What is “A Family icon”?
A Family icon is an icon that depicts the patron saints of several family members. It is a custom-made icon in which the heavenly patron saints of all the household members are united around the central icon of Jesus Christ or the Theotokos. These domestic icons become precious possessions passed on from generations to generations.
Who is depicted on a family icon?
The patron saints of children, parents, and even their dearly departed great-grandparents can be portrayed on such an icon. Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity, the Mother of God, or a guardian angel can be painted at the top of the icon.
The saints can also be depicted on the borders or sides of the icon, and the holy image of God or the Mother of God is often depicted in the middle. The saints painted at the borders are generally turned toward the image in the center, which represents that they are praying to the icon in the middle.
The image of the Mother of God the Healer was traditionally painted when someone in the family was sick, and the icon of the Mother of God Nurturer of Children was painted for families with children.
Why do we need a family icon?
In ancient times, family icons were honored as sacred objects that bound family members together and united them in spirit. Such an icon unites a family as a small church. This is because families can pray in front of a family icon, venerate all of their saints at the same time, thank God for His good deeds, and pray for one another’s health, as well as for love, peace, and agreement.
If you have a family icon at home, it will make your family whole, strengthen your faith, and help you do good with pure intentions.
Over the centuries, family icons have been commissioned and passed down from generation to generation. Because of this, the patron saints of family members became patrons of the whole kin.
Family icons are usually commissioned for one of three reasons: for your own family; as a gift for the family of a friend or relative; or as a blessing for your children as they marry. You can also order one to mark a wedding anniversary or any other significant family event.
About our master iconographers
For decades, the icon painters of Saint Elisabeth Convent have been creating unique icons for churches and families, always approaching their work with great care and responsibility. Every icon is painted according to Orthodox canons, using only ancient techniques, natural stone pigments and genuine gold leaf. These natural pigments—tempera paints—keep icons from fading, so a hand-painted tempera icon will retain its vivid colors for generations!
How to Order a family icon from St Elisabeth Icon Painting Studio
A family icon is a unique work of art, created especially for you and your family. Traditionally hand-painted in tempera or acrylic, it can also be adorned with an oklad or placed in a kiot (icon case) for protection. Read more about the sacred craft of writing icon and browse examples of beautiful and unique hand-painted family icons in our catalog, and place a custom order of your own.
The price and the term of fulfilling an order depend on the size of the icon, composition complexity as well as decorative elements of the icon such as metal oklads (rizas), icon cases (kiots) or semiprecious stone decorations.
Icon Painting and Delivery Process
A few more examples of family icons:
