which the person praying will not feel crowded.
• Strictly avoid the proximity of icons to secular objects - you should not place figurines and cosmetics, equipment and other objects of immediate, earthly, decorative value next to the images.
• Also, you should not hang/place next to non-iconographic images - panels and paintings (even with religious significance), calendars, secular books, posters, etc. And even lifetime images of saints (photographs) are not recommended - only canonical icons.
• Items that can be adjacent to the images are lamps and candles, Orthodox literature, incense, holy water, willow branches, which are usually stored until the next Palm Sunday. It is also traditional to decorate icons and the house itself with birch branches (on Pentecost).
• It is customary to place icons, and not hang them on nails, in specially designated places (red corner, iconostasis, just a special shelf or icon case). Images are not hung on the walls like paintings haphazardly - this does not create the necessary feeling of calm and contentment needed when praying.
• Let's not forget about hierarchy. 2 main icons - the Mother of God (placed to the left of the Savior) and the Savior (these icons are always “center”). You cannot place images of saints above these images, as well as above the Holy Trinity. They (the saints) are also located below the apostles.
• A variety of writing styles is also not recommended. Select icons in a uniform manner of execution. Remember that icons are placed in the house after they have been consecrated or those already purchased in the church are consecrated.
• The main corner (red) is the farthest corner in the room (usually the right one), located diagonally from the door with a reference point to the rising sun.

• Don't overdo it with icons. For the remaining rooms (if there is a red corner/iconostasis), one image is sufficient.
• In the nursery, the image of the saint is placed in such a way that it can be seen by the baby from the crib.
• You should absolutely not put the icon on your TV - it’s simply blasphemous.
• If you have icons in the room, you should remove all obscene posters, posters, reproductions, paintings, calendars and from other walls. Such proximity is unacceptable and inappropriate. Praying to the Savior, in front of whom there is a poster, for example, of a rock band or a painting with nudity, is simply pointless.
• In the bedroom, the image is placed at the head of your bed. There is a myth that icons are not placed in the bedroom so that “God does not see the closeness of the spouses.” It is worth noting that intimacy in marriage is not a sin, and it is impossible to hide from God, even if you hide all the icons in the nightstand.
• The corner in which the images stand should be the most illuminated, and the images themselves should be placed above eye level. There should be no barriers between the icon and the view (as well as barriers in the form of tables or chests of drawers between you).

But the most important thing, of course, is to remember that...

The number of icons and the beauty of the iconostasis will not make the life of an Orthodox Christian more pious - sincere prayers in front of these images make it so.
An icon is not a pagan amulet or a “repository of grace” that can be approached and scooped up if necessary, but an image through which prayer is sent to the Lord and Grace to those who believe in it.

How to properly position a home iconostasis

As stated above, the number of icons does not matter, and you should not place images haphazardly (cover holes in wallpaper, for example). Icons should have their own bright and important place.

Thoughtless, empty collecting will give your iconostasis absolutely nothing. A few icons and a prayer from the heart are always stronger than a rich iconostasis with expensive icons in gold frames “for show”.

• The iconostasis is created in the likeness of a church one. Definitely with a hierarchical arrangement of images: in the center is the Savior with the Mother of God (the Savior is to her right!), the Holy Trinity can be located in the same row (or above all the images). If there is no Trinity, a crucifix is ​​placed at the top of the iconostasis. All other images are subject to these key icons: to the right of the Savior is the image of John the Baptist. This triptych is the Deesis (approx. prayer, basis). Next come the saints, saints and other icons (for example, local saints or personal ones), which are chosen by the Orthodox according to at will. Saints are not placed above the Deesis, the apostles, the Trinity.
• A lamp is placed on the shelf of the iconostasis, which is lit on the eve and on the holidays themselves, on Sundays or during prayer.
• Sometimes the images are decorated (as in the old days) with a deity. This is a narrow and long canvas towel with embroidery on the ends. Such idols covered the images from the sides and top, leaving only the faces.
• The icon case is most suitable for the iconostasis - the images are better preserved in it, and the red corner stands out.
• It doesn’t matter whether the icon was painted by hand by an artist who received a blessing, whether it was purchased as a reproduction image or carved from Orthodox calendar and glued to a solid base. The main thing is to consecrate the icon. Although, of course, a hand-painted image covered with linseed oil will always surpass a printed reproduction.
• The choice of image style is a matter of taste. It could be Byzantine or Old Russian style - it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s not secular (academic is also not welcome). Now it has become fashionable to paint icons as one pleases, without the proper blessing, with a lot of elements “from one’s own”, etc. Such icons have a place anywhere - just not in the iconostasis. You shouldn't mix styles either.

And finally: never confuse the prototype and the image itself. We offer prayer not to the icon, but to the prototype.

An icon is an image through which we turn to the One who is depicted on the icon, that is, to the Prototype. And with sincere prayer, the Lord, the Mother of God or the Saint to whom the prayer is offered helps us and gives us his protection.

The icon in Rus' has always been not only a prayer image and a shrine, but also the main wealth that was passed on as an inheritance from generation to generation.

Today people often ask the question: what icons should an Orthodox person have at home? Let's talk about this.

