When asked about how to distinguish an Orthodox Christian from all other people, 9 out of 10 people will answer: "Orthodox Christians have icons at home." Of course, the mere presence of icons does not make a person a Christian, but you must have them in your home.
It is sometimes said that Christians "worship icons." This is not true. Praying, a person does not turn to the icon itself, but to the one who is depicted on it: the Savior, the Mother of God, some kind of saint. A look at the icon helps to concentrate, to specify the image of the one to whom the prayer calls.
Set of icons
In the home iconostasis, there must be icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. The presence of icons of saints is not so necessary, but desirable. These can be images of all those saints who patronize family members - according to the names given at baptism.
You can buy icons of those saints whom family members turn to especially often. For example, in a military house there may be an icon of St. Dmitry Solunsky, St. Fyodor Stratilat, St. Alexander Nevsky or another holy warrior, in the doctor’s house - an icon of St. Panteleimon the healer or St. Cosmas and Damian. Finally, a Christian may have special respect for the saint, whose feat made a strong impression on him - the image of this saint of God can also be in the home iconostasis.
When purchasing icons, you need to perceive them as shrines, and not as valuable items or interior decoration. Do not chase expensive or rare icons. Icons of precious metals that are sold in jewelry stores are completely inconsistent with the Christian spirit. You can accept such an icon as a gift, but you should not buy it yourself.
It is best to buy icons in church shops where they are sold already consecrated. In addition, dubious images of "people's saints" that were not canonized by the church would not be sold there.