What icons should you have at home?

Over the course of twenty centuries Christianity has been created great amount icons, many of which became famous as miraculous. Which ones to have at home depends only on you; there are no strict rules in this matter, although there are certain traditions.

Most often we pray Savior And Holy Mother of God, therefore, in the house of every Orthodox person there are, of course, these main icons - the image (of the Savior Not Made by Hands or the Almighty) and Him. There should also be an icon.

Let us not forget, of course, to place an icon on our iconostasis.

Icons of saints.

Believers also try to have icons of saints revered in the family - the heavenly patrons of everyone living in the house, as well as icons of those to whom they often turn in prayer.

All over the world Christians greatly revere Saint Nicholas, because this saint is known as a great miracle worker, intercessor and ambulance. There are icons in every Christian church, they can be found in almost any Orthodox family.

In many prayers and canons we also turn to intercession. Himself Christ called the greatest among those born on earth. And from ancient times our baptized people revered this great saint. His icon would also probably be worth purchasing.

Very revered in Rus' are such holy patrons of the Russian people as: the venerable and noble princes, Daniil Moskovsky And Dimitry Donskoy.

Holidays icons

Of course, church holidays are also reflected in icons. ,

Finally, some tips on how to care for your icon. As with any shrine, one must treat the icon with reverence and awe, carefully caring for and preserving it.

Optimal conditions for storing icons are temperature +17° - +20°, humidity 45% -55%;

It is better to keep the icon behind glass or so that its surface is not affected by external influences, such as: dust, soot, moisture, high temperature;

Do not wipe the icon with a damp cloth or napkin; any liquid is harmful to the coating of the icon;

It is not recommended to place the icon near windows, radiators, stoves, or in direct sunlight, because Changes in temperature and humidity negatively affect wood and paints, resulting in cracking.

Remember, no matter what icons you choose for your home, it is important to remember that they should not be treated as a talisman.

We must offer prayer in front of icons with faith, hope and love and treat them as a shrine.

Very helpful information! Thank you

To my shame, I didn’t even know that the icon of the Mother of God that hangs in my home heals illnesses.

There are many situations when we turn to saints in prayer for help and light candles near icons.

An icon is a completely unique phenomenon. There are hundreds of them in churches, try to figure out which one you need. This is where the question arises: which icons should we pray to? Let's try to figure out which icon is for what.

1. "Seven-shot"- this is the strongest icon in protecting the house and any premises, as well as the person on whom it is located, from evil, envious people, from the evil eye, damage and curses. She reconciles warring parties, brings peace and harmony, and is also hired for important matters. At home, she should be opposite the front door so that she can see the eyes of the person entering. Before installing the icon, you need to read a prayer, and then observe who stops coming to your house.

2. “Inexhaustible Chalice”- The Mother of God prays for all sinners and calls for an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy and consolation, proclaiming that an inexhaustible cup of heavenly help and mercy is prepared for those who ask with faith. It brings prosperity to the home, and also helps to heal from bad habits, drunkenness, drug addiction, and gambling.

3. Icon of the Mother of God “Healer” You can always tell by the picture Holy Mother of God near the bed of a sick person. was famous for miracles of healing from various mental and physical illnesses back at the end of the 18th century. The help of the Most Holy Theotokos from Her miraculous icon continues in our time.

4. " Unexpected Joy» - an icon about forgiveness of sins and grateful healing. Before the icon they pray for the conversion of the lost, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of deafness and ear diseases, for the preservation of marriage in love and harmony.

5. “Three-handed”- the miraculous image of the Mother of God was painted in the eighth century in honor of St. John of Damascus, a church hymn writer who was innocently slandered. In front of the icon they pray for healing from hand pain or injury, from fire, as well as from illness, grief and sadness.

6. “Quick to Hear”- the image was painted in the 10th century. They pray in front of the icon when they need quick and urgent Care, for the healing of mental and physical illnesses, including paralysis, blindness, cancer, and also ask for the birth of healthy children and the release of prisoners.

7. “Seraphim of Sarov”- one of the beloved and revered saints of Russia. He devoted his entire life to serving our Lord, founded Diveyevo convent in the Nizhny Novgorod province. Prayer to Holy Father Seraphim of Sarov helps very well with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, spine, and joints.

8. “St. George the Victorious”- patron of Moscow, as well as an assistant to those people whose work involves weapons, risking their lives - military, police, firefighters, rescuers. In addition, these include athletes and people starting a new business.

9. “Nicholas the Wonderworker”- beloved saint of the Russian people. He protects from poverty and need: when his icon is in the house, he makes sure that there is prosperity in the house, and protects from the need for anything. In addition, he is the patron saint of all travelers, drivers, sailors, pilots and just people who are on the road and revere St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The relics of St. Nicholas the Pleasant are located in Italy.

10. “Vladimirskaya Mother of God» - written by the evangelist Luke. The icon is considered one of the most revered images of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rus'. Tsars were crowned and high priests were elected in front of this icon. Before her they pray for the humility of those at war, for the softening of evil hearts, for the healing of bodily and mental weaknesses, as well as for the healing of the possessed.